Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Extraction Tool
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
(0001] The present invention relates to tools. More specifically, the
present invention is concerned with an extraction tool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(0002] In the construction industry, there are many methods and
devices for assembling structures that involve connectors that frictionally
engage
one, two, or more than two objects in order to keep them interconnected. For
example, some ventilation ducts include a substantially L-shaped flange at
each
extremity, which therefore form with the duct U-shaped extremities. Then, two
ducts that are to be connected together are aligned such that their U-shaped
extremities face each other and a connector is used that frictionally engages
the
U-shaped extremities of each of the ducts.
(0003] More specifically, it is known to interconnect two ducts having
substantially square or substantially rectangular cross sections using four
connectors, each connecting a side of each duct to a corresponding side of the
other duct. Assembly of such structures is relatively straightfonivard as the
connectors are simply pushed either by hand or using a tool, such as a hammer,
to push the connector onto the U-shaped extremities.
(0004] While assembly of such duct structures is relatively
straightforward, when time comes to disassemble the structure, there are
currently
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no efficient ways to perform the disassembly. Therefore, construction workers
typically use screwdrivers, or other tools, to try to disconnect the
connectors from
the flanges. Also, workers may use pliers or grips and pull on the connectors.
[0005] Since the worker uses tools that are not specifically built for such
disassembly, there is a risk that the tool may slip and harm the worker. Also,
since
ventilation ducts are typically installed at a relatively high height above
ground,
there is also a risk that the construction worker trying to extract a
connector exerts
too much force and that the connector suddenly separates from the ducts. In
this
case, if the force exerted by the worker is strong enough, there is a risk
that the
worker wilt fall off the structure used to attain the height of the
connectors, which
could cause grave injuries and eventually death to the worker.
(0006] In addition, in the above-described task and in many other tasks,
the frictional engagement of the connector with the objects to connect is
relatively
strong. Accordingly, there is a need to exert considerable force onto the
connector
to overcome the friction between the connector and the objects to be
connected.
It is relatively hard to exert such force as typically connectors are
configured such
that they arrive flush with the objects to connect so as to improve the
aesthetic
aspect of the completed assembly.
[0007] Furthermore, the absence of specialized tools to perform such
disassembly renders these tasks relatively expensive to perform as they are
relatively time consuming.
[0008] Against this background, there exists a need in the industry to
provide a novel extraction tool.
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OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an
improved extraction tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(0010] In a first broad aspect, the invention provides an extraction tool
for extracting an object. The extraction tool includes a gripping portion for
gripping
the object and an impact generating portion connected to the gripping portion.
The impact generating portion includes a guiding section, a mobile section
connected to the guiding section and mobile with respect thereto, and a
stopper
connected to the guiding section for stopping a motion of the mobile section.
Upon the mobile section being accelerated towards the stopper and thereafter
stopped thereby, the mobile section exerts an impact force onto the stopper.
The
impact force is transmitted to the object through the gripping portion. The
impact
force is directed substantially away from the gripping portion.
[0011] Advantageously, the generation of an impact by the mobile
section allows overcoming a friction between the object, which in some
embodiments of the invention, but non-limitatively, is a connector for
connecting
ducts, and other objects that are connected by the connector. In addition,
since
the mobile section is mobile with respect to the tool, but the tool is
substantially
fixed before the mobile section generates the impact, risk of the worker
losing
equilibrium when using the tool are substantially reduced.
[0012] In addition, the tool helps in performing a relatively fast
extraction of the object, which reduces the cost of disassembling the
structure
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substantially. Also, the extraction tool is relatively simple to manufacture
and
therefore sellable at a relatively small cost.
[0013] In a second broad aspect, the invention provides an extraction
tool for extracting an object, the extraction tool being usable by a user. The
extraction tool includes a gripping portion for gripping the object. The
gripping
portion including a body, a first mobile jaw, the first mobile jaw being
connected to
the body and mobile with respect thereto, the first mobile jaw including at
least one
first jaw tooth for engaging the object, and a second jaw connected to the
body.
