Retrieval and litter pick tool

A retrieval and litter pick tool includes an elongated handle, a spike extending longitudinally therefrom and having an irregular surface, a spike shield, and an adhesive tube selectively mounted on the spike by the shield. Alternately, the adhesive tube is directly mounted on the spike. The spike pierces and removable holds penetrable items for retrieval from penetrable surfaces or other surfaces where penetration is not limited, and the adhesive tube presents an adhesive face for retrieving penetrable or impenetrable items from any surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to retrieval tools and in particular to an improved 
pick-type retrieval hand tool with multiple uses. 
BACKGROUND 
It is well known to use hand tools having a smooth, pointed spike to pick 
up penetrable objects. Such tools generally include an elongated handle 
with a smooth spike extending from one end. The spike is driven through an 
object, such as penetrable litter, leaves, and the like. The tool is then 
lifted to retrieve the pierced item, and deposit it in a collection bin, 
or the like. 
One of the difficulties with such a tool is that items tend to fall off the 
spike before they can be retrieved or deposited. This occurs particularly 
with heavy items, or with frangible items such as dried leaves, especially 
when a number of them are pierced prior to retrieval or deposit. For 
example, when such a tool is used by a clean-up crew to pick up automobile 
tires, the weight of the tire, together with the weight of any water in 
it, makes effective retrieval with such a tool impossible. 
It is also well known to use magnetic or adhesive devices to retrieve or 
pick up impenetrable objects. Where hand-held tools are concerned, these 
are limited to light duty use, and cannot be generally used for multiple 
item pick-up or for picking up heavy items like old automobile tires, or a 
multiplicity of items, like leaves, paper or litter, before unloading the 
tool. 
Despite these prior devices, there exists a continuing need for a pick-up 
or retrieval tool useful to older or handicapped persons who may have 
difficulty in bending, stooping or reaching to pick up items out of reach, 
or which are on a difficult surface such as the ground, a carpet or a hard 
smooth surface. 
There is also a need for a tool which can be easily used to pick up items 
not swept up by a vacuum cleaner, such as paper clips or staples lying in 
or on a previously vacuumed carpet. 
Accordingly, it is one objective of this invention to provide a compact 
tool for the aged and handicapped for retrieving objects of unlimited 
types from any surface. 
Another objective of this invention has been to provide an improved litter 
pick tool for litter crews and others for picking up litter from any 
surface. 
Another objective of this invention has been to provide a tool capable of 
piercing, dragging and lifting heavy items such as water-filled automotive 
tires. 
Another objective of this invention has been to provide a low cost, 
multiple-use retrieval tool for handling penetrable and impenetrable 
objects on any surface. 
Yet another objective of the invention has been to provide a tool capable 
for retrieving small items from carpeting containing only occasional 
litter to thereby avoid overall vacuuming which is otherwise unneeded, 
thereby conserving energy. 
To these ends, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an 
elongated handle with a spike extending from one end wherein the spike has 
an irregular surface such as threads, grooves, flanges or the like. This 
irregular surface spike is used to retrieve penetrable items such as 
paper, leaves, automobile tires and the like from penetrable surfaces. The 
irregular spike surface acts to retain pierced objects on the spike until 
positively ejected therefrom. The surface is also capable of retaining 
heavier items, such as automobile tires, until forcibly rejected. 
A spike cover is provided to serve as a protective shield to prevent injury 
when the tool is not in use. In addition, the cover functions as an 
adaptor used in converting the tool to an adhesive retrieval tool. 
More specifically, an adhesive dispensing cartridge containing an adhesive 
material is press-fitted over the adaptor. The cartridge cover can be 
pulled off, exposing an adhesive face. This face can be pressed against 
any number of objects lying on any type of surface to adhere the objects 
and pick them up. 
Many objects can be so retrieved before the adhesive material loses its 
tackiness due to dust or other contaminations on the object or surfaces 
exposed to the adhesive. When contamination does occur, pinching or 
shallow kneading of the adhesive surface will revitalize its tacky nature. 
After repeated cycles, the adhesive is slightly advanced from the 
cartridge and a forward surface sliced off, exposing a virgin adhesive 
face. 
Preferably, the adhesive material is pliable enough to conform to irregular 
surfaces of objects such as scissors and pocket knives, for example. This 
feature is particularly advantageous for the infirm, handicapped, 
bed-ridden or wheelchair bound population. 
Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates an 
improved pick-up tool having a threaded spike to enhance its lifting and 
pick-up capabilities and a multiple function glue or adhesive adaptor for 
use in picking up impenetrable items from any surface or penetrable or 
impenetrable items from non-penetrable surfaces.

SPECIFICATION 
Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein an exploded 
view of a retrieval and pick-up tool according to the invention. The tool 
10 includes in combination an elongated handle 11, a spike 14, a spike 
cover or shield means 20 and an adhesive cartridge 30. In more detail, the 
handle 11 is an elongated handle or shank having an upper end 12 and a 
lower end 13, from which extends the elongated spike 14. 
Spike 14 preferably has a pointed end 15. Between the pointed end and the 
handle, the spike is provided with an irregular surface 16, such as 
threads, grooves or a plurality of transverse or radical flutes or 
flanges. Threads 16 are shown. 
A lanyard 17 is looped through the upper end 12 of the handle 11 so that a 
user of the tool 10 may slip his wrist through the lanyard 17 to keep from 
dropping it. 
The handle 11 and spike 14 traverse or extend a distance of three or four 
feet, for example, but can be any suitable length. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, a spike 
cover 20 is provided and serves two functions. First, it will be 
appreciated that the spike cover 20 is tapered from a large diameter end 
21 to a smaller diameter end 22. The spike cover has an internal passage 
23, which is preferably cooperatively threaded to receive the spike 14 in 
threaded engagement so that the cover is held positively on the spike. 
Otherwise, the cover 20 may be fit over the spike 14 and removably held 
thereon by the other irregular type surface on the spike, whatever is 
used. 
Again, it will be appreciated that the irregular surface 16 is comprised of 
threads which may be either threads provided on the spike with a constant 
diameter shank or tapered wood screw-type threads or any other extending 
irregularities which tend to prevent the removal of items which are 
pressed over the spike or through which the spike punctures. 
Returning to the cover 20, it may be twisted onto the spike and removably 
held thereon, thus serving the first function of preventing injury by the 
uncovered spike when the tool is not in use, for example. In this regard, 
it will be appreciated that the cover 20 may be slightly longer than the 
spike and certainly long enough to extend over and cover the pointed end 
15 of the spike. 
It will also be appreciated from FIG. 1 that an adhesive cartridge 30 can 
be selectively utilized in combination with the tool. The adhesive 
cartridge 30 is provided with a rotatable end piece, cap, or skirt 31 
which has an internal tapered bore 32. Bore 32 is sized to cooperate with 
the taper on the outer surface of the spike cover 20 so that the adhesive 
cartridge 30 can be removably press-fitted onto the spike cover. 
The adhesive cartridge 30 further includes an outer removable cover 35 and 
an inner glue or adhesive surrounding sleeve 36. The end 31 is attached to 
a threaded rod 37 which may be formed as an integral piece. Sleeve 36, at 
its end adjacent the end cap 31, is fitted to the cap, so that there can 
be relative rotation between the cap 31 and the sleeve 36. As the cap 31 
is turned relative to the sleeve 36, the threaded rod 37 also turns 
relative to the sleeve 36. Threaded onto the rod 37 is a pusher 38, which 
is located immediately adjacent a bulk supply 39 of adhesive within the 
sleeve 36. The outer periphery of the pusher 38 is grooved to interfit 
with elongated projections disposed internally of and along the sleeve 36. 
As the end cap 31 is turned relative to the sleeve 36, the pusher 38 
translates along the threaded rod 37. When the pusher translates toward 
the end 40 of the sleeve 36, it will be appreciated that it is operable to 
push adhesive 39 toward and out of the end 40. 
The particular adhesive cartridge may be any suitable adhesive cartridge 
which contains a malleable, tacky adhesive. The adhesive cartridge may 
comprise any other adhesive means which can be removably secured to the 
spike 14, such as a pad comprising in part, pressure sensitive adhesive or 
any other type of adhesive device. 
One particular adhesive cartridge which has been found suitable is the 
adhesive or glue stick sold by the Kinko Service Corporation of Ventura, 
Calf. Other glue sticks or cartridges could be used and adapted to the 
invention as well. 
It will also be appreciated that when the outer cover 35 is removed from 
the glue cartridge 30, a surface or face 45 of adhesive is presented by 
the glue cartridge 30 in an uncovered fashion, so that it can be used to 
engage and pick up items to which the user applies the cartridge 30. 
Accordingly then, when used to pick up or retrieve items by the adhesive 
cartridge 30, the components of the invention in FIG. 1 are all assembled, 
with the spike cover 20 being mounted on the spike 14 and the adhesive 
cartridge 30 being removably press-fit over the cover 20. The cover 35 is 
then removed and an item is picked up or retrieved by means of engagement 
of the face 45 of adhesive against the item to be retrieved, such as 
illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In FIG. 4, it will be appreciated 
that the invention is illustrated in use to pick up or retrieve a paper 
clip 50 from a hard surface 51. Neither the paper clip nor the hard 
surface 51 is generally penetrable, so in this instance in FIG. 4, the 
invention is illustrated to functionally pick up and retrieve an 
impenetrable object from an impenetrable surface. 
Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be appreciated that these figures 
show the utilization of the tool 10 for retrieving or picking up 
penetrable objects. In FIG. 2, the spike 14 is rammed through a tire 52, 
with the point 15 serving to facilitate penetration of the spike 14 into 
the tire. After penetration, the tool handle can be turned to cause the 
threaded portion 16 of the spike 14 to more tightly engage the tire 
material surrounding the spike. Whether turned or not, the irregular 
surface 16 on the spike 14 helps to maintain the tire on the spike, as the 
tool 10 is lifted or retrieved to thereby lift or drag the tire. 
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the tool 10 is selectively used 
to lift or retrieve items which can be penetrated by the spike 14. Such 
penetration can also be used to create a drain hole so water in the tire 
is drained when the tire is turned over. 
Looking at FIG. 3, the tool 10 is utilized to collect leaves, litter or 
other debris which are penetrable. Leaves are illustrated at 55 56 and 57 
in FIG. 3 and are being picked up from a penetrable ground surface. In 
this use, the tool is projected through the leaves or other litter and the 
point 15 of the tool might also extend into the penetrable surface of the 
ground. Thereafter, the tool is withdrawn, with the irregular surface 16 
functioning to hold the leaves or litter 55, 56 and 57 on the spike 14, 
without falling off. Accordingly, FIG. 3 illustrates utilization of the 
tool to pick up and/or retrieve penetrable items from a penetrable 
surface. 
Of course, it will be appreciated that the tool can be useful in a number 
of other pick-up and retrieval environments other than those specifically 
shown in the figures. For example, non-penetrable or penetrable items 
could be picked up by virtue of the use of the adhesive cartridge 30 
assembled with the tool. For example, the tool is useful in picking up 
paper clips or staples from a carpeted surface so as to avoid an overall 
vacuuming when only a few items, such as staples for example, are on the 
carpet. This conserves a good deal of energy by elimination of a vacuuming 
cycle. On the other hand, penetrable or impenetrable objects could be 
picked up from penetrable surfaces. For example, the adhesive cartridge 30 
could be utilized to pick up leaves or litter or impenetrable items off 
the ground, for example, were that operation desired. 
It will also be appreciated that irregular surface 16 of the spike 14 
serves to help maintain heavy items on the spike when the spike penetrates 
those items, whether or not the spike is twisted after such penetration. 
In addition, the irregular surface 16 serves to hold multiple light-weight 
frangible items, such as dried leaves, on the spike after they have been 
pierced. 
When cartridge 30 is being used, it will be appreciated that eventually the 
face 45 of the adhesive may lose its tackiness as a result of the 
accumulation of dust, foreign matter or other contamination on the face 
45. When this occurs, it is only necessary to lightly knead or pinch the 
adhesive face 45 and re-flatten it to revitalize its tacky nature. When 
such kneading or pinching no longer suffices to provide the tackiness 
desired, it is only necessary to twist the sleeve 36 with respect to the 
cap 31 to slightly advance the adhesive out of the end 40 of the sleeve 
36. Thereafter, a forward portion of the adhesive which has been advanced 
may be cut off to expose a totally fresh or virgin adhesive face. 
Turning now to an alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, the tool 
handle 11 and spike 14 are illustrated therein. In this embodiment, 
however, the cartridge 30 is provided with a solid-ended skirt or end cap 
31 with the hollow area or bore 32 filled in by a plug 60, which may 
comprise an integral part of the cartridge 30. In this embodiment, it is 
unnecessary to utilize a separate spike cover 20 in order to attach the 
handle 11 and spike 14 to the cartridge 30. All that is necessary is to 
twist the cartridge 30 onto the spike 14, where it is secured in place for 
use to adhesively pick up or retrieve items as described above. 
It will be appreciated that the tool 10 has many effective uses. It can be 
used, for example, by the aged, infirmed or handicapped persons to pick up 
many different items which are out of their normal reach. The adhesive 
face 45 can be pushed over irregular surfaces such as the surfaces of 
scissors, sewing implements, eating utensils or the like, when those must 
be retrieved. As well, the tool 10 is useful by professional cleanup crews 
and gatherers of litter around parks and waterways for maintaining those 
areas free of litter through either the use of the uncovered spike 14 or 
the use of the adhesive cartridge 30 thereon. 
These and other advantages and modifications will become readily apparent 
to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of 
this invention, and the applicant intends to be bound only by the claims 
appended hereto: