Ergonomic tool

Abstract

A tool including a handle, a head, and a flexible shaft including a plurality of shaft members each connecting the handle with the head. The shaft members include at least one fixed shaft member and at least one floating shaft member. Each of the fixed shaft members is fixedly connected with both the handle and the head, and each of the floating shaft members is reciprocably connected with at least one of the handle and the head.

Claims

1. A tool comprising: (a) a handle; (b) a head; and (c) a flexible shaft comprising a plurality of flexible shaft members each connecting the handle with the head, wherein: the plurality of flexible shaft members comprises at least one fixed shaft member and at least one floating shaft member, each made with resilient material, each of the at least one fixed shaft member is fixedly connected with both the handle and the head, and each of the at least one floating shaft member having a first end that is fixedly connected with one of the handle and the head, and a second end that is reciprocably connected with the other of the one of the handle and the head, with the second end of the at least one floating shaft member disposed part way in an opening that extends longitudinally through the one of the handle and the head to permit the at least one floating shaft member to translate reciprocably forward and backward within the opening as the flexible shaft, when under a tool swinging force during swinging of the tool, flexes in a tool swinging plane from an original, unbent position, to a bent position, and the resilient material of the flexible shaft is structured to spring the flexible shaft back to the original, unbent position in the absence of the tool swinging force.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the head comprises a tool structure.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the tool is a hammer, and wherein the tool structure comprises a striking face.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the head comprises a plurality of head components.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein: the head comprises two head components, and wherein the head components are separable; each head component comprises a tool structure; at least one of the tool structures comprises a striking face; and the tool has a longitudinal tool axis, and wherein at least one striking face is oblique to the longitudinal tool axis.

6. The tool of claim 5, further comprising a connection mechanism for connecting the head components and wherein: each of the head components comprises at least one connecting flange, wherein the connecting flanges interlock to connect the head components, and wherein the connection mechanism comprises the connecting flanges; and one of the head components defines a cavity, wherein the other of the head components comprises a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is received within the cavity, and wherein the connection mechanism comprises the cavity and the protrusion.

7. The tool of claim 5, wherein the tool comprises two flexible shaft members, wherein one of the flexible shaft members is fixedly connected to one of the head components, and wherein the other of the flexible shaft members is fixedly connected to the other of the head components.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft is flexible only in the tool swinging plane.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the flexible shaft has an amount of flexibility in the tool swinging plane, and wherein the amount of flexibility is variable.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the handle has a longitudinal handle position along the shaft, and wherein the longitudinal handle position is variable to change the amount of flexibility of the shaft.

11. The tool of claim 1, wherein the flexibility of the shaft is provided by the resilient material.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the resilient material is provided as a single piece of resilient material.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein each of the flexible shaft members consists essentially of the resilient material.

14. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises a handle fastening system for reciprocably connecting the at least one floating shaft member with the handle.

15. The tool of claim 14, wherein the handle fastening system comprises a slot defined in the at least one floating shaft member, a bore defined by the handle, and a pin for inserting in the bore and for engaging the slot in order to connect the at least one floating shaft member with the handle.

16. The tool of claim 14, wherein the handle has a longitudinal handle position along the flexible shaft, wherein the longitudinal handle position is variable, and wherein the handle fastening system provides a plurality of fastening positions of the handle relative to the flexible shaft for varying the longitudinal handle position.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein the handle fastening system comprises a slot defined in at least one of the flexible shaft members, a bore defined by the handle, and a pin for inserting in the bore and engaging the slot in order to fixedly connect at least one of the flexible shaft members with the handle.

18. The tool of claim 17, wherein at least one of the flexible shaft members defines a plurality of slots at different longitudinal slot positions along the shaft member.

19. The tool of claim 17, wherein the handle defines a plurality of bores at different longitudinal bore positions along the handle.

20. The tool of claim 1, wherein: the tool further comprises a head fastening system for fixedly connecting the head with the at least one floating shaft member; and the head fastening system comprises a weld between the head and the at least one floating shaft member.

21. The tool of claim 1 wherein the opening extends longitudinally partially through the one of the handle and the head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the exemplary embodiment of a tool;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the tool;

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the tool with dashed lines used to indicate an alternate embodiment where the floating member is reciprocably connected to the head and fixed to the handle;

(5) FIG. 4 is a transverse section view of a handle in the exemplary embodiment of the tool, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of the handle in the exemplary embodiment of the tool, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the handle in the exemplary embodiment of the tool;

(8) FIG. 7 is a transverse section view of the handle in the exemplary embodiment of the tool, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of a first head component in the exemplary embodiment of the tool;

(10) FIG. 9 is a pictorial view of a second head component in the exemplary embodiment of the tool;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top view of a first shaft member in the exemplary embodiment of the tool;

(12) FIG. 11 is a top view of a second shaft member in the exemplary embodiment of the tool;

(13) FIG. 12 is a side view of a first sub-tool in the exemplary embodiment of the tool; and

(14) FIG. 13 is a side view of a second sub-tool in the exemplary embodiment of the tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) The present invention is directed at a tool for providing ergonomic benefits to a user. A non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the tool is depicted in FIGS. 1-13.

