IP Library Granted Patent US 8,807,615
Granted Patent B2
US 8,807,615 · App. 14/078,830 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Selectively bendable remote gripping tool

Inventors: Carter J. Kovarik (Englewood, CO); Joseph E. Kovarik (Englewood, CO)
B25J1/02A47F13/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,807,615
App. No.
14/078,830
Granted
Aug 19, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hand-held remote access device, such as a gripping tool, includes a jaw portion having a pair of jaws movable relative to each other between fully clamped and fully opened positions thereof, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a bendable central portion that has a hollow, corrugated member having alternating ridges and grooves that is bendable so as to attain a predetermined shape.

Claims (12)

1. A hand-held gripping device, comprising: a gripping portion having a gripping arm movable relative to between a fully clamped position and a fully opened position;

a handle portion spaced apart from the gripping portion by a central portion, the central portion comprising at least two separate portions comprising a hollow, corrugated member having alternating ridges and grooves, said corrugated member being bendable so as to attain a predetermined shape so that a user can preposition said central portion into a desired bent configuration;

wherein the handle portion comprises a first manually-actuatable trigger operatively connected to the gripping portion by a single pull member at least substantially disposed within the central portion, whereby actuation of the trigger is operative to move the pull member to thereby selectively position the gripping arm between the fully clamped position and the fully opened position;

said pull member comprising at least one cord operatively connecting the handle portion to the gripping portion, said at least one cord extending through said central portion,

wherein the at least two separate portions of the central portion comprise a plurality of interconnected connectors which together define a passageway through which said pull member passes through; and

wherein the central portion remains bendable during the actuation of the trigger and the positioning of the gripping arm between the fully clamped position and the fully opened position.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least two separate portions comprise a plurality of connector bodies that interconnect with each other.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least ⅔ rds of the central portion comprises said corrugated member.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the central portion is adapted to be coiled to facilitate transportation and storage.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises two or more corrugated members provided at different relative locations along the central portion of the device.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of interconnected connectors is in engagement with another of said interconnected connectors, thereby permitting pivoting movement with respect to said interconnected connectors.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said pull member comprises a cord mechanism attached to a spring.

Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 13771813 · Feb 20, 2013
Continuation In Part 29462798 · Aug 8, 2013
Provisional Application 61601789 · Feb 22, 2012
Related Publication 20140062113A1 · Mar 6, 2014