Extension arm and method of use

A method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with an operable end, comprising grabbing the extension arm with one's hand; engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the operable end; and at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the operable end by rotating the extension arm with one's hand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to extension devices for grabbing or moving an object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recreation vehicles (RVs) includes vents and fans to provide air ventilation in and through the RV. Many of these vents and fans are operated through turn cranks and switches. Some of these vents and fans (along with the cranks/switches) are located in the ceiling of the RV. To operate the crank/switch, a person of medium or small stature needs to stand on a short ladder or step stool to reach the crank/switch. Older individuals may not possess the balance necessary to stand on a short ladder or step stool. As a result, the older individual could fall from the ladder or stool while reaching for the crank/switch and become injured. Another problem is that the ladder/stool needs to stored in a location where it is readily available. The ladder/stool can occupy significant storage space where little storage space exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention involves an extension arm that allows one to reach the cranks/switches in RV ceilings top operate the vents/fans.

Another aspect of the invention involves a method of operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational vehicle using an extension arm, the extension arm including an elongated shaft with an operable end, comprising grabbing the extension arm with one's hand; engaging one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the operable end; and at least one of operating the fan and vent by rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the operable end by rotating the extension arm with one's hand.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above includes one or more of the following: the operable end includes a coupling attached to the extension arm, the coupling including a plurality of tangs, and engaging includes engaging the turn switch with the plurality of tangs; the turn switch includes a plurality of arms and the coupling of the operable end includes a plurality of spaced notches separating the plurality of tangs, and engaging includes receivably engaging the plurality of arms of the turn switch in the plurality of spaced notches of the coupling of the operable end; the coupling with tangs include an outer surface and a plurality of reinforcement tangs adhered to an outer surface to reinforce the tangs and prevent the tangs from breaking off from the coupling; the coupling with tangs include an outer surface and the operable end includes an outer, larger-diameter coupling with tangs adhered to the outer surface of coupling with tangs to reinforce the tangs and prevent the tangs from breaking off from the coupling; the extension arm includes a circular end with an O-ring thereon, and the method further includes pressing a fan switch with the O-ring to operate a fan in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle; the extension arm includes an end with a cap, and the method further includes pressing a fan switch with the cap to operate a fan in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle; the knob is a vent control knob and includes a plurality of protruding portions and the operable end includes a coupling attached to the extension arm, the coupling including an open-ended vent knob control member having a plurality channels, and engaging includes receivably engaging the plurality of protruding portions of the vent control knob within the plurality of channels of the coupling of the operable end; the turn crank includes a single turn crank arm and the operable end includes a plurality of notches, and engaging includes receivably engaging the single turn crank arm within one of the plurality of notches; the turn crank includes a pair of arms extending linearly in opposite directions from each other and the operable end includes a plurality of notches, and engaging includes receivably engaging the pair of arms within two respective notches of the plurality of notches; the extension arm includes a second operable end including one of a coupling including a plurality of tangs, a coupling including a plurality of tangs and a plurality of spaced notches separating the plurality of tangs, a coupling including a plurality of tangs, an outer surface, and a plurality of reinforcement tangs adhered to an outer surface, a coupling including a plurality of tangs, an outer surface, and an outer, larger-diameter coupling with tangs adhered to the outer surface of coupling with tangs, a circular end with an O-ring thereon, an end cap, a coupling including an open-ended vent knob control member having a plurality channels, a plurality of notches, and the method further comprising grabbing the extension arm with one's hand; engaging one of a turn switch, a pressable switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle with the second operable end; and at least one of operating the fan and vent by one of rotating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the second operable end by rotating the extension arm with one's hand, and pressing the pressable switch with the second operable end by raising the extension arm with one's hand; and/or the method includes first grabbing the extension arm with one's hand near the second operable end and engaging and operating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the operable end followed by grabbing the extension arm near an opposite end, the operable end, and engaging and operating one of the turn switch, the turn crank, and the knob with the second operable end.

