Selectively bendable remote gripping tool

• US 9,832,980 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2014
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carter J. Kovarik, Joseph E. Kovarik
• Original Assignee: Carter J. Kovarik, Joseph E. Kovarik
• Inventors: Kovarik, Carter J., Kovarik, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LYNCH, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US14/539,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 77/00 Landing-nets for fishing; Landing-spoons for fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00991 Telescopic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22035 for retrieving or repositioning foreign objects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2215 having an open distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 1/02 articulated or flexible
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 17/02 with jaws operated indirectly by the handles, e.g. through cams or toggle levers
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/1206 for picking up excrements manure or urine pouches for animal husbandry A01K23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 2001/1293 Walking cane or the like, i.e. implements allowing handling while in an upright position

Abstract

A selectively bendable remote access gripping tool, includes a jaw portion having a pair of jaws or nets movable relative to each other between clamped and opened positions thereof, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a bendable central portion that has a hollow, corrugated member that is bendable, and a cord extending through the hollow bendable member that connects the jaw portion and the handle portion.

Claims

1. A selectively bendable remote gripping tool comprising:

a jaw portion comprising;

(i) a pair of net assemblies having a frame and a net coupled to said frame, said net assemblies movable relative to each other between closed and opened positions thereof; and

(ii) a sharp cutting implements associated with said jaw portion, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a selectively extendible central portion, the handle portion comprising a first actuatable trigger operatively connected to the jaw portion by a single pull member at least substantially disposed within the central portion, and that extends through the central portion, whereby actuation of the trigger is operative to move the pull member to thereby selectively position the pair of net assemblies between the closed and opened positions thereof;

wherein the central portion comprises linked ball and socket jointed elements forming a plurality of interconnected connectors, thereby permitting pivoting movement with respect to said interconnected connectors, said central portion being bendable; and

said single pull member operatively connecting the handle portion to the jaw portion and extending through said central portion and wherein said sharp cutting implement is positioned within an interior volume defined by the pair of net assemblies to perform a severing operation when said pair of net assemblies are in said closed position.

2. The tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuatable trigger comprises a manually operable release trigger.

3. The tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sharp cutting implements comprises a cutting blade.

4. The tool as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a locking member associated with said central portion to fix two adjacent members of said central portion in an engaged position, said locking member operable between a first locking position and a second unlocking position.

5. The tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the central portion comprises glow in the dark material.

6. The tool as set forth in claim 1, further including a lighting source positioned at a distal end of the tool.

7. The tool as set forth in claim 1, further including a distally positioned camera.

8. The tool as set forth in claim 1, further including a magnifying viewing device.

9. The tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sharp cutting implement is operable via a cord extending through the corrugated central portion and operably connected to a trigger.

10. A hand-held netting tool comprising:

a jaw portion comprising a pair of net assemblies having a frame and a net coupled to said frame, said net assemblies movable relative to each other between fully clamped and fully opened positions thereof;

said pair of net assemblies further comprising a pair of sharp cutting implements associated with said jaw portion;

a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a selectively extendible central portion, the handle portion comprising a first actuatable trigger operatively connected to the jaw portion by a single selectively extendible 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 pair of net assemblies between the fully clamped and fully opened position thereof;

wherein the central portion comprises adjacent members of linked ball and socket jointed elements forming a plurality of interconnected connectors, thereby permitting pivoting movement with respect to said interconnected connectors, said central portion being bendable so that a user can position said tool into a desired configuration; and

said pull member comprising a single cord operatively connecting the handle portion to the jaw portion, and that extends through a center of the central portion and wherein said sharp cutting implement is positioned within an interior volume defined by the pair of net assemblies to perform a severing operation when said pair of net assemblies are in said closed position.

11. The tool as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least a portion of said central portion is in telescoping relationship with an adjacent portion of said central portion.

12. The tool as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a locking member associated with said central portion to fix two adjacent members of said central portion in an engaged position, said locking member operable between a first locking position and a second unlocking position.

13. The tool as set forth in claim 10, wherein the central portion comprises glow in the dark material.

14. The tool as set forth in claim 10, wherein said pair of net assemblies comprises a first loose net portion associated with a shaped wire structure.

15. A selectively bendable remote gripping tool comprising:

a jaw portion comprising at least one of;

(i) a pair of net assemblies having a frame and a net coupled to said frame, said net assemblies movable relative to each other between closed and opened positions thereof; and

(ii) a pair of sharp cutting implements associated with said jaw portion, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a central portion, the handle portion comprising a first actuatable trigger operatively connected to the jaw portion by a 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 pair of jaw portion between the closed and opened positions thereof;

wherein the central portion comprises adjacent members of linked ball and socket jointed elements forming a plurality of interconnected connectors, thereby permitting pivoting movement with respect to said interconnected connectors, said central portion being bendable; and

said pull member comprising at least one cord operatively connecting the handle portion to the jaw portion, said at least one cord extending through said central portion, wherein the actuatable trigger comprises a manually operable release trigger, wherein said pair of sharp cutting implements comprise a cutting blade, wherein said pair of net assemblies comprises a loose net and an opposing paired structure with a taut net, and at least one magnet positioned on a distal end of the tool and wherein said pair of sharp cutting implements is positioned within an interior volume defined by the pair of net assemblies to perform a severing operation when said pair of net assemblies are in said closed position.

16. The tool as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a locking member associated with said central portion to fix two adjacent members of said central portion in an engaged position, said locking member operable between a first locking position and a second unlocking position.

17. The tool as set forth in claim 15, wherein the central portion comprises glow in the dark material.

18. The tool as set forth in claim 15, further including a lighting source positioned at the distal end of the tool.

19. The tool as set forth in claim 15, further including a distally positioned camera.

20. The tool as set forth in claim 15, wherein the said pair of sharp cutting implements are operable via a cord extending through the central portion and operably connected to the trigger.