WO2007029016A1

WO2007029016A1 - Tool handles

Info

Publication number: WO2007029016A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/003340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Emanuel Green
Original assignee: Paris, Lee, Anthony, Robert
Priority date: 2005-09-09
Filing date: 2006-09-11
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: GB2429946A; GB0518422D0

Abstract

An elongate handle (10) for remotely holding a toolhead (12), the handle comprising first and second stiff elongate portions (14, 16) interconnected by an elongate portion (18) resiliently flexible throughout its length, and suitable for said first portion (14) to be grasped and for said second portion (16) to carry the toolhead (12) attached thereto by any suitable detachable attachment means (17).

Description

TITLE: Tool Handles

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to tool handles and to tools comprising these, more particularly an elongate handle for remotely holding a toolhead, e.g. for a broom. BACKGROUND

Broom handles have not normally been designed ergonomically to be less tiring to use. THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an elongate handle for remotely holding a toolhead, the handle comprising first and second stiff elongate portions interconnected by an elongate portion resiliency flexible throughout its length, and suitable for said first portion to be grasped and for said second portion to carry the toolhead.

The resilient portion, to be elongate, has to have a substantial length. This may be a minimum of one-eighth of the length of the handle, or may be a minimum of 15 cm, preferably a minimum of 20 cm... Preferred ranges of this length for different purposes are any one of: greater than 10 cm; 10 cm to 40 cm; 15 cm to 30 cm; substantially 20 cm to 30 cm; or again this length may be substantially 20 cm or substantially 30 cm. The length is chosen, in conjunction with the stiffness of the resiliently flexible portion, to cushion shocks and variations in resistance when the toolhead is moved across the work surface, also to cushion changes in the angle at which the handle is held to the work surface, e.g. when a flexing force (i.e. having a component transverse to the handle) is applied to the handle. Experiments using tools with such handles have generally shown them to be easier, and less tiring, to use.

A fairly small degree of resilience may be sufficient to make sweeping with such a broom easier, for example sufficient resilience for the handle to bend through 15 degrees when used normally by an average housewife, although more usually there will be employed a resilience suitable to bend the handle through 45 degrees. This assumes the housewife exerts a force of substantially 5 kg, or possibly up to 10 kg. The improvement appears to be due to the resilience being effective to take up shocks to the toolhead and not pass these on (or reduce them) to the handler. The design and degree of resilience may be chosen greater (i.e. of lower stiffness), such that the handle can bend to enable the head to reach under low furniture.

The stiff portions will normally be substantially rigid, but there may be circumstances in which at least one of them should be slightly resiliently flexible, e.g. to give a slightly softer (more ergonomic) feel to the handle in use.

Preferably, said first portion is at least half the length of the handle, or alternatively is substantially half the length of the handle. Preferably, the length of said resilient portion is less than one quarter of the length of the handle. Preferably, the length of said second portion is at least one quarter of the length of the handle.

Normally, in the unflexed condition, the three said portions are in a straight-line alignment. The stiff portions will normally be substantially rigid, but there may be circumstances in which at least one of them should be slightly resiliently flexible, e.g. to give a slightly softer (more ergonomic) feel to the handle in use. Preferably, said first portion is at least half the length of the handle, or alternatively is substantially half the length of the handle. Preferably, the length of said resilient portion is less than one quarter of the length of the handle. Preferably, the length of said second portion is at least one quarter of the length of the handle.

Normally, in the unflexed condition, the three said portions are in a straight-line alignment. The resilient portion Is adapted to flex transversely to the length of the handle so that the handle may flex

(substantially) if used to move the toolhead in a direction transverse to the length of the handle (against resistance) to do work with the toolhead, e.g. across a work surface. In substance, if the elongate handle is inclined to a work surface, e.g. a floor, wall, ceiling or window, e.g. at an inclination of 30 degrees to 60 degrees, the angle of inclination defines the plane normal to the surface containing the forwards-backwards direction of working with the toolhead across the surface. The resilient flexing will usually be intended to be in said normal plane, i.e. in a generally backwards-forwards direction, but may usefully be available to at least some extent in a sideways direction. More usually, the resilience will allow flexure equally in all directions transverse to the length of the handle. The amount of flexure (bending) is to be substantial, e.g. up to at least a flexure (or alternatively up to a maximum usable flexure) in a range of from 10 degrees to 60 degrees, preferably 20 degrees to 50 degrees, more preferably 20 degrees to 30 degrees, or more preferably substantially 45 degrees, elastically, i.e. with substantially no memory.

