Abstract:
A preferred tool for killing insects and lifting small objects has a tool, an upper handle part ( 10 ); a lower handle part ( 12 ), a tool extension base ( 15 ); attached to a tool extension ( 14 ); by some form of hinge ( 16 ). A control rod ( 11 ) attaches, at one end, to the tool extension and to a positioner ( 13 ) on the other. The control rod ( 11 ) is positioned within the handle parts ( 10  and  12 ). A pad ( 45 ) with adhesive faced sheets ( 48 ) is attachable to the tool head formed by the tool extension base and extensions. In other models, the handle ( 51  and  65 ) is formed of a single part.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/083,742, filed Feb. 27, 2002 by R. J. Anderson. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    This invention relates to devices for eliminating pests and picking up small objects. More particularly, it relates to a flyswatter-type tool with a swatter, a portion of which can be bent to desired angles for reaching under or around the edges of cabinets or other out-of-the-way spots. A pad of adhesive sheets can be attached to the swatter for picking up a variety of articles or the swatter can be used, as is, for killing insects.  
           [0003]    The prior art in the field of swatters and devices for retrieving dropped items is voluminous.  
           [0004]    Well-known insect swatters of the past include a variety of designs based on the use of screen wire, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 537,660 to F. W. Wood and U.S. Pat. No. 1,237,081 to J. L. Mott, Jr. Other perforated swatters use holes, e.g., U.S. Des. Pat. No. 401,304 to Kate L. Hawkins and slots, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,736,129 to N. W. Roop. Since users break the handles or wear out the swatter head, a variety of mechanisms have been created to make repairs. The creativity utilized is depicted in exemplary U.S. Pat. No. 884,216 to F. M. Schmidt, U.S. Pat. No. 2,736,129 cited above; U.S. Pat. No. 2,963,816 to M. E. DeMiller and U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,408 to C. R. Wu et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,290 to B. R. Wade et al.  
           [0005]    Another approach to the disposition of small insects and animals includes the use of adhesives, especially where the kill or capture is to be on a ceiling or on the floor adjacent a wall. Typical swatters are shown in a variety of U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,222 to T. N. Viscosi teaches a typical swatter configuration except that a pad and adhesive papers is seated within swatter head having a rim around the edges at a height which allows the top adhesive sheet to hit the insect, but not the surface on which the insect is resting.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,293 to A. V. Mike et al teach a swatter with a slit. A folded member having adhesive on the external folded surface is inserted through the slot with the center of the fold extending to the rear and then opened across the front of the swatter to expose the adhesive-clad inner surfaces. When a pest is adhered, the inner surfaces are again closed for disposal of the entombed pest.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,767 to T. D. Carter teaches a one-piece handle/swatter combination with a pad of sheets having the form of the swatter where the pads are made up of sheets with an adhesive on each side for quick adhesion to the swatter.  
           [0008]    U.S. Ser. No. 10/083,742 by R. W. Anderson also teaches a variety of devices which describe a number of tools for many of the same uses.  
           [0009]    Tongs, at one end of a long handle, are also used for the same purpose. H. E. Baughman, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,937,512, A. V. Yancy, 2,759,758, C. O. Crow, 2,469,865, and J. F. Apfel, U.S. Pat. No. 2,279,809 all teach a combination of a handle, trigger, pull rods which combine with the bar positioning handle and pincer elements to open and close pincers. J. T. McFadden, U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,244 teaches the use of a pull bar and slide fitted over the positioning bar.  
           [0010]    Types of additional approaches are typified by J. A. McWilliams et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,789. This patent teaches a device with a replaceable sticky cover on one end and a handle on the other end. The unit could be made in a telescoping model and a portion of the handle is designed to enable the user to pick up small items in hard-to-reach sites.  
           [0011]    Finally, R. M. Jarosch, U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,787 teaches a sophisticated telescoping handle for picking up objects while standing, utilizing a pad of adhesive sheets attached to the telescoping handle.  
