GB2526901A

GB2526901A - A handle

Info

Publication number: GB2526901A
Application number: GB1502169.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark William Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-02-10
Filing date: 2015-02-10
Publication date: 2015-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-10
Also published as: GB2526901B; GB201502169D0

Abstract

A handle comprising a sleeve 50 which fits over the shaft 100 of an appliance, a handle grip 40 and a joint 30 connecting the sleeve to the handlegrip. The sleeve is elongate, fits snugly over the handle of an appliance, and is formed from a synthetic plastics or rubber material which is able to flex. Preferably, the sleeve also comprises means, such as screws 50, for attaching the sleeve to the appliance. Preferably, the joint between the sleeve and handle grip is a universal joint or allows lateral and rotational movement of a users wrist with respect to the appliance handle. The joint may also be a hinge joint which allows movement about an arc. Preferably, the handle grip has the form of a closed loop.

Description

A Handle

Field

The present invention relates to a handle. More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a handle for use with tools, domestic and industrial cleaning devices and other hand held implements, more especially cleaning implements such as brooms, mops and brushes.

Background

Cleaning implements such as brushes and mops have existed for many years. Users are typically expected to hold the broom in two positions with each hand. One hand is usually placed at the end of the broom or mop handle so as to be able to manipulate the direction in which the broom or mop is urged as well as to provide a motive force for forcing the broom or mop in contact with the floor or other surface to be cleaned.

A problem associated with these types of brooms is that repeated use can give rise to impact related injuries such as repetitive strain injury (RSI).

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems associated with the aforementioned tools and appliances and seeks to provide a device which reduces the risk of RSI as well as improving efficiency of use of the cleaning item or appliance.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a handle for use with a hand held appliance, lie handle includes a sleeve which fits over the shaft of an appliance a joint and a handle grip.

I

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a handle with a sleeve which is received by a pole or shaft of an elongate handle, a grip is connected to the sleeve by way of a universal joint.

The sleeve is typically dimensioned to fit snugly over the handle appliance and is ideally elongate in the form of a synthetic plastics or rubber material which is able to flex.

The handle sleeve is optionally to be connected with a universal clip such as a ratchet or other arrangement enabling tensioning of the handle grip to be made to the handle. In an alternative embodiment the handle grip may have connectors passing there through, such as screws or other attachment means, so as to permanently connect the sleeve to the handle of an item.

Ideally the sleeve is greater than 5cm in length, preferably greater than 10 cm in length and ideally greater than 15cm in length.

The connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is ideally a universal joint such as a ball and socket type joint or similar joint permitting actual and or rotational movement of a user's wrist with respect to the broom handle.

An advantage of this is that impact is reduced and the natural comfortable position of a wrist is assumed irrespective of the orientation of a handle.

Optionally cushioning may be provided between the handle grip and the universal joint so as to further enhance a user's comfort and reduce the risk of impact related injuries and muscle strain.

Ideally a handle grip is formed from an integral moulded material and is in the form of a closed ioop into which a user's fingers and or hand may be placed.

An advantage of this is that a user can pull the handle of the implement thereby improving the efficiency of cleaning or sweeping; whereas previously with the handle located at the end of a brush or cleaning appliance, a user has tended to only push.

Thus this connected handle not only reduces the risk of repeated strain injuries but also improves the efficiency of cleaning or sweeping or, in the case of a gardening implement raking or hoeing.

It is appreciated that the invention has been described with reference to floor or other cleaning implements or brushes for sweeping, however, it is understood that the handle adaptor may be fitted to a number of other implements such as, and without limitation, rakes, hoes, dibbers, gardening equipment, cleaning equipment in general, or other elongate items requiring manual use by a user using both left and right hands.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures in which

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows an overall diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an overall diagrammatic view of the handle fitted to an elongate broom handle and in use by a person; and Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic section through an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention Referring to the figures, there is shown a handle 10 comprising an elongate sleeve 20 connected via a universal connection 30 to a handle grip 40.

Attachment means, such as screws 50, are shown by way of dotted lines.

Alternative attachment means maybe a jubilee clip or clip or other type of connector which fits tightly about the broom handle 100.

Figure 2 shows an overall view of a cleaner using the handle 10 fitted to an elongate broom handle 100 to sweep a floor and how the swivel or rotary action, indicated by the arrow A-A' assists in the cleaning action whilst avoiding strain on the persons elbow and wrist.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a handle 30 which consists of an elongate sleeve 32 which is formed from a heavy duty plastics material such as nylon or polyethylene which in use is securely attached to the handle of the appliance or device (not shown).

