Patent Publication Number: US-2007102943-A1

Title: Coilable article retriever

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to a device for enabling a user to retrieve articles that have been displaced from the immediate reach of the user. More particularly, the present invention relates to an article retrieving system for retrieving articles at spatially distant, inferior locations relative to the user so that the user need not descend to the distant article and re-ascend to the user&#39;s preferred superior spatial location.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Deer hunting is ancient. Modem day deer hunters come in all shapes and sizes and any number of hunting accessories aids the hunter in his or her quest to land that prize stud. In this last regard, it is noted that a common vantage point for many deer hunters is a tree stand from which perch the hunter can lie in wait, virtually unseen, for his prey. Tree stands, however, require the user to amble up a tree a sufficient distance so that the hunter is not otherwise detected by the hunted. Often times, when the hunter has finally secured his final vantage point, typically after expending considerable effort, some must-have accessory is lost to gravity. Rather than descending from the hunter&#39;s hard-won vantage point to retrieve the accessory or article, it would be beneficial to have on hand a so-called long distance article retriever as a means to retrieve the fallen article with minimized effort and distraction. In this regard, it is noted that the prior art teaches a number of article-retrieving systems. Several of the more pertinent prior art disclosures relating to (hunting type) article retrieving devices and or assemblies are briefly described hereinafter.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 1,271,435 (&#39;435 Patent), which issued to Cloutier, discloses a Clothes Hook. The &#39;435 Patent teaches a drop line hook device comprising a pair of similar V-shaped spring members arranged flatwise directly against each other with the shanks of each member in contact with those of the other member, the free ends of each pair of contacting shanks being formed with oppositely projecting hooks, a retaining member individual to each of said pairs of contacting shanks fitted over the same in relatively fixed position to constantly hold them in contacting relation, and a member slidable over both of said retaining members to control the movements of said pairs of contacting shanks toward and from each other.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,877 (&#39;877 Patent), which issued to Wenk, discloses a Hunting Bow Retriever. The &#39;877 Patent teaches a hunting bow retrieval device releasably engagable with a hunting bow to allow a treebound hunter to raise and lower the hunting bow to the hunting position. The hunting bow retriever comprises a reel mounted in an enclosed palm-sized casing and a line wound on the reel and extending out of the casing. The line has an open-hook on the end that permits remote release of the bow. The casing is attached to a hunter with a belt clip. A foldable handle assembly engages the reel to implement rotational movement. A thumb brake allows a controlled release of said tension member from the wound position.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,721 (&#39;721 Patent), which issued to Mullins, discloses a Retrieving Aid. The &#39;721 Patent teaches an apparatus for raising, lowering, or retrieving an article, such as an arrow or an article of clothing, to or from an elevated position relative to the ground, such as a tree stand, includes a foldable hook assembly connected with a cord. The foldable hook assembly includes a pair of spaced generally parallel body members defining a space therebetween adapted to receive an arrow, spacers arranged between the body members, and a pair of fork arms pivotally connected with the body members. The fork arms are provided with angled surfaces which facilitate engagement of the item and allow the apparatus to slide along the ground. The ends of the fork arms are provided with barbs which allow soft articles, such as articles of clothing, to be engaged.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,042 (&#39;042 Patent), which issued to McCloy, Jr., discloses a Device for Retrieving Items. The &#39;042 Patent teaches a manually-operable device for use by tree stand hunters for retrieving items that have been left on the ground or that have fallen from the hunter or tree stand onto the ground. The device comprises an elongated shank, a rope having one end attached to the shank and an opposite end for grasping by the hunter situated in the tree stand, a plurality of flexible arms attached to the shank which are movable from an open position to a gripping position and are radially disposed circumjacent the longitudinal axis of the shank, a trigger plate slidably mounted on the arms for selectively spreading the arms and selectively closing the arms so that the item can be retrieved and released, and a weighted disc mounted on the shank for linear, reciprocable movement thereon so that the movement of the disc on the shank causes the disc to contact the trigger plate thereby forcing the trigger plate to slide on the arms, thus drawing the arms toward the shank axis so that the arms engage and retrieve the item.  
