Patent Application
20080217938
This patent document pertains generally to aids for the physically impaired, such as the elderly, handicapped, or others with little to no hand function or mobility. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this patent document pertains to a reaching aid for the physically impaired which allows for the retrieval of items, both small and large, that are otherwise out of reach.
Physically impaired people, such as the elderly and handicapped, face obstacles on a daily basis that most of us take for granted. Simple tasks that are usually performed without thought, often require a great deal of effort and forethought by the impaired. Fortunately, the public at large is becoming increasingly aware of the difficulties that these people face and are responding in a positive manner. For example, legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (typically referred to as the “ADA”) imposes responsibilities upon the public sector to make provisions to accommodate the physically impaired so that they may gain access to, and take advantage of, the various goods and services available to others.
Unfortunately, however, the physically impaired face many difficulties inside their own home which public sector efforts do not help. For example, it is a problem for the elderly and handicapped to pick-up objects that are out of reach, whether on the floor or on a shelf. Moreover, many elderly or handicapped people are confined to a wheelchair or in bed and cannot move sufficiently to reach objects even on their own level. Often the elderly or handicapped lack sufficient strength in, or control of, their hands to properly grip an item, even if they could otherwise pick it up.
For these reasons and others, what is needed is a reaching aid for the physically impaired which does not require great physical effort to establish or hold a grip. In addition, what is needed is a reaching aid that can be adjusted to an optimal position to meet different user preferences and jobs.
Certain embodiments of the present subject matter include a reaching aid comprising an apparatus body, a handle, a retrieving hook, and a retrieving probe. The apparatus body extends from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and has an intermediate portion therebetween. The handle is disposed at the proximal end portion of the apparatus body. The retrieving hook and the retrieving probe are disposed at the distal end portion of the apparatus body.
Certain embodiments of the present subject matter include a reaching aid comprising a partially hollow apparatus body, a handle, a limb support, and one or more retrieving members. The apparatus body extends from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and has an intermediate portion therebetween. The handle is pivotally coupled with the proximal end portion of the apparatus body, while the one or more retrieving members are disposed at the distal end portion of the apparatus body.
Certain embodiments of the present subject matter include a method of manufacturing a reaching aid comprising forming an apparatus body, coupling a handle with a proximal end portion of the apparatus body, coupling a retrieving hook with a distal end portion of the apparatus body, and disposing a retrieving probe coupled with an actuating arm member at the distal end portion of the apparatus body. In one embodiment, the handle is pivotally coupled with the apparatus body. In another embodiment, the method further comprises coupling a limb support with the handle.
Certain embodiments of the present subject matter include a method of using a reaching aid to retrieve an item comprising inserting a hand, wrist, or forearm into an limb insertion gap defined, part, by a handle and a limb support, adjusting an orientation of an apparatus body relative to the handle, establishing a connection between one or more retrieving members and the item, and retrieving the item. In one embodiment, adjusting the orientation of the apparatus body includes using one or more bite-receiving members. In another embodiment, establishing the connection between the one or more retrieving members and the item includes changing a length of the apparatus body.
Advantageously, in certain embodiments, the present reaching aids and methods provide a physically impaired user with a ready means to reach a large variety of items. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the present reaching aids are cost-competitive to manufacture and assemble, are durable and long-lasting in use, and are ergonomically designed for optimal user comfort during the retrieval of items. These and other examples, advantages, and features of the present reaching aids and methods will be set forth in part in the detailed description, which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description of the present reaching aids, methods, and drawings or by practice of the same.
In the drawings, like numerals describe similar components throughout the several views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.
The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the present reaching aids and methods may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present reaching aids and methods. The embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized or structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present reaching aids and methods. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present reaching aids and methods are defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used to include one or more than one, and the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or” unless otherwise indicated. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein, and not otherwise defined, is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation.
