Patent Abstract:
An object retrieval device and associated methods of operation and manufacture are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the object retrieval device comprises a grasping member having one or more elongated members integrally formed therein. The grasping member can be coupled to an elongated support member. In turn, the elongated support member can support an elongated actuator allowing actuation of the grasping member.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority on U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/170,691 filed on Jun. 4, 2015. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In workplace and household settings, there is often a need to retrieve objects which are ordinarily not easily retrievable due to their size and/or inaccessible location. For example, small objects may be dropped into areas (e.g. under automobile seats, kitchen appliances, furniture etc.) that are not accessible by the human hand due to physical constraints or safety concerns, thus requiring a means of retrieving the objects without strenuous exertion or risk of injury. 
     Additionally, large demographics of the general population struggle with limited or diminishing physical ability to accomplish ordinary tasks using fine or gross motor skills. For example, individuals having physical limitations due to age or infirmity often struggle with tasks involving the retrieval of small and/or inaccessible objects. Further, such individuals face a serious safety concern when confronted with such tasks, thus requiring the means of accomplishing these tasks without strenuous exertion or risk of injury. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices for retrieving objects and methods of operation and manufacture of such devices. More specifically, the devices comprise hand-actuated devices for retrieving objects located proximate a user, where the objects are otherwise not easily retrievable due to the user&#39;s limited physical ability, the remote/inaccessible location of the objects, and/or the size/shape of the objects. In various aspects, the present invention comprises an object retrieval device for retrieving small and/or inaccessible objects. In certain embodiments, the object retrieval device comprises a grasping member having one or more elongated members integrally formed therein, wherein the grasping member is coupled to an elongated support member. In turn, the elongated support member supports an elongated actuator allowing actuation of the grasping member. 
     In certain embodiments, the object retrieval device comprises one or more gripping members allowing a user to grip the object retrieval device, wherein the one or more gripping members may be integrally formed with at least one of the elongated support member and the elongated actuator. Each of the one or more gripping members may take the form of apertures sized to accommodate the user&#39;s fingers. Further, each of the one or more gripping members may comprise a high-friction material to allow user a firm grip. 
     In certain embodiments, the one or more elongated members of the grasping member may comprise a high-friction material and/or a magnetic material allowing increased ease of object retrieval. Further, the one or more elongated members may comprise removably-coupled distal tips having a high-friction material and/or a magnetic material allowing increased ease of object retrieval. Further, the removably-coupled distal tips may be stowed in a complimentary storage unit, wherein removal and replacement of the distal tips are accomplished via interaction with the complimentary storage device. 
     In certain embodiments, the object retrieval device may be made of a pliable material allowing the user to temporarily and/or semi-permanently bend the aforementioned members of the object retrieval device at desired angles during use. Further, the aforementioned members may comprise a material which reduces friction caused by movement between respective members. Further, one or more of the aforementioned members may comprise a magnetic material allowing for ease of storage with a complimentary magnetic material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the object retrieval device. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates user interaction with the gripping members of the preferred embodiment of the object retrieval device in a non-actuated state. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates user interaction with the gripping members of the preferred embodiment of the object retrieval device in an actuated state. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a detailed view of the integral formation of the grasping member with the associated elongated members as well as with the elongated support member and elongated actuator according to the preferred embodiment of the object retrieval device. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a detailed view of the integral formation of the gripping member with the elongated support member and elongated actuator according to the preferred embodiment of the object retrieval device. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a detailed view of the gripping member accommodating the entirety of a user&#39;s hand according to an alternative embodiment of the object retrieval device. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a detailed view of the gripping member accommodating the entirety of a user&#39;s hand according to an alternative embodiment of the object retrieval device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any one of the particular embodiments, which of course may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and therefore is not necessarily intended to be limiting. As used in this specification and the appended claims, terms in the singular and the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an object retrieval device,” also includes a plurality of object retrieval devices, and the like. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying figures.  FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of an object retrieval device  100 , including grasping member  110 , elongated support member  120 , elongated actuator  130  and gripping member  140 . Specifically, grasping member  110  may comprise elongated members  110   a ,  110   b  which may be formed to retain articles therebetween at a distal end of the object retrieval device  100 . While only two elongated members are depicted, it may be advantageous to utilize more than two elongated members for increased grasping capabilities. Further, elongated members may comprise a magnetic and/or high-friction material for ease of maintaining grasping control of one or more articles. 
     Elongated support member  120  may be mechanically coupled to grasping member  110  at a distal end. While a parallel closed loop is shown as the means of mechanical coupling, any arrangement of mechanical coupling may be employed. Elongated support member  120  may be formed to comprise a plurality of partially open retaining loops  122  along its length. While three retaining loops  122  are depicted, it is contemplated that fewer or additional retaining loops may be utilized to accommodate a shorter or longer support member  120  length. 
     Elongated actuator  130  may be movably retained along the length of support member  120  via retaining loops  122 . Movement of actuator  130  may be confined to one or more degrees of freedom via retaining loops  122 . Actuator  130  may have an orthogonal closed loop formed at a distal end of actuator to partially confine elongated members  110   a ,  110   b . While an orthogonal closed loop is shown as the means of retention, any arrangement of mechanical confinement may be employed. 
