REMOVABLE AUXILIARY HANDLE FOR TOOLS

POIGNEE AUXILIAIRE AMOVIBLE POUR OUTILS

English Abstract

An auxiliary handle for use on an elongated rod-shaped handle of a tool includes an open loop member with a pair of opposed clamping arms connected to each other solely at a first end thereof via a gripping portion. The clamping arms have free distal end portions defining therebetween an opening adapted to receive the elongated rod-shaped handle. The clamping arms are displaceable about the gripping portion between a first position for accommodating rod-shaped handles of different cross-sectional dimensions and a second position wherein the clamping arms are resiliently depressed one towards the other for clamping onto the rod- shaped handle of the tool. The auxiliary handle also includes an actuator adapted to be connected to the clamping arms for controlling their movement between the first and second positions.

French Abstract

Une poignée auxiliaire pour une utilisation sur une tige allongée en forme de manche d'un outil comprenant un élément en boucle ouverte avec une paire de bras de serrage opposés reliés entre eux uniquement à une première extrémité grâce à une partie de préhension. Les bras de serrage ont des parties d'extrémité distales libres définissant entre elles une ouverture destinée à recevoir la poignée allongée en forme de tige. Les bras de serrage sont déplaçables sur la partie de préhension entre une première position pour recevoir des poignées en forme de tige de différentes dimensions en sections transversales et une seconde position dans laquelle les bras de serrage sont élastiquement enfoncés l'un vers l'autre pour serrer sur la poignée en forme de tige de l'outil. La poignée auxiliaire comprend également un actionneur adapté pour être relié aux bras de serrage pour commander leur mouvement entre les première et seconde positions.

Claims

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WE CLAIM:
1. An auxiliary handle for use on an elongated rod-shaped handle of a tool,
comprising an open loop member comprising a pair of opposed clamping
arms connected to each other solely at a first end thereof via a gripping
portion and having free distal end portions defining therebetween an
opening adapted to receive said elongated rod-shaped handle, the free
distal end portions having locking portions, a first one of the locking
portions including a hole therein and a second one of the locking portions
including a slot extending from the bottom edge thereof, said clamping
arms being displaceable about said gripping portion between a first
position for accommodating rod-shaped handles of different cross-
sectional dimensions and a second position wherein said clamping arms
are resiliently depressed one towards the other for clamping onto said rod-
shaped handle of said tool, and an actuator extending transversally
through the hole and the slot of the locking portions for controlling the
movement thereof between said first and second positions.
2. Auxiliary handle according to claim 1, wherein said gripping portion and
said opposed clamping arms are integral.
3. Auxiliary handle according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said actuator
comprises a threaded fastener extending transversally through said locking
portions.
4. Auxiliary handle according to claim 3, wherein said threaded fastener
comprises a knob handle and a threaded bolt, wherein said threaded bolt
comprises a threaded shank and an elongated head extending at right
angles from one end of said threaded shank, said elongated head being
received in a complementary elongated slot defined in one of said locking
portions.

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5. Auxiliary handle according to claim 3, wherein said first one of said
locking
portions comprises an elongated cavity adapted to receive an elongated
head of said threaded fastener while a threaded shank thereof
transversally extends through said locking portions, wherein said elongated
head prevents rotation of said threaded fastener relative to said locking
portions once said threaded fastener is properly positioned in said hole and
said slot and said elongated head is properly positioned in said elongated
cavity.
6. Auxiliary handle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said
locking
portions diverge from one another.
7. Auxiliary handle according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said actuator
comprises a rod.
8. An auxiliary handle adapted to be releasably mounted to elongated-rod
shaped handles of different dimensions, comprising a grip, a pair of
clamping arms extending from opposed ends of said grip, said clamping
arms having spaced-apart distal end portions defining a seat therebetween
for receiving a rod-shaped handle of a tool, said distal end portions
terminating below said seat into outwardly angled fingers diverging from
one another, and a threaded fastener extending transversally through said
outwardly angled fingers for selectively causing said clamping arms to be
moved towards a closed position in order to releasably clamp the auxiliary
handle to the rod-like shaped handle.
9. An auxiliary handle as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first one of said
outwardly angled fingers comprise a hole therein and a second one of said
outwardly angled fingers comprises a slot extending from the bottom edge
thereof to allow said threaded fastener to extend transversally through said
outwardly angled fingers.

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10. An auxiliary handle as claimed in claim 9, wherein said threaded fastener
includes a bolt having a head at a first end and a knob threadably engaged
on a second end of the bolt, opposite to the first end, the knob extending
outwardly of said second one of said outwardly angled fingers.
11. The auxiliary handle defined in claim 10, wherein the head of the bolt has
an elongated shape, and wherein the head is received in a complementary
elongated slot defined in the first one of said outwardly angled fingers.
12. An auxiliary handle for use on an elongated rod-shaped handle of a tool,
comprising a grip, a pair of clamping arms extending from opposed sides of
the grip and having opposed free distal end portions diverging from one
another, a threaded fastener extending transversally through said free
distal end portions for displacing said clamping arms between an unlocking
position and a locking position, and wherein said threaded fastener
extends through a hole defined in a first one of said free distal end portions
and through a slot defined in a second one of said distal end portions, said
slot extending in a longitudinal direction of said clamping arms to permit
tilting of said threaded fastener.
13. The auxiliary handle defined in claim 12, wherein the slot has an open
bottom end for allowing the threaded fastener to be pivoted out of
engagement from said second one of said distal end portions.
14. The auxiliary handle defined in claim 13, wherein said threaded fastener
includes a bolt having a head at a first end and a knob threadably engaged
on a second end of the bolt, opposite to the first end, the knob extending
outwardly of said second one of said distal end portions.

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15. The auxiliary handle defined in claim 14, wherein the head of the bolt has
an elongated shape, and wherein the head is received in a complementary
elongated slot defined in the first one of said distal end portions.
16. An auxiliary handle for use on an elongated rod-shaped handle of a tool,
comprising a grip, a pair of clamping arms extending from opposed sides of
the grip, said clamping arms converging towards one another from the grip
and defining a seat therebetween with a variable diameter for receiving a
rod-shaped handle of a tool, said clamping arms terminating below said
seat into free end locking portions, a threaded fastener extending
transversally through said locking portions for displacing said clamping
arms between an unlocking position and a locking position, and wherein
said threaded fastener extends through a hole defined in a first one of said
free end locking portions and through a slot defined in a second one of
said free end locking portions, said slot extending in a longitudinal
direction
of said clamping arms to permit tilting of said threaded fastener.
17. An auxiliary handle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the free end locking
portions diverge from one another.
18. An auxiliary handle as claimed in one of claims 16 and 17, wherein said
threaded fastener comprises a knob handle and a threaded bolt, said
threaded bolt including a threaded shank and an elongated head extending
at right angles from one end of said threaded shank, said elongated head
being received in a complementary elongated slot defined in one of said
locking portions.

Description

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REMOVABLE AUXILIARY HANDLE FOR TOOLS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an auxiliary handle for use on an
elongated rod-shaped handle of a tool.
(b) Description of Prior Art
The use of handles is known from the prior art since many decades to grab
tools such as garden tools. Among the existing handles designed to manipulate
garden tools, the most commonly known handles comprise an elongated rod
1o portion having the general structure of a shaft at the lower end of which
the tool
head is grafted. A grip is typically provided at the upper end of the
elongated rod
handle to facilitate manipulation of the tool. This configuration allows a
user to
grab the tool by placing one hand on the shaft portion near the head of the
tool and
the other hand on the other end of the elongated rod handle or on the grip
affixed
thereto.
One of the major drawbacks associated with this conventional tool handle
configuration is the low ergonomic posture of the user and back pain and
injuries
caused therefrom. To alleviate an inappropriate posture of a user relative to
the
garden tool, prior art discloses various structural configuration of the
elongated rod
2o handle of the tool, as claimed by Blessing, K.C. in U.S Pat. No. 5,771,535
for
example. It has also been suggested to solve this ergonomic drawback by
providing auxiliary handles, fixed on the shaft handle. For example, U.S. Pat.
Nos.
5,669,650 to Rutz, 5,695,231 to Hoffman, 5,400,471 to Lichefield et al.,
5,331,720
to Beckingham, 5,133, 582 to Rocha, 5,065,475 to Watt, 5,054,830 to Nisenbaum,
and 4,050,728 to Davidson all disclose auxiliary handles fixed on the rod-
shaped
handle of a garden tool or the like to provide a user with a better holding
position.