The extraction tool further includes a handle connected to the body. The body
and
the first and second jaws are configured and sized for gripping the object
with a
gripping force, the gripping force increasing with an extraction force exerted
onto
the handle by the user. The extraction force is exerted by the user
substantially
away from the object.
[0014] In a third broad aspect, the invention provides an extraction tool
for extracting an object, the extraction tool being usable by a user. The
extraction
tool includes a first jaw including a first gripping surface far gripping the
object, the
first jaw further including an external surface substantially opposed to the
first
gripping surface. The extraction tool also includes a second jaw including a
second gripping surface for gripping the object and an actuator contacting the
first
jaw through the external surface. The first and second jaws are coupled
together
for movement between an open and a closed configuration. In the open
configuration, the object is mobile between the first and second gripping
surfaces,
and in the closed configuration, the object is gripped by the first and second
gripping surfaces. The actuator is configured and sized so that upon the user
exerting a force on the tool directed substantially away from the object, the
actuator exerts a force on the external surface directed so that the first and
second
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gripping surfaces are pressed substantially towards each other to adopt the
closed
configuration.
[0015] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive
description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only
with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the appended drawings:
[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an extraction tool;
[0018] Figure 2 is a side elevation view of a gripping portion of the
extraction tool of Figure 1;
[0019] Figure 3 is a partially exploded side cross-section view of the
gripping portion illustrated in Figure 2;
[0020] Figure 4 illustrates a specific application of the gripping tool of
Figure 1;
[0021] Figure 5 is a top elevation view of the gripping portion of Figure
2; and
[0022] Figure 6 illustrates a mobile section of the extraction tool of
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Figure 1 in a side elevation view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Figure 1 illustrates an extraction tool for extracting an object 12
(shown in Figures 4 and 6). The extraction tool includes a gripping portion 14
for
gripping the object 12, and an impact generating portion 16 connected to the
gripping portion 14.
[0024] The impact generating portion includes a guiding section 18, a
mobile section 20 connected to the guiding section 18 and mobile with respect
thereto, and a stopper 22 (shown in Figures 4 and 6) connected to the guiding
section 18 for stopping the motion of the mobile section 20.
[0025] Upon the mobile section 20 being accelerated towards the
stopper 22, and thereafter stopped thereby, the mobile section 20 exerts an
impact
force onto the stopper 22. The impact force is transmitted to the object 12
through
the gripping portion 14. The impact force is directed substantially away from
the
gripping portion 14.
[0026] In other words, the extraction tool 10 is a manually operated
impact tool for exerting an impact force onto the object 12. The impact tool
includes an impact force transmitting portion for transmitting the impact
force to
the object. In some embodiments of the invention, the impact force
transmitting
portion includes a gripping portion, such as the gripping portion 14. However,
in
alternative embodiments of the invention, the impact force transmitting
portion is
any other suitable impact force transmitting portion.
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[0027] The impact tool further includes an impact force generating
portion connected to the impact force transmitting portion. The impact force
generating portion includes, for example, the guiding section 18, the mobile
section 20 connected to the guiding section 18 and mobile with respect
thereto,
and the stopper 22 connected to the guiding section 18 for stopping the motion
of
the mobile section 20.
[0028] Accordingly, upon the mobile section 20 being accelerated
towards the stopper 22 and thereafter stopped thereby, the mobile section 20
exerts an impact force onto the stopper 22. The impact force is transmitted to
the
impact force transmitting portion.
[0029] In some embodiments of the invention, a stopper for the impact
tool is not the stopper 22 and instead is a stopper provided in proximity to
the
impact force transmitting portion. Accordingly, in these embodiments of the
invention, the mobile section is accelerated towards the impact force
transmitting
force and therefore the impact force is directed substantially towards the
object.
[0030] In specific embodiments of the invention, sliding the mobile
section 20 with respect to the guiding section 18 allows for the impact to be
generated onto the impact force transmitting portion without requiring that
the
impact tool is moved with respect to the object 12.
