The latest breakthrough in electrical and piping tools comes from iTool Equipment Holding LLC, widely known in the industry as iTOOLco. This Clinton, Tennessee based company was recently awarded US Patent 12673354 for a highly innovative “Width-expandable shoe for conduit bending apparatus and an associated method.” This new technology is set to transform how professionals bend rigid metallic conduit, intermediate metallic conduit, and electrical metallic tubing on the job site.

Currently, operators of conduit bending apparatuses must maintain a massive inventory of bending shoes to accommodate the slight outer diameter variations across different conduit materials. The invention by iTool Equipment Holding LLC solves this problem by introducing a bending shoe made of a pair of platen half sections. These sections can be moved toward or away from each other to alter the width of the outwardly opening groove. This width expandable feature closely accepts the outer surface of a conduit within a range of outer diameters, completely eliminating the need to carry multiple specific shoes.

This invention is incredibly innovative because it addresses a fundamental inefficiency in the electrical and pipe fitting trades. Previously, forcing a conduit into a slightly mismatched bending shoe could cause undesirable crimping, kinking, or wrinkling due to improper backing of the conduit walls under compressive and tension forces. By allowing the shoe width to expand and contract to exact specifications, operators can guarantee a flawless bend every single time while significantly reducing the heavy equipment load they must bring to a commercial site.

For these exact reasons, this width expandable shoe was named the Patent of the Month for the Tennessee state for the month of August 2026. As a locally operated business in Clinton, Tennessee, iTOOLco has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing the trades. The state recognized this patent not only for its clever mechanical engineering but also for its direct positive economic impact, saving local contractors thousands of dollars in equipment costs and significantly improving job site safety and efficiency across the region.

The practical applications of this patent are vast, ranging from commercial electrical wiring installations to large scale industrial plumbing. Developing this type of heavy duty expandable shoe involves substantial trial and error, stress testing, and mechanical prototyping to ensure the movable half sections can withstand immense rotational bending forces without failing. In the United States, these specific systematic engineering activities and iterative testing phases qualify as qualified research activities. Therefore, businesses engaging in such technological advancements can apply these practical R&D expenses to become eligible for the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit under Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code, allowing them to reinvest saved tax dollars into further manufacturing innovations.