Abstract:
A manually operable tool for grasping solid objects including a scissors assembly at opposed ends of which are a pair of handles, and a pair of opposed paddles such that objects may be received between the paddles whereupon movement of the handles towards each other causes the paddles to move together to grasp said solid objects therebetween.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a manually operable tool for grasping solid articles. In particular although not exclusively, the invention relates to a tool which can enable an operator to transfer the articles without stooping to another location, for example picking up leaves for disposal in a receptacle. The tool is particularly suited to the grasping of objects such as horse droppings or industrial metal waste (swarf), horticultural waste (compost, cuttings, clippings etc.), hospital waste (accident &amp; Emergency or Emergency Room contaminated waste), new potato harvesting and the like.  
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is known to collect waste material such as horse droppings or swarf using a shovel, the use of which requires some stooping. Leaves are often picked up using a pair of unconnected boards, trapping the leaves between the boards. Again, this requires stooping by the operator. Many human back problems arise from injudicious stooping.  
         [0003]     Litter collection has been made easier and stooping obviated by the use of a long pincer-like tool operated from a remote hand grip. This enables items of litter to be picked up without the operator having to stoop. However, the load carrying properties of this kind of device are very limited, and articles generally have to be transferred singly. These devices are essentially for one hand operation, the other hand of an operator being used to hold a receptacle for the litter. These are often used in street cleaning/litter collection circumstances.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The invention provides a manually operable tool for grasping solid objects comprising a scissors assembly at opposed ends of which are a pair of handles, and a pair of opposed paddles such that objects may be received between the paddles whereupon movement of the handles towards each other causes the paddles to move together to grasp said solid objects therebetween.  
         [0005]     The grasped solid objects may be transferred to another location or to a container such as a receptacle.  
         [0006]     Preferably each of the paddles has a straight lower edge. More preferably, each of the paddles has a first straight lower edge and a second straight edge disposed at an obtuse angle to said first straight edge.  
         [0007]     Advantageously a first one of the paddles may be provided with a comb-like structure at a lower region thereof, and extending in the direction of a second said paddle. Preferably the comb-like structure is disposed such that when the tool is in a closed position, with the paddles close to each other, the comb-like structure extends beneath a second one of the paddles.  
         [0008]     Preferably said comb-like structure extends from a region near at least one of said first and second straight edges of said first paddle to extend beyond at least one of said first and second straight edges of said second paddle when the tool is in a closed position. The comb-like structure preferably extends from a region near at least one of said first and second straight edges of said first paddle to extend beyond at least one of said first and second straight edges of said second paddle when the tool is in a closed position.  
         [0009]     Preferably at least some fingers of the comb-like structure have ends which are bent upwardly.  
         [0010]     The tool can be used by an operator without stooping, the operator being in a straight-backed standing or seated posture.  
         [0011]     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a manually operable tool for grasping solid objects, the tool comprising a scissors assembly at opposed ends of which are a pair of handles, and first and second opposed paddles, arranged such that objects may be received between the paddles, in which each of the paddles has a straight lower edge and in which the first paddle has a comb-like structure at a lower region thereof and extending towards the second paddle whereupon movement of the handles towards each other causes the paddles to move together to grasp said solid objects therebetween.  
         [0012]     Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     In the drawings:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a tool according to the invention shown in an open position and as viewed end-on in the direction of a pivot axis of the tool, and  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the said tool in a closed position,  
         [0016]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are schematic views of respective disassembled first and second limbs of the scissor assembly, and  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of ends of paddles of the FIGS.  1  to  3   b  tool in more detail. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     The tool shown in the figures comprises a scissors assembly shown generally as  10 , comprising two links  10   a  and  10   b  linked by a pivot  12 . In this embodiment the pivot is not placed mid-way along the limbs but towards lower regions thereof. Each limb  10   a ,  10   b  bears at its lower end a respective paddle  14   a ,  14   b , the paddles being of laminar form and disposed at right angles to the length of the limbs. The paddles are preferably of a similar size and shape. The paddles comprise stiff or semi-stiff laminar sheets. Each paddle has a first straight edge  16  and a second straight edge  18  meeting the first straight edge  16  at an obtuse angle X. The first straight edge  16  extends generally perpendicularly to the handle  10   a,    10   b  that it is associated with. Thus, it can be termed a bottom or lower edge since it is bottommost when in use. Edges of the paddles other than the first and second straight edges  16 ,  18  are curved.  
