Patent Application
20070085358
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a pick-up tool, and in particular to a pick-up tool having an ergonomic handle.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
There are a wide variety of tools designed for picking up objects or manipulating objects from a distance. One common application for such tools is use by maintenance workers to pick-up debris for subsequent disposal. A tool with an elongated handle allows manipulation of the object without the need to bend over or to directly handle the material. Such tools are also useful for individuals that have physical limitations that may impede their ability to bend over and reach the ground. There are also numerous household applications for such tools including retrieval of materials from high shelves or from under furniture. Another common application for these tools is for changing light bulbs from recessed lighting fixtures.
In general, pick-up tools include an elongated shaft having a handle and a control device on one end, and engagement elements on the opposite end. Some sort of linkage typically couples the engagement elements to the control element. The user of these tools may manipulate the controller, which may be constructed as a lever or trigger, to operate the engagement elements that are provided on the opposite end of the elongated shaft. The engagement elements may include arrangements such as claws, arms, scoops, calipers, tongs, blades or cups. In typical designs, a control lever or trigger pulls an internal linkage that draws together the engagement elements that are biased apart by springs.
A handle for use with a pick-up tool includes first and second side panels, a pivoting trigger, an integrated grip, and a locking mechanism for selectively locking the trigger. The trigger extends through an upper housing of the side panels, and the grip extends from a rear section of the upper housing. The locking mechanism may include a pin located within a slot formed within the trigger, and a locking pawl that has notches which are sized to be received by the pin. The locking mechanism may also include a torsion spring that has a first leg for coupling to the locking pawl, and a sliding thumb tab that is located in the rear section of the upper housing. The thumb tab may contain an engagement structure for selectively engaging the first leg of the torsion spring. In use, downward sliding of the thumb tab causes one of the notches of the locking pawl to engage the pin and effectively lock the trigger.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, wherein:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures which form a part hereof, and which show by way of illustration specific embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood by those of ordinary skill in this technological field that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, as well as procedural, changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. As a matter of convenience, various embodiments of the invention will be described using exemplary materials, sizes, shapes, and dimensions, but the present invention is not limited to the stated examples.
In general, separate linkages respectively extend from each engagement element, shown in
The trigger is shown extending through a lower portion of housing 55, and may be formed with a curved surface for receiving fingers of a user. The trigger may be pivotally mounted within the housing so that the trigger pulls linkages 50 rearward when the trigger is squeezed by a user. The trigger may further include recess 60, which is located proximate to a lower portion of the housing. Handle 15 may further include platform 65, which is shown formed in the rear section of housing 55. Integrated grip 70 extends from the housing, and may be formed with a cavity, recess, or other opening that is capable of receiving at least a portion of the trigger. Hand support 75 is an example of a protruding structure that is located at the distal end of the grip and extends rearward to support the user's hand. Optional thumb tab 80 is one component of a locking mechanism that may be used to secure the pick-up tool in various partially closed, or fully closed, positions.
Recess 60 provides a convenient and comfortable location for the user to place their index finger, for example, during operation of the pick-up tool. The recess allows the user to firmly engage trigger 45, and minimizes slipping that may occur between the user's fingers and the trigger. Another benefit provided by the recess is that the user's finger rests in the recess, below the lower surface of housing 55. This prevents or minimizes contact between the user's finger and the housing, thereby eliminating the occurrence of painful blisters and abrasions. Indeed, handle 15 allows users to forgo gloves without fear of suffering from such injuries. Although a single recess is shown, two, three, or four recesses may alternatively be formed in the trigger.
Platform 65 is often implemented to allow access to thumb tab 80 using, for example, the user's thumb. The platform also provides a stable structure for which a user may place their thumb while holding or operating the pick-up tool. In some situations, increased gripping power may be achieved by placing the thumb on the platform. Hand support 75 provides support to the bottom portion of a user's hand during operation or handling of the pick-up tool. The hand support also minimizes slipping that may occur between the user's fingers and the trigger, and between the user's palm and grip 70.
