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COLLECTION TOOL WITH LIMITATION OF VARIABLE POSITION AND VARIABLE AXIS OF OPERATION Patent Application of E.U.A. Related This Patent Application is a Continuation in Part of our previously filed Patent Application of the same title, filed on January 10, 20Q3, which was given Serial Number 10 / 340,142. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention pertains to the field of 'hand tools. More particularly, it belongs to tools for assuming manipulative operations separate from the operator's hands, including picking up and moving objects from place to OLIO, with movable pick-up fingers. ii-sThe tools are generally known as "achievers" or "fasteners", This invention belongs to such tools that have the novel property cié infinitely variable position limitation of the movable fingers and have the ability to vary the plane of operation of the fingers Description (Prior Art Technique i There are situations where articles are not within reach and physical barriers, such as compose tree branches, drain grate, furniture and the like, prevent :: one from holding and / or removing or In certain ways, one often depends on tools with holding actions, separated from the handle, to reach through physical barriers.1 These tools come in a variety of sizes, lengths, and internal mechanisms. daily lives become more complex with crowded living conditions and an aging population, these tools take on a more meaningful existence. ^: Especially with the older generation, reaching and withdrawing items out of reach is becoming more important. In some cases, people can use fasteners to remove bottles from tall shelves, or stacked items from pes cabinets. However, many people do not have long-term holding power in their hands to retain enough grip to hold the item and continue to hold it while moving it from one place to another. This lack of holding power usually results in the item falling off as it moves. ! The aleanzadores and fasteners remedy this situation. The Patent of E.ü.A. No. 3,527,492 of the prior art discloses said tool: for use in picking up other articles, comprising an elongated arrow having a handle at one end, with a squeeze hammer, and a pair of separate, spring-operated picking fingers, placed at the opposite end of the arrow. The Patent of E.U.A. 4,, 709, 837 describes a somewhat similar tool that contains a skid horn and a stop attached to a movable portion at the lower end of the arrow, to assist a person in donning and removing their shoes. In both of these devices, the pressure exerted against the object to be held by the tool comes directly from the continuous pressure of the hand of the operator who tightens the hammer. The Patent of E.U.A. No. 4,962,957 relates to a picking tool with a position holding device that includes an arm that extends outwardly from the handle and that contains spaced notches to which a pin can be held to retain the fingers being held in a of two or three clamping positions. This tool, as well as the other tools mentioned herein, is confined to having separate picking fingers, aligned along an axis transverse to the plane of the handle. A disadvantage in the previous branch is the fact that all available collection tools, such as pickers and their takers, have a fixed axis along which the picking fingers operate. If someone wants to have their fingers moving along one of the handle, they must turn the handle to a different orientation. Some people do not have the skill to do this or do not have much strength in their hands. These people are adversely affected by said frozen design in the collection tool. A collection tool with an infinitely variable collector finger placement capability, and / or a collection tool with the ability to rotate the plane of the movable fingers at a different angle, is not currently available. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION This invention is a manual collection tool that has the novel feature of infinitely variable position limitation of the picking fingers, mobile, from fully open to (completely closed, in all intermediate positions.) Another novel feature is the ability to rotate the arrow on which the picking fingers are mounted, movable, so that the fingers can move along planes other than transverse to the plane of the handle.The invention includes a clamped, curved element , not symmetrical, preferably having a plurality of fluted indentations, uniquely positioned within the tool body and arranged to move along a curvilinear, non-symmetrical path as a fixed hammer is tightened. Also, it is mounted in a unique way to the tool body to interact with the clamping element. table and a means, pivotally mounted actuator I retained loosely in connection with the link plate. When the actuator means is pivoted in one direction, it causes the link plate to be clamped against the clamped element, preferably sliding within the fluted indentations, thereby allowing the striker to be held in a specific position, and allowing the fingers of collection, fixed mobiles are fastened against an object. I The tool can then be used to