GB2397042A

GB2397042A - An attachment for a handle

Info

Publication number: GB2397042A
Application number: GB0300258A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Andrew Exton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-07
Filing date: 2003-01-07
Publication date: 2004-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-07
Also published as: GB2397042B; GB0300258D0

Abstract

An attachment 1 for a handle 5 of a broom, rake, mop or the like implement comprises a grip portion 2 connectable to the handle 5 at two spaced apart positions along the handle 5 and forms a closed loop with the handle 5 when the attachment 1 is secured to the handle 5. Preferably, the grip portion 2 has a socket 3 to receive one end of the handle 5 and a sleeve 4 spaced from and axially aligned with the socket 3 through which the end of the handle 5 can be passed to locate the end in the socket 3. The socket 3 and sleeve 4 may be provided with locking screws 6,7 to secure releasably the attachment 1 to the handle 5. The grip portion 2 preferably has a first section 2a-2d of generally U-shape that extends the axial length of the handle 5 and extends to one side of the handle at approximately 45{ to the handle, and a second section 2e that is spaced from the handle 5 on the other side and extends parallel to the handle 5.

Description

AN ATTACHMENT FOR A HANDLE

This invention concerns attachments for handles of brooms, rakes, mops or the like implements.

Repetitive use of implements such as brooms, rakes, mops having an elongate handle connected to a working head to be manipulated in a forwards and backwards direction can cause back pain.

l0 An object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a handle of a broom, rake, mop or the like implements that mitigates the abovementioned problem.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an attachment for a handle of a broom, rake, mop or the like implements, comprising a grip portion to be gripped by a user and fastening means for detachably securing two ends of the grip portion to the handle such that the grip portion forms a closed loop with the handle.

By detachably securing the attachment to the handle, the attachment can be used with handles for a range of different implements.

Advantageously, the grip portion has a first part that extends beyond the end of the handle when the attachment is attached to the handle in use.

This part of the grip portion extends axially the length of the handle to which the attachment is secured and may extend at an angle relative to the handle of between 30 to 90 and preferably around 45 . This part of the grip portion may be U-shaped and extend towards the user when the implement is in use. In this way, handling of the implement and manoeuvrability of the working head in a forwards and backwards direction is facilitated and may lead to reduced back pain.

Preferably, the grip portion has a second part that is arranged to extend parallel to but radially offset from the handle when the attachment is secured to the handle in use. This part is preferably arranged on the opposite side of the handle to the first part and may be held by the user when lowering the handle towards the ground to manoeuvre the working head. In this way, the extent to which the user may have to bend down is decreased and may lead to reduced back pain.

Advantageously, the grip portion has a socket at one end to receive the end of the handle and a sleeve at the other end through which the handle can pass.

Preferably, the fastening means is operable to secure the handle within the socket and/or sleeve. For example, the socket and/or sleeve may be provided with a locking screw that can be tightened to secure the attachment to the handle.

The socket and sleeve may be sized to receive handles of different diameter. The fastening means may be operable to secure handles of different diameter, for example the locking screws may be tightened to varying amounts to secure handles of different diameter. Alternatively, the socket and sleeve may be provided with a respective inner sleeve to convert the socket and sleeve to the diameter of the handle to be fitted. A set of interchangeable inner sleeves may be provided for selective fitment according to the diameter of the handle. Alternatively, the inner sleeve may comprise a plurality of nested sleeve members such that the sleeve can be adapted to the diameter of the handle by removing one or more sleeve members.

A second aspect of the invention provides a broom, rake, mop or the like implement having handle and an attachment according to the first aspect of the invention detachably secured to the handle.

A third aspect of the invention provides an attachment connectable to a handle of a broom, rake, mop or the like implement at two spaced apart positions along the handle.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a side view of an attachment according to the invention.

The attachment 1 comprises a grip portion 2 having a socket 3 at one end and a sleeve 4 at the other end aligned with the socket 3. In use, the end of a handle 5 of an implement (not shown) such as a broom, rake or mop can be passed through the sleeve 4 and located in the socket 3. In this embodiment, the socket 3 has an internal shoulder 3a to provide an abutment for the end of the handle 5.

The socket 3 and sleeve 4 are provided with respective locking screws 6 and 7 that can be tightened to secure the attachment 1 to the handle 5. In this embodiment, the socket 3 and sleeve 4 are sized to be a close fit on the handle 5. In another arrangement, the socket 3 and sleeve 4 may be a clearance fit on the handle 5 such that the attachment 1 can be secured to handles 5 of different diameter. In this arrangement, the locking screws 6, 7 may be tightened to engage the handle 5. Alternatively, the socket 3 and sleeve 4 may be provided with an inner sleeve (not shown) to adapt the socket 3 and sleeve 4 to the diameter of the handle 5 and the locking screws 6, 7 tightened to engage the sleeve to secure the handle 5. A range of sleeves may be provided for selective fitment according to the diameter of the handle 5. Alternatively, the sleeve may consist of a plurality of nested sleeve members such that one or more sleeve members can be removed to adapt the sleeve to the diameter of the handle 5 to be fitted.

The socket 3 is connected by a short coaxial section 2a of grip portion 2 to a section 2b that extends at approximately 45 to the coaxial section 2a. The section 2b is connected by a bend section 2c to a section 2d parallel to the section 2b. The section 2d is longer than the section 2b and is connected to a section 2e parallel to the section 2a. The section 2e is longer than the section 2a and is connected to a section 2f that extends normal to the section 2e and is connected to the sleeve 4. In this way, the grip portion 2 forms a closed loop with the handle 5 when the attachment 1 is secured to the handle 5.

