Tethering assembly and method for grinders and like tools

Abstract

A combination power hand tool and tethering assembly comprises a power hand tool selected from the group consisting of a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, and a drill. The hand tool has a gear housing with a fastener bore configured and arranged to receive a fastener. The tethering assembly comprises a connector having a fastener opening and a tether configured and arranged to be connected to the connector. The fastener extends through the fastener opening and into the fastener bore thereby connecting the connector and the power hand tool. The tether is configured and arranged to be selectively coupled to one of a worker and an anchor object thereby selectively interconnecting the connector and the one of the worker and the anchor object.

Claims

1. A combination of a power hand tool and a tethering assembly, comprising: the power hand tool selected from the group consisting of a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, and a drill, the hand tool having a gear housing with a fastener bore configured and arranged to receive a fastener, wherein the fastener bore includes a first fastener bore on a first side of the gear housing and a second fastener bore on a second side of the gear housing; the tethering assembly comprising: a connector having a fastener opening, wherein the connector includes a first connector having a first fastener opening and a second connector having a second fastener opening; and a tether configured and arranged to be connected to the connector, wherein the fastener includes a first fastener extending through the first fastener opening and into the first fastener bore and a second fastener extending through the second fastener opening and into the second fastener bore thereby connecting the connector and the power hand tool; and wherein the tether is configured and arranged to be selectively coupled to one of a worker and an anchor object thereby selectively interconnecting the connector and the one of the worker and the anchor object.

2. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a sling interconnecting the first and second connectors and the tether being connected to the sling.

3. A combination of a power hand tool and a tethering assembly, comprising: the power hand tool selected from the group consisting of a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, and a drill, the hand tool having a gear housing with a fastener bore configured and arranged to receive a fastener, wherein the power hand tool includes a removable side handle having a handle fastener configured and arranged to engage the power hand tool within the fastener bore; the tethering assembly comprising: a connector having a fastener opening; and a tether configured and arranged to be connected to the connector; and wherein the fastener extends through the fastener opening and into the fastener bore thereby connecting the connector and the power hand tool; and wherein the tether is configured and arranged to be selectively coupled to one of a worker and an anchor object thereby selectively interconnecting the connector and the one of the worker and the anchor object.

4. The combination of claim 3, further comprising a sling interconnecting the connector and the tether.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein the fastener is the handle fastener of the removable side handle.

6. The combination of claim 3, wherein the removable side handle extends from the gear housing.

7. The combination of claim 3, wherein the fastener bore includes a first fastener bore on a first side of the gear housing and a second fastener bore on a second side of the gear housing, the handle fastener engaging the power hand tool within the first fastener bore.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the fastener is the handle fastener of the removable side handle.

9. A combination of a power hand tool and a tethering assembly, comprising: the power hand tool selected from the group consisting of a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, and a drill, the hand tool having a gear housing with a fastener bore configured and arranged to receive a fastener; the tethering assembly comprising: a connector having a fastener opening; and a tether configured and arranged to be connected to the connector; and wherein the fastener extends through the fastener opening and into the fastener bore thereby connecting the connector and the power hand tool, the connector having a tether opening configured and arranged to receive a tether connector operatively connected to the tether; and wherein the tether is configured and arranged to be selectively coupled to one of a worker and an anchor object thereby selectively interconnecting the connector and the one of the worker and the anchor object.

10. A method of tethering a power hand tool, comprising: providing a power hand tool selected from the group consisting of a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, and a drill, the hand tool having a gear housing with a fastener bore configured and arranged to receive a fastener, wherein the power hand tool includes a removable side handle having a handle fastener configured to engage the power hand tool within the fastener bore; providing a tethering assembly, comprising: a connector having a fastener opening; and a tether configured and arranged to be connected to the connector; aligning the fastener opening of the connector and the fastener bore of the gear housing; installing a fastener through the fastener opening of the connector and into the fastener bore of the gear housing thereby connecting the connector and the power hand tool; and connecting the tether to the connector.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fastener is the handle fastener of the removable side handle.

