US2318164A - Lifting and/or holding device - Google Patents

Description

May 1943. D. L. KELLEMS 2,318,164

LIF'I'ING AND/OR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESS INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS May 4, 1943. D. L. KELLEMS LIFTING AND/OR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1942 WITNESS '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 II o 0 (fi l i 69 T H 55 66 I 74 W; J 9 9 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR 43 174/40 Z; )(SLLEMfi May 4, 1943.

D. L. KELLEMS LIFTING AND/OR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY 1M ATTORNEYS INVENTOR I ,Dfl/w L. (5440/5 y 1943- D. L. KELLEMS A 2318,164

LIFTING AND/OR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1942 -4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 2/7/ 1) l./(44M.$

WITNESS ATTORN EYS Patented May 4, 1943 2,318,164 LIFTING AND/R HOLDING DEVICE David L. Kellems, Westport, Conn., assignor to Kellems Company, New York, N.

Y., a partnership consisting of Vivien Kellems and David L.

Kellems 7 Application January 5, 1942, Serial No. 425,664

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a device having use in the lifting of objects from a place of rest and in the carrying of the lifted objects to a place of discharge.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting device which will grip an object more securely than devices heretofore utilized for this purpose.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting and/or holding device whose gripping and releasing operations are readily and effectively controlled through associated cooperating lever mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting or holding device in which are included means capable of utilizing the pulling or lifting forces applied to increase the gripping action of the device upon an object to an extent proportional to the intensity of such applied forces so that the greater the force that is required to be applied to the device to move an object, the greater will be the gripping action of the device on the object.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting device having control mechanisms which make it entirely safe to move highly dangerous objects with the device.

With above and other objects in view, the present invention provides a lifting device which, broadly speaking, includes a tubular basket or meshed tube adapted to receive the object to be lifted and constructed by winding a series of strands so that they spiral in opposite directions around the longitudinal, central axis of the baslret or tube, the strands being arranged in open meshed fashion to enable the basket or tube to be considerably varied in a radial direction by endwise compression or expansion thereof to accommodate objects having widely varying shapes and sizes. In accordance with the invention, a leverage or pulley system is connected to spaced portions of this basket or baskets, preferably the ends thereof, and such leverage or pulley system'is preferably operated automatically in the lifting of the device with the object in such manner as to cause the basket or tube to exert a gripping action on the object proportional to the weight of the object being lifted and the forces required to lift the object and the device.

. The novel features of the invention as well as the advantages thereof will become more clear after a perusal of the following description, read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 55

in which are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one form of the lifter showing in full lines the normal position of the parts and showing in dotted outline the manner in which the parts are adjusted for the reception of an object therein; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of another form of the invention and illustrating the position of the parts thereof Just prior to the lifting of the device; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the control mechanism embodied in the device shown in Fig. '3 and illustrating in dotted outline the manner in which the control device is rendered inoperative to extend the basket or tube of the device; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing the position of the .parts during the lifting operation; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the control mechanism showing the condition of the same during the lifting operation; Fig. 7 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the device shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the operating lever of the control mechanism, a portion thereof being in section to illustrate more clearly the operation of the parts thereof; Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the Fig. 12 is a perspective elevational view illustrating another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 13 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing still another form of the invention; Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 13,

and Fig. 15 is an elevational view illustrating a still further modification of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reference character 20 indicates generally the ring which forms the top or upper end of the body of the lifting device. The lower or bottom ring is indicated by the numeral 2|. Intermediate the spaced rings 20 and 2| is formed an open meshed tubular structure designated generally by the reference numeral 22 and composed of a plurality of wire strandsfolded intermediate their ends about the upper ring 20 and extending in spiral fashion towards the bottom ring 2|, the sections 23 of the wire strands being interwoven or braided with the sections 24 of the strands and spiralling about the central, longitudinal axis of the structure in a direction opposite to that of the wire sections 24, as can be clearly seen in Fig. l of the drawings. As the loops formed by the lower ring of the device illustrated in Fig. 3:-

