ARTICLE GRASPING DEVICE
A compact, readily portable handheld article grasping apparatus for grasping articles such as door handles, gate handles, mailbox handles and the like. The apparatus includes a retractable gripping arm having a hook-like extremity for grasping objects. The gripping arm can be stowed when the article is being transported and quickly and easily deployed when the apparatus is to be used. When the article grasping arm is in a stowed configuration, the apparatus can be conveniently carried in the users pocket or purse.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to handheld mechanical devices. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel, handheld article grasping device that can be used to grasp articles having contaminated surfaces such as door handles and the like.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Research has established that various types of harmful bacteria can survive for long periods of time on the surfaces of articles such as door handles; gate handles; mailbox handles; toilet flush handles; paper towel dispenser handles; sink faucet handles; handles on trash receptacle lids and like surfaces which are continuously contacted and contaminated by large numbers of people. Surfaces, such as surfaces on door handles, particularly those located in public buildings, are infrequently cleaned thereby permitting a substantial build up on the surfaces of easily spread, harmful bacteria. Transfer of the harmful bacteria from the hand of the user to the nose and mouth or eyes can cause serious illness. Similarly, if one has a cut or abrasion on the hand that contacts the door handle through which the harmful bacteria can penetrate, serious repercussions can follow. It is this serious cross-contamination problem that the present invention seeks to mitigate by providing an easy to use, easy to transport, handheld apparatus that can be used to grip and operate articles having highly contaminated surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide a compact, readily portable handheld article grasping apparatus for grasping articles such as door handles, gate handles, mailbox handles and the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned character which includes a retractable gripping arm that can be stowed when the article is being transported and quickly and easily deployed when the apparatus is to be used.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in the preceding paragraphs, which is uniquely configured so that when the article grasping arm is in a stowed configuration, the apparatus can be conveniently carried in the users pocket or purse.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in which the article grasping arm can be quickly and conveniently moved from a stowed configuration into a deployed configuration by simply pressing upon a spring-loaded operating button that is mounted in the cover of the apparatus.
Another object to the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in the preceding paragraphs in which the article grasping arm of the apparatus is specially configured to provide a hook-like extremity that can be used to easily and securely grip and operate various types of articles including door handles and the like.
Another object the invention is to provide a compact handheld, article grasping apparatus that is sleek and attractive in appearance and one that can be securely gripped by the user.
Another object to the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in the preceding paragraphs which is of a simple, easy-to-use construction and one that can be inexpensively manufactured in quantity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings and particularly to
Connected to housing 14 for movement between a first stowed position shown in
Deployment means, the character of which will presently be described, is carried by housing 14 and functions to move the grasping member 26 from its stowed position to its deployed position. In the present form of the invention, this important deployment means comprises a torsion spring 34 (
The important operating means of the invention, which is carried by housing 14, functions to operate the deployment means of the invention in a manner to cause grasping member 26 to move from its stowed position to its deployed position. In the present form of the invention, the operating means comprises the previously identified pushbutton 44 to which the upper end 42 of the torsion spring 34 is connected. As indicated in
As best seen in
Turning to
When the apparatus of the invention is not in use, the grasping member 26 is in the stowed position shown in
When the apparatus user has finished using the apparatus a downward force exerted on the pushbutton will permit the grasping member 26 to be manually returned to its stowed position against the urging of torsion spring 34. This movement of the grasping member into its stowed position will once again reload the torsion spring so that the deployment operation can be accomplished in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.
In order for the apparatus to be securely gripped by the user during operation, side structure 22 is provided with a longitudinally extending, yieldably deformable elastomer strip 65 (Figure one).
Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said torsion spring has a first end connected to said bottom of said housing and a second end connected to said pushbutton, said torsion spring being constructed and arranged to turn said second end thereof about said longitudinal axis while said first end is held fast.
5. The apparatus has defined in claim 4 in which said central bore of said end portion is provided with opposing grooves and in which said pushbutton is provided with opposing, outwardly extending tongues slidably received within said opposing groves formed in said end portion of said grasping member.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said bottom includes an upstanding rim portion and in which said push button further includes a stop ear constructed and arranged to engage said rim portion of said bottom when said pushbutton is in said second position.
