Garden tools and ergonomic handles therefor
First Claim
1. A tool handle comprising:
- an elongated core body having a working end for connection to an associated tool head and a distal end and adopted to be grasped in use by a user and anywhere between the working end and the distal end, the core body having a cavity formed therein and spaced longitudinally from the working end and dividing the core body into first and second portions, and a flexible and resilient body formed of a relatively soft material filling the cavity and secured to the core body for accommodating flexing of the first portion relative to the second portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A garden tool includes a work-engaging head joined by a shank to a plastic handle. The handle has a relatively rigid plastic core body. A cavity is formed in the handle to divide it into forward and rearward portions. The cavity is filled with a flexible and resilient material to accommodate flexing of the rearward portion relative to the forward portion. A flexible and resilient gripping sheath covers the outer surface of the core body except for the cavity. In one embodiment the cavity is in the core body and includes a notch. For digging tools, such as trowels, the notch is formed on the lower side of the core body adjacent to the distal end, while for pulling or raking tools, such as plows, the notch is formed on the upper side of the core body adjacent to the working end. A recess may be formed in the core body opposite the notch for cooperation with the notch to define a narrow hinge. In another embodiment the cavity includes an aperture extending laterally through a lobe extension of the grip sheath, and in yet in another embodiment the cavity includes notches formed on upper and lower sides of the core body and defined by a hinge interconnecting the forward and rearward portions of the handle.
87 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A tool handle comprising:
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an elongated core body having a working end for connection to an associated tool head and a distal end and adopted to be grasped in use by a user and anywhere between the working end and the distal end, the core body having a cavity formed therein and spaced longitudinally from the working end and dividing the core body into first and second portions, and a flexible and resilient body formed of a relatively soft material filling the cavity and secured to the core body for accommodating flexing of the first portion relative to the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A tool handle comprising:
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a core body having a cavity formed therein and dividing the core body into first and second portions, a flexible and resilient body formed of a relatively soft material filling the cavity and secured to the core body for accommodating flexing of the first portion relative to the second portion, and a grip sheath covering the core body except for the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A garden tool comprising:
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a work-engaging head;
a shank integral with and extending from the head; and
a handle connected to the shank, the handle including a core body having a cavity formed therein and dividing the core body into first and second portions, and a flexible and resilient body formed of a relatively soft material filling the cavity and secured to the core body for accommodating flexing of the first portion relative to the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An ergonomic hand tool handle comprising:
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an elongated body having a working end adapted to be connected to an associated tool and a distal end and a convexly curved upper surface extending from the working end to the distal end, the body having first and second thin portions respectively at the working and distal ends and a third thin portion approximately midway between the ends, the body have a forward thick portion between the first and third thin portions and a rearward thick portion between the second and third thin portions, the thickness of the body gradually decreasing from the forward thick portion to each of the first and third thin portions and from the rearward thick portion to each of the second and third thin portions, the thick portions being spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the distance from either thick portion to an adjacent end of the body. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification