Abstract:
A compact, readily portable handheld article grasping apparatus for grasping articles such as door handles, gate handles, mailbox handles and the like. The apparatus includes a retractable gripping arm having a hook-like extremity for grasping objects. The gripping arm can be stowed when the article is being transported and quickly and easily deployed when the apparatus is to be used. When the article grasping arm is in a stowed configuration, the apparatus can be conveniently carried in the users pocket or purse.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to handheld mechanical devices. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel, handheld article grasping device that can be used to grasp articles having contaminated surfaces such as door handles and the like.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Research has established that various types of harmful bacteria can survive for long periods of time on the surfaces of articles such as door handles; gate handles; mailbox handles; toilet flush handles; paper towel dispenser handles; sink faucet handles; handles on trash receptacle lids and like surfaces which are continuously contacted and contaminated by large numbers of people. Surfaces, such as surfaces on door handles, particularly those located in public buildings, are infrequently cleaned thereby permitting a substantial build up on the surfaces of easily spread, harmful bacteria. Transfer of the harmful bacteria from the hand of the user to the nose and mouth or eyes can cause serious illness. Similarly, if one has a cut or abrasion on the hand that contacts the door handle through which the harmful bacteria can penetrate, serious repercussions can follow. It is this serious cross-contamination problem that the present invention seeks to mitigate by providing an easy to use, easy to transport, handheld apparatus that can be used to grip and operate articles having highly contaminated surfaces.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is an object of the invention to provide a compact, readily portable handheld article grasping apparatus for grasping articles such as door handles, gate handles, mailbox handles and the like.  
         [0006]     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned character which includes a retractable gripping arm that can be stowed when the article is being transported and quickly and easily deployed when the apparatus is to be used.  
         [0007]     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in the preceding paragraphs, which is uniquely configured so that when the article grasping arm is in a stowed configuration, the apparatus can be conveniently carried in the users pocket or purse.  
         [0008]     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in which the article grasping arm can be quickly and conveniently moved from a stowed configuration into a deployed configuration by simply pressing upon a spring-loaded operating button that is mounted in the cover of the apparatus.  
         [0009]     Another object to the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in the preceding paragraphs in which the article grasping arm of the apparatus is specially configured to provide a hook-like extremity that can be used to easily and securely grip and operate various types of articles including door handles and the like.  
         [0010]     Another object the invention is to provide a compact handheld, article grasping apparatus that is sleek and attractive in appearance and one that can be securely gripped by the user.  
         [0011]     Another object to the invention is to provide an apparatus as described in the preceding paragraphs which is of a simple, easy-to-use construction and one that can be inexpensively manufactured in quantity. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view of one form of the article grasping apparatus of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the apparatus of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a right-hand view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a generally perspective, exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a generally perspective, diagrammatic view of the apparatus as appears when the grasping arm of the apparatus is in a stowed configuration.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6A  is a greatly enlarged, generally perspective view of the area designated in  FIG. 6  as  6 A.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a generally perspective, diagrammatic view of the apparatus as it appears when the grasping arm of the apparatus is partially deployed.  
         [0020]      FIG. 7A  is a greatly enlarged, generally perspective view of the area designated in  FIG. 7  as  7 A.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  as a generally perspective, diagrammatic view of the apparatus as it appears when the grasping arm of the apparatus is fully deployed.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a greatly enlarged, generally perspective view of the area designated in  FIG. 8  as  8 A.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , one form of the article grasping apparatus of the present invention for grasping objects such as door handles and the like comprises a housing  14  having spaced-apart top and bottom structures  16  and  18  respectively and first and second side structures  20  and  22  respectively, which cooperate to define an internal chamber  14   a  ( FIG. 5 ). As best seen in  FIGS. 3, 7  and  8 , first side structure  20  includes an elongated chamber  24 , the purpose of which will presently be described.  
         [0024]     Connected to housing  14  for movement between a first stowed position shown in  FIG. 6  and a second deployed position shown in  FIG. 8  is a uniquely configured grasping member  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5  of the drawings, grasping member  26  includes an end or hub portion  28  disposed within internal chamber  14   a  and an interconnected arm portion  30  that is receivable within elongated chamber  24  of the first side structure when grasping member is in the stowed configuration shown in  FIG. 6 . As indicated in the drawings, arm portion  30  terminates in a generally hook-shaped extremity  32 .  