Secure attachment of the handle 30 is made by inserting the handle 10, as shown in Figure 1, of the appliance or device into the hollow shaft 34 of the elongate sleeve 32. A series of spring loaded metal grips 36 are provided to hold the handle 30 to the appliance or device. These metal grips 36 allow the overall length of the composite handle to be adjusted to meet a particular users overall needs.

The handle grip 40 is formed from a dense injection moulded material and is attached to the sleeve 32 by way of an embedded steel semi-ball joint 38 held within a synthetic plastics coupling 41 that is rigidly attached to a closed end of the elongate sleeve 32. The semi-ball joint 38 allows the handle 30 to be twisted left or right, as well as forwards and backwards, relative to the elongate sleeve 32 but still allows for consistent lifting of the complete assembly and its attached appliance or device.

Strength is imparted to the handle grip 40 by way of branches or protuberances 50 formed within or depending on a steel shaft 52 which is connected to the semi-ball joint 38. The branches or protuberances 50 are similar to ribs depending from a spine and may be formed from a high tensile synthetic plastics material, aluminium or steel.

The invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the aforementioned embodiments.

For example variation may be made from the type of material from which the handle adaptor is produced.

Further variation may be made to the universal adaptor in that it may be locked in a specific orientation suitable for a particular purpose or it may be hinged.

Claims

Claims 1. A handle for use with a hand held appliance, the handle includes a sleeve which in use fits over the shaft of the appliance and a joint connects the sleeve to a handle grip.
2. A handle according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is dimensioned to fit snugly over the handle of the hand held appliance.
3. A handle according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the sleeve is elongate.
4. A handle according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the sleeve is in the form of a synthetic plastics or rubber material which is able to flex.
5. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is greater than 5cm in length, preferably greater than 10cm in length and ideally greater than 15 cm in length.
6. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is connected with a universal clip such as a ratchet or other arrangement enabling tensioning of the handle grip to be made to the handle.
7. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve has connectors passing therethrough, such as screws or other attachment means, so as to permanently connect the sleeve to the handle of the appliance.
8. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is a universal joint, such as a ball and socket type joint.
9. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is a joint permitting lateral and/or rotational movement of a user's wrist with respect to the broom handle 10. A handle according to any of claims I to 7 wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is a hinge joint which permits movement about an arc.11. A handle according to any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is lockable in a particular orientation.12. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein a cushioning medium is provided between the handle grip and the joint so as to reduce the risk of impact related injuries and/or muscle strain.13. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the grip is formed from an integral moulded material and is in the form of a closed loop into which a user's fingers and or hand may be placed.14. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the appliances to which the handle grip is fitted is from the group comprising: brushes, brooms, mops, garden implements, rakes, hoes, dibbers, items connected to poles, hedge trimmers, dusters and lamp changing devices.15. A handle substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the Figures.AMENDMENTS TO CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSClaims 1. A handle for use with a hand held appliance, the handle includes an elongate sleeve which in use fits snuggly over a handle or shaft of the appliance and a joint connects the sleeve to a handle grip, wherein the sleeve is formed from a synthetic plastics or rubber material which is able to flex and a cushioning medium is provided between the handle grip and the joint so as to reduce the risk of impact related injuries and/or muscle strain.2. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is greater than 5 cm in length, preferably greater than 10 cm in length and ideally greater than 15cm in length.3. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve is connected with a universal clip such as a ratchet or other arrangement enabling OSS* * tensioning of the handle grip to be made to the handle. * S4. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve has connectors passing therethrough, such as screws or other attachment means, so as to permanently connect the sleeve to the handle of the appliance. ***S5. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is a universal joint, such as a ball and socket type joint.6. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is a joint permitting lateral and/or rotational movement ofa users wrist with respect to the broom handle 7. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is a hinge joint which permits movement about an arc. a8. A handle according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the connection joint between the sleeve and the handle grip is lockable in a particular orientation.9. A handle according to any preceding ctäim wherein the grip is formed from an integral moulded material and is in the form of a closed loop into which a user's fingers and or hand may be placed..
10. A handle according to any preceding claim wherein the appliances to which the handle grip is fitted is from the group comprising: brushes, brooms, mops, garden implements, rakes, hoes, dibbers, items connected to poles, hedge trimmers, dusters and lamp changing devices.
11. A handle substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the Figures. * .* * . * **. * 0*00* * * 0*** * * 0*0*S *..** * * 0a * 0 * *;* * * S*