Toy retrieval apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus intended to assist in retrieving toys and other objects that have fallen off a table and to prevent such objects from coming in contact with the ground. The apparatus comprises a bar clamp having a fixed portion and a movable portion mounted on a slide bar for clamping to a table or other flat surface. Affixed to the bar clamp is at least one attachment cord with a fastener adapted to grasp the toy or other object to be retrieved. The movable portion of the bar clamp has a trigger handle and a braking lever which work to tighten and disengage the bar clamp thus enabling a parent or other adult to fasten and unfasten the apparatus to a table or other flat surface with one hand so that the person is free to simultaneously use their other hand for an alternative purpose.

1 . A toy retrieval apparatus comprising: 
 a bar clamp having a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a slide bar having a first and second end, the movable portion of said bar clamp being slideably mounted on the slide bar and subject to movement along said bar;    at least one attachment cord having both a first end and a second end, the first end of said attachment cord fastened to the bar clamp;    at least one toy fastener attached to the second end of the attachment cord, the fastner adapted to grasp the toy to be retrieved.    
   
   
       2 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one fitting for fastening the first end of the attachment cord to the bar clamp.  
   
   
       3 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the fixed portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       4 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the moveable portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       5 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the fixed portion of the bar clamp and the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the moveable portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       6 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the movable portion of the bar clamp has a trigger handle, said trigger handle for advancing said movable portion along said slide bar in a direction towards the fixed portion.  
   
   
       7 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the movable portion of the bar clamp has a braking lever for disengaging the bar clamp and allowing the movable portion of said clamp to advance along the slide bar in a direction away from the fixed portion.  
   
   
       8 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fixed and movable portions of the bar clamp have non-abrasive protective pads.  
   
   
       9 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second end of the slide bar has a means for preventing the movable portion of the bar clamp from advancing past the second end of the slide bar.  
   
   
       10 . A toy retrieval apparatus comprising: 
 a bar clamp having a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a slide bar having a first and second end, said first end fastened to the fixed portion of the clamp, said movable portion slideably mounted on the slide bar between the first and second ends such that the movable portion of the clamp is subject to movement along the slide bar between the first and second ends of said bar;    at least one attachment cord having a both a first and second end fitted with a coupling, the coupling of the first end of said attachment cord attached to the bar clamp;    at least one toy fastener attached to the coupling at the second end of the attachment cord, the fastener adapted to grasp the toy to be retrieved.    
   
   
       11 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising at least one fitting for fastening the coupling at the first end of the attachment cord to the bar clamp.  
   
   
       12 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the fixed portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       13 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the moveable portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       14 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the fixed portion of the bar clamp and the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the moveable portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       15 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the movable portion of the bar clamp has a trigger handle, said trigger handle for advancing said movable portion of the bar clamp in a direction towards the fixed portion.  
   
   
       16 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the movable portion of the bar clamp has a braking lever for disengaging the bar clamp and allowing the movable portion of said clamp to advance in a direction away from the fixed portion.  
   
   
       17 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the fixed and movable portions of the bar clamp have non-abrasive protective pads.  
   
   
       18 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the second end of the slide bar has a means for preventing the movable portion of the bar clamp from advancing past the second end of the slide bar.  
   
   
       19 . A toy retrieval apparatus comprising: 
 a bar clamp having a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a slide bar having a first and second end, said first end fastened to the fixed portion of the clamp, said movable portion of the clamp slideably mounted on the slide bar between the first and second ends such that the movable portion of the clamp is subject to movement along the slide bar between the first and second ends of said bar, said movable portion of the bar clamp having a trigger handle and a braking lever, said trigger handle for advancing said movable portion of the bar clamp in a direction towards the fixed portion, said braking lever for disengaging the bar clamp and allowing the movable portion of said clamp to advance in a direction away from the fixed portion;    at least one attachment cord having a both a first and second end fitted with a coupling, the coupling of the first end of said attachment cord attached to the bar clamp;    at least one fitting for fastening the coupling at the first end of the attachment cord to the bar clamp;    at least one toy fastener attached to the coupling at the second end of the attachment cord, the fastener adapted to grasp the toy to be retrieved.    
   
   
       20 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the fixed portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       21 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the moveable portion of the bar clamp.  
   
   
       22 . The toy retrieval apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the fixed portion of the bar clamp and the first end of at least one attachment cord is attached to the moveable portion of the bar clamp.