Patent Publication Number: US-2004056492-A1

Title: Reaching apparatus kit and method of using same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention pertains to the field of hand-actuated tools. More particularly, this invention pertains to the field of single-hand actuated pick-up tools that are used by those who have difficulty reaching and fetching objects, such as bottles, plates, shoes, and the like, and to a specific tool modification kit that substantially increases the weight load capacity of the pick up tool.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] The reaching tool modification kit employs a conventional pick up tool that comprises an elongated stalk with a pair of flexible fingers diverging from the far or distal end of the stalk. A pair of rubber cups is attached one to the end of each finger. A center strap is connected to the fingers and is directed in through the interior of the stalk to a handle at the other end and has a squeezable trigger at the inner or proximal end. By squeezing the trigger, the cups are made to close onto or around an object being picked up by the holder of the tool.  
       [0005] This conventional pick up tool was first patented in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,492 and still is in production, enjoying great commercial acceptance and significant sales. Those who are infirm and require aid in reaching and gathering objects of all types use it. Further, persons who clean our parks and roadways of trash and debris use it. Young and old use it alike and its use is expected to continue for many years.  
       [0006] It is believed the popularity of this device is supported in large part by the fine design and craftsmanship that goes into its manufacture. The center stalk is made of lightweight aluminum; its handle is formed from strong injection molded plastic and the fingers, center strap, and fittings are made of first-class stainless steel. This tool has a lifetime warranty and will not break, even under heavy and harsh usage.  
       [0007] There is also a less expensive version of the tool which is also still in production and that was first patented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,785. Like its predecessor, this less expensive tool has also enjoyed great commercial acceptance with significant sales.  
       [0008] While both pick up tools are popular and well accepted in the community, there is however, an area of daily life where such tools are required from time to time to grasp and move much heavier objects. Therefore it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved tool modification kit that enables much heavier objects to be grasped and moved that otherwise would be impossible to move with the tools described in the above-mentioned patents.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] This invention is a modification kit that enables the devices disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid patents to grasp and move with ease significantly heavier objects that would not otherwise be able to be moved by such reaching tools. More particularly, in a first embodiment the modification kit includes a plastic molded constraining cuff that is adapted to be secured to a reaching tool. The kit includes right portion cuff with tabs along it longitudinal edge and a left portion cuff with slots along its longitudinal edge. The tabs are dimensioned to be received within the slots and to snap into place, locking the two portions together when the halves are mounted to the distal end of the reaching tool to constrain the spring finger of the tools from excessive bowing when the tool is utilized to grasp a heavy object. To further secure the right portion and the left portion together the tabs are coated with a fast acting adhesive that bonds the tabs within the slots.  
       [0010] In a second embodiment a modification kit includes a constraining cuff that is adapted to be secured to a reaching tool having an elongated stalk with a pair of flexible fingers diverging from the far or distal end of the stalk. The constraining cuff includes a plurality of inwardly projecting positioning bosses that enable the constraining cuff to be aligned and held in place on the distal end of the tool so as to reduce significantly the outward bowing of the flexible fingers when they engage and hold an object for moving purposes.  
       [0011] A third embodiment includes a metallic constraining cuff that is adapted to be secured to a reaching tool having an elongated shaft with a pair of flexible jam members diverging from the distal end of the shaft. The modification kit also includes a plurality of positioning pins that enable the cuff to be aligned and held in place on the distal end of the reaching tool shaft so as to constrain the outward bowing of the jaw members when they engage and hold an object for moving purposes.  
