Pliable handle

• US 20040205938A1
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShedRain Corporation
• Original Assignee: ShedRain Corporation
• Inventors: Blauer, Stan, Blauer, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 6,959,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/431
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/26 Special adaptations of handles A45C13/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/102 the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/12 Hand grips, preformed and semi-permanent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/19 Cast or molded handles

Abstract

A pliable handle for a hand-held device is provided. The handle includes a core member, an outer sheath disposed about the core member, and gel disposed between the core member and the outer sheath. The outer sheath is deformable, such that when a hand grips the pliable handle, the force applied causes the pliable handle to deform and conform to the shape of the hand, and the applied force causes load movement of the gel. The pliable handle has a so-called memory effect, meaning that after the grip on the handle is released, the deformation in the handle will remain for a period of time before the handle returns to its original shape.

Claims

1. A pliable handle comprising:

a core member having a core member main part and first and second sealers at respective ends of the core member main part, the core member main part having first and second annular flanges, which partially define a gel-containing portion therebetween, provided near respective ends of the core member main part, and at least one gel injection through bore formed through the first annular flange;

an outer sheath disposed about the core member main part; and

a gel disposed between the core member main part and the outer sheath;

wherein the outer sheath is deformable, and a force applied to the outer sheath causes load movement of the gel.

2. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the first and second sealers are coupled together though the center of the core member main part.

3. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the first and second sealers compress a shoulder of the outer sheath between the first annular flange and the first sealer, thereby sealing the bore formed in the first annular flange and securely containing the gel within the gel-containing portion.

4. The pliable handle of claim 2, wherein the first and second sealers are coupled together by a screw projecting from one of the first and second sealers.

5. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the deformable outer sheath and gel together have a memory effect causing a deformation to remain for a period of time before the sheath returns substantially to its original shape.

6. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the gel is in intimate contact with the core member.

7. The pliable handle of claim 1, further comprising an end cap that is connected to one of the first and second sealers.

8. The pliable handle of claim 7, wherein the outer sheath has at its ends a first shoulder and a second shoulder, respectively, and an outer diameter of the end cap is substantially similar to the diameter of one of the first and second shoulders.

9. The pliable handle of claim 7, wherein the end cap has at a first end a shoulder and a concentric annular lip that defines a hole and has a diameter that is smaller than that of the shoulder.

10. The pliable handle of claim 9, wherein the diameter of a second end of the end cap is substantially similar to the diameter of a shoulder of the outer sheath.

11. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the at least one gel injection through bore receives gel during an assembly process.

12. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the core member main part and first and second sealers are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of PVC, ABS, PE, and PP plastic.

13. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is substantially cylindrical in shape.

14. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the diameter of each of first and second shoulders of the outer sheath correspond with the diameter of the respective first and second annular flange of the core member main part.

15. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is formed of vulcanized silicone.

16. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is one of colorless, colored, and multicolored.

17. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is transparent.

18. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is opaque.

19. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the gel is uniformly disposed about the core member main part.

20. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the sheath is uniformly disposed about the core member main part substantially from a first to a second end of a gel-containing portion.

21. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the pliable handle is an umbrella handle.

22. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the pliable handle is a tool handle.

23. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the pliable handle is selected from the group consisting of a handle of a cane, walking stick, sports equipment, garden equipment, kitchen tool, cleaning equipment, writing instrument, and beauty equipment.

24. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the outer sheath has ribs formed on the outer surface thereof.

25. The pliable handle of claim 1, wherein the pliable handle is attached to a curved handle portion.

26. A pliable umbrella handle comprising:

a core member having a core member main part and first and second sealers at respective ends of the core member main part;

an outer sheath disposed about the core member main part; and

a gel disposed between the core member main part and the outer sheath;

wherein the outer sheath is deformable, and a force applied to the outer sheath causes load movement of the gel.

27. A method for forming a pliable handle comprising the steps of:

providing a core member main part having first and second annular flanges provided near respective ends of the core member main part, and at least one gel injection through bore formed through the first annular flange;

providing an outer deformable sheath over the core member main part to define a gel-containing portion between the outer sheath and the core member main part;

injecting gel into the gel injection through bore, wherein the injected gel travels through the gel injection through bore and into the gel-containing portion; and

providing first and second sealers at respective ends of the core member main part to seal the gel within the gel-containing portion.

28. A method for forming a pliable umbrella handle comprising the steps of:

providing a core member main part having first and second annular flanges provided near respective ends of the core member main part, and at least one gel injection through bore formed through the first annular flange;

providing an outer deformable sheath over the core member main part to define a gel-containing portion between the outer sheath and the core member main part;

injecting gel into the gel injection through bore, wherein the injected gel travels through the gel injection through bore and into the gel-containing portion; and

providing first and second sealers at respective ends of the core member main part to seal the gel within the gel-containing portion.