An additional aspect of the invention involves an extension arm for operating at least one of a fan and a vent in a ceiling of a recreational, comprising an elongated shaft with an operable end to engage and rotate one of a turn switch, a turn crank, and a knob of one of the fan and vent in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above includes one or more of the following: the operable end includes a coupling attached to the extension arm, the coupling including a plurality of tangs to engage the turn switch; the turn switch includes a plurality of arms and the coupling of the operable end includes a plurality of spaced notches separating the plurality of tangs to receivably engage the plurality of arms of the turn switch in the plurality of spaced notches of the coupling of the operable end; the coupling with tangs include an outer surface and a plurality of reinforcement tangs adhered to an outer surface to reinforce the tangs and prevent the tangs from breaking off from the coupling; the coupling with tangs include an outer surface and the operable end includes an outer, larger-diameter coupling with tangs adhered to the outer surface of coupling with tangs to reinforce the tangs and prevent the tangs from breaking off from the coupling; the extension arm includes a circular end with an O-ring thereon to press the fan switch with the O-ring to operate a fan in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle; the extension arm includes an end with a cap to press the fan switch with the cap to operate a fan in the ceiling of the recreational vehicle; the knob is a vent control knob and includes a plurality of protruding portions and the operable end includes a coupling attached to the extension arm, the coupling including an open-ended vent knob control member having a plurality channels to receivably engage the plurality of protruding portions of the vent control knob; the turn crank includes a single turn crank arm and the operable end includes a plurality of notches, one of which receivably engages the single turn crank arm; the turn crank includes a pair of arms extending linearly in opposite directions from each other and the operable end includes a plurality of notches, two of which receivably engage the pair of arms; and/or the extension arm includes a second operable end including one of a coupling including a plurality of tangs, a coupling including a plurality of tangs and a plurality of spaced notches separating the plurality of tangs, a coupling including a plurality of tangs, an outer surface, and a plurality of reinforcement tangs adhered to an outer surface, a coupling including a plurality of tangs, an outer surface, and an outer, larger-diameter coupling with tangs adhered to the outer surface of coupling with tangs, a circular end with an O-ring thereon, an end cap, a coupling including an open-ended vent knob control member having a plurality channels, a plurality of notches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1-13, an embodiment of an extension arm or extender100that allows people to reach cranks and switches in RV ceilings to operate the vents and fans in the RV ceilings will be described.

The extension arm100includes an elongated cylindrical pipe or shaft110, a first operable end120, and an opposite second operable end130. In the embodiment shown, the pipe110is 1 in. PVC plastic pipe that is 24 in. in length. In alternative embodiments, the shaft110includes one or more of alternative constructions, configurations, materials, lengths, diameters, and/or dimensions.

As shown best inFIG. 2, the first operable end120includes a cylindrical coupling140that is attached (e.g., by adhesive such as glue) at the first operable end120. In an alternative embodiment, the first operable end120does not include the coupling140. A distal end of the coupling includes four substantially rectangular, tooth-shaped tangs150spaced evenly by notches160. The tangs150extend distally from the first operable end120, parallel with a central longitudinal axis defined by the cylindrical pipe110. A rubber O-ring170is attached to a terminal end of the cylindrical pipe110at the first operable end120, circumferentially interior to the coupling140. In the embodiment shown, the height of each tang150is ⅜ in. and the width of each tang150is 5/16 in. and the straight-line distance between tangs150or straight-line width of each notch160is ¾ in. In the embodiment shown, the rubber O-ring170is 1⅙ in. in diameter, 15/16 in. in with, and ⅛ in. in height. In the embodiment shown, the height of coupling140(from the proximal end to the base of the tangs150) is 1⅛ in.

FIGS. 9 and 10show further embodiments of operable ends171,172similar to first operable end120. Like elements will be shown and described with like reference numbers, but with an “a” and “b” suffix. InFIG. 9, the operable end171includes reinforcement tangs173that are adhered to an outer surface174of the coupling140aand tangs150a, reinforcing the tangs150aand prevent them from snapping/breaking off from the coupling140a. The reinforcement tangs173extend the height/length of the operable end171(i.e., the combined height of the coupling140a, including tangs150a). InFIG. 10, the operable end172includes an outer, larger-diameter coupling175with tangs176, which slides over and adheres to the outer surface of inner, smaller-diameter coupling140bwith tangs150b, reinforcing the tangs150band prevent them from snapping/breaking off from the coupling140b.

As shown inFIG. 3, the second operable end130includes a first notch180, a second notch190, and a third notch200. The first notch180and the second notch190separates a first tang210from a third tang230and a second tang220from a third tang230. In the embodiment shown, the first notch180and second notch190are 180 degrees apart. The height of the first notch180and second notch190is 5/16 in. and the height of the third notch200is 1.2 in. The width of the first notch180and second notch190is ⅛ in. and the width of the third notch200is 0.5 in.