move the object without continuing to press the firing pin against the handle. The grip of the fingers against the object is easily released when the firing pin is slightly squeezed excessively. The slight pressure of the hammer causes the ball plate to be released from its position against the bar, allowing the actuator to spring back to its original position with the help of a spring. the hammer moves back to its original position, and, the fingers release their grip against the object and move back to their original position. The tool body includes a sleeve in which the elongated shaft of the tool is partially inserted removably. When it is necessary to change the plane of the fingers the arrow can be pulled temporarily loose from the bushing, and rotated, to the right or left, 90 °, 180 °, 270 ° or 360 ° and put back in the bushing to achieve the change in the plane. 1 1 Accordingly, the main object of this invention is an elongated picking tool, having an infinitely variable position which limits the fingers of the fully open to fully closed positions, and all the intermediate positions. Other objects of the invention include an elongated picking tool that can be easily altered to have the fingers moving along a plane that is different from the plane I of the handle; a tool where all the elements related to position and finger restraint reside within the tool itself; a tool wherein the fastening elements can be easily placed from a fastening position to their original position, not fastened; a tool where the position of the grip fingers is infinitely variable; a tool where the rotation of the plane along which they can move (fingers can be achieved without external tools, a tool where the elongated arrow is self-aligned, and a tool that can be used by men, women and children who are right-handed or left-handed These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent when the description of the preferred embodiment is read along with the drawings appended hereto j The protection sought by the invention can be deduced from a regular reading of the claims concluding the specification BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrative of a body panel. of tool of the invention, showing the interior thereof with assembly pins formed therein; 1 I Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, illustrative of the other panel of the tool body, showing the interior thereof with receptacles of pin assembly; ! Figure 4 is a side view, in cross section, illustrative of the tool body, handle and striker; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rotary means; ! Figure 6 is a side view of the removable element; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the fastening element and the link plate, showing the interaction between them;
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Figure 8 is a side view of the striker, clamped element and link element, showing the spatial relationship between them as they would be disposed within the tool body; Figure 9 is a perspective of the torque re-cutting showing its relation to the actuator means, specifically, to one of the actuator plates; and Figure 10 is an illustrative side view of the wrist band affixed to the handle showing how a person can use it. ! DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Returning now to the drawings where the elements or limitations are identified with | numbers and similar elements or limitations are identified with equal numbers throughout the ten figures, the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1-3 and shows a manual tool 2 for holding articles placed at a distance from an operator. The tool 2 comprises a hollow body 4, preferably made of a light weight plastic, and formed by at least two connectable side panels 5 and 6. A plurality of assembly pins 8, preferably molded therein, and formed in the interior of the side panel 5, is received by a plurality of receptacles 10 receiving from! Assembly pin aligned inside the side panel 6, to secure the side panels 5 and 6 together. The body 4 has a pair of extending ribs 12 extending outwards, one in each lateral panel, to provide a support area for the operator's thumb when the operator holds the tool 2. II As shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, | the handle 18, preferably thin, for holding by any operator's hand and for manipulating the tool 2, extends downward from a lower rear portion 14 of the body 4. The handle 18 may have a recess 20 formed in the front of the body. it is terminated at the bottom by the end 22. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a squeeze pin I 24 squeezes down from the tool body 4, forward of the handle 18 and pivotally spaced therefrom. and is operably disposed with the handle 18. The striker 24 pivots about a first pin 26, preferably positioned within the hollow body 4 as it is tightened and released. | As shown in Figure 1, the tool 2 of this invention further includes at least one, but preferably two movable collection fingers 28, in I disposition spaced apart, to assist in holding the article in response to the firing of the firing pin 24. The movable collecting fingers I 28 having inner end ends 29 are preferably mounted symmetrically about a central axis (xx), and the fingers 28 are preferably of the same length, each extending outwardly. to a position completely! open, deflected when the striker 24 is in a position furthest from the handle 18. The fingers 28 move under offset pressure towards each other to hold the article when the striker 24 is tightened, and move away from each other to release the article when the firing pin is released 24. It is preferred that the firing pin 24 pivots from a first position, further away from the handle 18, with the fingers 28 in the more separated position, towards a second position, closer to the handle 18, with fingers 28 in a position closer to each other. The hammer 24 can also partially or completely fold into the recess 20 in the handle 18, with the fingers 28 in the position even closer to one another. The movement of the fingers 28 can occur in any orientation around the plane of the handle 18 and striker 24, but it is preferred that the fingers 28 operate in an arrangement parallel or perpendicular to the plane of 1 ^ handle 18 and striker 24. The fingers 28 Movable furthermore are terminated at their distant ends by a pair of cups 30 fastening axle fixed thereto by a nut and bolt arrangement 32, to provide a better grip around the article. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a rigid, elongated member 34 defined by a first terminal end 3 and a second terminal end 37 is fixed between the tool hollow body 4 and the dots 28 of collection, movable. The rigid member 34 retains the body 4 and movable fingers 28 in a rigid, separate configuration, and is of a sufficient length to allow the operator to hold an article at a distance from the operator. The length of the rigid member 34 is limited to the total weight of the tool 2 that is comfortable for use by a person. First, the terminal end 36 of the rigid member 34 enters the tool body 4 through a central opening 38 in the front portion of the body 4. The rigid member 34 is preferably a hollow arrow 39 having a square cross-sectional shape or another geometric and made of a lightweight metal such as aluminum or titanium. The internal ends 29 of the movable collection fingers 28 are preferably mounted on opposite sides of the outer surface of the hollow arrow 39 towards the second terminal end 37 by a holding means 40. It is preferred that the movable fingers 28 extend outwardly beyond the second terminal end 37. As shown in Figure 1, the clamping means 40 includes two sleeves 4'2a and 42b assembled together by a plurality of assembly pins and rivets 44 for enclosing the inner ends 29 of the picking fingers 28, moveable and the exterior of the elongate rigid member 34. ! As shown in Figures 1 and 4, at least one, but preferably two, flexible members 46 are fixed between the striker 24 and the picking fingers 28, moveable, to move the fingers in response to the movement of the striker 24 The flexible members 46, each one is I. defined by a first end 47 terminal and jun second terminal end 48, separated, and preferably are slats
49 metal flat, folding. It is recommended that the strips
49 are separated, extending longitudinally within the hollow arrow 39 and are connected connectable to the striker
24 by a rotating element 50, as seen in the Figure
4. The strips 49 extend out of the arrow 39 at the second terminal end 37 and are fixed, at the ends 47 i thereof, to picking fingers 28, movable via I of a nut and bolt arrangement 32, a lath passing to one of each of two pick-up fingers, movable 28, in a deviation relationship therewith, to allow the fingers 28 to move in response to the tightening of the striker 24. The length of the strips 49 is set to '1'. so that the terminal ends 47 extend to their widest, spaced configuration, when the striker 24 is in its forwardmost position and is taut! I against the body 4 to allow the movable collection fingers 28 to hold the article. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the rotary means 50, disposed within the hollow body 4, includes a ball 54 which is rotatably housed within a spherical bushing 56 formed inside the striker 24, and a central I arrow 58, completed by a connector 60. The connector
60 is housed within the first terminal end 36 of the hollow arrow 39, preferably in a slidable relationship therewith, for receiving the slats 49 therein. It is preferred that a pair of spaced apart slots 62 formed within the connector 60, receive therein the ends, 48 of the strips 49, having a transverse bore 64 and a transverse pin 66, the anchoring ends 48 of laths 49 to the connector 60. The rotary means 50 is adapted to move back and forth in the tool body 4 as a function of tightening and releasing the striker 24, and moving the strips 49 therewith. The deflection pressure is achieved by pulling the strips 49 towards the handle 18 when the striker 24 is tightened 24. As a result, when the striker 24 is tightened, the movable picking fingers 28 are forced to move one towards the! other. I As shown in Figures 4 ', 6- and 