NL1034512C2 - Grabber for e.g. traffic cone, has body which can adopt different configurations depending on whether cone is being picked up or set down - Google Patents

Abstract

The grabber body (3) can be adjusted between a first configuration in which the grabber (1) is used to set down a cone and a second configuration in which it is used to pick up a cone. The grabber comprises an elongated body which includes a catch (4) that can be activated in order to engage with the cone. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) Method for picking up a cone using the grabber, by setting the grabber in a second configuration in which downward movement of the catch from a starting position is prevented, inserting the grabber into a hole in the cone until the spring-biased catch springs back into the starting position, and picking up the cone so that the latter is supported by the catch; and (B) Method for setting down a cone using the grabber, by setting the grabber in a first configuration in which upward movement of the catch from a starting position is prevented, placing the grabber on the ground, pressing the grabber so that the catch is retracted, releasing a cone onto the ground and lifting the grabber.

Description

Title: Pawn grab, pawn, set of at least one pawn and pawn grab

The invention relates to a pawn gripper for cooperation with a pawn comprising an elongated body, the elongated body being provided with an activatable catch.

GB 2 406 600 describes a pawn gripper of which a tubular body is provided with two catches. The catches can be operated from the handle of the pawn gripper. To set up or pick up a pawn, the catches are activated so that a tubular body can move through an opening of a pawn. As soon as the pawn has been placed or picked up, the catches are deactivated. The pawls can be activated either manually or automatically.

Such a pawn grab is known for picking up, moving or placing pawns such as traffic or sports pawns.

A drawback of the known pawn gripper is that when performing a series of pick-up or drop operations, the catches must be activated for each operation. This is hard work for the user, which is intensive and tiring.

The invention contemplates, inter alia, a pawn gripper that is easier to use.

To this end, the invention provides a pawn gripper for cooperation with a pawn comprising an elongated body, the elongated body being provided with an activatable catch for cooperating with the pawn, characterized in that the elongated body is adjustable in a first position for depositing of a pawn and a second position for picking up a pawn.

Because the pawn grab is adjustable between a first position for placing a pawn and a second position for picking up a pawn, 1034512 2, the catch does not have to be activated separately for each pick-up or drop operation. This makes it easier to perform a series of pick up or drop operations.

When the tubular body is adjustable between the first position and the second position via a handle of a handle 5 of the pawn gripper, it is easy for the user to adjust the pawn gripper to the desired position.

When the tubular body comprises an outer body in which an inner body provided with the pawl is telescopically movable, the pawn gripper can advantageously be adjusted by moving the inner body relative to the outer body.

The invention also relates to a pawn for cooperation with a pawn gripper.

The invention further relates to a set of at least a pawn and a pawn grab.

Further advantageous embodiments are shown in the subclaims.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment which is represented in a drawing. In the drawing 20:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pawn gripper according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a handle with a handle in the second position; FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of picking up a pawn with a pawn grab according to the invention;

FIG. 4 a schematic representation of the placing of a pawn with a pawn gripper according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a catch.

3

The figures are only schematic representations of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and are given by way of non-limiting exemplary embodiment. In the figures, the same parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a pawn gripper 1 with a handle 2 and an elongated body, in particular a tubular body 3. The elongated body 3 is provided with an activatable catch 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the body 3 comprises an outer body 5 in which an inner body 6 is telescopically movable is. Here, the outer body 5 and the inner body 6 are designed as an outer tube 5 and inner tube 6, respectively. The pawl 4 is connected to the inner tube 6. Several pawns 8 can rest on the pawl 4 of the pawn gripper 1. The pawns 8 can easily be moved, set down or picked up in this way.

Via a handle 7, the pawn gripper 1 can be adjusted to a first position for placing a pawn and a second position for picking up a pawn. In FIG. 1, the handle 7 is shown in the first position and in FIG. 2, the handle 7 is shown in the second position.