The engagements elements, such as cups 40, may be formed from an assortment of different materials which allows the pick-up tool to grasp or otherwise engage an item of interest such as, for example, trash, books, coins, clothing, food items, garden debris, and the like. Possible engagement elements include arrangements such as cups, claws, arms, scoops, calipers, tongs, blades, and the like. Suitable materials for the engagement elements include rubber, plastic, metal, and alloys, among others. In the embodiment illustrated in
Body 20, fingers 30, and linkages 50 may be formed from any suitably ridged material such as aluminum, steel, steel-alloy, plastic, and the like. The overall length of pick-up tool 10 is typically dependent upon the type of environment (for example, household, office, medical facility, outdoor garden, roadside, beach, park, garage, golf course, tennis courts, and the like), in which the pick-up tool is to be used. Other applications include the retrieval of items from water (for example, swimming pools and ponds), and from elevated locations such as trees and building roofs and rafters. The pick-up tool may therefore be sized to accommodate such uses, and consequently may have an overall length of about 1-7 feet, or more.
The various components of handle 15 may be constructed using any suitably ridged material. For instance the handle may be formed from two injection-molded, half-handles, which are attached together with rivets, screws, adhesives, or other types of fasteners. The trigger may be constructed using similar materials.
If desired, various portions of handle 15 may be formed using a co-mold process, which is also known as over-molding. In general, a co-mold process is used to form a structure which has a relatively lower resistance to indentation relative to the surrounding structure. Simply put, a co-molded portion of a structure may be formed so that it is softer than surrounding structure to which it is attached or otherwise associated. As an example, polyurethane is often used as the co-mold material that is placed proximate to the relatively harder Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
In the embodiment of
Other portions of handle 15 may be formed using a co-molded process. Examples of such embodiments include the use of co-molding for side grip 88, one or more locations on grip 70 (for instance, the side of the grip that is in contact with the user's palm), the top side of platform 65, and the rear portion of platform 65, among others.
Operation of pick-up tool 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be now be described. Squeezing trigger 45 causes fingers 30 to move under bias pressure toward each other to grasp an item. An example of cups 40 and associated fingers and linkages in the closed position are shown in phantom in
If desired, grip 70 may be designed so that trigger 45 is partially or completely received within a recess formed in the grip. Movement of fingers 30 and associated cups 40 can take place in any orientation about the plane of grip 70 and trigger 45, but these components typically operate in an arrangement that is substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the grip and trigger.
The side panels may be attached using known techniques, such as assembly pins and cooperating pin-receiving receptacles. FIGS. 2 and. 3 show a plurality of assembly pins 110, which are molded on the inside of first side panel 100. These assembly pins may be received by a plurality of assembly pin-receiving receptacles 115, which are correspondingly aligned on the inside of second side panel 105. Aperture 120 is shown formed at the proximal end of trigger 45. This aperture receives assembly pin 116, which is contained within side panel 100.
To unlock the handle, the user may use their thumb, for example, to slide thumb tab 80 upwards. The engagement structure disengages second leg 165, and the locking pawl 125 subsequently moves upward and out of contact with pin 130. The user can now release the trigger and it will be drawn away from grip 70, causing cups 40 to return to the fully open position. In a manner similar to that described above, the handle may be locked in a variety of different positions by virtue of the various notches formed in locking pawl 125.
To unlock the handle, the user may use their thumb to slide thumb tab 305 upwardly so that the engagement structure disengages locking pawl 125. Simultaneously, coil spring 300 retracts, causing the locking pawl to disengage pin 130. The user can now release the trigger and it will be drawn away from grip 70, resulting in trigger 45 returning to the fully open position.
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to disclosed embodiments, various modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in this technological field. It is to be appreciated that features described with respect to one embodiment typically may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the invention properly is to be construed only with reference to the claims.
This Application claims benefit of priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/727,596, filed 17 Oct. 2005.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60727596 | Oct 2005 | US |
