Ergonomically efficient tool

• US 5,810,408 A
• Filed: 06/07/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey L. Armstrong
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey L. Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAMER, DEAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/660,516
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 294/19.1, 294/49, 294/51, 294/53.5, 294/54.5, 294/57, 37/265, 37/285, 172/372, 172/373, 172/375, 15/143.1, 15/144.1, 15/144.2, 15/144.3, 15/144.4, 16/110 R, 16/115, 81/177.2, 81/177.8, 81/177.9
• US Class Current: 294/57
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/00 Hand tools edge trimmers for lawns A01G3/06 ; machines for working soil A01B35/00; making hand tools B21D
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/225 around a substantially horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/005 Brushes with a telescopic or similarly moveable portion
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0075 being adjustable and stable during use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0083 Mechanical joint allowing adjustment in at least one plane
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/04 telescopic; extensible; sectional
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/06 reversible or adjustable for position
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/18 comprising catches or pawls
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/30 comprising screwed sockets or tangs
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/38 Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints

Abstract

An improved ergonomically efficient implement handle having two joints allowing the handle to be bent to selected angles at each joint and a telescoping feature between the two joints allowing the handle length to be adjusted to the height of the user. The two bendable joints and the telescoping feature cooperate to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use a blade or other implement and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the blade or other implement. A coupling feature allows multiple implements such as a blade or fork to be easily attached to the handle.

Claims

1. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

a tool head for working the ground, said tool head disposed generally in a first plane, and

an elongated handle attached to said tool head, said handle having

a first bend having a first angle, and

a second bend having a second angle,

said bends disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said tool head,

said handle further including telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend and said telescoping means cooperating to bend said handle and so that said handle may be adjusted according to the height of a user to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

2. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

an elongated handle, said handle having

a first bend having a first angle, and

a second bend having a second angle,

said bends disposed generally in a first plane,

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground,

coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said plurality of tool heads to said handle,

any one of said plurality of tool heads when attached to said handle disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said bends of said handle, and

said handle further including telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend and said telescoping means cooperating to bend said handle and so that said handle may be adjusted according to the height of a user to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

3. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

a tool head for working the ground, said tool head disposed generally in a first plane, and

an elongated handle attached to said tool head, said handle having

a first bend fixed at a first angle, and

a second bend fixed at a second angle,

said bends disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said tool head, and

said handle further including telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said telescoping means cooperating with said first bend and said second bend to bend said handle and so that said handle may be adjusted according to the height of a user to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

4. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

an elongated handle, said handle having

a first bend fixed at a first angle, and

a second bend fixed at a second angle,

said bends disposed generally in a first plane,

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground,

coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said plurality of tool heads to said handle,

any one of said plurality of tool heads when attached to said handle disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said bends of said handle, and

said handle further including telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend and said telescoping means cooperating to bend said handle and so that said handle may be adjusted according to the height of a user to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

5. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

a tool head for working the ground, said tool head disposed generally in a first plane, and

an elongated handle attached to said tool head, said handle having

a first bend including means for adjustably fixing said handle in either a straight position or an angled position at said first bend, and

a second bend including means for adjustably fixing said handle in either a straight position or an angled position at said second bend,

said handle in any angled position disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said tool head,

such that said handle may be adjusted from a straight position to a plurality of angled positions characterized by adjustment of the angularity of said first bend or said second bend, or both,

said first bend and said second bend cooperating to bend said handle such that the need for a user to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground is reduced making it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

6. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 5 wherein

said angled position at said first bend and said angled position at said second bend each comprise approximately a forty-five degree angle.

7. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 5 including

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground, and

coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said tool heads to said handle.

8. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 7 wherein

said handle includes telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting said length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend, and said telescoping means cooperating so that angularity of said first bend or said second bend, or both, may be adjusted, and so that the handle may be lengthened or shortened by operation of said telescoping means according to the height of a user, to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

9. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 5 wherein

said handle includes telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting said length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend, and said telescoping means cooperating so that the angularity of said first bend or said second bend, or both, may be adjusted, and so that the handle may be lengthened or shortened by operation of said telescoping means according to the height of a user, to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

10. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

a tool head for working the ground, said tool head disposed generally in a first plane, and

an elongated handle attached to said tool head, said handle having

a first bend having means for adjustably fixing said first bend in either a straight position or a plurality of angled positions,

a second bend having means for adjustably fixing said second bend in either a straight position or a plurality of angled positions,

said first bend in any angled position and said second bend in any angled position disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said tool head,

said first bend and said second bend cooperating so that said handle may be adjusted to minimize a user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground making it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

11. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 10 wherein

said means for adjustably fixing said first bend in a straight or in angled positions includes means for releasably locking said bend in any selected position with sufficient holding force to retain said bend in the selected position while using the tool for working the ground, and

said means for adjustably fixing said second bend in a straight or in angled positions includes means for releasably locking said bend in any selected position with sufficient holding force to retain said bend in the selected position while using the tool for working the ground.

12. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 10 wherein

each of said means for adjustably fixing said bends comprises

a first member having a first tubular means for securing said first member to said handle, said first member further having a proximal end having a center bore, said center bore having an axis, said proximal end further having a plurality of ridges radiating out from and at approximately right angles to said axis of said center bore,

a second member having a second tubular means for securing said second member to said handle, said second member further having a proximal end having a center bore, said center bore having an axis, said proximal end further having a plurality of ridges radiating out from and at approximately right angles to said axis of said center bore, and

a joining means passing through said center bores of said first member and said second member for firmly engaging said raised ridges of said first member with said raised ridges of said second member,

such that said raised ridges of said first member mesh with said raised ridges of said second member to disengageably lock said first and second members together at a selected angle.

13. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 12 including

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground, and

coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said tool heads to said handle.

14. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 10 including

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground, and

coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said tool heads to said handle.

15. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 14 wherein

said handle includes telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend, and said telescoping means cooperating so that the angularity of either said first bend, or said second bend, or both, may be adjusted, and so that the handle may be lengthened or shortened by operation of said telescoping means according to the height of a user, to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

16. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 14 wherein

said means for adjustably fixing said second bend in either a straight position or a plurality of fixed positions includes said coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said tool heads to said handle.

17. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 16 wherein

said handle includes telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend, and said telescoping means cooperating so that the angularity of either said first bend or said second bend, or both, may be adjusted, and so that the handle may be lengthened or shortened by operation of said telescoping means according to the height of a user, to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

18. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 10 wherein

said handle includes telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting said length of said handle,

said first bend, said second bend, and said telescoping means cooperating so that the angularity of either said first bend or said second bend, or both, may be adjusted, and so that the handle may be lengthened or shortened by operation of said telescoping means according to the height of a user, to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

19. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 18 wherein

said telescoping means includes locking means for securing said handle at a selected length.

20. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 18 wherein

said telescoping means comprises

a first tubular member,

a second tubular member having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior, said hollow interior having a diameter sized to receive said first tubular member, said first tubular member slidingly received in said hollow interior of said second tubular member,

said first tubular member having a hole and an outward-biased, retractable finger projecting outward through said hole,

said second tubular member having a plurality of holes sized to receive freely said finger located at spaced points along said longitudinal axis, such that said second tubular member may be slid over said first tubular member and said handle can be securely fixed in a plurality of positions characterized by said finger protecting through one of said plurality of holes in said second tubular member.

21. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

a tool head for working the ground, said tool head disposed generally in a first plane, and

an elongated handle attached to said tool head said handle having

a first bend having means for adjustably fixing said first bend in either a straight position or a plurality of angled positions,

a second bend having means for adjustably fixing said second bend in either a straight position or a plurality of angled positions,

said first bend in any angled position and said second bend in any angled position disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said tool head, and

said handle further having telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle, said telescoping means including locking means for releasably locking said handle at a selected length, said first bend, said second bend, and said telescoping means cooperating so that the angularity of said first bend, or said second bend, or both, may be adjusted, and so that the handle may be lengthened or shortened by operation of said telescoping means according to the height of a user, to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

22. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 21 including

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground, and

coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said tool heads to said handle.

23. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 21 including

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground, and

said second bend having coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said tool heads to said handle.

24. The ergonomically efficient tool of claim 23 wherein

said first and second bends each comprise

a first member having a first tubular means for securing said first member to said handle, said first member further having a proximal end having a center bore, said center bore having an axis, said proximal end further having a plurality of ridges radiating out from and at approximately right angles to said axis of said center bore,

a second member having a second tubular means for securing said second member to said handle, said second member further having a proximal end having a center bore, said center bore having an axis, said proximal end further having a plurality of ridges radiating out from and at approximately right angles to said axis of said center bore, and

a joining means passing through said center bores of said first member and said second member for firmly engaging said raised ridges of said first member with said raised ridges of said second member,

such that said raised ridges of said first member mesh with said raised ridges of said second member to disengageably lock said first and second members together at a selected angle.

25. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

a tool head for working the ground, said tool head disposed generally in a first plane, and

an elongated handle attached to said tool head, said handle having

a first bend having a first fixed angle, and

a second bend having a second fixed angle,

said bends disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said tool handle,

said handle including telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said telescoping means cooperating with said first bend and said second bend so that said handle may be adjusted according to the height of a user, to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.

26. An ergonomically efficient tool comprising

an elongated handle,

a plurality of tool heads, each said tool head for working the ground, and

coupling means for removably attaching any selected one of said tool heads to

said handle, any said tool head attached to said handle disposed generally in a first plane,

said handle having

a first bend having a first fixed angle, and

a second bend having a second fixed angle,

said bends disposed generally in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane of said handle,

said handle further including telescoping means between said first bend and said second bend for adjusting the length of said handle,

said telescoping means cooperating with said first bend and said second bend so that said handle may be adjusted according to the height of a user to minimize the user'"'"'s need to stoop over to use the tool to work the ground and make it easier and more ergonomically efficient to work with the tool.