Garden tools and ergonomic handles therefor

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/637,654 filed Aug. 11, 2000 now abandoned and entitled “Garden Tools and Ergonomic Handles Therefor.”

BACKGROUND

This application relates to tools and tool handles, and has particular application to garden tools and ergonomic handles therefor.

There are a variety of different types of tools designed for use in gardening. Some such tools have relatively long handles and are designed for being manipulated by both of the user's hands, while other tools have relatively short handles designed to be grasped and manipulated by a single hand. This application relates principally to the latter type of tools, although principles disclosed herein may also be applicable to longer-handled tools.

Garden tools include two basic types of tools, viz, those which are designed for digging and require a pushing motion on the handle, and those which are designed for pulling or raking action and require a combination of pulling motion to pull the tool toward the user and a tilting motion to keep the point of the tool forced downwardly into the earth. The former type of tools may include such tools as trowels, scoops, forks, weeders and the like, while the latter type of tool may include such tools as rakes, plows, cultivators and the like.

Heretofore, various types of handles have been provided for hand tools, including garden tools, many of these handles being ergonomically designed to cushion the user's hand and/or to provide improved or specialized gripping surfaces. However, prior tool handles have not generally distinguished between the different types of action and forces required by different types of tools. Furthermore, some prior ergonomic handles have relatively complex and expensive construction.

SUMMARY

This application is directed to improved garden tools and ergonomic handles therefor which avoid the disadvantages of prior tools and handles while affording additional structural and operating advantage.

An important aspect is the provision of a tool handle which is specially designed for the type of user action required by the tool.

In connection with the foregoing aspect, another aspect is the provision of a handle which permits flexing of one portion of the handle with respect to another without affecting the rigidity and strength of the individual handle portions.

Another aspect is the provision of a handle of the type set forth, which can be simply and economically formed by molding.

A still further aspect is the provision of garden tools incorporating handles of the type set forth.

Certain ones of these and other aspects may be obtained by providing a tool handle comprising of a core body having a cavity formed therein and dividing the core body into first and second portions, and a flexible and resilient body of relatively soft material filling the cavity and secured to the core body for accommodating flexing of the first portion relative to the second portion.

Other aspects by be obtained by providing a handle of the type set forth, with a flexible and resilient gripping sheath covering the core body except for the cavity.

Still other aspects may be obtained by providing a garden tool including a head, a shank, and a handle of the type set forth connected to the shank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1

is a top plan view of a first embodiment of garden tool;

FIG. 2

is a side elevational view of the tool of

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 3

is a sectional view taken generally along the line

3

-

3

in

FIG. 1

;

FIG. 4

is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the circled portion of the tool handle designated

4

in

FIG. 3

;

FIG. 5

is a top plan view of another embodiment of garden tool;

FIG. 6

is a side elevational view of the tool of

FIG. 5

;

FIG. 7

is a sectional view taken generally along the line

7

—

7

in

FIG. 5

;

FIG. 8

is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the circled portion of the handle designated

8

in

FIG. 7

;

FIG. 9

is a top plan view of another embodiment of garden tool handle;

FIG. 10

is a side elevational view of the handle of

FIG. 9

;

FIG. 11

is a sectional view taken along the line

11

—

11

in

FIG. 9

;

FIG. 12

is a sectional view taken generally along the line

12

—

12

in

FIG. 10

;

FIG. 13

is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of garden tool handle; and

FIG. 14

is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle of FIG.

13

.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to

FIGS. 1-4

, there is illustrated a garden tool, generally designated by the numeral

10

, which has a head

11

, in the nature of a trowel, coupled by a shank

20

to a handle

30

. The bead

11

may be formed of a suitable metal and includes a blade

12

having a trough-like, tapered shape, including a rear edge

13

which has a beveled notch

14

formed therein to form a sharp edge for cutting string, twine or the like. The blade

12

has a pair of side edges

15

, each having a serration

16

thereon, the side edges

15

converging from the opposite ends of the rear edge

13

to a point

17

to facilitate digging in the earth. The serrated edges

16

may be useful for cutting through small roots, chopping tough soil, cutting open bags of soil and the like.

The shank

20

is a hollow tubular body, which may be formed of a suitable metal, and has a neck

21

terminating at a proximal end

22

, which is fixedly secured to the blade

12

centrally along the upper surface thereof adjacent to the rear edge

13

by any suitable means. Alternatively, the blade

12

and shank

20

may be formed as a single piece. The neck

21

is curved and joins a coupling portion

23

of the shank

20

which terminates in a distal and

24

.