     Gripping member  140  may comprise means for a user to grip and actuate the object retrieval device  100 . Gripping member  140  may be partially defined by each of the proximate ends of support member  120  and actuator  130 . Portions of the gripping member  140  may be movable with respect to one another in order to execute actuation of the object retrieval device  100 . Gripping member  140  may comprise a high-friction material to assist user in achieving a firm grip of gripping member for further ease of use of the object retrieval device. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the object retrieval device  100  in a non-actuated state. Using gripping member  140 , user may manipulate the distal end of actuator  130  to further confine elongated members  110   a ,  110   b . User may utilize the non-actuated state for purposes of maintaining grasping control of an article between elongated members  110   a ,  110   b . Further, user may utilize the non-actuated state for purposes of storage of object retrieval device  100  when not in use. In an exemplary embodiment, object retrieval device  100  may be made of a material conducive to magnetic storage, but any suitable material may be employed. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates the object retrieval device  100  in an actuated state. Using gripping member  140 , user may manipulate the distal end of actuator  130  to open space between elongated members  110   a ,  110   b . User may utilize the actuated state for purposes of initiating grasping control of an article within the space between elongated members  110   a ,  110   b . Further manipulation of distal end of actuator  130  via gripping member  140  may allow transition of elongated members  110   a ,  110   b  back to non-actuated state of  FIG. 2A . During this transition, the article within the space between elongated members  110   a ,  110   b  may be put into complete grasping control. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a detailed view of the gripping member  140  and its component parts. Gripping member  140  may comprise a proximate gripping loop  142  and a plurality of distal gripping loops  144   a ,  144   b . Gripping loop  142  may be defined by a closed loop at the termination of the distal end of actuator  130 . Gripping loops  144   a ,  144   b  may be defined by closed loops at the termination of the distal end of support member  120 . Both the proximate and distal gripping loops may be utilized by the user to transition the object retrieval device  100  between the actuated and non-actuated states. Each gripping loop may individually comprise a high-friction material to assist user in achieving a firm grip of gripping member for further ease of use of the object retrieval device. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates a detailed view of the grasping member  110  and its component parts. Grasping member  110  may comprise elongated members  110   a ,  110   b  which may be coupled to support member  120  via double closed loop coupling  112  around parallel closed loop  124  formed at distal end of support member. While a double closed loop and parallel closed loop are depicted as the coupling means, any suitable arrangement of mechanical coupling may be employed. Further, as described in  FIG. 1 , elongated members  110   a ,  110   b  of grasping member  110  may be confined and manipulated via an orthogonal closed loop  132  formed at the distal end of actuator  130 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a detailed view of a gripping member  240  accommodating the entirety of a user&#39;s hand according to an alternative embodiment of the object retrieval device  100 . Gripping member  240  may comprise a proximate gripping loop  242  and a plurality of distal gripping loops  244   a - d . Gripping loops  244   b - d  may be formed with an arch complementary to the natural arch of user&#39;s hand. Further, each gripping loop may be customized and/or adjusted to fit any set of user hand dimensions.  FIG. 4B  is similar to  FIG. 4A  and illustrates a detailed view of a gripping member  340  accommodating the entirety of a user&#39;s hand according to an alternative embodiment of the object retrieval device  100 . Gripping member  340  may comprise a proximate gripping loop  342  and a plurality of distal gripping loops  344   a - b . Gripping loop  344   b  may be designed to accommodate a plurality of user&#39;s fingers and may be formed with an arch complementary to the natural arch of user&#39;s hand. 
     While various details of the object retrieval device  100  have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be understood that additional features may generally accompany the object retrieval device. For instance, while the object retrieval device is depicted as comprising three main structural members in the form of grasping member, support member, and actuator which make up the unitary whole, object retrieval device may be comprise one or more main structural members. Further, each of the structural members may comprise a low-friction material, thereby assisting user actuation of the object retrieval device. 
     Additionally, each structural member of object retrieval device may comprise material providing high flexibility or rigidity, may have a length on the scale of centimeters to several meters, and may have a gauge or thickness on the scale of microns to several centimeters. Further, each structural member may comprise one or more flexible hinges along its length, thereby allowing user to customize orientation of the object retrieval device to probe a variety of dimensionally-irregular environments. Dimensionally-irregular environments may be encountered in any variety of residential and work-related settings, such as crevices located around appliances, furniture, vehicles and the like. Further, each structural member may comprise a means of adjusting its length in a telescoping manner, thereby allowing user to variably select the desired length of the object retrieval device and allowing increased portability and ease of storage via the variably reduced length. 
     Additionally, elongated members of grasping member may comprise a plurality of interchangeable tips or jackets allowing ease of user initiating and maintaining grasping control of one or more articles between elongated members. Each tip or jacket may comprise material having high-surface friction, magnetic properties, and/or dimensions conducive to initiating and maintaining grasping control of each article. Further, each tip or jacket may be stowable in a complimentary storage unit that may be physically distinct from object retrieval device. Storage unit may facilitate automatic or assisted interchanging of one tip or jacket for another upon the distal end of elongated members. 
     While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be clear to one skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention. For example, all the techniques and apparatuses described in the above embodiments may be used in various combinations.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1