Canada Post Corporation

Cathy Janveau

Rod Muir

Mike G Sirois

Phil Streets

Peter Wells

Todd MacGillivray

Yves Bedard

Luc Boucher

Torrin Marcus Mullins

Martin Dion

Julian Potvin-Bernal

Andrew Lowe

Arland Horner

Christopher Eady

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.

Restraining device

A reaching device that in one embodiment comprises an elongated member, a jaw, and an actuator for opening and closing the jaw. The jaw includes a pair of holding members, one of which has a tapered lateral side edge. In one embodiment, the reaching device may allow a rural mail carrier to remain seated in the driver's side of a conventional (North American) vehicle, reach through the passenger's window, and perform the following tasks: open a mail box, retrieve mail from the mail box, place mail into the mail box, close the mail box, and raise or lower the indicator flag on the side of the mail box.

Reaching device

Growing community of inventors

Ottawa, Canada

Cathy Janveau