WO2013150285A1

WO2013150285A1 - Tools

Info

Publication number: WO2013150285A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/050857
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert James WHITTALL; Michael George HANCOCK
Original assignee: Whittall Robert James; Hancock Michael George
Priority date: 2012-04-07
Filing date: 2013-04-02
Publication date: 2013-10-10
Also published as: GB201206270D0

Abstract

A tool assembly (10) including a tool part (12) and a handle part (14) connected thereto. The handle part (14) includes a spaced pair of force receiving members (22) extending from a manually engageable handle (20) towards the tool part (12). Each of the force receiving members (22) includes a shock absorbing part (24).

Description

Tools

This invention concerns tools, and especially tool assemblies, and particularly ground engagement tool assemblies.

Tool assemblies such as spades and forks are widely used in demolition, construction, repair and gardening. A problem often encountered with such tools is the transfer of force applied to the user caused by the impact of the tool against a hard object. Such a hard object may be a stone, rock or brick, which can be encountered, often without warning, when for instance digging or carrying out other activities. This may cause discomfort or injury to a user, and/or damage to the tool, and particularly the tool head.

According to the present invention there is provided a tool assembly, the assembly including a tool part and a handle part connected thereto, the handle part including a spaced pair of force receiving members extending from a manually engageable handle towards the tool part, with each of the force receiving members including a shock absorbing part. The force receiving members may extend at least generally parallel to each other, and may extend substantially parallel to each other.

The tool part may extend at least generally centrally relative to the two force receiving members, and may extend substantially centrally relative to the two force receiving members. The tool part may extend at least generally parallel to the force receiving members.

The force receiving members may be interconnected at distal ends thereof relative to the manually engageable handle, and the force receiving members may be interconnected by a connecting part, which connecting part may mount the tool part. The manually engageable handle may interconnect proximal ends of the force receiving members.

The shock absorbing parts may include springs. The shock absorbing parts may include hydraulic fluid.

The shock absorbing parts may be located adjacent the connecting part, and may engage against the connecting part. The tool part may be releasably mounted to the handle part, and the assembly may include a plurality of different tool parts.

A quick release mechanism may be provided for mounting the tool part to the handle part. The quick release mechanism may be engageable between the connecting part and the tool part.

The tool part may be in the form of a spade head or a fork head or other excavation or demolition tool assembly.

A projection may be provided on the handle part which is releasably receivable in a recess in the tool part. The projection may extend from the connecting part.

A further handle arrangement may be provided spaced from the manually engageable handle. The further handle arrangement may extend between the force receiving members, and the further handle may also extend laterally away from the force receiving members.

The further handle arrangement may include a part which extends between the force receiving members and is spaced therefrom.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a front view of a tool assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the assembly of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic more detailed sectional side view of the assembly of Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front view of a part of the assembly of Fig. 1 .

The drawings show a ground engagement tool assembly in the form of a spade. The assembly comprises a ground engageable tool part 12 connected to a handle part 14. The tool part 12 comprises a spade head 16 with a shaft 18 extending therefrom, with at least an upper part of the shaft 18 being hollow.

The handle part 14 includes an upper in use manually engageable transverse handle 20 which is cylindrical, and could be made of wood, plastics or other material. A pair of elongate force receiving members 22 extend from each end of the handle 20, and are parallel to each other. A shock absorbing part 24 is provided at the distal end of each force receiving member 22 relative to the handle 20. Each shock absorbing part 24 includes a spring and also hydraulic fluid. The distal ends of the shock absorbing parts 24 are mounted to an interconnecting member 26, which extends generally parallel to the handle 20. A projection 28 extends centrally from the interconnecting member 26 away from the handle 20, and the projection 28 is engageable in an upper part of the shaft 18.

A quick release mechanism 30 best illustrated in Fig. 4, is provided for releasably mounting the tool part 12 on the handle part 14. The quick release mechanism 30 comprises a downwardly extending pin 32 with a head 34, mounted on the interconnecting member 26. A handle 36 is rotatably attached to the pin. A cover 38 extends downwardly from the head 34 and locates a compression spring 40 which surrounds the pin 32.

A transverse finger 42 on the end of the pin 32 is rotatably eatable in a bayonet socket arrangemenet 44 so as to retain a tool part 12 on the handle part 14 when the finger 42 locates in a closed end 46 of the socket 44. The finger 42 can be retained in the closed end 46 by tightening the mechanism 30 using the handle 36 in a conventional manner.

