US3167344A

US3167344A - Reinforced gripper sling

Info

Publication number: US3167344A
Application number: US162465A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Applegarth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-12-27
Filing date: 1961-12-27
Publication date: 1965-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-26

Description

26, 1965 J. c. APPLEGARTH 3, 67,

REINFORCED GRIPPER sum Filed Dec. 27. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,/my/j United States Patent 3,167,344 REINFDRCEI) GRIPPER SLING John C. Applegarth, R0. Box 143, Cambridge, Md. Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,465 3 Claims. (Cl. 294-74} This invention relates to. improvements in gripper slings, and more particularly to a reinforced gripper sling which has strengthened edges.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a reinforced gripper sling wherein the side edges thereof are strengthened so that there will be less likelihood of the sling fabric breaking along the edges as has sometimes previously occurred during oifcenter loadings, which cause one edge of the sling to be more strained than the other edge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced sling edge wherein a plurality of interfitting side bars are positioned contiguous to the outer side edge portions of the sling and wherein there is provided a novel and eflicient means for attaching the side bars as well as the main body portion of the sling to the end fittings or handles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, and is efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

The above and other objects will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein one desirable form of the invention is illustrated. It is to be especially understood however, that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar part throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational View illustrating the reinforced gripper sling of the present invention being used for handling a load.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the reinforced gripper sling per se and with parts broken away.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed view showing certain constructional details of the reinforced gripper sling of the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the handles or end fittings.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the improved reinforced gripper sling of the present invention which is adapted to be used for different purposes, as for example a gripper sling can be used for handling or engaging a load such as the load 11, and in the drawings the numeral 12 indicates the flexible elongated interwoven body portion or belt portion of the sling which is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as a suitable wire fabric like material.

The body portion 12 comprises or embodies a plurality of smooth intermediate spiral sections or wires 13 as well as a pair of end wires or sections 24, and these spiral wires include intermeshing strands 14 which have a plurality of spaced parallel rods or pins 15 extending therethrough.

As shown in the drawings, the lengthwise dimension of the rod 16 is greater than the width of the body portion 12 so that end portions of the rod 15 extends out- Hce Wardly beyond the side edges of the body portion 12 as for example as shown in FIGURE 4, for a purpose to be later described. The outer ends of the rods or pins 15 may be provided with enlarged heads 16 whereby the parts will be maintained in their proper assembled position. As shown in the drawings, there is provided a plurality of interfitting side bars or links 17 which are arranged contiguous to the outer side edges of the body portion 12, and the side bars 17 each have a pair of spaced apart apertures or openings 18 therein for the projection therethrough of the end portions of the rods 16.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the sling 10 further includes first and second end fittings or handles 19 and 2th which are provided with opening 21 and 22 therein for engageinent by a hook such as the hook 23 of FIGURE 1.

The first end fitting 19 is provided with an elongated slot 25 therein whereby the end fitting 20 can be selectively extended or projected through the slot 25 when desired or required, and the surfaces of the end fitting 19 adjacent or surrounding the slot 25 are adapted to be beveled or rounded slightly as at 26 so as to help insure that there will be no sharp edges to damage the variou parts of the sling.

Each of the fittings 19 and 2b is provided with a main body portion 3% of uniform thickness, and each of the end fittings further includes a portion 27 of reduced thickness which defines a shoulder, and the shoulder 27 has a plurality of spaced apart apertures or openings 28 therein for engagement with or for receiving the end spirals 24. The outer end portions of the opening 28 are tapered or have a flaring formation as indicated by the numeral 29 so that there Will be a minimum amount of friction between the end sections 24 and the shoulder 27 so that there will be less likelihood of binding occurring at these points.

As shown in the drawings, the inner corner portions of the end fittings has a plurality of spaced parallelslots or recesses 31 which define therebetween spaced parallel fingers or lugs 32, and these fingers or lugs 32 have aligned registering apertures or openings 33 therein, and the opening 33 are adapted to register with corresponding apertures 18 in the adjacent side bars 17, whereby the pins 34 can be extended through these registering apertures 33 and 18, and the pins 34 may be secured in place in any suitable manner. The pins of the shoulder 27 terminate at points which are spaced inwardly from the slots 31 as shown in the drawings.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a sling which has reinforced side edges and wherein with the construction of the present invention there Will be less likelihood of thesling breaking at the sides as for example when offcenter loads are being handled, lifted or the like.

In use, with the parts arranged as shown in the draw ings, it will be seen that the slot 25 in the end fitting 19 provides a means whereby the end fitting 2%) can be extended through the slot 25 so that a hook such as the hook 23 can be arranged in engagement with the opening 22 in the fitting 29 in order to lift a member or load such as the load indicated by the numeral 11 in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The sling It includes the main body portion 12 which is of Woven wire construction and which includes intermeshing and interfitting spiral sections 13 as well as the end sections 24, and these sections are interconnected to gether by means of the rods or pins 15, and the ends of these rods 15 have the side bars 17 thereon. Due to the provision of the plurality of side bars 17 which are of a predetermined length and wherein the side bars 17 have the openings 18 therein through which extend the rods 15, it will be seen that a flexible construction is provided for the entire sling or belt so that not'only do the rods function as pivot pins or axes about which the sections 13 can swivel, but in addition. these rods 15 function as swivel points for the side bars 17. The side bars 17 are interfitted and interconnected with each other as shown in FIGURE 4 for example, and there is pro- 'vided in each corner of the fitting a slot 31 Whichreceives the adjacent or contiguous side bars 17, and the pins 34 function as pivots for the endmost side bars '17, and the pins 34als'o extend through the openings 33 and through the corresponding openings 18 in order to retain or maintain the end fittings'connected to the adjacent side bars 17 in the desired or required manner.

