WO2009006941A1

WO2009006941A1 - Pickup device for picking up objects

Info

Publication number: WO2009006941A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jose Sabater Robles
Original assignee: Jose Sabater Robles
Priority date: 2007-07-10
Filing date: 2007-07-10
Publication date: 2009-01-15

Abstract

Pickup device for picking up objects, that allows the quick and controlled picking up of objects located in positions of difficult access, that consists of a handle (1) on the inside of which there is a cartridge (5), containing a rolled-up cable (12) and that is operated internally by elastic torsion means, being pierced by an axle of rotation (11) that can move on two guides (3) which are contained in the handle (1) through the operation by the user, through an opening (4) in the handle (1), of a trigger (7) which is also pierced by the axle of rotation (11), allowing the block of the cartridge (5) in a collection position, in which the cable (12) turns a cam (16) with respect to an articulation axle (16'), and to free the cartridge (5) in a rest position, in which the cable (12) does not operate the cam (16), allowing the closing or opening of gripping jaws (14) of a gripping head (13).

Description

PICKUP DEVICE FOR PICKING UP OBJECTS

D E S C R I P T I O N

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to an articulated arm for picking up objects, allowing the gripping and picking up of objects located at distances and inaccessible to the hand using articulated grips, such as, for example, a golf ball lodged in an obstacle, using a simple device that can be carried easily.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A situation that occurs frequently is the need to grip an object that is beyond the reach of our hands due to its being in an inaccessible place, such as the case of a golf ball in a tree or at the bottom of a pond.

In order to allow these objects to be gripped, there are currently mechanisms that are of little effectiveness, which consist of a rod with two circular elements at its end, one interior and one exterior, that are connected with a spring such that the element is placed in an open position in which the circles are in a position on the same plane.

The rod is then held in at the opposite end until the end with the circular elements contacts the object to be gripped, at which time the spring causes the circular elements to turn around such that they are at right angles, containing the object to be gripped.

The disadvantages of these devices is that often the spring slips and causes the circular elements to occupy the closed position, such as in a mouse trap, without containing the object to be gripped, making it necessary to manipulate the end of the rod once again to open the elements so that they are on the same plane. As a result of these disadvantages, during the use of these devices for picking up golf balls, there is a slowdown in the game since the recovery of a ball may require a certain time, so that the players at one hole have to wait until the ball has been retrieved.

Further, in the case of objects of a certain weight, the spring is not strong enough to keep the circular elements in the closed position, in which case, although they contain the object, they open and do not grip or retain the object.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to an articulated arm for picking up objects, that allows the safe and effective gripping of an object located in a place of difficult access such as, for example, a golf ball situated in an obstacle or the handling of objects at a distance such as suspicious packets in police controls, simply, allowing control over the moment of closure and gripping to trap the object rapidly and safely.

If the application is that of trapping golf balls, this speed notably increases the rhythm of play by preventing unnecessary delays during the operations of recovering the ball.

The articulated arm proposed by the invention consists of a handle that may consist of a casing of small size and hollow configuration.

Inside the handle there is a cartridge containing a rolled-up cable or wire and that is operated internally by elastic torsion means such as, for example, a torsion spring, so that it keeps the cable rolled up at all times when it is not being operated to unroll it.

The cartridge is pierced by an axis of rotation that is configured to move on two guides inside the handle.

The sliding of the cartridge, and, therefore, of the axis of rotation, is carried out by an action, for example, by the user's finger through an opening in the handle.

Thus the user operates a trigger that is also pierced by the axis of rotation, this trigger having two pins whose ends have two external protuberances and two inner protuberances configured to immobilise the cartridge in the position of gripping and to free that cartridge in a position of rest according to the contact with the guides and with the cartridge itself. Likewise, it is configured so that the cartridge can be immobilised as a result of the friction of the springs inside the pins on the casing of the cartridge itself, thus equally braking or immobilising the cartridge.

In the collection position, the cable acts by turning a cam or hammer with respect to an axis of rotation while in the rest position the cable does not act on the cam.

The handle is configured to include a coupling area, the interior of which is crossed by the cable, configured to couple to the near end of a tube, this tube being configured to couple at the far end to a head or casing containing the cam.

Before its connection to the cam, the cable may pass through a first notch and a second notch that act conveniently as diversion pulleys to centre the cable correctly in the required position.

In the collection position, the cam is configured to act on a drive or pushing piece that moves inside a guide piece that is fixed inside the head. The drive piece consists of sliders in which pivots are housed that contain the grips, which are likewise articulated to the head itself on articulation axles.