       [0012] A fourth embodiment includes a flat sheet of plastic material having a set of snap hook that enable the sheet to be formed into a funnel shaped constraining cuff that is adapted to be aligned and secured to the distal end of a reaching tool. A pair of alignment pins facilitates attaching the cuff to the reaching tool. When so aligned and secured to the reaching tool, the constraining cuff substantially reduces the outward bowing of the flexible spring member when they engage and hold an object for moving purposes. In accordance with the novel method of using the kit, the constraining cuff is aligned and attached to the reaching tool and the actuating means of the tool is engaged to facilitate substantially increasing the load or weight lifting capacity of the tool 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013] The above mentioned features and steps of the invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a reaching apparatus kit, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reaching apparatus kit of FIG. 1, showing it in an assembled form;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a reaching tool kit, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the reaching tool kit of FIG. 3, showing it in an assembled form;  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is a trimetic view of yet another preferred embodiment of a reaching apparatus kit, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the reaching apparatus kit of FIG. 5, showing it in an assembled form;  
     [0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a constraining cuff forming part of the reaching apparatus kit of FIG. 5, showing the cuff in its unassembled form;  
     [0021]FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a constraining cuff of FIG. 6, showing it in its assembled form;  
     [0022]FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the constraining cuff of FIG. 6, showing its positioning pins for securing the cuff to a reaching tool;  
     [0023]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the reaching apparatus of FIG. 1, showing its flexible finger members being constrained;  
     [0024]FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a prior art reaching apparatus showing its flexible finger members in an unconstrained position;  
     [0025]FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the reaching tool of FIG. 3, showing its flexible finger members being constrained;  
     [0026]FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a prior art reaching apparatus showing its flexible finger members in an unconstrained position;  
     [0027]FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the reaching tool of FIG. 5, showing its flexible finger members being constrained;  
     [0028]FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a prior art reaching apparatus showing its flexible finger members in an unconstrained position;  
     [0029]FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a constraining cuff, which is constructed in accordance to the present invention;  
     [0030]FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a prior art reaching apparatus showing its flexible finger members in an unconstrained position;  
     [0031]FIG. 18 is a trimetic view of still yet another preferred embodiment of a reaching apparatus kit, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
     [0032] FIGS.  19 - 21  are the illustrative steps of securing the constraining cuff of FIG. 18 to a reaching tool. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0033] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS.  1 - 2  thereof there is shown a first preferred embodiment of a reaching tool modification kit  10 , which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The reaching tool modification kit  10 , when assembled and utilized in accordance with the novel method of the present invention, substantially increases the weight or lift capacity of a conventional reaching tool as will be described hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0034] Considering now the reaching tool modification kit  10  in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  1 - 2 , the reaching tool modification tool kit  10  generally includes a reaching tool  20  having a pair of flexible spring pick-up fingers  22  and  24  and a constraining cuff  50  which is adapted to be aligned and secured to a distal end portion of the reaching tool  20  by a pair of positioning pins  60  and  62  respectively. In accordance with the novel method of using the kit  10  to modified the reaching tool  20 , the constraining cuff  50  is mounted to the distal end of the reaching tool  20  and aligned with its shaft and flexible fingers  22  and  24  to substantially reduce the outward bowing of the flexible finger members  22  and  24  when they are drawn together in a gripping position about an object  16  as best seen in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 shows a conventional prior art reaching tool  20 , without a constraining cuff, illustrating how its flexible spring pick-up fingers  22  and  24  bow significantly outward as an object  16  is grasped.  
     [0035] As best seen in FIG. 1 the reaching tool  20  generally comprises an elongated hollow stalk  21 , made up of sedewalls  23  attached together along their respective side edges to form a rectangular, cross sectional hollow member made of thin-walled, extruded aluminum terminated at spaced-apart distal and proximal ends  27  and  29 , respectively. The flexible, spring pick-up fingers  22  and  24  each include a straight portion, such as a straight portion  26  that is dimension to facilitate mounting or attaching the proximal ends of the fingers  22  and  24  to the outside of stalk  21  by screws  34 . The fingers  22  and  24  further include intermediate portions  31  and  32  respectively that bow outwardly from the stalk  21  and then extend forward terminating at their distal ends in a pair of flexible elements or cups  38  and  39  which are attached by a post and nut combination  41 .  
     [0036] A center strap  33  extends from each cup, such as the cup  39  through the interior of stalk  21  to a trigger  35  that is pivotally mounted at stalk proximal end  29  and is adapted to pull center strap  33  rearward when squeezed as part of a handle  36  formed thereabout at stalk proximal end  29 . The rearward pull of center straps  33  causes cups  38  and  39  to come together for grasping an object by flexing and bending pick-up fingers  22  and  24  toward each other. Handle  36  is made up of two injection-molded, half-handles that are attached together and to stalk  21  by numerous rivets  37  and screws  34 .  
     [0037] As shown, this reaching tool  20  is made up of numerous special parts, molded or cut from metal and plastic that require intensive labor to assemble. Accordingly, this device carries a rather large price tag and is so strong it can support a lifetime warranty given to it by the manufacturer.  
     [0038] Considering now the constraining cuff  50  in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2, the constraining cuff  50  has a unitary construction that is generally triangular or funnel shaped consisting of a top wall member  52 , a bottom wall member  53  and a pair of sidewall members  54  and  55  respectively. The wall members  52 - 55  cooperate to define a large open front mouth or opening indicated generally at  56 , and a narrow rectangularly shaped rear mouth or opening indicated generally at  58 . The rear opening  58  is dimensioned to engage the straight portions  26  of the reaching tool  20  in a snug friction tight fit with a substantial portion of the intermediate members  31  and  32  abutting against  54  and  55  respectively.  
     [0039] The top wall member  52  and the bottom wall member  53  each include a pair of pin mounting holes, such as pin mounting holes  57  and  59  respectively. The pin mounting holes in the top wall member  52  are in alignment with the pin mounting holes in the bottom wall member  53  and are disposed forward of the rear opening. With the pin mounting holes  57  and  59  aligned relative to the stalk  21  and the intermediate portions  26  and  28  the constraining cuff  50  is secured to the reaching tool utilizing the positioning pins  60  and  62  that are dimensioned to be received in a friction tight fit within the pin mounting holes  57  and  59 .  
     [0040] Considering now the novel method of modifying and using the reaching tool modification kit  10 , a user first removes the spring fingers  22  and  24  from the reaching tool  20  by removing their mounting screws  34 . With the spring fingers  22  and  24  removed from the shaft  21 , the proximal ends of the spring fingers  22  and  24  respectively are then inserted through the front opening  56  of cuff  50  a sufficient distance so their proximal straight end portions  26  emerge from the rear mouth  58 . The user then aligns the mounting holes on the straight portions  26  with the mounting holes on the distal end of the stalk  21 . When so aligned the user reattaches the straight portions  26  to the stalk  21  using the mounting screws  34 . With the constraining cuff  50  so positioned on the reaching tool  20 , the user next attaches the cuff  50  to the reaching tool  20  by inserting the positioning pins  60  and  62  in a friction tight fit within the pin mounting holes  57  and  59  respectively.  
     [0041] According to the novel method of using the reaching tool modification kit  10 , the reaching tool  20  with the constraining cuff  50  secured thereto is then brought into proximity of a heavy object  16 . The user then actuates the trigger  35  drawing the spring fingers  22  and  24  into engagement with the object  16 . The user then moves the object  16  so grasped between the cups  38  and  39  to a desired position and then releases the trigger  35 , which in turn, allows the spring fingers  22  and  24  to move away from one another releasing the object  16 .  
     [0042] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS.  3 - 4 , there is shown a second preferred embodiment of a reaching tool modification kit  110 , which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The reaching tool modification kit  110 , when assembled and utilized in accordance with the novel method of the present invention substantially increases the weight or load capacity of a conventional reaching tool as will be described hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0043] Considering the reaching tool modification kit  110  in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  3 - 4 , the reaching tool modification tool kit  110  generally includes a reaching tool  120  having a pair of flexible spring pick-up fingers  122  and  124  and a constraining cuff  150  which is adapted to be aligned and secured to a distal end portion of the reaching tool  120  by a pair of positioning pins  160  and  162  respectively. In accordance with the novel method of using the kit  110  to modified the reaching tool  120 , the constraining cuff  150  is mounted to the distal end  127  of the reaching tool  120  and aligned to substantially reduce the outward bowing of the flexible finger members  122  and  124  when they are drawn together in a gripping position about an object  16  as best seen in FIG. 12.  
