CA2186816A1 - Tool handle - Google Patents

Tool handle

Info

Publication number
CA2186816A1
CA2186816A1 CA002186816A CA2186816A CA2186816A1 CA 2186816 A1 CA2186816 A1 CA 2186816A1 CA 002186816 A CA002186816 A CA 002186816A CA 2186816 A CA2186816 A CA 2186816A CA 2186816 A1 CA2186816 A1 CA 2186816A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
aperture
tool handle
tab
grip member
rotation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002186816A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul C. Aquilina
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Melnor Canada Ltd
Original Assignee
Melnor Canada Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Melnor Canada Ltd filed Critical Melnor Canada Ltd
Priority to CA002186816A priority Critical patent/CA2186816A1/en
Publication of CA2186816A1 publication Critical patent/CA2186816A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25GHANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
    • B25G1/00Handle constructions
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25GHANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
    • B25G1/00Handle constructions
    • B25G1/06Handle constructions reversible or adjustable for position

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Spanners, Wrenches, And Screw Drivers And Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

A two-component tool handle, comprised of a yoke member having yoke arms and a grip member, constructed so as to allow the grip member to be lockingly secured to the yoke arms upon simple rotation of the grip member when inserted in yoke arms, to thereby lock the yoke arms together and thereby form a D-shaped tool handle.
Detent means, preferably in the form of a protruding member on the grip member, and a recessed portion on the yoke arm members, or vice versa, are provided, which snap into engagement upon the grip member being rotated within the yoke arms from a first position to the third (locked) position.

Description

TOOL HANDLE
Field of Invention This invention relates to a tool handle, and more particularly to a two-part tool handle consisting of a grip which may, upon rotation, be fixably secured to the yoke 5 of the tool handle.

kground of Invention Tool handle incorporating various means for fixably securing a grip member between two arms of a yoke member of a tool handle have been known for over 100 years.
10Typical ofthese devices are the tool handles are the type disclosed in U.S.
519,515 and 4,794,667, which teach and describe a cylindrical grip member through which a thru-bolt is passed along the longi~l-lin~l axis of the grip member. Such thru-bolt secures together the two ends of a yoke of a tool handle, and also prevents detachment of the grip from the yoke. Disadvantageously, however, these tool handle designs require 15components in addition to the yoke and grip member, namely an additional thru-bolt and nut, which add to the expense and mechanical complexity in producing the tool handle.
Other prior art devices have successfully elimin~te~l the additional component problem, but at the expense of more complex assembly and increased assembling time. By way of illustration, U.S. Patent 3,107,937 in Figures 8A and 8B of 20such patent disclose a cylindrical grip bar 110 having end extensions 111 adapted to be placed between holder arms 100 of a tool handle to thereby form the tool handle. The holder arms 100 were typically of metal, and the grip bar 110 of wood. Upon insertion of the end extensions 111 into openings 121 in the holder arms 100, downwardly projecting metal web portions 124 and upwardly projecting tongue portions 122 engages slots 112 and 113 to thereby secure the grip bar 110 in the handle, and the flange portions 5 in the vicinity ofthe openings 121 then needed to be crimped or pinched against the end extensions 111 and the tongue 122. This design is completely unsuitable where plastics, including WDPE co-polymers and nylon plastics, are intended to be utilized for the holder arms 100 since such design depends on the m:~teri~l used, particularly the web portions 124 and 122, being permanently deformable when bent or crimped to thereby 10 m~int~in the grip bar 110 in place. This design cannot thus be employed and is entirely unworkable when plastics are used as the yoke material.