           [0012]    The prior art tools are obviously robust and useful but are extremely clunky and are subject to catching on drapes, tablecloths and other objects. They would obviously look out of place in the modern home. They are too heavy, and almost useless for the wheelchair-bound, the elderly and those who operate in cramped spaces.  
           [0013]    The tools of this invention are multi-utilitarian, are lightweight, can be used to reach under the edges of cabinets, can be elegant and do not require repetitive trigger or pulling motions. Further, they can be very lightweight which can be of great benefit in cost and convenience to those of the severely handicapped who have trouble picking up objects.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0014]    The tools of this invention have a handle, a tool head and a control rod. The tool head is made up of a tool extension base and a tool extension with a hinge line between them. The control rod is connected to the tool extension and used to position the tool extension at predetermined angles with respect to the tool extension base by interaction of the control rod with at least one of several stops positioned along the handle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 provides an exploded view of the five major parts of the preferred tool of this invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 depicts the bottom surface of the upper handle part.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 provides a view of the inner surface of the lower handle part.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an upper end view of part of FIG. 2.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 provides additional details about the tool extension of the upper handle part of FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 provides a perspective view of the positioner of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 7 and 8 portray the lower and upper surfaces of an assembled preferred tool.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 depicts one form of a pad of adhesive faced sheets for attachment to the “hitting” surface of the tool of FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 provides a view of a second model tool.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 provides a view of a portion of a handle of a third model of the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 provides detail showing the interaction between one form of a stop and a control rod. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    The preferred model of the invention is described in FIGS.  1 - 8 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 depicts the major components of the tool of this invention. Subsequent Figures address various aspects of the tool. The tool is made up of upper handle part  10 , a control rod  11 , a lower handle part  12 , a signet ring shaped positioner  13  and a tool extension  14  attached to the tool extension base  15  at the hinge line by hinges  16 .  
         [0028]    Handle part  10  has a slot  17  through which the control rod  11  extends. Control rod  11  has, at its front end, a “T” extension  18  from which rods  19  extend laterally. The rod  19  slips under hooks  20  and is used to move tool extension  14  to a desired position. When rod  11  is moved toward the opposite end of the upper handle, part  10 , e.g., to form a right angle or to form an 180° “wedge.  
         [0029]    Rod  11  is passed through slot  17  and attached to signet ring shaped positioner  13  via right angle retainers  42  (See FIG. 6) over which the terminal slot  27  is fitted. Positioner  13  engages positioning stops  22  to hold the tool extension  14  in a predetermined position. A “hanger” hole  23  is positioned adjacent to the end of upper handle as shown.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 depicts the opposite side of the arcuate, upper handle part  10  as shown in FIG. 1. The upper handle part  10  is an arcuate for most of its length and flattens proximate to the tool extension base  15 . Screw holes  24  are provided for the attachment of the lower handle part  12 . Recesses  25  are shown in this model as they enable the overall weight of the tool to be reduced in a manner that desired flexibility is ensured and overall weight is reduced. Hinge halves  26  are positioned at the edge of tool extension base  15  to interact with tool extension  14  via a hinge pin and mating hinge halves  35  (see FIG. 5).  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 provides a view of the inner surface of lower handle part  12  in position for attachment to upper handle part  10  of FIG. 1. It has a threaded hole  27  (not shown) on one end of a size suitable for attachment to a painter&#39;s or other extension mechanism on one end and flares outwardly on the other end. The screw holes  24  are drilled within projections  29  and anchor both ends of the lower body part  12  in place. A groove  30  is cut into the top of the front support  31 , middle supports  32  and lower handle part base  28 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is an end view of lower handle part  12  showing hole  27  and the projections  29  and  33  containing screw holes  24  (not shown).  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 details the tool extension  14 , which has tool extension hinge halves  35  and hooks  36 , which interact with “T” extension arms  19 . Extension  14  slopes laterally from line  37  and tapers to blunt edge  38  from line  39 .  
