Pole Guide Tool

Abstract

A pole guide tool via which forces can be applied to a suspended pole by manipulating the tool from at least a partially spaced location from the pole.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pole guide tool comprising an elongate tool rod having a distal first end adapted to be engaged by a user and a second end carrying a tool head,
 the tool head comprising a split ring defining an opening therethrough,   the split ring including a fixed ring section and a pivoting ring section pivotally mounted to the fixed ring section,   the pivoting ring section spanning between ends of the fixed ring section,   the pivoting ring section pivotally movable between a closed condition and an open condition to permit a pole member to become received within or removed from within the split ring.   
     
     
         2 . A pole guide tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fixed ring section has a first end and a second end, the pivoting ring section has a first end and a second end, and the pivoting ring section spans between the first end of the fixed ring section and the second end of the fixed ring section. 
     
     
         3 . A pole guide tool as claimed in  claim 1  including a latching mechanism is included to latch the pivoting hinge section in the closed condition. 
     
     
         4 . A pole guide tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the split ring when in the closed condition provides an interior surface via which forces transmitted from the distal first end of the tool rod may be applied to a pole passing through the opening to urge the pole away from a user holding the distal first end of the tool rod or to urge the pole towards a user holding the distal first end of the tool rod. 
     
     
         5 . A method of guiding an elongate pole having an upper end and a lower end and which pole is supported to hang downwardly from its upper end,
 the method comprising providing a pole guide tool having an elongate tool rod with a distal first end and a second end, with the second end carrying a tool head,   the tool head having an opening passing therethrough sized to permit the pole to pass freely through the opening without engaging the tool head,   the method comprising locating the tool head to extend circumferentially about the pole,   lowering the pole axially through the tool head and applying forces from the first distal end of the tool rod to the pole by engagement of interior surfaces of the tool head about the opening with side surfaces of the pole by manipulating the distal end of the tool rod from a location spaced laterally from the pole.