GB2543300A

GB2543300A - Reach arm device

Info

Publication number: GB2543300A
Application number: GB1518133.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Hackett Kieran; Martin Chloe-Louise
Original assignee: BAE Systems PLC
Current assignee: BAE Systems PLC
Priority date: 2015-10-14
Filing date: 2015-10-14
Publication date: 2017-04-19
Also published as: GB201518133D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an arm support for a reach-arm device to improve use as a mobility aid. The reach arm device 11 comprises an elongate shaft 12, at a first end of said shaft an operable grip jaw 15 for gripping an article 16, at a second end of said shaft a handle 13 with a trigger 14 located proximate to said handle to remotely operate said grip jaws. There is also provided an extensible arm support 17 with a restraint 18, wherein said extensible arm support is located rearward of said handle and trigger and attached via a connector 19. The arm support may be extendable and have the restraint may be a cuff for the arm. The arm support may be detachable from the reach arm and may be retrofitted onto an existing reach-arm device.

Description

Reach Arm Device

The invention relates to a reach arm device, particularly to a reach arm with an arm support to improve use as a mobility aid.

Reach arms, grabbers, grab arms, are known and allow people with impaired or reduced mobility a facile means of picking up articles from the floor or up high and reducing the movement required by the user to retrieve an article such that the user does not overextend or bend down. Mechanical reach arm devices are very low cost and allow for retrieval of small items such as keys or cutlery without any fuss.

However, for users with greatly impaired mobility, the pistol grip requires a degree of strength in the wrist, to hold the reach arm, and the additional mass of an article, the strain on the wrist is further compounded especially when picking up an article at an extended distance from the user or for moderately heavier articles.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a reach arm device comprising an elongate shaft, at a first end of said shaft an operable grip jaw for gripping an article to be retrieved, at a second end of said shaft a handle with a trigger, located proximate thereto, to remotely operate said grip jaws, wherein there is provided an extensible arm support with a restraint, wherein said extensible arm support is located rearward of said handle and trigger, such that in use said arm support provides a counter balance.

In a preferred arrangement said extensible arm support is detachable to said shaft.

In a highly preferred arrangement the arm support comprises at least one restraint to temporarily retain and/or secure/fasten said arm support to a user’s arm or shoulder. The restraint may be a moulded cuff (such as seen on a Lofstrand crutch), or strap restraint, or any combination thereof. The cuff may be made of a polymer or metal. There are multiple variations of the cuff such as for example, open or closed cuffs, such as, for example, a half-circle or a full circle with a V-type opening in the front, thereby allowing the forearm to be removed in the event of a fall. The orientation of an open cuff may require being offset, inverted or rotated about the central axis, so as to ensure that as the reach arm pivots about the users’ wrist, that the arm does not accidentally leave the open cuff.

The strap restraint may be a fabric, polymer, metal, and is preferably flexible to allow secure fastening of the strap to ensure that the arm support fits to the user’s arm and/or shoulder. The strap may be adjusted to the correct length and fastened using releasable standard fixers, such as, for example hook/eye fasteners, belt loops, tensioners, buttons, stud fasteners.

The trigger is operatively connected to and configured to operate the grip jaws. The trigger preferably forms an integral part of the handle, such that the user may hold the handle and activate the trigger using one hand. The handle and trigger may take the form of a pistol grip, with a mechanical or electronic trigger, wherein said trigger is activated by a gripping action using one or more fingers.

Mechanical triggers, such as, for example finger operated triggers are commonly used, and may be simple devices where the trigger and jaw grippers are physically linked, such as, for example, by cords or rods such that depression of the trigger causes the concomitant closing of the gripper jaws, and subsequent release of the trigger allows the jaws to open, which may be assisted by a bias means.

In a further arrangement the trigger may be an electronic trigger which may be a switch such that activation of the switch causes operation of one or more motors or actuators, wherein said motors or actuators are configured so as to open and close the jaw grippers. The motors or actuators may be calibrated such that they stop and/or lock at the point that a predetermined force is applied to an article to be gripped, so as to mitigate overloading the motor or actuator and/or crushing the article to be gripped. The power cell for operation of the motor, may be conveniently located in the handle or shaft of the reach arm device.

The extensible arm support may comprise a locking device such that the arm support is adjustable in length and reversibly locked at said length, such as in use to accommodate the users arm and shoulder dimensions.

The arm support may comprise a connector to attach the arm support to the reach arm device, particularly to the shaft. Alternatively, the connector may be a separate device arranged to connect both the reach arm and arm support. Preferably the connector allows reversible attachment of the arm support to the reach arm, such as to allow retrofitting to an existing reach arm device. The connector may be selected from, such as, for example, a clamp, co-operatively engageable void and lug connectors, or a telescopic twist lock. A retrofittable arm support may require a clamp, in order to allow it to be reversibly fitted to an existing reach arm device, as the reach arm device may have a different cross sectioned shape to the arm support’s cross section. The retrofitting may allow for a more compact device during transport of the user or for storage of the arm support and reach arm device. If the arm support is to be a permanent fixture, standard fixings or adhesives may be used, to secure the arm support to the reach arm. Where the arm support is retrofitted to a preexisting reach arm, the arm support may require a separate connector and extensible function. The connector or clamp may be located forward of the handle and trigger provided that a portion of the support arm and the restraint, extends behind the handle and trigger, to provide a counterbalance effect.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for an arm supported reach arm device, comprising a reach arm device and an extensible arm support and a connector to allow attachment of said arm support to said reach arm device.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a reach arm device, comprising an elongate shaft, at a first end of said shaft an operable grip jaw for gripping an article, at a second end of said shaft there is provided, a handle, a trigger located proximate to said handle, to remotely open and close said grip jaws, wherein there is provided a restraint, located rearward of said handle and trigger.

