Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article – To produce composite – plural part or multilayered article
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-09
2001-05-08
Ortiz, Angela (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article
To produce composite, plural part or multilayered article
C264S255000, C264S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228306
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hand tools, particularly drivers, such as screwdrivers, nut drivers and the like. The invention has particular application to tool handles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to provide hand tools with plastic handles which are typically formed of a single plastic material molded around an end of a tool shank.
It is also known to provide tool handles with a two-part construction, including an inner portion formed of a hard or rigid material for the necessary handle strength, and an outer gripping portion formed of a softer and/or more resilient or flexible material for user comfort and to afford an improved grip by increasing the frictional gripping force between the tool handle and the user's hand. However, heretofore such dual-material handles have either had a relatively complex and expensive construction or have suffered from slippage of the outer hand grip portion relative to the inner body portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved hand tool with a handle construction which avoids the disadvantages of prior tools while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
An important feature of the invention is the provision of a hand tool of the type set forth, with a dual-material handle of simple and economical construction.
In connection with the foregoing feature, a further feature of the invention is the provision of a handle of the type set forth, which affords improved user grip and comfort while providing superior bonding of the handle materials.
A further feature of the invention is the provision of a method of forming a handle of the type set forth.
Certain ones of these and other features of the invention are attained by providing a hand tool comprising: a relatively hard and rigid inner body having an elongated central portion and two end flanges extending laterally outwardly of the central portion around the entire periphery thereof, the central portion having peripheral grooves formed therein respectively adjacent to the end flanges, and an outer gripping body formed of a relatively soft and flexible material surrounding the central portion of the inner body and filling the grooves.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
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WO. 93/16846, Sep. 1993, Inventor: Holland-Letz 16/DIG. 12.
Hoepfl Joseph R.
Thompson Christopher D.
Ortiz Angela
Shaw Seyfarth
Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
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