strands around the upper ring 20 are formed in the construction of the basket 22, the ring 20 is woven into the fabric construction and becomes an integral part thereof. The ends of the strand sections 23 and 24 may be deadened" by twisting two oppositely spiralling wires together and permanently securing such twisted ends to the bottom ring 2| in any suitable fashion as by soldering or by passing them through spaced apertures inthe ring 2| and then aflixing them to such ring or, as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by securing them in tubular clasps or clips 25 which are bent around and secured to the lower ring 2|.

It will be understood from the foregoing description, that the open meshed structure 22 is so formed that it may be considerably varied in diameter by endwise compression and expansion thereof. Thus it may be expanded radially by endwise compression forces to enable it to be placed readily over and upon the portion of the article to be lifted, and when the compression forces are removed it will automatically contract radially to frictionally engage the outer surfaces of the portion of the object which it encloses. When an endwise pull or force is thereupon exerted tending to extend the open meshed structure, the strands of the latter will tighten upon the exterior surface of the object and thereby secure a firm, frictional grip. The greater the endwise force or pull exerted upon the open meshed structure the greater will be the gripping action of the latter upon the object. As both of the rings 20 and 2| are preferably made of relatively stiff wire and have a diameter greater than the diameter of the open meshed structure, they tend to increase the rigidity of the open meshed structure and to facilitate the gripping action thereof, due to the fact that they cause an initial tension to be placed on the intermediate portions of the open meshed structure.

Secured to-the upper ring ID are a pair of spaced grips or'handles each composed of a cylindrically-shaped handle member 2|5Ymade of wood or any other suitable material and through which extends a bolt 21 whose ends are supported upon and connected tothe outer ends of its associated pair of lever members 28, 28. The two lever members 28, 28 of each handle are each pivotally supported intermediate its ends by a cotter pin 29 whose intermediate portion or head is bent around and surrounds the upper ring 20 and whose legs extend-through an aperture provided in the lever member 28 and are then bent in opposite directions about the upper and lower sides of the lever member. A washer may be provided on the legs of the cotter pin intermediate the spread portionsof such legs and the outer surface of the lever 28, By this construction there is provided a -simpl e,=strong pivotal connection between the. levers 28 and: the upper ring 20, the heads of the cotter-pins 29 being free to move back and forth on the ring to enable the pivotal points'of the levers 28 to be shifted relative tothe'ring during the expansion and contraction of the basket or tube 22. The inner ends of each pair of lever members 28, 28 are connected to the upper ends of two upstanding, rigid, channel-shaped, metal straps 3|, 3| positioned in diametrically opposed relation on the device and extending longitudinally of the same to the lower ring 2|. The connection of the lever members 28 with the rigid straps 3| is a pivotal one and may be made by passing a bolt 30 through each strap and its two associated lever members 28 and then flattening the inner end of such bolt against a washer to make a permanent connection. The lower ends of the rigid straps 3|, 8| are connected to the bottom ring 2| by cotter pins 32 which are folded around the bottom ring 2| and then passed through apertures in the bottom ends of the straps, the ends or legs thereof being then spread in opposed relation within the channeled strap members, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to secure the straps in position. Preferably, the head of each cotter pin 32 is maintained against movement on the ring 2| by spacer members which are positioned on each side of the cotter pin on the ring and between the two clasps .25 between which such pin is positioned.

