Abstract: A reaching and grabbing tool is provided. The tool includes a trigger assembly having a trigger and a handle. A jaw assembly is provided having at least one jaw operably connected to the trigger to move the at least one jaw. A hinge assembly is disposed between the trigger assembly and the jaw assembly, the hinge assembly being selectively lockable between an operating position and a folded position.

Abstract: A string hanging device for hanging a continuous ornamental string on a physical object having a portion elevated above the upward reach of a user, is disclosed. The string hanging device includes a tubular member having an arcuately curved interior passageway configured for receiving the ornamental string. The passageway includes an entry port and an exit port. A pole member is included that has a proximal end and a distal end, and a coupler portion disposed at the distal end. A coupler is provided for removably coupling the tubular member to the coupler portion of the distal end of the pole. A hook member includes a coupler for removably coupling the hook member to the coupler portion of the distal end of the pole.

Abstract: The siding holder includes a planar body having first and second longitudinally opposed ends, an upper surface and a lower surface. A siding panel holding assembly is secured to the first end of the planar body for releasably holding a bottom portion of a first siding panel for installation thereof An alignment abutment plate is releasably secured to the lower surface of the planar body, adjacent the second end thereof, and has a longitudinally adjustable position relative to the planar body. The alignment abutment plate is adapted to abut a bottom edge of a second siding panel which has already been installed. A pivotal handle connector is secured to the upper surface of the planar body and is provided for removable attachment of a handle.

Abstract: A puller for gripping a mat, or pad, and the like for aiding in the movement and placement thereof, the puller including a plurality of pivoted lever members and gripper members mounted thereon for securely gripping the mat or pad, and including at least one handle member for moving the lever members toward and away from each other for moving the gripper members into and out of contact with the mat or pad.

Abstract: A cleaning tool for a pool skimmer basket has a handle with a grip and a lever, a tube that extends from the handle to a pivot assembly at its distal end, and a rod within the tube that connects the actuator to the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly is inserted into a basket fitting and is rotated about the longitudinal axis to secure the skimmer basket to the cleaning tool. The skimmer basket is then lifted out of its housing and the lever actuates the rod to force the rotation of the pivot assembly. As the pivot assembly moves from its initially aligned arrangement with the tube's longitudinal axis to a position that is askew from the axis, the skimmer basket is rotated so that the debris in the skimmer basket is dumped out.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a reaching aid apparatus that may be held in a person's hand and grab objects that would otherwise be out of a person's reach. The reaching aid apparatus includes an elongated member with an actuation handle assembly at one end and a grabbing elements assembly at the opposite end for grabbing, lifting and holding objects.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed towards a tool to manipulate items within a truck bed comprising an armature of suitable length coupled to a manipulating tool head. The head comprises; first and second planar plates suitably coupled together to comprise an elongated, substantially L-shaped configuration, and a receptacle integrated proximate to a center portion of the second planar plate. The receptacle is configured to receive an end of the armature. The head further comprises a hooking element extending from the rear edge of the second planar plate, substantially parallel to the first planar plate and normal to the second planar plate. The head also comprises reinforcement rib members integrated at a backside of the first and/or second planar plates. Various embodiments may comprise an armature having an ergonomic handle as well as telescopic elements, and the first and/or second planar plates may be textured.

Abstract: A device composed of a pair of 2 separate hand-held units (FIG. 1) designed to assist people with limited body flexibility due to age, accident, illness etc, to easily change their own underpants (18) or elastic waisted pants and trousers. It is particularly useful in changing disposable and washable incontinence underpants (18). Each unit is composed of a comfortable handle (1), a light but strong shaft (2) and a strong, lightweight curved head (3) attached to the opposite end of the shaft (2) to the handle (2). The convex surface of each head (3) is covered by a fabric gripping product (4) such as Velcro® hook or similar. Use involves attaching the inside of the garment's (18) waistband to the Velcro® surface (4) of the curved heads (3) so that when the units are held in an extended arm position the garment (18) is held comfortably open and in a position to allow such to be slipped easily over the user's feet (23) and raised to knee height.