      It will be seen from an inspection of the above-referenced patents and other relevant prior art known to exist that the prior art does not teach an article-retrieving apparatus for enabling a user thereof to retrieve articles located inferior relative to the user comprising a coilable sleeve assembly, a handle assembly, and an article-grabbing assembly. The prior art thus perceives a need for an article-retrieving apparatus for enabling a user thereof to retrieve articles located inferior relative to the user comprising a coilable sleeve assembly, a handle assembly, and an article-grabbing assembly.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      To achieve the foregoing and other readily apparent objectives, the present invention provides an article-retrieving apparatus for enabling a user to retrieve articles located inferior relative to the user. The apparatus comprises a coilable sleeve assembly, a handle assembly, and an article-grabbing assembly. The sleeve assembly comprises a force-translating inner member and a force-guiding outer sleeve. The inner member is slidably received within the outer sleeve. The handle assembly is cooperatively associated with a first sleeve assembly end and enables the user to impart an operative force to the inner member. The inner member is thus displaceable relative to the outer sleeve. The article-grabbing assembly is cooperatively associated with a second sleeve assembly end and comprises a plurality of cooperatively operative article-grabbing members. The article-grabbing members may thus retain a fetchable article located inferior relative to the user and the sleeve assembly is manually recoilable for retrieving the fetched article.  
      Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated or become apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other features of my invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief description of my patent drawings, as follows:  
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary side view depiction of a user perched in a superior vertical location outfitted with certain gear, including a hat, a hunting bow, and a packaged and coiled article-retrieving system as taught by the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary side view depiction of the user shown in  FIG. 1  showing the user utilizing the unpackaged and partially uncoiled article-retrieving system of the present invention to grab the hat shown in  FIG. 1 , which hat has become inferiorly displaced relative to the user.  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary enlarged side view of an uncoiled portion of the coil assembly as taken from  FIG. 2  showing an inner member as received within an outer sleeve.  
       FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the uncoiled portion of the coil assembly as taken from  FIG. 3 , showing a preferred construction of the inner member.  
       FIG. 4 ( a )  FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view of an uncoiled portion of an alternative coil assembly of the present invention, showing an alternative construction of the inner member.  
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary enlarged side view of a coiled portion of the coil assembly of the present invention showing an inner member as displaceably received within an outer sleeve.  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of a first hand-operable assembly as cooperatively associated with a first article-grabbing assembly of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of a second hand-operable assembly as cooperatively associated with a second article-grabbing assembly of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional side view depiction of the first article-grabbing assembly grabbing the inferiorly located hat depicted in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional side view depiction of the second article-grabbing assembly grabbing the inferiorly located hat depicted in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic depiction of an electro-mechanical coilable article-retrieving system of the present invention showing a simple circuit comprising a switch at a first hand-operable end and a black box at a second, article-grabbing end, the black box housing electro-mechanical structure for selectively operating an article-grabbing assembly as selectively operated by current as driven by an electric potential and a selectively closeable switch.  
       FIG. 11  is a fragmentary side view depiction of the user shown in  FIG. 2  showing the user manually coiling the partially uncoiled article-retrieving system of the present invention to retrieve the grabbed hat shown in  FIG. 2 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
      Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns a coilable, article-retrieving assembly, device or apparatus  10  as generally illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 2, 6 ,  7 ,  10 , and  11 . From a general consideration of  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  11 , however, it will be understood that the preferred article-retrieving apparatus  10  of the present invention is designed so as to enable a user  11  (located in a superior position) to retrieve articles (such as a hat, a glove, a bow, a gun, etc.) inferiorly located relative to the superiorly located user  11 .  
      As earlier noted, hunters expend considerable amounts of energy climbing to elevated vantage points in the search for their prey. If a much-needed article is dropped from the elevated position, the hunter must often descend from his or her perch to retrieve the article, thereby expending further energy, increasing one&#39;s body heat (and associated prey-repelling scents), and causing an otherwise considerable amount of prey-repelling distraction. In short, the appeal of having to descend from a hard-fought vantage point to retrieve a displaced article (such as hat  12 ) is virtually non-existent.  
