초록 ▼

Many tools and other items include a shaft. A restraining device is disclosed for restraining such an item when the item is not in use. In one embodiment, the restraining device includes at least one of: (i) a thumb-receiving surface for receiving a force by a thumb to pivot an arm open; and (ii) a

Many tools and other items include a shaft. A restraining device is disclosed for restraining such an item when the item is not in use. In one embodiment, the restraining device includes at least one of: (i) a thumb-receiving surface for receiving a force by a thumb to pivot an arm open; and (ii) a finger-receiving surface for receiving a force by at least one finger to pivot the arm open. The restraining device may be used in restraining a reaching device in a rural mail carrier's vehicle. An apparatus is therefore also disclosed that, in one embodiment, includes a supporting body securable to a vehicle seat. The supporting body supports a tray for holding mail. The restraining device is connected to the supporting body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A restraining device comprising: a base and an arm pivotally connected to the base, at least one of the base and the arm defining a channel for receiving a shaft to be restrained by the arm of the restraining device;the arm pivotable around a pivoting axis between an open position for permitting

1. A restraining device comprising: a base and an arm pivotally connected to the base, at least one of the base and the arm defining a channel for receiving a shaft to be restrained by the arm of the restraining device;the arm pivotable around a pivoting axis between an open position for permitting entry of the shaft into the channel, and a closed position in which the arm restrains the shaft in the channel;the arm biased to remain in the closed position and to return to the closed position when in the open position; the arm comprising a thumb-receiving surface for receiving a force by a thumb to pivot the arm from the closed position to the open position anda finger-receiving surface for receiving a force by at least one finger to pivot the arm from the closed position to the open position; wherein an end of the arm further comprises a shaft-receiving surface adapted to receive a force applied by a shaft being snapped into the channel when the arm is in the closed position; the force applied by the shaft causing the arm to pivot open, and the arm biased to return to the closed position once the force applied by the shaft on the shaft-receiving surface is removed; wherein the thumb receiving surface is on one end of the arm and the finger-receiving surface is on the other end of the arm; wherein the arm comprises a claw that extends across the channel when the arm is in the closed position. 2. The restraining device of claim 1, and the thumb-receiving surface is connected to the claw. 3. The restraining device of claim 1, and the arm further comprises a fin; wherein the claw and the fin are each on opposite sides of the pivoting axis, and wherein the fin comprises the finger-receiving surface. 4. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein: the thumb-receiving surface and the finger-receiving surface are on opposite sides of the pivoting axis; andthe thumb-receiving surface and the finger-receiving surface face in different directions from each other. 5. The restraining device of claim 4, wherein the thumb-receiving surface and the finger-receiving surface face in substantially opposite directions from each other. 6. The restraining device of claim 5, wherein the arm comprises a fin; wherein the claw and the fin are each on opposite sides of the pivoting axis, and wherein one side of the fin defines the finger receiving surface and a portion of the claw facing in a direction substantially opposite the one side of the fin defines the thumb receiving surface. 7. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein when in the closed position, the arm extends across the channel and towards the base, leaving a gap between the end of the arm and the base; the gap smaller than a diameter of the shaft. 8. The restraining device of claim 7, wherein the shaft-receiving surface is adjacent to the gap. 9. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the restraining device comprises a guard for constraining movement of a portion of the shaft in one direction away from a longitudinal axis of the channel more than in another direction away from the longitudinal axis when the shaft is received in the channel and restrained by the arm in the closed position. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a supporting body that is connected to the restraining device and that is securable to a seat of a vehicle. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the supporting body comprises a base and two opposite walls upstanding from the base, the two opposite walls for receiving therebetween a tray for holding mail. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the restraining device is connected to one of said opposite walls. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the two opposite walls has an abutment surface extending therefrom; the abutment surface for mitigating movement of the tray when the tray is received between the two opposite walls. 14. The restraining device of claim 1, wherein the arm is spring-biased. 15. A restraining device comprising: a base and an arm movably connected to the base, at least one of the base and the arm defining a channel for receiving a shaft to be restrained by the arm of the restraining device, the channel having a longitudinal axis, and the arm being movable between an open position for permitting entry of the shaft into the channel, and a closed position in which the arm loosely restrains the shaft in the channel; anda guard for constraining movement of a portion of the shaft in one direction away from the longitudinal axis more than in another direction away from the longitudinal axis when the shaft is received in the channel and loosely restrained by the arm; wherein the base comprises an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, and the channel extends between the upper surface and the lower surface; and wherein the guard extends downward from the lower surface; wherein the arm is pivotally connected to the base and is pivotable around a pivoting axis between the open position and the closed position; the arm further comprising a thumb-receiving surface for receiving a force by a thumb to pivot the arm from the closed position to the open position anda finger-receiving surface for receiving a force by at least one finger to pivot the arm from the closed position to the open position and wherein the thumb receiving surface is on one end of the arm and the finger-receiving surface is on the other end of the arm. 16. The restraining device of claim 15, wherein the channel is defined in the base and the guard is connected to or integrally formed with the base and forms part of the channel. 17. The restraining device of claim 15, wherein the channel is defined by opposite ends, each of the ends on an opposite side of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel; and wherein the arm, when in the closed position, is closer to one of the opposite ends. 18. The restraining device of claim 15, wherein the arm further comprises an inner surface that faces the longitudinal axis when the arm is in the closed position, and at least a portion of the guard and at least a portion of the inner surface of the arm are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis when the arm is in the closed position. 19. The restraining device of claim 18, wherein said at least a portion of the guard extends downward from the base and is offset from and below said at least a portion of the inner surface of the arm when the arm is in the closed position. 20. The restraining device of claim 15, wherein said portion of the shaft is the portion of the shaft below the arm. 21. The restraining device of claim 15, wherein the channel is defined by an arcuate surface, and wherein the guard also comprises an arcuate surface that is integrally formed with the arcuate surface that defines the channel. 22. The restraining device of claim 15, wherein the guard does not constrain the movement of the portion of the shaft in said another direction away from the longitudinal axis.