FR3093931A1 - Pick-up device for jack and pétanque ball - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for collecting jack and pétanque balls (1) comprising: - a gripping member (2) comprising a gripping body (6) extending along a longitudinal axis (X), - a circular opening (7) being provided on one side of the gripping member (2); the gripping body (6) comprising- a cavity (4) adapted to cooperate with a jack, the internal wall being defined by a surface of revolution around the longitudinal axis (X), the collecting device (1) comprising in besides a rod (8) provided at one of its ends (8a) with a magnet (9), the rod (8) being slidably mounted in the gripping member (2) through an orifice (3) provided on a side opposite to said opening (7), the magnet (9) being adapted to slide between a retracted position and an extended position in which the magnet is adapted to cooperate with a pétanque ball. Figure of the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Device for picking up jacks and petanque balls

The present description relates to the pétanque game and more specifically the devices for picking up jacks and pétanque balls made of steel.

The game of balls designated by petanque in France, is one of the sports disciplines using balls of different sizes and different materials. Each player having a certain number of boules at the start of the game, the objective of the game is to bring his own boules as close as possible to a target boule, called a "coin" or "goal" in France. The target ball and the opposing balls can also be taken out or chased away.

In practice, the game opposes two teams or formations that can have between one and six players. Two types of petanque balls are used: the jack, which is a ball generally made of wood or plastic and with a diameter of about 30 mm and which acts as a target ball; and steel balls which are usually made of steel and vary in diameter depending on the size of the player's hand, usually varying between 70 and 80mm.

During the game, the different petanque balls must be lifted and picked up from the ground. Lifting and picking up can therefore be tedious, especially when the duration of the game increases, even taxing for example for a player of average physical health.

State-of-the-art devices allow the player to pick up petanque balls and piglets without bending down. They are generally attached to the end of a pulling member, and include two distinct types of gripping members, one for retrieving the jack and the other for retrieving the pétanque ball, independently of one of the 'other. Grippers for petanque balls are also part of the prior art. Different types of grippers still need to be combined on the device in order to pick up balls of different types.

However, a disadvantage lies in the use of such devices to pick up different types of balls which can still be facilitated. Another disadvantage stems from the compactness of such devices, which are often larger in size than single type ball pick-up devices. Another disadvantage lies in the efficiency of collecting pétanque balls and the jack with such devices, which can be improved.

An object of the present description is therefore to provide a device for picking up a jack and a pétanque ball, which is ergonomic and easy to use.

To this end, a device for picking up jacks and petanque balls is proposed, comprising:
- a gripping member comprising a gripping body extending along a longitudinal axis,
- A circular opening being provided on one side of the gripping member; the gripping body comprising:
- a cavity delimited by an internal wall of the gripping body, communicating with said opening and adapted to cooperate with a jack, the internal wall being defined by a surface of revolution around the longitudinal axis,
the pickup device further comprising a rod extending between two ends, the rod being provided at one of its ends with a magnet and connected at the other of its ends to a pulling member,
the rod being slidably mounted in the gripping member through an orifice provided on a side opposite said opening, the magnet being adapted to slide between a retracted position and an extended position, the magnet being adapted to cooperate with a ball petanque in extended position.

The characteristics exposed in the following paragraphs can, optionally, be implemented. They can be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other:

- the surface of revolution is generated at least partially by a parabolic curve. Advantageously, at least part of the surface of revolution is a paraboloid of revolution;

- the surface of revolution is of conical or cylindrical shape;

- the opening is delimited by a circular edge;

- the pick-up device comprises a housing provided at the bottom of the gripping body on a side opposite the opening and adapted to receive the magnet in the retracted position;

- a stroke C1 of the magnet along the longitudinal axis is greater than a depth of said cavity, said cavity length being measured along the longitudinal axis between the opening and a side of the gripping body opposite the opening;

- a travel C2 of the magnet along the longitudinal axis is less than or equal to a depth of said cavity, said cavity length being measured along the longitudinal axis between the opening and a side of the gripping body opposite to the opening. The magnet in the extended position is set back from the edge of the opening, and the cooperation between the magnet and a petanque ball is made possible thanks to the curvature of the petanque ball;

- the pick-up device comprises a measuring means and/or a counting means arranged in the gripping member. The measuring means and/or the counting means is formed, preferably integrally, in the pick-up device. More particularly, the measuring means is a length measuring means, preferably comprising a measuring tape. The tape measure advantageously has a graduated roller that can rotate around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gripping member;

- the gripping member comprises a portion formed of a denser material than the material of the gripping body, said portion preferably being a washer assembled on the gripping body on a side opposite that of the opening;

- the inner wall of the gripping body is covered with ridges. Thus the coefficient of friction between the inner wall and the jack is improved. For this purpose, the internal wall can also be coated with, or made from a material improving the adhesion and grip of the jack in the cavity;

- the pick-up device comprises a means for guiding the rod arranged along the orifice.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a device according to an embodiment of the present description;

Fig. 2

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the device in cooperation with a jack; And

Fig. 3

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a variant of the device according to another embodiment.

More detailed description

The following embodiments will make it possible to better understand the present invention, without however limiting its scope.

In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

The vertical and horizontal directions, and the upper and lower positions are relative to a pick-up device in use, for example, during a game of pétanque.

Reference is now made to Figure 1.

FIG. 1 represents a device for picking up jacks and petanque balls in a longitudinal section view.

The jack and petanque ball pick-up device 1 comprises a gripping member 2 suitable for picking up a jack and a petanque ball. The gripping member 2 extends along a longitudinal axis (X) shown in Figure 1.

The jack designates a ball serving as a goal to be reached, launched at the start of the game, in a game of pétanque. The piglet can also bear the name of "bouchon", "petit", "têt", "gari" or "but". The jack is generally made of wood and has an average diameter D8 of 30.5 mm. In general, the diameter of the jack varies between 30 mm and 31 mm.

The gripping member 2 comprises a hollow gripping body 6 extending along the longitudinal axis X. The gripping body 6 comprises a cavity 4 adapted to cooperate with a jack by friction between the surface of the jack and the internal wall of the gripping body delimiting the cavity. An opening 7 is provided on one side of the gripping member 2 along its longitudinal axis (X) and communicating with the cavity 4. More particularly, the opening 7 is made on one side of the gripping body 6, so as to that the gripping body 6 cooperates with the jack through the opening 7.

The opening is delimited by an edge 71. The jack being spherical, the edge 71 of the opening 7 is preferably circular in shape in order to allow cooperation with the jack through the opening. The opening 7 is contained in a plane (Po) orthogonal to the direction of the longitudinal axis (X). In one embodiment, the edge 71 of the opening 7 has an internal diameter D1 of between 31 mm and 31.5 mm, and an external diameter D2 of between 34 mm and 35 mm, for taking a jack of a diameter between 30 mm and 31 mm. In this embodiment, a depth of the cavity, referenced L1 in FIG. 1 and measured along the longitudinal axis (X) between the opening 7 and a side of the gripping body opposite the opening 7, is between 20.5 mm and 21.5 mm, preferably equal to 21 mm.

Preferably, the internal wall of the gripping body 6 delimiting the cavity 4 is bell-shaped, allowing the jack to be picked up by friction. As illustrated in Figure 1, the shape of the inner wall is defined by a surface of revolution around the longitudinal axis (X).

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the surface of revolution is generated at least partially by a parabolic curve. More particularly, the internal wall of the gripping body has an upper portion 61 and a lower portion 62, referenced in figure 2.

The lower portion 62 is connected to the opening 7. In a preferred embodiment, the lower portion 62 has an internal diameter of 28 mm at a distance of 8 mm from the opening, and an internal diameter of 25 mm at a distance of distance of 15 mm from the opening. The internal shape of the lower portion 62 is of particular importance because it constitutes an active part of the gripping body 6 by being in contact with the surface of the jack when it is picked up.

