Many reachers help in pulling on or pushing off clothing or shoes, reaching for items in a closet and opening and closing zippers. Reacher Design Reachers come in a variety of styles, but the basic design remains the same- a stick with a grasping device on the end. The grasping device may be a claw or an adhesive or magnetic disc. In a claw design, pinchers open and close tightly to grab and hold objects. The pinchers may have a non-slip rubber coating or cups to provide a steadier, stronger hold when picking up small or irregularly shaped items.
Triggers are necessary to activate the reacher claws.
The trigger is usually attached to wires running along the shaft of the reacher. The wires pull open or shut the claws on the end of the reacher. In most reachers, you must keep light pressure on the trigger to continue gripping. However, because it is difficult for many people to keep squeezing the trigger while holding an object, some reachers are self-closing, or have a locking mechanism to hold the jaws closed. Persons with very limited hand strength or dexterity might prefer an automatic trigger, which activates the jaws at the touch of a button.