FR2497849A1 - Hand-held device for picking up objects - consists of two moulded plastics shells resiliently interconnected by spine - Google Patents

Abstract

The hand-held device for picking up objects without touching them is made up of two shells (1,2) which are interconnected by a backbone (3). The device is pref. moulded out of a plastics sheet of constant thickness, the resilience of which holds the shells apart. The shells are pref. concave in shape and are hinged along axes (A,B) between their rear edges and the backbone (3). The shells pref. incorporate strengthening grooves (5) and recesses (4) which facilitate handling.

Description

The present invention relates to "pliers" type instruments for handling materials without physical contact, in particular animal excrement.

This instrument is designed from a semi rigid plastic sheet (polystyrene or PVC) of 22x1l cm, of constant thickness of about 6 / 10i s thermoformed this sheet takes the form of 2 concavities t1-2) joined by a flat middle part (backsplash) t31 forming the fold zone, zone forming detent spring allowing under an external thrust a gripping effect.

The upper part of the two half-shells (concavities) t1-2) is partially hollow t41 to facilitate handling, and has stiffening grooves (5) giving more rigidity to the concavities.

The fold zone is obtained by means of a bulge at right angles (3) placed vertically with the grooves of semi shells. In known devices of this kind, example: patent application no. 78.35500 filed on 18.12.1978 the device includes 2 molded plastic half shells provided with 4 rings, joined by an axis, and an extension spring to hold this clamp The clamp according to the invention makes it possible to avoid these added parts. the instrument being made in one piece. it closes and opens by the spring effect due to the conformation of the article and the nature of the product which constitutes it. 6 figures representing the invention fig. 1 is a perspective view of the shape of the pliers produced in FIG. 2 is a side view of the thermoformed pliers, FIG. 3 is a flat view. once thermoformed.

Figure 4 is a closed sectional view, Figure 5 is a sectional view dressed with a polyethylene bag.

Figures 6 t1-2-3 and 4) show how the instrument is used. For the proper use according to the invention. place the stern and the fingers in the cavities t4) provided for this purpose, keep the clamp between open; place a bellows bag (e) in polyethylene or paper between the half shells, once the bag is in place press on the instrument tfig.6,1) the latter being closed fold over the part of the bag left on each half shell the outside of the shell (fig. 6.2) s the bag being in place releasing the pressure, thus the instrument opens helping each other with the side of the bag which by its bellows limits the opening of the clamp and the tension of the clamp secures the bag. The apparatus being dressed as in Figure 6.3, we cover the material to be picked up, the clamp being always held between the thumb and the fingers: it is enough to bring together by pressure the two half shells which encloses the materials in the bag . Always keep the device closed, disrobe it (figure 6,4) close the bag, then release the pressure to open the instrument in order to recover the bag and its contents.

This instrument of public utility allows greater cleanliness and in particular to collect animal excrement.

Claims (8)

 REVENOICATIONS  13 The instrument for manually picking up and moving materials without physical contact. Instrument characterized in that it represents two half shells (1-2) joined to each other by a backsplash (3) allowing under an external thrust a gripping effect. 2) The instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that it is designed from a thermoformed plastic sheet. of constant thickness and forming a single block, characterized in that it closes and opens by the spring effect due to the conformation of the article and the nature of the product which constitutes it.  3) Instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that it represents two concave parts (1-2) separated by a central zone which includes a bulge at right angles (3) separated from the concave parts by areas (A and B) serving as folding area. 4) The instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that the concave parts (1-2) have grooves (5) characterized in that the half shells are partially hollowed out (4) 5) The instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that the half shells are joined by a bulge (backsplash) (3) characterized in that it is at right angles, characterized in that it comprises two grooves (5) characterized in that it is placed vertically in the grooves of the half shells.  6) The instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that the half shells are joined to the backsplash by areas (A and 8) forming the folding zone. 7) The instrument according to claim 1 characterized in that it is completed by a bellows bag (Fig.5-6) facilitating the transport of materials and avoiding physical contact. 8) The instrument according to claim 7 characterized in that the bellows bag is placed inside the shell while keeping the instrument partially open, to close the instrument (fig.6-1) to fold down the part of the bag remained outside the shell on the half shells (fig. 6-2) release the pressure to obtain the opening of the instrument which will remain blocked by the bellows of the bag.