      It is contemplated that the article-retrieving apparatus  10  of the present invention may provide the user  11  with a greatly beneficial accessory, saving the user  11  a great deal of energy and enhance the likelihood that the user  11  may secure the sought prize. The article-retrieving apparatus  10  thus generically comprises a coilable, distance-traversing sleeve assembly  20  as generally illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 2-9 , and  11 ; a hand-operable, force-imparting handle assembly  30  as generally illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; and a claw assembly or an article-grabbing assembly  40  as generally illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 2 , and  6 - 11 .  
      The sleeve assembly  20  may preferably comprise a force-translating, coilable inner member  21  as illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 3-9 ; a force-guiding, coilable outer sleeve  22  as illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 2-9 , and  11 ; a first sleeve assembly end  23  as generally referenced in  FIGS. 6, 7 , and  11 ; a second sleeve assembly end  24  as generally referenced in FIGS.  2 ,  6 - 9 , and  11 ; and a sleeve assembly length (preferably on the order of 3 to 30 feet) as generally depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 11 . In other words, the sleeve assembly length may be selected from a length range, the length range ranging from about 3 feet to about 30 feet, which length range is discussed in more detail below.  
      It is contemplated that inner member  21  may preferably be constructed from low memory material having minimized (longitudinal) elasticity such as piano wire, electrical conductors, small diameter coil cables, cable rope, heavy test (fishing) line and the like. The outer sleeve is also preferably constructed from low(er) memory material having minimized (longitudinal) elasticity such as larger diameter coil cables, flexible electrical conduit, throttle cable, insulative sheathing, and the like. It will be understood that the inner member  21  is preferably slidably received within the outer sleeve  22  as generally depicted in  FIGS. 3-9  and that the sleeve assembly length generally extends intermediate the first sleeve assembly end  23  and the second sleeve assembly end  24 .  
      In this last regard, it is contemplated that the preferred length of present invention may range from about 3 feet in length to about 30 feet in length. Lengths shorter than about 3 feet may benefit from an assembly construction comprising certain high memory materials as is currently found in the prior art (as, for example, common mechanic&#39;s tools for retrieving tools and the like in the shop), and lengths greater than about 30 feet may experience too much play if the coilable sleeve assembly is fully extended. Excellent results have been shown when sleeve assembly  20  is on the order of about 30 feet.  
      Excess length may simply be coiled (as generally depicted in  FIG. 2 ) at the user&#39;s end such that the force-imparting assembly  30  may function to still operate the article-grabbing assembly  40  even though the sleeve assembly  20  intermediate the assemblies  30  and  40  is coiled and the overall sleeve assembly length is otherwise shortened. It will thus be understood that the inner member  21  preferably comprises a first low memory construction and the outer sleeve  22  preferably comprises a second low memory construction, the second low memory construction having relatively lower memory as compared to the first low memory construction. The inner member  21  is thus uncoilable via contact with the :outer sleeve  22 , which outer sleeve  22  is uncoilable primarily under gravitational force.  
      As earlier noted, certain prior art article-retrieving devices constructed from relatively high memory materials or relatively rigid materials and are relatively shorter in length (on the order of several feet at most). In this regard, it should be noted that sleeve assembly  20  is preferably constructed from low memory materials so that the assembly may be uncoiled under gravitational forces. Notably, however, it is preferred that the outer sleeve  22  be constructed from a material having lower memory than the material used in the construction of the inner member  21 . The inner member  22  (constructed from a relatively higher memory material) would thus be more reluctant to uncoil under gravitational force than outer sleeve  22  (constructed from a relatively lower memory material) but would typically be better equipped to translate an operative force  31  directed thereagainst. Outer sleeve  22  functions primarily as a relative displacement sheath for the force-translating inner member  21  and thus uncoilablity is its primary feature and force-translatability is its secondary feature.  
