GB2440389A

GB2440389A - A tool with means to pick up and throw a retrieval object for a dog

Info

Publication number: GB2440389A
Application number: GB0614502A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Maidment
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-28
Filing date: 2006-07-21
Publication date: 2008-01-30
Also published as: GB0614502D0

Abstract

A tool with means to lift and throw a retrieval object for a dog. The retrieval object is in the form of a stick comprising a cylinder 2 with a narrow wheel 3 at each end, where the wheel has narrow rim 5 that is joined to the cylinder 2 by spokes 6. During use, the stick is coupled to the tool, and released from the tool when the user swings the tool in a forward motion e.g. over arm, thereby preventing the user from touching said stick. The tool may have a bifurcated clip (Fig 3) to releasable engage the cylinder to the tool, the coupling force is sufficient to allow the stick to be lifted, yet allows the stick to be released when the when the tool is rotated. Alternatively the tool may have a handle (14, fig 4) and a rod (13, fig 4) that passes through the cylinder 2 of the stick. The cylinder of the stick preferably extends slightly from the rim of one of the wheel and has a groove (10, fig 4) allowing the stick to be coupled to the tool via an adjustable cantilever (15, fig 4) on the handle of the tool or magnets. The position of the stick along the length of the rod (13, fig 4) can be adjusted by means of a sliding collar on the rod thereby allowing the user to vary the trajectory of the stick as it leaves the tool. Alternatively the stick may be thrown to and fro between people as part of a game.

Description

AN HYGENIC RETRIEVAL OBJECT

At present, there is a tool with which a ball can be thrown and lifted which does not require hand-contact with the ball. The person throwing the ball is, therefore, protected against contamination by an unhealthy matter deposited upon it when landing upon the ground. However, the tool provides no protection for a dog retrieving the ball, or a person returning it, who does not also have the said tool.

The purpose of this invention is the provision of an alternative retrieval object which is hygienic for both man and dog and is lifted and thrown by a tool. Consequently, there is provided an object hereinafter referred to as the "stick" (I), the cylindrical part of which is carried within the dog's mouth and is prevented from touching the ground upon which the stick lands. Also there is provided a tool with which the stick can be lifted from the ground, or from the ground and from the mouth of a dog holding it for that purpose.

For the purpose of illustration only, three embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the following figures, in which:-Figure 1 -is a longitudinal cross-section through the stick of the first embodiment.

Figure 2 -is an end-elevation of the stick.

Figure 3 -shows the lifting and throwing tool, for the stick of the first embodiment.

Figure 4-shows the tool required for the stick of the second embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1, for the first embodiment, it can be seen that the stick (1) is comprised of a cylinder (2) which has a narrow wheel (3) at each end of it, and a slight encircling protrusion (4) which is symmetrically located on each side of it mid-point.

Also that the two wheels (3) are separated from each other by a distance equal to their diameter which is about 150mm, in order to ensure that no part of the cylinder (2) located between the wheels (3) touches the ground. Also to ensure that most dogs are able to take hold of the cylinder (2), without their heads touching the ground, or the wheels (3).

The protrusions (4) are separated by a distance which is slightly greater than the width of the clip of the lifting and throwing tool shown in Figure 3, which engages the part of the cylinder (2) between them.

From Figure 2, it can be seen that the wheel (3) has a narrow rim (5) which is joined to the cylinder (2) by means of four, narrow, equi-spaced spokes (6). Both of these components are given the necessary cross-section, material strength and resilience to withstand many ground impacts of the stick (1) , without suffering breakage or significant distortion.

From Figure 3, it can be seen that the tool (7) for the stick described is similar to the tool presently available for use with a ball, except that the ball-cup is replaced with a flared-mouth, bifurcated clip of the kind commonly used for securing pipes. This is forced onto the cylinder (2), by means of the shaft (8), when both wheels (3) of the stick (1) rest upon the ground; and the coupling force produced is determined by the setting of the adjustable screw (9). It is set to give a coupling just sufficient to allow the stick (I) to be lifted, but not sufficient to prevent de-coupling and release of the stick (1), when the rate-of-rotation of the tool is reduced slightly and the inertia of the stick exceeds the holding-force of the coupling.

For the second embodiment, the stick is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the cylinder (2) is hollow; extends slightly beyond the rim of one of the wheels (3); has semi-circular groove (10) in the extension; and has a chamfered end (11).

Referring to Figure 4, it can be seen that the tool (12) for the stick of the second embodiment consists of the rod (13) which is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the hole which passes through its cylinder (2). The length of the rod (13) is about 600mm; and it has a cylindrical profiled handle (14) at one end, and is sharply tapered at its other end, to facilitate entry into the cylinder (2). Also, a small cantilever (15) which protrudes from the handle (14), over the groove (10) of the cylinder (2) and has an adjustable screw (16) which enters into the groove, after it has been raised up by the chamfered surface (11), on the cylinder (2). The length of the screw (15) projecting from the cantilever (15) determines the deflection of it and the resulting coupling-force between the tool (12) and the stick (1), when the rod (13) is fully entered into it.

The screw (15) is set so that the coupling gives a force greater than the weight of the stick, but less than the de-coupling force provided by the centrifugal acceleration force produced, when the tool starts its rotation.

