Toy retrieval apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus intended to assist in retrieving toys and other objects that have fallen off a table and to prevent such objects from coming in contact with the ground. The apparatus comprises a bar clamp having a fixed portion and a movable portion mounted on a slide bar for clamping to a table or other flat surface. Affixed to the bar clamp is at least one attachment cord with a fastener adapted to grasp the toy or other object to be retrieved. The movable portion of the bar clamp has a trigger handle and a braking lever which work to tighten and disengage the bar clamp thus enabling a parent or other adult to fasten and unfasten the apparatus to a table or other flat surface with one hand so that the person is free to simultaneously use their other hand for an alternative purpose.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 693,348 filed Jun. 23, 2005 and entitled “Toy Retrieval Apparatus”.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] When sitting at a table with a young child in a highchair or booster seat, adults will often times give the child certain toys or other playthings for the purpose of entertainment or to occupy the child's attention. Frequently, the child will be quite young and lack the manual dexterity required to grasp the particular object for more than a few moments. Other times, the child may, in an effort to entertain him or herself, attempt to deliberately toss the object. In either situation, the toy or object given to the child will typically fall off the table and onto the floor. Since the child is fastened into the highchair or booster seat, the adult typically has to reach down or get up from where they are seated in order to retrieve the fallen...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The apparatus includes at least one toy fastener with an attachment cord and a bar clamp. An example of the type of bar clamp featured in the present invention would be the Quick Grip Micro Bar Clamp made by Irwin Quick-Grip, Model No. 53006, or its equivalent. The bar clamp of the present invention, which is operable with one hand, can be conveniently fastened or unfastened to the edge of a table through the use of a fixed jaw and a moveable jaw with a one-way drive means. Each toy fastener of the invention is attached to the bar clamp through the use of an attachment cord having two ends, such that the first end of the cord is attached to the bar clamp and the second end of the cord is attached to the toy fastener. To account for height discrepancies between different tables or counters, the attachment cords of the present invention can be of varying lengths in order to prevent the toy from coming in contact with the floor.

[0006] The individual toy fasteners of the present invention are adapted to be mounted to certain types of children's toys. When a toy is fastened to one of the toy fasteners and the device is mounted to a table or other raised surface near the vicinity of where the child is seated, the child is able to freely handle and play with the toy. However, should the child drop or throw the toy, the bar clamp, toy fastener and attachment cord work together to prevent the toy from going too far away from the child or from coming in contact with the ground. A person seated near the child or device is then able to pull the attachment cord and, without bending down, able to retrieve the toy for the child so that the child is able to resume play.

[0009] The bar clamp of the present invention may also include a trigger handle and a braking lever on the movable portion in order to assist in tightening and disengaging the clamp. While the movable portion of the bar clamp may be manually advanced towards the fixed portion of the clamp in order to fasten the clamp around the edge of a table or other surface, actuation of the trigger handle advances the movable portion of the bar clamp along the slide bar in a direction towards the fixed portion of the clamp. Use of the trigger handle in this manner allows a person to tighten the device by using only one hand. Alternatively, when the bar clamp is tightened around the edge of a table or other surface, actuation of the braking lever on the movable portion of the bar clamp disengages the bar clamp and allows the movable portion of the clamp to advance along the slide bar in a direction away from the fixed portion.

[0010] One embodiment of the present invention may also feature non-abrasive protective pads on the fixed and movable portions of the bar clamp. These pads serve as a barrier between the clamp and the surface in which the clamp is fastened and are intended to enhance the grip of the clamp and prevent the clamp from scratching or causing other damage to the table or surface once the apparatus is secured into place. The second end of the slide bar of the present invention may also feature a raised section for preventing the movable portion of the bar clamp from advancing past the second end of the slide bar and becoming disengaged from said bar.

Problems solved by technology

Frequently, the child will be quite young and lack the manual dexterity required to grasp the particular object for more than a few moments.

This scenario can sometimes continuously repeat itself numerous times and can cause the adult great frustration.

In addition, the fallen toy may become damaged or dirtied from coming in contact with the ground such that it would not be suitable for further play, thus causing the child to become restless or irritated.

Images