US2683618A - Automatic pickup device - Google Patents

Description

July 13, 1954 J. B. LONG AUTOMATIC PICKUP DEVICE Filed Deo. ll, 1950 Joel B. Long INVEN TOR.

Patented July 13, 1954 AUTOMATIC PICKUP DEVICE Joel B. Long, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., assigner of one-half to Louis Slovis, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application December 11, 1950, Serial No. 200,169

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hand tools and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for retrieving or picking up small objects of magnetic material such as steel screws, nuts, cotter keys, springs, washers or the like.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a magnet pick up device including a flexible support to which is secured a permanent magnet whereby the device may be readily bent to reach around obstructions, curves or recesses during the retrieving or picking up of small metal objects.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a magnet pick up device including a flexible shank that slidably supports a flexible rod together with novel and improved means for sliding the rod in the shank to selectively move a magnet mounted on the rod into and out of a guide tube secured to the shank.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and service, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the present 7 invention and with parts broken away for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the manner in which the trigger is operatively connected to the magnet holding rod;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the trigger f used in the present invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the flexible tubular shank used in the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing the device in slightly modified form including a sliding button for retaining the magnet exposed from its guide; and,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 'l--l of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral I0 represents a hand grip I' whose upper portion I2 is formed with a bore I4 having a threaded entrance opening IE and a reduced rear portion I8.

A flexible tubular shank 20 of woven or braided metal includes a rear end that is fixed by welding or the like to a tubular bolt or plug 22. The bolt 22 is threaded in the entrance opening I6 and its head abuts the forward face of the portion I2. The forward externally threaded end 2li of the shank 20 receivably engages a nut 26 that is suitably fixed to the rear end of a guide tube 28 in which there is slidably received a permanent magnet 30.

A relatively thin flexible wire cable or shaft 32 is slidably received within the shank 20 and its forward end is suitably fixed to the rear end of the magnet 3d, The rear, enlarged, cylindrical end 34 of the shaft or rod 32 is slidably received in the rear end portion I8 of the bore I4 and supports a pair of abutments or rings 35 and 33 that are slidably received in the forward portion of the bore I4.

The hand grip Ill is formed with a slot ill that intersects the bore i4. A pivot 42 extends transversely through the upper walls of the slot l0 and through a transverse opening 44 provided in the upper portion of a trigger or actuator 46 that is adapted to move into and out of the slot 40. A pair of rounded ears 48 extend upwardly from the trigger 4S, enter the bore Ill and straddle the portion 34 between the abutments 36 and 38.

The rear face of the trigger, adjacent its lower end, is formed with a transverse recess 5E! that receives one end of a coil spring 52. The other end of the spring 52 enters the slot it and yieldingly embraces a lug 54 on the rear wall of the slot III). The spring 52 yieldingly urges the trigger from the slot 48 and the shaft 32 rearwardly to confine the magnet 30 in the guide tube 28.

The rear portion IS of the bore I4 is closed by a plug 56 that is threaded therein and the hand grip Il? is integrally formed with a hook 58 that rises from the portion I2 whereby the device may be hung from a supporting structure when not in use.

In practical use of the present invention, the trigger i6 is manually urged into the slot Il@ whereupon the ears 48 ride against the abutment 36 to force the magnet from the guide tube 30. As the trigger is released by the user, the spring 52 returns the trigger to its normal position with the ears t3 riding against the abutment 38 to return the magnet into the guide tube.

The flexibility of the shank 2G and rod 32 will permit the device to be employed for its intended use regardless of obstructions, curves, recesses or the like.

Means is provided for retaining the magnet 30 exposed from the guide tube 28 and this means consists of an extension 55 on the plug 5B that will engage the end portion 34. A manual adjustment of the plug 56 in the rear end portion I8 will cause the rod 32 and magnet 30 to be locked or retained in their forward position with the magnet exposed for use.

Figures 6 and 7 show the means for retaining the magnet exposed from the guide 30 in slightly modified form. In this embodiment, the end portion 34a of the exible shaft is formed with a peripheral groove 34h that will receive a lug 35 on a slide button or retainer 31 when the shaft 32 is disposed in its forward position with the magnet 30 exposed from the guide' 28. The

wall of the handle Il] is provided with a slot 39,V

being manufactured under the name Alnico, be

used in the device since such a magnet is more practical and durable than other types.

In View of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A magnetic pick up device comprising a pistol grip handle, a flexible tubular shank attached at one end to the handle, a flexible shaft slidably received in the shank and including a forward end projecting outwardly from the shank, a magnet secured to the forward end of said shaft, a guide tube secured to said shank and slidably receiving said magnet, a trigger pivoted to the handle and engaging the shaft to slide the shaft within the shank and'selectvely move the magnet into and out of the guide tube, and spring means acting on said trigger to urge the shaft toward the handle and the magnet within the guide tube.

2. A magnetic pick up device comprising a pistol grip handle, aflexible tubular shank attached at one end to the handle, a flexible shaft slidably received in the shank and including a forward end projecting outwardly from the shank, a magnet secured to the forward end of said shaft, a guide tube secured to said shank and slidably receiving said magnet, said handle having a bore slidably receiving therear end of said shaft, said handle also having a slot intersecting said bore, a trigger pivoted to said handle for movement into and out of said slot, spring means engaging the trigger and yieldingly urging thetrigger from the slot, a pair of abutm'ents on therear end of said shaft, and a pair of ears on said trigger extending into the bore and straddling said shaft between said abutments, said trigger being manually urged into said slot for sliding the shaft forwardly to expose the magnet'from the guide tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 388,776 Hall Aug. 28, 1888 1,535,618 Mayer Apr. 28, 1925 1,787,112 King Dec. v30, 1930 2,155,913 Thompson et al. Apr. 25, 1939 2,191,170 Keehn et al Feb. 20, 1940 2,428,864 Boyd Oct. 14, 1947 2,547,990 Willms Apr. 10, 1951

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