In the use of the above described device, the bottom end thereof is inserted over the object to be lifted and is forced down on such object by the operator pushing down on the two handle members 26, 26. As a result of this action, the handles will be moved to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, thereby causing the open meshed structure 22 to be enlarged in a radial direction to an extent where it will readily slip over the object. When the device is properly positioned on the object, the operator, by lifting the device upwardly through his grip on the handle members 26, 26, will cause the lever members 28 to pivot upwardly about the cotter pins 29, 29, thereby forcing the rigid strap members 3|, 3| and the lower ring 2| downwardly and consequently elongating the tubular member to the extent that the strands thereof are caused to come into tight gripping relation with the exterior surfaces of the portion of the object enclosed thereby. Preferably, the normal diameter or cross-sectional area of the open meshed structure is less than the diameter or cross-sectional area of the object to be lifted so that when the device is placed on the object it will have a longitudinal length less than that of normal, as is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus, the wire structure will by such insertion be placed under an initial tension causing it to apply an initial gripping action on the object as soon as it is in place thereon. When thereupon lifting pressure is applied to the handles 26, 26, such pressure, through the lever members 28, the strap members 3| and the bottom ring 2|, will serve to further bind the open meshed structure more closely and securely against the exterior surfaces of the object. The greater the force required to lift the object, the greater will be the binding action of the device upon the object so that a firm gripping and anchoring of the lifting device is obtained on the object andthe latter may be safely carried to any place desired. Due to the fact that the diameter of the bottom ring 2| is greater than the diameter of the body portion of the open meshed structure 22, there is imparted to the latter a rigidity which enables the device to be forced down over the object without any danger of the open meshed structure bending along its longitudinal axis or collapsing duringthe'application of such force, while at the same time enabling such structure to expand radially to receive the object.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple, effective lifting construction which is durable and can be produced at relatively low cost. The leverage is relatively rigid and its ratio can-be readily made as high as desired, thus making it possible to provide a. grip which is shorter in length and/or greater in diameter than those which have heretofore been madev and which can be utilized for the lifting of a large variety of objects and for many purposes for-which devices of this type were not heretofore adapted. It will also be apparent that the device is well adapted for either manual or mechanical use. In the latter case, the handles of the device can be constructed so that they can be readily engaged by hooks and chains from a machine or crane. In certain uses it may be advantageous to increase the frictional gripping capacity of the device by lining theinterior of the basket or tube 22 with a material having high frictional characteristics such as felt. leather or rubber. In Figs. 1 and 20f the drawings, a leather lining of this character is designated by the reference numeral 33. The leather lining is maintained inproper position within the basket or tube 22 by securing it to the bottom ring 2i with any suitable means such as the leather thong 34 illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. It will be evident that the leather linings will increase the frictional grip of the device on the object and thereby reduce any possibility of the object becoming separated during the lifting action. As the lining 33 also decreases the diameter of the member 22 by the thickness of such lining, the grip of the device on an object will be correspondingly tighter. These linings possess the further advantage that they protect the surfaces of the object from becoming scratched and enable the lifting of painted and fragile objects without damage. These linings also serve to insulate the object from the gripping device and consequently the operator or the lifting mechanism, which accomplishment may be of decided advantage under certain conditions.

Instead of connecting the lever members 28 of the handles to a pair of rigid straps 3|, as in the above described device, there may be provided a pair of basket elongation control straps for each handle in order to obtain a more even distribution of the applied forces to the meshed structure or basket. A device of this construction is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 11 of the drawings, in which construction the upper ring of the device is composed of an outer ring member 40 provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged apertures through which extend a similar member of threaded bolts 4i whose heads are positioned interiorly of the ring 40 and in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the latter, as can be more readily seen in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Intermediate the ring 40 and the heads of such bolts or pins 4|, are looped the upper ends of the strands or wires of the basket or woven structure 22'. The looped portions of the strands are locked in position by an inner guard ring 42 which is swedged to the interior surfaces of the ring 40 (see Fig. 8) and'is prohibited against vertical movement relative to the ring 40 by the heads of the bolts or pins 4! and finger members or lugs 43 which extend over the upper surfaces of the inner ring 42 and are fixedly secured at their outer ends to the ring 40 by means of the bolts 44. The woven structure 22' is connected to the bottom ring 45 by spiralling the ends of the strand sections 23' and 24' together in pairs to form the spiralled terminal ends 46 (see Fig. 11), inserting such ends through the transverse apertures 4'! provided in member 45. Secured to the lower the extending force and the bottom ring 43 and securing the inserted portions of the spiralled ends 43 in position relative to the ring 45 by means of set screws 43 threaded through vertical apertures provided in the bottom edge portion of the ring 45.

