GB2404836A

GB2404836A - A slug and snail handling tool

Info

Publication number: GB2404836A
Application number: GB0319178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: International Ltd Stv; Edwin Allingham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-15
Filing date: 2003-08-15
Publication date: 2005-02-16
Also published as: GB0319178D0

Abstract

A tool for picking up slugs or snails comprises a fixed tubular extension rod 2 with a pistol grip at one end and a picker mechanism at the other. The picker mechanism has one fixed arm 3 and a moveable arm 4 pivoted about a pin 13. Each of the arms is fitted with a scoop 5. The pistol grip houses a sliding trigger which is attached to and activates a pull cord 6. The other end of the cord is attached to the movable arm. In use, squeezing the trigger causes the moveable arm to move towards the fixed arm allowing molluscs to be picked up in the scoops. As the trigger is released, a recovery spring 14 causes the moveable arm to return to its original position, thus opening the jaws and releasing any objects from the scoops. The tubular extension rod is fitted with a clip to support a flashlight, allowing the device to used at night when slugs are most active.

Description

THE SLUG ANI) SNAIL PICKER AND DROPPER DESRlPTION (currently there are no

other mechanical devices for pckmg up and dropping snails and slugs.

The only avalablc method for prckmg up and dropping snails and slugs at present Is to pick them up by hand but tiers method suffers from the t'ollowmg disadvantages: a) Unless the picker wears rubber gloves they expose their skin to the mucus and excrement that snarls and slugs secrete. Thc mucus has the umque property of being vsco-elashc - part glue, part lubricant and as well as bemg unpleasant to the touch it sticks to the b) If somebody is attempting to clear an area of snails and slugs by hand picking tiers will mevtably involve them bending down or forwards numerous times in order to be able to reach the snails or slugs thereby putting a strain on the back of the picker.

c) Slugs and snails can lodge themselves on parts of plants or trees or m plant borders where it Is difficult or impossible to pick them up by hand net they can be out of hands reach.

d) Slugs and snails operate at mghttme so t'they are bemg picked up by hand the picker needs to ensure that the area where they are picking is illuminated.

e) When hand pckmg slugs and snails it Is easy to damage the plants from which they are bemg picked.

Thc primary ob]ecbve of the invention is to provide a manually operated slug and snail picker which can be used to effectively pick up and drop slugs and snails either m the day time or in the dark at a distance *om the operator, without the operator having to come mto contact with the slugs and snails and without the operator having to put any stram on their back and with the operation causmg mmmum damage to any plant that the slugs or snails are being removed from.

Thc slug and snail picker comprises a pistol gnp, a fixed tubular extension rod, a flashhght chp, a picker mechanism with one fixed arm and one moveable arm each with a scoop on the end and a pull cord. The pistol grip houses a sldmg trigger lever for actuating the pull cord so as to cause the moveable arm of the picker mechanism to move towards the fixed arm of the picker mcchansm thereby causing the slug or snail to be scooped up. As the sliding trigger lever Is let go, the moveable arm of the picker mechanism Is forced by a recovery spring to move back to its ongnal position, thereby causing the slug or snail to be released.

lhc features and the advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful debberatron of the following detailed description of the present mventon with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Is shown In Drawmys 1, 2 and the slug and snail picker composes a grip i, a fixed rubuiar extension rod 2, a picker mechanism with one fixed arm 3 and one moveable arm 4 each with a scoop 5 on the end and a pull cord 6, a flashlight chp 7.

The grip I is shaped hke a pistol and Is provided with a receiving hole 8 and a trigger member The trigger member is formed of a horizontal shying trigger 9 having a cord hole 10.

I'he tubular extension rod 2 of a hollow construction Is fitted at one end thereof mto the reccvng hole 8 of the grip 1 and at the other end into the receiving hole of the fixed arm of the picker mechanism 11.

The pull cord 6 Is fixed at one end m the cord hole 10 of the horizontal shdmg trigger lever 9 of the trigger member, and at the other end thereof by means of a cable mpple 12 attached onto the movable anm 4 of the picker mechamsm below the hmge pm 13 (he hmge pm 13 Is fixed to the fixed arm 3 of the picker mechamsm and the hinge pm 13 passes through a recovery spring 14 and then through a hole 15 m the moveable arm 4 of the picker mechanism that Is pivoted on and turns on the hmge pm 13 Each open end of the recovery sprmg 14 Is held m place on one of the arms of the picker mechanism by nestling mto lugs 16 positioned on the Interior sides of each of the arms of the picker mechamsm. When the shdmg trigger mechamsm 9 Is released the spring 14 forces the moveable arm 4 of the picker mechamsm back to its ordinal position.