The handle

30

has an elongated, relatively rigid core body

31

, which may be formed of a suitable plastic, such as polypropylene. The core body

31

has a relatively thin working end

32

having a cylindrical bore

33

formed axially therein, the core body

31

also having a relatively thick distal end

34

. Formed in the lower side of the core body

31

adjacent to the distal end

34

is a cavity in the form of a notch

35

, which is generally V-shaped in transverse cross section, tapering from a relatively wide outer end to a relatively narrow inner end and serving to divide the core body

31

into a rearward portion

36

and a forward portion

37

. Formed in the core body

31

immediately above the inner end of the notch

35

is a shallow recess

38

, which cooperates with the notch

35

to define therebetween a relatively thin hinge neck

39

, which permits flexing of the rearward portion

36

relative to the forward portion

37

of the core body

31

. Formed through the core body

31

from the upper side to the lower side thereof is a cylindrical hole

40

having counterbores

41

at its opposite ends to facilitate hanging the tool

10

. Extending laterally outwardly from the core body

31

around the periphery of the outer end of the notch

35

is a thin shoulder or lip

42

(see FIG.

4

).

The notch

35

is filled with a flexible and resilient body

45

, which is fixedly secured to the core body

31

and may be formed of a relatively soft material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, although other materials could be used. The outer surface of the core body

31

, except for the cylindrical part of the hole

40

and the notch

35

, is covered with a grip sheath

46

of cushioning, flexible and resilient material, which may be a thermoplastic elastomer of the type sold under the trade name SANTOPRENE, although other materials could be used. The body

45

is preferably of a softer durometer than the sheath

46

.

The handle

30

may be formed by molding, the core body

31

being initially molded, with the flexible and resilient body

45

then being added in a first overmolding step and the sheath

46

then being added in a second overmolding step. In the latter steps, it will be appreciated that suitable fixtures fill the bore

33

and the hole

40

to prevent the thermoplastic elastomer, materials from entering therein. The sheath material is stopped by the lip

42

, so that it does not come in contact with the flexible and resilient body

45

, since such contact during the sheath molding process might tend to melt the previously molded and set flexible and resilient body

45

.

In assembly, the coupling portion

23

of the shank

20

is inserted into the bore

23

and fixedly secured therein by suitable means. For example, it could be secured by a suitable adhesive, or, alternatively, the parts could be dimensioned so the shank is press fit in the bore

23

. However, these techniques are simply by way of illustration, and it will be appreciated that other techniques could be used for coupling the shank

21

to the handle

30

.

In use, the user's hand grips the handle

30

, typically with the palm on the top of the handle

30

and the fingers wrapped around the bottom. For digging operations, particularly in relatively hard or dense soil, it is frequently necessary for the user to apply pressure to the rear end of the handle, such as with the heel of the user's hand. This action is cushioned by the flexing of the rearward portion

36

toward the forward portion

37

, this flexing movement being accommodated by and being cushioned by the flexible and resilient body

45

which may serve as a shock absorber.

Referring now to

FIGS. 5-8

, there is illustrated another embodiment of garden tool, generally designated by the numeral

50

, which includes a head

51

which may be in the form of a plow. The head

51

may be formed of a suitable metal and has a blade

52

with a rear or upper edge

53

, in which may be formed a beveled-edge notch

54

to provide a sharp cutting edge for twine or the like. The blade

52

has a pair of side edges

55

which slope from the opposite ends of the rear edge

53

to a point

57

. It will be appreciated that either or both of the side edges

55

may be provided with serrations (not shown) like the serrations

16

of FIG.

1

. The blade

52

defines two part-cylindrical halves

58

joined by an arcuate center ridge

59

, all in a known manner.

The tool

50

includes a solid shank

60

, which is generally cylindrical in shape and may be formed of a suitable metal. The shank

60

has a proximal end

62

which may be secured to, or formed unitarily with, the blade

52

, centrally of the rear or upper edge

53

. Referring particularly to

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the shank

60

has a coupling portion

63

terminating in a distal end

64

.

The shank

60

is coupled to a handle

70

, which has an elongated, relatively rigid core body

71

extending from a relatively thin forward working end

72

to a rearward distal end

74

. Formed in the upper side of the core body

71

, adjacent to the working end

72

thereof, is a cavity in the form of a notch

75

which is generally V-shaped in transverse cross section, tapering from a relatively wide outer end to a relatively narrow inner end, and serving to divide the core body

71

into a rearward portion

76

and a forward portion

77

. Formed in the lower side of the core body

71

immediately beneath the notch

75

is a recess

78

, which cooperates with the notch

75

to form a relatively narrow hinge neck

79

to accommodate pivotal movement of the rearward portion

76

upwardly and forwardly relative to the forward portion

77

of the core body

71

. Formed through the core body

71

from the upper side to the lower side thereof adjacent to the distal end

74

thereof is a circularly cylindrical hole

80

having counterbores

81

, respectively at its opposite ends. Extending laterally outwardly from the core body

71

around the outer periphery of the notch

75

is a thin shoulder or lip

82

(see FIG.