Depending from the upper ring 40- are two pairs of slotted lever brackets Iii, illand 5|, II which pivotally support the lever members 52, 52 and 53, 33, respectively. The inner ends of the lever members 32, 52 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of two rigid strap members 54, 54 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the vertically disposed members 53, 56 secured to and extending upwardly from the bottom ring 45. In a similar manner, the inner ends of the lever members 33, 53 are connected to the upper ends of the strap members 55, 65 pivotally supported on the members 51, I! provided on the ring 45; The outer ends of the levers 52, 52 are loosely connected together by a bolt 58 while the outer ends of the levers 53, 53 are similarly connected by a bolt 58'. Connected to the bolts 58, 68' are U-shaped couplings 59, 59 to which, are connected the cables 60, by which the device may be lifted.

As the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 cperates in a manner somewhat similar to the device illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is not believed necessary to describe its operation in detail. Suffice it to say that the forces which extend the gripping portion 22' of the device are applied by the levers 52 and 53 and to the member 22 through the strap members 54, 55, the upper ring 40 and the bottom ring 45. The amount of the extending force will depend upon the pulling or lifting force required or rather upon the weight of the object being lifted. Thus, the more the object weighs, the greater will be the greater the gripping action upon the object. This makes it possible to lift heavy objects with complete safety. As an additional feature of this construction, however, there is provided on each side of the device a control and safety mechanism, each of which includes an operating lever 6| pivotally mounted at its inner end on a pin 62 which extends through aligned openings in a collar 63 and the upper. end of a vertical rod 64 upon which the collar 63 is secured. The rod 64 is revolvably and slidably connected to the device by means of a strap 65 provided on the upper ring 40- and a strap 66 which is provided on the lower ring end of the rod 64 is a second elongated collar member 61, the distance between the same and the upper collar 63 being suflicient to enable the rod 64 to be shifted lengthwise for a small distance relative to the straps 65 and 66. The operating lever 6| is provided with a finger 68 which is adapted to be moved into engagement with a loose washer -69 mounted on the rod 64 and resting on the upper end of the strap 65, to maintain the rod 64 in a raised position relative to the device, as is indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Normally, the lever 6| is in the full line position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, with the integral cross bar 10 thereof (see Figs. 4 and 10) resting on the collar 63. In this position of the lever 6! a pair of spring pressed balls ll provided on the cross bar 10 and constituting latch members are engaged with recesses provided on an upright member 12 integral with the collar 63, to maintain the lever Si in this position until positively removed therefrom. By depressing the lever 8!, however. the locking enger His broken and the stop finger 58 is moved to the dotted line position hereinabove mentioned.

' The lower end of the elongated collar or cylindrical member 51 has integrally formed therewith a transverse foot member 13 extending at right angles to the .rod 54. By rotating the operating lever and consequently rod 54. the foot member .13 can be swung from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings where such member will extend inwardly towards the axial center of the device. Rotational movement of the lever 6i and the rod 54 is restricted by means of a depending finger 14 connected to the lower strap .65 and cooperating with a pair of spaced stop blocks l5, l5 integrally formed on the member 81. The position of the finger 14 relative to the stops l5, I5 is maintained until positively disturbed by means of a curved spring member 16 whose ends are supported in slots provided in the member 51 and whose intermediate outer surface portion frictionally engages the inner surface of the finger I4, as is illustrated more clearly in Fig.9 of the drawings.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that when the operating lever 6| is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the finger 63 by its engagement with the loose washer 69 holds the upper and lower rings 40 and 45, respectively, at their minimum distance, thus holding the minor basket 22' in its fully expanded and released condition. With the device in this condition, the crane or hoist lowers the device over the object to be lifted,

such as, the shell illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. During the lower of the device over gagement of the latch members I! with the finof the device should any failure or accident occur.

