Abstract:
A compact reaching device includes jaws and telescoping handles. The jaws are joined by a hinge pin and are biased towards a closed position. Legs extend opposite the jaws and squeezing the legs together opens the jaws. Telescoping handles are attached to each leg and may be extended opposite the jaws to allow reaching.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to reaching devices and in particular to reaching devices with telescoping handles.  
         [0002]     Individuals often have a need to retrieve nearby items, but are unable to easily or safely reach for the items. In some instances, the individual is driving an automobile and needs to pick up an item which has fallen, for example, on the passenger-side floor of the car. Such items include ipod® personal audio devices, sunglasses, compact disks, and especially cell phones. Often, a driver leaves their cell phone unsecured in the car. While rounding a turn, the cell phone may side from it&#39;s resting place and onto the car&#39;s floor often landing on the passenger side floor and beyond the driver&#39;s reach.  
         [0003]     Because drivers often have an unexpected need for their cell phone, they may attempt to retrieve the fallen phone. Attempting to reach for the phone while still driving may result in an accident. The driver may pull to the side of the road and reach for the phone, but may not be able to reach the phone while still wearing a seatbelt, and thus have to release the seat belt. In some instances, the driver may still be unable to reach the phone after releasing the seat belt, or may be unable to reach the phone without straining their back. In these instances the driver may have to exit the car and walk to the passenger door to be able to reach the phone, which may involve some risk on a busy highway.  
         [0004]     There are many other instances where objects are beyond easy reach. Examples include an individual with a back injury or an elderly individual, when an item falls behind large objects.  
         [0005]     Reaching devices are known for retrieving items beyond easy reach. One example is the “Gopher Pick Up &amp; Reach Tool” made by Ontel Products in Fairfield, N.J., and the “40ez EZ Reach” made by AM Leonard in Piqua, Ohio. While both of these products provide a reaching capability, they are too long to easily carry in an automobile or in a pocket.  
         [0006]     A reaching device with telescoping handles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,569 for “Litter Picking Tool.” The device of the &#39;569 patent includes telescoping handles attached to a jaw mechanism. The handles are connected at an end opposite the jaws and the jaws include a toothed mechanism for opening the jaws then the handles are squeezed together. Unfortunately, the toothed mechanism adds significant complexity to the reaching tool thus adding to cost and reducing reliability.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a compact reaching device which includes jaws and telescoping handles. The jaws are joined by a hinge pin and are biased towards a closed position. Legs extend opposite the jaws and squeezing the legs together opens the jaws. Telescoping handles are attached to each leg and may be extended opposite the jaws to allow reaching.  
         [0008]     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a reaching device including an alligator clip or the like and telescoping handles attached to the alligator clip. The alligator clip includes first and second members, pivot pin, and a spring. The members have jaws, legs opposite the jaws, and pivots between the jaws and the legs, and the leg have receiving loops. The pivot pin passes through the pivots to pivotally join the members and the spring cooperates with the members to bias the jaws towards a close position. The arms have telescoping sections, and the smallest telescoping sections of each of the telescoping sections passes through the receiving loop of each leg, reaching near to the pivot pin, and are attached to the legs of each alligator clip, and the arms are extendable approximately opposite the jaws. The attached sections are preferably brazed to the legs, and preferably retain their original shape, for example, are not deformed by crimping. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]     The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of a reaching device according to the present invention with telescoping handle fully extended and jaws in a closed position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of the reaching device telescoping handle fully extended and with the jaws in an open position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1C  is a side view of the reaching device telescoping handle partially extended and with the jaws in an open position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1D  is a side view of the reaching device telescoping handle closed and with the jaws in an open position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a detailed partial side view of the reaching device with cover removed from one leg and jaw.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of one leg and one jaw of the reaching device.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of one leg and one jaw of the reaching device.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3C  is a bottom view of one leg and one jaw of the reaching device.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3D  is a front view of one leg and one jaw of the reaching device.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the reaching device taken along line  44  of  FIG. 3D . 
     
    
       [0020]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.  
