Abstract:
An object retrieving device for extending the effective reach of the user for picking up and carrying objects located out of the convenient reach of the user, especially in confined spaces. The object retrieving device includes an extendable handle comprised of a plurality of telescopic sections having a collapsed condition and an extended condition, a distal one of the telescopic sections having a free end with a recess extending into the free end and a retrieving attachment removably mountable on the free end of the distal telescopic section.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to reach extending devices and more particularly pertains to a new object retrieving device for extending the effective reach of the user for picking up and carrying objects located out of the convenient reach of the user, especially in confined spaces. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of reach extending devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, reach extending devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,646; U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,196; U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,538; U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,143; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 373,289; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 342,428. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new object retrieving device. The inventive device includes an extendable handle comprised of a plurality of telescopic sections having a collapsed condition and an extended condition, a distal one of the telescopic sections having a free end with a recess extending into the free end and a retrieving attachment removably mountable on the free end of the distal telescopic section. 
     In these respects, the object retrieving device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of extending the effective reach of the user for picking up and carrying objects located out of the convenient reach of the user, especially in confined spaces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of reach extending devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new object retrieving device construction wherein the same can be utilized for extending the effective reach of the user for picking up and carrying objects located out of the convenient reach of the user, especially in confined spaces. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new object retrieving device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the reach extending devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new object retrieving device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art reach extending devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an extendable handle comprised of a plurality of telescopic sections having a collapsed condition and an extended condition, a distal one of the telescopic sections having a free end with a recess extending into the free end and a retrieving attachment removably mountable on the free end of the distal telescopic section. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new object retrieving device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the reach extending devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new object retrieving device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art reach extending devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new object retrieving device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new object retrieving device which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new object retrieving device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such object retrieving device economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new object retrieving device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new object retrieving device for extending the effective reach of the user for picking up and carrying objects located out of the convenient reach of the user, especially in confined spaces. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new object retrieving device which includes an extendable handle comprised of a plurality of telescopic sections having a collapsed condition and an extended condition, a distal one of the telescopic sections having a free end with a recess extending into the free end and a retrieving attachment removably mountable on the free end of the distal telescopic section. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new object retrieving device that has interchangeable heads allowing the reach extending device to be adapted to multiple applications and environments. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new object retrieving device that is lightweight, portable, and reduces the chance of back strain and physical injury. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new object retrieving device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic detail view of the J-hook attachment and distal telescoping section of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. / 1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the extendable handle of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the scoop attachment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the sweep attachment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the rake attachment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new object retrieving device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the object retrieving device  10  generally comprises an object retrieving kit for extending the reach of a user, comprising an extendable handle  20 , a hook attachment  30 , a scoop attachment  40 , a sweep attachment  50 , and a rake attachment  60 . 
     The extendable handle  20  includes a collapsed condition and an extended condition. The handle  20  comprises a plurality of telescopic sections  22  connected in telescopic relationship. A distal one of the telescopic sections  22  includes a free end. The free end includes a recess extending into the free end of the distal telescopic section  22 . An aperture  24  is formed in a wall of the distal telescopic section  22  and is in communication with an interior of the recess. 
     A hook attachment  30  is removably mounted on the free end of the distal telescopic section  22 . The hook attachment  30  includes a J-shaped hook portion  32  and an attachment portion  34 . The J-shaped hook portion  32  comprises a linear main extent and an arcuate extent connected to an end of the main extent. The J-shaped hook portion  32  includes a width approximately equal to an outer diameter of the distal telescopic section  22 . The attachment portion  34  includes a connector body designed for insertion into the recess of the free end of the distal telescopic section. The attachment portion  34  includes a securing means for selectively securing the connector body in the recess of the free end. The securing means comprises a release button  36 . The release button  36  is positioned in a cavity formed in the connector body. The release button  36  includes a protruding condition for extending through the aperture  24  formed in the wall of the distal telescopic section  22  and a retracted condition permitting insertion of the connector body into the recess. A biasing means  33  is provided for biasing the release button  36  into the protruding condition. The biasing means  33  comprises a spring  38 . 