     [0044] Considering now the reaching tool  120  in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  3 - 4 , the reaching tool  120  includes a center strap  132  is reversed bent at its center and is brought back out through the stalk distal end  127  to the distal ends of the two pick up fingers  122  and  124 . The ends of the center strap  132  are riveted to the distal ends of the pick up fingers  122  and  124  and to cups  138  and  139  respectively. As a detailed description of the construction of the reaching tool  120  is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,785 no further description of the reaching tool  120  will be provided herein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,785 is incorporated herein as though fully set forth.  
     [0045] Considering now the constraining cuff  150  in greater detail with reference to FIG. 3, the constraining cuff  150  has a unitary construction that is generally triangular or funnel shaped consisting of a top wall member  152 , a bottom wall member  153  and a pair of sidewall members  154  and  155  respectively. The wall members  152 - 155  cooperate to define a large open front mouth indicated generally at  156  and a narrow rectangularly shaped rear opening indicated generally at  158 . The rear opening  158  is dimensioned to engage the reaching tool shaft  121  in a snug friction tight fit with a substantial portion of the fingers  113  and  115  abutting against sidewalls  154  and  155 . The top wall member  152  and the bottom wall member  153  each include a pair of pin mounting holes, such as pin mounting holes  157  and  159  respectively. The pin mounting holes in the top wall member  152  are in alignment with the pin mounting holes in the bottom wall member and are disposed forward of the rear opening  158  a sufficient distance to be positioned in a perpendicular alignment axis that extends between the stalk  121  and respective ones of the fingers  122  and  124 . With the pin mounting holes  157  and  159  so aligned relative to the stalk  121  and the fingers  122  and  124  the constraining cuff  150  is secured to the reaching tool  120  utilizing the positioning pins  160  and  162 . The positioning pins  160  and  162  are dimensioned to be received within the pin mounting holes  157  and  159  in a friction tight fit.  
     [0046] As best seen in FIG. 3, the top wall member  152  includes a pair  170  of a plurality of staggered boss members that extend forward of the rear opening  158  and adjacent respective ones of the sidewall members  154  and  155 . Each plurality of stagger boss members includes at least three boss members, such as the boss members  172 ,  173  and  174 . Each of the boss members  172 - 174  extends inwardly into an interior portion of the constraining cuff  150  a sufficient distance to function as an interior restraining wall.  
     [0047] As best seen in the cutaway view of FIG. 3, the bosses extend down from the top wall  152  and extend up from the bottom wall  153  and cooperate to form an interior wall, such as a wall indicted generally at  180 . In this regard, the lateral distance between this interior restraining wall  180  and its adjacent sidewall is sufficiently wide to capture therebetween one of the flexible spring fingers. Thus for example, the spring finger  122  is captured between sidewall member  155  and its associated interior restraining wall  180  to limit the amount of bowing in the spring finger  122  when it distal end engages an object  16  for grasping and moving purposes. The constraining of the flexible fingers  122  and  124  enable the reaching tool  120  to pick-up significantly heavier object while utilizing lighter materials for the flexible fingers. In this regard, by utilizing lighter weight finger material, not only is the cost of producing the reaching tool  120  reduced, but also it reduces the amount of force required to pull the trigger  135  on lighter objects, such as cigarette butts and paper trash. This benefits the user by reducing the hand fatigue involved with repeated usage, which is a significant advantage for roadside maintenance workers.  