Summary of the Invention Despite the prior art designs, a real need exists for a tool handle which may be assembled from two parts but simultaneously m~i"~ il-g ease of assembly, and 15 being particularly adapted where the materials of the tool handle, particularly the yoke arm members of the tool handle, are to be constructed of HDPE plastic or other relatively deformable m~teri~l.
Accordingly, in a broad aspect of this invention, there is provided a tool handle of typical D-grip configuration for a manual implement such as a snow shovel, 20 which may be constructed if desired of a plastic material, and which may be assembled from merely its two structural components, namely a grip member and a yoke member, and which may when assembled create a fixed structure with the grip member lockably -securing the two ends of the yoke member together to form a D-shaped tool handle.
Thus in one broad aspect the present invention comprises a tool handle having a yoke member, such yoke member having at one end thereof means to permit securement to a shaft of a tool and at an opposite end thereof having two elongate arm 5 members, with the ends thereof being in mutually spaced-apart relationship to each other.
An elongated grip member, generally cylindrical in shape, is further provided, having mutually opposite ends adapted for placement between the ends of the two arm members.
Each mutually opposite end of the grip member is adapted to engage a respective distal end of each of the arm members in a first position, and upon rotation to a third position 10 to become lockingly secured at each of its ends to the arm members. Importantly, detent means is provided on at least one of i) each of the ends of the grip member; and/or ii) the distal ends of the yoke member; to allow lockable engagement of the grip member to the yoke member when the grip member is rotated from its first position to the third position.
In a ~l~relled embodiment, each of the mutually opposite ends of the grip 15 member are provided with tab members protruding outwardly adapted for insertion into a respective ap~llu[e in a distal end of an arm member ofthe yoke. Either the tab member or the aperture is further provided with a protruding member, and a corresponding recessed portion is then correspondingly provided in the aperture, or vice versa. Such protruding member on either the tab member or the aperture, and the corresponding 20 recessed portion on the aperture or tab member, as the case may be, upon the tab members being inserted in the corresponding apertures and the grip member then being rotated from this first position to a third position, are caused to m~tingly engage to thereby lockingly engage the grip member to the yoke.

-Accordingly, in this further embodiment, there is further provided a yoke member having at one end thereof means to permit securement to a shaft of a tool, and at an opposite end thereof two elongate arm members, each arm member at its distal end having an aperture whereby each aperture of each arm member is in opposed mutually spaced-apart relationship with the other. An elongate grip member having mutually opposite ends, and tab members protruding outwardly from each of said mutually-opposite ends adapted for insertion into a respective aperture in a distal end, are also provided. Each of said tab members and each of said apertures possess, respectively, a protruding member and a corresponding recessed portion, wherein each of said tabmembers when inserted in said apertures and the grip member rotated from a firstposition to a second position, causes a condition of interference between the tab members and the aperture. Further rotation of the grip member from the second position to a third position causes the respective protruding member to matingly engage the corresponding recessed portion so as to lockingly engage the grip member to the yoke member and elimin~te the interference condition.

Brief Dt~ ,lion of the Drawin~

Further embodiments incorporating various pe" "~ ons will appear from the following detailed description ofthe invention, taken together with the acco~ ~lyhlg drawings, in which:
Figure lA is a perspective view of one part of the two component handle design of the present invention, depicting the yoke member;
Figure lB is a perspective view of the other part of the two-component handle design of the present member, depicting the grip member in a first position in which it would be inserted between the arms of the yoke member;
Figure lC is a perspective view of the grip member, shown in the position it would be rotated to, within the yoke arm members, namely the third position, to achieve securement of the grip member to the yoke.
Figure 2 is a top view of the tool handle specifically the yoke member and arms, without the grip member installed;
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the yoke member shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a top view of the tool handle, showing the yoke member with the grip member installed between the link arms;
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the tool handle shown in Figure Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane 7-7 of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment design of the yoke and grip member, shown with the grip -member installed within the yoke member; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane 9-9 of Figure 8, knowing both the grip member and one arm member of the yoke in cross-section.

5 Description of the Preferred Embodiment Figures lA, lB, and lC as well as Figure 5 show the tool handle 10 of the present invention, having a yoke member 12 which at one end thereof possesses means in the form of an orifice or cavity 14 to permit placement of a shaft 16 of a tool (not shown) to allow the tool handle 10 to be secured thereto.
At the opposite end of the yoke member 12 are two elongate arm members 18, each arm member 18 at its distal end having an aperture 20 whereby each aperture 20 of each arm member 18 is in opposed spaced apart relationship to the corresponding aperture 20 on the other arm member 18.
The yoke member 12 preferably of a high density polyethylene plastic 15 (HPDE Plastic) or nylon plastic to allow injection molding thereof to the shape shown, and in the prt;r~ d embodiment is in its entirety made from an HPDE injection molded plastic. The shaft 16 to which such tool handle 10 is secured, usually by friction fit, or other means, is usually of wood but may be of other materials.