12. A method of tethering a power hand tool comprising: providing a power hand tool selected from the group consisting of a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, and a drill, the hand tool having a gear housing with a fastener bore configured and arranged to receive a fastener; providing a tethering assembly, comprising: a connector having a fastener opening; and a tether configured and arranged to be connected to the connector; aligning the fastener opening of the connector and the fastener bore of the gear housing; installing a fastener through the fastener opening of the connector and into the fastener bore of the housing thereby connecting the connector and the power hand tool; and connecting the tether to the connector; wherein the fastener bore includes a first fastener bore and a second fastener bore, wherein the connector includes a first connector with a first fastener opening and a second connector with a second fastener opening, and wherein the fastener includes a first fastener and a second fastener, further comprising: aligning the first fastener opening of the first connector with the first fastener bore; installing the first fastener through the first fastener opening and the first fastener bore; aligning the second fastener opening of the second connector with the second fastener bore; installing the second fastener through the second fastener opening and the second fastener bore; and connecting the tether to the first and second connectors.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting a sling to the first and second connectors and connecting the tether to the sling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a tethering assembly of the present invention showing a pair of ring connectors in the shape of a figure-eight, a wire rope sling coupled to and linking the ring connectors, and a tether with closed-loop connectors at each end.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a tethering assembly of the present invention showing a wire rope sling with a tether-connector loop and a pair of sling legs, where each leg terminates in an eye connected through a ring connector.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a tethering assembly of the present invention showing a sling fixedly attached to ring connectors at each end and includes a ring connector slidably coupled to the sling along a middle portion and defining a tether-connector loop.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a tether assembly of the present invention showing a first end portion of a sling having an eye for use as a tether-connector loop and a second end portion defining a closed loop that extends through first and second ring connectors.

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of the tether assembly and power tool showing the tethering assembly of FIG. 1 installed on a power angle grinder.

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates a rear perspective view of the tether assembly and power tool showing the tethering assembly of FIG. 1 installed on an angle grinder, where one eye passes through the other eye of the wire rope sling and connects to a tether.

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates a rear perspective view of the tether assembly and power tool showing the tethering assembly of FIG. 2 installed on an angle grinder.

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates a top and rear perspective view of the tether assembly and power tool showing the tethering assembly of FIG. 4 installed on an angle grinder.

(9) FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing exemplary steps in a method of tethering a power hand tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(10) The preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1-9. As used herein, the terms “up,” “down,” “forward,” “rearward,” “top,” “bottom,” and similar terms refer to the orientation of a power hand tool 10 as it is typically oriented during display or use, where the tool body 12 extends generally horizontally from a gear housing 16. These terms are used for convenience in describing the present invention and do not limit the use or structure of the invention to any specific orientation or to use with any particular power hand tool 10. For the purposes of this disclosure, “power hand tool” includes tools that are electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic and are operated while held in the user's hands.

(11) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a tethering assembly 100. Tethering assembly 100 includes one or more ring connectors 110, a sling 150 that can be assembled with the ring connector(s) 110, an optional tether 180, and an optional auxiliary fastener 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, tethering assembly 100 includes a first ring connector 110a and a second ring connector 110b each having the shape of a figure-eight, which are also called figure-eight rings. In one embodiment, auxiliary fastener 200 is configured as a machine screw or bolt sized to threadably engage fastener bores 28 in power hand tool 10 (shown in FIG. 5).

(12) Sling 150 is constructed as a wire rope sling and has one or more legs 152 that extend between a first end portion 154 and a second end portion 156. As shown in FIG. 1, sling 150 has one leg 152 and is sometimes referred to as an eye-and-eye cable sling or a lifting sling. First end portion 154 defines a first eye 158 and second end portion 156 defines a second eye 160. Typically, first eye 158 and second eye 160 are formed by mechanical splicing that includes a crimp 162. For example, first and second eyes 158, 160 are formed with Flemish eye splicing techniques as known in the art. Optionally, one or both eyes 158, 160 includes a thimble 164 for increased strength and reduced wear. In one embodiment, for example, each of first and second eyes 158, 160 has an inner diameter D1 of about ⅜ inch. Inner diameter D1 may be larger or smaller as determined adequate for connecting to a connector 189 on tether 180.

(13) Each ring connector 110 defines a fastener opening 112 and a sling opening 114. Fastener opening 112 is sized for a handle fastener 26 extending from the tool's side handle (shown in FIG. 5). For some hand tools 10, handle fastener 26 is a ¼-20 threaded bolt or metric equivalent. Regardless of the particular handle fastener 26 used to engage the fastener bore 28 on power hand tool 10 (e.g., shown in FIG. 5), fastener opening 112 of each ring connector 110 is sized so that ring connector 110 can be engaged by the side handle 24, handle fastener 26, or auxiliary bolt 200 (and washer 27, if used) and tightened against the power hand tool 10. In one embodiment, for example, fastener opening 112 has a diameter of about ⅜ inch. Other diameters for fastener opening 112 are acceptable and are selected by the handle fastener 26 of the hand tool 10 to be tethered.