         [0022]     A side view of a reaching device  10  according to the present invention with telescoping handle  14  fully extended and jaws  12  in a closed position is shown in  FIG. 1A , a side view of the reaching device  10  with the telescoping handles  14  fully extended and with the jaws  12  in an open position is shown in  FIG. 1B , a side view of the reaching device  10  with the telescoping handles  14  partially extended and with the jaws  12  in an open position is shown in  FIG. 1C , and a side view of the reaching device  10  with the telescoping handles  14  retracted and with the jaws  12  in an open position is shown in  FIG. 1D . The jaws  12  pivot about a pivot pin  16  to open and close the jaws  12 . The reaching device  10  includes a spring  26  (see  FIGS. 3C and 4 ) which biases the jaws toward the closed position, and preferably biased the jaw  12  to a closed position. The handles  14  include telescoping sections which allow the handles  14  to be closed to a compact size for easy storing and carrying. A plunger type keychain  15  may be attached to the reaching device  10  at attachment points  13  on the ends of either handle  14 .  
         [0023]     The reaching device  10  may be a compact easily carried device, or a larger device for use in, for example, a shop or garage. With the telescoping handles  14  in the retracted position (see  FIG. 1D ) a compact embodiment of the reaching device is preferably sufficiently small to carry in an automobile glove compartment, a clothing pocket, to similar small area. Preferably, the overall length of the compact embodiment of the reaching device  10 , with the handles  14  retracted, is less than approximately seven inches, and more preferably between approximately six and approximately seven inches.  
         [0024]     A detailed partial side view of the reaching device  10  with a leg cover  18  residing on one leg, a jaw cover  20  residing on one jaw, and a handle cover  21  residing on an end of the handle  14  opposite the jaws  12 , is shown in  FIG. 2 . Preferably, the reaching device  10  includes jaw covers  20  on both jaws  12   a , leg covers  18  on both legs  12   b , and handle covers  21  on both handles  14 . Preferably, when the telescoping handles  14  are fully retracted (see  FIG. 1D ), the handle cover  21  meets or nearly meets the leg cover  18 . An end section  14   a  of the telescoping handle  14  is attached to each leg  12   b . The end section may be a large diameter end of the telescoping handle  14 , but is preferably a small diameter end (i.e., the inner telescoping section) of the telescoping handle  14 .  
         [0025]     A side view of one end section  14   a  of the telescoping handle  14 , one leg  12   b , and one jaw  12   a  of the reaching device  10  is shown in  FIG. 3A , a top view of the end section  14   a  of the telescoping handle  14 , the leg  12   b , and the jaw  12   a  of the reaching device  10  is shown in  FIG. 3B , a bottom view of the end section  14   a  of the telescoping handle  14 , the leg  12   b , and the jaw  12   a  of the reaching device  10  is shown in  FIG. 3C , and a front view of the end section  14   a  of the telescoping handle  14 , the leg  12   b , and the jaw  12   a  of the reaching device  10  is shown in  FIG. 3D . The leg  12   b  includes a receiving loop  22  and the ends section  14   a  passes through the loop  22  and into the leg  12   b . Preferably, the end section  14   a  extends proximal to the pivot pin  16 . The end section  14   a  is preferably brazed to the leg  12   b  by brazing  24 , and more preferably by brazing  24  extending along most of the length of the end section  14   a  residing in the leg  12   b . A spring  26  resides over the pivot pin  16  and biased the jaws  12   a  toward a closed position, and preferably biases the jaws to a closed position.  
         [0026]     The telescoping handle  14  is generally constructed from thin wall tubing. The torque applied to the end section  14   a  near the entry of the end section  14   a  into the leg  12   b  may be large, and approaches the limit of the end section  14   a . Thin wall tubing loses much of its strength if it is deformed, for example, flattened. As a result, it is important to retain the original shape of the end section  14   a , and to not crimp and deform the end section  14   a  when constructing the reaching device  10 .  
         [0027]     A cross-sectional view of the reaching device  10  taken along line  44  of  FIG. 3D  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The end section  14   a  is seen to enter the leg  12   b , pass through the loop  22 , and extend proximal to the pivot pin  16 .  
         [0028]     The reaching tool may be used by holding the handles  14  in one hand, positioning the jaws  12  on opposite sides of an object to be retrieved, preferably aligned at a narrow portion of the object, and releasing one of the handles to allow the jaws to snap closed on the object. The reaching tool thus allows reaching for an object using a single hand.  
         [0029]     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.