Hook-and-handle device

1 . A gripper device for gripping a bar, the gripper device comprising:

a hook having a shank and a bend, the shank having a first starting edge and a first ending edge and the bend having a second starting edge and a second ending edge, such that the first ending edge of the shank corresponds to the second starting edge of the bend and the second ending edge of the bend is a free end, the hook having a first inner surface extending around a first axis and facing the first axis and a first outer surface facing away from the first axis, the inner surface of the hook being shaped to partially extend around a bar parallel to the first axis to grip the bar;

a protective layer coating the inner surface of the hook and configured to contact the bar when the hook grips the bar;

a handle joined to the hook at the first starting edge of the shank, such that the handle extends along a second axis located at a predetermined distance from the first axis and being at a first angle with the first axis, wherein the first axis is located between the hook and the handle;

wherein the first angle between the second axis and the first axis is larger than 0 degrees and smaller than or equal to about 90 degrees.

2 . The gripper device of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is elastic.

3 . The gripper device of claim 1 , comprising a removable attachment having a hook shape and having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the removable attachment being removably joinable to the first inner surface of the hook, wherein:

the second outer surface is configured to face the first inner surface to hook; and

the second inner surface curves around a third axis at a second angle with the first axis and is configured to partially curve around a bar parallel to the third axis and grip the bar, such that the third axis is at a third angle with the second axis different than the first angle between the first axis and the second axis.

4 . The gripper device of claim 1 , wherein the handle is joined to the hook via a connective portion located between the hook and the handle.

5 . The gripper device of claim 4 , wherein the connective portion and the hook are rotatable with respect to each other and are configured to be lockable at a plurality of orientations with respect to each other, such that the first angle between the first axis and the second axis is adjustable.

6 . The gripper device of claim 5 , comprising:

a first rim extending from the connective portion, the first rim having a plurality of first openings disposed around the first rim;

a second rim extending from the hook and having second openings disposed around the second rim;

a pin configured to fit into the first openings and the second openings;

wherein the first rim is configured to fit within the second rim, or the second rim is configured to fit within the first rim, such that at least two of the first openings are aligned with two of the second openings at at least two different orientations, such that the pin is configured to traverse a first pair of openings and a second pair of openings, the first pair comprising one of the first openings and one of the second openings aligned therewith, and the second pair comprising a different one of the first openings and a different on of the second openings aligned therewith.

7 . The gripper device of claim 6 , wherein:

the first rim and the second rim are cylindrical;

the first openings are disposed circumferentially on a curved surface of the first rim; and

the second openings are disposed circumferentially on a curved surface of the second rim.

8 . The gripper device of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the hook is shaped as a portion of a triangle to partially extend around the bar parallel to the first axis and grip the bar.

9 . A kit of a pair of gripper devices for gripping a bar, the kit comprising a first gripper device and a second gripper device, wherein:

each of the gripper devices, comprises:

a hook a hook having a shank and a bend, the shank having a first starting edge and a first ending edge and the bend having a second starting edge and a second ending edge, such that the first ending edge of the shank corresponds to the second starting edge of the bend and the second ending edge of the bend is a free end, the hook having a first inner surface extending around a first axis and facing the first axis and a first outer surface facing away from the first axis, the first inner surface of the hook being shaped to partially extend around a bar parallel to the first axis to grip the bar;

a protective layer coating the first inner surface of the hook and configured to contact the bar when the hook grips the bar;

a handle joined to the hook at the first starting edge of the shank, such that the first handle extends along a second axis located at a predetermined distance from the first axis and being at a first angle with the first axis, wherein the first axis is located between the hook and the handle;

wherein the first angles are larger than 0 degrees and smaller than or equal to about 90 degrees.

10 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein the handles of the gripper devices are symmetrical to each other with respect to a central plane perpendicular to a common axis aligned with the first axis of each gripper device.

11 . The kit of claim 9 , comprising two removable attachments, each having hook shape and having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, each removable attachment being removably joinable to the first inner surface of a respective hook, wherein:

each second outer surface is configured to face the first inner surface to hook; and

each second inner surface curves around a respective third axis at a second angle with the first axis and is configured to partially curve around a bar parallel to the third axis and grip the bar, such that the third axis is at a third angle with the second axis different than the first angle between the first axis and the second axis.

12 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein each protective layer is elastic.

13 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein:

each handle is joined to the respective hook via a respective connective portion located between the hook and the handle.

14 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein, for each gripper device, the inner surface of the hook is shaped as a portion of a triangle to partially extend around the bar parallel to the first axis and grip the bar.

15 . A gripper device for gripping a bar, the gripper device comprising:

a hook having a shank and a bend, the shank having a first starting edge and a first ending edge and the bend having a second starting edge and a second ending edge, such that the first ending edge of the shank corresponds to the second starting edge of the bend and the second ending edge of the bend is a free end, the hook having a first inner surface extending around a first axis and facing the first axis and a first outer surface facing away from the first axis, the inner surface of the hook being shaped to partially extend around a bar parallel to the first axis to grip the bar;

a protective layer coating the inner surface of the hook and configured to contact the bar when the hook grips the bar;

a handle joined to the hook at the first starting edge of the shank, such that the handle extends along a second axis located at a predetermined distance from the first axis and being at a first angle with the first axis, wherein the first axis is located between the hook and the handle;

a removable attachment having a hook shape and having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the removable attachment being removably joinable to the first inner surface of the hook, wherein:

the second outer surface is configured to face the first inner surface to hook; and

the second inner surface curves around a third axis at a second angle with the first axis and is configured to partially curve around a bar parallel to the third axis and grip the bar, such that the third axis is at a third angle with the second axis different than the first angle between the first axis and the second axis.

16 . A gripper device for gripping a bar, the gripper device comprising:

a hook having a shank and a bend, the shank having a first starting edge and a first ending edge and the bend having a second starting edge and a second ending edge, such that the first ending edge of the shank corresponds to the second starting edge of the bend and the second ending edge of the bend is a free end, the hook having a first inner surface extending around a first axis and facing the first axis and a first outer surface facing away from the first axis, the inner surface of the hook being shaped to partially extend around a bar parallel to the first axis to grip the bar;

a protective layer coating the inner surface of the hook and configured to contact the bar when the hook grips the bar;

a handle joined to the hook at the first starting edge of the shank, such that the handle extends along a second axis located at a predetermined distance from the first axis and being at a first angle with the first axis, wherein the first axis is located between the hook and the handle;

wherein the handle is joined to the hook via a connective portion located between the hook and the handle;

wherein the connective portion and the hook are rotatable with respect to each other and are configured to be lockable at a plurality of orientations with respect to each other, such that the first angle between the first axis and the second axis is adjustable.

17 . A gripper device for gripping a bar, the gripper device comprising:

a hook having a shank and a bend, the shank having a first starting edge and a first ending edge and the bend having a second starting edge and a second ending edge, such that the first ending edge of the shank corresponds to the second starting edge of the bend and the second ending edge of the bend is a free end, the hook having a first inner surface extending around a first axis and facing the first axis and a first outer surface facing away from the first axis, the inner surface of the hook being shaped to partially extend around a bar parallel to the first axis to grip the bar;

a protective layer coating the inner surface of the hook and configured to contact the bar when the hook grips the bar;

a handle joined to the hook at the first starting edge of the shank, such that the handle extends along a second axis located at a predetermined distance from the first axis and being at a first angle with the first axis, wherein the first axis is located between the hook and the handle;

wherein:

the handle extends between a first end and a second free end;

the first end of the handle is joined to the first starting edge of the shank of the hook;

a gap is present between the second free end of the handle and the second ending edge of the bend;

the first angle between the first axis and the handle is a non-perpendicular angle.

18 . A kit of a pair of gripper devices for gripping a bar, the kit comprising a first gripper device and a second gripper device, wherein:

each of the gripper devices, comprises:

a hook having a shank and a bend, the shank having a first starting edge and a first ending edge and the bend having a second starting edge and a second ending edge, such that the first ending edge of the shank corresponds to the second starting edge of the bend and the second ending edge of the bend is a free end, the hook having a first inner surface extending around a first axis and facing the first axis and a first outer surface facing away from the first axis, the first inner surface of the hook being shaped to partially extend around a bar parallel to the first axis to grip the bar;

a protective layer coating the first inner surface of the hook and configured to contact the bar when the hook grips the bar;

a handle joined to the hook at the first starting edge of the shank, such that the first handle extends along a second axis located at a predetermined distance from the first axis and being at a first angle with the first axis, wherein the first axis is located between the hook and the handle;

wherein, for each gripper device:

the handle extends between a first end and a second free end;

the first end of the handle is joined to the first starting edge of the shank of the hook;

a gap is present between the second free end of the handle and the second ending edge of the bend;

the first angle between the first axis and the handle is a non-perpendicular angle.