The assembly 10 also includes a further handle arrangement 48 extending between the force receiving members 22 immediately above the shock absorbing parts 24. The further handle arrangement 48 includes a pair of projections 50 which mount a transverse handle 52 extending therebetween and spaced outwardly from the front of the force receiving members 22.

In use, the assembly 10 can be used in a usual manner with a person's foot engaging on top of the spade head 16, and one or both hands on the handle 20, potentially with another hand on the handle 52. If a hard object such as a stone, rock or brick as described above is encountered, a significant amount of the force encountered on the spade head 16 will be absorbed by the shock absorbing parts 24, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury and at least pain to a user, and also absorbing a significant part of the shock on the spade head 16 and therefore reducing the chances of damage being caused thereto.

The assembly 10 can be used in a wide range of applications, and can also be used as a shovel. In this instance the further handle arrangement 48 may be particularly useful in handling the assembly 10. As indicated the spade head 16 can be selectively removed, for instance for cleaning, sharpening or replacement. Furthermore, it is possible for the assembly 10 to have a wide range of different tool parts 12 which can be mounted to the handle part 14. Such ground engageable parts could include different spade heads, and also for instance fork heads including a plurality of tines. Other tool parts, which may not be ground engageable, could be used such as a chisel type part usable in demolition, or a weighted end usable for instance to provide forced entry into a building. There is thus described a tool assembly with a wide range of advantageous features. The shock absorbing arrangements help to prevent injury and damage as outlined above. Furthermore the provision of a pair of force receiving members and respective shock absorbent parts, reduces the likelihood of twisting of the assembly for instance when a hard object is encountered. The interchangeable tool parts mean that only a single handle part is required for use with a wide range of different ground engageable parts, and the tool parts can be removed for replacement, repair or cleaning etc. The further handle arrangement provides further options as to how the assembly is used, and can mean that a spade which is good for digging, can also operate well as a shovel for moving material.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance different shock absorbing parts can be used, and these could be provided at a different part of the assembly. In some instances it may not be required to have releasably mounted ground engageable parts. Where present the releasable ground engageable parts may be mountable to the handle part by a different arrangement. A different handle arrangement could be provided, with the number and/or positioning of the handles being changed. In some instances a further handle arrangement may not be required. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1 . A tool assembly, the assembly including a tool part and a handle part connected thereto, the handle part including a spaced pair of force receiving members extending from a manually engageable handle towards the tool part, with each of the force receiving members including a shock absorbing part.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which the force receiving members extend at least generally parallel to each other.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, in which the force receiving members extend substantially parallel to each other.

4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the tool part extends at least generally centrally relative to the two force receiving members.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, in which the tool part extends substantially centrally relative to the two force receiving members.

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the tool part extends at least generally parallel to the force receiving members.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the force receiving members are interconnected at distal ends thereof relative to the manually engageable handle.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, in which the force receiving members are interconnected by a connecting part.

9. An assembly according to claim 10, in which the connecting part mounts the tool part.

10. An assembly according to any of claims 7 to 9, in which the manually engageable handle interconnects proximal ends of the force receiving members.

1 1 . An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the shock absorbing parts include springs.

12. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the shock absorbing parts include hydraulic fluid.

13. An assembly according to claim 8, or any of claims 9 to 12 when dependent on claim 8, in which the shock absorbing parts are located adjacent the connecting part.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, in which the shock absorbing parts engage against the connecting part.

15. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the tool part is releasably mounted to the handle part.

16. An assembly according to claim 15, in which the assembly includes a plurality of different tool parts.

17. An assembly according to claims 15 or 16, in which a quick release mechanism is provided for mounting the tool part to the handle part.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, in which the quick release mechanism is engageable between the connecting part and the tool part.

19. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the tool part is in the form of a spade head or a fork head or other excavation or demolition tool assembly.

20. An assembly according to any of claims 15 to 19, in which a projection is provided on the handle part which is releasably receivable in a recess in the tool part.

21 . An assembly according to claim 20, in which the projection extends from the connecting part.

22. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a further handle arrangement is provided spaced from the manually engageable handle.

23. An assembly according to claim 22, in which the further handle arrangement extends between the force receiving members.

24. An assembly according to claim 22, in which the further handle extends laterally away from the force receiving members.

25. An assembly according to any of claims 22 to 24, in which the further handle arrangement includes a part which extends between the force receiving members and is spaced therefrom.