US3105715A

US3105715A - Pick-up device

Info

Publication number: US3105715A
Application number: US24533A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo P Happ
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-04-25
Filing date: 1960-04-25
Publication date: 1963-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-01

Description

Oct. l, 1963 v 1 P. HAPP '3,105,715

PICK-UP DEVICE Filed April 25, 1960 20 22 INVENTOR.

' BY A @Www/zaga United States Patent O 3,105,715 PICK-UP DEVHCE Leo P. Happ, 602 Meadow Drive, Glenview, Ill. Fiied Apr. 25, 196i), Ser. No. 24,533 4 Claims. (Cl. 294-61) This invention relates to a device for picking up litter such as paper, trash and other debris and securely holding such matter until 4it is desired that it be placed in receptacles or otherwise disposed of. More particularly, the device is of a type having an impaler for piercmg paper and other easily penetrable objects and having an associated arcuate linger pivotably mounted on the shank of said device movable relative to said impaler for the purposes of picking up and gripping objects which are diicult to penetrate due to the hard surface underlying such objects or due to the hardness of the material of which said objects are constructed.

The pick-up device of the present invention is especially useful for retrieving objects such as bottles, or the like, which are not readily pierceable by the impaler. The present invention not only provides an impaler for piercing paper and other penetrable objects, but in addition thereto, provides an associated arcuate iinger having an intermediate curved portion forming a bulge for coacting with `the irnpaler in retaining the objects picked up in a secure manner. The action of said linger with said impaler is much the same as that of a inger moveable relative the thumb of `a human hand for the purposes of picking up and gripping objects.

The improved pick-up device of the present invention being cane-like in construction permits objects to be picked up without any bending movement required on the part of the operator, so that it is especially useful for people who are unable to bend freely for the purpose of picking up objects.

The invention will now be described in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. l is a side-elevational view of the pick-up device in its normal operating position for impalingpenetrable objects as shown with the associated arcuate finger in the normally open position relative the irnpaler.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged drawing of the pick-up device showing `the lower portion in a closed gripping position picking up and retaining an object of litter, the shank being broken for the convenience of the enlargement, the pull-rod being in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the lower portion showing, in detail, the impaler and associated arcuate finger with serrations thereon.

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the present invention with the impaler being replaced by a double-pronged spading head, the drawing being yof the lower portion of the device -and partly broken away to show the head in assembly with the shank of the device.

Now referring to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. l thereof, the pick-up device of the present invention has extending from an arcuate handle 11, an elongated shank 12, which terminates in a removably attached, axially aligned, spicate irnpaler 13 having a pointed end for piercing paper and other easily penetrable objects. The associated arcuate finger 14 as shown in FIG. l is biased in a normally open position relative to the impaler 13, in which position the ringer 14 does not interfere with the piercing action of the impaler 13 for use in picking up easily penetrable objects.

The associated arcuate linger 14 is pivotable about pivot pin 15 on the shank 12, and moveable relative the impaler 13 in a direction as shown by the arrow.

In addition to the bulge portion in the iinger 14, the terminal portion 22 is bent as shown in FIGS. l and 2 to 3,195,715. Patented Oct. l, 1 953 ICC provide a gripping surface thereon, which is substantially parallel to the sloping surface of the impaler 13 when in a gripping relationship therewith and provides a substantial gripping surface on both sides of the object being picked up. The closer the gripping association between the linger terminal portion 22 with the impaler 13 the more parallel are the gripping surfaces, so that thinner objects `such as scraps of paper and the like are capable of being picked up and when ythe surface of the terminal portion 22 and Ithe impaler 13 are in contact, the contacting sloping surfaces of the impaler 13 and the terminal portion 22 are parallel.