At least two of the three portions may meld into one another, e.g. so that there is a continuous variation from stiffness to resilience, from the outer stiffer portion/s to the inner more resilient portion, but preferably the stiff portions are distinct from the resilient portion. Suitably, there may be provided locking means. These can lock the resilient portion to a particular adjustment as to its stiffness. Again, they can ensure the resilient portion does not come wholly free from one or both of said stiff portions. Alternatively, the handle is adapted for the resilient portion to come wholly free from one or both of said stiff portions; thus, at least two of the three said portions are detachable from one another.

It is very useful to provide that the resilient portion can be adjusted to alter the resilience (stiffness) thereof, possibly so that the resilient portion can be adjusted to zero resilience (and flexibility). For example, the resilient portion can be adjusted to alter the resilience thereof, e.g. the length of the resilient portion can be altered to alter the resilience thereof. Preferably, the resilient portion can be adjusted to zero resilience, e.g. the length of the resilient portion can be altered to alter the resilience thereof to zero. The handle may comprise threaded means by which the length of the resilient portion able to be flexed can be altered to alter the resilience of the resilient portion, and preferably the resilient portion can be screwed wholly into at least one of the stiff portions to adjust the resilient portion to zero resilience. Preferably, at least one of said stiff portions is tubular, or at least hollow.

Said resilient portion may comprise any resilient material, but preferably said resilient portion comprises an elongate helical spring, flexible transversely to itself, (usually, at least in the forward-backward direction.) This is used to adapt said flexible portion to be flexed by a transverse (e.g. in the forward-backward direction) flexing of the helical spring.

Preferably, the spring has adjacent turns closed together when it is unflexed Usually, the handle will be adapted for the spring to be connected towards one of its ends to one of said stiff portions and towards its other end to the other of said stiff portions

There may be reasons for making the spring tapered, but preferably the spring is a cylindrical helical spring.

In a very simple, useful and adaptable arrangement, at least one of said first and second portions comprises nut-like means and said cylindrical helical spring can be screwed like a threaded bolt into and out of at least one of the nut-iike means to alter the free length of the spring between said first and second portions. This is used to alter the effective (flexible) length of the spring, and hence the length of the resilient portion able to be flexed, and hence alter the transverse resilience (stiffness) of the resilient portion. Preferably, the helical spring can be screwed wholly into at least one of the nut-like means to adjust the resilient portion to zero resilience. With such a spring, the locking means may comprise nut means comprising a nut (or two nuts) threaded onto the spring and able to be tightened against one (or both) of said nut-like means to lock the spring against unwanted screwing in order to maintain a particular adjustment (stiffness). The nut-like means may comprise an internally threaded barrel fixed at the end of one or each of said stiff portions. These stiff portions are preferably designed so that each barrel has the same outer diameter as the remainder of its stiff portion. In any case, each barrel is preferably of slightly reduced diameter towards one end, which end then fits tightly (as a permanent push-fit) into an end of a main tubular part of a said stiff portion.

There may be cases in which the handle can be less than a metre long, e.g. sometimes when the toolhead is to be a squeegee or paint roller, or when it is a part of a kit of parts that includes an extension to the handle, or again for use by a child. Depending upon circumstances, it is appropriate for the handle length to be at least substantially any one of 0.5 m, 0.75 m, 1 m, 1.25 m, 1.5 m, 2 m, 3 m, or again within any one of the ranges 0.5 m to 1 m, 1 m to 1.5 m, 1.5 m to 2 m, 2 m to 3 m. These lengths refer to when the handle is in a usable condition, e.g. with the spring sufficiently wound out to give a usable flexibility to the resilient portion.

The thickness of the majority of the handle will usually be less than substantially 5 cm, (or, in respective circumstances, less than substantially any one of 4 cm, 3 cm 2 cm. An end grip may be of greater diameter, as also connections between the said portions.

As suggested above, it is useful if said first portion has, or is adapted to have, at least one extension length added thereto, usually removably.

In another arrangement, the handle comprises telescopic means to alter the length of the handle, preferably said first portion comprises said telescopic means, more preferably the handle is adapted for said resilient portion to be able to retract into, or be drawn out from, said first portion in the course of telescoping said telescopic means.

