Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Handle – handle component – or handle adjunct – Handle with ergonomic structure enhancements such as...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-24
2001-10-30
Mah, Chuck Y. (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct
Handle with ergonomic structure enhancements such as...
C016S431000, C016S436000, C016SDIG001, C081S489000, C081S177100, C408S124000, C173S162100, C310S047000, C310S050000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308378
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to power tools, and more particularly, to an arrangement of frictional gripping zones on the handle of a power tool.
BACKGROUND
Generally, power tools have several advantages over manual hand tools. For example, power tools typically provide significant savings in time and effort as well as improved precision when compared to manual hand tools. Furthermore, actuation of the power tool typically requires minimal manual input effort (i.e. depressing a trigger). As a result, power tools often can be used from awkward positions and in hard-to-reach areas without loss of range of motion or effectiveness of the tool. Because of these advantages, the popularity of power tools has increased among both professional and novice craftsmen.
While these advantages are significant, there are drawbacks associated with the use of power tools. As is commonly understood, when operating a power tool, the operator grips the handle of the power tool and actuates a switch mechanism to “turn on” or engage the power tool. By actuating the switch mechanism, the electric motor disposed within the power tool housing is energized. One of the drawbacks associated with power tools is that the working material and the electric power tool typically vibrate during use. This vibration can cause the operator to loose his grip on the power tool during operation requiring frequent readjustments of the hand on the tool handle. Perhaps more significantly, the vibration associated with power tools can cause the operator to experience muscle fatigue during operation. Typically, the amount of vibration varies with respect to the size of the power tool.
Another drawback associated with power tools relates to the fact that many existing power tools include a housing that is typically made from a hard, rigid material to allow the tool to withstand the rigors associated with its use. As a result, it is often difficult for the operator to maintain a firm grip on the handle of the hard, rigid housing during operation.
Several improvements to power tool handles have been developed to address these drawbacks. For example, some existing power tools provide a single gripping zone along the power tool handle to ease the vibrational forces associated with the use of the tool and to provide a more suitable gripping surface along the handle. Alternatively, other existing power tool handles provide gripping zones that completely surround and cover the handle of the power tool. Still yet, other existing power tool handles provide gripping zones that cover substantially the entire rear portion of the handle of the power tool so as to engage the webbing of the operator's hand.
However, there are several shortcoming with existing gripping arrangements. For example, because some existing gripping arrangements completely surround the handle of the power tool, it is often difficult for the operator to adjust his hand on the handle without completely removing and replacing the hand on the power tool handle. Furthermore, existing gripping arrangements fail to conform to the contour of the tool handle and, hence, the shape of the operator's hand. As a result, many existing gripping arrangements fail to provide the operator with an efficient frictional gripping arrangement when operating the power tool.
Improvements in the handles and the arrangement of gripping zones on power tool handles are sought.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure generally relates to power tools. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an arrangement of frictional gripping zones on the handle of a power tool. An arrangement of frictional gripping zones is provided on a power tool having a main body portion and a handle portion depending from the main body portion. A plurality of alternating first and second gripping zones extend longitudinally along the handle of the power tool.
In one aspect of the invention, the handle portion includes a first side region, a second side region opposite the first side region, a rear region connecting the first and second side regions along a rear of the handle portion, and a front region connecting the first and second side regions along a front of the handle portion, and second side regions of the handle portion. The first gripping zones are made the first gripping zones being made from a first material and the second gripping zones are made from a second material different from the first material. Preferably, the material of the second gripping zones has a hardness greater than the material of the first gripping zones. Furthermore, a third gripping zone is made from the second material and extends longitudinally along substantially the entire front and rear regions of the tool handle. The first gripping zones are preferably sized and configured to correspond to the contour of the power tool handle to provide the user with an efficient frictional gripping when operating the power tool.
In another aspect of the invention, each of the first gripping zones has a longitudinal dimension that is substantially equal for each of the first gripping zones. Similarly, in another aspect of the disclosure, the longitudinal dimension of each of the first gripping zones is different. In yet another aspect of the invention, the longitudinal dimension for each of the first gripping zones decreases successively from the rear of the handle towards the front of the handle. In so doing, the arrangement of frictional gripping zones along the handle portion of the power tool are arranged to correspond to the contours of the handle as well as the operator's hand to provide an efficient frictional gripping when the operating the power tool.
In another aspect of the invention, each of the second gripping zones have a first width along the first and second side regions and a second width along the front and rear regions of the tool handle. The second width of the second gripping zones is substantially equal to the width of the front and rear regions. Preferably, the width of the second gripping zones along the first and second side regions is no greater than 25% of the width of the first gripping zones along the first and second side regions.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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Clowers Earl
Etter Mark
Gist Daily
Lagaly Michael
Mooty Tom
Mah Chuck Y.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Porter-Cable Corporation
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