Abstract:
A bendable extension arm for extending a user&#39;s reach while a tool is connected. The bendable extension arm includes a deformable stiffening wire that is sufficiently deformable to be easily deformed by the hands of a user but stiff enough to resist further bending in the course of tool usage. The stiffening wire has a first end and a second end and is connected at its first end to a wire receptor and at its second end to another wire receptor. The first end also has an attachment means for attaching a tool. A sheath covers the stiffening wire and prevents over bending of the stiffening wire. The extension arm may be bent by hands of the user into desired shapes up to a bending limit determined by the sheath but remain stiff enough in the desired shapes to resist further bending during tool usage. Substantially all resistance to bending during tool usage below the bending limit is provided by the stiffening wire.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application of prior application Ser. No. 11/511,745, filed Aug. 29, 2006, which claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 10/713,495, filed Nov. 14, 2003, the specifications both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
       [0002]    This invention relates to extension arms, and in particular to bendable extension arms. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Extension arms are known. Painters commonly use extension arms to reach high areas on a wall or a tall ceiling. Also, extension arms are attached between the shower plumbing and the shower head so that the shower head can be positioned to meet the tastes of the individual taking a shower. 
         [0004]    Prior art extension arms have adjustable knuckle joints that allow the user to adjust the angle of the extension. Loosening the joint, setting the desired angle, and then retightening the joint can be a time consuming and tedious process. Also, the joints can corrode and fail over time. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a better extension arm. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a bendable extension arm for extending a user&#39;s reach while a tool is connected. The bendable extension arm includes a deformable stiffening wire that is sufficiently deformable to be easily deformed by the hands of a user but stiff enough to resist further bending in the course of tool usage. The stiffening wire has a first end and a second end and is connected at its first end to a wire receptor and at its second end to another wire receptor. The first end also has an attachment means for attaching a tool. A sheath covers the stiffening wire and prevents over bending of the stiffening wire. The extension arm may be bent by hands of the user into desired shapes up to a bending limit determined by the sheath but remain stiff enough in the desired shapes to resist further bending during tool usage. Substantially all resistance to bending during tool usage below the bending limit is provided by the stiffening wire. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 4A-5  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 8-10  illustrate the utilization of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 11  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention bent. 
           [0014]      FIG. 12  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 13  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 14  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 15  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 16  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 17  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 18  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 19-20  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 21-23  show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    The present invention provides a bendable extension arm  10  ( FIG. 1  and  FIG. 8 ). By utilizing bendable extension arm  10 , a user is able to easily customize the amount of bend applied to bendable extension arm  10  to accomplish the user&#39;s task. Bendable extension arm  10  is of sufficient strength and stiffness so that a user can easily bend bendable extension arm  10  to the desired amount. Also, bendable extension arm  10  will hold the applied amount of bend while the extension arm is being used. For example, in  FIG. 8  the user has bent bendable extension arm  10  so that he can easily paint the top of wall  14 . Then, in  FIG. 10 , the user has bent bendable extension arm  10  even further so that he can paint the top of pipe  50  where pipe  50  is high off the ground. In  FIG. 9  the user has straightened bendable extension arm  10  so that he can paint the ceiling. 
       First Preferred Embodiment 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a first preferred embodiment of bendable extension arm  10 . Stiffening wire  6  is connected to male wire receptor coupler  2  and female wire receptor coupler  3 . External sheath  4  covers wire  6  and the internal ends of wire receptor couplers  2  and  3 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , ferrules  5  are crimped over sheath  4 , wire  6  and the internal ends of wire receptor couplers  2  and  3 , thereby attaching sheath  4  and wire  6  to wire receptor couplers  2  and  3 . 
       Stiffening Wire 
       [0025]    In the preferred embodiment, stiffening wire  6  is 10 gage galvanized steel wire. In the preferred embodiment, wire  6  is approximately 15-18 inches long. Wire  6  has sufficient stiffness to allow a user of ordinary strength to easily bend bendable extension arm  10  to the desired shape while at the same time holding the desired shape while bendable extension arm  10  is being utilized. For example,  FIG. 8  shows bendable extension arm  10  attached to the end of extension pole  12 . Paint brush  13  is attached to the other end of bendable extension arm  10 . In  FIG. 8 , a user has bent bendable extension arm  10  as shown so that the user can easily paint the top of wall  14 . While paint brush  13  is being utilized to paint wall  14 , bendable extension arm  10  retains its shape as shown. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , wire  6  is preferably slightly twisted. By slightly twisting wire  6 , the length of wire  6  is increased and the stiffness of bendable extension arm  10  is decreased. This makes it easier for the user to bend bendable extension arm  10 . 