Thus, when the drive piece descends, the pivots on the grips descend since they are inside the sliders of the drive piece. At the same time, the pivots move horizontally in the sliders to produce the opening of the grip through its articulation with respect to an articulation axle that connects each grip to the head.

The arm of the invention consist of at least two grips, and preferably four, that are articulated in the drive piece, returning to a closed position when the cable does not act on the cam, through second elastic means, preferably a spring located between the cam and the drive piece, in which the drive piece is in its rest or raised position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube is telescopic.

Likewise, the trigger may include a movement axle, located in the area opposite to the pins, which operates on the inside of a guide piece that serves as a guide and stop for the trigger, this guide this guide piece being fixed inside the handle.

The movement axle has elastic means, preferably a spring, located near it, between the guide piece and the pins, these elastic means being configured to return the trigger to the rest position when it is not being operated.

The cartridge is housed with the possibility of rotating in the inside of a casing that consists of a slot to allow the cable to pass, with fixing stops located on an outside face, configured for fitting externally in a guide in the handle, preventing the casing from rotating, which is crossed by the axis of rotation. Likewise, to prevent the rotation of the case, at least one pin of the trigger can be housed in these fixing stops in the casing, thus preventing its rotation.

The head may include a button, located externally, configured to act on the cam and to cause it to turn with respect to the articulation axle. Thus, the grips are allowed to open without the need to operate the trigger, which is very useful once the object has been collected or trapped, given that if the tube is of considerable length, the object can only be freed at a distance, thus, using the button, the object can be freed over the hand, given that the button allows the opening of the grips and is located near to them.

Likewise, the arm may contain a coupling piece configured to connect the far end of the tube with the head, acting as a joint that allows the angle between the head and the tube to be changed, in order to access better the objects to be picked up.

Finally, the cam may contain a slot located in its face in contact with the drive piece, housing a connecting rod that is articulated both at the cam itself and at the drive piece, to prevent the opening of the grips, that is, to prevent a downwards movement in the drive piece, when it has picked up an object and is in the closed or collected position, until the button is operated by the user. This prevents the accidental opening of the grips when the object weighs too much, something which, in the absence of this connecting rod, will be prevented only by the second elastic means as far as their rigidity will allow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description and to help to understand better the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of its practical embodiment, this description is accompanied by a set of illustrative, and not limiting, drawings as an integral part of it showing the following:

Figure 1. Shows an exploded view of the elements in the extendable arm for picking up objects that the invention proposes.

Figure 2. Shows a detail of the longitudinal cross section A-A' in

Figure 1 showing the guides for the cartridge located in the internal walls of the handle.

Figure 3. Shows a longitudinal cross-section of the closed or rest position of the arm in the invention showing the elements in the handle and the area of the grips.

Figure 4. Shows a schematic view as in Figure 3 showing the opened or collection position.

Figure 5. Shows an exploded perspective view of a variation of the operation of the cam on the drive piece that prevents the grips from opening without the button being operated.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Using the figures, it can be seen how in one of the possible embodiments of the invention, the articulated arm proposed by the invention consists of a handle (1 ) inside which there is a cartridge (5) containing a rolled-up cable (12) and that is operated internally by a torsion spring such that it tends to keep the cable (12) rolled up at all times. The cartridge (5) is pierced by an axis of rotation (11 ) that is configured to move on two guides (3) contained inside the handle (1 ).

The movement of the cartridge (5) is carried out by the user acting on it through an opening (4) in the handle (1 ), operating a trigger (7) and which is also pierced by the axis of rotation (11 ), this trigger (7) having two pins (8) whose ends have two exterior protuberances (7') and two internal protuberances (7") configured to block the cartridge (5) in a collection position and to free the cartridge (5) in a position of rest depending on the contact with the guides (3) and with the cartridge (5) itself.

In the collection position the cable (12) acts by rotating a cam (16) or hammer with respect to an articulating axle (16') while in the rest position the cable (12) does not act on the cam (16).

The handle (1 ) includes a coupling area (2) through the interior of which the cable (12) crosses, configured to couple itself at the near end (20') of a telescopic tube (20), this tube (20) being configured to couple at the far end (20") to a head (13) or carcass containing the cam (16).

Before its joint with the cam (16) the cable (12) passes through a first slot (17) and a second slot (17').

In the collection position, the cam (16) is configured to act on an drive piece (15) which moves inside a guide piece (15') which is fixed inside the head (13). The drive piece (15) contains sliders in which pivots (14") are housed that have the grips (14) which are also articulated to the head (13) itself on articulation axles (14').

When the drive piece (15) descends, the pivots (14") of the grips

(14) descend since they are inside the sliders in the drive piece (15) at the same time that the pivots (14") move horizontally in the sliders to open the grip (14) through its articulation with respect to an articulation axle (14') connecting each grip (14) with the head (13).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the arm has four grips (14) articulated in the drive piece (15), returning to a closed position when the cable (12) does not act on the cam (16) using a second elastic means (22) located between the cam (16) and the drive piece.

Likewise, the trigger (7) consists of a movement axle (9) located in the area opposite the pins (8) which moves inside a guide piece (10) that serves as guide and stop for the trigger (7), being fixed inside the guide piece (10) and the handle (1 ).

The movement axle (9) has elastic means (21 ) located around it between the guide piece (10) and the pins (8), these elastic means (21 ) being configured to return the trigger (7) to the rest position when the trigger (7) is not being operated.

The cartridge (5) is housed and allowed to rotate inside a casing

(6) which has a slot (6') to allow the passage of the (12), containing fixing stops (6"), located on an external face, configured to house the pens (8) of the trigger (7) externally, thus preventing its rotation.

Likewise, the head (13) has a button (18) located externally and configured to act on the cam (16) and to cause it to rotate with respect to the articulation axle (16').

The arm includes a coupling piece (19) configured to connect the far end (20") of the tube (20) to the head (13) and allow its articulation. In accordance with the variation of operation shown in Figure 5, the cam (16) has a slot (23) located in its face in contact with the drive piece (15) This slot (23) contains a connecting rod (24) that is articulated both to the cam itself (16) and to the drive piece (15) in order to prevent the opening of the grips (14) when they have trapped an object and are in the collection position until the button (18) is operated by the user.

In view of this description and the set of figures, the expert in the matter could understand that embodiments of the invention described may be combined in multiple ways within the purpose of the invention. The invention has been described according to some of preferred means of manufacturing it but to the expert in the matter it will be clear that many variations can be introduced in these preferred means of manufacture without exceeding the object of the claimed invention.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Articulated arm for picking up objects, characterised in that comprises a handle (1 ) on the inside of which there is a cartridge (5), containing a rolled-up cable (12) and that is operated internally by elastic torsion means, this cartridge (5) being pierced by an axle of rotation (11 ) configured to move on two guides (3) contained inside the handle (1 ) by means of an action through an opening (4) in the handle (1 ) on a trigger (7) which is also pierced by the axle of rotation (11 ), this trigger (7) having two pins (8) the ends of which have two external protuberances (7') and two internal protuberances (7") configured to block the cartridge (5) in a collection position, in which the cable (12) turns a cam (16) with respect to an articulation axle (16'), and frees the cartridge (5) in a rest position, in which the cable (12) does not operate the cam (16).

2. Articulated arm for picking up objects, according to claim 1 , characterised in that the handle (1 ) comprises a coupling area (2), through which the cable (12) crosses, configured to couple to the near end (20') of a tube (20), this tube (20) being configured to couple at the far end (20") to a head (13) containing the cam (16), which in the collection position is configured to operate an drive piece (15) which causes the opening of the at least two grips (14) articulated with the head (13) on axles of articulation (14'), these grips (14) having pivots (14") that move in sliders in the drive piece (15), returning to a closed position when the cable (12) does not operate the cam (16), through second elastic means (22) located between the cam (16) and the drive piece (15).

3. Articulated arm for picking up objects, according to claim 2, characterised in that the tube (20) is telescopic.

4. Articulated arm for picking up objects, according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the trigger (7) comprises a movement axle (9), located in an area opposite the pins (8), which moves in a guide piece (10) that is fixed inside the handle (1 ), having elastic means (21 ) located around this axle of movement (9), between the guide piece(10) and the pins (8), configured to return the trigger (7) to the rest position when the trigger (7) is not operated.

5. Articulated arm for picking up objects, according to any of the above claims, characterised in that the cartridge (5) is housed and able to rotate inside a casing (6) that has a slot (6') to allow the passage of the cable (12), containing fixing stops (6"), located on an outside face, configured to lodge externally in at least one pin (8) of the trigger (7), preventing the rotation of the casing (6), which is pierced by the axis of rotation (11 ).

6. Articulated arm for picking up objects, according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the head (13) comprises a button (18), located externally, configured to act on the cam (16) and to cause it to turn with respect to the articulation axle (16').

7. Articulated arm for picking up objects, according to claim 6, characterised in that the cam (16) comprises a slot (23) which houses a connecting rod (24) which is articulated both to the cam (16) and to the drive piece (15), this connecting rod (24) being configured to prevent the opening of the grips (14) when they are in the collection position and have trapped an object, and to allow the opening of the grips (14) by the operation of the button(18).

8. Articulated arm for picking up objects, according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that comprises a coupling piece (19) configured to connect and articulate the far end (20") of the tube (20) with