GB2377197A

GB2377197A - Safety apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2377197A
Application number: GB0121771A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Corder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-04
Filing date: 2001-09-04
Publication date: 2003-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-04
Also published as: GB2377197B; GB0121771D0

Abstract

The present provides a hand-held safety apparatus 1 for preventing injuries to the hand when operating a bladed tool 5, said apparatus comprising a grip element 2 and a guard element 3, the guard element being located at one end of the grip element such that it forms a barrier between the blade 6 of the bladed tool 5 and the operator's hand 4 when the apparatus is in use. In a preferred embodiment, the guard element 3 includes a substantially planar surface which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the grip element. Preferably, the planar surface of the guard element 3 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip element.

Description

SAFETY APPARATUS The present invention relates to a safety apparatus for preventing injuries to the hand when operating a bladed tool, such as a knife or saw.

Background Lacerations and puncture wounds resulting from the use of bladed tools such as knives and saws are alarmingly commonplace.

One of the most common accidents in the home occurs when people are cutting vegetables or meat with a knife which slips and cuts a finger or hand. According to the UK government statistics for 1995, over 26000 injuries were reported in the UK associated with using a kitchen knife to prepare food.

Moreover, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), do-it-yourself (DIY)-associated accidents with knives and saws lead to more than 22000 and 14000 people, respectively, needing hospital treatment in the UK in 2000.

The present invention seeks to reduce, and preferably eliminate, the risk of injury to the operator's hand resulting from the use of a bladed tool.

Scope of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a hand-held safety apparatus for preventing injuries to the hand when operating a bladed tool, the apparatus comprising: (i) a grip element; and (ii) a guard element the guard element being located at one end of the grip element such that it forms a barrier between the blade of the bladed tool and the operator's hand when the apparatus is in use.

Thus, the guard element provides a protective barrier which is impenetrable to the blade of the bladed tool.

In a preferred embodiment, the guard element includes a substantially planar surface which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the grip element. Advantageously, the planar surface of the guard element is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip element.

Preferably, the grip element is shaped to receive a substrate to be cut by the bladed tool or a portion of a work surface upon which an article is to be cut.

Conveniently, the grip element has a channel along its longitudinal axis shaped to receive the substrate to be cut or the portion of a work surface.

Advantageously, the channel is L-shaped.

In a preferred embodiment, the channel comprises one or more engaging elements to engage the substrate to be cut or the portion of a work surface.

Preferably, the engaging elements comprise raised beads on one or both of the outwardly facing surfaces of the channel.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the grip element may also be shaped to receive the operator's hand. For example, the grip element may include one or more indentations shaped and sized to receive respective digits of an operator's hand. When the safety apparatus is in use, the digits of the operator's hand may extend beyond the grip element to provide an additional, direct grip on the substrate to be cut.

Preferably, the grip element is elastically deformable, enabling it to engage the substrate to be cut by the bladed tool or the portion of a work surface while, at the same time, making it comfortable to the operator's hand.

It will be further appreciated that the guard element must be of a material of sufficient strength to create an impenetrable barrier to the blade of the bladed tool. Advantageously, the guard element is substantially rigid, thus also providing a firm guide surface against which to position the blade of the bladed tool when in use.

The safety apparatus of the present invention may constructed from any material having the desired properties. For example, the apparatus may be constructed from a polymeric material (such as a plastics material), rubber, metal or wood. The grip element and the guard element may be constructed from the same material or from different materials.

Preferably, the apparatus is constructed from a polymeric material.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be made as a one piece construction or as separate component parts which are joined together,

e. g. by adhesion. For example, the grip element and the guard element may be made separately and then cemented together to form the complete safety apparatus.

Conveniently, however, the apparatus is a one-piece construction.

It will be further appreciated that the safety apparatus of the invention may be use in conjunction with any bladed tool, such as a knife or saw.

The apparatus is particularly suited to use with a knife, such as a kitchen knife. For example, the apparatus may be used when preparing food, e. g. cutting vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, etc.