7. A grasping apparatus for grasping objects comprising:
- (a) a housing comprising interconnected top, bottom and sides defining an internal chamber;
- (b) a grasping member connected to said housing for movement between a first stowed position and a second deployed position, said grasping member comprising an end portion and an arm portion having a generally hook-shaped extremity;
- (c) deployment means carried by said housing for moving said grasping member from said stowed position to said deployed position, said deployment means comprising a torsion spring having a longitudinal axis, a first end connected to said bottom of said housing and a second end, said torsion spring being constructed and arranged to turn said second end about said longitudinal axis while said first end is held fast by said bottom of said housing; and
- (d) operating means carried by said housing for operating said deployment means to cause said grasping member to move from said stowed position to said deployed position, said operating means comprising a pushbutton slidably connected to said end portion of said grasping member for movement between a first position and a second position against the urging of said torsion spring.
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said second end of said torsion spring is connected to said pushbutton.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said end portion of said grasping member is provided with a central bore having opposing groves and in which said pushbutton is provided with opposing, outwardly extending tongues slidably received within said opposing groves formed in said end portion.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which said bottom wall of said housing includes an upstanding rim portion and in which said push button further includes a stop ear constructed and arranged to engage said rim portion of said bottom wall when said pushbutton is in said second position.
11. A grasping apparatus for grasping objects comprising:
- (a) a housing having spaced-apart top and bottom walls and first and second sides connected to said spaced-apart top and bottom walls to define an internal chamber, said first side including an elongated chamber;
- (b) a grasping member connected to said housing for movement between a first stowed position and a second deployed position, said grasping member comprising an end portion disposed within said internal chamber and an interconnected arm portion disposed within said elongated chamber of said first side, said grasping member having a generally hook-shaped extremity;
- (c) deployment means carried by said housing for moving said grasping member from said stowed position to said deployed position, said deployment means comprising a torsion spring carried by said housing, said torsion spring having a longitudinal axis, a first end connected to said bottom wall of said housing and a second end, said torsion spring being constructed and arranged to turn said second end about said longitudinal axis while said first end is held fast by said bottom wall of said housing; and
- (d) operating means carried by said housing for operating said deployment means to cause said grasping member to move from said stowed position to said deployed position, said operating means comprising a pushbutton connected to said second end of said torsion spring and slidably received within said end portion of said grasping member for movement between a first position and a second position against the urging of said torsion spring.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, further including locking means for releasably locking said gripping member in its deployed position.
13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said end portion has a central bore having opposing groves and in which said pushbutton is provided with opposing, outwardly extending tongues slidably received within said opposing groves formed in said central bore of said end portion.
14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said bottom wall of said housing includes an upstanding rim portion and in which said push button further includes a pair of opposing stop ears constructed and arranged to engage said rim portion of said bottom wall when said pushbutton is in said second position.
15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said second side of said housing includes a longitudinally extending strip constructed from a yieldably deformable elastomer.
16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which said top wall of said housing is provided with an opening and in which said push button extends through said opening.
17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 in which said housing is generally oval in shape.
18. A grasping apparatus for grasping objects comprising:
- (a) a housing comprising interconnected top, bottom and sides cooperating to define an internal chamber;
- (b) a grasping member connected to said housing for movement between a first stowed position and a second deployed position, said grasping member comprising an end portion and an arm portion having a generally hook-shaped extremity, said end portion having a central bore;
- (c) deployment means carried by said housing for moving said grasping member from said stowed position to said deployed position, said deployment means comprising a torsion spring carried by said housing, said torsion spring having a longitudinal axis and being operably associated with said grasping member; and
- (d) operating means carried by said housing for operating said deployment means to cause said grasping member to move from said stowed position to said deployed position, said operating means comprising a push button received within said central bore of said end portion of said arm for movement between a first and a second position.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 31, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2007
Inventors: Paul Metzger (West Hollywood, CA), Jeff Metzger (West Hollywood, CA)
Application Number: 11/217,732
International Classification: B65G 7/12 (20060101);