       Wire Receptor Couplers 
       [0027]    Wire receptor coupler  2  has external threads  15  and wire receptor coupler  3  has internal threads  16 . Wire receptor couplers  2  and  3  are utilized to connect bendable extension arm  10  to other devices. For example, in  FIG. 8  bendable extension pole  12  is threaded onto external threads  15  ( FIG. 1 ) of wire receptor coupler  2  and paint brush  13  is threaded onto internal threads  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of wire receptor coupler  3 . 
       Sheath 
       [0028]    Sheath  4  is preferably a helically constructed bendable metal sheath. A preferred sheath  4  is available from Westflex Industrial with offices in National City, Calif., part no. AO515. It preferably has a diameter of approximately ¾ inches and is approximately 15-18 inches long. The helical metal construction of sheath  4  protects wire  6  and prevents over bending of wire  6 . Over bending of wire  6  could significantly weaken wire  6  and even eventually cause it to break. For example,  FIG. 11  shows bendable extension arm  10  being bent to approximately its maximum position. Links  4 A- 4 U are compressed at the bottom of sheath  4  preventing any further bending movement. 
       Second Preferred Embodiment 
       [0029]    A second preferred embodiment is shown in  FIG. 3 . Two wires  6  are connected to wire receptor couplers  2  and  3 . The utilization of two wires increases the strength and stiffness of bendable extension arm  10 . 
       Third Preferred Embodiment 
       [0030]    A third preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 4A-5 . The third preferred embodiment includes wire receptor couplers  20 A and  20 B. Preferably, wire receptor couplers  20  are aluminum and are crimped onto sheath  4  in a fashion similar to that described above. Wire receptor couplers  20 A and  20 B include circular cutouts  21  ( FIG. 4B ) for receiving wires  6 . 
         [0031]    In the third preferred embodiment wires  6  slide back and forth in wire receptor couplers  20 A and  20 B as bendable extension arm  10  is bent. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4A , when bendable extension arm  10  is straight, wires  6  extend to the ends of cutouts  21  ( FIG. 4B ). However, when bendable extension arm  10  is bent ( FIG. 5 ), wires  6  slide part of the way out of cutouts  21 . By allowing wires  6  to slide along cutouts  21 , the stiffness of arm  10  is decreased making it easier for the user to bend bendable extension arm  10 . 
       Fourth Preferred Embodiment 
       [0032]    A fourth preferred embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6 . In the fourth preferred embodiment, wires  6  are tightly press fit and/or glued into receptor coupler  20 B so that they do not slide, while in receptor coupler  20 A wires  6  are allowed to slide. The fourth preferred embodiment is slightly stiffer than the third preferred embodiment. 
       Fifth Preferred Embodiment 
       [0033]    A fifth preferred embodiment is shown in  FIG. 7 . In the fifth preferred embodiment, wires  6  are tightly press fit and/or glued into wire receptor coupler  20 B and wire receptor coupler  20 A so that they do not slide. The fifth preferred embodiment is slightly stiffer than the fourth preferred embodiment. 
       Sixth Preferred Embodiment 
       [0034]    A sixth preferred embodiment is shown in  FIG. 14 . In the sixth preferred embodiment, wire receptor coupler  20 A ( FIG. 4A ) has been replaced with wire receptor end piece  70 . In the preferred embodiment, wire receptor end piece  70  is crimped onto sheath  4  in a fashion similar to that described above in reference to wire receptor coupler  20 A. However, it should be noted that unlike wire receptor coupler  20 A, wire receptor end piece  70  does not include external threads for connecting other devices. This is because for the sixth preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , bendable extension arm  10  is used as a handle rather than as an extension arm connected between an extension pole and a paint brush. In the sixth preferred embodiment, a user will grab bendable extension arm  10  at or near the portion of bendable extension arm  10  having wire receptor end piece  70 . At the other end, the user will attach a separate device. For example,  FIG. 14  shows paint brush  56  attached to wire receptor coupler  20 B. In the sixth preferred embodiment, the user will use bendable extension arm  10  in a fashion similar to that described above. For example, while holding bendable extension arm  10 , the user will be able to bend bendable extension arm  10  to the desired position and then paint with paint brush  56 . 
