GB2526546A

GB2526546A - A handle for artists

Info

Publication number: GB2526546A
Application number: GB1409314.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Charles Spurgeon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-05-26
Filing date: 2014-05-26
Publication date: 2015-12-02
Also published as: GB201409314D0

Abstract

An ergonomic handle for a tool comprising a shaped hub 8 mounted on a shaft or stem 7, wherein the tool may preferably be used for a plurality of uses. The tool hub includes a concave area for the thumb, a concave area for the first finger and area for the second finger to rest against so that the gripped tools axis is approximate to the axis of the forearm when the wrist is in its natural position. The handle may have a plurality of uses which may include cutting implements, marking implements and for use with computer ancillaries. The tools may preferably be detachable from the handle and the shaft assembly may include an interface fit or a screw thread fit. The handle may also be designed to suit either the right or left hand.

Description

A handle for artists

Background

A number of art instruments exist for the artist to grip in one hand. The simplest form is that of a pencil type instrument -the shaft of the pencil is around t5omm long and is usually gripped in the same way that a pen is gripped -to exert a firm pressure whilst writing. The art-ist's brush is similar, except that the round handle is longer and tapered. If an artist has drawn guidelines then he can progressively make these more pronounced and then paint within the lines. However, should the artist wish to draw or paint directly without the ability to correct errors, the hand, gripping close to the paper or canvas obscures the general work. Other draw-ing tools such as marker pens and felt-tip markers are often short and stubby causing them to need a different practice to the accustomed small diameter shafts. Charcoal sticks are thin-ner-making it difficult to hold without using the point of contact with the paper as a further pivot. Charcoal and pastels also deposit their colour on the artist's fingers in use and a holder will avoid this problem that sometimes causes colour to be unintentionally to be spread to objects in the vicinity. The handle may also be applied when it is essential that the worker is at a distance from the tip of the tool -such as welding equipment, laser cutters and manipulat-ing radioactive, sharp or hot parts. When working from a scene or life model the artist needs to move his vision from the scene to the plane of the artwork frequently When the artwork surface is close to the eyes compared with the scene it requires the eye to adjust its focus and the mind to adjust the realisation of perspective and position to a greater degree as the eye is brought to near vision and then to far vision range, the head and the angle of the head also be-ing changed. The best Artists can grip the end of the implement furthest from the paper but the grip is then between just the ends of the thumb, first finger and second finger. He can work at arm's length' but it is difficult to control the implement at the point where it touches the paper. The invention proposes an improved handle for pencils, pens, paint-brushes and the like to enable the user to achieve a more precise grip whilst, at the same time, working from a distance from the artwork.

The handle can also be used to improve the ease of use of certain pointing tools as used with a computer to interact with a screen display (mice or pen-like devices), for precision adjustment tools such as screwdrivers, allen keys etc.

Description

A typical pencil has a shaft of hexagonal cross section 7mm across flats or it may be about 7.8mm in diameter. An artist will often grip it at the end between the tips of the thumb arid the first two fingers of the hand. The handle according to the invention provides larger bear-ing areas for the thumb and first finger and the edge of the second finger contacts over a longer length. It has been found that one size of round hole may accommodate both round and hexagonal pencils. If the friction of the pencil in the hole is insufficient the first finger may be extended to rest on the pencil. The pencil is attached to the handle so that, when the handle is held comfortably it points approximately in the direction between the axis of the thumb and first finger. The pencil is then moved by niens of the elbow and shoulder joints -the long arm bones permitting a greater precision of movement and smoother sweeps of movement than the shorter wrist and finger actions. Since the palm of the hand does not contact the handle a single handle size is suitable for a variety of hand sizes. ilie aperture or hole in the handle maybe of any cross section and may be tapered. The left-handed handle is a mirror image of the right-handed version, the tWO versions can he identified by the letters L Øeft) and R (right) or by using different colours. The handle may be made of one or more materials and be solid or hollow or lanunated. Materials of a resilient or frictional type may be included. The handle maybe molded or machined from materials including wood, ceramic, plastics, metals, bone, or horn. The handle maybe supplied as a kit of constituents such as to include modelling clay or a room-setting or thermosetting compound that may be fonned by the user around the stern of a tool or around a core containing an aperture for the stem of a tool. Mold parts of sizes to suit different thumbs and fingers could be included in the kit. A detachable handle or hub could be provided to enable it to be used with a variety of tools or tools of the same type hut of varying qualities, such as sizes of paintbrush or pencils having different hardness of lead or of different colours, or pens having different inks or line widths. A detachable handle could be supplied as part of a kit that contains a variety of tools. A detachable handle could be sup-plied with one or more adapters appropriate to the stems or shafts of different sizes or types of tools. The aperture in the handle may include a screw thread. Tools for use with the handle maybe adapted to have a screw thread on their stem or shaft.

