Remote acting articulating tool holder

Abstract

An articulated tool holder on an extension pole. The device uses an extension pole with a pivoting tool holder on the end of the pole. The tool holder is connected to a sliding hand grip on the extension pole, movement of which causes the tool holder to rotate so the tool can be used in different positions from the extension pole.

Claims

1. A remote acting articulating tool holder, comprising: an extension pole with a first end and a second end, configured for attachment of a tool holder to said second end of said pole; a slidable hand grip substantially encircling said pole and slidable on said pole, with said hand grip attached to said tool holder, with said hand grip movable parallel to the long axis of the pole as well as in the plane normal to the long axis of the pole; a tool holder pivotally attached to said second end of said pole, with said tool holder configured to hold a selected tool and movable in a first plane coplanar with the long axis of the extension pole, and also in a second plane normal to the long axis of the extension pole; and a connection between said hand grip and said tool holder which is a direct connection, so that when said hand grip is moved along said pole, said tool holder is caused to pivot on said second end of said pole in a plane running through the longitudinal axis of the extension pole, and when said hand grip is rotated around said extension pole, said tool holder with said tool is rotated in a plane normal to the first plane.

2. The remote acting articulating tool holder of claim 1, in which said tool holder is configured to hold a paint brush.

3. The remote acting articulating tool holder of claim 1, which further comprises a paint activation trigger adjacent to the first end of said pole, a paint transport line that extends from a paint storage vessel to said trigger, and to a paint spray nozzle on the second end of said pole.

4. The remote acting articulating tool holder of claim 1 in which said connection between said hand grip and said tool holder is a rigid linkage.

5. The remote acting articulating tool holder of claim 1 in which said tool is a camera.

6. A remote acting articulating tool holder, comprising: an extension pole with a first end and a second end, configured for attachment of a paint brush to said second end of said pole; a slidable hand grip substantially encircling said pole and slidable on said pole, with said hand grip attached to said tool holder with said hand grip attached to said tool holder, with said hand grip movable parallel to the long axis of the pole as well as in the plane normal to the long axis of the pole; a spray nozzle pivotally and rotational attached to said second end of said pole and attached by a linkage bar to said slidable hand grip; and said linkage bar attached to said slidable hand grip and said tool holder, so that when said hand grip is moved along said pole, said spray nozzle is caused to pivot on said second end of said pole in a first plane running through the longitudinal axis of the extension pole, and when said hand grip is rotated around said extension pole, said tool holder with said tool is rotated in a second plane normal to the first plane.

7. The remote acting articulating tool holder of claim 6, in which said tool holder is configured to hold a paint brush, and said spray nozzle is attached to said tool holder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a print brush as the tool.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a print brush as the tool and with the tool holder moved from the position shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a print brush as the tool and moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 or 3.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, showing a liquid trigger and liquid vessel for dispensing liquid at a spray nozzle on the tool holder, with the tool holder also holding a brush.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, showing the spray nozzle and a liquid tube for carrying liquid such as paint to the spray nozzle.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a camera shown as the tool.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed upward.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed to the side.

(9) FIG. 9 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed forward.

(10) FIG. 10 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed to the side.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed forward.

(12) FIG. 12 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed downward.

(13) FIG. 13 is a top view of tools which can be used in the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(14) While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

(15) A preferred embodiment of the disclosed technology is shown FIGS. 1 through 13. FIG. 1 shows the disclosed device in use with a paint brush. Show in FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the disclosed remote acting articulating tool holder (RAATH) 10, in use with a paint brush. Shown is an extension pole 12, with a first end 16 and a second end 18. Attached to the second end 18 is a tool holder 14. Shown is a slideable hand grip 20. The tool holder and tool are connected to the slidable hand grip 20 by a connection, so that movement of the hand grip 20 causes the tool and tool holder 14 to rotate in a plane parallel to the long axis of the extension pole. The connection between the slideable hand grip 20 can be a rigid connecting rod 22, so that when the slideable hand grip 20 is moved up and down the extension pole 12, the tool holder 14 and the tool 36 move with it. The connection can also be a flexible cord, which would move the tool holder 14 when the slideable hand grip is pulled down, and a spring would pull the tool holder 14 into a rest position when the slidable hand grip 20 is moved up the extension pole 12, as the flexible cord is relaxed. In any case, the connection from the hand grip 20 to the tool or tool holder is a direct connection, and does not go through a pivot point or lever arm. The tool holder is made to rotate in two planes, defined as a first plane that is coplanar with the long axis of the pole, and a second plane that is normal to the first plane. Thus the tool holder can move back and forth in relation to the pole, and can also rotate around the pole.

(16) A number of different tools 36 can be utilized with the tool holder 14, such as the paint brush 24 shown, a camera 26, a paint roller, a paint pad, a light bulb tool, a suction cup, a screw driver or scraper holder, a spray nozzle 28 for applying liquids. Liquids that may be applied may be water, paint, stain, sealant, insecticide, herbicide, cleaner, detergent, soap, solvent, or other liquids commonly applied by spray nozzle. FIG. 13 shows some tool which may be used in the device.

(17) In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a linkage bar 38 is pivotally attached to the pivot point 40, and at the other end to the second end 42 of the tool or tool holder. The linkage bar 38 is optional, and the device works without it.

(18) The extension pole 12 can be sized according to the job to be done, but a typical length can be from 3 feet to 10 feet. The extension pole 12 can be wood, plastic, tubular metal, or other suitable material. A typical diameter of the extension pole 12 can be approximately 1-2, depending on the material used for the pole and the purpose of the RAASH. The extension pole has a plane running through the longitudinal axis of the pole, and the tool holder pivots on said second end of said pole in the plane running through the longitudinal axis of the extension pole.

(19) FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show the tool 36 and tool holder 14 in different positions, which demonstrates some positions the tool 36 and tool holder 14 available to the user.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a version of the RAATH 10 in which the tool holder 14 holds both a paint brush 24 and a spray nozzle 28. At the first end of the extension pole 12 is a liquid vessel 32 which can hold the liquid to be sprayed. The liquid vessel 32 can also be unattached to the pole 12, and can be a container placed on the ground, a container worn as a backpack, or a container worn on the user's body such as on a belt. A paint activation trigger 34 is present at the first end of the extension pole 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the connecting rod 22 is a solid wire, and can be secured to the pole 12 by guides.

(21) FIG. 5 is a closer view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. It includes a paint brush 24, a spray nozzle, a connecting rod 22, a pivot point 40, and a liquid tube 30. The liquid tube 30 can be internal to the pole 12, or external to the pole as shown.

(22) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the RAATH 10 in which the tool 36 is a camera 26, such as a video camera or a still camera. The mount of the camera can be movable, so the camera may be pointed in different directions as it rotates.

(23) FIG. 7 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed upward. This is accomplished by a rotating connection of the paint nozzle to the extension pole 12. The paint nozzle is turned in a second plane 44 normal to the long axis of the pole 12 by rotation of the hand grip 20, which is attached to the spray nozzle and tool holder by a connecting rod 22. When the hand grip 20 is rotated around the pole, the tool holder and spray nozzle rotate in the second plane 44. The hand grip 20 is movable on a first plane 46 parallel to the long axis of the pole 12 as well. Reference numbers and shown movement lines are for illustrative purposes only. The overall inventive concept is identified by the claims.

(24) FIG. 8 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed to the side.

(25) FIG. 9 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed forward.

(26) FIG. 10 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed to the side.

(27) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed forward.

(28) FIG. 12 is a side view of the disclosed Remote Acting Articulating Tool Holder, with a paint spray nozzle as the tool, pointed downward.

(29) While certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.