     [0048] The novel method of modifying and using the reaching tool modification kit  110 , is substantially the same as described for kit  10  except for the method of inserting the spring fingers  122  and  124  through the cuff  150 . In this regard, the straight and intermediate portions of each respective one of the spring fingers  122  and  124  are positioned against the interior of the sidewalls  154  and  155  respectively allowing them to be captured between the boss walls, such as the wall  180  and their respective sidewalls. The straight portions are attached to the stalk  121  with screws  134  after they are extended out of the rear mouth  158  and aligned with the mounting holes on the stalk  121 . With the constraining cuff  150  so positioned on the reaching tool  120 , the user attaches the cuff  150  to the reaching tool  120  by inserting the positioning pins  160  and  162  in a friction tight fit within the pin mounting holes  157  and  159 .  
     [0049] Although in this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the restraining cuff  150  has been describes as being mounted to the reaching tool  120  utilizing the positioning pins  160  and  162 , it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the restraining action imparted by the boss members  172 - 174  and sidewalls of the cuff  150  against the spring fingers  122  and  124  is sufficient to retain the cuff  150  firmly mounted to the reaching tool  120  without the need of utilizing the positioning pins  160  and  162 . Thus, for example a restraining cuff  350  as best seen in FIG. 16, and which is constructed in accordance with the present invention, does not include positioning holes for mounting pins.  
     [0050] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS.  5 - 6 , there is illustrated yet another preferred embodiment of a reaching tool modification kit  210 , which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The reaching tool modification kit  210  when assembled and utilized in accordance with the novel method of the present invention, substantially increases the weight lifting capacity of a conventional reaching tool as will be described hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0051] Considering the reaching tool modification kit  210  in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  5 - 6 , the reaching tool modification tool kit  210  generally includes a reaching tool  220  having a pair of flexible spring pick-up fingers  222  and  224  and a constraining cuff  250  which is adapted to be aligned and secured to a distal end portion of the reaching tool  220  by a pair of positioning pins  260  and  262  respectively. In accordance with the novel method of using the kit  210  to modified the reaching tool  220 , the constraining cuff  250  is mounted to the distal end of the reaching tool  220  and aligned to substantially reduce the outward bowing of the flexible finger members  222  and  224  when they are drawn together in a gripping position about an object  16 .  
     [0052] As best seen in FIG. 5 the reaching tool  220  is substantially identical in construction to reaching tool described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,785 and therefore the reaching tool  220  will not be described hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0053] As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the constraining, cuff  250  has a unitary construction and comprises a substantially flat sheet of molded plastic, indicated generally at  240 , having a pair of irregular shaped top and bottom wall members  252  and  253  respectively that are integrally connected together by a generally rectangularly shaped sidewall member  254 . Sidewall member  254  is joined at its long edge sides by a plastic hinge  264  to respective ones of the top wall member  252  and the bottom wall member  253 . The plastic hinge  264  permits the top wall member  252  and the bottom wall member  253  to be pivoted towards one another as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0054] As best seen in FIG. 11, sidewall member  254  has projecting outwardly from a side edge a set of spaced apart snaps  266 ,  267 , and  268  respectively. The snaps  266 ,  267  and  268  are dimensioned to engage and to snap in place the sidewall member  255  with the bottom wall member  252 . In this regard, when the sidewall member  255  is pivoted toward from the top wall member  252  it is secured to the edge of top wall member  252  by engaging a corresponding set of hooks  276 - 278  disposed in the sidewall member  255  with the snaps  266 - 268 . In this manner, the constraining cuff  250  is formed without the need of using any tools or adhesives.  
