Handle for household utensils

Details Handle for household utensils Handle for household utensils

1999-10-12

2001-11-06

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,

Handle, handle component, or handle adjunct

Extensible handle

C016S427000, C015S144300, C015S144400

Reexamination Certificate

active

06311368

ABSTRACT:

FIELD
The invention relates to a handle for household implements, in particular floor care implements, in the operation of which a rotary motion must also be transmitted by way of the handle.
PRIOR ART
The mop handles heretofore employed by Applicant comprise a round outer contour, corresponding to the turned wooden handles or round handles of metal or plastic for brooms, scrubbers or the like.
These handles have the disadvantage that when a rotary motion, either isolated or superimposed on a wiping motion, is transmitted, the user effects the transmission solely by a firm grip around the handle, thus producing a friction link. A rotary motion is required for example in order to press a mop into contact with a sieve suspended over the pail.
Especially in use of household implements designed for wet application, after wringing, out by hand the film of moisture greatly reduces the friction, so that an additional exertion of force is required to produce the rotary motion.
Furthermore, there is the danger of blistering of the user's hands when rotating the handle by friction, since different skin layers may be displaced relative to each other.
The object of the invention is to create a handle for household implements that avoids these disadvantages.
EXPOSITION OF THE INVENTION
With a polygonal outer contour, consisting of faces and edges, the user's hand can get a purchase on the faces, and bring about a sort of geometrical hold on the edges. The required grip for the frictional hold can be reduced, thus countering the blistering hazard. The handle may consist of wood, plastic, metal or other material.
Advantageously, the outer contour comprises two to four faces and a corresponding number of edges. An outer contour having three faces and three edges has proved especially favorable, since here a compromise is achieved between a good grip and a good transmission of force. The decisive point here is the angle included between two neighboring faces; it should be as obtuse as possible for a good bjp, and as acute as possible for good transmission. With three faces, the included angle is about 60°; with four faces, about 90°.
To reduce weight, the handle is hollow, its inner contour matching its outer contour. Preferably metal or plastic is used as material.
So that the length of the handle may be varied, the handle comprises several releasably interconnected segments of like outer contour, with coupling elements arranged in the hollow interior. The coupling elements partly project beyond the segment in order to engage the next following segment. This multipartite construction has advantages also in transport of the handle, namely a much shorter length than the assembled handle. Owing to the polygonal inner contour of the segments, the coupling element engaged by the polygonal contour is geometrically secured against rotation, so that no additional security measures, for example bonding, are required to transmit the torque. The catch means provided in the coupling element for axial fixation of the segments in relation to each other are not loaded rotationally but only axially.
In a modification, the handle consists of a guide tube and a telescoping rod guided therein, the telescoping rod having an outer contour of smaller size matching the guide tube in shape and being fixed in various positions in the guide tube by means of a catch device. With telescoping handles, a variable change of handle length is possible. Compared to known telescoping handles, the advantage consists in that the catch device need assume only axial forces, since the rotary motion is transmitted geometrically. For known handles, where the telescoping rod is locked by tightening on a taper, there is danger that the user operating the household implement may not note the direction of rotation of the rotary motion, thus releasing the taper.
Another modification consists in that the end of the handle near the user is provided with a fixable cap guided axially displaceable with respect to the end of the handle and held in at least two positions. This enables the length of the handle to be changed. Here again, use is made of geometrical fixation to transmit the rotary motion, by way of improving the rotary loadability of a cap disclosed in DE GM 94 107 91. The catch device is here likewise stressed lengthwise only.
Owing to the polygonal outer contour of the handle, additional friction elements to enhance friction, for example rubber rings, may be dispensed with.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4653142 (1987-03-01), Upton
patent: 5228202 (1993-07-01), Liao
patent: 5387048 (1995-02-01), Kuo
patent: 5515574 (1996-05-01), Larson
patent: 5533768 (1996-07-01), Mitchell
patent: 272533 (1950-12-01), None
patent: 3625287 (1988-02-01), None
patent: 19617365 (1996-11-01), None

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