Abstract: A grabbing apparatus comprises a first arm, a first proximal end, a first distal end, a first anchor arm affixed at the first distal end, a second arm, second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second anchor arm affixed at the second distal end. The second anchor arm is affixed to the first anchor arm, and a flexible attachment member is deformably affixed to the first anchor arm and the second anchor arm. The first arm and second arm are affixed to the base at an affixation point. When a force vector is applied to at least one of the first arm and the second arm, the flexible attachment member deforms, moving the first arm and the second arm towards one another and engages the lock, to connect the grabbing apparatus to a docking location.

Abstract: A merchandising grapple is disclosed for removing retail items such as beverage cans, bottles, boxes, and the like from shipping containers in groups and placing them in groups on display shelves within a retail establishment. The grapple has spaced features that receive and hold the items in groups of several items and may have a handle for gripping the grapple and a slip joint for adjusting a width of the grapple. A method includes stocking display shelves by removing items in groups from shipping containers and placing them in groups on display shelves.

Abstract: A solution to the problem one person tying down the rotor blades of a helicopter when the rotor blades are too high to be reached by a person standing on the ground involves a rotor blade tie down having a flat structure of two adjacent layers attached along three sides and open on one side to facilitate the placement of an end of the rotor blade in an interior of the device. An exterior surface of each of the layers of the flat structure has a member fixed thereto adjacent the open side of the tie down for receiving a rotor blade tie down installation tool. A tether has one end fixed to the tie down and a free end for attachment to a structural member of the helicopter. A helicopter rotor blade tie down installation tool is a pole having a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel arms fixed to the pole that extend away from the pole and are oriented substantially perpendicular to the pole to be received in the members on the exterior of the rotor blade tie down device.

Abstract: This invention is a device to aid the disabled in placing and retrieving items from hard to reach places in a kitchen. Specifically, it aids in placing and retrieving frozen foods off a top shelf of a freezer. The device wraps around freezer containers and uses a string and hook on the inside of a freezer to pull the item into and out of the freezer. The rubber hooks are attached to the freezer on the top edge. The rubber holder wraps around a container and a string attaches to the container and loops around the hook. The free end of the string is then used to raise and lower the food item to the handicapped person. A tag located on the free end of the string identifies the particular food item.

Abstract: A plier-type locking wrench has an elongated body having a pair of jaws at one end and a pair of handles at an opposite end. The pair of jaws includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw. The pair of handles includes a fixed handle and a movable handle. A threaded member engages the fixed handle. An operating crank is pivotally attached to the body adjacent the fixed handle. The movable jaw is connected to the operating crank by a connecting rod. The movable handle is pivotally connected to the operating crank. A locking lever has a first end pivotally connected to the movable handle and a second end cammingly engageable with the threaded member. The movable handle is displacable relative to the fixed handle to displace the operating crank which, in turn, displaces the connecting rod and the movable jaw. The locking lever permits the movable jaw to be locked in a desire position relative to the fixed jaw. The threaded member is adjustable to adjust the locking position of the pivotal jaw.

Abstract: The invention is an improved lock for a gripping device, for use by handicapped persons, with a lock-type member to improve safety. The gripping device consists of double acting jaws that grips the item to be picked up or lifted, a forward arm section, a rearward arm section, and a control mechanism to control the gripping action of the double acting jaws and the hinge action between the forward arm section and the rearward arm section. A lock-type safety member for the hinge action improves the safety factor when using the device. The device with the lock-type safety member can be operated with one hand. It can also be operated from a wheel chair.

Abstract: An upstanding handle is provided and supports an L-shaped angle member at its lower end including an upper upstanding flange to which the lower end of the handle is secured and a lower horizontal flange projecting outwardly from the lower edge of the upstanding flange. The upper upstanding flange includes horizontally outwardly projecting guide structure extending over and outwardly beyond the horizontal flange and an upstanding blade is dependingly supported from the guide structure for movement therealong toward and away from the side of the upstanding flange facing the direction in which the lower horizontal flange projects. The lower marginal edge portion of the blade is spaced slightly above the plane of the lower horizontal flange and is therefore movable inwardly over the lower horizontal flange toward the upstanding flange.