[0031] Accordingly, an intended user relatively easily stabilizes the
impact tool and thereafter exerts the impact to overcome, for example, a
frictional
force between the object 12 and an item (not shown in the drawings). In some
cases, the impact force is exerted so that the object 12 is inserted to
connect two
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items. In other embodiments of the invention, the impact force is exerted so
that
the object is pulled such as to detach the object from the two items.
[0032] In other words, an impact tool, such as impact tool 10, includes a
gripping portion 14 for gripping the object 12, an energy accumulator for
receiving
and storing energy and an impact generator connected to the gripping portion
12
and to the energy accumulator, the impact generator being for producing an
impact force from the stored energy. The impact force is directed
substantially
away from the gripping portion 14.
[0033] An example of an energy accumulator is the mobile section 20
which, upon being accelerated by an intended user, acquires kinetic energy.
This
kinetic energy is transferred to the rest of the tool upon the mobile section
20
contacting the stopper 22.
[0034] However, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the energy
accumulator is any suitable energy accumulator including, for example and non-
limitatively, a pneumatic energy accumulator, an elastic energy accumulator
that
accumulates energy within a biasing element, or any other suitable energy
accumulator.
(0035] In some embodiments of the invention, the energy is
accumulated over a length of time that is substantially smaller than a length
of time
through which the energy is provided to generate the impact force.
Accordingly, a
relatively small amount of power exerted over a relatively long duration
generates
at the time of the impact force a relatively large power exerted over a
relatively
short duration. This relatively large power helps in overcoming relatively
easily
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frictional resistance or any other resistance exerted onto the object.
[0036] In some embodiments of the invention, the gripping portion 14 is
configured and sized for using, at least in part, the stored energy to grip
the object
12 tighter upon the production of the impact force.
[0037] A specific example of an extraction tool, extraction tool 10, is
further described hereinbelow. As shown in the drawings, the guiding section
18
includes a shaft 24. The shaft 24 is substantially rectilinear, substantially
elongated and substantially uniform in cross section, the cross section being
substantially circular. However, in alternative embodiments of the invention,
the
shaft 24 takes any suitable form.
[0038] For example, in other embodiments of the invention, a shaft is of
substantially square, rectangular or any other polygonal cross section. In
other
embodiments of the invention, the cross section of a shaft is not
substantially
uniform along its length.
[0039] The stopper 22 includes a stopping member 26 connected to the
shaft 24 and extending at least in part substantially outwardly and
substantially
radially therefrom. Accordingly, in some embodiments of the invention, the
stopper 26 defines a flange substantially perpendicular to the shaft 24, as
shown
in Figure 4.
[0040] The shaft 24 is removably attached to the stopper 22 and to the
gripping portion 14. To that effect, the shaft 24 includes first and second
threaded
ends 30 and 32. Also, the gripping portion 14 defines a gripping portion
threaded
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bore 34, shown in Figure 3. In addition, the stopper 22 also defines a
threaded
bore, namely a stopper threaded bore 36. The gripping portion threaded bore 32
is for receiving the first threaded end 30; while the second threaded end 32
is
received by the stopper threaded bore 36.
[0041) The mobile portion 20 includes a mobile member 38 defining an
insertion bore extending therethrough (not shown in the drawings). The
insertion
bore is for receiving, at least in part, the shaft 24. In some embodiments of
the
invention, the mobile member is slidably mounted onto the shaft 24.
Furthermore,
the mobile member 38 defines a handle for receiving the hand of an intended
user.
[0042] Since the mobile portion 20 generates the impact force, the
mobile member 38 needs to be of a suitable mass to generate a suitable impact
force. In a specific example of implementation, the mobile member 38 has a
mass
of between about 550 and about 650 grams. In other specific example of
implementations, the mobile member 38 has a mass of between about 300 and
about 750 grams. In other specific example of implementations, the mobile
member 38 has any other suitable mass.