Usually, said second portion is suitable to carry the toolhead at its remote end from said first portion. The toolhead may be integral with the handle, or the handle may comprise attaching means to attach a toolhead to the handle, preferably detachably. The toolhead may be integral with said second portion, or permanently or semi-permanently fixed thereto.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool comprising any such handle. The tool is adapted to be held by hand. In such a tool, the toolhead may be integral with said second portion, or permanently or semi-permanently fixed thereto. The tool is adapted for use with a to-and-fro, e.g. sweeping, movement.

The tool may comprise a cleaning toolhead, a wiping toolhead, a sweeping toolhead, a broomhead, a mophead, a squeegee, a window-cleaning leather, a paint-applying roller. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising said first, second and resilient portions of a handle.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising any such handle, or comprising the aforementioned kit of parts, and having one or more (possibly interchangeable) toolheads, e.g. any one or more of those aforementioned. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of using any such tool, or a tool comprising any such handle, in which the handle is resiliently flexed in the course of movement across a work surface.

In such a method, during or at the end of a movement across a work surface, the tool or at least a handle thereof is moved in a direction away from the surface to allow the handle to unflex and perform further work. The energy stored in the handle by flexing it is used to perform the further work. For example, in sweeping with a broom head, the unflexing at the end of a stroke causes the broom head to flick the gathered dust a little beyond the stroke.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of adjusting any such tool or handle, in which one of said portions is rotated relative to another to adjust the length and hence resilience (stiffness, or resistance to flexing) of said resilient portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of adjusting any such tool or handle, comprising two stiff elongate portions interconnected by an elongate resiliently flexible portion, and telescopic means, in which the resilient portion is retracted into, or drawn out from, said first portion in the course of telescoping said telescopic means. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacture of any such handle in which an internally threaded barrel is push-fitted to one end of each of two stiff tubular rods and a cylindrical helical spring is threaded into both barrels.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a broom embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the same, when flexed in use;

Figure 3 is a cross-section of a barrel used in the same;

Figure 4 is a corresponding side elevation of the opposite barrel (the two are identical); Figure 5 is a side view, partly in section, of a locking nut used in the embodiment;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-section of the nut;

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of two tools embodying the invention; Figure 9 is a side view of a modification of the Figure 1 embodiment in which said first portion comprises telescopic means to alter the length of the handle, fully extended (telescoped out) with said resilient portion drawn out from said first portion for its resilience to be available for use;

Figure 10 is a view as Figure 9 but with the handle fully retracted (telescoped in); Figure 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of releasable locking means for use after telescoping;

Figures 12 and 13 are views as Figures 9 and 10 of a variation in which said resilient portion is not able to retract into said first portion.

Referring to the drawings, an elongate handle 10 for remotely holding a toolhead 12 comprises first and second stiff elongate portions 14, 16 interconnected by an elongate portion 18 resiliently flexible throughout its length, and suitable for said first portion 14 to be grasped, by one hand in the middle and by the other hand at grip 13, and for said second portion 16 to carry the toolhead 12, attach thereto by any suitable detachable attachment means 17.

The resilient portion 18 is 10 cm long at its longest (for use) and is formed by the free portion of a cylindrical elongate helical spring 20 that is 15 cm long. The spring 20 was sourced from The Alliance Spring Co Limited, of London N7 7AR, UK. It is of outside diameter 16 mm, and is described as "5 mm wire, close wound, with plain ends".

The stiff portions 14, 16 are tubular, substantially rigid, and of metal (e.g. Duralumin, Trade Mark). Said first portion 14 is about 80 cm long and said second portion is about 30 cm long. The whole handle 10 is about 120 cm long. The stiff portions 13, 16 are distinct from the resilient portion 18. The diameter (thickness) of most of the handle 10 is just over 20 mm.

Helical spring 18 is flexible transversely to itself, as seen in Figure 2.