The sections 2a to 2f of the grip portion 2 are formed from a hollow metal tube formed to the required shape. The socket 3 and sleeve 4 are also made of metal tube secured to the ends of the grip portion 2 by any suitable means, for example by welding. The metal tube may be steel optionally covered or coated or treated to resist corrosion. It will be understood, however, that the attachment which comprises grip portion 2, socket 3 and sleeve 4 may be formed from other materials such as plastic tube. Alternatively, the grip portion 2 may be formed from a solid metal or plastics rod.

All or part of attachment 1 may be covered or coated with materials to facilitate a comfortable grip for the user. For example, sections 2b, 2c, 2d of the grip portion 2 may be covered or coated with neoprene foam.

In use, sections 2a to 2d of the grip portion 2 extend the axial length of the handle 5 and sections 2b,2c extend towards the user. This allows the user of an implement such as a broom, rake, mop, etc. to grip the attachment l at a higher position than would be the case if the user was using the implement without the attachment 1. The user may alter the length of the handle 5 prior to securing the attachment 1 to position the grip portion 2 at a height that is comfortable for the user. The user may also alter the angular position at which the attachment 1 is secured to the handle 5 to facilitate holding the grip portion 2. For example, the grip portion 2 may extend to one side of the handle 5, which would benefit left or right handed use, for normal forwards and backwards movement of the The inclination of the section 2b facilitates handling of the implement and manoeuvrability of a working head (not shown) attached to the handle 5.

In particular, backwards and forwards movement of the working head can be effected with reduced bending of the user's back. As a result, the strain on the user's lower back may be reduced leading to less risk of back pain.

Sections 2d,2e,2f extend to the opposite side of the handle 5 such that, if the handle 5 is lowered towards a horizontal position for manipulating the working head, the section 2e enables the user to grip the attachment 1 at a higher position than would be the case if the user was using the implement without the attachment 1. As a result, the extent to which the user has to bend down is lessened and this may lead to a reduction in back pain.

As will now be appreciated, the present invention provides an ergonomic attachment for securing to a handle of an implement such as a broom, rake or mop that reduces the amount the user has to bend their back when using the implement with the result that back pain may be prevented or alleviated to It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described. For example, the locking screws may be replaced by any other means for releasably securing the ends of the grip portion to the handle such as a collet device. For some applications, the grip portion may be releasably secured to the handle at one end only. The shape of the grip portion may be altered according to the requirements for a particular application.

Claims

1. An attachment for a handle of a broom, rake, mop or the like implements, comprising a grip portion to be gripped by a user and fastening means for detachably securing two ends of the grip portion to the handle such that the grip portion forms a closed loop with the handle.

2. An attachment according to claim 1 wherein, the grip portion has a first part that extends beyond the end of the handle when the attachment is attached to the handle in use.

3. An attachment according to claim 2 wherein the first part of the grip portion extends at an angle relative to the handle of between 30 to 9oo.

4. An attachment according to claim 3 wherein the first part of the grip portion extends at an angle of around 45 relative to the handle.

5. An attachment according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the first part of the grip portion is U-shaped and extends towards the user when the implement is in use.

6. An attachment according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein, the grip portion has a second part that is arranged to extend parallel to but radially offset from the handle when the attachment is secured to the handle in use.

7. An attachment according to claim 6 wherein the second part is arranged on the opposite side of the handle to the first part.

8. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the grip portion has a socket at one end to receive the end of the handle and a sleeve at the other end through which the handle can pass.

9. An attachment according to claim 8 wherein, the fastening means is operable to secure the handle within the socket and/or sleeve.

10. An attachment according to claim 9 wherein, the socket and/or sleeve is/are provided with a locking screw that can be tightened to secure the attachment to the handle.

11. An attachment according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the socket and sleeve are sized to receive handles of different diameter.

12. An attachment according to claim 11 wherein the fastening means is operable to secure handles of different diameter.

13. An attachment according to claim 12 as dependent on claim 10 wherein the locking screw(s) may be tightened to varying amounts to secure handles of different diameter.

14. An attachment according to claim 11 wherein, the socket and sleeve are provided with a respective inner sleeve to convert the socket and sleeve to the diameter of the handle to be fitted.

15. An attachment according to claim 14 wherein, a set of interchangeable inner sleeves is provided for selective fitment according to the diameter of the handle.

16. An attachment according to claim 14 wherein, the inner sleeve comprises a plurality of nested sleeve members such that the sleeve can be adapted to the diameter of the handle by removing one or more sleeve members.

17. An attachment for a handle of a broom, rake, mop or the like implement comprising a grip portion connectable to the handle at two spaced apart positions along the handle.

18. An attachment according to claim 17 wherein, the grip portion has a socket to receive one end of the handle and a sleeve spaced from and axially aligned with the socket through which the end of the handle can be passed to locate the end in the socket.

19. An attachment according to claim 18 wherein, the socket is connected to a first section of the grip portion that is U-shaped and, in use, extends at approximately 45 to the handle, and the first section is connected to a second section of the grip portion that is spaced from and extends parallel to the handle and is connected to the sleeve such that the grip portion forms a closed loop with the handle when the attachment is secured to the handle.

20. An attachment for a handle of a broom, rake, mop or the like implements substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

21. A broom, rake, mop or the like implement having a handle and an attachment according to any one of the preceding claims detachably secured to the handle.