      Under the force of gravity, the outer sleeve  22  functions to force inner member  21  into a substantially linear or plumb orientation such that the sleeve assembly  20  can be easily and manually positioned in superior adjacency to the articles to be fetched. In this last regard, it should be noted that the article-grabbing apparatus  10  may preferably further comprise certain assembly-plumbing means for maintaining a substantially vertical sleeve assembly portion when the inner member  21  and outer sleeve  22  are in an uncoiled state as generally depicted in  FIGS. 2, 3 , and  11 . The assembly-plumbing means may simply be defined by an optionally magnetic plumb bob  25  (as illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , or similar other weighty construction or structure for ensuring complete uncoilability of the sleeve assembly  20  under gravitational force.  
      The hand-operable, handle assembly  30  is preferably mechanically coupled with or in cooperative mechanical communication with the first sleeve assembly end  23  and comprises certain hand-deliverable, force-imparting means (as may be defined by a movable first handle  34 ) as generally depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; and certain sleeve-retaining means (as may be defined by a stationary second handle  35 ) as generally further depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The force-imparting means function to enable a user to impart a hand-deliverable operative force to the inner member  21  as generally depicted at force vectors  31  in  FIGS. 6, 7 , and  9 . In this last regard, it will be noted that the hand-deliverable, force-imparting means is in direct mechanical communication with the inner member  21  for translating or imparting an operative force  31  thereto. The inner member  21  is thus hand-displaceable from an initial member position  32  as referenced in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , to a second member position  33  as referenced in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The sleeve-retaining means function to hold the outer sleeve  22  stationary relative to the hand-displaceable inner member  21  so that the hand-originated operative force  31  may properly function to displace the inner member  21  relative to the outer sleeve  22 .  
      It should be noted from a comparative inspection of  FIGS. 6 and 7  that the inner member  21  may be displaced in either a first (generally downward) direction relative to the outer sleeve  22  or may be displaced in a second (generally upward) direction relative to the outer sleeve  22  for further delivering the operative force  31  to the article-grabbing assembly  40 . In other words, the differing directional displacements function to operate differing article-grabbing assemblies, as is discussed in more detail hereinafter. The hand-originated operative force  31  may thus be said to selectively direct the inner member  21  for actuating the article-grabbing assembly  40  as selected or chosen from a select net displacement force. The select net displacement force is selected from the group consisting of a downwardly directed net displacement force as generally depicted in  FIG. 6  and an upwardly directed net displacement force as generally depicted in  FIG. 7 .  
      It will be seen from an inspection of  FIGS. 6 and 7  that the hand-operable handle assembly preferably comprises certain inner member-returning means. In other words, it is contemplated that after the inner member  21  is displaced via operative force  31 , certain means may function to return the inner member to its initial position under, for example, a return force as referenced at vector  37  in  FIG. 6 . In this regard, the inner member-returning means may be defined by a compression coil  36 . The compression coil, being strategically and structurally located, may function to return the inner member  21  to the initial member position  32  when operative force  31  is lesser than the return force  37 .  
      It will be seen from a further inspection of  FIGS. 6 and 7  that the structural configuration of article-grabbing apparatus  10  varies as between the two depictions. In this regard, it is contemplated that the essence of the invention lies in a lengthy, coilable and uncoilable device having force-imparting means and certain article-grabbing means associated with the lengthy intermediate structure. Any number of means may be utilized to achieve the essential function of the invention. For example, a well assembly typically comprises a length of coilable rope (a coil assembly), a bucket (article- or matter-grabbing means) and a spindle (force-imparting means). It is not intended that the language of this application be construed as to cover a common well type assembly as embodied by the foregoing, but to cover an apparatus defined by certain language appropriate to the scope of the present invention. Thus, at least two mechanical embodiments are shown and at least one electromechanical embodiment (although simplified) are shown and described in varying degrees in this application.  
