Abstract
A significant improvement over existing devices and methods for lifting highway guardrail and similar bulky and heavy objects, this invention comprises a combination prying and lifting device (20) having a cable component (24) which has at one end a hook device (44) for grasping the guardrail panel (21) and has at the other end a component (30) for grasping the edge of the guardrail. This invention provides workers with significant protection from various types of injuries associated with isolating, lifting, installing and removing guardrail panels.
Claims
1. A combination prying and lifting device comprising: a combination pry bar/hook comprising a limiter element at a first end, a prying element at a second end, a barrel located between the first end and the second end, and a cable guide attached to the barrel; and a guardrail hook assembly comprising a V plate top, a V plate bottom, a V plate spacer, and a back plate; and, a cable passing through the cable guide and redirected around the barrel, wherein the cable is connected at one end to the guardrail hook assembly with a bolt and a nut and at the other end forms an upper end loop, and wherein the prying element is configured to engage one side of a guardrail and the guardrail hook assembly is configured to engage the other side of the guardrail.
2. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, further including the upper end loop which functions to facilitate lifting by a secondary lifting device.
3. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein the prying element at its second end for insertion into and attachment to the guardrail to be lifted, the guardrail hook assembly to grasp the edge of the guardrail to be lifted and the cable guide for encircling the cable.
4. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein the cable guide is a loop, and the cable is threaded through said loop, the cable having at one end the guardrail hook assembly, and having at its other end the upper end loop, said guardrail hook assembly configured to grasp the edge of the guardrail to be lifted.
5. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein the prying element is configured to be inserted into and attached to a hole in the guardrail to be lifted and supported.
6. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein the cable guide protects said cable from being damaged by bending or crimping.
7. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein positioning of said cable guide and prying element is capable of holding the lifted guardrail panel plumb.
8. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein the cable is a coated wire rope cable.
9. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein the guardrail hook assembly is configured to grasp the edge of the guardrail panel.
10. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein the cable is made of flexible material, cable, or roller chain.
11. The combination prying and lifting device of claim 1, wherein said upper end loop functions to protect the cable from damage by abrasion, crimping, and bending.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is an assembled view of the preferred embodiment of the combination prying and lifting device.
(2) FIG. 2 is a 3/4 view of the Combination Pry Bar/Hook component.
(3) FIG. 3 is a 3/4 view of one embodiment of the assembled guardrail hook assembly.
(4) FIG. 4 is a front view of the upper end loop of the cable that is to be attached to a secondary lifting device.
(5) FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating how the Combination Pry Bar/Hook component is inserted w order to pry apart and separate a guardrail panel from other guardrail panels.
(6) FIG. 6 is a top view of the 3-stage procedure of separating a single guardrail panel and attaching the present invention in order to lift the panel. FIG. 6A is a top view of the Combination Pry Bar/Hook positioned for separating a guardrail panel as well as the placement of the guardrail hook assembly. FIG. 6B is a top view showing the Combination Pry Bar/Hook being rotated into the lifting position. FIG. 6C is a top view showing the Combination Pry Bar/Hook and the guardrail hook assembly positioned for lifting.
(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of the disassembled Guardrail Hook Assembly—Alternative Embodiment
(8) FIG. 8 is a side view of the assembled Guardrail Hook Assembly—Alternative Embodiment.
DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS
(9) 20 Combination Prying And Lifting Device 21 Highway Guardrail Panel 23 Upper End Loop 24 Cable 25 Cable Thimble 30 Guardrail Hook Assembly 31 Guardrail Edge Hook 32 Cable Clamp/Ferrule 33 Guardrail Attachment Slot 40 Combination Pry Bar/Hook 41 Barrel 42 Cable Guide 43 Limiter Element At First End 44 Prying Element At Second End 45 Guardrail Stack 50 Handle Saddle 51 Channel 52 Bolt 53 Nut 54 Back Plate 55 V-Plate Top 56 V-Plate Bottom 57 V-Plate Spacer 58 Ring
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(10) FIG. 1 details the Combination Prying And Lifting Device 20 as it attaches to a Highway Guardrail Panel 21. The Prying Element 44 is inserted into the Guardrail Attachment Slot 33 and the Guardrail Hook Assembly 30 is attached to the edge of the Highway Guardrail Panel 21. These two components attach to the Guardrail Panel 21 to facilitate lifting by Upper End Loop 23.
(11) FIG. 2 shows the various components of the assembled Combination Pry Bar/Hook 40. The Prying Element 44 portion is shaped in such a way so as to limit attachment to only one Guardrail Panel at a time. Working in concert with Limiter Element 43. The Cable Guide 42 securely envelops the Cable that is attached to the Combination Pry Bar/Hook and allows the weight of the load to be centered on the hook. The cable passes around the Barrel 41. The Barrel 41 is designed with a radius large enough to prevent premature cable wear as a result of too sharp or abrupt of turn under load or crimped in such a way as to damage it.
(12) FIG. 3 shows the 3/4 view of the assembled Guardrail Hook Assembly 30. Notice that it protects the cable component from damage that may otherwise occur when an object comes into contact with the cable severing its wires.
(13) FIG. 4 presents an assembled view of the Upper End Loop 23. Showing Cable 24 securely wrapped around Cable Thimble 25. Cable Clamp/Ferrule 32 affixes around Cable Thimble 25 holding it securely in place.
(14) FIG. 5 presents a view of the Combination Pry Bar/Hook 40 positioned relative to Guardrail Stack 45 for the purpose of separating one Highway Guardrail Panel 21 from the others. The Prying Element of Combination Pry Bar/Hook 44 is inserted into Guardrail Attachment Slot 31 The shape of the Limiter Element of Combination Pry Bar/Hook 43 prevents the Prying Element from being inserted at an angle, relative to the Highway Guardrail Panel 21, in which it can be attached to more than one panel. Limiter Element 43 also functions as a handle for maneuvering the Combination Pry Bar/Hook 40. The handle is lifted in such a way that the Prying Element separates the top Highway Guardrail Panel 21 from other panels 21. At the same time that the panel is raised and separated from the others, the Guardrail Hook Assembly can be placed onto the edge of the guardrail panel.
(15) FIG. 6 (A, B and C, respectively) present views of steps in attaching the Combination Pry Bar/Hook 40 to Highway Guardrail Panel 21, (A) prying the panel away from other panels, (B) rotating the present invention into a configuration for lifting, and (C) completing the attachment of the Combination Pry Bar/Hook and the Guardrail Hook Assembly 30 onto the guardrail panel.
(16) FIG. 7 presents a view of the disassembled Guardrail Hook Assembly—alternative embodiment. The individual components of this assembly are detailed in FIG. 8. Notice that several components of the Guardrail Hook Assembly 30 are held together by the Bolt 52 and Nut 53. This feature allows the user to separate Cable 24 from the Guardrail Hook Assembly and replace the cable if necessary.
(17) FIG. 8 presents a view of the assembled Guardrail Hook Assembly 30—alternative embodiment. It shows the Handle Saddle 50, Channel 51, Back Plate 54 held together by Bolt 52 and Nut 53. Bolt and Nut also hold Ring 58 and Cable 24 in place. V-Plate Top 55, V-Plate Bottom 56 and V-Plate Spacer 57 are welded onto Channel 51.
(18) Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, modifications and variations can be made and still be within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.