"'- For example, without the safety mechanism, it is the object, the foot or safety members 13 come i into contact with the ground and fixthe position of the lifter with respect to the object;' serator then lifts the lever Gil of each""c'o'ntrol I I 58 thereof into contact with the washers B9 to mechanism from the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4 of the drawings to the position shown in full lines in such figuref The; with-' drawal of the finger 68 from its engagement with the washer 63 frees the Woven member or basket 22' and enables'it to be constricted diametrically .or elongated to come into grippingrelation with the object as soon as the lever'members 52, 53

are raised. The operator thereupon causes the crane to lift the device and as aresult'of this action the cables 60, 6B pull up on the lever members 52, 52 and 53, 53 until the grip is tight on the object and the object is then liftedfrom the ground. During this lifting actionof the crane and while the device and the object are, being possible that the grip of the device might be accidently released if the bottom ring came to rest momentarily against some protruding object during the lifting action and let the object fall clear of the device. With the safety mechanism, however, the drop of the object would be stopped as soon as it came into contact with the foot members 15, I5, a distance of only a fraction of an inch, thereby effectively preventing any damage whatsoever. The associated springs 15, 15 will maintain the foot members I3, 13 in this position until they are positively removed therefrom by the operator.

With the foot members l3, 13 in proper safety position beneath the object, the device with the object is then moved to the place where it is to be discharged. At the place of discharge and when the device has been lowered to a position a few inches from the ground, the operator moves the levers Bi from the safety lock position back to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. On further lowering of the device the foot members l3, l3 first come into contact with the ground which stops their movement and as the device is further lowered, the lower ring 45 comes to rest against the upper ends of the elongated collar member 61. The weight of the- levers 52 and 53 during this portion of the operation, however, causes them to keep dropping down until the tops of the straps 54 and 55 hit against the top ring 40. Thus the device, by its own weight, causes the basket or gripping member 22 thereof to expand and automatically releases itself from the object. The safety control mechanism is now in the position illustrated in Fig. .4 of the drawings with the lever Si in the full line position. To remove the device from the object, the operator now only has to push the levers 6| downwardly to the dotted line position, thereby bringing the fingers raise the device from the object and bring it raised from the ground, the rod 64 of each con- .trol-device, by reason of its loose connection with the straps 55 and 65, remains stationary until reason of this longitudinal shifting of the rod 64 relative to the device, there is provided a space between the lower ring 45 and the member 51 of so the collar 63 comes into contact with the washer 59, as is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. By

back into position to lift another object.

In the event that the grip during the transporting of the object has been accidently released so that the object is caused to be dropped upon the foot or safety members l3, 13, it will be evident that such members cannot be moved out from underthe object, as has been above explained, as a portion or all of the weight of the object is being supported by them. To pivot such members out of safety lock position in order to remove the device from the object, it is necessary for the crane to set the device and the object on the ground. Then the device and object as a unit may be readily tilted at an angle to permit the control mechanism to be operated to bring them to the condition shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings with the levers Si in the dotted line position shown in such figure. The two safety mechanisms are preferably so constructed so that the levers 5i move in directions opposite to each other. That is, the lever 6i and foot or safety member 13 of each mechanism will be moved in opposed relation to the corresponding members of the other mechanism. It will, of course, be apparent that where the device is to be used for lifting lighter objects or objects which in themselves are not dangerous, the device need be provided with only one control and safety mechanism instead of two, as is illustrated in the drawings.