     [0055] When so joined as described-above, the wall members  252 - 255  form a generally funnel shaped enclosure having a large open front mouth indicated generally at  256  and a narrow rectangularly shaped rear opening or mouth indicated generally at  258 . The rear opening  258  is dimensioned to engage the reaching tool stalk  221  in a snug friction tight fit with a substantial portion of the spring fingers  222  and  224  abutting against sidewalls  254  and  255 . The top wall member  252  and the bottom wall member  253  each include a pair of pin mounting holes, such as pin mounting holes  257  and  259  respectively. The pin mounting holes in the top wall member  252  are in alignment with the pin mounting holes in the bottom wall member and are disposed rearward of the rear opening  258 . With the pin mounting holes  257  and  259  aligned relative to the stalk  221  and the spring fingers  222  and  224 , the constraining cuff  250  is secured to the reaching tool  220  utilizing the positioning pins  260  and  262  that are dimensioned to be received in a friction tight fit within the pin mounting holes  257 A-B and  259 A-B.  
     [0056] Considering now the novel method of modifying and using the reaching tool modification kit  210  with reference to FIGS.  7 - 9 , a user first wraps the unfolded sheet  240  around the spring fingers  222  and  224  by pivoting the wall members  252 - 254  by their respective hinges to form a funnel shaped enclosure. Next the user inserts the snaps  266 - 268  within respective ones of the hooks  276 - 278  snapping them together to form the constraining cuff  250 . With the constraining cuff  250  so formed, the user next attaches the cuff  250  to the reaching tool  220  by inserting the positioning pins  260  and  262  in a friction tight fit within the pin mounting holes  257  and  259 .  
     [0057] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS.  18 - 21 , there is illustrated still yet another preferred embodiment of a reaching tool modification kit  410 , which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The reaching tool modification kit  410  when assembled and utilized in accordance with the novel method of the present invention, substantially increases the weight lifting capacity of a conventional reaching tool as will be described hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0058] Considering the reaching tool modification kit  410  in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  18 - 21 , the reaching tool modification tool kit  410  generally includes a reaching tool  420  having a pair of flexible spring pick-up fingers  422  and  424  and a constraining cuff  450 . The cuff  450  is adapted to be aligned and secured to a distal end portion of the reaching tool  420  as will be described hereinafter in greater detail. In accordance with the novel method of using the kit  410  to modified the reaching tool  420 , the constraining cuff  450  is mounted to the distal end of the reaching tool  420  and aligned to substantially reduce or constrain the outward bowing of the flexible finger members  422  and  424  and to channel their weight lifting power when they are drawn together in a gripping position about an object, such as an object  16  seen in FIG. 16.  
     [0059] As best seen in FIG. 21, the reaching tool  420  is substantially identical in construction to reaching tool  220  and therefore the reaching tool  420  will not be described hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0060] As best seen in FIG. 18, the constraining cuff  450  generally comprises a triangularly shaped right half portion  430  and a triangularly shaped left half portion  432  that are adapted to be joined together in a fixed ridged position to constrain and channel the weight lifting power of the flexible finger member  422  and  424  as will be describer hereinafter in greater detail.  
     [0061] As best seen in FIGS. 18 and 19, the right half portion  430  includes a triangularly shaped top wall member  452 A and a triangularly shaped bottom wall member  453 A that are integrally joined together by a generally rectangular shaped sidewall member  454 . The sidewall member  454  at its proximal end  458 A cooperates with the top wall member  452 A and the bottom wall member  453 A to form a U-shaped trough that is dimensioned to be received in a friction tight fit over half a reaching tool shaft, such as half of shaft  421  forming part of the reaching tool  420 .  
     [0062] The top wall member  452 A has two straight edge portions  470 A and  471 A and a curved edge portion  472 A. Each of the edge portions  470 A- 472 A have an identical thickness dimension T that is chosen to facilitate constraining the flexible finger members  422  and  424  so that their weight lifting capacity is increased at least 300% when constrained by the cuff  450 . In addition, with the cuff  450  attached to the reaching tool  450 , the fingers  422  and  424  are able to grab thin and heavy objects as well as wide heavy object, which would otherwise not be possible without the cuff  450 . The thickness dimension T is also chosen to be sufficiently thick to support from the edge portion  471 A a set of spaced apart rectangularly shaped tabs  466 - 468  that extend outwardly from the top wall edge  471 A. The tabs  466 - 468  are dimensioned to be received in a set of slots  476 - 478  respectively that are disposed in a corresponding top wall edge  471 B of the left portion  432 .  
