GB2171949A

GB2171949A - A handle for a hand tool

Info

Publication number: GB2171949A
Application number: GB08605186A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Douglas Scrivens
Original assignee: Dobson Park Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Joy Global Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1985-03-09
Filing date: 1986-03-03
Publication date: 1986-09-10
Also published as: GB8506175D0; GB2171949B

Abstract

The handle comprises a part 10 of a wooden shaft and a part 14 of a hand grip attached to the shaft. The part 14 comprises a socket having a non-linear axis and the other of the parts at least partially occupies the socket. In the embodiment shown the socket comprises a hollow bi-furcation 14. The end of the shaft is prepared by cutting it along its axis and it is then forced into the shaft causing the two portions 17 and 18 of the shaft to separate and respectively occupy the limbs of the bi-furcation. Alternatively, the socket may comprise a single limb having a curved axis. The invention makes it possible to provide a metal handle which is more secure than known handles but does not require the use of seasoned timber for the shaft. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Handles The invention relates to handles, for example han dles for hand tools such as spades, forks, shovels and like tools used by gardeners, contractors and other persons.

Several types of handle are available to meet the personal preference of the end user and the invention is related primarily but not exclusively to a particular type known as a YD handle.

Originally a YD handle was formed by sawing along the centre line of a wooden shaft for a predetermined distance from one end, using steaming or a like treatment to make the timber pliable, forming a Y-shaped bi-furcation by opening the saw cut to a convenient shape and placing a cylindrical hand grip at the outer ends of the now bifurcated shaft. The hand grip was then secured by means of a dowei, rivet or like securing device, passing through the hand grip and the ends of the bi-furcation.

A later development was to produce a hollow metal YD bi-furcation, having a cylindrical part to accept a plain shaft portion secured by rivets, whilst at the outer ends of the Y a hand grip was secured in the manner previously described for the all wood version of a YD handle. The resultant handle was more robust than the earlier all wood handle and its introduction was hastened by the market difficulties in obtaining the high quality well seasoned timber necessary for the all wood type of handle.

In service the metal YD handle described above may, dependent upon working environment and use, become loosened, and movement may occur between the wooden shaft and the metal handle causing deterioration until breakage occurs. The invention seeks to alleviate such problems.

The invention provides a handle for a hand tool, the handle comprising a part of a shaft and a part of a hand grip attached to the shaft, one of the parts comprising a socket having a non-linear axis, and the other of the parts at least partially occupying the socket.

Preferably the said other part is initially substantially linear, but is then forced into the socket causing the other part to deform to a non-linear shape mating with the socket.

The said other part may be treated, e.g. by steaming, to increase its flexibility, before forcing it into the socket.

The said other part is preferably of wood.

The socket may have a curved access.

The socket may comprise a bi-furcation, the said other part occupying at least one limb of the bifur- cation.

Preferably the bi-furcation comprises a metal fabrication.

The said other part may also be bifurcated and may occupy both limbs of the bi-furcation.

The said other part may be prepared by cutting along its axis for a predetermined distance to form two portions, the two portions then being urged into the bi-furcation, thus forcing the two portions apart to occupy respectively the two limbs of the bi-furcation.

A central portion of the bi-furcation may be occupied by an uncut portion of the said other part.

The said central portion may comprise a sleeve through which the said other part is passed.

A rivet or other fastening may be passed through said central portion and said uncut portion.

Preferably the socket comprises the part of the hand grip and the said other part comprises the part of the shaft.

Where the hand grip comprises a bi-furcation a grip member may bridge the limbs of the bi-furcation.

The invention includes a method of attaching a handle to a shaft comprising the steps of providing a part comprising a socket having a non-linear axis, and forcing another part into the socket to at least partially occupy the socket.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part section through a first embodiment of YD handle according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of handle according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows an end 10 of a wooden shaft which has been cut along its axis from the end to a point 11. The shaft end 10 has also been reduced in diameter at 12. A hollow metal hand grip 13 is provided which is bifurcated at 14 to provide two hollow limbs 15 and 16 joined by a central sleeve portion 21.