With reference toFIGS. 4-8, and initiallyFIGS. 4 and 8, the extension arm100will now be described in use. To turn on or off a fan250in a ceiling252of a RV254, a user240grabs the extension arm100near the second operable end130and lifts the extension arm100upward so as to reach, engage, and operate a fan switch260with the first operable end120. The fan switch260is engaged so that the four arms270(in a cross-shaped configuration) are receivably engaged respectively by the four evenly spaced notches160of the cylindrical coupling140at the first operable end120. To turn on the fan250, the fan switch260is rotated clockwise by the first operable end120by rotating the second operable end130. Because the first operable end120is fixed relative to the second operable end130, rotation of the second operable end130causes corresponding rotation in the first operable end120, causing the fan switch260to rotate accordingly. Rotation of the fan switch260clockwise turns on the fan250and rotation of the fan switch260counter clockwise turns off the fan250.

With reference toFIG. 5, to turn on/off a fan280including a push-button switch290in the RV ceiling, the user240handles the extension arm100in a similar manner to that discussed above with respect toFIG. 4, except that the first operable end120is used to push on and off the push-button switch290. The coupling140of the first operable end120is fit over the push-button switch290and a front face of the push-button switch290is engaged by a distal face of the rubber O-ring170to push on and off the push-button switch290. With reference toFIG. 11, in another embodiment, an operable end291includes a cap292that slides over and adheres to an outer surface293of the extension arm100. The front face of the push-button switch290is engaged by end wall294of the cap292of the operable end291to push on and off the push-button switch290.

With reference toFIG. 6, to open/close a vent300in a ceiling252of a RV254, a user240grabs the extension arm100near the first operable end120and lifts the extension arm100upward so as to reach, engage, and operate a turn crank310with the second operable end130. The turn crank310is engaged so that single turn crank arm320extending from turn crank shaft325is receivably engaged by third notch230at the second operable end130. To open the vent300, the turn crank310is rotated clockwise by the second operable end130by rotating the first operable end120. Rotation of the turn crank310clockwise opens the vent300and rotation of the turn crank310counter clockwise closes the vent300.

With reference toFIG. 7, to open/close a vent330in a ceiling252of a RV254, a user240grabs the extension arm100near the first operable end120and lifts the extension arm100upward so as to reach, engage, and operate a turn crank340with the second operable end130. The turn crank340is engaged so that a pair of arms/wings/blades350,360extending outward linearly in opposite directions from turn crank shaft370are receivably engaged respectively by first notch180and second notch190at the second operable end130. To open the vent330, the turn crank340is rotated clockwise by the second operable end130by rotating the first operable end120. Rotation of the turn crank310clockwise opens the vent330and rotation of the turn crank310counter clockwise closes the vent330.

With reference toFIGS. 12 and 13, another embodiment of an operable end380of the extension arm100is used to open/close a vent330in a ceiling252of a RV254. The operable end380includes a first cylindrical coupling382that slides over and may be adhered to an outer surface293of the extension arm100. A second cylindrical coupling384slides over and may be adhered to an outer surface of the first cylindrical coupling382. In an alternative embodiment, the first cylindrical coupling382and the second cylindrical coupling384may be a single integrated coupling member instead of be two separate coupling members382,384. The second cylindrical coupling384includes an open-ended window/vent knob control member386. The window/vent knob control member386includes a plurality (e.g., six) of recesses/channels388that receive corresponding protruding portions390of window/vent knob400to engage and turn the window/vent knob400clockwise and counter clockwise to open/close the vent330.

Thus, the extension arm100(via the operable ends120,130,171,172,291,380) enables a user240to reach and/or operate the turn switches260,290, the crank arms310,340, and the window/vent knob400in the ceilings of RVs254to operate the fans250,280and vents300,330in the ceilings of RVs254. The extension arm100and the operable ends120,130,171,172,291,380eliminate the need for short ladders/step stools to reach and operate the turn switches260,290, the crank arms310,340, and the window/vent knob400in the ceilings of RVs254. Eliminating the need for short ladders/step stools eliminates the risk of the user falling and hurting oneself and eliminates the extra storage space requirements of short ladders/step stools. In one or more embodiments, one end of the extension arm100includes operable ends120,130,171,172,291, or380and a second, opposite end of the extension arm100includes operable ends120,130,171,172,291, or380.

The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in the following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.