Tool and system for manipulating a string line and line marking method
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a line engagement tool and system for marking a line within concrete or cement using the line engagement tool. The tool may include a lower tubular section configured to couple to the end of a pole, and an upper section configured to engage a string line. Using the tool, a line may be marked by attaching the string to a string receiving end of the tool, attaching a pole to a pole receiving end of the tool, then placing he string line into the wet cement and holding it in place remotely via the pole whereby the string line may be stretched across the cement to mark a line in the cement.
1 . A string line engagement tool, comprising:
a lower body section including a cylindrical hollow configured to receive an end of a pole inserted into the cylindrical hollow for attachment of the string line engagement tool to the pole; and
an upper body section coupled to the lower body section, and configured to engage a string line,
the upper body section comprising at least one of a string line wedge slot configured to capture a segment of the string line, and/or a string line loop hook configured to engage a loop formed within the string line.
2 . The string line engagement tool of claim 1 , further comprising a hole within the lower body section, the hole being continuous with the cylindrical hollow and configured to receive a spring loaded button of the pole inserted into the cylindrical hollow.
3 . The string line engagement tool of claim 1 , said upper body section comprising a support member including a top end tip, wherein the string line wedge slot is formed within the top end tip.
4 . The string line engagement tool of claim 3 , wherein the string line loop hook is provided on the support member between the top end tip and the lower body section.
5 . The string line engagement tool of claim 4 , said support member including a first planer face and a second planar face opposite the first planer face, and a side wall between the first planar face and the second planar face, wherein the string line wedge slot is formed within a top end of the side wall defining said top end tip, and wherein the string line loop hook is supported on the first planar face below the top end tip.
6 . The string line engagement tool of claim 5 , wherein first body section and second body section form a continuous piece with a tapering transition section therebetween, the string line engagement tool further comprising at least one support fin disposed between the tapering transition section and at least one of the first planar face and the second planar face.
7 . A string line marking method, comprising:
attaching a portion of a string line to a pole using a string line engagement tool, the string line engagement tool comprising:
a lower body section including a cylindrical hollow configured to receive an end of the pole inserted into the cylindrical hollow for attachment of the string line engagement tool to the pole; and
an upper body section coupled to the lower body section, and configured to engage a string line, the upper body section comprising at least one of a string line wedge slot configured to capture a segment of the string line, and/or a string line loop hook configured to engage a loop formed within the string line,
wherein attaching said portion of the string line to the pole comprises inserting the end of the pole into the cylindrical hollow of the lower body section, and attaching the string line to the string line wedge slot and/or loop hook of the upper body section; and
positioning the attached portion of the string line within wet concrete or cement and holding it in place using the pole, whereby the string line may be stretched out from the attached portion to mark a straight line within the wet concrete or cement.
8 . The string marking method of claim 7 , the string line engagement tool further comprising a hole within the lower body section, the hole being continuous with the cylindrical hollow and configured to receive a spring loaded button of the pole inserted into the cylindrical hollow, wherein inserting the end of the pole into the cylindrical hollow comprises depressing the spring loaded button of the pole to slide the pole into the cylindrical hollow, and bringing the spring loaded button to the hole to allow the spring loaded button to pass through the hole, such that the spring-loaded button springs outwards from the hole.
9 . The string marking method of claim 7 , said upper body section of the string line engagement tool comprising a support member including a top end tip, wherein the string line wedge slot is formed within the top end tip, wherein attaching the string line comprises using the string line wedge slot to capture the string line.
10 . The string marking method of claim 9 , wherein the string line loop hook is provided on the support member between the top end tip and the lower body section, wherein attaching the string line further comprises engaging a loop within the string line to the string line loop hook.