During manufacture the shaft end is rendered flexible, for example by steaming, and it is then forced into the hand grip 13. The action of forced engagement deforms the end of the shaft into two bifurcated limbs 17 and 18, occupying respectively the limbs 15 and 16 of the hand grip. The uncut portion of the shaft end occupies the sleeve portion 21 and the end of the sleeve portion abuts against the reduced diameter portion 21 of the shaft end.

After the limbs 17 and 18 of the shaft end have cooled and dried, they lose their flexibility and thus set in the position shown, retaining the shaft end within the hand grip portion. However the hand grip portion is further secured in position by passing two rivets or dowels 19 and 20 through the hand grip portion 21 and the shaft end.

Since the final shape of the wooden limbs 17 and 18 is dictated by the shape of the metal hand grip, problems do not arise from the limbs 17 and 18 subsequently warping or twisting on drying, and so it is possible to use timber which does not have to be of such high quality or as well seasoned as would be necessary for the manufacture of a traditional all-wood type of YD handle.

The free ends of the metal limbs 15 and 16 are subsequently interconnected by a cylindrical member in a conventional manner to complete the YD shape.

The principle embodied in the invention can be used to manufacture handles other than those having the conventional YD shape, and an example of this is illustrated in Figure 2.

In the handle shown in Figure 2, a metal socket 23 is used which has a single limb with a curved axis. The shaft 24 has a tapered end 25 which is rendered flexible by steaming and is then forced into the socket 23 such that the end 25 deforms and mates with the curved socket. A rivet 26 is then placed in position and a grip member 27 is attached to the free end of the socket 23.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, whilst the embodiments concern a handle having a wooden shaft, the invention is equally applicable to an all-metal handle in which the wooden shafts described above are replaced by suitably prepared shafts of tubular steel or like material.

Alternatively, a plastics shaft may be used.

Whilst the socket preferably forms part of the hand grip, into which the shaft is forced, the socket could alternatively comprise a hollow shaft portion, at least partially occupied by part of the hand grip.

Claims

1. A handle for a hand tool, the handle comprising a part of a shaft and a part of a hand grip attached to the shaft, one of the parts comprising a socket having a non-linear axis, and the other of the parts at least partially occupying the socket.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, in which the said other part is initially substantially linear, but is then forced into the socket causing the other part to deform to a non-linear shape mating with the socket.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 2, in which the said other part is treated to increase its flexibility before forcing it into the socket.

4. A handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the said other part is made of wood.

5. A handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the socket has a curved axis.

6. A handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the socket comprises a bifurcation and the said other part occupies at least one limb of the bi-furcation.

7. A handle as claimed in claim 6, in which the bi-furcation comprises a metal fabrication.

8. A handle as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the said other part is also bi-furcated and occupies both limbs of the bi-furcation.

9. A handle as claimed in claim 8, in which the said other part is prepared by cutting along its axis for a predetermined distance to form two portions, and urging the two portions into the bi-furcation, thus forming the two portions apart to occupy respectively the two limbs of the bi-furcation.

10. A handle as claimed in claim 9, in which a central portion of the bi-furcation is occupied by an uncut portion of the said other part.

11. A handle as claimed in claim 10, in which the said central portion comprises a sleeve through which the said other part is passed.

12. A handle as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 in which a rivet or other fastening is passed through said central portion and said uncut portion.

13. A handle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the socket comprises the part of the hand grip and the said other part comprises the part of the shaft.

14. A handle as claimed in claim 13, in which the hand grip comprises a bi-furcation and a grip member bridges the limbs of the bi-furcation.

15. A handle for a hand tool, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 ofthe accompanying drawings.

16. A method of attaching a handle to a shaft comprising the steps of providing a part comprising a socket having a non-linear axis, and forcing another part into the socket to at least partially occupy the socket.

17. A method of attaching a handle to a shaft, substantially as herein described, with reference te Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.