Flexible Claw Pick-Up Tool
If something needs to be done, it's a good bet a tool exists to help you do it. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reports nearly 26,000 patent applications and more than 23,000 patent grants for design of new tools and devices in 2009. The design category is where the flexible claw pick-up tool would fall; it is a tool with a very specific function that helps make certain tasks a bit easier.
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Design
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The flexible claw pick-up tool is a long, flexible tube with a claw attachment on one end. The other end features a plunger that controls the claw's movement. When you press the plunger, the claw's jaws open, and when you release the plunger, the jaws shut. A spring inside the tube is the mechanism that triggers the jaws to open and close.
Features
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The flexible claw pick-up tool's shaft and claw are usually metal and available in different sizes. Shafts start at about 13 inches in length, while claws are compact when closed but open to 1 inch or more. Claws can have two jaws or four, with long, wire jaws or those shaped like a pair of pliers. Some tools include additional features like a detachable magnet for retrieving metal items or a LED light to illuminate dark nooks and crannies.
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Uses
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The tool works for retrieving things from places you cannot reach with your arm, either because the space is too tight or the reach too long. This includes small openings between furniture and appliances, behind cabinets, in car engines or any other tiny area. Another use is to help with wiring or components inside of walls or other narrow spaces. The magnetic feature lets you easily pick up fallen nuts, bolts, screws and other metal hardware and objects.
Manufacturers and Prices
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A host of different manufacturers make a version of the flexible claw pick-up tool with an equally wide range of prices. The 13-inch Ullman No. 17 four-prong version is about $5, while the 24-inch, four-prong Titan version costs about $15. Blue Point makes a 17-inch two-prong claw and a 24-inch four-prong claw priced about $14 and $25, respectively. Costs reflect 2010 prices. You can find the claw that best suits your needs and price range by shopping around at a variety of stores or websites that sell tools and housewares.
Warning
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Because of its thin shaft and small claw, flexible claw pick-up tools are limited. Since the claws are neither heavy nor powerful enough to use on a heavier load, they will only retrieve small, lightweight objects. Similar tools, known as "grabbers," have a sturdier design and larger grip to retrieve larger items like litter, debris or items off tall shelves. These tools usually do not have a flexible shaft.
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References
- Photo Credit nuts and bolts image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com
