DESCRIPTION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/353,525 filed June 10, 2010, and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/156,296 filed June 8, 201 1, both of which are incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The invention relates to a gathering device useful for collecting small objects, such as objects used in craft projects, or other fields of endeavor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In certain instances it is required to gather up a number of small objects from a surface, such as a table top, a counter, or a work bench. In these situations, it may be time consuming to pick up each individual object. Additionally, some people with certain medical conditions, such as arthritis, may find it exceedingly difficult to handle a large number of objects. Thus, a need exists for a device that can be utilized to gather a number of small objects from a surface without requiring the user to handle every object.

[0004] The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior baking pans. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one embodiment, a retractable herding apparatus comprises a housing, a tape drum, a retractable tape, and a biasing member. The housing has an interior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall to provide access into the cavity. The tape drum is rotatably disposed in the housing. The retractable tape has a first end and a second end. The first end of the retractable tape is attached to the tape drum. The second end of the retractable tape is attached to the housing proximate the opening in the sidewall. The retractable tape is movable between a fully retracted position and a fully protracted position. The biasing member couples to the tape drum. The biasing member is provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retracted position.

[0006] According to another embodiment, a retractable herding apparatus comprises a housing, a tape drum, a retractable tape, a biasing member, and a brake element. The housing has an interior cavity, a sidewall and an opening defined in the sidewall to provide access into the cavity. The tape drum is rotatably disposed in the housing. The retractable tape has a first end and a second end. The first end of the retractable tape is attached to the tape drum. The second end of the retractable tape is attached to the housing proximate the opening in the sidewall. The retractable tape is movable between a fully retracted position and a fully protracted position. The biasing member couples to the tape drum. The biasing member is provided to bias the retractable tape toward the retracted position. The brake element operatively couples to one of either the tape drum and the retractable tape. The brake element is movable between a first position and a second position. When the brake element is in the first position, the retractable tape is biased to fully retracted position and is movable toward the fully protracted position.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable gathering device according to one embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the retractable gathering device of FIG. 1 ;

[0011] FIG. 3 is an end view of the retractable gathering device of FIG. 1 ;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the retractable gathering device of FIG. 1 ;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the retractable gathering device of FIG. 1 with the retractable tape in a retracted position;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken through line 6-6 of FIG. 1 ;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a top view of the retractable gathering device with a top of a housing removed and the retractable tape in a retracted position; and

[0016] FIG. 8 is a top view of the retractable gathering device with a top of a housing removed and the retractable tape in a protracted position; and [0017] The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0019] FIGs. 1-8 show a retractable herding device, or retractable gathering device, 10 used to collect a plurality of objects from a surface, such as a table top. The retractable herding device 10 comprises a housing 12. The housing 12 has an interior cavity 14 formed therein. The housing 12 has a sidewall 16 that has an opening 18 formed therein. The sidewall 16 partially encloses the interior cavity 14. The opening 18 provides access to the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12. The interior cavity 14 is adapted to receive the plurality of objects collected by the herding device 10.

[0020] The herding device 10 further comprises a tape drum 20. The tape drum 20 is rotatably disposed within the housing 12. A retractable tape 22 is attached to the tape drum 20. The retractable tape 22 has a first end 24 and a second end 26. The first end 24 of the retractable tape 22 is connected to the tape drum 20. The second end 26 of the retractable tape 22 is connected to the housing 12 proximate the opening 18 in the sidewall 16. The retractable tape 22 is moveable between an protracted position, as shown in FIGs. 1 -4, 6 and a retracted position, as shown in FIGs. 5 and 7. The tape drum 20 thus is utilized to store the retractable tape 22 in a retracted position. The tape drum 20 may store the retractable tape 22 in a coiled arrangement. While a single tape drum 20 is shown in FIGs. 1-8, it is

contemplated that a plurality of tape drums may be provided, such that a single retractable tape 22 or a plurality of retractable tapes 22 may be used with the herding device 10.

[0021] The retractable herding apparatus 10 further comprises a biasing member 32 controlled by a release 28. The biasing member connects to the tape drum 20 and controls operation of the retractable tape 22 within the tape drum 20. It is contemplated that the biasing member 32 may take the form of a coil spring. The biasing member 32 biases the retractable tape 22 of the tape drum 20 to a retracted position. As shown in FIGs. 1-4, the biasing member release 28 takes the from of a release button. When the biasing member release 28 is depressed, the biasing member 32 causes the retractable tape 22 to move towards the retracted position within the tape drum 20. When the biasing member release 28 is not depressed, the retractable tape 22 may be pulled out of the tape drum 20, such that a longer length of retractable tape 22 is exposed, until the entire retractable tape 22 is exposed. The retractable tape 22 will stay in a protracted position or a partially protracted position until the biasing member release 28 is depressed.

[0022] The retractable tape 22 may be formed from a variety of materials such as metal or plastic. One material that may be well suited for use in forming the retractable tape 22 is a vinyl polymer.

[0023] A gripping member 30 may be provided on the retractable tape 22. The gripping member 30 allows a user to more readily move the retractable tape 22 to a protracted position. The gripping member 30 may be slidable along a length of the retractable tape 22 so as to allow the user to pull the gripping member 30 in one direction relative to the housing 12 to move the retractable tape 22 to a protracted position.

[0024] As the retractable tape 22 moves to a fully retracted position, a portion of the retractable tape 22 will cover the opening 18 formed in the sidewall 16 of the housing 12. Thus, with the retractable tape 22 in a fully retracted position, the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12 is enclosed by the retractable tape 22 covering the opening 18 of sidewall 16.

[0025] It is further contemplated that the housing 12 may include a moveable cover. The moveable cover is adapted to move from an open position, allowing access to the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12, to a closed position, preventing access to the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12. It is contemplated that the moveable cover will be slidably mounted to the housing 12, and that the cover will slide between an open position and a closed position.

[0026] It is contemplated according to a further embodiment that the retractable herding device 10 may also comprise a brake element 34. The brake element 34 is coupled to one of the tape drum 20 and the retractable tape 22. The brake element 34 moveable between a first position and a second position. With the brake element 34 in the first position, the retractable tape 22 is biased by the biasing member 32 to the fully retracted position, but is moveable toward a protracted position. With the brake element 34 disposed in the second position, the retractable tape is fixedly maintained in a predetermined position. The predetermined position may be a partially protracted position, or a fully retracted position.

[0027] In operation, the retractable herding device 10 is provide onto a surface, such as a table top. The retractable tape 22 may be placed into a protracted position by the user grasping the gripping member 30 and pulling a length of the retractable tape 22 from the tape drum 20. Once a sufficient length of retractable tape 22 has been exposed from the tape drum 20 to surround a plurality of objects the user wishes to collect, the release 28 is depressed, allowing the biasing member to cause the tape drum 20 to position the retractable tape 22 into a retracted position. As the retractable tape 22 is moving to the retracted position, the plurality of objects are contacted by the retractable tape 22, and herded into the interior cavity 14 of the housing 12. Once the retractable tape 22 reaches the fully retracted position, the opening 18 of the sidewall 16 is covered by a portion of the retractable tape 22, thereby securing the objects in the interior cavity 14. Thus, the plurality of objects may be quickly and easily gathered into the interior cavity 14 by the retractable herding apparatus 10.

[0028] While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.