Preferably, the lower portion 62 is delimited by a surface of revolution generated by the rotation of a curve having at least three tangent straight lines (T1, T2, T3). One of the at least three tangent lines T1 forms an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis less than or equal to 41.5°, preferably less than or equal to 40.5°.

Another of the at least three tangent lines T2 forms an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis less than or equal to 34.5°, preferably less than or equal to 33.5°.

Another of the at least three tangent lines T3 forms an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis less than or equal to 25.7°, preferably less than or equal to 24.75°.

The lower portion 62 can also be delimited by a wall of cylindrical or conical shape, that is to say a surface of revolution generated by a straight line forming an angle of 0° to 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body. of grip which coincides with the axis of revolution of said surface.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first variant of the device shown in Figure 1. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the surface of revolution is generated by a generating line forming an angle of inclination with the longitudinal axis (X) comprised between 12° and 16°, preferentially comprised between 13° and 15°, preferentially approximately equal to 14.4°, the internal wall of the cavity being of conical shape.

The upper portion 61 extends between the lower portion 62 and a housing 5 provided at the bottom of the gripping body 6, on a side opposite the opening 7. The upper portion 61 is of advantageously rounded shape on the side of the housing in order to 'match the shape of the jack engaging in the gripping body, especially when a jack with a diameter of less than 31 mm, preferably less than 30 mm, is picked up.

The entry into contact of the jack at least partially with the lower portion 62 of the internal wall of the gripping body allows the collection of the latter, in particular by friction. In order to improve the grip of the jack by the gripping body, scratches can be provided on the internal wall, in particular on the lower portion, in order to improve the coefficient of friction between the internal wall and the external surface of the jack. For this purpose, other surface treatments can be applied to the inner wall, in particular to make it rougher.

The weight of the gripping member 2 is particularly important when picking up the piglet. When the gripping body 6 is placed in contact with the jack disposed on a horizontal surface, for example the ground, the weight of the gripping member 2 must be sufficient so that the gripping body 6 falls on the jack and engages therewith by friction of their respective surfaces. In one embodiment, the gripping body is made of wood and has a weight substantially equal to 10 grams. In order to achieve a sufficient weight, the gripping member 2 comprises a metal washer 14, preferably made of lead, tin or a mixture of metals, and of a weight substantially equal to 30 grams, which can be arranged on the gripping body 6 in order to weigh down the whole. According to one embodiment, the washer is provided on a portion of the gripping member having a diameter D5 of between 23 mm and 25 mm. The gripping body 6 can be made from or coated, partially or totally, on external or internal surfaces, with other denser materials making it possible to dispense with the metal washer 14. The gripping body 6 can be made from from solid wood, for example dry beech, or from metal, for example stainless steel or zamak, or even from plastic.

The gripping member 2 thus attains a weight greater than that of the jack, the weight of which is generally between 10 and 18 grams. The gripping member 2 thus has a weight greater than or equal to 2 times that of the jack, preferably greater than or equal to 4 times that of the jack. This ratio makes it possible to overcome the friction forces between the internal wall of the cavity and the surface of the jack, and to obtain a wedging effect of the jack which sinks into the cavity and remains engaged there, in particular when the gripping member is lifted off the ground.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one notch can be provided on the gripping body at the level of the lower portion. The notch extends along the longitudinal axis (X) and facilitates the recovery of the piglet engaged in the cavity after it has been picked up. In one embodiment, the notch is a slit a few millimeters long allowing the jack caught in the cavity to be disengaged, by inserting a fingernail into the notch. In a preferred embodiment, two notches (not shown) are provided along the grip body. The two notches are advantageously symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis (X) in a median section plane of the gripping body.