(16) Referring to FIG. 1, in the exemplary embodiment the tool (20) is a hammer comprising a handle (40), a head (50), and a shaft (80) connecting the handle (40) with the head (50), wherein the shaft (80) comprises a plurality of flexible shaft members (86, 88).

(17) In the exemplary embodiment, the handle (40) comprises a single handle component.

(18) In the exemplary embodiment the head (50) comprises two separable head components: a first head component (60) and a second head component (62). In the exemplary embodiment, each head component (60, 62) comprises a tool structure, and each tool structure comprises a striking face (56). In the exemplary embodiment, each striking face (56) is also oblique to a longitudinal tool axis (24) to accommodate the bending of the shaft (80) such that the striking face (56) strikes its target directly. However, the striking faces (56) are at different angles relative to the longitudinal tool axis (24) in order to provide different advantages to the head components (60, 62) for different applications. The head components (60, 62) may comprise any suitable material. In the exemplary embodiment, the suitable material is titanium.

(19) The two separable head components (60, 62) are connected by a connection mechanism (100). The connection mechanism (100) connects the two head components (60, 62) along a longitudinal interface (26), wherein the longitudinal interface (26) is perpendicular to a tool swinging plane (28). In the exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal interface (26) is offset from the longitudinal tool axis (24) due to the asymmetric size and shape of the head components (60, 62). The head components (60, 62) are asymmetrical as a result of the connection mechanism (100), wherein the head components (60, 62) are shaped to accommodate and receive one another. The unequal size of the two head components (60, 62) makes one of the head components (60, 62) more suitable to light hammering applications and the other of the head components (60, 62) more suitable to heavy hammering applications. In the tool swinging plane (28) the tool (20) is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal tool axis (24) in order to increase the user's accuracy when swinging the tool (20).

(20) In the exemplary embodiment, the first head component (60) defines a locating hole (112) and the second head component (62) comprises a locating post (114), and the connection mechanism (100) comprises the locating hole (112) and the locating post (114). The locating post (114) is receivable within the locating hole (112) to assist in guiding the head components (60, 62) together in a correct position to allow for assembly.

(21) Further, in the exemplary embodiment the first head component (60) comprises a protrusion (72) along the longitudinal interface (26) and the second head component (62) defines a cavity (70) along the longitudinal interface (26), and the connection mechanism (100) further comprises the protrusion (72) and the cavity (70). The protrusion (72) is receivable within the cavity (70) such that the longitudinal tool axis (24) intersects both the cavity (70) and the protrusion (72). The second head component (62) is larger than the first head component (60) in order to compensate for the loss of material defining the cavity (70) and thereby increase the structural integrity of the second head component (62).

(22) Finally, in the exemplary embodiment each of the head components (60, 62) comprises two connecting flanges (74), and the connection mechanism (100) further comprises the connecting flanges (74). The connecting flanges (74) interlock (76) to connect the head components (60, 62).

(23) In the exemplary embodiment, the tool (20) further comprises a retainer. The retainer maintains a connected configuration (106) of the head components (60, 62). In the exemplary embodiment, the retainer comprises a band (108) such as an elastic band that surrounds the head components (60, 62).

(24) In the exemplary embodiment, connecting the head components (60, 62) comprises placing the locating post (114) within the locating hole (112) while the head components (60, 62) are at a right angle to one another. The head components (60, 62) are then rotated about the locating post (114) and the locating hole (112) until the protrusion (72) is fully received within the cavity (70) and the connecting flanges (74) interlock (76), aligning the head components (60, 62) with one another to form a connected configuration (106) of the head components (60, 62). The band (108) is then placed around the head components (60, 62) to maintain the connected configuration (106) of the head components (60, 62).

(25) In the exemplary embodiment, the tool (20) further comprises a head fastening system (122) for connecting the head components (60, 62) with the shaft members (86, 88). The head fastening system (122) may connect a head component (60, 62) with a shaft member (86, 88) fixedly or reciprocably, and permanently or nonpermanently.

(26) In the exemplary embodiment, each of the head components (60, 62) is fixedly and permanently connected with one of the shaft members (86, 88) by welding so that the head fastening system (122) comprises welds between the head components (60, 62) and the shaft members (86, 88). In other embodiments, one of the head components (60, 62) may be reciprocably connected with one of the shaft members (86, 88), and/or one or both of the head components (60, 62) may be nonpermanently connected with a shaft member (86, 88). In other embodiments, one or both of the head components (60, 62) may be integrally formed with a shaft member (86, 88).

(27) In the exemplary embodiment, the shaft (80) comprises two shaft members: a first shaft member (86) and a second shaft member (88). In other embodiments, the shaft (80) may comprise more than two shaft members. As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the second shaft member (88) is a fixed shaft member (96) and the first shaft member (86) is a floating shaft member (98).