The handle 10 is adapted for the resilient portion 18 to come wholly free from stiff portion 14 at barrel 24 but not from stiff portion 16 at barrel 26. Thus, two 14, 18 of the three said portions 14, 16, 18 are detachable from one another. Said first and second portions 14, 16 each comprise nut-like means 24, 26 in the form of barrels 24, 26, and cylindrical helical spring 18 can be screwed like a threaded bolt into and out of at least one of the barrels 24, 26 to alter the free length of the spring 18 between said first and second portions 14, 16. This is used to alter the effective flexing length of the spring 18, and hence the length of the resilient portion 18 able to be flexed, and hence alter the transverse resilience (stiffness) of the resilient portion 18. The helical spring 18 can be screwed wholly into barrel 24 to adjust the resilient portion to zero resilience. The locking means 22 comprise nut 22 threaded onto the spring 18 and able to be tightened against barrel 24 to lock the spring 18 against unwanted screwing in order to maintain a particular adjustment (stiffness). Barrels 24, 26 are internally threaded and fixed at the (inner) end of the respective stiff portions 14, 16 nearer to resilient portion 18. These stiff portions 14, 16 are designed so that each barrel 24, 26 has the same outer diameter as the remainder of its stiff portion 14, 16; and each barrel 24, 26 is of slightly reduced diameter towards its (outer) end facing away from resilient portion 18, which end then fits tightly (as a permanent push-fit) into the previously mentioned inner ends of the main tubular parts of said stiff portions 14, 16. Nut 22 may be omitted if the fit of helical spring 18 into the relevant barrel 24 or 26 is sufficiently tight, but its presence is preferred to avoid loosening of the fit (and therefore uncertainty of the adjustment) due to wear. For clarity, nut 22 is not shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8, but preferably it is present.

As will be apparent, the length of the free part of spring 18 will define the resilience thereof. This length is adjustable. Locking means 22 lock the resilient portion 18 to a particular adjustment as to its stiffness. For this purpose, locking means comprise an externally knurled nut 22 that is tightened against barrel 24.

When nut 22 is rotated on spring 18 to move away from stiff member 14 and barrel 24, spring 18 becomes free to rotate in the barrel 24 and hence allows the free length (and therefore total stiffness) of spring 18 to be adjusted. When nut 22 is rotated on spring 18 to move towards stiff member 14 and barrel 24, this will fix the position of spring 18 in barrel 24 and hence fix the adjustment to the length of spring 18. Spring 18 can be screwed wholly into stiff member 14 (apart from the length of nut 22) so that stiff member 14 is rigidly connected to stiff member 16 and (the ghost of) resilient member 18 has reduced to zero length and thus effectively has zero resilience. The lower end of spring 18 is fitted (threaded) into a similar barrel 26 in the upper end of stiff member 16 and permanently fixed there by any suitable locking means 28. There may be cases in which the handle can be less than a metre long, e.g. sometimes when the toolhead is to be a squeegee or paint roller, or when it is a part of a kit of parts that includes an extension to the handle, or again for use by a child. Depending upon circumstances, it is appropriate for the handle length to be at least substantially any one of 0.5 m, 0.75 m, 1 m, 1.25 m, 1.5 m, 2 m, 3 m, or again within any one of the ranges 0.5 m to 1 m, 1 m to 1.5 m, 1.5 m to 2 m, 2 m to 3 m. These lengths refer to when the handle is in a usable condition, e.g. with the spring sufficiently wound out to give a usable flexibility to the resilient portion.

The measurements of the parts shown in Figures 3 to 6 are: -barrels 24 and 28: -internal diameter 101 = 16.5 mm; -thin-walled portion: length 102 = 40 mm; outside diameter 105 = 20.3 mm -threaded portion: length 103 = 30 mm; outside diameter 104 = 21.5 mm (this measurement is made to suit the internal diameter of the broom handle, member 14 or 16). Thus the total length of barrel 24, 28 = 70 mm. -the internal thread of nut 22 shown in Figure 6 has a pitch of 5 mm, a minor diameter of 15 mm and a major diameter of 16.1 mm. These thread details of nut 22 apply also to the internal threaded portions of barrels 24 and 28, but in any case are made to suit the spring chosen. -nut 22 has length 106 = 15 mm, and outside diameter 107 = 22.5 mm.

Grip 13 may be removed and one or extension pieces may be interposed in known manner between grip 13 and stiff member 14.

Said second portion 16 carries the toolhead 12 at its remote end from said first portion 14. The handle 10 comprises any suitable attaching means 17 to attach toolhead 12 to the handle 10, preferably detachably. The tool 10, 12 comprises handle 10 and toolhead 12. Figure 9 is a side view of a modification of the Figure 1 embodiment in which said first portion 14 comprises telescopic means 14, 141, 142 to alter the length of the handle 10, shown fully extended (telescoped out) with said resilient portion 18 drawn out from said first portion 14 for its resilience to be available for use.