       Seventh Preferred Embodiment 
       [0035]    In the seventh preferred embodiment, it is recognized that paint brushes attached to bendable extension arm  10  will wear out long before bendable extension arm  10 . Therefore, replacement brushes are utilized to replace older brushes. Preferably, male threaded replacement brushes  193  ( FIG. 19 ) having external male threads are sold separately so that they can be threaded onto bendable extension arm  10  ( FIG. 20 ) as needed. Preferably, the user purchases several replacement brushes of various sizes so that he always has one available. 
       Eighth Preferred Embodiment 
       [0036]    A third preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 21-23 . The eighth preferred embodiment includes wire receptor couplers  120 A and  120 B. Wire receptor couplers  120 A and  120 B include square cutouts  113  ( FIG. 4B ) for receiving wires  61 . Preferably, wires  61  include a square cross section at each end to fit snuggly into square cutouts  113 . Preferably, wire receptor couplers  120 A and  120 B are aluminum and each include a ferrule portion that is crimped onto sheath  4  in a fashion similar to that described above. In one preferred embodiment wires  61  are press-fitted into wire receptor couplers  120 A and  120 B with a high pressure crimping machine. In another preferred embodiment wires  61  are glued into wire receptor couplers  120 A and  120 B. 
         [0037]    The square wire tips help prevent wires  61  from rotating loose in the ferrule under working pressures. It should be noted that other polygon cross section shapes (such as a triangle or a hexagon) would also be similarly effective. 
         [0038]    While the above description contains many specifications, the reader should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that many other possible variations are within its scope. For example, although the above preferred embodiments just showed examples of one or two stiffening wires  6  being used, it would be possible to utilize more stiffening wires  6 . For example, three or four stiffening wires  6  could be used. Also, although the above description described wire  6  as being 10 gage galvanized steel wire, wire  6  could be fabricated from a variety of different types of wire having various gages. For example, wire  6  could be an 8 gage or a 14 gage galvanized steel wire. Also, even though the above preferred embodiments showed a male coupler and a female coupler each attached to and end of bendable extension arm  10 , it would also be possible to attach two male couplers to bendable extension arm  10  (as shown in  FIG. 16 ) or two female couplers to bendable extension arm  10  (as shown in  FIG. 15 ). Also, it was stated above that wire receptor couplers  20 A and  20 B are aluminum and are crimped onto sheath  4 . However, it would also be possible to fabricate wire receptor couplers from plastic and then attach the plastic receptor couplers to sheath  4  by melting them onto sheath  4 . Also,  FIGS. 12 and 13  show alternate ways to connect a paint brush to bendable extension arm  10 . In  FIG. 12  plastic paint brush gripper  52  is threaded onto wire receptor coupler  20 B. Then, paint brush  54  is pushed into plastic paint brush gripper  52  where it is retained by plastic paint brush gripper  52 . Alternatively, rather than plastic, paint brush gripper  52  can be fabricated from a variety of other materials, such as steel. In  FIG. 13 , brush  56  is threaded onto wire receptor coupler  20 B. Also, although  FIG. 8  showed a paint brushed attached to the end of bendable extension arm  10 , other types of tools could also be attached to the end of bendable extension arm  10 . For example, a hedge trimmer or a broom could be attached to the end of bendable extension arm  10 . Also, a variety of different sizes of paint brushes can be attached to the end of bendable extension arm  10 . For example, a 2½ inch diagonal bristle paint brush, a 3½ inch straight bristle paint brush can and many other sizes and types of brushes can be attached to the end of bendable extension arm  10 . Also, in another preferred embodiment rubber grip  171  is attached to the end of bendable extension arm  10  (see  FIG. 17 ). Rubber grip  171  allows the user to more effectively grip bendable extension arm  10  when an extension pole is not being utilized. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 18 , rubber grip  171  preferably covers female wire receptor coupler  173 . Female wire receptor coupler allows for the connection of an extension arm or other threaded attachment as desired by the user. Accordingly the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples which have been given.