Object catcher

Details Object catcher Object catcher

2001-08-06

2003-07-29

Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)

Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying

Fishing

Nets

Reexamination Certificate

active

06598335

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an object catcher, and more specifically to an object catcher that is designed not to damage the object being captured.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When catching flies or other insects to remove them from inside a house, people tend to swat them or otherwise kill them. Taking their innocent lives, however, are not necessary. Also, swatting flies or other insects normally leaves behind a smear on the surface where they were killed or hurt. Thus, it is desirable to have a catcher that can capture flies or other insects without necessarily hurting them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an object catcher including a support shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a sheet portion arranged adjacent to the distal end of the support shaft. The sheet portion defines a periphery. The object catcher further includes a line having a first end portion and a second end portion and an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions. The intermediate portion of the line is slidably coupled to the periphery of the sheet portion, and the first and second end portions extend generally in parallel with the support shaft. With this construction, pulling the first and second end portions of the line in the direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the support shaft causes the periphery of the sheet portion to be gathered to thereby close the sheet portion.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the support shaft is formed of a tube, and the first and second end portions of the line extend through the tube. The object catcher may further include a rod adapted to slide within the tube. The rod defines a distal end and a proximal end, and the first and second end portions of the line are secured to the distal end of the rod so that pulling the proximal end of the rod in the direction from the distal end to the proximal end of the support shaft causes the periphery of the sheet portion to be gathered to thereby close the sheet portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the object catcher may include means for automatically opening or closing the sheet portion. For example, the object catcher may include spring-loaded means for automatically closing the sheet portion when actuated by a release button. As another example, the object catcher may include an electric motor for automatically opening or closing the sheet portion.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the support shaft of the object catcher may include two or more telescopically coupled tubes. The support shaft constructed in this manner can be fully extended prior to opening the sheet portion to capture an object. Thereafter, the sheet portion is closed and then the support shaft is shortened to the original length.
Another embodiment of an object catcher of the present invention also includes a support shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a sheet portion defining a periphery and being arranged adjacent to the distal end of the support shaft. At least one line is slidably coupled to the periphery of the sheet portion. The object catcher further includes means for shortening a length of the line being adjacent to the periphery of the sheet portion so as to cause the periphery of the sheet portion to be gathered to thereby close the sheet portion.
Therefore, an object catcher of the present invention is highly suited for catching and removing insects from home without killing them or hurting them in any way. Further, the object catcher of the invention may be used in various other applications. For example, it may be used to catch fish, or it may be used to capture a golf ball fallen into water or otherwise hard-to-reach places. In fact, the object catcher may be used to catch any living or non-living objects, without hurting or damaging them, and therefore the applications of the object catcher of the present invention are substantially limitless.


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