Title: Locking arrangement for engagement tool
Abstract: A locking mechanism for elongate tools that are designed to engage objects from remote distances and that have engagement elements located on a distal end of a rod, a handle on a proximate end of the rod, a controller on the handle to control the engagement elements, and a linkage between the controller and the engagement elements to control the engagement elements is disclosed. The locking elements include a saw tooth receiving surface that is rigidly affixed to a trigger and a stop member having complementary saw tooth extensions. A switch member controls the movement of the stop member into engagement and out of engagement with the receiving surface which thereby locks and unlocks the movement of the trigger.
Patent Number: 7,004,520 Issued on 02/28/2006 to Khubani, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Khubani; Ashok (Boonton Township, NJ);
Lakhiani; Mahesh (Denville, NJ)
|
| Assignee:
|
Ontel Products Corporation (Fairfield, NJ)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
739219 |
| Filed:
|
December 19, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
294/19.1 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
B25J 1/00 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
294/191,192,193,22-24,991,100,508,111,115
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 465222 | Dec., 1891 | Ulbricht.
| |
| 923376 | Jun., 1909 | Savage.
| |
| 1120735 | Dec., 1914 | Moyer.
| |
| 3448486 | Jun., 1969 | Wright.
| |
| 3527492 | Sep., 1970 | Hollis.
| |
| 4613179 | Sep., 1986 | van Zelm.
| |
| 4669769 | Jun., 1987 | Polder, Jr.
| |
| 4758035 | Jul., 1988 | Shimasaki.
| |
| 4962957 | Oct., 1990 | Traber.
| |
| 5577785 | Nov., 1996 | Traber et al.
| |
| 6257634 | Jul., 2001 | Wei.
| |
| 6508496 | Jan., 2003 | Huang.
| |
| 6520556 | Feb., 2003 | Hsu.
| |
Primary Examiner: Kramer; Dean J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Aitken; Andrew C., Venable LLP
Claims
I claim:
1. An improvement for elongate tools that are designed to engage objects from
remote distances and that have engagement elements located on a distal end of a
rod, a handle on a proximate end of said rod, a controller on said handle to control
said engagement elements, and a linkage between said controller and said engagement
elements to control said engagement elements, said controller further comprises
a trigger member and said trigger member is attached to said handle, said improvement comprising
a lock member, said lock member comprising a receiving surface and a stop member,
said receiving surface extending from said trigger member and adapted to receive
said stop member, and said receiving surface attached to said trigger member in
a rigid and fixed relationship, wherein said receiving surface comprises a series
of adjacent saw-tooth shaped extensions and said stop member comprises at least
one opposite complementary saw-tooth extension wherein when said extension from
said stop member engages said receiving surface, said receiving surface is restricted
from lateral movement with respect to said stop member thereby causing said trigger
member to lock
said lock member further comprising
a switch member, said switch member connected to said stop member to control
the movement of said stop member, wherein in response to movement of said switch
member, said stop member either engages or disengages said receiving surface wherein
when said stop member is engaged with said receiving surface the movement of said
trigger member is prevented and when said stop member is disengaged from said receiving
surface said trigger member is allowed to be displaced.
2. The improvement for an elongate tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said trigger
member is attached to said handle in a manner to allow for pivotal movement.
3. The improvement for an elongate tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving
surface is integrally formed with said trigger member.
4. The improvement for an elongate tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch
member is located on said handle at a location that can be manipulated by a users
thumb when said user is holding the handle and engaging the trigger member with fingers.
5. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch member is in a slideable
engagement with said handle and when said switch member is slid, it mechanically
translates said sliding motion to said stop member causing said stop member to
engage and disengage said receiving surface.
6. The improvement as recited in claim 5 wherein said motion is transferred from
said switch member to said stop member by a camming engagement.
7. The improvement as recited in claim 1 further comprising a hinge element located
on said rod between said engagement elements and said trigger member.
8. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said engagement elements comprise
opposite cup shaped members.
9. The improvement as recited in claim 1 wherein said linkage comprises a cable
and said cable is connected to said trigger member and said engagement elements.