(14) In some embodiments, sling opening 114 is sized to permit passage of first and/or second eye 158, 160 of sling 150. In other embodiments, sling opening 114 is sized to prevent passage of sling 150, but may require eyes 158, 160 to be formed after extending leg 152 through sling opening 114 of each ring connector 110. In one embodiment, for example, sling opening 114 has a diameter of ¾ inch. In another embodiment, sling opening 114 has a diameter of ¼ inch.

(15) In some embodiments, fastener opening 112 and sling opening 114 are distinct from each other; in other embodiments, fastener opening 112 and sling opening 114 intersect to define a single opening, such as one with an hourglass shape.

(16) In one embodiment, tethering assembly 100 includes optional tether 180 and/or one or more bolts 200 sized for a threaded bolt bore 28 of the hand tool 10. Tether 180 can be connected between cable 150 and the worker, a structure, or some other object.

(17) Optional tether 180 has a tether body 182 that extends between a first tether end portion 184 and a second tether end portion 186. Each of first and second tether end portions 184, 186 defines a closed loop 188, where one or more of closed loops 188 is a closed-loop connector 189 operable between an open position and a closed position. As such, first tether end portion 184 may be attached to the user or to a structure, and second tether end portion 186 may be attached to sling 150. For example, connector 189 on second tether end portion 186 is a carabiner sized to be attached through one or both of first and second eyes 158, 160.

(18) Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of tethering assembly 100 is shown. Here, sling 150 defines a tether-connector loop 166 with a first leg 152a and a second leg 152b extending from tether-connector loop 166 to respective first and second eyes 158, 160. In one embodiment, tether-connector loop 166 is an eye formed by bending middle portion 155 of sling 150 to form a loop and installing crimp 162. First and second end portions 154, 156, respectively, define first and second eyes 158, 160 that extend through sling openings 114 of first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b, respectively. In contrast to tethering assembly 100 of FIG. 1, sling 150 is permanently connected to ring connectors 110 by forming first and second eyes 158, 160 that each connect through and capture one ring connector 110. Optionally, any one or more of tether-connector loop 166, first eye 158, and second eye 160 includes thimble 164 for improved strength and abrasion resistance. Optionally, sling 150 includes a slider 168 that captures and slides along first leg 152a and second leg 152b between tether-connector loop 166 and first and second eyes 158, 160. The user may position slider 168 to take up slack in sling 150 and maintain sling 150 positioned behind the gear housing 16 of power hand tool 10 as shown, for example, in FIG. 7.

(19) Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of tethering assembly 100 is shown in a front view. Here, leg 152 of sling 150 extends between first end portion 154 and second end portion 156. Ring connectors 110 are mechanically fastened to first end portion 154 and second end portion 156 of leg 152 by crimps 162. Other mechanical attachment methods are also acceptable. Ring connectors 110 are permanently attached to sling 150 and define only fastener openings 112. When installed on power hand tool 10, sling 150 extends over power tool 10 to define a closed loop 167 useful as tether-connector loop 166. Optionally, a connector 169 is installed on sling 150 to define tether-connector loop 166. Tether 180 may connect to tether-connector loop 166 as defined by a connector if present, or may connect directly to sling 152.

(20) Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of tethering assembly 100 shown. Here, sling 150 has a single leg 152 extending between a closed loop 167 formed by second end portion 156 and tether-connector loop 166 formed by first end portion 154. Second end portion 156 extends through sling openings 114 of two ring connectors 110 and then is joined to middle portion 155 with crimp 162 to define closed loop 167 that captures ring connectors 110. Here, tether-connector loop 166 is configured as an eye formed by first end portion 154. In other embodiments, tether connector loop 166 is a closed-loop connector operable between an open position and a closed position, such as a carabiner. Leg 152 may be as short or as long as desired. In one embodiment, leg 152 is sized so that the fastener of tether connector loop 166 can be removably attached to a worker or other object. In other embodiments, leg 152 is about two to four inches in length so that tether-connector loop 166 is positioned for attachment to tether 180 along a top surface 12a of a tool handle 12 (shown in FIG. 8).

(21) FIG. 5 illustrates a front and side perspective view showing installation of one embodiment of tethering assembly 100 on power hand tool 10. As shown, power hand tool 10 is configured as a grinder (a.k.a. angle grinder or cut-off tool) with an elongated tool body 12 extending to a gear housing 16. Tool body 12 includes a hand grip 11. Gear housing 16 has a rotating shaft 18 or other moving parts. Rotating shaft 18 extends down from gear housing 16 to rotate cutting wheel 20 about an axis of rotation 22 extending in a vertical direction and generally perpendicular to tool body 12. Power hand tool 10 also has a side handle 24 that attaches to gear housing 16 by handle fastener 26 extending axially from an end 24a of side handle 24 to engage a fastener bore 28 in first side 16a of gear housing 16. A second fastener bore 30 (not visible) is formed in a second side 16b of gear housing 16 and provides an alternate installation location for side handle 24. Optional washers 27 may be used with handle fastener 26 and/or auxiliary fastener 200 to better engage ring connectors 100. First eye 158 of sling 150 extends through second eye 160 to define closed loop 167 and tether-connector loop 166.

