Electrical device gripping tool and method of using same

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein include devices and methods for gripping electrical components. The electrical device gripping tool may include a rotating handle, a cam assembly, and a body. The rotating handle may be attached to the assembly and the cam assembly may include a cam holder that fits over the cam to connect the rotating handle to the body. Furthermore, the body may include a first body half and a second body half that are each separately coupled to the cam such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the rotating handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical device gripping tool comprising:
 a handle;   a body comprising a first body half and a second body half such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the handle; and   a cam portion comprising a cam holder that fits over a cam to connect the handle to the body, wherein the first body half and the second body half are each separately coupled to the cam.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cam comprises a first post loading hole to receive and engage a first guidepost located on the first body half and a second post loading hole to receive and engage a second guidepost located on the second body half so as to affix the cam to the body. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 2 , wherein the cam further comprises a first guide post slot adjoined to the first post loading hole and a second guide post slot adjoined to the second post loading hole to allow the first guidepost to slide along the first guide post slot and the second guidepost to slide along the second guide post slot so that the rotation of handle imparts a sliding motion of the first body half and the second body half about the cam. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 3 , wherein the cam further comprises a guide pin groove configured to receive alignment tracking pins on the body to properly align the cam with the body. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 3 , wherein the first guidepost and the second guidepost slide away from each other when the handle is rotated clockwise. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 3 , wherein the first guide post and the second guide post slide towards each other when the handle is rotated clockwise. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch on the cam assembly to prevent rotation of the handle, which results in the first body half and the second body half to remain affixed in position. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 1 , wherein each the first body half and the second body half each comprise a gripping arm configured to receive a part of an electrical device. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical gripping tool of  claim 8 , wherein the device gripping arm comprises a channel at one end of the device gripping arm. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical gripping tool of  claim 9 , wherein the part of the electrical device comprises a tab of an electrical outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical gripping tool of  claim 9 , wherein the device gripping arm comprises a locking teeth extended inward at one side of the device gripping arm. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical gripping tool of  claim 9 , wherein the channel comprises a lifting wedge of a bottom surface of the channel to lift the electrical device. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a shield, the shield including a plurality of tines extending from the body to prevent contact of electrical device wire contacts with an electrical box that the electrical device is being installed in or removed from. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises indentations on opposite sides of the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a raised top surface having a width to provide a spacer to adjust spacing between electrical devices. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical device gripping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a first end portion, a second end portion and a center portion between the first and second end portions, and a width of the first and second end portions of the handle is greater than a width of the central portion of the handle. 
     
     
         17 . A method for handling an electrical gripping tool comprising:
 obtaining the electrical gripping tool comprising:
 a handle; 
 a body comprising a first body half and a second body half such that the first body half and the second body half slide towards each other and slide away from each other with respect to a rotation of the handle; and 
 a cam portion comprising a cam holder that fits over a cam to connect the handle to the body, wherein the first body half and the second body half are each separately coupled to the cam. 
   aligning the body over a part of an electrical device; and   rotating the handle to adjust spacing between the first body half and second body half so that at least part of the electric device is placed in between and gripped by the first body half and the second body half.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first body half and the second body half comprises a gripping arm with a channel at one end of the gripping arm to receive the part of the electrical device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising guiding the channel to securely receive the part of the electrical device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising rotating the handle clockwise to slide the first body half away from the second body half in order to conform to dimensions of the part of the electrical device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising rotating the handle counterclockwise to slide the first body half towards the second body half to conform to dimensions of the part of the electrical device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing a latch located on the cam assembly in a lock position to prevent the handle from rotating. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the device gripping arm comprises locking teeth extended inward at one side of the device gripping arm. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising pulling the electrical device out from a surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the device gripping arm further comprises a shield, the shield including a plurality of tines extending from the body to prevent contact of electrical device wire contacts with an electrical box that the electrical device is being installed in or removed from. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the handle comprises indentations on opposite sides of the handle configured to provide a grip around the handle. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the handle comprises a raised top surface. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising positioning the electrical gripping tool next to a first electrical device, such that dimensions of the raised surface provides guidance in spacing apart the first electrical device from a second electrical device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the handle comprises a first end portion, a second end portion and a center portion between the first and second end portions, and a width of the first and second end portions of the handle is greater than a width of the central portion of the handle.