7, a pivotable, attachable element 68 preferably housed within the hollow body 4, interacts with a linkage element 7 (j), loosely arranged to allow infinite clamping positions for moving the fingers 28. The clamped element 68 is defined by a broad end 71, which has an I opening 72 therethrough, and a curved bar 73, which extends away from the broad end 7 ^. The curve bar 73 i is asymmetrically curvilinear as shown in Figure 6. This differs from the symmetric curve (YZ) drawn with it, also shown in Figure 6, where the spokes (XY) and (XZ) are They are of equal length A second pin 74 fixes the fastening element 68 to the striker 24 through the opening 72. It is preferred that the fastening element 68 is made of a strong, solid metal. at least one, but preferably two, surface Separate contact 76s that provide different interaction positions for the link plate 70. In the preferred embodiment, the contact surfaces 76 are reinforced to increase the friction between either or both of the surfaces with one or both surfaces surrounding the openings 84 that are formed in the erilace element 70. More particularly, this roughened surface may take the form of a plurality of small, serrated or serrated teeth 77, formed transversely along the surfaces 76 as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
As shown in Figures 4 and 7, the loosely arranged link plate 70 is preferably housed within the hollow body 4, and has at least one, but preferably two, working edges 78 for interacting with the element 68 clamped to allow infinite holding positions for the fingers 28 movable against the article held by the fingers. It is preferred that the link plate 70 be in a form of an A-frame, and defined by a top portion 80, a pair of separate side leg members 82 I, and an opening 84 formed therebetween. The opening 84, which has at least one, preferably two, locking edges 78, planes, i receives the clamped element 68 that passes therethrough. During actuation, the link plate 70 moves along the curvilinear surface 75 of the bar 73 which | it allows its working edges 78 to slide towards at least one indentation 77 grooved to achieve a holding position. The striated teeth 77 provide the multiple clamping positions as the link plate 7.0 slides into contact with either; preferably both of them, depending on the size of the article collected. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the link plate 70 is pivoted loosely within the body 4 | by a pivotal means 86. The pivotal means 86 is a recess 90 of pivotal operation for loosely receiving the upper portion 80 of the link plate 70. As shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9 ', an actuator means 94 is provided to drive the link plate 70, causing the plate 70 to move in a forward direction i and, as a result, the edges 78 of Work of fastening the plate 70 in various securing positions against the clamped element 68, preferably inside it. at least one of the small teeth 77 | striated depending on the size of the item collected. The actuator means 94 is pivotally mounted within the tool body 4 and has an opening 95 therethrough for receiving a third pin 96. The third pin 96 is disposed spaced apart from the first pin 26 within the hollow body 4. The actuator means 94 is positioned within the interior hollow body 4 and allows the clamped member 68i to oscillate through its full path when the striker 24 is tightened. Also included is a transverse plate 97 and a pair of actuator plates 98 '| separate (only one actuator plate is shown) that are assembled together by a plurality of assembly pins 8, assembling pin receiving receptacles 10 molded into the plates 98, and a pair of buttons 100 (only one button being shown) ) formed externally on them. Plate 97 transverse]! retains not restrictively the leg members 82 of the link plate 70, each leg member extending on each side of the transverse plate 97. The buttons through a pair of windows 102a and 102b are also shown in Figures 2 and 3, one positioned on each side of the tool body 4, and are adapted to move towards a position held by the operator's thumb. When the exposed button 100 is pushed into the position held by the thumb, the transverse plate 97 pushes the fixed leg members 82 of the link plate 70 in a forward direction which causes the upper portion 80 to pivot i released in an opposite direction within a recess 90 of pivotal operation, shown in Figure 4. The distance traveled by the upper portion 80 within the recess 90 is shorter than the distance traveled by the leg members 82. The working edges 78 of the link plate 70 within the opening '84, are stuck in a temporary clamped position within at least one, but preferably two of the striated teeth 77, in 1 different positions a. length of bar 73 clamped | depending on the size of the item collected. ' In a clamped position, the movable fingers 28 secure their grip around the collected article, and the article is held in the held position for a period of time without the operator having to exert any physical effort of the hand and fingers i to retain the article in this position. The link plate 70 is easily