The pickup device 1 further comprises a rod 8 extending between two ends (8a, 8b), the rod 8 being provided at one of its ends 8a with a magnetic element 9 and connected to the other of its ends 8b to a traction member 10. The magnetic element 9 is adapted to cooperate by magnetic attraction with a part comprising a ferromagnetic material. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the magnetic element is a permanent magnet 9 and is adapted to cooperate with a petanque ball.

Indeed, the petanque ball is generally made of metallic material. More particularly, the material of the ball can be chosen from the following list of metals: carbon steel, stainless steel also called “stainless steel”, cupro-aluminum also called “bronze”. The petanque ball has a diameter generally between 70.5 and 80 mm, and a weight generally between 650 and 800 grams, these characteristics being necessary for the ball to comply with the official regulations for the sport of petanque in France. Petanque balls of 600 grams and 65 mm in diameter can also be used, especially by young players. For the implementation of the collection device presented in this description, the pétanque boule is made of a ferromagnetic metal capable of interacting with the magnet of the collection device.

The traction member 10 is a rope preferably with a length greater than or equal to 90 cm, or a telescopic rod preferably with a span greater than or equal to 90 cm when it is deployed. A handle can in particular be attached to the pulling member 10 at one of its ends opposite the rod 8. The handle can be a ring making it possible to manipulate the pulling member 10 and, consequently, the pick-up device 1 .

Thanks to the traction member 10 providing the device 1, it is possible to pick up a jack and/or lift a ball without having to brace or bend down.

A method for picking up a jack placed on a horizontal surface, for example the ground, comprises a first step where the pick-up device 1 is placed substantially above the jack, being held by a user through the ring providing the traction member, the cord of the traction member 10 being released and extending vertically. During a second step of said method, a portion of the edge 71 of the gripping body is brought into contact with an upper part of the jack, and makes it possible to position the jack inside the cavity under the effect of the weight of the gripping body. If the hand of the user manipulating the device is not strictly vertical to the jack, this bringing into contact causes a slight rotational movement of the jack on the horizontal surface, the rotation of the jack allowing it to be placed under the body of the jack. grip then inside the cavity. The gripping body must therefore be heavy enough to overcome the frictional forces between the jack and the internal wall of the cavity and engage, under the effect of its own weight, with the jack.

Rod 8 is preferably made of metal. More particularly, rod 8 is made of a material having a density greater than or equal to 2.5, preferably greater than or equal to 7. Rod 8 can also be made of wood or plastic. The rod 8 is slidably mounted in the gripping member 2 through an orifice 3 provided on a side opposite said opening 7. A guide means 31 may be provided at the level of said orifice 3, in order to guide the translation of the rod 8 in the gripping member 2 along the longitudinal axis (X). As illustrated in Figure 3, the guide means 31 extends along the longitudinal axis (X) and comprises a longitudinal portion of hollow cylindrical shape inside which the rod can slide. The guide means 31 further comprises a shoulder arranged to serve as a support for the magnet when the latter is in the retracted position. An axis stop clip is provided in the gripping body to mount the guide means 31. The rod 8 is preferably tapped and threaded at each of its ends in order to mount and fix the magnet and a mounting support 11 of the traction member 10. According to one embodiment, the guide means has a diameter D4 of between 6 mm and 8 mm, preferably substantially equal to 7 mm. the rod having a diameter D6 of between 4 mm and 6 mm, preferably substantially equal to 5 mm.

The choice of the density of the material of manufacture of the rod 8 makes it possible to obtain a suitable ratio between the weight and the dimensions of the rod 8 so that it slides under the effect of its own weight in the gripping member 2 through the orifice 3 provided for this purpose. The guide means 31 makes it possible to improve the sliding of the rod 8 through the orifice 3, in order to obtain a precise stroke of the magnet 9 fixed at its end 8a.

The magnet 9 provided on the end 8a of the rod 8 is adapted to slide between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the magnet 9 is housed in the housing 5 as shown in Figure 2. The translation of the magnet 9 between the retracted and extended positions is connected to the translation of the rod 8 through the orifice 3 according to the longitudinal axis (X) of the gripper body 6.

The magnet 9 in the retracted position does not interfere with the picking up of the jack by the gripping body because it is housed in the housing 5. The dimensions of the housing 5 are therefore large and are chosen according to the characteristics of the magnet, the jack , the pulling member and the shape of the gripper body. Said housing 5 is preferably of a shape complementary to the shape of the magnet 9. In the embodiment represented in FIG. 1, the magnet 9 is of cylindrical shape, and the housing 5 is of hollow cylindrical shape. In a preferred embodiment, the housing has a diameter D3 of between 20 mm and 21 mm, the magnet 9 having a diameter D7 of between 14.5 mm and 16.5 mm, preferably equal to 15 mm. In another embodiment, the magnet is of parallelepiped shape, and the housing 5 is of hollow parallelepiped shape and complementary to the shape of the magnet. The magnet and the housing can be of any other shape, preferably complementary.

The housing has a depth L2 of between 5 mm and 6 mm, preferably substantially equal to 5.5 mm, the magnet having a height less than or equal to 5 mm. When the cavity has a depth L1 of between 20.5 mm and 21.5 mm, the entire gripping body preferably has a height L3 of between 30 mm and 31 mm. Thus, when the device is held by the user through the ring, the traction cord 10 being released and extending vertically, the magnet 9 is at the bottom of the housing 5 and is at a so-called margin distance Dm of at least 3 mm of a jack potential (C') engaged in the gripping body 6. The jack can be disengaged from the cavity by pushing the magnet 9 towards the opening 7 through the rod 8.

In the extended position, the magnet 9 is located at the level of the opening 7 and is suitable for cooperating with a pétanque boule when the edge 71 of the opening 7 is placed in the vicinity or in contact with said pétanque boule, said pétanque ball being placed on a horizontal surface, for example the ground. The attraction force of the magnet must be at least 60 N, preferably at least 80 N.

To this end, a stroke C1 of the magnet 9 along the longitudinal axis (X) is greater at the depth L1 of said cavity. In the extended position, the magnet 9 can therefore be level with the edge 71 in a vertical direction, or projecting from the edge 71 in a vertical direction, in particular when the stroke C1 of the magnet is greater than 1.1 times the depth L1 .

In an advantageous embodiment of the device, a travel C2 of the magnet 9 is less than or equal to the depth L1 of said cavity, thus allowing the device to have a more compact appearance. The cooperation of the magnet 9 with the petanque ball is possible thanks to the curvature of the latter, as shown in Figure 1 where the magnet is shown in the extended position, in contact with a petanque ball shown by its spectrum (B) in dotted lines, the spectrum of a jack being designated there by the reference (C).

In this embodiment, a stroke of the magnet 9 comprised between 19.90 mm and 21.40 mm, when the depth L1 is comprised between 20.5 mm and 21.5 mm, allows the magnet 9 in the extended position to cooperate with a pétanque ball. with a diameter of between 705 mm and 800 mm, when the edge 71 is placed in contact with it.

In an optional embodiment, the stroke of the magnet can be adjusted by varying the length of the rod 8. Such adjustment can be made possible by connecting the traction member 10 to the rod 8 through a loop 11 threaded and screwed into a tapped hole made at the end 8b of the rod. If the user wishes to increase the stroke (C1, C2), for example to pick up larger balls, he can slightly unscrew the loop 11 of the rod 8. Conversely, the loop 11 can be screwed to shorten the stroke (C1, C2), up to a certain value limited by the number of thread pitches of the loop so that the magnet 9 in the extended position can still cooperate with a pétanque ball. However, it is preferable that the device be supplied with a fixed length of rod in order to avoid adjustment errors by the user.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, this variant of the pick-up device comprises a measuring mechanism 12. The gripping member of this variant is more elongated than the gripping member of the device shown in Figure 1, in order to integrating said measuring mechanism 12. Advantageously, this variant comprises a measuring mechanism 12 and a counting mechanism 13. In another variant, only one counting means 13 is provided on the gripping member.

