US2655963A - Finger grip for handles of tools - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1953 R. H. DELL ,655,9

' FINGER GRIP FOR HANDLES OF TOOLS Filed March 18, 1950 2 sheets-Sheet i Inventor: v gussellflflgll s.

Oct. 20, 1953 R. l-EDELL 2,655,963

' v FINGER GRIP FOR HANDLES OF TOOLS Filed March 18. 1950- 2 shets -sheei 2 fizdenl'ar: Russell liDell Patented Oct. 20, 1953 2,e55,9ss r gger; earl; on HANDLES F TOOLS Russell H. Dell, Stonington, Conn, assignor to Bostitch, 1110., Stonington, Conn, corporation of Rhode Island Ap l es??? 18,1959, se ia NQ: has? 4 Qlaims. (01. 145-451) rhis invention relates to finger-grips for the handles of tools ashammers, hamniertackers and other imp-lemnts i pQ d in the hand for operation by striki'rie' t qw- The invention is partiodl'arly' directedto im; proved latching meehs'te s emin resilient grips to the'han dles of tools on oth er objects to prevent them from slip mg or s'li'dinsthreong while permitting 'eehv'ehieht' remeveret the grips without splitting er" otherwise damaging the resilient' material from "whicl'i'th' grips are con structed;

One object of the invention is to provide improved fast'ening'means to riise" with'tnhnlar or cot-like grip-s of rubber of'thelike'ehclosing the handles of various types ofimplements whereby to prevent them fromsliding'th'e reon"andbecoming released when 'a' blow is strnck Another object is to provide latching or fasten ing means of the type i'i'idi'cat'edwhioh may pere leased from the handleh'y pryihg the end of the flexible or resilient 'grip topeimit the grip to be slid off fromthe endof the handle.

Another object is toprovid improved fastening means of the typeindicatedwhich mayibe operated to expand the grip for effecting its removal from thehandlewithoiit splitting'the'material or distorting thegrip' to render it i nsiiitahle for further use."

Another object is to provide fastening or attaching means for the-hand grips of tools er im;- plements adapted to bite intoth resilientmaterial of the grip underfthe pressure of the hand when the tool orim'plem ent' is gripped therein for operation.

' Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following 'specifieation which describes "a preferred form of eonstrub'tion' ofth fastening means for the grips with" certain modifications therein as illustratedby the accompanying draw ings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a common type of hammer-tacker'or' staple-driving implement showing its handle 'enblosd' b'v'a resilient grip for holding it to strike its forward end against the Work; H

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a per;- tion of the handle with the grip seen'red thereto by means of the presntfimproved attachingor fastening means;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the hammerehandle taken eh line 3 ,3 of Fig. 2 andjillnstra ing the attaching means for the resilient e papplied theret I 'Fi'g; 4'is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view through the end of the handle-hammer showing the attaching or fastening means for the gripm et n--.

Fig. 5 is agratly enlarged longitudinal sec; tional view on 'lin'ef3%3" or Fig." zsh w'ihg' the metal latching-blade with its d'ete'nt' means for fastening the resilient -grip to'tliehandlm H Fig'fd'isan'enlarged perspective View of the metal latching blade 'in'cerporating the det jeri't meahs for fastening the" resilient grip to the Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the handle and its e'hClo'sih'g'grip'; i 1' 1 Fig. 8 is an'e'ndview o'f'the tubular grip showing the slots therein'for'th'e latching-blade which fastens it tothe'handlej Fig. 9 is an 'enlargedsectional detail view showing the means for engaging 'the"b1ade' with'the resilient mater-ialof'th'e 'g'r'ipj" Fig. 10' is a longitudinal "sectional view Similar to Fig. 3 illustratin the method of r'fe'leasing the dete'rlt means "o'f"tne lat'chingfblade from the handle; M e

Fig. 11 is a similar View showing the detent means released andthe grip partially slid off from the end orthehahdieg" Fig. '12is' anehlarged side view of a portion of the implementliandle illustrating a modified form'of attaching means for the grip;'

Fig. 1 3' is a'io'ngit'udihal "sectionarview of this latter modified form of "constrliction of the at; tachin means'f E Fig'ie is a; perspective view of the attaching means or'latching blade eiriljodying thedetent means for securin t e grip 'tdthe 'handlej and Fig. 15 is 'anenlar'ged longitiidin'al setional view of a portion" ofthehandl eand grip,"show n. with the last-mentioned modi ed termet blade .orattaching means for the grip.

Hammer-like toolsi" such as hammer-tackers for driving nails, fsta'ple's'alndthe like, er usteuy constructed of metal; gtammesteei; with" 'r..e'- silient hand-grips applied "to their handles so that they 'mey'be eia'me'r see ir iyih'the'heiid and operated more efleetna lly without slipping, and 'furtherto" prevfit 'inii lify to tih e eherete 's r'nhher', .is sip use, slich grips are] I .'t slip and slide on the handles and in re e conditionsallowthe tool or implemQil t t from .tjhelhar'idht t at it has been ,a com .n pra tice to beme i oi" the the grips to the metal hehtues er the im lements.

In certain cases, as for example where the implements are made of sheet-metal with the handles of two cooperating sections held together in overlying relationship, it is necessary to remove the hand-grips to separate the parts for access to the interior in repairing or replacing certain elements of their mechanism. When the resilient grip is glued or cemented in place on the handle it is practically impossible to remove it therefrom without considerable stretching and in some cases splitting the material of the grip so that it becomes damaged and unsuitable for replacement on the handle.

To overcome the above-mentioned difficulties in the use of resilient grips on the metal handles of tools and the like the present invention provides a novel form of attaching means for the grips which prevents them from slipping or sliding on the handles, yet allows them to be readily and conveniently removed therefrom without damage so that they may be replaced to continue in use.

In general, the present invention consists in providing a thin metal blade or latch inserted between the resilient wall of the grip and the metal handle and provided with detent means for holding the grip from sliding r slipping on the handle. Preferably, the end of the blade may have one or more prongs or teeth for biting into the resilient material of the grip to secure the blade thereto, and as a further improvement the terminal portion of the blade may have an outwardly inclined lip to provide an opening in the end of the grip for the insertion of a pointed tool such as a screw-driver for prying the detent means out of engagement with the metal handle. The detent means may take different forms such as a tooth or projection engageable in a slot or opening in the metal handle to cause it to be forced thereinto under the pressure of the resilient material of the grip,

Referring to the present drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional type of hammer-tracker comprising a two part rectangular metal handle 2 terminating at one end in an enlarged head 3, within which is enclosed the mechanism for feeding and driving U-shaped staples in fastening shingles to roofs, carpets to floors, shades to rollers, labels to cases, and many other similar uses. For providing a firm hold on the handle 2 so that it may be held in the hand in striking blows to drive the staples into the work a resilient fingergrip of tubular form is usually slipped on over the handle to enclose the latter. The grip 5 may be molded from rubber, either natural or synthetic, or constructed of similar relatively flexible material and shaped to fit the hand, as shown in Fig. 7, with ribs or flutes 6 extending longitudinally of its sides. The ends of the grip 5 may be bounded by beads 7 with the surface of the main portion of the grip of generally convex contour to provide a convenient hand-hold thereon.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 6, the present attaching means is embodied in a relatively fiat, metal plate or blade [0 adapted to overlie one side of the tubular handle 2 within the side wall of the grip 5. For this latter purpose the interior side wall of the grip 5 is formed with a longitudinally-extending slot II and a narrower slot l2 in one side thereof. The blade Ill is of a width to adapt it to be held in the slot II and is provided at one end with an inclined tab or ear [4 projecting into the narrow slot [2. At this end of the blade ID a narrowed portion projects forwardly and is bent at right-angles to form 4, a prong or detent-projection [5 for engagement in a transverse slot [6 in the side of the handle 2. The purpose of the upwardly-bent tab or ear I4 is to provide a beveled opening or re-entrant space for the insertion of the blade of a sharp tool such as a screw-driver, see Fig. 10, for prying this end of the blade or latch l0 outwardly to remove the detent-prong l5 from the slot 18 so that the grip 5 may be'slide off from the end of the handle 2 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 11.

To provide a secure connection between the grip 5 and the blade or latch I0, the end of the blade opposite from that formed with the detent-prong I5 may be bent upwardly to provide a holding edge IT for biting into the resilient material of the grip to prevent the latter from slipping or sliding along the blade, see Fig. 9.

Referring to Fig. 3, usually the forward end of the grip 5 abuts the shoulder I8 formed by the end of the head 3 of the implement to prevent the grip from sliding forwardly on the handle 2 and the edge I! of the bent end of the blade acts to prevent it from sliding or slipping rearwardly thereof. In this way the grip 5 is securely held and latched to the handle 2 by means of the detent l5 at its outer end. The formation of the bent forward end of the blade or latch it engages in the resilient material of the grip 5 at a point midway of the ends of the latter so that the pressure of the hand and fingers surrounding the grip has a tendency to compress the resilient material to maintain the edge I1 of the blade firmly embedded therein.

Figs. 12 to 15 of the present drawings illustrate a modified form of construction of the latch or blade 20 as shown in the perspective view Fig. 14. In this embodiment of the invention the blade 28 has portions in the form of teeth 2| slitted from its lateral edges and bent upwardly in inclined relation to cause these elements to bite into the material of the grip 5, see Figs. 13 and 15, so as to prevent the grip from sliding forwardly on the handle 2. This form of construction may be used when the grip 5 is to be applied to the handle of an implement in a position displaced rearwardly from the head of the latter. That is to say, where the forward end of the grip does not abut any shouldered formation on the handle to hold it from sliding forwardly the blade 28 may be used to resist its movement in that direction; the blade 20 being otherwise of the same shape and formation as the blade [5 first described.

With either form of construction of the blade or latch-element II] or 20 the resilient grip 5 is securely held from sliding on the handle yet,

when occasion requires, it may be easily removed therefrom by prying the detent end of the blade upwardly to release the detent-prong 15 for the holding slot I6 as shown in Fig. 10. With the present improved latching means grips of various types and formation may be secured firmly to the handles of different implements while also being adaptable for use with other articles. For example, the latch may be constructed of arcuate form in cross-section to adapt it to be used for fastening the grips of bicycles to tubular handlebars. Other uses may suggest themselves, for example for fastening grips to the handles of mowing machines or other articles in which such a form of handle is employed.

It is to be understood that while the invention is herein shown in a preferred form of construction with one modification thereof, other variations may be made in the construction of the latching device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In combination with a handle member having a resilient grip of rubber or like material enclosing the same, means for securely fastening the grip from displacement on the handle consisting in a metal latch embedded in the material of the grip and provided with detent means engaging a slot in the handle, said latch formed with a tab at its end projecting upwardly in inclined relation at the side of the detent means to provide for the insertion of an instrument into the end of the grip to pry the detent means out of its holding slot.

2. Latching means for attaching grips to the handles of tools, implements and other articles, in combination with a resilient tubular grip of rubber or the like surrounding said handle, said grip formed with a longitudinally-extending recess in its inner wall, a latch metal extending longitudinally inside the recess in the wall of the grip and provided with a portion of the metal inclined upwardly from the end of the latch for engaging in the material of the grip to hold the latch from sliding therein, detent means on said latch engageable in an opening in the handle to securely hold the grip from sliding on said handle, and a portion of the metal at the end of the latch projecting upwardly to provide a space thereunder for the insertion of an instrument for prying the latch upwardly from the handle to release the detent means.

3. Latching means for attaching resilient grips in place on the handles of tools or other articles, said latching means comprising a metal blade formed with. a projecting portion adapted to bite into the resilient material of the grip on the interior thereof, said blade extending longitudinally of the handle and embedded in the wall of the grip, a detent-projection at one end of the blade engageable in a slot in the handle to hold the grip from sliding or slipping on the handle, and a portion of the metal of the blade adjacent the detent-projection projecting upwardly to provide a space thereunder for the insertion of an instrument to pry the end of the blade upwardly and release the detent-projection.

4. In combination with a tool having a handle, a resilient tubular grip enclosing said handle and provided with a longitudinally-extending slot in its interior wall, a latch in said slot consisting in a relatively fiat metal blade having a portion of the metal inclined upwardly from its face for engagement with the interior wall of the grip and a pair of adjacent teeth spaced from its inclined portion, one tooth extending downwardly to form a detent-projection for engagement in a slot in the handle and the opposite adjacent tooth inclined upwardly to provide a space above the detent-projection for the insertion of a tool to pry said detent-projection out from the slot in the handle.

RUSSELL H. DELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 245,542 Moran Aug. 9, 1881 894,155 Layton July 21, 1908 927,938 Braun July 13, 1909 2,158,728 Peters May 16, 1939 2,254,571 Hailey Sept. 2, 1941

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