[0043] In some embodiments of the invention, the mobile member 38
defines a central portion 42, and first and second end portions 44 and 46
connected to the central portion 42. The central portion 42 is of a diameter
relatively smaller than the end portions 44 and 46, thereby defining the
handle.
However, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the handle is defined in
any
other suitable manner.
[0044] The end portion 46 defines a substantially flat impact surface 48
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for transmitting the impact force to the stopping member 26.
[0045] The gripping portion 14 is now described in further details with
reference to Figures 2, 3 and 5. The gripping portion 14 includes a body 58
defining a cavity 50. The gripping portion 14 includes a first mobile jaw 52
provided, at least in part, within the cavity 50. The first mobile jaw is for
gripping
the object 12 by moving within the cavity 50.
(0046] The gripping portion 14 further includes a second jaw 54. In the
embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the first and second jaws
52
and 54 are both mobile jaws. However, in alternative embodiments of the
invention, only one jaw 52 is provided or alternatively an immobile jaw and a
mobile jaw 52 are provided.
(0047] The cavity 50 defines an opening 56. The cavity 50 is tapered
towards the opening 56. The first and second jaws 52 and 54 are inserted
within
the cavity and intersect the opening 56.
[0048] The cavity 50 is defined within a body 58 of the gripping portion
14, the cavity being defined by first and second tapered inner surfaces 60, 62
and
by first and second lateral inner surfaces 64 and 66. The first and second
tapered
inner surfaces 60 and 62 are angled at an acute angle with respect to each
other,
and the first and second lateral surfaces 66 and 64 are substantially parallel
(shown in Figure 5).
[0049] The jaws 52 and 54 define respective gripping surfaces 72 and
74. The gripping surfaces 72 and 74 are substantially parallel to each other
and
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configured and sized for gripping the object 12.
[0050] The gripping surfaces 72 and 74 are any suitable surface. For
example, the gripping surfaces 72 and 74 each include at least one tooth 76.
The
tooth 76 defines a first tooth surface 78 that is substantially acutely angled
with
respect to the gripping surface 72 or 74 on which it resides, and a second
tooth
surface 80 that is substantially perpendicular to the gripping surface 72 or
74 on
which it resides. The first tooth surface 78 is angled such as to facilitate
an
insertion of the object 12 between the first and second jaws 52 and 54. In
some
embodiments of the invention, as shown in the drawings, each of the jaws 52
and
54 includes a plurality of teeth 76.
[0051] The first and second jaws 52 and 54 further include respectively
first and second cavity contact surfaces 82 and 84. The cavity contact
surfaces 82
and 84 contact respectively the tapered inner surfaces 60 and 62. In a
specific
embodiment of the invention, the cavity contact surfaces 82 and 84 are
substantially parallel to the tapered inner surfaces 60 and 62 when the
contact
surfaces 52 and 54 are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the
cavity 50.
[0052] The first and second lateral surfaces 64 and 66 are defined by
first and second lateral panels 86 and 88 that are removably attached to the
gripping portion. In some embodiments of the invention, the lateral panels 86
and
88 are each maintained by respective substantially U-shaped lids provided in
the
gripping portion 14 defining slits 90. The lateral panels 86 and 88 are also
maintained in place by a fastener, such as a screw 92 that is inserted within
a
corresponding threaded bore (not shown in the drawings), of the gripping
portion
14.
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[0053] Having lateral panels that are relatively easily removable from
the gripping portion 14 makes an assembly of the tool 10 relatively easy to
perform.
[0054] The jaws 52 and 54 are biased towards the opening 56 by a
biasing element provided within the cavity 50. In some embodiments of the
invention, the biasing element includes a spring 92. In addition, the biasing
element includes a contact plate 94 connected to the spring 92. The contact
plate
94 is for contacting the first and second mobile jaws 52 and 54 so as to
transmit
thereto a biasing force exerted by the spring 92. However, the reader skilled
in the
art will readily appreciate that any suitably manner of biasing the jaws 52
and 54
towards the opening 56 is used in alternative embodiments of the invention.