     [0063] The bottom wall member  453 A in a similar manner to top wall member  452 A has two straight edge portions  480 A and  481 A and a curved edge portion  482 A. Each of the edge portions  480 A- 482 A have an identical thickness dimension T that is chosen to facilitate constraining the flexible finger members  422  and  424  so that their weight lifting capacity is increased at least 300% when constrained by the cuff  450 . The thickness dimension T is also chosen to be sufficiently thick to provide in the bottom wall edge  481  a set of spaced apart rectangularly shaped slots having the same dimensions as the slots  476 - 478  as illustrated in the top wall edge  471 B of the left portion  432 . The slots in the bottom wall edge  481 A are dimensioned to receive a set of tabs  486 - 488  respectively that are disposed in a corresponding bottom wall edge  481 B of the left portion  432 .  
     [0064] As best seen in FIGS.  18 - 19 , individual tabs, such as the tab  486  are coated with a fast acting adhesive, indicated generally at  490 . The adhesive  490  is provided on the top surface and the bottom surface of each tab. In order to protect the adhesive layer until the time of assembling the kit  410 , a transparent protection strip  492  extends over the top and bottom surfaces of the tabs, such as the tabs  486 ,  487  and  488 .  
     [0065] Considering now the method of assembling the modification kit  410  in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  18 - 21 , a user grasps either the right hand portion  430  or the left hand portion  432  and removes the protective strip  492  from its corresponding tabs. For example as best seen in FIG. 19, the user is illustrated as removing the strip  492  from the tabs  486 - 488 . This process is then repeated for the other portion of the cuff  450 .  
     [0066] Next the user grasps either the right hand portion  430  or the left hand portion  432  and mount it to the distal end of the shaft  421 . For example, as best seen in FIG. 20, the user is illustrated as mounting the right hand portion  430  to the distal end of the reaching tool  420 . In the regard, the U-shaped trough  458 A is received on the shaft  421  in a snug friction tight fit. This process is then repeated for the other portion of the cuff  450  as best seen in FIG. 21. In this regard, as the right portion  430  and the left portion  432  are brought together their respective tabs and slots are aligned and pushed into engagement. The right portion  430  and the left portion  432  are pushed together and held for a few moments to allow the adhesive  490  to set and thereby fix the right portion  430  and the left portion  432  together.  
     [0067] Once the adhesive  490  has set the cuff  450  is permanently attached to the reaching tool  450  and now can constrain the bowing of the spring fingers  422  and  424  to channel and increase their weight lifting capacity.  
     [0068] Although in the preferred embodiment of the kit  410 , the tabs are described as having an adhesive coating, it is contemplated within the true scope and spirit of the present invention, that the tabs may also have bosses and that the slots can include recesses to permit the tabs to snap and lock into place within the slots without the utilization of an adhesive.  
     [0069] Although in the preferred embodiment of the reaching tool modification kits  10 ,  110 ,  210  and  410  the kits are described as including a reaching tool, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the kits could be provided without the reaching tool. In this regard, the constraining cuffs and their respective attachment means can be provided as an after market kit that can be easily utilized and attached to a pre-existing reaching tool. It should also be understood by those skilled in the art, the cuffs  50 ,  150   250 ,  350  and  450  can be attached to a reaching tool in a fast and convenient manner.  
     [0070] While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiment of the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. For example, in FIG. 16, there is illustrate a modified cuff  350  which includes a plurality of bosses, such as the boss grouping  352  and the boss grouping  354 , and positioning pins  356  and  358  respectively. Accordingly, it is intended that all combinations of elements and steps, which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same results, are within the scope of this invention.