Instead of utilizing a lever arrangement to extend the basket or woven gripping member into tight gripping relation with the object, the .same purpose can be accomplished by the use of pulleys. A construction of this type is illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings, in which the upper ring, the basket or gripping member and the bottom. ring of the device are designatedby the reference numerals 88, H and 82, respectively. Secured at their lower ends to the bottom ring 82 are a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending bars or compression members 88, 88 which extend upwardly through straps 84, 84 provided on the upper ring 88 and project above such ring. The upper ends of the members 88, 88 are each provided with an offset portion to which is connected one end of a rope or wire 88. The rope 88 connected to the upper end of each member 88 passes downwardly beneath a pulley wheel 88 rotatably mounted on a pin supported by the strap 84 and ring 88 and thence upwardly to a upporting member 81 secured to the bottom end of the lifting cable 88. It will thus be seen that any pull exerted on the cable 88 will exert a pull on the wires or ropes 88, 88 and through the latter and the compression members 88, 88 will exert a force in the opposite direction upon the bottom ring 82 and consequently the woven gripping-member 8i. The grip will be thus extended to exert a gripping action on the object being lifted by an amount proportional to the force required to lift the object. The advantage of this construction is that the limits to which the device can be extended and contracted are greater than with the leverage constructions because of the free movement of the pulleys and the greater possible length of the compression members 88, 88. Thus the range of diameters which can be gripped with this designls relatively greater than obtainable by use of the above described leverage design.

In Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings. there is 11- lustrated another form of leverage design which may be especially advantageous for certain purposes. In this construction, the bar-like compression members are replaced by a-tubing 88 which encloses the top ring 8 I, the woven gripping member 82 and the bottom ring 88, the latter of which is secured to the lower end of the tubing 88 in any suitable fashion, while the top ring 8| is free to move relative to such tubing 88. Pivotally mounted on brackets 84, 84 provided on theupper end of the tubing 88 in diametrically opposed relation are two lever members 88, 88. Each of the lever members 88 is provided with a toothed portion 88 adapted to engage beneath the upper ring 8i and a curved upper portion 81 adapted to engage with the associated bracket 84. Thus, by pressing the levers 88, 85 towards the tubing 88, the portions 88 thereof will, through their engagement with the upper ring 8|, cause the woven gripping member to be extended longitudinally away from the lower ring 88 and cause it to tightly grip an object inserted therein. When the levers 88, 88 are pivoted in the opposite direction, the gripping action of the device will be broken, the portions 91 of such levers coacting with their associated brackets 84 to limit the outward movements of the levers. This construction has special advantages where it is desirable not only to securely grip the object but by securely holding the tubing 88 against 'the drawings so that its rotation, preventing any rotational movement oi the obiect. I

Instead of using top and bottom rings in the pulley constructionshown in'Flg. 12 of the drawings, the woven gripping. member may be .provided at each end with a plurality of loops. A construction of this type is shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings, in whichconstruction the wires of the woven gripping member I88 are at each end of the member formed into two loops IN and I82. The loops WI and I82 at the bottom end of the device have connected thereto the lower endsof the compression bars I88, 188,-while the loops IN and I82 at the upper end of the device have connected thereto the pulleys I84, I84. In other respects this construction is substantially similar to the construction shown in Fig. 12 of operation need not be gone into in detail. It should be pointed out, however, that the advantages of the construction shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings are that it makes possible a greater range ofexpansion and contraction of the woven gripping member and makes it possible to effectively grip objects having a relatively small diameter. Thus the woven structure may be made of relatively small wires and yet by reason of the tremendous forces which can be exerted through the expansion and contraction mechanism, the device can grip the object securely and without any danger of failure. It will be evident also that this form of the invention can be further modified by providing eyes or rings for the loops I 8| and I82 and threading the ropes or wires I88, I88 through such eyes or rings instead of using pulley wheels. Also, any number of pulleys or rings may be used as is practical and desirable in order to more evenly distribute the pulling forces to the woven gripping member I88.

