Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Handle – handle component – or handle adjunct – Handle with ergonomic structure enhancements such as...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-01
2004-06-29
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3676)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct
Handle with ergonomic structure enhancements such as...
C016S110100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06754936
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the sector of the replaceable grips for handles of spanners, particularly for handles of adjustable spanners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fixed and adjustable spanners are well known which incorporate a grip on the handle, generally made of rubber or plastic material, in order to provide a holding surface with a high coefficient of friction with the user's hand. The grip normally covers a part of the handle, from an area close to the head of the spanner to another area close to the end of the handle, or else, covers the handle from an area close to the head to the end of the handle. In this last case the grip also includes the hole which the metal handle generally has at its end and which is employed for hanging up the spanner when not being used.
In any case, the grip must have a design or shape with ergonomic characteristics in order that it may be used in a simple manner and may be grasped appropriately, adapting to the different positions of the hand.
For the adapting and securing of the grip on the handle, it has been foreseen, according to a known solution, that the handle has a lowered transversal section, from an area close to the head of the spanner to an area close to the end of the spanner. On this lowered area of the handle the grip is inserted or coupled and is secured longitudinally by the stops that the end walls of said recessed area define. Securing against twisting effects can be achieved by the application of an adhesive.
The most important drawback of this type of spanners is that the spanner cannot be employed without its grip. In the event that the latter becomes worn down through use, or for whatever accidental circumstance (for example, the spanner is dropped on the floor or deformation from being too close to a source of high temperature), the spanner cannot be employed adequately because the handle has, over almost all its length, a lowered area making holding uncomfortable and not functional in comparison with the traditional or ergonomic handles which do not have said lowered area.
On the other hand, there is a part of the handle, specifically the end thereof, which is not covered by the grip, whereby the holding characteristics are diminished precisely in the area that the user tends to grasp in order to be able to apply a greater operating force with the spanner.
A second solution known consists in that the handle, contrary to the previous case, has no lowering, and the grip is placed over the handle from an area close to the head of the spanner to an area close to the end of the handle. In this case the securing of the grip to the handle, in order to withstand longitudinal and twisting effects is achieved by means of an adhesive.
In this second solution the above mentioned drawbacks remain with regard to the grasping conditions, since the end of the handle is not covered by the grip. Even though the spanner can be used without the grip, the user must proceed to dismantle the grip and to adapt the handle, by means of operations which are neither quick nor simple. It is to be borne in mind that the grip is joined to the handle by means of an adhesive and the separation therefore must be carried out against the force of adherence of the adhesive and, subsequently, the layer of adhesive covering the handle shall have to be eliminated.
A third solution known consists in that the handle has a lowered transversal section from an area close the head of the spanner to the opposite end inclusive, that is in its entirety, since the grip is placed on top of the handle covering also the end thereof. The securing of the grip to the handle in order to withstand the longitudinal and twisting forces is achieved by means of an adhesive.
In this third case the drawbacks of the first solution are further accentuated, insomuch as the spanner cannot be employed without its grip, since in this third case the handle has the lowered area over its full length, making holding uncomfortable and not functional in comparison with the traditional or ergonomic handles which do not have that lowered area. Additionally, the dismantling of the grip presents the problems described in relation with the second solution.
Finally, a fourth solution known consists in that the handle of the spanner is of a traditional or ergonomic shape and the grip is placed on top of the handle from the area close to the head to the opposite end thereof inclusive, that is, on its entirety, and is adapted to the shape of the handle, handle and grip being joined by means of an adhesive material.
In this fourth case, when the grip is detached or loosened from the handle or this becomes worn down, the user can employ the spanner without a grip without difficulty, given that it does not have a lowering and has a traditional or ergonomic shape, but however replacement of the grip is not foreseen and in any case, the replacement, which involves both the dismantling of the grip and the mounting of the new grip, cannot be carried out by the user in a quick and simple manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by means of a replaceable grip for spanner handles, particularly for handles of adjustable spanners, which offers a high coefficient of friction by being of a thermoplastic material, rubber or similar, which fits tightly over the outline of the metallic handle, wrapping round its end and such that this hole for hanging is covered and free and that it is easy to replace.
Thus, the present invention relates to a replaceable grip for a spanner handle, particularly that of an adjustable spanner, with a handle with a first end provided with a hole for hanging, the grip comprising a body open at one of its ends, of a material at least semi-elastic selected from among plastic materials, thermoplastic materials and rubbers, adapted internally at least to part of the section of the handle, and means of securing to secure the body of the handle, characterised in that
the body of the grip comprises,
a through-hole in a position coincident with the handle hole for hanging,
a blind internal axial void with a double-“T” cross section adapted to the cross section of the handle at different points of the handle contour,
the first means of securing comprise
flat blocking elements that each cover at least opposite rims of said through-hole,
means of securing which penetrate into the through-hole tightening the blocking elements against the grip.
According to the invention, the blocking elements can be joined to the grip by means of an adhesive and, preferentially, the blocking elements are each mounted in axial recesses provided on each side of the body, the through-hole being arranged in said recesses in such a manner that, preferentially, the exposed faces of the blocking means, are flush with the rest of the grip surface, providing continuity for the primary ergonomic form.
According to an embodiment of the invention at least one of the blocking elements, though preferably both, is a blocking plate arranged axially on the handle. Such blocking plates permit the grip to reach a resistance, being reached precisely through the stiffness of the plates which constitute a reinforcement of the material of the grip, and their securing of the grip can be optimised by the application of an adhesive in the recesses in order that the plates are stuck to the grip.
On the other hand, according to another embodiment, combinable with the embodiment in which only one of the blocking elements is a blocking plate, at least one of the blocking elements is an outer edge of a socket.
Furthermore, and according to another embodiment of the invention, combinable with any of the embodiments described above, at least one of the blocking elements is a blocking washer.
The blocking elements against the grip can comprise a male socket and a female socket coupled to each other in the hole for hanging. According to this embodiment, one or the two male and female sockets can be independent elements or em
Browne Lynne H.
Irega, S.A.
Klauber & Jackson
Kyle Michael J.
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