8

). A flexible and resilient body of relatively soft material

85

fills the notch

75

and is fixedly secured to the core body

71

. A flexible and resilient grip sheath

86

covers the outer surface of the core body

71

, except for the notch

75

and the cylindrical portion of the hole

80

.

The materials of the core body

71

, the flexible and resilient body

85

and the sheath

86

may, respectively, be the same as those described above for corresponding parts of the tool handle

30

, and the handle

70

may be formed in a 3-step molding process similar to that described above for the handle

30

. The shank

60

may be assembled with the handle

70

in the same manner as was described above for the tool

10

. In either of the embodiments of

FIGS. 1-4

or

5

-

8

the shank may be solid or hollow.

In operation, a user will typically grip the handle

70

with the palm on the upper side of the handle and the fingers wrapping around the lower side for pulling or raking operations. However, when pulling hard or heavy material or for penetrating the point

57

into such material, it may be necessary for the user to perform a tilting operation, wherein the rearward portion

76

of the handle

30

is lifted while the tool blade

52

is being pushed down. This operation will tend to pivot the rearward portion

76

upwardly relative to the forward portion

77

, which pivoting movement is accommodated by the hinge neck

79

, and is also accommodated and cushioned by the flexible and resilient body

85

. In this regard, the notch

75

is disposed closely adjacent to the distal end

64

of the shank

67

. The grip sheath

86

provides a cushioned frictional grip for the user's hand.

Referring to

FIGS. 9-12

, there is illustrated a handle

90

of a type adapted to be connected to the shank of a digging-type tool similar to that shown in

FIGS. 1-3

. The handle

90

may have a core body

91

, which may be formed of a suitable rigid plastic material, such as polypropylene. The core body

91

may have a laterally outwardly extending peripheral flange

92

at the working end thereof and terminates in a distal end

93

in which is formed a generally vertical hanging hole

94

. The outer surface of the core body

91

, except for the flange

92

and the hanging hole

94

, is covered with a grip sheath

95

of cushioning, flexible and resilient material, which may be formed of the same material as the grip sheaths

46

and

86

, described above. The portion of the grip sheath

95

covering the distal end

93

of the core body

91

is greatly thickened to define an end lobe

96

of the handle

90

, in which is formed a laterally extending aperture

97

, which has a reduced-cross section central portion

98

and is filled with a body

99

of flexible and resilient gel-like material.

The handle

90

is used in a manner similar to the handle

30

described above. Pressure applied to the lobe

96

of the handle

90

by the user's hand in digging operations is cushioned by the flexing of the lobe

96

, this flexing movement being accommodated by and being cushioned by the flexible and resilient gel body

99

which may serve as a shock absorber.

Referring now to

FIGS. 13 and 14

, there is illustrated a handle

100

which may be used with either digging tools like that of

FIGS. 1-3

or pulling tools like that of

FIGS. 5-7

. The handle

100

has a rigid core body

101

formed of a suitable plastic material and adapted to be fixedly secured by suitable means to the shank of the tool head. The handle

100

may be provided with a laterally outwardly extending peripheral end flange

102

at its working end and terminates at a distal end

103

, in which is formed a generally vertical hanging hole

103

a

. The core body

101

has a rearward portion

104

which is connected by a hinge

105

to a forward portion

106

, the hinge

105

having a folded construction, with the folds defining a cavity including generally V-shaped notches

107

on the upper and lower sides of the hinge. These notches are filled with a flexible and resilient body

108

formed of a suitable flexible and resilient material, which may be the same material as that of the body

99

of the handle

90

, described above, and may be clear or translucent so that the hinge

105

is visible therethrough. The body

108

defines a ring of material between the forward and rearward portions

106

and

104

. The outer surface of the core body

101

, except for the hanging hole

103

a

, hinge

105

, and narrow strips just forward and rearward of the hinge

105

, is covered with a grip sheath

109

of cushioning, flexible and resilient material, which may be the same type of material as used in the grip sheaths described above.

The body

101

has an external shape which has thin portions at the working and distal ends thereof and approximately midway therebetween, the middle thin portion being spaced from the end thin portions, respectively, by forward and rearward thick portions, so that the thickness of the body gradually decreases from each thick portion to each of the adjacent thin portions.

If the handle

100

is used with a digging-type tool, it will be used in a substantially the same manner as was described above for the handle

30

of

FIGS. 1-3

and, if used with a pulling-type tool, will be used in substantially the same manner as was described above for the tool of

FIGS. 5-7

.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that there have been provided improved garden tools and ergonomic handles therefor which are of relatively simple and economical construction, providing ergonomic shape and good frictional grip, while accommodating flexing of one part of the handle relative to another without impairing the overall strength and rigidity of the handle.

The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.