It will also be obvious to those in the art that many other changes and modifications may be made in the constructions illustrated in the drawings and hereinabove described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, hence I do not wish to limit myself specifically to such constructions.

I claim:

1. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of'a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, rigid means, connected to a. portion of said unit means connected to said rigid means and to said unit at a place spaced from the first mentioned connection of said rigid means with said unit and operable through said rigid means to extend said unit and thereby to contract the same.

2. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, rigid means connected to a portion of said unit and extending longitudinally of the same, and lever means connected to said rigid means and to said unit and operable upon said rigid means to cause an extension of said unit in a longitudinal direction.

3. The combination of an expansible and con tractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, rigid means connected to a. portion of said unit and extending longitudinally of the same, force transmitting means connected to said rigid means operable through said rigid means to cause an extension of said unit in a longitudinal direction.

4. The combination oi an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, rigid means connected to a portion of said unit and extending longitudinally of the same, lever means pivotally mounted on portion of said unit spaced from the portion of such unit to which said rigid means is connected and being connected to said rigid means, said lever means and rigid means being operable to cause an extension of said unit in a longitudinal direction.

5. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to beheld, a rigid member extending longitudinally of said unit and a movable member connected to said rigid member, said rigid and movable members being connected to spaced portions of said unit and operable to cause an extension of said unit in a longitudinal direction.

6. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, rigid means connected to a portion of said unit and extending longitudinally of the same, pulley means mounted on portion of said unit spaced from the portion of such unit to which said rigid means is connected and being connected to said rigid means, said pulley and rigid means being operable to cause an extension of said unit in a longitudinal direction.

'7. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, a plurality of rigid members connected at one end to a portion of said unit, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on portion of said unit spaced from the portion of such unit to which said rigid members are connected and being connected to the other ends of said rigid members, said levers and rigid members being operable to extend said unit in a longitudinal direction.

8. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, means connected to longitudinally spaced portions of said unit and operable to extend said unit in a longitudinal direction, and control means operable to maintain said unit in a contracted condition until released.

9. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, means connected to said unit and operable to extend the same in a longitudinal direction,

and control means including a safety member adapted .to be moved into position beneath an object held by said unit.

10. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, means connected to said unit and operable to extend the same in a longitudinal direction, and control means including an operating lever at one end of said unit and a safety member at the other end of said unit, means operatively connecting said lever and safety member and adapted upon operation of said lever to move said safety member into position beneath an object held by said unit.

11. The combination defined by claim 10, in which said connecting means includes a longitudinally extending rigid member and in which said operating lever is pivotally mounted on said rigid member, and means operable by said lever for controlling the longitudinal extension of said unit.

12. The combination defined by claim 10 including means to limit the range of movement of said operating lever and safety member and means to maintain said lever and member in an adjusted position until positively removed therefrom.

13. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a. common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, a rigid ring secured to each end of said unit, rigid means connected to the lower of said rings and extending upwards from the same towards said other ring, lever means pivotally mounted on saidother ring and connected to said rigid means, said lever means and said rigid means being operable to increase the distance between said rings and to elongate said unit.

14. The combination of an expansible and contractileunit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubular structure adapted to receive an object to be held, rigid means connected to one end of said unit and extending longitudinally of the same to a point beyond the other end thereof, flexible means secured to the projecting portions of said rigid means and movably connected to the adjacent end of said unit, said flexible means being operable through said rigid means to elongate said unit.

15. The combination of an expansible and contractile unit composed of a plurality of strands arranged about a common axis to form a tubu-.

lar structure adapted to receive an object to be held, means connected to said unit and operable to extend the same in a longitudinal direction thereby causing a tight gripping of the unit on an object, and an interior lining in said unit, said lining being composed of flexible material having high frictional characteristics and adapted to increase the frictional grip of the unit on the object.

DAVID L. KELLEMS.

Images