[0055] In use, as better shown in Figures 4 and 6, the tool 10 is first
moved toward the object 12 such as to insert the object 12 between the jaws 52
and 54. The jaws 52 and 54 are shaped such that the object 12 is relatively
easily
insertable therebetween. To provide space between the jaws 52 and 54 such that
the object 12 is insertable therebetween, the jaws 52 and 54 move within the
cavity 50 substantially away from the opening 60. This is made possible
because
of the tapered nature of the cavity and of the orientation of the cavity
contact
surfaces 82 and 84.
[0056) Subsequently, the mobile member 20 is moved from a proximity
of the gripping portion 14 towards the stopping member 26. This motion is
effected by an intended user either relatively slowly or relatively swiftly,
depending
upon the magnitude of the impact force to generate. Higher velocities of the
mobile member 20 at the stopper 22 create larger impact forces onto the
stopper
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26.
[0057] When the surface 48 impacts the stopper 26, the energy
accumulated into the mobile section 20 is transmitted to the stopper 26 and
subsequently to the gripping portion 14. Because of the direction of the
impact,
the gripping portion has a tendency to move away from the object 12.
(0058] However, the teeth 76 grip the object 12, the gripping force being
larger with larger impacts. This is caused by the tapered nature of the cavity
60,
which forces the jaws 52 and 54 towards each other with a force that is
substantially proportional to the impact force. Accordingly, when a large
force is
exerted on the jaws 52 and 54, the object 12 is gripped with more force, which
in
suitable embodiments of the invention makes the jaws 52 and 54 immobile with
respect to the object 12.
[0059] Since the impact force is directed substantially away from the
gripping portion 14, and therefore from the object 12, a net effect of pulling
the
object 12 is produced. Therefore, any force retaining the object 12, such as
the
friction force, is overcome if the impact force is suitably large. In this
case, the
object 12 moves with the impact tool 10.
[0060] When the object 12 is extracted, an intended user may remove
the object 12 from the tool 10 simply by pushing onto the jaws 52 and 54 so as
to
substantially eliminate a force pushing the contact surfaces 72 and 74 towards
each other. Then, the user relatively easily removes the object 12 from the
impact
tool 10.
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(0061] In alternative embodiments of the invention, a handle is
connected to a gripping portion but not mobile onto a guiding section. For
example, a handle is connected to a shaft that is itself connected to the
gripping
portion. In this case, a user simply exerts a force on the handle, and when a
force
is directed substantially away from the gripping portion 14, the jaws 52 and
54 are
forced substantially towards each other as described hereinabove.
[0062] In this case, therefore, there is no impact force generated and
the user simply pulls on the object 12 through the handle. However, similarly
to
what is described hereinabove, the gripping force increases with an extraction
force exerted onto the handle by the user.
[0063] In other words, an extraction tool 10 is for extracting the object
12 and is usable by the user. The tool 10 includes a first jaw 52 including a
first
gripping surface 72 for gripping the object 12. The first jaw further
including an
external surface, such as the cavity contact surface 82, that is substantially
opposed to the first gripping surface 52. The tool 10 further includes a
second jaw
54 including a second gripping surface 54 for gripping the object 12 and an
actuator contacting the first jaw 52 through the external surface. A non-
limitative
example of such an actuator is the body 58.
(0064] The first and second jaws 52 and 54 are coupled together for
movement between an open and a closed configuration. In the open configuration
the object 12 is mobile between the first and second gripping surfaces 52 and
54.
In the closed configuration, the object 12 is gripped by the first and second
gripping surfaces. The actuator is configured and sized so that upon the user
exerting a force on the tool 10 directed substantially away from the object
12, the
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actuator exerts a force on the external surface directed so that the first and
second
gripping surfaces 52 and 54 are pressed substantially towards each other to
adopt
the closed configuration.
[0065 Although the present invention has been described hereinabove
by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing
from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended
claim.