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More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,627 to Horler reported a handle assembly
for a
tool for providing an ergonomic handle designed to minimize back strain and
injury.
Solution proposed by the prior art may contribute to alleviate the ergonomic
problem inherent to the use of garden tool. However, the auxiliary handles
proposed by the prior art are for most of them designed to be permanently
attached to a shaft-handled tool. Those designed to be removably attached to a
garden tool, as provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,627, are unfortunately not
designed
to be adapted to a wide variety of shaft diameters. Therefore, all solutions
proposed in the prior art require that a user be provided with multiple
auxiliary
handles to be adapted on a range of garden tools, which is less interesting on
an
economical aspect.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to provide an auxiliary handle for
garden tools, which is removably attachable to the shaft portion of garden
tools,
adaptable to a variety of shaft dimensions, and easy to produce at low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aim of the present invention is to provide a new auxiliary handle for
use on an elongated rod-shaped handle of a tool.
According to a general aspect of the present invention, there is provided
an auxiliary handle comprising an open loop member having a pair of opposed
clamping arms connected to each other solely at a first end thereof via a
gripping
portion and having free distal end portions defining therebetween an opening
adapted to receive the elongated rod-shaped handle. The clamping arms are
displaceable about the gripping portion between a first position for
accommodating
rod-shaped handles of different cross-sectional dimensions and a second
position
wherein the clamping arms are resiliently depressed one towards the other for
clamping onto the rod-shaped handle of the tool. An actuator is provided for
controlling the movement of the clamping arms between the first and second
positions.

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In accordance with another general aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an auxiliary handle adapted to be releasably mounted to
elongated-rod shaped handles of different dimensions, comprising a grip, a
pair of
clamping arms extending from opposed ends of said grip, the clamping arms
having spaced-apart distal end portions defining a seat therebetween for
receiving
a rod-shaped handle of a tool, the distal end portions terminating below the
seat
into outwardly angled fingers, and a threaded fastener extending transversally
through the outwardly angled fingers for selectively causing said clamping
arms to
be moved towards a closed position in order to releasably clamp the auxiliary
handle to the rod-like shaped handle.
In accordance with a still further general aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an auxiliary handle for use on an elongated rod-shaped
handle of
a tool, comprising a grip, a pair of clamping arms extending from opposed
sides of
the grip and having opposed free distal end portions, a threaded fastener
extending transversally through the free distal end portions for displacing
the
clamping arms between an unlocking position and a locking position, and
wherein
the threaded fastener extends through a hole defined in a first one of the
free distal
end portion and through a slot defined in a second one of the distal end
portions
and extending in a longitudinal direction of said clamping arms to permit
tilting of
the threaded fastener.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by
way of illustration, a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of an auxiliary handle according to an
embodiment of the present invention, attached to the elongated rod handle of a
tool;
Fig. 2a and 2b are front views of the auxiliary handle shown in Fig. 1,
attached to tool handles of different cross-sectional dimensions;