The flashhght chp 7 Is shaped hkc two rounded horseshoes connected back to back so that they are facmg m opposite directions One of the horseshoes Is made of flexible material and sized to enable it to adopt the shape of the tubular extension rod 2 and the other Is made of flcxble material and sized to enable it to adopt the shape of a particular flashlight.

As shown m Drawmg 3 the scoops 5 at the end of the arms of the picker mechanism are each provided with serrated edges 17 that Interlock and leave a small gap between each such edge when the picker mechanism is In its closed position.

As shown In Drawmg 3 when held to the ground at angle wthm the range of normal usage the scoop 5 of the fixed anm of the picker mechamsm sits flat on the ground.

As shown In Drawmg 3 the scoops 5 at the end of the arms of the picker mechamsm are shaped such that when the picker mechanism Is m its closed position a circular hole 18 is fonned m each side of the interlocked scoops 5.

In use, the pull cord 6 Is actuated by the shdng trigger lever 9 to cause the moveable arm 4 of the picker mechamsm to pivot on the hmge pm 13, thereby causmg it to move towards the fixed arm 3 of the picker mechamsm thereby causmg the slug or snail to be scooped up. As the tugger lever 9 Is let go, the moveable arm 4 of the picker mechanism Is forced by the spun" force of the recovery spring 14 to move apart lrom the fixed anm 3 of the picker mechamsm back to its ongmal position thereby releasing the slug or snail.

The action of the slug and snail picker Is easily effected with a finger by which the shdmg tugger lever 9 Is activated and deactivated.

Claims

CLAIMS 3 We claim 1. A slug and snail picker and dropper comprsmg: a grip

provided with a recevmg hole, and a trigger member that Is formed of a sliding trigger lever and havmg a cord hole, a fixed tubular extension rod of hollow construction that Is fitted at one end mto the recevmg hole of said grip and at the other end mto the recevmg hole of the fixed arm of a picker mechamsm.

a picker mechamsm comprsmg a fixed arm and a moveable arm where the feed arm Is provided with a fixed hmge pm which passes through a recovery spring and then through a hole m the moveable arm of the picker mechamsm which Is pivoted on and turns on the hmge pm.

a pull cord fixed at one end m the cord hole of the horizontal sldmg trigger lever, and at the other end thereof by means of a cable nipple attached onto the said movable arm of the said picker mechamsm below the said hinge pin.

a recovery spun" that sits on the said hmge pin and whose open ends are held in place one on each of arm of the picker mechamsm by nesthng mto lugs positioned on the mtenor sides of each of the arms such that when the sldmg trigger mechamsm Is r eleased the spring forces the movcable arm of the picker mechamsm back to its original position.

a flashhght chp made of flexible material and sized and shaped to enable it to adopt the shape of the tubular extension rod at one end and to the shape of a particular flashlight at the other.

a pull cord fixed at one end m said cord hole of said horizontal shdng trigger lever, and at the other end by means of said cable mpple attached onto said movable arm of said picker mechamsm below said hinge pm, said pull cord being actuated by said trigger member to cause said moveable arm of the picker mechanism to pivot on said hmge pm, thereby causmg said moveable arm to move towards said fixed arm of the picker mechamsm, whereby said movable arm Is forced by said recovery spring to move back to an ongmal position of said movable arm at such time when said trigger member Is relieved of an external force exerting thereon, thereby causmg said movable arm to move away from said fixed arm.
2. The slug and snail picker as defined in claim 1, wherem said scoops attaching to the arms of the picker mechamsm are shaped and sized m such a way that when the picker mechamsm Is m its closed position they won't crush the slug or snail that has Just been pclced.
3. T he slug and snail picker as defined m claim 1, wherem said scoops attaching to the arms of the picker mechanism are each provided with serrated edges such that when the picker mechamsm is m its closed the edges interlock Icavmg a small gap n between each such edge allowing any hounds that may secrete from a captured slug or snail to pass out of the scoops while they are m the closed position.
4. The slug and snail picker as defined In claim 1, wherem said scoops attaching to the arms of the picker mechamsm are shaped such that when the picker mechamsm Is In its closed position there Is a circular hole on each side of the interlocked scoops such that a captured slug or snail could protrude out of the hole(s) when it Is m the closed position rather than bemg crushed.
5. The slug and snail picker as defined In clams 1, wherein the bottom of the scoops are shaped such that If the pclcer Is held at the optimal operational angle with the arms m the open position the scoop at the end of the said fixed arm will sit flush to the ground and when the arias of the picker are closed both scoops will sit flush to the ground.
6. I he slug and snail picker as defined m claim 1, wherein said extension rod Is long enough such that the user does not have to bend down to pick up slugs or snails and such that snails and slugs can be picked up from distances that are out of anns length of the user.
7. The slug and snail picker as detmed In claim 1, wherein said extension rod Is provided with a clip capable of carrying a flashlight leavmg the picker both hands Dee to operate the picker In the dark.