     A scoop attachment  40  is removably mounted on the free end of the distal telescopic section  22 . The scoop attachment  40  includes a scoop portion and an attachment portion  48 . The scoop position comprises a first extent  42 , a second extent  44 , and a third extent  46 . The first extent  42  extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle  20 . The second extent  44  extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle  20 . The third extent  46  extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle  20 . The second  44  and third extents  46  include a width approximately two times the width of the diameter of the distal telescopic section  22 . The width and length of the second extent  44  is approximately equal. The third extent  46  includes a lip  47  extending toward the first extent  42 . The first  42  and third extents  46  include substantially equal length dimensions extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the handle  20 . The length of the second extent  44  is approximately twice a length of the first extent  42 . The attachment portion  48  includes a connector body designed for insertion into the recess of the free end of the distal telescopic section  22 . The attachment portion  48  includes a securing means for selectively securing the connector body in the recess of the free end. The securing means comprises a release button  49 . The release button  49  is positioned in a cavity formed in the connector body. The release button  49  includes a protruding condition for extending through the aperture  24  formed in the wall of the distal telescopic section  22  and a retracted condition permitting insertion of the connector body into the recess. A biasing means  43  is provided for biasing the release button  49  into the protruding condition. The biasing means  43  comprises a spring  45 . 
     A sweep attachment  50  is removably mountable on the free end of the distal telescopic section  22 . The sweep attachment  50  includes a first extent  52  and a second extent  54 . The first extent  52  extends in a substantially parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the handle  20 . The second extent  54  extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle  20 . The second extent  54  includes a lip  56  extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the handle  20 . The second extent  54  includes a length that is approximately 1.25 times greater than the length of the first extent  52 . The first  52  and second extents  54  include a width approximately two times the width of the diameter of the distal telescopic section  22 . The attachment portion  58  includes a connector body designed for insertion into the recess of the free end of the distal telescopic section  22 . The attachment portion  58  includes a securing means for selectively securing the connector body in the recess of the free end. The securing means comprises a release button  59 . The release button  59  is positioned in a cavity formed in the connector body. The release button  59  includes a protruding condition for extending through the aperture  24  formed in the wall of the distal telescopic section  22  and a retracted condition permitting insertion of the connector body into the recess. A biasing means  53  is provided for biasing the release button  59  into the protruding condition. In an embodiment, the biasing means  53  comprises a spring  55 . 
     The rake attachment  60  is removably mountable on the free end of the distal telescopic section  22 . The rake attachment  60  includes a first extent  61  and a plurality of tines  62 . The first extent  61  extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle  20 . The plurality of tines  62  extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first extent  61 . Free ends of the tines  62  include an arcuate tip  64 . In an illustrative embodiment the rake attachment  60  has at least four tines  62 . In a further illustrative embodiment the tines  62  each have a length of at least two inches. The attachment portion  66  includes a securing means for selectively securing the connector body in the recess of the free end. The securing means comprises a release button  68 . The release button  68  is positioned in a cavity formed in the connector body. The release button  68  includes a protruding condition for extending through the aperture  25  formed in the wall of the distal telescopic section  22  and a retracted condition permitting insertion of the connector body into the recess. A biasing means  63  is provided for biasing the release button  68  into the protruding condition. The biasing means  63  comprising a spring  65 . 
     In an embodiment the handle  20  comprises three telescopic sections  22 . Each of the telescopic sections  22  is approximately two feet long. 
     In use, the user selects the desired attachment. The user then inserts the attachment portion of the desired attachment into the opening in the distal section of the handle. The release button in then placed in the retracted position and the attachment is further inserted into the handle until the release button protrudes through the aperture in the handle. The user then extends the telescopic handle to the desire length. The device can now be used to retrieve an object from a remote location. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.