TOOL FOR MANUALLY HANDLING HEAVY PLATES

摘要

A hand-operated tool is disclosed for handling a heavy plate while standing at a distance from the plate. The tool comprises a body with gripping members defining a notch for insertion of a plate. The gripping members have inner edges with stepped profiles, defining pairs of opposed gripping surfaces. The pairs of gripping surfaces are spaced apart at different widths for receiving plates of different thicknesses, a pairs close to the opening of the notch having a width greater than a pair farther from the opening of the notch. An elongate handle extends from the body, and a force may be applied to the handle to cause the opposed gripping surfaces frictionally and releasably retain the plate in the notch.

主权项

1. A hand-held tool for handling heavy plates, comprising:
a body having first and second fixed gripping members opposed to define a notch in said body for insertion of a plate; said notch having opposed inner edges, each comprising at least two distinct gripping surfaces spaced along the length thereof; wherein a first pair of opposed ones of said gripping surfaces are spaced to receive a plate of a first maximum thickness and a second pair of opposed ones of said gripping surfaces are spaced to receive a plate of a second maximum thickness, said second maximum thickness greater than said first maximum thickness and said second pair of gripping surfaces located nearer to an opening of said notch than said first pair of gripping surfaces; an elongate handle extending from said body; each of said pairs of opposed gripping surfaces operable to frictionally and releasably retain a plate in said notch, by applying a force to said handle perpendicular to a top or bottom surface of said plate.