The shank portion 23 of the iinger 14 is pivotably mounted in the shank 12 through the

elongated slots

24 and 25 provided in the shank for that purpose. A pullrod 16 is slidably mounted in guide means 18, which is securely attached to the shank 12, said guide means 18 having an opening through which the pull-rod 16 is permitted to slide upon being retracted by hand pressure applied thereto and through which it slides upon being relieved of the pressure. The pull-rod 16l is spring biased by a compression spring 17 to maintain the associated iinger y14 in the normally open position to permit the impaler to be used for piercing and picking up paper, trash or other debris which lis easily penetrable. When fthe pull-rod 16 is retracted as shown in FIG. 2, the associated arcuate linger 14 will be in the gripping position relative the impaler 13 and be capable of retaining hard surfaced objects such as the object of litter 26.

The operation of the present pick-up device 10 is such that .the spring means 17 biases the pull-rod '16 in a downwardly direction so that the associated arcuate finger 14 remains in its normally open position. The ringer 14 pivots about pivot pin 19 of the clevis member 27 attached to the lower end of the pull-rod 16- and, simultaneously therewith pivots about pivot point 15 on the shank 12. The shank portion 23 of the finger 14 is stradled by the clevis member 27. Upon the application of hand pressure to the handle of the pull-rod 16, the rod is retracted toward the handle 11 of the cane-like pick-up device, causing the spring 17 to be compressed and the finger 14 to be pivoted about the pivot pin 19 of the clevis member 27 attached to the pull-rod and pivot pin 15 of the shank 12, thereby causing the arcuate inger 14 to move in an arc toward the impaler 13 and into a gripping position therewith for the purposes of picking up objects which are not readily penetrable and for securely holding said objects in a manner as such objects would be held by a finger coacting with the thumb of a human hand. The associated finger K14 is provided with serrations 20 Aas shown in FIG. 3 to permit a more positive gripping action to occur.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention with the impaler 13 being replaced =by ya doublepronged -spading head 21 which is especially useful for digging up plants such as dandelions or the like, wherein the spading head is inserted into the gnound beneath the plant to be dug up, thereby severing the root of said plant. When this has been accomplished, the associated arcuate finger 14 is selectively dr-a-wn toward the spading head `so as to grip the plant, permitting its removal from the ground.

The pick-np device of the present invention is preferably constructed of lightweight metals except for the impaler and the spading head which Iare constructed of heavier metal which can endure the heavier usage to which they are to be put.

There are several attachments which are to be utilized with the present `device and it is intended that they be so used. One such attachment is a pair of scoops which are designed to be slidably attached, one onto the ini-palet 3 .and the other onto the arcuate finger for the purpose of picking up soft trash or debris which would normally crumble under the gripping action of the arcuate linger and impaler.

Various changes and modifications ofthe present invention can 'be made and to the extent that such variations incorporate the operation of this invention, they are intended to be included within the scope o the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pick-up device comprising an elongated shank having a handle at one end thereof and a spicate impaler at the -other end thereof, said impaler having a tapered yfree end portion with a generallylsloping surface which terminates in a pointed end, guide means attached to said elongated shank intermediate said handle and said spicate impaler, a pullerod mounted in and guided by said guide means, said pull-rod having a handle at one end thereof adjacent said handle of said shank and coacting therewith to permit manual manipulation of said pull-rod, a iinger including an arcuate portion and a terminal portion, said finger pivotally mounted on said shank adjacent said Ispioate impaler, `spring means for biasing said finger into a normally open position away from said sloping surface of said impaler, means for coupling said pull-rod to said nger, said terminal portion extending along and substantially parallel to said sloping surface of said impaler, being adapted to contact said sloping surface along the length of said terminal portion when said iinger is in the normally closed position and terminating coextensively with the sharp pointed end of said impaler whereby thin objects such as scraps of paper and the like are capable of Abeing picked up when the terminal portion of the finger and the sharp pointed end of the impaler are in contact.