         [0019]     One of the paddles  14   a  is provided at its straight edges  16 ,  18  with a comb-like structure shown generally as  21  comprising a series of teeth  20  disposed substantially normal to a face of the paddle  14   a  and extending towards the opposed paddle  14   b  such that the comb-like structure underlies the straight edges  16 ,  18  of the paddle  14   b  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The length of the opposed paddle  14   b  is such that it passes closely over the fingers of the comb-like structure  21 . To this end, the first paddle  14   a  may be slightly longer than the opposed paddle  14   a.  Hand grips  22  are provided on handles  24  at ends of the scissor assembly limbs  10   a ,  10   b  remote from the paddles  14   a ,  14   b.    
         [0020]     The tool  10  may be made from any suitable material such as wood, cane, plastics, rubber, metal, or combinations of these.  
         [0021]     In use the paddles  14   a ,  14   b  are first moved apart by an operator moving the handles  24  apart. Each handle  24  is held by a different hand of the operator. Thus, the tool.  10  is a two-handed tool. When the tool  10  is orientated over solid material  26  ( FIG. 1 ) to be grasped, the handles  24  are brought together. This brings the paddles  14   a ,  14   b  together by scissor action, and causes them to grasp the solid material between the paddles. The comb-like structure  21  assists in retaining the solid material between the paddles  14 . The tool  10  is then moved so that the solid material is at a different location, for example over the mouth of a receptacle, whereupon the solid material is released. The tool  10  is therefore of great utility in clearing paddocks and stables of horse droppings, and clearing gardens and the like of general debris and waste.  
         [0022]     The provision of the first straight edge  16  and the second straight edge  18  provides additional utility to the tool  10 . In particular, on a level surface the first straight edge  16  sits flat on the surface when the tool is held vertically. This allows solid material to be removed from the surface very effectively. The second straight edge sits flat on a surface when the tool  10  is held at an angle departing from a line perpendicular to the surface which is equal to the obtuse angle X. This makes the tool  10  easy to use on sloped surfaces and/or with the handles  10   a ,  10   b  held at an angle sloping downwards away from the operator.  
         [0023]     Furthermore, the part of the paddles  14   a ,  14   b  where the first and second straight edges  16 ,  18  meet is able to be used to collect solid material resting in a depression or hollow on a surface.  
         [0024]     As can be seen from  FIG. 4 , fingers  28  of the comb-like structure  21  are bent upward slightly at their end distal to the paddle  14   b.  This is advantageous since it allows the paddle  14   a  to be moved across a surface whilst resting on that surface. The upwardly bent fingers  28  are less likely to dig into the surface, thereby not impeding movement of the paddle  14   a  across the surface, than fingers not bent upwardly. The extent to which the fingers  28  are bent is slightly exaggerated in the Figure.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  also shows more clearly that the paddles are of slightly different length such that the opposed paddle  14   a  is arranged to be movable over the comb-like structure  21  closely. This allows the paddles to be brought closer together than would be possible if the fingers  28  of the comb-like structure impeded movement of the opposed paddle  14   a.  This is achieved whilst allowing the ends of both paddles  14   a  to  14   b  easily to be brought together whilst both are in close contact with a surface.  
         [0026]     Clearly, first and second edges  16 ,  18  which are generally or substantially straight are similarly effective as edges which are absolutely straight, and references in this specification to ‘straight’ should be construed accordingly.  
         [0027]     As shown in the drawings, the paddles  14   a ,  14   b  are spaced apart by a small distance, for instance a few centimetres, when the paddles  14   a ,  14   b  are parallel to one another. However, any other suitable configuration can be used instead. For instance, the paddles may become parallel to one another only when they are in contact. Alternatively, the paddles may not become parallel to one another regardless of the location of the handles.  
         [0028]     It will be apparent that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. For instance, the paddles need not be solid but could be perforated in a grid-like manner. Though the desirability of this will depend upon the size of the solid material to be handled (grasped).  
         [0029]     Comb-like structures could be provided on both the paddles and arranged such that their teeth interlock alternately. The comb-like structures could be replaced by a solid shelf structure or could be omitted entirely. Whilst the embodiment has been described with reference to the picking up of horse droppings, it will be readily apparent that the invention lends itself to picking up other solid articles such as metal, waste, swarf, compost, potatoes etc.  
         [0030]     The tool is typically about 1 metre long but can be longer or shorter to suit the usage. For example, if it is to be used from a seated position then it need only be about 0.8 metres if operated by a user picking up objects from a bench then 0.5 metres.  
         [0031]     The tool could be longer if it is desired to use it at a distance, for example at an acute angle and could be up to 2 metres or more.  
         [0032]     Instead of the handles diverging when the paddles are closed, the handles may rest against or close to one another when the paddles are closed. This results in the tool  10  occupying a smaller volume when not being used. It can also require less packaging to be used with the tool prior to first sale.