10. The improvement as recited in claim 9 wherein said linkage is contained within
said rod and one end of said linkage is attached to said trigger member.
11. The improvement as recited in claim 1 further comprising biasing means, wherein
said biasing means bias said engagement elements apart.
12. An improvement for elongate tools that are designed to engage objects from
remote distances and that have engagement elements located on a distal end of a
rod, a handle on a proximate end of said rod, a controller on said handle to control
said engagement elements, and a linkage between said controller and said engagement
elements to control said engagement elements, said controller further comprises
a trigger member and said trigger member is attached to said handle, said improvement comprising
a lock member, said lock member comprising a receiving surface and a stop member,
said receiving surface extending from said trigger member and adapted to receive
said stop member, and said receiving surface attached to said trigger member in
a rigid and fixed relationship, said lock member further comprising
a switch member,
wherein said switch member is connected to said stop member to control the movement
of said stop member, wherein in response to movement of said switch member, said
stop member either engages or disengages said receiving surface wherein when said
stop member is engaged with said receiving surface the movement of said trigger
member is prevented and when said stop member is disengaged from said receiving
surface said trigger member is allowed to be displaced, and
wherein said switch member is in a slideable engagement with said handle and
when said switch member is slid, it mechanically translates said sliding motion
to said stop member causing said stop member to engage and disengage said receiving
surface, wherein said motion is transferred from said switch member to said stop
member by a camming engagement.
13. The improvement for an elongate tool as recited in claim 12 wherein said
trigger member is attached to said handle in a manner to allow for pivotal movement.
14. The improvement for an elongate tool as recited in claim 12, wherein said
receiving surface is integrally formed with said trigger member.
15. The improvement for an elongate tool as recited in claim 12, wherein said
switch member is located on said handle at a location that can be manipulated by
a users thumb when said user is holding the handle and engaging the trigger member
with fingers.
16. The improvement as recited in claim 12, wherein said switch member is in
a slideable engagement with said handle and when said switch member is slid, it
mechanically translates said sliding motion to said stop member causing said stop
member to engage and disengage said receiving surface.
17. The improvement as recited in claim 16, wherein said motion is transferred
from said switch member to said stop member by a camming engagement.
18. The improvement as recited in claim 12, further comprising a hinge element
located on said rod between said engagement elements and said trigger member.
19. The improvement as recited in claim 12, wherein said engagement elements
comprise opposite cup shaped members.
20. The improvement as recited in claim 12, wherein said linkage comprises a
cable and said cable is connected to said trigger member and said engagement elements.
21. The device as recited in claim 20, wherein said linkage is contained within
said rod and one end of said linkage is attached to said trigger member.
22. The improvement as recited in claim 12, further comprising biasing means,
wherein said biasing means bias said engagement elements apart.
Description
This invention relates to an improvement for tools designed to engage objects
from remote distances. This is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/302,861.
The applicant claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/384,820 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/302,861.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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 elongate 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
handicaps 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 such tools is for changing light bulbs from recessed lighting fixtures. Another
entire class of devices that operate in a similar manner and perform a similar
function as the pick-up tools described above are marketed as toys. Other tools
may have blades on the distal end for cutting that may be used for a wide range
of uses including those tools used in the surgical field and tools used for trimming
high branches.
Common elements that are shared by such devices that are addressed by the
improvement disclosed herein include (1) an elongate shaft having (2) a handle
on one end and, (3) engagement elements on the opposite end, (4) a controller element
on the handle and (5) a linkage from the controller element to the engagement elements.
The user of the these tools may manipulate a controller, such as a lever or trigger,
that is provided on the handle end of the device to operate the engagement elements
that are provided on the opposite end of the elongate shaft. The engagement elements
may include arrangements such as claws, arms, scoops, calipers, tongs, blades or
cups. In typical designs, the control lever pulls an internal linkage that draws
together the engagement elements that are biased apart by springs.
Exemplary arrangements of such devices are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No.
4,962,957 (the "'957 Patent"), U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,839 (the "'839 Patent"), U.S.
Pat. No. 3,527,492 (the "'492 Patent"), U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,179 (The '179 Patent),
U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769 (the '769 Patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,634 (the '634 Patent).