2. A pick-up device comprising an elongated shank having a handle at one end thereof and a Aspieate impaler at the [other end thereof, said impaler having a tapered free end portion with a generally sloping surface which terminates in a pointed end, guide means attached to said elongated shank intermediate said handle and said spicate impaler, a pull rod mounted in vand guided by said guide means, said pull-rod having a handle `at one end thereofV adjacent said handle of said shank and coacting therewith to permit manual manipulation of said pull-rod, a linger including an arcuate portion and a terminal portion, said finger pivotally mounted on said shank adjacent said spicate impaler, means for coupling said pullrod to said dinger, stop means on said pull-rod spaced from said guide means, spring means encircling said pull-rod and disposed Ibetween said gui-de means 'and said stop means for biasing said linger into a normally open position away from said sloping surface of said impaler, said terminal portion extending along and substantially parallel to said sloping surface of said impaler, being Iadapted to contact said sloping surface along the length of said terminal portion when said linger is in the normally closed position and terminating coextensively with .the sharp pointed end of said impaler whereby thin objects such as scraps of paper and the lik-e are capable of being picked up -When the terminal portion of the finger and the sharp pointed end of the irnpaler are in Contact.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, said terminal portion having senrations to provide positive gripping actionV between said finger and sai-d sloping surface of said impaler.

4. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said coupling means includes a clevis member. Y

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,175 Guy et al. May 6, 1913 1,521,524 Fuller Dec. 30, 1924 1,751,481 La Tourrette Mar. 25, 1930 2,029,155 Cervenka et al Jan. 28, 1936 2,191,858 Moore Feb. 27, 1940 2,373,872 Couture Apr. 17,1945 2,436,500 Anderson Feb. 24, 1948 2,493,108 Casey Ian. 3, 1950. 2,523,661 Lotz Sept. 26, 1950 2,575,561 P-ayne Nov. 20, 1951 2,610,886 Parker Sept. 16, 1952 2,612,400 Facio Sept. 30, 1952 2,759,758 Yancey Aug. 21, 1956 2,790,670 Sheets Apr. 30, 1957. 2,806,733 Hund Sept. 17, 1957 2,905,498 Lunde Sept. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Y 21,014 Great Britain Sept. 14, 1909

Claims

1. A PICK-UP DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHANK HAVING A HANDLE AT ONE END THEREOF AND A SPICATE IMPALER AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID IMPALER HAVING A TAPERED FREE END PORTION WITH A GENERALLY SLOPING SURFACE WHICH TERMINATES IN A POINTED END, GUIDE MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID ELONGATED SHANK INTERMEDIATE SAID HANDLE AND SAID SPICATE IMPALER, A PULL-ROD MOUNTED IN AND GUIDED BY SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID PULL-ROD HAVING A HANDLE AT ONE END THEREOF ADJACENT SAID HANDLE OF SAID SHANK AND COACTING THEREWITH TO PERMIT MANUAL MANIPULATION OF SAID PULL-ROD, A FINGER INCLUDING AN ARCUATE PORTION AND A TERMINAL PORTION, SAID FINGER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHANK ADJACENT SAID SPICATE IMPALER, SPRING MEANS FOR BIASING SAID FINGER INTO A NORMALLY OPEN POSITION AWAY FROM SAID SLOPING SURFACE OF SAID IMPALER, MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID PULL-ROD TO SAID FINGER, SAID TERMINAL PORTION EXTENDING ALONG AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID SLOPING SURFACE OF SAID IMPALER, BEING ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID SLOPING SURFACE ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID TERMINAL PORTION WHEN SAID FINGER IS IN THE NORMALLY CLOSED POSITION AND TERMINATING COEXTENSIVELY WITH THE SHARP POINTED END OF SAID IMPALER WHEREBY THIN OBJECTES SUCH AS SCRAPS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE ARE CAPABLE OF BEING PICKED UP WHEN THE TERMINAL PORTION OF THE FINGER AND THE STRAP POINTED END OF THE IMPALER ARE IN CONTACT.