Compactable object remover, grasper and multi-use tool
OwnerReed Marquardtinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A separable grasping tool designed for grasping objects in hard to reach locations and able to be deconstructed to a small form factor for storage. The device includes a distal grasping portion and a proximal operating portion. The grasping tool may further include one or more intermediary portions disposed between the proximal and grasping portions, thereby extending an overall length of the tool. The device includes means to extend a gripping mechanism beyond a distal opening and to retract the gripping mechanism into the device. The device includes additional features for ease of use such as tethers to keep the device portions from being lost when separated and buoyant elements to float the device if dropped in water.
Claims20
A grasping tool comprising:
- a distal grasping portion comprising
- a first tubular outer shaft comprising a first central lumen, the first tubular outer shaft having a proximal opening and a distal opening;
- and
- a first interior shaft having a distal tip and a proximal connecting portion, the first interior shaft configured to slide within at least a portion of the first tubular outer shaft to change a relative position of the distal tip within the central lumen and provide for at least a portion of the distal tip to extend outward from the distal opening of the first tubular outer shaft at appropriate configurations of the distal tip;
- and
- a proximal operable portion comprising
- a second tubular outer shaft comprising a second central lumen, the second tubular outer shaft having a distal opening, a proximal end cap, and a retraction mechanism;
- and
- a second interior shaft having a distal connecting portion, the second interior shaft configured to slide within at least a portion of the second tubular outer shaft to change a the relative position of the distal connecting portion within the central lumen and provide for at least a portion of the distal connecting portion to extend outward from the distal opening of the second tubular outer shaft at appropriate configurations of the distal connecting portion,
- wherein the proximal retraction mechanism comprises a spring biased to maintain the second interior shaft in an extended position;
- and the second interior shaft comprises a cross-bar configured to compress the spring when pulled towards the proximal end cap and retract the distal tip within the central lumen of the first tubular outer shaft.
A deconstructable grasping device comprising:
- a tubular shaft with a central lumen;
- a central shaft within the central lumen, the central shaft comprising a distal grasping mechanism;
- and
- a lever at a proximal end portion of the tubular shaft, the lever configured to slide the central shaft within the central lumen such that pushing the lever distally extends the distal grasping mechanism beyond a distal opening of the tubular shaft, and pulling the lever proximally retracts the grasping mechanism within the central lumen,
- wherein the tubular shaft and central shaft are separable into at least a proximal operable portion and a distal grasping portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.