Detailed Description

A typical embodiment of the invention may include a hub having an aperture for fitting the stern or shaft of a drawing tool such as a pencil. The hub includes depressions for the thumb, first and second fingers. In order to suit a number of different finger diameters and lengths a basic shape of a cylinder with a conical end may be amended to accommodate depressions for the thumb, first finger and second finger. The hole for the shaft of the drawing instrunient would emanate from the conical end and be the same azis as the basic form. Different configu-rations of drawing tools etc can be accommodated by adapters having different sized orifices or end fittings. The drawing instrument may be integral with the handle.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with refer-ence to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a wrist having fingers in positions to hold the handle according to the inven-tion; Figure 2 shows an artist's pencil having a handle according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a demountable handle according to the invention and Figure 4 shows an adapter for use with the demountable handle according to the invention.

In figure a hand 5 on forearm 4 is shown with the thumb 1, first finger 2 and second finger 3 in positions ready to receive the shaft or stem of a tool. The pad of the thumb, the tip of the first finger and the edge of the second finger are spaced at positions around the shaft or stem and then pressed closer together to control the tool. The hand is preferably straight with the forearm and the handle according to the invention enables the tool to be held in alignment with the forearm. Figure 2 shows the thurnb 1, first finger 2 and second finger 3 hi positions around the handle 8 of the tool 6 the stem of the tool 7 is retained in the handle. The tool may be an engraving tool, a pen, a pencil, a marker, a brush etc. The handle may be detachable and interchangeable between different tools, then beconiing a hub. The word handle is mislead-ing because the grip on the tool is between the thumb and two fingers, the palm not being in contact and the fingers not being wrapped around the handle' as is the case with the handle of many tools such as a hammer, ratchet screwdriver etc. A typical demountahie handle or hub is shown in figure 3, the three views being: elevation 10, top view 11 and bottom view 12. The aperture 14 is a through hole to enable the stem of the tool to be accommodated at different positions within the handle/hub 15. The aperture may he round or of polygon cross section and may have tapering or retaining features.The aperture maybe a through ho'e. Apertures of different shapes or sizes maybe situated in the two ends.

The channel 16 is for the thumb, the channel 17 is for the first finger and a flat area 18 is for the side of the second finger. A letter R' 19 indicates that this is for use by the fingers of the right hand and that a left-handed version maybe required for some users. Sometimes the handle maybe used for an opposite-handed user by fitting the tool in the opposite end. A typical adult sized model may have approximate dimensions based on a 40mm diameter cylinder 35mm long with a conical end; the concave areas for the thumb and two lingers being fash-ioned in the periphery of the cylinder. The aperture for the stem of the tool could be in the conical end. Figure 4 shows an adapter for the handle/hub 23. The stem 20 is a fit in the aper-ture 14 of the handle/hub shown in figure 3. The stem 21 is of sufficient size to accommodate the hole 22 that is sized for a particular tool. The adapter may also be used as an extender for items such as worn-down pencils or stubby markers. The adapter may contain a collet to en-able it to grip the stem of a variety of different tools.

individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A handle for a tool comprising of a hub mounted on the shaft or stem of the tool and the hub has a concave area for the thumb, a concave area for the first finger and an area for the side of the second finger such that the hand'e niay he gripped between these fingers to enable the axis of the tool to approximate to the axis of the forearm when the wrist is in its natural straight orientation.
2. A handle for a tool according to claim 1 where the tool is a marking tool such as a pencil, pen, paintbrush, engraving point, palette knife, graphite stick, pastel, crayon and the like.
3. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims where the tool is a cutting tool such as a reaming bit, drill bit, grinding hit, polishing hit, soldering bit, countersink bit, laser cutter and the like.
4 A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims where the tool is a pointer such as a computer mouse, a pen on a computer graphic tablet, a pointer for a touch screen and the like.
5. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims that is deniountable from the shaft or stern of the tool.
6. A handle for a tool according to claim 5 having an aperture that is an interference fit on the shaft or stem of the tool.
7. A handle for a tool according to claim 5 having an aperture that includes a screw thread.
8. A handle for a tool according to claims 5, 6 or 7 having an interchangeable component that has an aperture that is an interference fit on the shaft or stem of the tool and the component has a stem that fits into the handle.9. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims having its hub with its cross-section at right angles to the axis of the stem or axis of the tool that fits outside a circle of radius 5mm and within a circle of radius 40mm.
9. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims having different sized con-cave areas for the thumb as for the first finger.
10. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims for use by fingers in the right hand.
11. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims for use by fingers in the left hand.
U. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims for use by artists.
13. A handle for a tool according to any one of the preceding claims essentially as illustrated in the figures.