      The first embodiment  70  of the article-grabbing apparatus  10  is modeled on certain prior art handle assemblies and certain prior art article-grabbing assemblies as taught by short length article grabbing devices. Notably, the intermediate lengths of these devices are constructed from relatively high memory materials. Although on occasion coilable under significant force, these prior art devices will return to their initial uncoiled state when the coiling force is removed. The intermediate coil assembly retains its coiled state or its uncoiled state due to its relatively low memory construction, which difference is believed significant as compared to the prior art. The second embodiment  60  of the present invention is believed to comprise no prior art components and operates by a handle-directed operative force  31  instead of a grabber-directed operative force  31 . Both embodiments  60  and  70  are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention.  
      The claw assembly or article-grabbing assembly  40  is preferably mechanically coupled with or in cooperative mechanical communication with the second sleeve assembly end  24  and preferably comprises a plurality of cooperatively operative article-grabbing members  41  or an operative claw as generally illustrated and referenced in  FIGS. 6-10 . It will be seen from an inspection of the noted figures that the displaceable inner member  21  functions to actuate the article-grabbing members  41  from a first non-grabbing position  42  as generally depicted in  FIGS. 6, 7 ,  9 , and  10 , to a second article-grabbing position  43  as generally depicted in  FIGS. 8-10 . Notably, the article-grabbing position  43  coincides with the retention of a fetchable article (such as hat  12 ) located inferior relative to the user  11 . Notably, the article-grabbing position  43  coincides with a select member position, the select member position being selected from the group consisting of the initial member position  32  and the second member position  33  depending on whether the operative force  31  is directed toward the article-grabbing assembly  40  or away from the article-grabbing assembly  40 . In this regard, it is noted that while the article-grabbing assembly  40  of the first embodiment  70  of the article-grabbing apparatus  10  may make an initial grabbing contact with an article at the second member position  33 , the retention of the article is essentially achieved via the return force  37  as inner member  21  is drawn back to its initial member position  32  and it is this vein of engineering practice that the select member position may be selected from the group consisting of the initial member position  32  and the second member position  33  depending on whether the operative force  31  is directed toward the article-grabbing assembly  40  or away from the article-grabbing assembly  40 . Stated another way, the article-grabbing assembly  40  may start from an initial, at-rest position and when the article-grabbing assembly  40  returns to this position, the same may well function to retain an article as would be the case with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, when the article-grabbing assembly  40  is actuated to a second position (from an initial, at-rest position), the second position may well function to retain an article as would be the case with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  
      Preferably the article-grabbing position  43  may be locked by certain position-locking means cooperatively associated with the handle assembly  30  (not specifically illustrated). In any event, the sleeve assembly  20  is manually coilable for decreasing the vertical distance intermediate the user  11  and the article-grabbing assembly  40  as selectively outfitted with the retained fetchable article as generally depicted in  FIG. 11 . Thus, the coilable article-retrieving apparatus  10  may function to retrieve articles located inferior relative to the user  11 . Notably, plumb bob  25  is illustrated as having a pointed end. In this regard, it is contemplated that article-grabbing apparatus  10  may preferably be constructed so that when uncoiled or lowered from a superior position, the terminus comprises structure for guiding the article-grabbing assembly  40  through adjacent structure such as branches of a tree or roots in a well or similar other obstacles.  
      The user  11  as depicted in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  11  did not have to descend to the dropped hat  12 , but merely had to unpackage his (coiled) coilable article-retrieving apparatus  10  as constructed from low memory materials, uncoil the article-retrieving apparatus  10  under the force of gravity and position the article-grabbing assembly  40  over the hat  12 . Once the article-grabbing assembly  40  was in a suitable position, the user  11  operated the handle assembly by imparting some operative force  31  thereto, which operative force served to operate or actuate the article-grabbing assembly  40  to grab and retain the hat  12 . After the hat  12  was grabbed and retained, the user  11  manually recoiled the article-retrieving apparatus  10  and thus decreased the vertical distance intermediate the user  11  and the dropped hat  12  so that the user  11  may once again don the article, keep his head warm, and return to his primary concern with minimal environmental disturbance and minimized personal effort.  