         [0025]     Deployment means, the character of which will presently be described, is carried by housing  14  and functions to move the grasping member  26  from its stowed position to its deployed position. In the present form of the invention, this important deployment means comprises a torsion spring  34  ( FIG. 5 ) that is carried by housing  14  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. Torsion spring  34 , which is of conventional construction, has a longitudinal axis  37 , a first end  40  that is connected to bottom structure  18  and a second end  42  that is connected to a pushbutton  44  that forms a part of the operating means of the invention. The torsion spring  34  is constructed and arranged to turn second end  42  about longitudinal axis  37 , while first end  40  is held fast by the bottom structure  18  of the housing  14 .  
         [0026]     The important operating means of the invention, which is carried by housing  14 , functions to operate the deployment means of the invention in a manner to cause grasping member  26  to move from its stowed position to its deployed position. In the present form of the invention, the operating means comprises the previously identified pushbutton  44  to which the upper end  42  of the torsion spring  34  is connected. As indicated in  FIGS. 6, 7  and  8  of the drawings, pushbutton  44  is slidably received within a central bore  46  formed in the end portion  28  of the grasping member  26  for movement against the urging of torsion spring  34  between a first position shown in  FIG. 6A  and a second position shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7 A.  
         [0027]     As best seen in  FIG. 7A , the central bore  46  of the end portion  28  includes a pair of semicircular-shaped, inwardly extending ring-like segments  46   a  that cooperate to define a pair of oppositely disposed grooves  50  and  52 . As indicated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 A, pushbutton  44  is provided with opposing, outwardly extending tongues  54  and  56  that are selectively, slidably received within opposing groves  50  and  52 . More particularly, when the grasping member  26  is in its stowed position ( FIG. 6 ) and when pushbutton  44  is in its upstanding position ( FIG. 6A ), tongue  54  is received within groove  50 . However, when the grasping member is in its deployed position ( FIG. 8 ), tongue  56  is received within groove  50  and tongue  54  is received within groove  52  thereby locking the grasping member in its deployed position.  
         [0028]     Turning to  FIG. 5 , it is to be noted that bottom structure  18  of the housing includes an upstanding rim portion  58  and an upstanding spring locating member  60  over which the lower portion of torsion spring  34  is received. As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 A, pushbutton  44  further includes a pair of opposing stop ears  62  and  64  which are constructed and arranged to engage the rim portion  58  of the bottom wall structure when pushbutton  44  is in the second, depressed position shown in  FIG. 7A . Stop ears  62  and  64  function to control the downward movement of pushbutton  44  once the pushbutton is depressed in the manner shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7 A.  
         [0029]     When the apparatus of the invention is not in use, the grasping member  26  is in the stowed position shown in  FIG. 6  and the stop button  44  extends upwardly through an opening  16   a  formed in top or cover structure  16 . When the apparatus is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, it is quite compact and can be easily carried in the users pocket or purse. When it becomes necessary to open the door, or to grasp some other contaminated object, the grasping member  26  can be easily deployed by simply pushing down on pushbutton  44  against the urging of torsion spring  34  in the manner indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 6 . As the pushbutton is moved into the position shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7 A, tongue  54  will clear groove  50  permitting the preloaded torsion spring  34 , which is connected to the pushbutton, to rotate the grasping member initially into the position shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings and then into the fully deployed position shown in  FIG. 8 . Once the stop ears  62  and  64  are in engagement with upstanding rim portion  58 , the user can release the downward forces exerted on the pushbutton thereby permitting the torsion spring to move the pushbutton upwardly into the position shown in  FIGS. 8 and 8 A. As the pushbutton moves toward its starting position, tongue  54  will move into groove  52  thereby locking the gripping member  26  in its deployed, extended position as shown in  FIG. 8 . In the present form of the invention, tongue  54 , along with groove  52  comprises the locking means of the invention for releasably locking the gripping member  26  in its deployed position.  
         [0030]     When the apparatus user has finished using the apparatus a downward force exerted on the pushbutton will permit the grasping member  26  to be manually returned to its stowed position against the urging of torsion spring  34 . This movement of the grasping member into its stowed position will once again reload the torsion spring so that the deployment operation can be accomplished in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.  
         [0031]     In order for the apparatus to be securely gripped by the user during operation, side structure  22  is provided with a longitudinally extending, yieldably deformable elastomer strip  65  (Figure one).  
         [0032]     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.