Abstract:
A tool for gripping the rim of flowerpots, or objects having similar shapes, includes a gripping plate which can swivel 90° from a stowable position to a locked position for use when objects are to be picked up.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of provisional U.S. application serial No. 60/356,440 filed on Feb. 12, 2002 and entitled “ROUND RECEPTACLE TRANSFER TOOL” by Peter Smith, the entire contents and substance of which are hereby incorporated in total by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention comprises a tool, including a pivotable gripping plate, for picking up flowerpots or other objects of similar geometry by their rims.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    There are a number of devices described in the prior art patent literature, and known commercially, that are intended to assist individuals in picking up objects having awkward geometries. In particular, it is especially difficult to pick up heavy objects where there is no suitable handle. Garden flowerpots are typical of this problem because their rims are frequently narrow. Gripping a flowerpot, or any other object having similar rim geometry, poses several difficulties. When an individual repetitiously grasps the rim of a heavy round plant pot with bare hands, fatigue and bodily injury could easily occur. Without using this tool, people are inclined to pick up potted plants by the stem, instead of by the rim of the pot, thus causing damage to the plant. This tool is designed to prevent slippage of the pot, thereby preventing possible damage to both the person and the plant. While the prior art does describe and disclose a few tools for the purpose of picking up awkward objects, nevertheless, there does not appear to be a suitable device that is satisfactory for picking up objects having a rim geometry similar to that of a heavy garden pot.  
           [0006]    Perhaps one of the most relevant disclosures is found in U.S. Pat. No. 676,730 entitled Adjustable Jaw Tongs. The adjustable tongs comprise a pivotably related member located directly across from a stationary jaw. The pivotable member is capable of self-alignment with respect to the stationary jaw so that it roughly conforms to the geometry of the item to be picked up. In this particular case, the adjustable jaw is relatively flat so that the item to be picked up has to have a flat corresponding surface.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,815 describes a Work Piece Clamping Device which includes clamping blocks which are adjustably rotatable about the axis of their respective mounting posts.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,142,198 describes a similar overall configuration of handles, pivot points, springs, etc. and, likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 2,990,213 describes a pliers-like grasping/holding device for a jar.  
           [0009]    The following patents describe container grasping/manipulating devices including a pair of arcuate members which engage the container and, wherein the arcuate members are pivotable relative to the handles to which they are mounted: U.S. Pat. Nos. 600,930; 841,225; 1,212,822; and, 1,282,044.  
           [0010]    In addition, the following patents describe pan and pot lifters employing cooperating jaws, one of which includes a mount for a wide arcuate contacting portion: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,140,781; 1,217,010; 1,330,487; 1,342,758 and 4,078,839.  
           [0011]    Lastly, the following patents describe other pot/container grippers of general interest, but probably of lesser relevance: U.S. Pat. Nos. 161,044; 266,382; 280,596; 319,266; 1,118,602; 1,219,726; 1,320,318; and 3,253,850.  
           [0012]    In summary, while the prior art describes a number of interesting tools for gripping items, nevertheless, it does not appear to suggest or describe a satisfactory device for lifting a fragile item, such as a flowerpot, by its rim. It was in the context of the foregoing prior art that the present invention arose.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    Briefly described, the invention comprises a tool to assist in the lifting of heavy objects, such as flowerpots, which have an arcuate rim. The tool includes an arcuately shaped, pivotable gripping plate or means having a shape which roughly conforms to the inside of the rim of a flowerpot. Located across from the pivotable clamping plate is a jaw that includes serrations that can engage the exterior rim of the flowerpot. Squeezing on the handles of the tool causes the gripping plate to move in the direction of the serrated jaw so as to securely grasp the rim of the flowerpot. The flowerpot can then be lifted by pulling up on the handle. When the tool is not being used, the pivotable gripping plate can be swiveled by 90° degrees and stored conveniently in a holster.  
           [0014]    The invention may be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the transfer gripping tool according to the present invention with the gripping plate shown in its stowed position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the transfer gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 1 with the gripping plate rotated, or pivoted, 90° to its ready to use position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the transfer gripping tool in its ready to use position as seen in FIG. 2, and further illustrating how the offset ledge in the second handle means limits the travel of the first handle means.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the transfer gripping tool illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the handles have been squeezed to indicate how the two opposing jaws move towards each other.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the transfer gripping tool as seen in FIG. 3.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 illustrates the transfer gripping tool shown in FIG. 5 in the stowable mode and in a holster for easy caring.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 illustrates the first step in picking up an object, such as a flowerpot, by the rim, in which the tool is brought down over the rim of the flowerpot.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 illustrates the second step in the gripping operation in which the handle of the tool is squeezed causing the two opposite jaws to grab onto the rim of the flowerpot.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 illustrates the third, and final step, of the gripping operation in which the tool is lifted upward, by the user, causing the flowerpot to elevate. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    During the course of the description, like numbers will be used to identify like elements according to the different figures which illustrate the invention.  
         [0025]    A transfer gripping tool  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, is illustrated in FIG. 1 in its stowable mode  60 . The tool is especially useful for the horticultural industry, especially for nursery, landscaping and gardening applications.  
