Handle covering with vibration-reducing bladder

• US 5,987,705 A
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ergoair, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ergoair, Inc.
• Inventors: Reynolds, Douglas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neas, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/886,991
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 2/16, 16/110 R, 16/116 A, 16/116 R, 16/114 R, 74/543, 74/551.1, 74/551.8, 74/551.9, 74/558.5, 273/75, 273/73 J, 273/67 DA, 473/300
• US Class Current: 16/431
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/01523 absorbing shocks or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/081 fluid-filled, e.g. air-filled
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/01 Shock-absorbing means B25G1/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/0232 with at least one gas spring F16F15/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/0472 characterised by comprising a damping device with plastic deformation of members F16F7/12; delay devices or arrangements F15B21/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/12 Hand grips, preformed and semi-permanent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/902 Unitary handle composed of different cooperating materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20828 Handholds and grips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20876 Caps and covers

Abstract

An air isolation hand or handle covering has a bladder consisting of a plurality of interconnected or independent inflation cells that is positioned between the hand and a hand-held tool or other vibrating object. The cells are oriented to permit easy bending of the hand covering in directions appropriate for grasping an object. The effectiveness of the bladder in reducing the vibration energy transmitted to the hand is a function of the bladder material thickness, the shape and configuration of the bladder, the pressure in the bladder, the compressible fluid used, the volume of the bladder, and the grip force and push force used when clasping a tool or other object. The bladder is attached in place by way of an attachment tab which is integrally formed from at least one of the layers of the bladder and extends for at least about one sixth the length of the fluid cavity. Spacing between weld lines which define the inflation cells can be varied such that the thickness of the bladder in an inflated state varies at different inflation cells. The bladder can be filled with air or other fluid during the fabrication of the bladder or it can be inflated or deflated with a small pump and integral air valve connected to one of the air cavities. The covering may include an inflation sensor to indicate when a proper inflation pressure is reached.

Claims

1. A handle covering for reducing vibration from being transmitted to a user'"'"'s hand from a handle, the handle covering comprising:

a bladder defining a fluid cavity for retaining compressible fluid, the bladder being formed of a first layer of fluid-impervious material and a second layer of fluid-impervious material sealed together along a peripheral seal, with the fluid cavity formed between the first layer and the second layer within the peripheral seal, the fluid cavity having a first edge and an opposing second edge with an inflated length and an uninflated length between the first edge and the second edge, the bladder being flexible both when inflated and when uninflated to allow the bladder to be wrapped in a circumferential configuration about an axis with its length curved 360° and

with the first edge and the second edge extending generally linearly and parallel to the axis of the circumferential configuration; and

a first attachment tab integrally formed from at least one of the first layer and the second layer, the first attachment tab extending from one of the first edge and the second edge of the fluid cavity with a length which is at least about one sixth the inflated length of the fluid cavity so when the bladder is wrapped in the circumferential configuration the first attachment tab extends circumferentially at least about 60°

, the first attachment tab for attaching the bladder to a handle.

2. The handle covering of claim 1, wherein the first attachment tab includes a handle facing side, and further comprising:

an adhesive layer exposed on the handle facing side of the first attachment tab for adhesively attaching the handle facing side of the first attachment tab to a handle.

3. The handle covering of claim 1, wherein the first attachment tab includes means for removably attaching the first attachment tab to a handle such that the bladder can be readily moved between handles.

4. The handle covering of claim 1, further comprising:

a second attachment tab integrally formed from at least one of the first layer and the second layer, the second attachment tab extending from the fluid cavity opposite the first attachment tab with a length which is at least about one sixth the inflated length of the fluid cavity so when the bladder is wrapped in the circumferential configuration the second attachment tab extends circumferentially at least about 60°

, the second attachment tab for securing the bladder circumferentially around a handle.

5. The handle covering of claim 4, wherein the second attachment tab includes a fluid cavity facing side, and further comprising:

an attachment layer exposed on the fluid cavity facing side of the second attachment tab for attaching the second attachment tab to an outer surface of one of the first layer and the second layer.

6. The handle covering of claim 5, wherein the attachment layer is an adhesive layer.

7. The handle covering of claim 5, wherein the attachment layer is a hook and loop fabric.

8. The handle covering of claim 1 in combination with a handle having a circumference, wherein the uninflated length of the fluid cavity is greater than the circumference of the handle.

9. The handle covering of claim 8 wherein the inflated length of the fluid cavity corresponds to the circumference of the handle when the inflated fluid cavity is wrapped 360°

around the handle such that there is no overlap of the inflated fluid cavity and there is complete coverage of the fluid cavity over the circumference of the handle.