In the first position for placing a pawn 8, the inner tube 6 protrudes further from the outer tube 5 than in the second position. As a result, when a pawn 8 is set down, the pawn grab 1 can first touch a ground surface for the pawn 8 to be set down, as shown in FIG. 4 to see. As soon as the pawn gripper 1 touches the ground surface, the user presses the pawn gripper 1 against the ground surface. As a result, the outer tube 5 slides over the inner tube 6, whereby the pawl 4 is activated and moves towards a collapsed position against the action of a spring 10, as seen in Figs. 4b and FIG. 4c. The pawn 8 to be placed is then released and can be placed on the ground surface. The pawl 4 then moves again through the spring 10 to the unfolded position, so that the pawns 8 can rest on the pawl 4 again. In FIG. 5, the pawl 4 is shown with a spring 10. The spring 10 is here embodied as a spiral spring. However, the spring can also be designed in a different manner, such as, for example, as friction in the hinge of the pawl 4.

In the second position, the inner tube 6 protrudes less far from the outer tube 5 than in the first position. As a result, when picking up a pawn 8, the pawn gripper 1 does not touch the bottom surface, as shown in Figs. 3. When picking up a pawn 8, the pawl is activated by moving the tubular body 3 with pawl 4 through an entrance opening 9 of the pawn. The entrance opening 9 is narrower than the pawl 4, as a result of which the pawl 4 is moved to a collapsed position against the action of a spring, as seen in Figs. 3b and FIG. 3c. As soon as the pawl 4 has moved through the entrance opening 9, the pawl 4 collapses again due to the spring action and the pawn 8 to be picked up can rest on the pawl 4. The spring action can in this case be provided by the same spring 10 as when placing the pawn, but a separate spring can also be used.

The pawn 8 is preferably provided with an entrance opening 9 through which the pawn gripper 1 can be guided. Preferably, an inner dimension of the entrance opening 9 corresponds to the cross-sectional dimension of the elongated body 3 of the pawn gripper 1. The height of the pawn 8 is preferably also smaller than the distance between the pawl 4 and the end 11 of the elongated elongate. body 3 which comes into contact with the ground surface in the first position of the pawn gripper 1. Thus, when placing a pawn 8, the end 11 can touch the ground surface earlier than the pawn 8.

The pawl 4 is here embodied as two fingers which are movable under spring action between a folded position and a folded out position. It is also possible to use one or more than two fingers or the pawl can also be designed as a conical body that can be folded.

5

The handle 7 is designed here as a part of the handle that can be adjusted upwards. For example, a button can also be used that can be pressed to adjust the pawn gripper in the first or second position.

Many variants will be clear to those skilled in the art and are understood to be within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

1034512

Claims (12)

1. Pawn gripper for cooperation with a pawn comprising an elongated body, wherein the elongated body is provided with an activatable catch for cooperation with the pawn, characterized in that the elongated body is adjustable in a first position for depositing a pawn and a second position for picking up a pawn. Pawn gripper according to claim 1, wherein the elongated body is adjustable between the first position and the second position via a lever. The pawn gripper according to claim 2, wherein the handle is located at a handle on one end of the elongated body. Pawn gripper according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the catch against spring action can be activated from a folded-out position to a folded-in position. 5. Pawn gripper according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongated body comprises an outer body in which an inner body provided with the pawl 15 is telescopically movable. 6. Pawn gripper according to claim 5, wherein the inner body is adjustable relative to the outer body between the first position in which the inner body protrudes further from the outer body than in the second position and the second position in which the inner body protrudes less far from the outer body than in the first position. Pawn gripper according to claim 5 or 6, wherein in the first position the pawl can be activated by movement of the inner body in the outer body by pressing the elongated body on a ground surface. Pawn gripper according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the second position the pawl can be activated by movement of the pawl through an entrance opening of the pawn. 1034512 9. Pawn for cooperation with a pawn gripper according to one of claims 1-8. 10. Set of at least one pawn and a pawn grab according to any one of claims 1-8. A method for picking up a pawn with a pawn gripper provided with a pawl comprising; - setting the pawn gripper in a second position, wherein downward movement of the pawl from a starting position is prevented; guiding the pawn gripper 10 through an entrance opening of the pawn, the pawl moving inwardly against spring action until the pawl moves back to the starting position after the entrance opening under the spring action; - lifting the pawn gripper with pawn, the pawn resting on the pawl. 12. Method for depositing a pawn with a pawn gripper 15 provided with a pawl comprising: - adjusting the pawn gripper in a first position, wherein upward movement of the pawl from a starting position is prevented; - placing the pawn gripper on a ground surface; pressing the pawn gripper, the pawl being moved inwards; - releasing a pawn on the ground surface; - lifting the pawn grab. 1034512