A desirable feature that is sometimes incorporated on these devices is a locking
mechanism that enables the engagement elements to be retained in a fixed position.
A locking features allows a user of the device to retain the engagement elements
in a closed position and in contact with an object and thereby allow a user to
release pressure on the controller while maintaining control over the object. Consequently,
a user can use his or her free hand to further manipulate the object, either directly,
or indirectly by using the elongate shaft. Allowing the user to release pressure
on the controller yet maintain engagement of the object also adds a convenience feature.
There have been a number of alternative manners to accomplish locking engagement
elements on grabber tools that are disclosed in the prior art. For example, the
patent to Moyer, U.S. Pat. No. 1,120,735, discloses a segment that can be manipulated
by a lever that in turn may be secured in place by a pawl. The pawl is biased against
the ratchet segment by a leaf spring. The '957 patent discloses an alternative
manner in which to lock the engagement elements of a pick-up tool that allows the
trigger to be released while maintaining pressure on the object. U.S. Pat. No.
5,823,590 to Forrest et al. discloses yet another alternative method of locking
the engagement elements thereby allows a user to manually secure the central linkage
in fixed position. U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,891 to Aboczky provides a spring locking mechanism.
While, there exist numerous types of devices and a variety of alternative
manners in which to lock engagement elements in fixed positions, many of the efforts
disclosed in the prior art have involved fairly complex arrangements and require
multiple parts. In general, increased complexity of a proposed device is associated
with increased expense in connection with manufacturing and with respect to the
costs of the parts required to achieve the feature. Accordingly, there continues
to remain a demand and a commercial market for devices that have a simple and inexpensive
locking arrangement. A further desirable feature to provide with elongate engagement
tools is the ability for the device to fold or collapse. Because these devices
employ an elongate rod, the devices are somewhat cumbersome in connection with
shipping, handling, display and storage. While it is desirable to provide a manner
in which to collapse the device, the manner in which the collapse is affected must
accommodate the linkage between the controller and engagement elements and must
also maintain sufficient strength to support objects when the elongate member is
in an extended position. While the prior art has recognized this need, there remains
room for improved alternative and effective manners to achieve these goals. In
this regard, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,179 relies upon a stop pin 71
that is designed to work only when the device is in an upright position. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,823,590 discloses a telescopic arrangement to collapse a grabber device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,603 discloses a grabber device with a hinge fixture that allows
the proximal and distal ends of an elongate rod to be aligned in different directions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new locking arrangement
for the engagement elements of a pick-up tool that is simple to manufacture and
assemble and that uses only a few parts. A further object of the present invention
is to provide an engagement device that has a locking device that can be easily
manipulated by the user. A further objective of the invention is to provide a locking
hinge on the elongate arm or rod that allows the devices to fold yet maintain strength
when in an extended position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to both a new locking arrangement and a folding
hinge structure for the engagement of such devices described above. The invention
allows the user of such a device to engage an object and then manipulate a sliding
switch to lock the engagement elements in a fixed position. The switch causes a
stop member, oriented in a direction transverse to the switch, to engage a control
surface and prevent movement of the controller. The switch is provided on the handle
so that it can be manipulated by the user's thumb while he or she operates the
controller for the device. The control surface is fixed and integrated with the
controller that controls the engagement elements that are positioned on the opposite
end of an elongate rod. The device also incorporates a hinge feature on the elongate
rod that enables the elongate arm to be folded in half so that the device may be
shipped and stored conveniently. The hinge, which is provided at a midpoint along
the elongate rod, does not significantly diminish the strength of the rod. The
hinge uses a pin that has axial sections that alternate from sections having a
circular profile to sections having an aster shaped profile. The pin may be aligned
in a first locked position wherein the aster shaped segment fit into corresponding
aster shaped cavities within the knuckle that prevents the leaves from movement.
The pin may be positioned to occupy an alternate second position wherein the sections
of the pin having a round profile is aligned in the aster profiled cavity thereby
allowing the leaves to pivot with respect to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pick-up device according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown folded about the hinge;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the handle of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view in elevation of the switch element used with the locking
feature of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the switch element used with the locking feature
of the invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the hinge element of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the exterior segment of the pin used with the hinge
element of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a side view in elevation of the exterior segment of the pin used in
connection with the hinge element of the invention.
FIGS. 9 and 10 are embodiments of FIG. 1 showing a cable which connects trigger
16 to the engagement elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Now referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the elongate grabber tool
8 is depicted in an extended position. Grabber tool
8 incorporates
engagement cups
10 on a distal end of a elongate hollow rod
12 and
a pistol grip
14 on the opposite proximal end. A trigger
16 is provided
adjacent to pistol grip
14 for manipulation by a user's fingers. As shown
on the side of pistol grip
14, a switch
18 is provided that effects
a locking feature of the engagement elements of the device. At a medial point on
elongate hollow rod
12 is hinge
20 that allows elongate rod
12
to fold. FIG. 2 depicts the rod in a folded position wherein the distal end of
elongate rod
12 is folded back on the top side and adjacent to pistol grip
14.
Now referring to FIG. 3, trigger
16 extends from and is connected to the
handle at axis or pivot point
30 that is located near the top of the pistol
grip
14. A connecting pin
32 transects handle side
25a,
the trigger half
16a, trigger half
16b and handle side
25b. Trigger
16 extends through a slot or opening provided
between the forward sides of pistol grip
14 and allows for limited pivotal
movement with respect to the axis
30. As seen on trigger side
16b,
a cavity is provided to retain a nipple (not shown) which is provided on the end
of a cable shown in figures
9 and
10 as element
300a and
300b) that connects trigger
16 to the engagement elements
on the distal end of the tool. The engagement elements, which are biased apart
by spring members
31 are drawn together by pulling connector members
29
toward the handle
14 via the central cable. Control surface
35 is
an arcuate notched surface that is integral with trigger half
16a and
on which is provided a series of saw-tooth notches
38. The arc is formed
so that each saw tooth extension is approximately equidistant to the pivot point
30. The notches
38 are adapted to receive the end projections
40
of a stop member
42. Stop member
42 is engaged or disengaged by the
lateral manipulation of switch
44. Stop member
42 also is provided
with a pin member
48 that is engaged by switch
44. Stop member
42
can be disengaged by either movement of the switch in the opposite direction or
by application of a force against the trigger that will push the stop member from
its position. Stop member
42 is locked into place and in engagement with
notches
38 on the arcuate control surface
35 by use of a mechanical
locking engagement wherein switch
44 stays in position by frictional engagement.
FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the rear side of switch
44. As best seen in FIG.
5 extensions
60,
61,
62 and
63 have a projections that
extend laterally away from the extensions so that the switch
44 will snap
fit into opening
50 and be retained within the opening. For example, surface
70 of projection
60 will engage the interior surface of the handle
side
25a adjacent to the opening
50. Since the projections
only extend toward the top and bottom of the switch, the arrangement allows for
the lateral movement of the switch
44 within opening
50. Walls
65
and
67 define groove
72 into which the pin member
48 of stop
member
42 is received. Lateral movement of switch causes the side walls
65 and
67 to move pin
48 thereby causing the stop member to
move up or down and in or out of engagement with the control surface
35.
In operation, a user can use the device in a manner that allows free movement
of cups or, by manipulation of the switch can cause the stop member to engage the
notches on the trigger and therefore lock the movement of the device. The stop
member can be disengaged by pulling on the trigger, which forces the teeth
40
of stop member
42 out of engagement with the opposite teeth
38 on
control surface
35. The teeth
40 may also be disengaged from the
opposite teeth
38 on control surface
35 by lateral movement of switch
44.
While an integral saw-toothed notched control surface
35 is depicted
as a preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that other arrangements could be
advantageously employed to lock the trigger. For example, a side view of the control
surface could resemble a round or square waveform that has an opposite and complementary
profile of teeth provided on a stop member. In a further contemplated embodiment,
the control surface may be comprised of a series of cavities that have sidewalls
oriented transverse to the control surface and the stop member includes an extension
that can be received in the cavities. For example, in this alternative contemplated
embodiment, a series of annular cavities are provided on the control surface that
can receive a peg that extends from the stop member. In yet further contemplated
embodiments of the invention the stop member is made of conical shaped projections
or pyramid shaped projections that are received in opposite and complementary shaped cavities.