A cylindrical elongate grip member 22, having mutually opposite ends 24, 20 is provided. Such grip member 22 is initially detached from the yoke member 12, to allow for material of a shock-absorbing nature, such as a polyethylene or styrofoam sleeve (not shown) to be fitted over such grip member 22 to assist in comfort of use of the tool handle 10, prior to being lockingly secured to the yoke member 12. Such grip member 22 is also preferably of a plastic material, such as high density polyethylene or a nylon plastic, and is in the preferred embodiment made in its entirety from a HPDE
S injection-molded plastic.

Tab members 26 extend from each ofthe mutually opposite ends 24 ofthe grip member 22. The grip member 22 is adapted for placement intermediate the arm members 18 so that the tab members 26 may be inserted within the respective aperture 20 of each arm member 18 as shown in Figures lA - lB in a first position, and adapted 10 to allow at least a 90~ rotation within such aperture (Figure lC) to a third position to alow such grip member 22 to become lockingly secured, as hereinafter explained, at each of its ends 24 to the respective arm members 18.
Detent means, in the form of a raised protruding member 30 is provided, as shown in Figures lB and lC, and a corresponding recessed groove portion 32 in said 15 apertures 20 is likewise provided, as shown in Figure lA. When the grip member 22 and in particular its tab members 26 with the protruding member 30 thereon is inserted in the corresponding aperture 20 in the arm members 18, and rotated from a first position to a second intermediate position (not shown), an hlL~lr~.ellce condition is created between the protruding member 30 and surrounding portions of the aperture 20. The interference 20 condition is caused, in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 - 7, by dimension 't' (see Figure lB and Figure 7) being smaller than dimension 'w', as shown in Figure 4.
Alternatively, in a second embodiment of the tool handle 10, the interference condition is caused by the dimension 'x' consisting of the thickness of the tab member 26 and the protruding member 30 being greater than dimension 'y', as shown in Figure 9.
Advantageously, the creation of an interference condition in the intermediate position (ie second position) assists in en~uring that the grip member 22 will S not rotate back from the third position back to the second andlor first position to thereby become disengaged from the yoke member 12. As seen from above, two different embodiments (Figure 7 and Figure 9) are disclosed for en~uring an interference condition exists in the second position. In the first embodiment (Figures 1 - 7) due to (limen~ion 't' being smaller than dimension 'w' (see Figure 4), a tensile force is created in end 24 of 10 the grip member due to component 40 being squeezed between tab member 26, protruding member 30, and surface S0 of the grip member. In the second embodiment (Figures 8 & 9), due to dimension 'x' being greater than dimension 'y', protruding member 30 on tab member 26 is forcibly m~int~ined in recessed groove portion 32 by pressure from wall 52 in aperture 20. Advantageously, the interference will gradually l S increase upon rotation from the first position to the second position, and upon further slight rotation to such third position where the protruding member 30 engages the recessed portion 32, the interference condition no longer exists.
In both embodiments, upon further rotation of the grip member 22 to a third position (see Figure 7 and Figure 9), the interference condition is removed when the 20 protruding member 30 m~tingly engages the recessed portion 32, thereby preventing further rotation of the grip member 22. The two arm members 18 are then held together by the tab member 26 abutting the inner surface 40 of the aperture 20 within each arm member 18 (see Figures 7 and 9).

To allow rotation of the grip member 22 through a condition of interference in the second position, and on to a third position where the protruding member 30 suddenly "snaps" into the recessed area 32 of the aperture 20, it is necessary that the protruding member 30 or areas within the aperture 20 be resiliently deformable S or flexible to allow the m~terial~ to deform in an hlte~ ce condition, and to restore themselves to their normal dimensions when the condition of interference ceases in the third position.
Of note, it is not necessary that the protruding member 30 be situate on the tab member 22. As may accordingly now be clearly apparent to a person skilled in 10 the art, the protruding member 30 may be situate in the aperture 20, and the recessed portion situate on the tab member 22, and the two matingly engage each other in the third position.
The manner of assembly of the tool handle is now described. In particular, to lockably install the grip member 22 within the yoke 12, the tab members 26 of the grip 15 member 22 are inserted into the corresponding apertures 20 in each arm member as shown in Figures lA with Figure lB. The grip member 22 is then rotated through a condition of interference, wherein protruding member 30 and/or the aperture 20 resiliently deforms to allow such rotation. Upon rotation ofthe grip member 22 to a third position (Figure lA with Figure lC), the protruding member 30 m~tingly engages the 20 recessed portion 32, and the interference condition is removed. The corresponding arm members 18 are prevented from being pulled apart and the grip member 22 thereby removed due to the tab members abutting surface 40 of the aperture 20.
Many variations and modifications will now occur to those skilled in the art, and the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.
For a complete definition of the invention reference is to be made to the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A tool handle comprising:
a yoke member having at one end thereof means to permit securement to a shaft of a tool, and at an opposite end thereof having two elongate arm members, the distal ends thereof being in spaced-apart relationship to each other;
an elongated grip member having mutually opposite ends adapted for placement intermediate said spaced-apart distal ends, each mutually opposite end thereof adapted to engage a respective distal end of each of said arm members in a first position, and upon rotation to a third position to become lockingly secured at each of its ends to said arm members; and detent means on at least one of i) the ends of said grip member;
ii) the distal ends of said yoke member;
for lockable engagement of said grip member to said yoke member when said grip member is rotated from said first position to said third position.
2. A tool handle as claimed in claim 1, said grip member at each of its ends having protruding tab members;
each of said arm members at its distal end having an aperture whereby each aperture is in mutually opposed spaced apart relationship with the other; and each of said tab members insertable within the corresponding aperture in the respective distal end of said arm members.
3. The tool handle as claimed in claim 2, said detent means comprising said tab members each having a protruding member, and said aperture within each distal end having a corresponding recessed portion;
wherein upon rotation of the grip member from said first position to said third position the protruding member lockingly engages the recessed portion.
4. The tool handle as claimed in claim 2, said detent means comprising said tab members each having a recessed portion, and said apertures within each distal end having a protruding member;
wherein upon rotation of the grip member from said first position to said third position, the protruding member lockingly engages the recessed portion.
5. The tool handle as claimed in claim 3, wherein rotation of said grip member from said first position to a second position intermediate said first and third position causes a condition of interference between the protruding member of the tab member and the aperture in the respective distal end; and wherein rotation from said second position to said third position eliminates said condition of interference.
6. The tool handle as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of:
i) the protruding member on the tab member;
ii) the aperture into which the tab member is insertable;
are resiliently deformable so as to allow rotation of said grip member from said first position to said second position.
7. The tool handle as claimed in claim 4, wherein rotation of said grip member from said first position to a second position intermediate said first and third position causes a condition of interference between the protruding member of the aperture in the respective distal end and the corresponding tab member; and wherein rotation from said second position to said third position eliminates said condition of interference.
8. The tool handle as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of:
i) the protruding member of the aperture;
ii) the aperture into which the tab member is insertable;
are resiliently deformable so as to allow rotation of said grip member from said first position to said second position.
9. The tool handle as claimed in claim 5, wherein gradual rotation from said first position to said second position causes a corresponding gradual increase in the condition of interference.
10. The tool handle as claimed in claim 7, wherein gradual rotation from said first position to said second position causes a corresponding gradual increase in the condition of interference.
11. A tool handle comprising:
a yoke member having at one end thereof means to permit securement to a shaft of a tool, and at an opposite end thereof two elongate arm members, each arm member at its distal end having an aperture whereby each aperture of each arm member is in opposed mutually spaced-apart relationship with the other;
an elongate grip member having mutually opposite ends, and tab members protruding outwardly from each of said mutually-opposite ends adapted for insertion into a respective aperture in said distal ends;
each of said tab members and each of said apertures having respectively a protruding member and a corresponding recessed portion wherein each of said tab members, when inserted in said apertures and the grip member rotated from a first position to a second position, cause a condition of interference between said tab members and said apertures, and wherein further rotation of said grip member from said second position to a third position causes the respective protruding member to matingly engage the corresponding recessed portion so as to lockingly engage the grip member to the yoke member and eliminate the interference condition.
12. The tool handle as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of:
i) the protruding member on the tab member;
ii) the aperture into which the tab member is insertable;
are resiliently deformable so as to allow rotation of said grip member from said first position to said second position.
CA002186816A 1996-09-30 1996-09-30 Tool handle Abandoned CA2186816A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002186816A CA2186816A1 (en) 1996-09-30 1996-09-30 Tool handle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002186816A CA2186816A1 (en) 1996-09-30 1996-09-30 Tool handle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2186816A1 true CA2186816A1 (en) 1998-03-31

Family

ID=4158993

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002186816A Abandoned CA2186816A1 (en) 1996-09-30 1996-09-30 Tool handle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2186816A1 (en)

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued