Pick up device with telescoping tube

Abstract

This invention provides hand operated portable adjustable length devices for grasping and manipulation of objects as well as methods of their use.

1 . An adjustable length pick up device for grasping an object, the device comprising:
 a) a head region comprising two opposing jaw members;   b) a tube region operably connected to the head region; and,   c) a handle region operably connected to the tube region, which handle region comprises a trigger mechanism;   wherein squeezing the trigger causes the jaw members to move towards each other, and wherein the tube region comprises an adjustable length.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the tube region comprises a telescoping tube. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tube region comprises: a cable that is operably connected to the trigger; a toothed rod comprising a plurality of teeth which toothed rod is operably connected to the jaw members; and a toothed rod locking mechanism that is operably connected to the cable; wherein squeezing the trigger causes the toothed rod locking mechanism to operably engage with the toothed rod. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the head region comprises two opposing angled jaw members, each of which jaw members comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and each of which jaw members is operably attached at a pivot point to a jaw base assembly, thus allowing movement of each jaw member around its pivot point; wherein the proximal end of both jaw members operably interacts with a jaw actuator within the jaw base assembly, which jaw actuator is operably connected to an actuator rod and a jaw actuator spring and wherein the actuator rod is operably connected to the toothed rod;
 wherein the handle region comprises a handle body having a base, a trigger, and a linkage lever having a free end wherein the cable is operably coupled to the free end of the linkage lever; and,   wherein squeezing the trigger causes the linkage lever to extend towards the base of the handle body, thus causing the cable to move proximally in the handle body and in the tube region and causing the toothed rod locking mechanism to operably engage with the toothed rod which thereby causes the toothed rod to move proximally in the tube region, thus causing the jaw actuator rod and jaw actuator to move proximally, which in turn, draws in the proximal end of each jaw member, thus causing each jaw member to move around its pivot point and causing the distal ends of the opposing jaw members to move towards one another.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the toothed rod locking mechanism comprises a lever, which lever is operably controlled by the trigger via the cable, wherein squeezing the trigger causes the lever of the toothed rod locking mechanism to operably engage with the toothed rod and wherein releasing the trigger causes the lever to operably disengage with the toothed rod. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the lever comprises one or more teeth which can mate with the teeth of the toothed rod. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the jaw members comprise a textured inner surface layer. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein each jaw member comprises a pad area at its proximal tip. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the jaw actuator spring exerts pressure against the proximal end of the jaw actuator which causes the distal ends of the jaw members to pivot away from each other as the jaw actuator is pushed distally. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch mechanism, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a spring loaded latch operably attached to a latch cable that is operably coupled to a latching lever, which latch mechanism when engaged, reversibly locks the trigger, thereby reversibly locking the jaw members at a desired position. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the latch mechanism can be engaged even when the jaw members cannot move closer together. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the trigger causes a movement of the jaw members over a greater distance than that moved by the trigger. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle body comprises a palm rest area, which palm rest area comprises a thermoplastic rubber and/or thermoplastic elastomer overlay on the handle body. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the head region can be rotated in relation to the tube region, and secured in one or more orientations. 
   
   
       15 . An adjustable length pick up device for grasping an object, the device comprising:
 a) a head region comprising two opposing angled jaw members, each of which jaw members comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and each of which jaw members is operably attached at a pivot point to a jaw base assembly, thus allowing movement of each jaw member around its pivot point; wherein the proximal end of both jaw members operably interacts with a jaw actuator within the jaw base assembly, which jaw actuator is operably connected to an actuator rod and a jaw actuator spring;   b) a telescoping tube region comprising an elongated hollow tube enclosing a cable, a toothed rod, and toothed rod locking mechanism, which toothed rod, toothed rod locking mechanism, and cable are operably connected to the actuator rod; and,   c) a handle region comprising a handle body having a base, a trigger, and a linkage lever, wherein the cable is operably coupled to the free bottom of the linkage lever;   wherein squeezing the trigger causes the linkage lever to extend towards the base of the handle body thus causing the cable, the toothed rod locking mechanism, and the toothed rod to move proximally in the handle body and in the tube region, which movement causes the jaw actuator rod and jaw actuator to move proximally, which in turn, draws in the proximal end of each jaw member, thus causing each jaw member to move around its pivot point and causing the distal ends of the opposing jaw members to move towards one another.   
   
   
       16 . A method of grasping and/or picking up an object, the method comprising:
 a) situating two opposing angled jaw members of the head region of an adjustable length pick up device around the object, wherein the device also comprises a tube region operably connected to the head region and a handle region operably connect to the tube region, which handle region comprises a trigger mechanism; and,   b) squeezing the trigger which causes the jaw members to move towards each other and thus grasp and/or pick up the object.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tube region comprises a telescoping tube. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the tube region comprises: a cable that is operably connected to the trigger; a toothed rod comprising a plurality of teeth which toothed rod is operably connected to the jaw members; and a toothed rod locking mechanism that is operably connected to the cable;
 wherein squeezing the trigger causes the toothed rod locking mechanism to operably engage with the toothed rod which causes the jaw members to move towards each other and thus grasp and/or pick up the object.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the head region comprises two opposing angled jaw members, each of which jaw members comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and each of which jaw members is operably attached at a pivot point to a jaw base assembly, thus allowing movement of each jaw member around its pivot point; wherein the proximal end of both jaw members operably interacts with a jaw actuator within the jaw base assembly, which jaw actuator is operably connected to an actuator rod and a jaw actuator spring and wherein the actuator rod is operably connected to the toothed rod;
 wherein the handle region comprises a handle body having a base, a trigger, and a linkage lever having a free end wherein the cable is operably coupled to the free end of the linkage lever; and,   wherein squeezing the trigger causes the linkage lever to extend towards the base of the handle body, thus causing the cable to move proximally in the handle body and in the tube region and causing the toothed rod locking mechanism to operably engage with the toothed rod which thereby causes the toothed rod to move proximally in the tube region, thus causing the jaw actuator rod and jaw actuator to move proximally, which in turn, draws in the proximal end of each jaw member, thus causing each jaw member to move around its pivot point and causing the distal ends of the opposing jaw members to move towards one another and thus grasp and/or pick up the object.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the toothed rod locking mechanism comprises a lever, which lever is operably controlled by the trigger via the cable, wherein squeezing the trigger causes the lever of the toothed rod locking mechanism to operably engage with the toothed rod and wherein releasing the trigger causes the lever to operably disengage with the toothed rod. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the lever comprises one or more teeth which can mate with the teeth of the toothed rod. 
   
   
       22 . A method of grasping and/or picking up an object, the method comprising:
 a) situating two opposing angled jaw members of an adjustable length pick up device around the object, each of which jaw members comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and each of which jaw members is operably attached at a pivot point to a jaw base assembly, which allows movement of each jaw member around its pivot point; wherein the proximal end of both jaw members operably interacts with a jaw actuator within the jaw base assembly, and which jaw actuator is operably connected to an actuator rod; the device also comprising an elongated hollow tube region, enclosing a toothed rod, a toothed rod locking mechanism, and a cable, which toothed rod, toothed rod locking mechanism, and cable are operably connected to the actuator rod; the device also comprising a handle region comprising a handle body, and a trigger grip having a linkage lever, wherein the cable is operably coupled to the free bottom of the linkage lever; and,   b) squeezing the trigger causing the linkage lever to extend downwards in the handle body towards the base of the handle thus causing the cable, toothed rod, and toothed rod locking mechanism to move proximally, and causing the jaw actuator rod and jaw actuator to move proximally, and in turn, drawing in the proximal end of each jaw member, thus causing each jaw member to move around its pivot point and causing the distal ends of the opposing jaw members to move towards one another and thus grasp and/or pick up the object.   
   
   
       23 . A method of grasping an object, the method comprising situating two opposing jaw members of an adjustable length pick up device around the object, which members are operably attached at pivot points to a base assembly and to a jaw actuator; and, squeezing a trigger of the device, which trigger moves a linkage lever and which linkage lever is operably coupled to the opposing jaw members; thereby moving the jaw members towards one another and grasping the object. 
   
   
       24 . An adjustable length device to operably connect at least two components, the device comprising:
 a) a cable having a first end and a second end;   b) a rod having a first end and a second end;   c) a locking mechanism operably attached to the cable, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a movable lever, which lever is controllably engaged or disengaged by movement of the cable.   
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the locking mechanism can be moved along the rod when the lever is disengaged and is stationary when the lever is engaged. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the adjustable length device comprises a tube that is adjustable in length. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the rod comprises a toothed rod. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the lever comprises one or more teeth capable of mating with the toothed rod. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the cable connects to a trigger mechanism and wherein squeezing the trigger mechanism engages the lever with the toothed rod. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the toothed rod is operably connected to one or more additional components. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more additional components comprise a par of opposable jaw members.