The locking arrangement according to the invention uses only a few parts and
can therefore be economically manufactured and assembled. As described herein,
the locking feature further allows for the stop member to engage the control surface
along the entire range of motion of the control surface
35 and range of
the trigger
16. The switch for the lock can be manipulated by the user's
thumb while the handle
25 of the device is held in the user's hand.
While the controller depicted in the preferred embodiment is a trigger designed
to be engaged by multiple fingers of the user, the applicant contemplates that
alternative arrangements of the trigger or controller may also be provided. For
example, in an alternative embodiment the trigger may be manipulated by a user's
single finger. In yet another contemplated alternative embodiment, the trigger
may be displaced on the rear side of the stationary handle. Further, while in the
preferred embodiment the engagement elements are opposite engagement cups, it is
also contemplated that other engagement elements may also be used and that may
depend on the intended application.
As best shown in FIG. 6, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the elongate
shaft is provided in two sections, a distal section
101 and a proximal section
103. The distal section
101 and the proximal section
103 are
connected by a locking hinge structure
105 that enables the device to be
folded. Hinge
105 includes a forward hinge section composed of opposite
halves
111a and
111b and a rearward section composed
of opposite halves
120a and
120b. Halve
120a
includes a shank
135 and two flat knuckle sections
137 and
139
that extend from shank
135. Separating knuckle section
137 from section
139 is a gap that has an axial dimension about the same distance as the
as the width of one of the respective knuckles. This distance is also approximately
the same as the length of sections
182 and
184 of the hinge pin.
The knuckle sections
115 and
118 extend from the distal end of
the hinge segment
111 and are positioned on the exterior lateral sides of
the hinge. When assembled, sections
115 and
137 are adjacent to one
another and define a portion of an axial channel that extends transverse to the
direction of the elongate rod. When the grabber device is in its extended position,
wall
201 comes into contact with wall
203 and prevents further rotation
in one direction.
The hinge pin is made of exterior section
170 and a retention member
172.
Retention member includes rounded head section
172 on the end of shank member
175. Shank member
175 of retention member
172 is received
in opposite and complementary cavity
178 that is provided in the exterior
section
170. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 the exterior shank section
179
has a number of sections along its axial length. As best seen in FIG. 7, a bottom
view of the exterior section
170, section
185 has an aster or "star
shaped" axial section. Sections
183 and
181 of the pin have the same
star shaped profile. Separating the star shaped sections are sections
182
and
184 that have circular or round axial sections. As best seen in FIG.
6 the exterior section of the pin is inserted through the axial cavity formed when
the knuckles are aligned.
The arrangement described above allows the hinge pin to be positioned in alternative
positions including a first position wherein the rounded axial sections
182
and
184 of the pin are aligned within knuckle sections
137 and
139.
In this first position the hinge section is allowed to rotate about the pin. Application
of pressure on the rounded head allows the pin to be moved in an axial direction
through the channel to a second position where the are locked with respect. In
the locked position the star shaped axial sections
181,
183 and
185
of pin
170 are aligned within the aster shaped cavities defined by the knuckles
115,
135,
139 and
118. In this position the front leaf
section does not move with respect to the rearward leaf section.
The hinge allows the device to be positioned in the extended position as depicted
in FIG. 1 or in the folded position as depicted in FIG. 2. When the device is in
the extended position, the hinge may be locked into position wherein the hinge
leaves are fixed with respect to one another.
While the preferred embodiments have been described herein, those skilled in
the art will recognize that certain details may be changed without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the foregoing specific embodiments
and applications are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope
of the invention. It is contemplated that the invention will functional and effective
in diverse applications where it is desirable to lock elements that are designed
to engage or otherwise manipulate objects from a remote distance. Likewise, although
the locking hinge structure is particularly useful in connection with elongate
grabber tools, the hinge may also be employed on other rod statures where there
is need.
*
