Rod elevator

Abstract

A rod elevator including a first latching mechanism and a second latching mechanism connected to one another in a spaced apart relationship for connecting a pair of rods to one another in an axially aligned relationship. Each of the latching mechanisms has a rod receiving space axially aligned with a rod receiving space of the other latching mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rod elevator, comprising:
 a first latching mechanism having a first body and a first pair of latch members, the first body provided with a first notch on one side thereof, the first notch defining a first rod receiving space, the first pair of latch members pivotally attached to the first body and extending from the first body into the first rod receiving space for releasably retaining a first rod in the first rod receiving space; and   a second latching mechanism having a second body and a second pair of latch members, the second body provided with a second notch on one side thereof, the second notch defining a second rod receiving space, the second pair of latch members pivotally attached to the second body and extending from the second body into the second rod receiving space for releasably retaining a second rod in the second rod receiving space;   wherein the first latching mechanism is connected to the second latching mechanism in a spaced apart relationship with the first rod receiving space of the first latching mechanism substantially aligned with the second rod receiving space of the second latching mechanism such that when the first rod is positioned in the first rod receiving space of the first latching mechanism and the second rod is positioned in the second rod receiving space of the second latching mechanism, the first rod and the second rod are substantially axially aligned.   
     
     
         2 . The rod elevator of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism and a second end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism; and 
 a second arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism and a second end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism. 
 
     
     
         3 . The rod elevator of  claim 2 , wherein first body of the first latching mechanism is pivotally attached to the first end of the first arm and pivotally attached to the first end of the second arm, and wherein the second body of the second latching mechanism is pivotally attached to the second end of the first arm and pivotally attached to the second end of the second arm. 
     
     
         4 . The rod elevator of  claim 2 , wherein first body of the first latching mechanism is pivotally attached to the first end of the first arm and pivotally attached to the first end of the second arm in such a way that the first body is rotatable 360° relative to the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the second body of the second latching mechanism is pivotally attached to the second end of the first arm and pivotally attached to the second end of the second arm in such a way that the second body is rotatable 360° relative to the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         5 . The rod elevator of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first arm and the second arm bow outwardly. 
     
     
         6 . The rod elevator of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hook assembly; 
 a first arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism and a second end attached to the hook assembly; 
 a second arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism and a second end attached to the hook assembly; and 
 an arched structure having a first free end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism and a second free end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism, 
 wherein the arched structure is detachably connected to the hook assembly. 
 
     
     
         7 . The rod elevator of  claim 6 , wherein the hook assembly comprises:
 a base; and   a hook connected to the base in such a way that the hook is rotatable 360° relative to the base.   
     
     
         8 . The rod elevator of  claim 6 , wherein first body of the first latching mechanism is pivotally attached to the first end of the first arm and pivotally attached to the first end of the second arm in such a way that the first body is rotatable 360° relative to the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         9 . The rod elevator of  claim 8 , wherein the second body of the second latching mechanism is pivotally attached to the first free end of the arched structure and pivotally attached to the second free end of the arched structure in such a way that the second body is rotatable 360° relative to the arched structure. 
     
     
         10 . The rod elevator of  claim 9 , wherein the hook assembly comprises:
 a base; and   a hook connected to the base in such a way that the hook is rotatable 360° relative to the base.   
     
     
         11 . A method of interconnecting a first rod and a second rod wherein each of the first rod and the second rod has at least one latching section defined by a section of reduced diameter, the method comprising:
 obtaining a rod elevator comprising:
 a first latching mechanism having a first body and a first pair of latch members, the first body provided with a first notch on one side thereof, the first notch defining a first rod receiving space sized to receive the latching section of one of the first rod and the second rod, the first pair of latch members pivotally attached to the first body and extending from the first body into the first rod receiving space; and 
 a second latching mechanism having a second body and a second pair of latch members, the second body provided with a second notch on one side thereof, the second notch defining a second rod receiving space sized to receive latching section of one of the first rod and the second rod, the second pair of latch members pivotally attached to the second body and extending from the second body into the second rod receiving space; 
 wherein the first latching mechanism is connected to the second latching mechanism in a spaced apart relationship with the first rod receiving space of the first latching mechanism substantially aligned with the second rod receiving space of the second latching mechanism; 
   inserting the latching section of the first rod past the first pair of latch members and into the first rod receiving space; and   inserting the latching section of the second rod past the second pair of latch member and into the second rod receiving space in such a way that the first rod and the second rod are in a spaced apart, axial relationship.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the rod elevator further comprises:
 a hook assembly;   a first arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism and a second end attached to the hook assembly;   a second arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism; and   an arched structure having a first free end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism and a second free end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism,   and wherein the method further comprises:   hooking the arched structure to the hook assembly prior to inserting the latching section of the second rod past the second pair of latch member and into the second rod receiving space.   
     
     
         13 . A method of interconnecting a first rod and a second rod wherein each of the first rod and the second rod has at least one latching section defined by a section of reduced diameter, the method comprising:
 obtaining a rod elevator comprising:
 a first latching mechanism having a first body and a first pair of latch members, the first body provided with a first notch on one side thereof, the first notch defining a first rod receiving space sized to receive the latching section of one of the first rod and the second rod, the first pair of latch members pivotally attached to the first body and extending from the first body into the first rod receiving; and 
 a second latching mechanism having a second body and a second pair of latch members, the second body provided with a second notch on one side thereof, the second notch defining a second rod receiving space sized to receive latching section of one of the first rod and the second rod, the second pair of latch members pivotally attached to the second body and extending from the second body into the second rod receiving space; 
 wherein the first latching mechanism is connected to the second latching mechanism in a spaced apart relationship with the first rod receiving space of the first latching mechanism substantially aligned with the second rod receiving space of the second latching mechanism; 
   suspending the first rod from a support assembly;   inserting the latching section of the first rod past the first pair of latch members and into the first rod receiving space; and   inserting the latching section of the second rod past the second pair of latch member and into the second rod receiving space in such a way that the first rod and the second rod are supported in a spaced apart, axial relationship.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rod elevator further comprises:
 a hook assembly;   a first arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism and a second end attached to the hook assembly;   a second arm having a first end attached to the first body of the first latching mechanism; and   an arched structure having a first free end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism and a second free end attached to the second body of the second latching mechanism,   and wherein the method further comprises:   hooking the arched structure to the hook assembly prior to inserting the latching section of the second rod past the second pair of latch member and into the second rod receiving space.