The stick (1) is lifted from the ground, or from the mouth of a dog, by the insertion of the rod (13) into the grooved end of the cylinder (2), and by quickly rotating the rod (13) into a vertical position which causes the stick (1) to drop down it, and the screw (15) to engage with the groove (10). The rod can then be moved so that the stick is located behind the person throwing it and as high as possible. A rapid, forward rotation of the tool then causes the stick to move rapidly over the rod, and to leave it with a radial velocity which is significant compared to its longitudinal velocity.

The stick of the second embodiment can be given a greater launch-velocity, for a given angle of projection than is possible with the stick of the first embodiment and its tool.

However, a greater element of skill in the use of it's tool is required to obtain the best possible trajectory, than is required for the stick of the first embodiment.

At higher cost, a higher consistency of the coupling-force of the rod to the stick (and, therefore, consistency of the throw obtained) is possible by replacement of the groove (10) with a ferntic collar; and by the addition of a small, cylindrical high-flux magnet to the end of the screw (15). The gap set between the magnet and the collar determines the coupling force -which, consequently, should remain consistent.

For the third embodiment, the stick I is as described for the first embodiment, except that the cylinder (2) is hollow and is not provided with the protrusions (4) (Fig I).

Also, the tool (12) provided for the throwing of it has a rod (13) (Fig 4) of a length sufficient to prevent rotation of the tool (12), when it is held so that the free end of the rod (13) is pointing towards the ground. The tool (12) is also provided with a close-fitting sliding collar which as a frictional hold upon the rod (13) sufficient to support the weight of the stick located upon it, when the tool is held so that the free end of the rod (13) is pointing away from the ground.

The position of the stick, along the length of the rod (13), can adjusted by means of the sliding collar, to produce a variation of the trajectory given to the stick (1), when it leaves the tool (12). And the position can be so set that the stick (1) does not leave the tool (12) until the rotation of both is in the direction of the ground; and the resulting trajectory is directed downwards to a chosen position upon it. This is in contrast to the trajectory obtained with the stick and tool of the second embodiment of the invention, for which the direction of the rotation and the trajectory are upwards, away from the selected point upon the ground. Also its initial height and velocity are lower, because of the shorter length of the tool concerned

Claims

CLAIMS

An hygienic retrievable object which can be lifted from the ground, or from the mouth of a dog by means of a tool, from which is can also be thrown, as a result of its rapid rotation in a vertical plane, from a position behind the person throwing it to one forward of that person; wherein the said object (the "stick") is comprised of a cylinder which has a wheel, or wheel-spokes at each end of it which has a diameter large enough to prevent any part of the cylinder within the confines of the wheels from touching the ground; wherein the diameter and the spacing of the wheels are large enough to allow most dogs to take the said cylinder into their mouths, without making a head-contact with the ground, or the wheels; wherein the stick is coupled to the said tool with a force which exceeds the weight of the stick but is less then the de-coupling force caused by the inertia of the stick, either when the tool starts to rotate, or when it starts to ends its rotation; wherein the stick leaves the tool either with a tangential velocity equal to wr where w = the speed of rotation and r = the final radius of rotation), or with that tangential velocity, plus the radial velocity which is produced by the centrifugal force acting upon it, during its travel along the tool.

2. A stick as in Claim 1, the cylinder of which is solid and has an encircling protrusion symmetrically located on each side of the cylinder's mid-point, which centrally locates the clip on the stick's tool which couples the stick and the tool.

3. A stick as in Claim 1 having a cylinder which is hollow and which, at one end, extends beyond the rim of its wheel; wherein the said extension has a groove cut around it, or a band of ferntic material secured upon it, which, respectively, is used to mechanically, or magnetically, couple the stick and the tool together.

4. A tool for the stick of Claim 2 which is similar to the tool presently available for use upon a ball, except that the ball-cup is replaced with a flared-mouth, bifurcated clip which is thrust over the cylinder, when both of its wheel rest upon the ground; wherein the magnitude of the coupling between the said clip and the stick is adjustable by means of a screw which changes the deflection of one of the branches of the clip required for entry of the cylinder into the clip; wherein the coupling force produced exceeds the weight of the stick, but is less than the dc-coupling force produced by the inertia of the stick, when the tool is decelerated to end its rotation.

5. A tool for the stick of Claim 3 which is domprised of a rod having a profiled handle at one end and a pointed end at the other; wherein the rod is easily entered into the stick and moved along it; wherein a cantilever protrudes from the said handle, out over the extension of the stick's cylinder, sufficiently for the other end of a screw carried by the cantilever to engage with the groove of the cylinder; wherein the axial thrust upon the stick necessary to force the screw out of the groove and to de-couple the stick from the took is made greater than the weight of the stick, but less than the inertial thrust upon the stick tending to cause dc-coupling, at the start of the rotation of the tool, by adjustment of the length of the said screw which protrudes from the cantilever holding it.

6. A stick as in Claim 1, having a cylinder which is hollow.

7. A tool, for the stick of Claim 3, which has a rod of a length which necessitates rotation of the tool with the free end of it held directed away from the ground; wherein a sliding collar is provided upon the said rod, for the location of the stick upon the rod, at selected positions upon it.

8. A means for an hygienic game involving two, or more, persons in which an object is repeatedly passed to and from; wherein the object is the "stick" of Claims 2 or 7 and the tools required for the game are as stated in Claims 5 or 8.