In a variant of the device, not shown, the device is composed of the gripping member only, comprising the gripping body fitted with the cavity and as described above, without being coupled to a sliding rod fitted with a magnet. Such a device would make it possible to pick up a jack and would be connected, for picking up a petanque ball, to another device suitable for picking up a petanque ball. Such a device can be provided on the end of a rope, the other device suitable for picking up a petanque boule being provided at the other end of the rope.

It may be envisaged to produce a gripping member comprising a gripping body as described above, and which is not coupled to a sliding rod provided with a magnet. Such a device would make it possible to pick up a jack and would be connected, by means of a pulling rope, to a petanque ball lifter comprising a gripping body comprising for example an integrated magnet.

- 1: collection device
- 12: measuring mechanism
- 13: counting mechanism
- 2: gripping device
- 3: hole
- 31: guiding means
- 4: cavity
- 5: housing
- 6: gripping body
- 61: upper portion
- 62: lower portion
- 7: opening
- 71: edge
- 8: stem
- 8a, 8b: ends of the rod
- 9: magnet
- 10: traction device
- 11: loop
- D1: internal diameter of the edge of the opening
- D2: external diameter of the edge of the opening
- D3: housing diameter
- D4: diameter of the guide means
- D5: diameter of a portion of the gripping device
- D6: rod diameter
- D7: diameter of the magnet
- D8: jack diameter
- Dm: margin distance
- L1: cavity depth
- L2: housing depth
- L3: height of the gripping device.

Claims (10)

Jack and pétanque ball pick-up device (1) comprising:
- a gripping member (2) comprising a gripping body (6) extending along a longitudinal axis (X),
- a circular opening (7) being provided on one side of the gripping member (2); the gripping body (6) comprising
- a cavity (4) delimited by an internal wall of the gripping body (6), communicating with said opening (7) and adapted to cooperate with a jack, the internal wall being defined by a surface of revolution around the longitudinal axis (X),
the pickup device (1) further comprising a rod (8) extending between two ends (8a, 8b), the rod being provided at one of its ends (8a) with a magnet (9) and connected to the other of its ends (8b) to a traction member (10),
the rod (8) being slidably mounted in the gripping member (2) through an orifice (3) provided on a side opposite to said opening (7), the magnet (9) being adapted to slide between a retracted position and an extended position, the magnet being adapted to cooperate with a pétanque boule in the extended position. Pick-up device according to the preceding claim, in which the surface of revolution is generated at least partially by a parabolic curve. A pick-up device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of revolution is conical or cylindrical in shape. Pick-up device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the opening (7) is delimited by a circular edge (71). Pick-up device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing (5) provided at the bottom of the gripping body (6) on a side opposite the opening (7) and adapted to receive the magnet (9) in position retracted. Pick-up device according to one of the preceding claims, in which a travel C1 of the magnet (9) along the longitudinal axis (X) is greater than a depth (L1) of the said cavity, the said cavity length being measured according to the longitudinal axis (X) between the opening (7) and a side of the grip body opposite the opening (7). Pick-up device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which a travel C2 of the magnet (9) along the longitudinal axis (X) is less than or equal to a depth (L1) of the said cavity, the said length of cavity being measured along the longitudinal axis (X) between the opening (7) and a side of the gripping body opposite the opening (7). Pick-up device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising measuring means (12) and/or counting means (13) arranged in the gripping member (2). Pick-up device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the gripping member (2) comprises a portion formed of a denser material than the material of the gripping body (6), said portion preferably being a washer (14 ) assembled on the gripping body (6) on a side opposite to that of the opening (7). Pick-up device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the inner wall of the gripping body is covered with grooves.