Many other options are available to the apparatus body 200 as well. For instance, the apparatus body 200 may include a variety of substantially rigid and light-weight materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, metal alloy, wood, polyvinyl chloride (typically referred to as “PVC”) or another rigid but lightweight polymer material. In varying embodiments, the apparatus body 200 and other components of the reaching aid 100 include materials resistant to corrosion or other deterioration from routine sterilization techniques. The apparatus body 200 may have a variety of outer cross-sectional shapes, such as circular, rectangular, polygonal, or oval, some of which are partially hollow to define a longitudinally extending bore allowing for component linking 250 (shown in phantom), such as the linking between a distally positioned retrieving probe 214 and an actuating arm member 216, within the apparatus body 200. In the embodiment shown, one or more bite-receiving members 218 are disposed around the apparatus body 200 or the actuating arm member 216 allowing the user 102 (
A handle 208 is disposed at the proximal end portion 202 of the apparatus body 200 and may be pivotally coupled therewith by a pivot joint 210. As further shown in
At the distal end portion 204 of the apparatus body 200, one or more retrieving members, such as a retrieving hook 212 or the retrieving probe 214 are disposed. The retrieving hook 212 allows a user 102 to engage a distant item via a hooking or pushing connection scheme and direct such item to him/her. In a similar manner, the retrieving probe 214 allows the user to retrieve thin, flat, or puncturable items, such as one or more sheets of paper. In certain embodiments, the retrieving hook 212 perpendicularly extends 1-4 inches from the apparatus body 200, such as 1.75 inches. In certain embodiments, the retrieving prove 214 longitudinally extends 1-4 inches, such as 1.75 inches, past the distal end of the apparatus body 200 when the actuating arm member 216 is in a second position.
In lieu of the limb support 110 shown in
In varying embodiments, the adjustable coupling is accomplished using a pivot joint 402. In the embodiment shown, the pivot joint 402 includes a ball 404 and socket 406 swivel arrangement. The ball element 404 is coupled with the apparatus body 200 using one or more fasteners 408 (e.g., screws, rivets, or nuts and bolts), while the socket element 406 is coupled with the handle 208. In this embodiment, the swivel arrangement further includes a means 410, such as rotational threads, to increase or decrease the strength with which a selected handle 208 and apparatus body 200 orientation is maintained.
The magnet 502 allows for the retrieval of flat and non-flat items provided such item is at least partially magnetic. In one embodiment, the magnet 502 includes a permanent magnet. In another embodiment, the magnet 502 includes an electromagnet controlled by a switch and powered by one or more batteries disposed in the apparatus body 200 or the handle 208 (
In this embodiment, the first 704 and second 706 positions of the actuating groove 702 include a traverse groove portion which locks a position of the actuating arm member 216 relative to the apparatus body 200 and thus, locks a position of the retrieving hook 212 or the retrieving probe 214. In certain embodiments, the linkages 250 (
As further shown, portions of the apparatus body 200 and the actuating arm member 216 may be covered by a bite-receiving member 218. The bite-receiving members 218 allow a user 102 to move the actuating arm member 216 and thus the retrieving hook 212 (
At 806, a retrieving hook is coupled with the distal end portion of the apparatus body. In certain embodiments, the retrieving hook is coupled at the distal end portion to a linkage within the apparatus body allowing the hook to be longitudinally or radially adjusted. At 808, a retrieving probe is disposed at the distal end portion. In certain embodiments, the retrieving prove is movable between a first position within the apparatus body and a second position in which the retrieving probe extends from the apparatus body. At 810, a limb support is optionally coupled with the handle.
At 906, a connection between one or more retrieving members disposed at a distal end portion of the apparatus body and the item is established. In one embodiment, the establishment of the connection between the retrieving members and the item includes the changing of an apparatus body length. In another embodiment, the establishment of the connection between the retrieving members and the item includes the movement of an actuating arm member from a first position to a second position. In yet another embodiment, the establishment of the connection between the retrieving members and the item includes the use of a curved tip portion of a retrieving probe. At 908, the item is retrieved.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments and embodiment lengths will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the present reaching aids and methods should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, assembly, article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