      It should be noted that the article-grabbing apparatus need not be limited to hunting uses and thus may well function to aid users in need of retrieving dropped articles at varying heights. A sleeve assembly length of about 3 feet, for example, may well function to aid users in and around a household. If, for example, a laundered or yet-to-be laundered article is dropped behind a laundry machine, the user  11  of the present invention as having a 3-foot sleeve assembly length could uncoil (i.e. drop) the article-grabbing assembly  40  in superior adjacency to the dropped article and grab the dropped article as per the foregoing specifications. Notably, the user  11  does not drop or uncoil the handle assembly else article-retrieving apparatus  10  may be dropped and thus be in need of retrieval. In this regard, it is contemplated that handle assembly  30  or the first sleeve assembly end  23  may preferably comprise certain connecting means for retaining the apparatus  10  in adjacency to the user  11 , such as a locking strap, or even Browning&#39;s G EAR  ‘T RIEVER  brand retractable cable system (Browning Corporation Utah, One Browning Place, Morgan, Utah, 84050), which system ostensibly has been made the separate subject of an application for U.S. Letters Patent.  
      It will be recalled that the article-grabbing apparatus  10  may preferably comprise certain assembly-plumbing means. Bearing this feature in mind, it is further contemplated that the article-grabbing members  41  may cooperate with the assembly-plumbing means for enhancing fetchable article retention. In other words, it is contemplated that when article-grabbing assembly  40  is actuated via operative force  31 , the article-grabbing members  41  may close upon the fetchable article and the assembly-plumbing means as thus grab the fetchable article intermediate the article-grabbing members  41  and the exemplary plumb bob  25  (which may itself be outfitted with certain hooks, prongs, or similar other article-catching means) to enhance the retention of the (then) fetched article as the sleeve assembly  20  is manually coiled and the fetched article is retrieved. A further means for enhancing article retention may be the outfitted use of at least one magnetic component at or adjacent the article-grabbing assembly  40  or the second sleeve assembly end  24 . Thus, it is contemplated that the article-grabbing assembly  40  or the second sleeve assembly end  24  may preferably comprises at least one magnetic component enhancing fetchable article retention.  
      While the foregoing descriptions set forth much specificity, the same should not be construed as limiting the essence of the present invention, but rather as setting forth the preferred means for retrieving an article as otherwise displaced from the user. For example, it is believed that the sprit of the present invention teaches an article-retrieving assembly for retrieving articles located distant relative to a user, which article-retrieving assembly comprises a coil assembly, certain force-imparting means, and an article-grabbing assembly. It is contemplated that the coil assembly essentially comprises certain force-communicating, force-guiding means as may be defined by sleeve assembly  20  or as may be defined by certain circuitry as included in an electromechanical article-retrieving apparatus  50  as generally diagrammatically referenced in  FIG. 10 . In this regard, it is conceivable that a length of circuit-enabling wire or conductors  51  may be coilable and uncoilable for traversing certain vertical distances per the foregoing specifications. Further, circuit-enabling wire or conductors  51  function to communicate certain forces and guide certain forces. So long as the coil assembly comprises a first force-imparting end, a second force-actuating end, and a force-translating length extending intermediate the force-imparting end and the force-actuating end, it is believed that the essence of the distance-traversing structure of the disclosed invention is taught.  
      The force-imparting means such as handle assembly or an operative switch  52  in cooperative communication with the force-imparting end enable a user to impart an operative force (such as a mechanical force or an electromotive force) to the force-communicating, force-guiding means. The article-grabbing assembly is in cooperative communication with the force-actuating end and comprises an article-grabbing claw or member. The operative force functions to actuate the article-grabbing claw from a first non-grabbing position to a second grabbing position (as may be achieved via black box type electromechanical structure  53  opposite the switch  52 ).  
      The article-grabbing position retains a fetchable article located distant relative to the user and the coil assembly is coilable for decreasing the distance intermediate the user and the article-grabbing assembly as selectively outfitted with the retained fetchable article.  
      Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to a preferred embodiment, it is not intended that the novel disclosure be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.