The shoulders 27 of reduced thickness have the openings. 28 therein for receiving portions of the end spiral sections 24, and it will be seen that the slots'31 are arranged adjacent the outer end portions of the shoulders 27 so that the side bars 17 will be able to mesh with the slots 31 in the required and desired manner. Due to the provision of the slots 31 and the associatedparts,

it will be seen that the side bars 17 can be firmly and efiiciently connected to the end fittings, so that with'the 'end sections '24 connected to the openings 28, the entire sling will have a reinforced and rugged construction, and

wherein the sling is of a flexible construction so that it will fit or receive loads of different shapes or sizes.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in diiferent shapes or sizes.

The interfitting side bars 17 are arranged" so that they can pivot or flex, whereby the entire sling is flexible, and

' able plastic material can be used to cover the entire sling so asto combine the protection of an elasticcovenngwith shipping bundled lumber, and turning finished tomb- 'stones as well as handling concretevaults.

In addition other uses to which the sling can be conveniently and readily put are in erecting precast hollow'core concrete beams, handling structural beams, positioning paper'ma- 'chine'rolls, handlingcalenderingrolls, moving heat exchangertube bundles, andlifting irregularly shaped objects. The sling of the present invention is such that there will be. no load damage, and wherein the sling is safe to use and strong in construction so that the sling ofthe present invention is fast, safe and convenient and easy to use and wherein therein is a strong, gentle grip which provides a saft, sure balance.

1 Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming Within the scope of the invention claimed maybe resorted to inactual practice,'if desired.

What is claimed is: v 1. A' gripper sling comprising 'a flexibleelongated interwoven body portion comprising a series of smooth the rods 15 function as common pivot points forboth' the p side bars 17 and the spiral sections 13. a

As shown in FIGURE 3, the fittings. 19 and 20 on the ends of thesling provide handles" and whereby the sling can be used in choke hitch. The end fittings have the line of openings or holes 28, and "the last or end spiral 24 weaves into this line of holes 28.

The side bars 17 serve to strengthen the'edges of the sling; Otfcenter loadings cause 'one edge of the sling to be more strainedthanthe other, and the result is that the sling fabric usually breaks along the edges first. In order to strengthen this edge, the metal strips or side bars 17 are provided as shown in the drawing. Theentire I sling has a rugged and flexible construction 'due' to the I unique manner in which the end spirals 24 are connected to the openings 28 of the shoulders 27, together Withthe manner in which the side bars 17 are positioned and connected asrat 34 to the end fittings.

The sling constructed according to the present invention is completely flexible and the slings made according to the present invention can hinge across their width and this means that they wrap snugly around smallorirregularly shaped loads,'and gently hug sharp load edges so that there will be no cutting or'scoring of the load; In addition the sling permits fast easy rigging, and kinking, tangling, or snarling is prevented. Loads can be handled with increased safety and stability,-and the'slings are made of woven wire spirals in a transverse loop con struction and. the slings will give maximum safety since there will be less likelihood of the strands snapping, Weakening or breaking. Also, there will be lower sling maintenance and the sling will have longer life and greater strength. Because the strong wire loops are interwoven, load tensions aremore evenly distributed throughout the entire length and width of the sling to give maximum load capacity at all times. Loads can be handled gently and the sling can be used in either basket or choke hitch.

.1 spaced inwardly, from the slots.

intermediate spiral wires and endfwires having intermeshing strands, a plurality of spaced parallel rods extending through said intermeshing strands and said rods having outer end portions extending outwardly beyond the side edges of the. body portion," a plurality of inter- -fitting side bars positioned adjacent to and along the outer side edges of the body portion, said side bars having" a plurality of apertures therein for the projection therethrough of the outer end portions of said rods, with the spacing between .adja'centside bars in-line with the longitudinal axes of said rodsbeing the'thick'ness of the side bar fittherebetween; first and second end fittings having :hook engaging openings therein, said first end fitting being provided with an elongated slot therein, each of saidend fittings including a portion of reduced thickness which defines a shoulder that has Ea plurality of spaced apartopenings therein for engaging theend 'wires of said body portion, each' of said end fittings having spaced apart groups of spaced parallel slots which define in the cornenportions of the "end fittings sets of spaced parallel fingers forinterfitting' with adjacent'side bars there being alignedapertures in saidf fingers and side bars, and pins extending through said'aligned apertures.

2. The. structure "as defined in ,claim 1 wherein said shoulders have their ends terminating at points which are 3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the longitudinal axes of said bars is parallelto the longitudinal axis of the body portion. Q

References Cited in the file ofthispatent g FOREIGN PATENTS p j 1,169,829 France at 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Cambridge Conveyor. Belts, copyright '1956, catalogue published by The Cambridge Wire Cloth Co. of Cambridge, Maryland, page 1l1.

Claims

1. A GRIPPER SLING COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED INTERWOVEN BODY PORTION COMPRISING A SERIES OF SMOOTH INTERMEDIATE SPIRAL WIRES AND END WIRES HAVING INTERMESHING STRANDS, A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL RODS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID INTERMESHING STRANDS AND SAID RODS HAVING OUTER END PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE SIDE EDGES OF THE BODY PORTION, A PLURALITY OF INTERFITTING SIDE BARS POSITIONED ADJACENT TO AND ALONG THE OUTER SIDE EDGES OF THE BODY PORTION, SAID SIDE BARS HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES THEREIN FOR THE PROJECTION THERETHROUGH OF THE OUTER END PORTIONS OF SAID RODS, WITH THE SPACING BTWEEN ADJACENT SIDE BARS IN-LINE WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID RODS BEING THE THICKNESS OF THE SIDE BAR FIT THEREBETWEEN; FIRST AND SECOND END FITTINGS