10. The handle covering of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer are connected together at a plurality of weld lines to form a plurality of inflation cells, wherein thickness of the bladder in an inflated state at any location of the bladder is determined by spacing to adjacent weld lines, and wherein spacing between weld lines varies such that the thickness of the bladder in an inflated state varies at different inflation cells.

11. The handle covering of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer are connected together at a plurality of weld lines to form a plurality of inflation cells, and wherein the plurality of inflation cells are interconnected so as to allow inflation from a single source.

12. The handle covering of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer are connected together through a grid pattern of weld points.

13. The handle covering of claim 1, further comprising:

a pump for inflating the bladder in fluid communication with the fluid cavity; and

a release valve for releasing compressible fluid from within the bladder in fluid communication with the fluid cavity.

14. The handle covering of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fluid cavity for indicating whether the bladder is inflated to a sufficient pressure.

15. The handle covering of claim 1, further comprising:

an outer cover placed around the bladder, wherein the outer cover is rigid.

16. The handle covering of claim 1 wherein the first layer has a thickness of from 0.005 to 0.007 inches.

17. The handle covering of claim 1 attached around a handle with a handle longitudinal axis such that the first edge and the second edge extend substantially parallel to the handle longitudinal axis.

18. The handle covering of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer are connected together at a plurality of weld lines to form a plurality of inflation cells, wherein the first layer and the second layer are also connected together through a grid pattern of weld points, and wherein the plurality of inflation cells are interconnected so as to allow inflation from a single source.

20. The handle covering of claim 11, wherein the first layer has a thickness of less than 0.010 inches;

and wherein

the second layer has a thickness of less than 0.010 inches.

21. The handle covering of claim 20, wherein the bladder has an overall inflated thickness of 0.5 inches or less.

19. A handle covering for reducing vibration from being transmitted to a user'"'"'s hand from a handle, the handle covering comprising:

a bladder defining a fluid cavity for retaining compressible fluid, the bladder being formed of a first layer of fluid-impervious material and a second layer of fluid-impervious material sealed together along a peripheral seal, with the fluid cavity formed between the first layer and the second layer within the peripheral seal, the fluid cavity having an inflated length and an uninflated length, and further comprising an intermediate layer of fluid impervious material between the first layer and the second layer, the intermediate layer being bonded to the first layer at discreet divisions which define a plurality of inflation cells between the first layer and the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer being bonded to the second layer at discreet divisions which define a plurality of inflation cells between the second layer and the intermediate layer; and

a first attachment tab integrally formed from at least one of the first layer and the second layer, the first attachment tab extending from the fluid cavity with a length which is at least about one sixth the inflated length of the fluid cavity, the first attachment tab for attaching the bladder to a handle.

22. A handle covering for reducing vibration from being transmitted to a user'"'"'s hand from a handle, the handle covering comprising:

a bladder defining a fluid cavity for retaining compressible fluid, the bladder being formed of a first layer of fluid-impervious material and a second layer of fluid-impervious material sealed together along a peripheral seal, with the fluid cavity formed between the first layer and the second layer within the peripheral seal, the fluid cavity having an inflated length and an uninflated length;

a first attachment tab integrally formed from at least one of the first layer and the second layer, the first attachment tab extending from the fluid cavity with a length which is at least about one sixth the inflated length of the fluid cavity, the first attachment tab for attaching the bladder to a handle; and

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fluid cavity for indicating whether the bladder is inflated to a sufficient pressure, wherein the pressure sensor comprises;

a housing;

a diaphragm within the housing and open to fluid pressure in the fluid cavity; and

a spring biasing the diaphragm against the fluid pressure in the fluid cavity;

wherein location of the diaphragm within the housing indicates the fluid pressure in the bladder.

23. A handle covering for reducing vibration from being transmitted to a user'"'"'s hand from a handle, the handle covering comprising:

a bladder defining a fluid cavity for retaining compressible fluid, the bladder being formed of a first layer of fluid-impervious material and a second layer of fluid-impervious material sealed together along a peripheral seal, with the fluid cavity formed between the first layer and the second layer within the peripheral seal, the first layer and the second layer being connected together along a plurality of weld lines to form a plurality of inflation cells, wherein thickness of the bladder in an inflated state at any location of the bladder is determined by spacing of adjacent weld lines, wherein spacing between weld lines varies such that the thickness of the bladder in an inflated state varies at different inflation cells.