Whilst the device has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above, or in the following description, drawings or claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows a side view of a prior art reach arm/grabber device.

Figure 2 shows a side view of a reach arm device according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a side view of an electronic trigger embodiment.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a strap arrangement.

Referring to Figure 1, a typical prior art grabber 1, comprises a shaft 2, which may be of generally tubular construction, at one end is located a handle 3, with a mechanical trigger 4 located so that user’s hand (not shown) may grip the handle 3 and be able to operate the trigger 4 in a single operation. The trigger 4 may be linked via a rigid rod or cord (not shown), such that when the trigger 4 is pulled towards the handle by the user, a moveable hinged jaw 5b meets the stationary jaw 5a, such that the grip jaw (5a, 5b) is caused to close and grip an article 6.

Referring to Figure 2, a grabber 11, comprises a shaft 12, which may be of generally tubular construction, at one end is located a handle 13, with a mechanical trigger 14 located so that user’s hand (not shown) may grip the handle 13 and be able to operate the trigger 14 in a single operation. The trigger 14 may be linked via a rigid rod or cord (not shown), such that when the trigger 14 is pulled towards the handle by the user, a pair of moveable hinged grip jaws 15 is caused to close and grip an article 16. An extensible arm support 17 is connected to the shaft 12 by a connector 19. The connector 19 in this arrangement also allows the extension of the arm support 17 to different lengths to adjust to the user’s arm length (not shown). A restraint 18, is provided in the form of a cuff, so as to allow the user to readily slide their arm in and out of the cuff.

Referring to Figure 3, a grabber 21, comprises a shaft 22, which may be of generally tubular construction, at one end is located a handle 23, with an electronic switch 24 located so that user’s hand (not shown) may grip the handle 23 and be able to operate the trigger 24 in a single operation. The trigger 24 is operably linked to a power source and a motor (not shown) wherein said motor causes the pivoted grip jaws 26 to close and grip an article (not shown). An offset and extensible arm support 27 is connected to the shaft 22 by a connector 29, in the form of collocating lugs and a series of spaced voids. The connector 29 in this arrangement also allows the extension of the arm support 27 to different lengths to adjust to the user’s arm length (not shown). A restraint 28, is provided in the form of an open cuff, so as to allow the user to readily slide their arm in and out of the cuff.

Figure 4 shows part of the grabber 31 (as shown in figure 2), the shaft 32 comprises a connector 39, which is formed by a series of voids 34 in the shaft 32. An extensible arm support 37 is co-axially aligned in a slidable and telescopic arrangement inside the shaft 32. The extensible arm support 37 comprises a biased lug 35, which in its biased position protrudes through the void 34, to retain a temporarily fixed length of arm support 37. At one end of the arm support 37, is a fabric loop 38, which forms the restraint, such that in use the fabric loop may be placed around the users arm (not shown), and its length altered by means of a hook and loop fastener 33, to better fit a user’s arm circumference.

Claims

Claims:

1. A reach arm device, comprising an elongate shaft, at a first end of said shaft an operable grip jaw for gripping an article, at a second end of said shaft a handle with a trigger located proximate to said handle to remotely operate said grip jaws, wherein there is provided an extensible arm support with a restraint, wherein said extensible arm support is located rearward of said handle and trigger.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said extensible arm support is detachable to said shaft.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said arm support comprises at least one restraint to temporarily secure/fasten said arm support to a user’s arm or shoulder.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one restraint is a moulded cuff, or strap restraint, or combination thereof.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the trigger forms an integral part of the handle.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the trigger is a mechanical or electronic trigger operatively connected to the grip jaws.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the extensible arm support comprises a locking device such that the arm support is adjustable in length and reversibly locked at said length, such as in use to accommodate the users arm and shoulder dimensions.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arm support comprises a connector to attach the arm support to the shaft.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the connector allows reversible attachment of the arm support to the shaft, such as to allow retrofitting to an existing reach arm device.

10. A device according to any one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the connection device is a clamp, co-operatively engageable void and lug connectors, or a telescopic twist lock.

11. A kit of part for an arm supported reach arm device, comprising a reach arm device and an extensible arm support comprising a connector to allow attachment to said reach arm device.

12. A reach arm device, comprising an elongate shaft, at a first end of said shaft an operable grip jaw for gripping an article, at a second end of said shaft there is provided, a handle, a trigger located proximate to said handle, to remotely open and close said grip jaws, wherein there is provided a restraint, located rearward of said handle and trigger.