Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Hand forks and shovels – Handles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-12-11
Cherry, Johnny D. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Hand forks and shovels
Handles
C403S356000, C403S361000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328361
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improved structure for assembly of a garden type tool handle shaft and tool that will facilitate storage and transportation of the tool provided with this improvement. More specifically, the invention relates to an anchoring structure provided on the shaft socket of a tool for receiving one end of the handle shaft with the handle shaft being provided with an anchoring element for cooperating with the anchoring structure adjacent the socket of the shaft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the manufacture of a number of items for retail sale, economic considerations relating to the storage as well as shipping and assembly of the items have been important factors in the design of such items. The reason for this is that storage space is often at a premium for retail merchants so that any reduction in the storage space required for an item will reduce the cost of the items to the retailer and even the consumer. This is particularly applicable to seasonal tools such as rakes and snow shovels. With the cost of transportation of products from the factory to retailers increasing, it has long been desired to improve the design of the tool structure of products to enable them to be more compactly stored for shipment as well as to allow storage and handling of the tools in a manner that will not adversely affect their function and appearance.
A number of tool structures that have been in use have not been successfully structured to allow compact shipment on the one hand or secure and reliable assembly for use, on the other hand. One structural problem that is particularly troublesome involves tool products that must withstand severe and repeated forces when put to use by a customer. This has been particularly true with tools that undergo repeated or periodic forces in substantially the same direction in operation but which vary in magnitude depending on the user or the material being worked upon. As a consequence, manufacturers have tended to forego compact shipping design considerations when manufacturing such tools or articles in order to provide a reinforced structure that will withstand such forces as may be imposed by a user. This has tended to increase the cost of the tool to the consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a tool structure of the type using an elongated shaft which the user grasps to employ the tool to carry out functions such as gardening, cleaning and the like. In structuring the tool, an improved anchor for the shaft in a socket of the tool such as a shovel or rake is provided. In one embodiment, a portion of an anchor is mounted on the shaft adjacent one end of the tool shaft and a complimentary anchor socket is provided on the shaft socket of the tool. This allows the shaft and tool to be shipped out unassembled to a site such as a retail outlet. The retailer may then store the two parts using a nesting technique which is typically more efficient than segregated item by item storage techniques commonly employed. When appropriate, the retailer may then assemble a needed number of the items by inserting the shaft into the socket of the tool to engage the anchoring elements which hold the shaft and tool in the assembled relation. Preferably, the anchor is fashioned in a manner with improve resistance to separation when the assemble tool is put to use. The anchor may vary slightly for different uses for different tools such as in the material used to construct the anchor elements.
In one embodiment, the socket of a tool, which normally receives a shaft, which may be cylindrical or square in cross section, is modified to provide an anchor element in the form of a reception portion. The anchor reception portion is provided with engaging teeth which will be angled away from the direction of the greatest force in a direction the tool is designed to experience. A mating anchoring element is attached to the surface of the shaft generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and has teeth angled to mate with the teeth of the reception portion. Assembly is achieved by inserting the shaft into the socket of the tool to bring the anchoring elements into mutual engagement with the teeth of each element becoming engaged such as by local deformation.
An advantage of this arrangement is that the anchoring elements can be manufactured either to prevent disassembly or to allow releasable assembly depending on the intended use of the tool. For example, a lawn rake is a type of tool that does not require permanent assembly since its use is generally seasonal so that storage is typically desired by a user. For such a tool, the set of anchoring elements may be formed with yieldable material that will allow disassembly for storage. A shovel may require permanent assembly once purchased and the material of the anchor elements will be selected to that end.
REFERENCES:
patent: 986761 (1911-03-01), Roscoe
patent: 3177026 (1965-04-01), Cowan
patent: 3198565 (1965-08-01), Ellis
patent: 4224786 (1980-09-01), Langlie et al.
patent: 4406559 (1983-09-01), Geertsema et al.
patent: 4892434 (1990-01-01), Miller
patent: 5272788 (1993-12-01), Gilstrap
patent: 5927779 (1999-07-01), Aquilina
Ames True Temper Inc.
Cherry Johnny D.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
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