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Fig. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the auxiliary handle shown in Fig.
1;
and
Fig. 4a and 4b are front and rear exploded perspective views of the auxiliary
handle, respectively.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are
identified by like reference numerals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, more particularly figures 1 to 4, an auxiliary
handle 1 for use on an elongated rod-shaped handle 3 of a garden tool, such as
a
1o plow, a rake or a fork, will be described. Auxiliary handle 1 generally has
a D-
shape and comprises a grip 5 designed to accommodate the hand of a user and
two opposed and generally symmetrical clamping members 7a,7b which are solely
connected to each other via the grip 5.
Each clamping member 7a, 7b is perpendicularly attached by its upper
extremity 9a, 9b to one side extremity 11 a, 11 b of grip 5. Extremities
13a,13b of
clamping members 7a,7b distal from grip 5 converge while remaining physically
free one from the other so that grip 5 and both clamping members 7a,7b define
an
open loop comprising an opening 15. Clamping members 7a,7b and grip 5 are
preferably made from a resilient material and more preferably from a plastic
material in a manner such that the width of opening 15 can be modified to
accommodate elongated handles 3 having rod-shapes of variable diameters, as it
will be described in details hereinafter. Grip 5 and clamping means 7a,7b are
preferably made form a unique type of plastic material so that grip 5 and
clamping
members 7a, 7b can be integrally produced as a unitary structure (see Fig. 3).
As shown in Fig. 3, opening 15 created by extremities 13a,13b of clamping
members 7a,7b defines a handle clamping section 17 and a handle locking
section

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19 extending therefrom. Both clamping section 17 and locking section 19 will
be
described in detail hereinafter.
Clamping section 17 connects auxiliary handle 1 to rod-shaped handle 3 of
a tool and allows auxiliary handle 1 to be moved along the longitudinal axis
21 of
elongated handle 3. Therefore, it provided a tool user with an ergonomic
position
and contributes to reduce back pain and injuries. Clamping section 17 is
defined
by a pair of semi-circular cavities 23a, 23b, each cavity being located at one
of the
free distal end portion of clamping members 7a,7b, facing opening 15. Each
cavity
23a and 23b has the shape of a partial cylinder, and more specifically a
cylinder
1o cross-sectioned along the longitudinal axis which extends perpendicularly
to grip 5
and clamping members 7a,7b. Therefore, facings 25a,25b of cavities 23a,23b are
adapted to fit to the cylindrical exterior facing 27 of rod-shaped handle 3.
Since
clamping members 7a,7b are flexible and thus displaceable about grip 5,
cavities
23a,23b are displaceable relative to one another to modify the width of
opening 15,
thereby allowing accommodating rod-shaped handles 3 of different cross-
sectional
dimensions. As shown in Figs. 4a and 4b, frictional padding 29a,29b may
further
be inserted between facings 25a,25b and exterior facing 27 of elongated handle
3
to modify the circumference of the partially-cylindrical cavities 23a,23b and
insure a
proper frictional contact between clamping section 17 of auxiliary handle 1
and
elongated handle 3. Proper clamping of the clamping members 7a and 7b onto the
rod-shaped handle 3 is insured by locking section 19. As will be seen
hereinafter, a
locking mechanism 31 is provided in the locking section 19 to allow the
clamping
members 7a and 7b to be brought together towards a closed position.
Locking section 19 comprises two opposed outwardly angled locking
members 33 and 35, which constitute the lowest portion of clamping members 7a
and 7b, respectively. Locking member 33 has a generally rectangular shape and
comprises an open ended slot 37 located midway between front edge 39 and rear
edge 41 of locking member 33 and extending from the bottom edge 43 thereof
until
a location near the top edge 45.