         [0034]    Flexible positioner  13  of FIG. 6 has an arcuate upper portion  40 , a flat bottom surface  41  which splits near the center point forming two right angle retainers  42 . The slot  21  (FIG. 1) of control rod  11  fits over the right angle retainers  42  when they are pressed together. Control rod  11  is then locked in place by retainers  42  when the pressure is released. An orifice  43  is provided in upper portion  40  so that, when pinched from the side, the top of the positioner  13  slides over a stop  22  (FIG. 1) and locks in place when the pressure is released, partially surrounding and being anchored by stop  22 . FIGS. 7 and 8 provide lower and upper views of an assembled tool. Screws (not shown) within screw recesses  48  (FIG. 7) indicate where the upper  10  and lower  12  handle parts are connected.  
         [0035]    In FIG. 9, the rear view of pad  45  shows two elastic bands  46  attached to the pad backing  47  to which a pad  48  of adhesive coated sheets is attached. Two well attached spring metal or plastic spring strips  49  are attached to pad backing  47  to ensure a full return (verticalization) of the pad  45  after bends.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 provides a perspective view of a model, which has a handle  51  with a tool extension base  52  and tool extension  53 . A groove  54  is formed between the flexible plastic base  52  and extension  53  to enable the extension  53  to bend to desired angles. The wire  55  extends, along the base  52 , within a deep slot  58  in handle  51  and emerges into a shallow slot  59 . The wire  55  in slot  59  is threaded at its end. The upper end of a peg  61  has been screwed onto the threaded wire  55  and inserted into a stop  62  (hole) to position the tool extension  53 . The wire  55  fits into a shallow slot  59  to form a substantially smooth handle.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 11 depicts a portion of a handle  65  of a tool of this invention having two right angled cover pieces  66  which form an enclosure with a narrow slot  67  in its upper surface for the insertion or removal of a flat control rod  68 . Chevron-shaped recesses in the handle  65  act as stops  69 . A projection  70  (see FIG. 12) is inserted into a desired forward angled stop  69  to position the tool extension (not shown) at a desired angle.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 12 provides more details about the fitting of projection  70  into an angled chevron-shaped slot-type stop  69  As indicated by the dashed lines, projection  70  is fused to rod  68 . Projection  70  has upwardly bent lifting tabs  71  at its edges which are used to assist in inserting it into slot  69  and removing it therefrom.  
       General Teaching of the Invention  
       [0039]    While the more preferred configurations are described in detail, other forms can be of equal utility.  
         [0040]    The tool head can be quite rigid but flexible across the hinge line. This rigidity can be inherent in the materials of construction and/or the design or can be obtained through the addition of springs to the tool head, for example, see the springs of FIG. 9. The control rod can be designed to support the rigidity of the tool head while bending under pressure as it interacts with a slot, e.g., slot  17  of FIG. 1. On the other hand, the control rod can be a chain where the inherent rigidity of the tool head permits its use without the need for additional support from the control rod.  
         [0041]    The combination of rigidity and flexibility needed to meet the differing requirements of various tool usage requires differing approaches to the design of the tools. For example, the strength requirements for the combination making up the tool head and control rod will vary with the materials used. Thus, where hinges are used at the bend line, they can be used in combination with hinge springs. Where hinges are not used and the tool extension base and tool extension are joined across the bend line, the flexibility necessary for the expected tool operation can be supplied by decreasing the thickness of the material of construction at the bend line to effect the necessary flexibility.  
         [0042]    Where a pad with adhesive-faced sheets is to be used with the tool head, the tool head handle, rod, stop and other configuration requirements, strength, resilience and other changes, must be taken into account to ensure minimum problems over the designed life expectancy of the tool. Co-pending application Ser. No. 10/083,742 provides additional insights into the design of the handle, tool head, control rods and stops, e.g., hooks on the handle, or hook and loop fasteners.  
         [0043]    Springs can be added to the tool head to ensure desired rigidity between the base and the extension. Where added, more flexible “rods” can be utilized, i.e., wires or chains, because the strength of the “rods” may not be needed to establish desired tool head rigidity.