The apparatus is also well-suited to use with a hand-operated saw. Thus, the apparatus is suitable for use in carpentry and do-it-yourself (DIY) activities.

The apparatus lends itself to use in both domestic and industrial environments.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary safety apparatus of the present invention placed against a length of wood to be cut by a saw.

Figure 2 shows side (A), plan (B), base (C) and end (D and E) elevations of an exemplary safety apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary safety apparatus of the present invention in use when cutting a length of wood with a saw.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary safety apparatus of the present invention in use when cutting a tubular substrate with a knife.

Example There is shown in Figure I an exemplary hand-held safety apparatus 1 according to the present invention comprising a grip element 2 and guard element 3, the guard element being located at one end of the grip element.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the guard element 3 includes a substantially planar surface which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the grip element.

The grip element 2 is shaped to receive a substrate 8, e. g. a plank of wood, to be cut by the bladed tool 5. Thus, the grip element 2 has an L-shaped channel 7 along its longitudinal axis shaped to receive the substrate 8.

Figure 2 shows side (A), plan (B), base (C) and end (D and E) elevations of an exemplary safety apparatus 1, in which the L-shaped channel 7 for receiving the substrate to be cut is more clearly shown. Also apparent from this figure are the engaging elements 9, in this case small raised beads, on the surface of the channel 7 to engage the substrate 8 to be cut, thereby reducing the likelihood of the apparatus moving relative to the substrate when in use.

Figure 3 shows a schematic drawing of the safety apparatus 1 in use. In this example, the left hand 4 of the operator is holds the grip element 2 of the

apparatus against the plank of wood 8 to be cut. The fingers of the operator's left hand 4 extend beyond the safety apparatus to grip the plank of wood 4.

The bladed tool 5, held in the operator's right hand, is positioned such that the blade 6 of the tool is adjacent the guard element 3. It will be appreciated, however, that the safety apparatus 1 may alternatively be held in the operator's right hand and the bladed tool 5 in the operator's left hand.

The bladed tool 5, in this case a hand-held saw, is then operated in the normal manner, i. e. with the blade 6 being moved forward and backward repeatedly, the guard element providing at all times a protective barrier between the blade 6 and the operator's left hand 4.

Figure 4 shows a schematic drawing of the safety apparatus 1 in use when cutting a tubular substrate 10 (a length of hose) with a knife 11.

Claims

1. A hand-held safety apparatus I for preventing injuries to the hand when operating a bladed tool 5, the apparatus comprising: (i) a grip element 2; and (ii) a guard element 3, the guard element being located at one end of the grip element such that it forms a barrier between the blade 6 of the bladed tool 5 and an operator's hand 4 when the apparatus is in use.

2. A safety apparatus 1 according to Claim 1 wherein the guard element 3 includes a substantially planar surface which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the grip element.

3. A safety apparatus 1 according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the planar surface of the guard element 3 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip element

4. A safety apparatus 1 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the grip element 2 is shaped to receive a substrate 8 to be cut by the bladed tool 5 or a portion of a work surface.

5. A safety apparatus 1 according to Claim 4 wherein the grip element 2 includes a channel 7 along its longitudinal axis shaped to receive the substrate 8 or the portion of the work surface.

6. A safety apparatus I according to Claim 5 wherein the channel 7 is L-shaped.

7. A safety apparatus 1 according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the channel 7 includes one or more engaging elements 9 to engage the substrate 8 to be cut.

8. A safety apparatus I according to Claim 7 wherein the engaging elements 9 comprise raised beads on one or more of the surfaces of the channel.

9. A safety apparatus 1 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the grip element 2 is elastically deformable.

10. A safety apparatus I according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the guard element 3 is substantially rigid.

11. A safety apparatus I according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is constructed from a polymeric material.

12. A safety apparatus 1 according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is a one-piece construction.

13. A safety apparatus 1 substantially as described herein with reference to the figures.