GB2054442A

GB2054442A - Hand-operated handling device

Info

Publication number: GB2054442A
Application number: GB8022958A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hoare A R
Current assignee: Hoare A R
Priority date: 1979-07-17
Filing date: 1980-07-14
Publication date: 1981-02-18

Abstract

A hand operated handling device comprising a tubular handle 10 in which is slidably received a rod 11 connected by links 17 to gripper arms 14 which are pivotably connected to a transversely extending member 12 provided on the end of the handle 10, said handle 10 having a slot 25 to enable the rod 11 to be moved axially relative to the handle 10 by means of a person's thumb or finger in order to cause the gripping arms 14 to be moved about their pivot 13 by the rod 11 and links 17. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand operated handling device This invention relates to a hand operated handling device.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand operated handling device comprising, a tubular handle forming member, a rod slidably received within the tubular member, one end of said tubular member being provided with a transversely extending member, a gripping arm pivotably connected at each end of the transversely extending member, each gripping arm being connected by a link to one end of said rod, said tubular member in the region of its other end being provided with a longitudinal slot to enable the rod to be moved axially relative to the tubular member by means of a person's thumb or finger in order to cause the gripping arms to be moved about their pivot by the rod and links.

Preferably the rod in the region of the slot is supported in the tubular member by a slide member.

The rod may be acted upon by a spring which urges the rod either in a direction to cause the gripping arms to be in an open position or alternatively to cause the gripping arms to be in a closed "gripping" position.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accomparanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic plan view of a first embodiment of a handling device according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 2-2 indicated on Figure 1, Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section, on a larger scale, showing the thumb operated slider, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the handling device of figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a second embodiment of a handling device according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a partial plan view on a larger scale of the device of figure 5, and Figure 7 is a partial side view of the device of figure 5.

The handling device shown in figures 1 to 4 comprises a tubular handle forming member 10 which can be of any desired cross-sectional shape.

Slidable within the tubular member lOis a rod 11 which protrudes from one end of the tubular member 10. Attached to one end of the tubular member 10 is a transversely extending member 12 which is secured to the tubular member 10 by any suitable means such as screws or welding. Alternatively the member 12 may be integral with the tubular member 10.

Connected to each end of the member 12 by means of a pivot pin 13 is a gripping arm 14. Each arm 14 is formed of round tube which at its end remote from the pivot pin 13 is flattened and cranked. The gripping arm 14 may alternatively be mounted in metal or other suitable material. The flattened and cranked end is covered with a sleeve 15 formed of rubber or plastics material. Each gripping arm 14 is provided with a pivot pin 16 with which is connected a link 17. Both of the links 17 are connected at 18 to the adjacent end of the rod 11.

The links 17 are preferably formed of wire.

At its other end the rod 11 is connected to a slider 19 which as shown in Figure 3 preferably comprises a sleeve 20 having an external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the tubular member 10, the rod 11 being connected to the sleeve 20 by a transverse pin 21. Connected to the sleeve 20 is a member 22 provided with a recess 23 and the member 22 is connected to a sleeve 24. The sleeves 20, 24 may be formed of metal and the member 22 formed of wood or plastics material, the whole comprising a slider 19. In the region of the slider 19 the tubular member 10 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 25 which enables a person gripping the tubular member 10 at its end remote from the gripping arms 14to move the slider 19 longitudinally relative to the tubular member 10 by means of a thumb or finger engaged in the recess 23.Such movement of the slider 19 towards the arms 14 will effect longitudinal movement of the rod 11 which via the links 17 will cause the gripping arms 14 to move apart about pivots 13 so that they can be placed around an article to be gripped, and movement of the slider 19 in the opposite direction will move the gripping arms 14 towards each other about pivots 13to grip the article.

It will be appreciated that the slider 19 may be a single member connected to, or integral with, the rod 11. The slider can also be provided with a finger grip or trigger which extends through the slot 25.

If desired the slider 19 can be acted upon by a tension or compression spring housed in the end of the tubular member 10 so that the gripping arms 14 can be resiliently urged towards or away from each other. Such a handling device can be used for the remote handling of articles where gripping of the articles by hand is not possible or undesirable. It can be used as a handling aid by persons who have a physical defect which affects their hand or hands.

The embodiment shown in figures 5 to 7 is similar to that of figures 1 to 3 and like parts are indicated by the same reference numerals as used in describing figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment the slider 19 is provided with a finger or thumb grip 26 which extends through the slot 25, the outer face of the grip 26 being curved in the longitudinal direction of the handling device. The grip 26 may be formed of a plastics material.

The rod 11 is tubular and at its end adjacent the arms 14 it is flattened and provided with a hole 27 in which the links 21 are received.

The links 17 instead of engaging of a pivot pin 16 have their ends bent and received in holes 28 in the arms 14. The upper end of the tubular member 10 is closed by a cap 29 preferably formed of plastics material.

1. A hand operator handling device comprising a tubular handle forming member, a rod slidably

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hand operated handling device This invention relates to a hand operated handling device. According to the present invention there is provided a hand operated handling device comprising, a tubular handle forming member, a rod slidably received within the tubular member, one end of said tubular member being provided with a transversely extending member, a gripping arm pivotably connected at each end of the transversely extending member, each gripping arm being connected by a link to one end of said rod, said tubular member in the region of its other end being provided with a longitudinal slot to enable the rod to be moved axially relative to the tubular member by means of a person's thumb or finger in order to cause the gripping arms to be moved about their pivot by the rod and links. Preferably the rod in the region of the slot is supported in the tubular member by a slide member. The rod may be acted upon by a spring which urges the rod either in a direction to cause the gripping arms to be in an open position or alternatively to cause the gripping arms to be in a closed "gripping" position. Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accomparanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic plan view of a first embodiment of a handling device according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 2-2 indicated on Figure 1, Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section, on a larger scale, showing the thumb operated slider, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the handling device of figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a second embodiment of a handling device according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a partial plan view on a larger scale of the device of figure 5, and Figure 7 is a partial side view of the device of figure 5. The handling device shown in figures 1 to 4 comprises a tubular handle forming member 10 which can be of any desired cross-sectional shape. Slidable within the tubular member lOis a rod 11 which protrudes from one end of the tubular member 10. Attached to one end of the tubular member 10 is a transversely extending member 12 which is secured to the tubular member 10 by any suitable means such as screws or welding. Alternatively the member 12 may be integral with the tubular member 10. Connected to each end of the member 12 by means of a pivot pin 13 is a gripping arm 14. Each arm 14 is formed of round tube which at its end remote from the pivot pin 13 is flattened and cranked. The gripping arm 14 may alternatively be mounted in metal or other suitable material. The flattened and cranked end is covered with a sleeve 15 formed of rubber or plastics material. Each gripping arm 14 is provided with a pivot pin 16 with which is connected a link 17. Both of the links 17 are connected at 18 to the adjacent end of the rod 11. The links 17 are preferably formed of wire. At its other end the rod 11 is connected to a slider 19 which as shown in Figure 3 preferably comprises a sleeve 20 having an external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the tubular member 10, the rod 11 being connected to the sleeve 20 by a transverse pin 21. Connected to the sleeve 20 is a member 22 provided with a recess 23 and the member 22 is connected to a sleeve 24. The sleeves 20, 24 may be formed of metal and the member 22 formed of wood or plastics material, the whole comprising a slider 19. In the region of the slider 19 the tubular member 10 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 25 which enables a person gripping the tubular member 10 at its end remote from the gripping arms 14to move the slider 19 longitudinally relative to the tubular member 10 by means of a thumb or finger engaged in the recess 23.Such movement of the slider 19 towards the arms 14 will effect longitudinal movement of the rod 11 which via the links 17 will cause the gripping arms 14 to move apart about pivots 13 so that they can be placed around an article to be gripped, and movement of the slider 19 in the opposite direction will move the gripping arms 14 towards each other about pivots 13to grip the article. It will be appreciated that the slider 19 may be a single member connected to, or integral with, the rod 11. The slider can also be provided with a finger grip or trigger which extends through the slot 25. If desired the slider 19 can be acted upon by a tension or compression spring housed in the end of the tubular member 10 so that the gripping arms 14 can be resiliently urged towards or away from each other. Such a handling device can be used for the remote handling of articles where gripping of the articles by hand is not possible or undesirable. It can be used as a handling aid by persons who have a physical defect which affects their hand or hands. The embodiment shown in figures 5 to 7 is similar to that of figures 1 to 3 and like parts are indicated by the same reference numerals as used in describing figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment the slider 19 is provided with a finger or thumb grip 26 which extends through the slot 25, the outer face of the grip 26 being curved in the longitudinal direction of the handling device. The grip 26 may be formed of a plastics material. The rod 11 is tubular and at its end adjacent the arms 14 it is flattened and provided with a hole 27 in which the links 21 are received. The links 17 instead of engaging of a pivot pin 16 have their ends bent and received in holes 28 in the arms 14. The upper end of the tubular member 10 is closed by a cap 29 preferably formed of plastics material. CLAIMS

1. A hand operator handling device comprising a tubular handle forming member, a rod slidably received within the tubular member, one end of said tubular member being provided with a transversely extending member, a gripping arm pivotably connected at each end of the transversely extending member, each gripping arm being connected by a link to one end of said rod, said tubular member in the region of its other end being provided with a longitudinal slot to enable the rod to be moved axially relative to the tubular member by means of a person's thumb or finger in order to cause the gripping arms to be moved about their pivot by the rod and links.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the rod in the region of the slot is supported in the tubular member by a slide member.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the rod is acted upon by resilient means which urges the rod either in a direction to cause the gripping arms to be in an open position or alterna timely to cause the gripping arms to be in a closed "gripping" position.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the links are formed by wires engaged with a pivot pins provided on the arms.

5. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the links are formed by wires engaged in holes provided in the arms.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the outer end of each gripping arm is cranked.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, in which the arms are tubular and the tube is flattened in the cranked position.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each arm is provided with a covering sleeve formed of rubber or plastics material.

9. A hand operated handling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.