released from the clamped position by a slight tightening of the striker 24, causing the link plate 70 to be released from its position against the clamped rod 73 and return to a released, original position, causing further that the driven means 94 returns to its unclamped, original position allowing the pusher 24 to return to its original position furthest from the handle 18, and also allowing the fingers 28 to return to a fully open, original position. A deviation means 204 is provided to assist the actuator means 94 to return from its clamped position, to its unclamped, original position. I As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the means 104 of 'deviation It is I a torque or spring 106 of 'twist that! it has a first leg 108 and a second leg 110 extending outwardly at an angle to each other from a torque twist of central torque. It is preferred that the torsion 112 of central torque 112 be wound around the third pin 96 which also receives the actuator means 94 through I from the actuator opening 95. Sharing the same pin allows space saving within the hollow body 4 and placement of the torque spring 106 of 106 in close proximity to the actuator means 94 for an operable deviation ratio therebetween. The second leg 110 terminates in a bent portion 114 that spans an area, preferably a front portion, of the actuator means 94. When the exposed button 100 is pushed forward, the actuating means 94 pushes the bent portion 114 of the spring
106 also forward in a deviating relationship with it. The deflection ratio is achieved by the second leg 110 which is pushed forward under deflection pressure. When the link plate 70 is released from its clamped position around the clamped bend bar 73, during the slight tightening of the striker 24, the deflection pressure of the spring 106 is released and the second leg 110 rapidly jumps back to its original position and moving the actuator means 94 with it to its original position. Another deflection means may be used such as a coil spring or a leaf spring. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a bushing means 118 in the tool body 4 receives, the arrow 39 hollow in a removable relation therewith. The bushing means 118 includes a bushing 120 which has the same shape and size as the external shape and size of the hollow arrow 39. The arrow 39 is adapted to be pulled out of the bushing 120 against the spring deflection while the arrow 39 still houses the connector 60 in a slidable relationship therewith. The arrow 39 is rotated to the right or left, and is again placed in the cassette 120 to achieve the change in the plane of the movable fingers 28. Repositioning can occur in a wide variety of positions, but it is preferred that replenishment occurs to four positions, that is, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees. If the arrow 39 is made to have a number of may or less of sides and the casque 120 is made in a geometric design similar to it, then the plane may be rotated at any other angles, depending on the number of sides. The rotation ball 94 within the striker 24 allows the arrow 39 i to receive connector to the various positions around the central axis of the arrow. Figure 10 shows a modification to the tool 2 comprising a wrist support means 122 to assist an operator in retaining the tool 2. The wrist support means 122 includes a base 124 formed at a first end 126, for covering the lower end 22 of the handle 18. The base 124 has a plurality of I pins 8, preferably molded thereon, to be fixed on a pair of aligned, pin receiving receptacles 10 formed on the handle 18. A plate-shaped extension 128 expands backward from the first end 126, with a slight "S" shape, to a second end 130. The wrist support means 122 is designed for use by those persons who have reduced strength in his wrists, whether caused by age, an accident, or I disease, such as arthritis, the shape of "S" conforming to the bottom of the tool 2 manual fastening. To use the support means 122, only the wrist support means 122 is fastened to the handle 18 in the pin and receptacle arrangement to hold the support means 122 to the handle 18. When the operator holds the handle 18 , the support means I 122 provides sustained attachment to the flange between the operator's hand and the tool handle 18, while simultaneously deviating the wrist joint of the operator and providing support directly from the operator's forearm. The wrist support means 122 can be attached to the handle 18 as needed by the user, | or can be glued or otherwise fixed to the handle 18 permanently. The wrist support means 122 can also be pivoted upwardly adjacent the handle 18 when not in use, as shown in dotted delineation in Figure 10. While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment of the same, those experts in the field may make various modifications to the described modality without abandoning the true spirit and scope of it. It is intended that all combinations of elements and steps that simultaneously perform the same function substantially in the same manner achieve substantially the same result are within the scope of this invention.