Wire twitching tool

Abstract

A twitching tool ( 20 ) for winding a free end ( 18 b ) of a wire ( 18 ) about a longitudinally extending support wire ( 12 ). The tool ( 20 ) comprising a body ( 21 ) having an engagement end ( 22 ) for engaging with the free end ( 18 b ) of the wire ( 18 ); a stabilising end ( 26 ) for engagement with the longitudinally extending support wire ( 12 ) and a handle portion ( 24 ) extending between the engagement end ( 22 ) and the stabilising end ( 26 ). The handle portion ( 24 ) is configured to be gripped by a user to facilitate rotation of the body ( 21 ) about the longitudinally extending support wire ( 12 ) to cause the free end ( 18 b ) of the wire ( 18 ) to be wound about the longitudinally extending support wire ( 12 ).

The claims defining the invention are as follows: 
     
         1 . A twitching tool for winding a free end of a wire about a longitudinally extending support wire, comprising;
 a body having;
 an engagement end for engaging with the free end of the wire; 
 a stabilising end for engagement with the longitudinally extending support wire; and 
 a handle portion extending between the engagement end and the stabilising end, 
   wherein the handle portion is configured to be gripped by a user to facilitate rotation of the body about the longitudinally extending support wire to cause the free end of the wire to be wound about the longitudinally extending support wire.   
     
     
         2 . A twitching tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement end of the body comprises an aperture through which the free end of the wire is received. 
     
     
         3 . A twitching tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the aperture extends substantially orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         4 . A twitching tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilising end comprises a locating portion that is configured to be at least partially received about the longitudinally extending support wire. 
     
     
         5 . A twitching tool according to  claim 4 , wherein the locating portion comprises a hook member that hooks over the longitudinally extending support wire to support the body in position on the longitudinally extending support wire. 
     
     
         6 . A twitching tool according to  claim 5 , wherein the hook member has a channel into which the longitudinally extending support wire is received such that as the body is rotated about the longitudinally extending support wire, the hook member remains in engagement with the longitudinally extending support wire. 
     
     
         7 . A twitching tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion comprises an elongate tubular member extending between the engagement end and the stabilising end. 
     
     
         8 . A twitching tool according to  claim 7 , wherein the elongate tubular member extends substantially horizontally when the engagement end engages with the free end of the wire and the stabilising end engages with the longitudinally extending support wire, to facilitate gripping by a user. 
     
     
         9 . A twitching tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement end, stabilising end and handle portion of the body are formed integrally. 
     
     
         10 . A twitching tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion has a cover provided thereon for gripping by a user.