         [0026]    The tool  10  is intended to help a user  54  pick up, transfer and place round receptacles having a variety of diameters. Such receptacles might typically comprise flowerpots  100 , having rims  102  and lower edges  104  as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and  9 . The purpose of the tool is to (1) alleviate the possibility of fatigue due to repetitious chores involving the hands and forearms, (2) protect the user&#39;s hands from cuts and abrasions, (3) make such chores more productive by making the labor involved less strenuous, and (4) to lessen the possibility of damage to the plants inside the round receptacles  100  while they are being moved. While the invention  10  is intended for flowerpots and related receptacles having round or arcuate rims, it is possible that they could be used for grabbing and moving other items of similar geometry.  
         [0027]    As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the tool  100  includes a first lever arm means  12  connected to a second lever arm means  14  by a pivot section  16 . The pivot section  16  includes a bolt and an internal Teflon® or brass bushing. A handle bias spring  18  tends to force the handle section  20  of the first lever arm means  12  away from the handle section  24  of the second lever arm means  14 . Squeezing the handles  20  and  24  causes the serrated lower jaw  22  to move towards the gripping plate  28  as it pivots around pivot  16 . Gripping plate  28  is connected to the gripping section  26  of the second lever arm means  14  by a bolt  34  which is attached to the gripping plate  28  and passes through a hole or aperture in the gripping section  26 . A coil spring  36  surrounds the portion of the bolt that extends through the top of the gripping section  26 . Bolt  34  is capped by a knob  32  that holds the resilient spring  36  in position. Gripping plate  28  includes a resilient rubberized pad  38  which improves the gripping capability of the gripping plate  28 .  
         [0028]    The tool  10  is shown in its ready to use mode  50  in FIG. 2. In the ready to use mode  50 , the gripping plate  28  is rotated 90° from the stowable mode  60  as shown in FIG. 1 so that it nests and is received in slot  30  in the gripping section  26  of the second lever arm means  14 .  
         [0029]    The transfer or gripping tool  10  is shown in a left side elevation view in its ready to use mode  50  in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 3, the second lever arm means  14  includes a cut out or offset section  42  having one edge or ledge  44 . The lower surface of the serrated jaw  22  normally rests against the ledge  44  under the bias of spring  18  which tends to spread handles  20  and  24 . Squeezing on handles  20  and  24  causes the gripping plate  28  to move in the direction of the serrations on the opposing jaw  22  as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0030]    The tool  10 , shown in its stowable mode  60 , is illustrated from the right hand side. in FIG. 5. In that mode, the complementary cut out or offset  40  in the first lever arm  12  is visible. The offset sections  42  and  44  of the second and first lever arm means  14  and  12 , respectively, are in contact with each other in such a fashion that the tool  10  can lie relatively flat in its storable mode  60  and be placed into a holster, or similar carrying device,  52 , as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0031]    The invention  10  is used to pick up a flowerpot  100  having an upper rim  102  and a lower edge  104 , according to the steps illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and  9 , respectively.  
         [0032]    In FIG. 7, the transfer or gripping tool  10  is shown in its open, ready to use mode  50  as seen, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3. The gap between the gripping plate  28  and the serrations  22  on the lower jaw are placed roughly above the rim  102  in such a fashion that they can be moved downwardly and around the inner and outer edges of the rim  102 .  
         [0033]    The second step in the gripping process is illustrated in FIG. 8. The user  54  squeezes the handles  20  and  24  against each other thereby causing the gripping plate  28  and the serrations on the lower jaw  22  towards each other, thereby pinching the rim  102  in between both. The serrations  22  on the lower jaw tend to grab onto the lower edge  104  of the rim  102  thereby producing a firm grip on the rim  102 .  
         [0034]    Third, and lastly, as shown in FIG. 9, the user  54  lifts upwardly with the tool  10  in its gripping mode thereby lifting the pot  100  off of the ground.  
         [0035]    The transfer gripping tool  10  is intended to grab round receptacles, or flowerpots, measuring from a 6 inch pliable diameter rim  102  up to and including an empty, light weight 40 inch diameter rim, although no one should or would attempt to pick up a receptacle this large with such a tool  10 . Ideally a 10 pound initial weight load is intended and a two-to-one safety factor is built into the tool  10 . In addition, the weight load limitation would also be limited by the strength of the user&#39;s arm or hand  54 .  
         [0036]    According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, both sections  12  and  14  of the tool  10  are made of commercial grade aluminum (6061 series) and are held together with a commercial grade plated screw and washer. A Teflon® washer separates the two handles at the joining pivot point  16 , which eliminates friction and binding and eases the motion of the tool  10 . The handles are preferably coated with a soft, non-slip material to provide comfort and to reduce fatigue for the user  54 .  
         [0037]    Likewise, the gripping plate  28  is made of commercial grade aluminum (6061 series), and has a radial diameter of 5 inches, and is preferably 4 inches long from tip to tip, but also includes a non-slip strip of resilient material  38  on one side, as previously described, and can minimize any slipping of the receptacle being grasped while the tool is used. The non-slip strip or resilient rubberized pad  38  is commercially available and is adhered to the radial gripping plate, which conforms to any of the original mentioned diameter pots in the range of 6 to 40 inches circumference as measured at the rim  102 . Fully assembled, the tool weighs approximately 13.2 ounces and is preferably rust proof. Alternatively, however, the tool  10  could be manufactured of plastic, thereby substantially reducing its weight.  
         [0038]    While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made to the structure and function of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as a whole.