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Locking member 35 also has a rectangular shape but defines a longitudinal
groove 49 (Fig. 4b), extending on locking member 35 along the longitudinal
axis 21
of elongated handle 3. Longitudinal groove 49 is located midway from the top
edge 51 and the bottom edge 53 of locking member 35 and extends from the
exterior face 55 of locking member 35 until a location situated between
exterior
face 55 and interior face 57 of locking member 35. A hole 61 is defined at the
center of groove 49 through the bottom surface thereof to allow the passage of
a T-
shaped bolt 47 trough locking member 35. The bolt 47 has a threaded shank 65
and an elongated head 59 extending at right angles from one end of the shank
65.
As shown in Fig.3, the bolt 47 extends transversally through the locking
members
33 and 35 and the head 59 thereof is received in the longitudinal groove 49 to
prevent rotation of the bolt 47 once properly positioned in hole 61 and slot
37.
The locking mechanism further comprises a knob handle 63 adapted to be
threadably engaged to the bolt 47 as shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and 3. Locking bolt
47
passes through hole 61 of locking member 35 and through slot 37 of locking
member 33, where bolt 47 is substantially perpendicular to both locking
members
33 and 35. Longitudinal head 59 of bolt 47 is inserted into groove 49 of
locking
member 35 while the threaded shank 65 of bolt 47 passes through locking member
33. Knob handle 63 is screwed on threaded shank 65 of bolt 47, until it rests
against the exterior face 67 of locking member 33. As knob handle 63 is
screwed
on bolt 47, groove 49 prevent rotation of longitudinal head 59 inserted
thereto, and
forces locking members 33 and 35 to be depressed one toward another and to
releasably clamp the handle 1 onto the elongated rod-shaped handle 3 of the
tool.
Locking members 33 and 35 are angularly positioned relative to clamping
portion 17 of clamping members 7a, 7b, so that the space between the top edges
45 and 51 of locking member 33 and 35 is narrower than space between bottom
edges 43 and 53. This particular configuration of locking members 33 and 35
ensure that threaded shank 65 of bolt 47 and knob handle 63 do not slide along

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slot 37 while screwing knob handle 63 onto bolt 47 and remain well positioned
relative to locking member 33.
Slot 37 advantageously allows disengaging the bolt 47 from the locking
member 33 without having to completely unscrew the knob handle 63. In this
way,
the user has simply to sufficiently unscrew the knob handle 63 to pivot the
bolt 47
out of engagement with the locking member 33 and then remove the handle
assembly 1 from the rod-shaped handle 3.
In use, auxiliary handle 1 is attached to elongated handle 3 by unscrewing
knob handle so as to allow bolt 47 to pivot out of slot 37 or to completely
remove
bolt 47 from locking member 35. Elongated handle 3 is inserted into clamping
portion 17 of auxiliary handle 1 by placing it between locking member 33 and
35
and forcing elongated handle 3 into cavities 23a and 23b of clamping section
17.
Alternatively, the auxiliary handle could be slid over the rod-like handle.
Clamping
arms 7a,7b being resilient and locking members 33 and 35 being angled, forcing
elongated handle 3 into clamping portion 17 causes clamping arms 7a,7b to move
away to one another, thereby increasing the opening 15 so as to create a
passage
for elongated handle 3 to cavities 23a,23b of auxiliary handle 1. Once
elongated
handle 3 is inserted into clamping portion 17, auxiliary handle 1 is secured
on
elongated handle 3 by properly engaging bolt 47 in hole 61 and slot 37 of
locking
members 35 and 33, respectively, and by screwing knob handle 63 on threaded
shank 65 of bolt 47. Since the elongated head 59 of bolt 47 is received in the
longitudinal groove 49, screwing of knob handle 63 on bolt 47 causes distal
extremities 13a,13b of clamping arms 7a,7b to become closer one to another,
thereby ensuring proper contact between the exterior cylindrical face 27 of
elongated handle 3 and faces 25a,25b of cavities 23a,23b of auxiliary handle
1.
The remove auxiliary handle 1 from elongated handle 3, knob handle 63 is
unscrewed from bolt 47 so as to pivot bolt 47 away from slot 37 or to
completely
remove bolt 47 from locking member 35. This causes a release of the pressure

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exerted on connecting members 7a,7b and allows handle 1 to be freely pulled
away from elongated handle 3.
While the invention has been described with particular reference to the
illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that numerous modifications
thereto
will appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description
and
accompanying drawings should be taken as illustrative of the invention and not
in a
limiting sense.

Representative Drawing