(28) Therefore, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the second shaft member (88) is fixedly connected with both the handle (40) and the second head component (60) and the first shaft member (86) is reciprocably connected with at least one of the handle (40) or the first head component (62). In other embodiments, the first shaft member (86) may be a fixed shaft member (96) and the second shaft member (88) may be a floating shaft member (98). A floating shaft member (98) increases the overall strength of the shaft (80) without significantly decreasing the flexibility of the shaft (80).

(29) In the exemplary embodiment, the shaft members (86, 88) consist or consist essentially of a suitable resilient material. In the exemplary embodiment, the resilient material is spring steel. Further, in the exemplary embodiment each shaft member (86, 88) is consists essentially of a single elongated length of spring steel with a rectangular cross-section which is relatively wide and relatively thin. Flexibility is achieved in the shaft members (86, 88) through a combination of their length and cross-section and the material properties of the spring steel. The cross-section of the shaft members (86, 88) also provides a width to length ratio sufficiently high for flexibility in only the tool swinging plane (28). Restricting flexibility in the shaft members (86, 88) to one plane prevents the tool (20) from bending off-center of its target, thereby potentially increasing the user's accuracy when swinging the tool (20).

(30) The shaft (80) has an amount of flexibility in the tool swinging plane (28). In the exemplary embodiment, the amount of flexibility of the shaft (80) is variable. In the exemplary embodiment, changing the amount of flexibility of the shaft (80) may be achieved by varying the position of the handle (40) relative to the shaft members (86, 88) along the longitudinal tool axis (24), known as a longitudinal handle position.

(31) In the exemplary embodiment, the handle (40) is generally smooth and cylindrical. Both ends of the cylindrical handle (40) have a base (42). In the exemplary embodiment, the handle (40) defines two longitudinal openings (44) which extend longitudinally through the handle (40) between the bases (42) and along a longitudinal handle axis (46). The openings (44) are each shaped as rectangular slots to receive one of the shaft members (86, 88). In the exemplary embodiment, the openings (44) extend longitudinally through the entire handle (40) in order to allow the handle (40) to slide along the shaft members (86, 88) to a suitable longitudinal handle position along the longitudinal tool axis (24).

(32) In the exemplary embodiment, the tool (20) further comprises a nonpermanent handle fastening system (120) for connecting the handle (40) with the shaft members (86, 88). In the exemplary embodiment, the handle fastening system (120) provides a plurality of fastening positions for varying the longitudinal handle position along the longitudinal tool axis (24), in order to change the amount of flexibility in the shaft (80).

(33) In the exemplary embodiment, the handle fastening system (120) comprises two slots (126) defined in each of the shaft members (86, 88), two bores (128) in the handle (40), and two pins (130) for inserting in the bores (128) and for engaging the slots (126). However, in other embodiments, the handle fastening system (120) may comprise any suitable plurality of slots (126), bores (128), and pins (130).

(34) In the exemplary embodiment, the two bores (128) both extend through only one of the two openings (44) in the handle (40), such that only one shaft member (86, 88) may be fixedly connected with the handle (40) at a time, since the pins (130) are only able to engage the slots (126) in one of the shaft members (86, 88). Each slot (126) has a different longitudinal slot position along a longitudinal shaft axis (92), and each bore (128) has a different longitudinal bore position along the longitudinal handle axis (46). In the exemplary embodiment, the slots (126), the bores (128), and the pins (130) are cylindrical in shape and are configured to fit together.

(35) As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the two pins (130) engage the two slots (126) in the fixed shaft member (96). Meanwhile, the floating shaft member (98) is allowed to translate reciprocably within its corresponding opening (44) in the handle (40) as the shaft (80) flexes during the swinging of the tool (20). In other configurations, a single slot (126) defined in the fixed shaft member (96) may be engaged by only one pin (130).

(36) In other embodiments, the handle fastening system (120) of the exemplary embodiment may be used in whole or part for the head fastening system (122) and the head fastening system (122) of the exemplary embodiment may be used in whole or part for the handle fastening system (120).

(37) In the exemplary embodiment, the tool (20) is separable into a first sub-tool (36) and a second sub-tool (38), wherein the first sub-tool (36) comprises the first head component (60) fixedly connected to the first shaft member (86), and the second sub-tool (38) comprises the second head component (62) fixedly connected to the second shaft member (88). Each sub-tool (36, 38) comprises one of the head components (60, 62) in order for both sub-tools (36, 38) to be usable separately as hammers.

(38) In the exemplary embodiment, the tool (20) is separable into the sub-tools (36, 38) by removing the handle (40) from the shaft members (86, 88) and separating the head components (60, 62). As depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13, the sub-tools (36, 38) further comprise the handle (40), fixedly fastened by the handle fastening system (120) to the shaft member (86, 88) of either one of the sub-tools (36, 38). The flexibility of the shaft member (86, 88) may still be varied by varying the longitudinal handle position. However, in some configurations the sub-tools (36, 38) may be used without the handle (40).

(39) In this document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.