Figure 10 is a view as Figure 9 but with the handle 10 fully retracted (telescoped in); the portions 14 and 18 and part of portion 16 are fully retracted within part 141 of the handle 10. Attachment means 17 is a moulded tubular part 17 having at its lower end an externally threaded portion that screws into an internally threaded recess in the top of a solid holder 111 (that holds a set of bristles 11) of toolhead 12. The uppermost end of part 17 is permanently fixed to the bottom end of said second elongate portion 16. Portions 16, 14, 141, 142 are of tubular steel. Members 17, 16, 18 (when fully unscrewed), 14, 141, 142, 13 are respectively of lengths 12.5 cm, 10.5 cm, 10 cm, 10 cm, 34.5 cm, 34.5 cm, 18 cm (with grip 13 partially hollow and overlapping part 142 by 12 cm) so that the total length from the top of grip 13 to the bottom of part 17 is 124 cm when fully extended and 62.5 cm when fully retracted. Parts 16, 18, 14, together with parts 22, 24, 26, 28, are made of suitable outside diameter (e.g. maximum 22 mm) to retract into part 141, and parts 141, 142 may then suitably be of outside diameters 25mm and 29 mm, respectively. Figure 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of releasable locking means 32, 34, between parts

141, 142 and similar to locking means (not shown, for clarity) suitable to be used also between parts 14, 141 of the telescopic means, shown with the handle in the fully extended position. Locking means 32, 34 comprise a stud 32 mounted on a spring 34 welded to the inside of the inner part 141. The stud 32 engages in holes in parts 141, 142 to lock these together, as shown. Part 142 has a similar hole adjacent its opposite end to be engaged by stud 32 when the handle 10 is telescoped fully in, (it may have one or more other holes in between for locking the telescoping to other lengths.) Any other suitable locking means may be employed.

The tool 10, 12 can be used in the position shown in Figure 9, or with part 141 fully retracted into part 142 so as to allow use to be made of the resilience of portion 18, or again with part 14 fully retracted into part 141 so as to have the tool 10, 12 otherwise fully extended and usable without the resilience of portion 18 being available for use. If used in the Figure 10 position, having maximum retraction (for shortest tool 10, 12), the resilience of portion 18 cannot be used. To overcome this, portion 14 is made substantially longer, 34.5 cm, as shown in Figure 12, and can then have maximum retraction only to the position shown in Figure 13, and the tool 10, 12 can then be used in both states to take advantage of the resilience of said resilient portion 18, though this does not give as much retraction as the Figure 10 embodiment. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tool 10, 12 comprises a broomhead 12. It could equally comprise a cleaning toolhead, a wiping toolhead, a sweeping toolhead, a broomhead, a mophead, a squeegee, a window-cleaning leather or a paint-applying roller. A kit of parts may comprise said first, second and resilient portions 14, 16, 18 of handle 10 and may possibly also comprise a one or more of these toolheads 12, these being interchangeable. In a method of using any such tool 10, 12, or a tool comprising any such handle 10, the handle 10 is resiliently flexed in the course of movement across a work surface 30. In such a method, during or at the end of a movement across the work surface 30, the tool 10, 12 or at least a handle 10 thereof is moved in a direction away from the surface 30 to allow the handle 10 to unflex and perform further work. As will be clear from Figure 2, in sweeping with a broomhead 12, the unflexing at the end of a stroke causes the broomhead 12 to flick the gathered dust a little beyond the stroke. As described above, in one method of adjusting such a tool 10, 12 or handle 10, one (14) of said portions

14, 18 is rotated relative to another (18) to adjust the length and hence resilience of said resilient portion 18.

As described above, in one method of adjusting such a tool 10, 12 or handle 10, comprising two stiff elongate portions 16, 14 interconnected by an elongate resiliently flexible portion 18, and telescopic means 14, 141, 142, the resilient portion 18 is retracted into, or drawn out from, parts 141, 142 of said first portion 14 in the course of telescoping (in or out, respectively) said telescopic means 14, 141, 142.

In a method of manufacture of any such handle 10, an internally threaded barrel 24, 26 is push-fitted to one end of each of two stiff tubular rods (the main parts of stiff portions 14, 16) and cylindrical helical spring 18 is threaded into both barrels 24, 26.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed. Where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implied the possibility of its negative, i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent.

Many variations of the invention and embodiments hereinbefore described will be apparent to people skilled in the art and all such variations are to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An elongate handle for remotely holding a toolhead, the handle comprising first and second stiff elongate portions interconnected by an elongate portion resiliency flexible throughout its length, and suitable for said first portion to be grasped and for said second portion to carry the toolhead.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, in which said first portion is at least half the length of the handle.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 1, in which said first portion is substantially half the length of the handle.

4. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the length of said resilient portion is less than one quarter of the length of the handle.

5. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the length of said second portion is at least one quarter of the length of the handle.

6. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which there are locking means.

7. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which at least two of the three said portions are detachable from one another.

8. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, which can be adjusted to alter the resilience of said resilient portion.

9. A handle as claimed in claim 8, which can be adjusted to alter the resilience of said resilient portion to zero.

10. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the resilient portion can be adjusted to alter the resilience thereof.

11. A handle as claimed in claim 10, in which the resilient portion can be adjusted to zero resilience.

12. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the length of the resilient portion can be altered to alter the resilience thereof.

13. A handle as claimed in claim 12, in which the length of the resilient portion can be altered to alter the resilience thereof to zero.

14. A handle as claimed in any one of claims of 1 to 9, comprising threaded means by which the length of the resilient portion able to be flexed can be altered to alter the resilience of the resilient portion.

15. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the resilient portion can be screwed wholly into at least one of the stiff portions to adjust the resilient portion to zero resilience.

16. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, in which at least one of said stiff portions is tubular.

17. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, in which said resilient portion comprises an elongate helical spring, flexible transversely to itself.

18. A handle as claimed in claim 17, in which the spring has adjacent turns closed together when it is unflexed.

19. A handle as claimed in claim 17 or 18, which is adapted for the spring to be connected towards one of its ends to one of said stiff portions and towards its other end to the other of said stiff portions.

20. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, in which the spring is a cylindrical helical spring.

21. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20, in which at least one of said first and second portions comprises nut-like means and said cylindrical helical spring can be screwed like a threaded bolt into and out of at least one of the nut-like means to alter the free length of the spring between said first and second portions.

22. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 21, in which the helical spring can be screwed wholly into at least one of the nut-like means to adjust the resilient portion to zero resilience

23. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, in which the handle is at least substantially 1 m in length.

24. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, in which said first portion has, or is adapted to have, at least one extension length added thereto.

25. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24, comprising telescopic means to alter the length of the handle.

26. A handle as claimed in claim 25, in which said first portion comprises said telescopic means.

27. A handle as claimed in claim 25, adapted for said resilient portion to be able to retract into, or be drawn out from, said first portion in the course of telescoping said telescopic means.

28. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27, comprising attaching means to attach a toolhead to the handle.

29. A handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27, comprising attaching means to attach detachably a toolhead to the handle

30. A handle substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described.

31. A handle substantially according to any embodiment hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

32. A tool comprising a handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, and a toolhead.

33. A tool as claimed in claimed 32, which is adapted for use with a to-and-fro movement.

34. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a cleaning toolhead.

35. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a wiping toolhead.

36. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a sweeping toolhead.

37. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a broomhead.

38. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a mophead.

39. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a squeegee.

40. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a window-cleaning leather.

41. A tool as claimed in claim 32 or 33, having a toolhead which comprises a paint-applying roller.

42. A tool substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

43. A tool substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

44. A kit of parts comprising said first, second and resilient portions of a handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31.

45. A kit of parts comprising a handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, or a kit of parts as claimed in claim 44, and one or more (possibly interchangeable) toolheads.

46. A kit of parts substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

47. A kit of parts substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

48. A method of using a tool as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 43, or a tool comprising a handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, in which the handle is resiliently flexed in the course of movement across a work surface.

49. A method of using a tool as claimed in claim 48, in which, during or at the end of a movement across a work surface, the tool or at least a handle thereof is moved in a direction away from the surface to allow the handle to unflex and perform further work.

50. A method of using a tool, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

51. A method of using a tool, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

52. A method of adjusting a tool as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 43, or a handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, comprising two stiff elongate portions interconnected by an elongate resiliently flexible portion, in which one of said portions is rotated relative to another to adjust the length and hence resilience (stiffness, or resistance to flexing) of said resilient portion.

53. A method of adjusting a tool as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 43, or a handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, comprising two stiff elongate portions interconnected by an elongate resiliently flexible portion, and telescopic means, in which the resilient portion is retracted into, or drawn out from, said first portion in the course of telescoping said telescopic means.

54. A method of adjusting a tool or handle, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

55. A method of adjusting a tool or handle, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

56. A method of manufacture of a handle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, in which an internally threaded barrel is push-fitted onto one end of each of two stiff tubular members and a cylindrical helical spring is threaded into both barrels to provide a resilient portion interconnecting the two stiff members.

57. A method of manufacture of a handle, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

58. A method of manufacture of a handle, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.