US 5,666,758 AGranted

Retrieval mechanism

OwnerGeorge Louis Vaillier, deceased, by Francine Seung, heiressinventors

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Abstract

A device (10) remotely retrieves articles (12). The device includes a scissor mechanism(14) having a pair of cross members (22) rotatably connected to one another. The cross members define a first pair of ends and a second pair of ends opposite the first pair of ends. The first ends are urged to a position spaced apart from one another when the second ends are urged to a position spaced apart from one another. Conversely, the first ends are urged to a position proximate one another when the second ends are urged to a position proximate one another. Opposing jaws (16) connect to the first ends. A connection mechanism (14) connects the second ends of the scissor mechanism to one another. The connection mechanism is foldable for urging the second ends to a position proximate one another when tension is applied to the connection mechanism. A latch mechanism (20) connects to the scissor mechanism and removably connects to the connection mechanism for preventing the connection mechanism from folding.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A device for retrieving articles, comprising:

(a) a first cross member having first and second ends;
(b) a second cross member having first and second ends, the second cross member being connected to the first cross member at a location between the first and second ends of both cross members, with the cross members being rotatable relative to one another along an axis of rotation;
(c) a first jaw located at the first end of the first cross member, and a second jaw opposing the first jaw, the second jaw being connected to the first end of the second cross member, wherein said first jaw and said second jaw each include a supporting member cantilevered outward from the first ends of said first cross member and said second cross member respectively, the supporting members each having a plurality of teeth mounted thereto;
(d) connection means connected to the second ends of each of the first and second cross members, the connection means being collapsible from a first width to a second width smaller than the first width when a tension force is applied to the connection means;
and
(e) a guidance member rotatably connected to the connection means, the guidance member including a loop for receiving a line, wherein the loop extends from the guidance member in a direction that is always generally parallel to the axis of rotation between the pair of cross members.

3 more elements

A device for retrieving articles, comprising:

(a) a scissor mechanism including a pair of cross members connected to one another and being rotatable relative to one another about an axis rotation, the cross members defining a first pair of ends and a second pair of ends opposite the first pair of ends, the ends of the first pair of ends being urged to a position spaced apart from one another when the ends of the second pair of ends are urged to a position spaced apart from one another, and the ends of the first pair of ends being urged to a position proximate one another when the ends of the second pair of ends are urged to a position proximate one another;
(b) a first jaw connected to one of the ends of the first pair of ends, and a second jaw opposing the first jaw connected to the other one of the ends of the first pair of ends, wherein the jaws each include a cantilevered supporting member having a plurality of teeth;
and
(c) connection means connecting the ends of the second pair of ends to one another, the connection means being foldable to urge the ends of the second pair to a position proximate one another when tension is applied to the connection means.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.