(22) FIG. 6 illustrates a top and rear perspective view of tethering assembly 100 of FIG. 1 installed on power hand tool 10 configured as an angle grinder. Tethering assembly 100 includes ring connectors 110, sling 150, tether 180, and auxiliary fastener 200. Ring connectors 110 are attached to first and second sides 16a, 16b of gear housing 16, where handle fastener 26 of side handle 24 and auxiliary fastener 200, respectively, extend through fastener openings 112 (not visible). Side handle 24 and auxiliary fastener 200 are tightened against ring connectors 110 with washer 27 to maintain the positions of ring connectors 110 on gear housing 16. Preferably, ring connectors 110 are positioned as shown to extend upward and rearward from fastener openings 28, 30 relative to gear housing 16 in order to position tether 180 away from cutting wheel 20 or other working part of power hand tool 10. Sling 150 extends through sling openings 114 of each ring connector 110. First end portion 154 extends through second eye 160 on second end portion 156 of sling 150 in a slip-knot configuration, where first eye 158 is used as and defines tether-connector loop 166. In other configurations, first eye 158 and second eye 160 are brought together in overlapping alignment to define tether-connector loop 166 as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. In such cases, connector 189 of tether 180 is attached through both first and second eyes 158, 160.

(23) FIG. 7 illustrates a top and rear perspective view of tethering assembly 100 of FIG. 2 installed on power hand tool 10 configured as a grinder. Tethering assembly 100 includes sling 150 with attached first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b, and auxiliary fastener 200. Similar to the installation for the embodiment of attachment assembly 100 of FIG. 1, each of first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b is attached to first side 16a or second side 16b, respectively, of gear housing 16. Handle fastener 26 (not visible) of side handle 24 extends through fastener opening 112 of first ring connector 110a. Auxiliary fastener 200 extends through fastener opening 112 of second ring connector 110b. Side handle 24 and auxiliary fastener 200 are tightened with washer 27 against ring connectors 110a, 110b to maintain the positions of ring connectors 110a, 110b on gear housing 16. First and second eyes 158, 160 of sling 150 are configured to extend through sling openings 114 of first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b so that first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b are permanently attached to sling 150. First eye 158 is connected through and captures a first ring connector 110a and second eye 160 is connected through and captures second ring connector 110b. First and second ring connectors 110a, 110b are preferably positioned to extend upward and rearward of gear housing 16 from fastener bores 28, 30 (not visible). Accordingly, sling 150 is positioned to extend rearward along a top surface 12a of tool body 12 with tether-connector loop 166 positioned for attachment to tether 180 (shown in FIG. 1).

(24) The tethering assembly 100 of FIG. 3 may be installed similarly to the installation as shown in FIG. 7. First and second ring connectors 110a, 110b can be secured to opposite sides 16a, 16b of gear housing 16 with leg 152 extending rearwardly over a top surface 10a of power hand tool 10. Tether-connector loop 166 is then positioned adjacent top surface 12a of tool body 12 to connect to tether 180.

(25) FIG. 8 illustrates a top and rear perspective view of tethering assembly 100 of FIG. 4 installed on power hand tool 10 configured as a grinder. First and second ring connectors 110a, 110b are attached to opposite first and second sides 16a, 16b of gear housing 16, respectively. Handle fastener 26 (not visible) of side handle 24 and auxiliary fastener 200 extend through respective fastener openings 112. Side handle 24 and auxiliary fastener 200 are tightened against first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b, respectively, to maintain their positions on gear housing 16. Sling 150 defines closed loop 167 extending to leg 152 behind first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b and to tether-connector loop 166 adjacent top surface 12a of tool body 12.

(26) Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow chart illustrates exemplary steps of a method 300 of tethering a power hand tool 10 having a side handle 24. In step 305, a power hand tool 10 is provided, where the power hand tool 10 has a top surface 10a, an elongated tool body 12 with a hand grip 11 on the tool body 12 and a side handle 24 threadably attached to a first side 16a or second side 16b of a gear housing 16. In some embodiments, the power hand tool 10 is selected in step 307 as a grinder, a polisher, a cut-off tool, or a drill.

(27) In step 310, a tethering assembly 100 is provided. Tethering assembly 100 includes one or more ring connectors 110 each defining a fastener opening 112. Tethering assembly 100 also has a sling 150 connected to the ring connector(s) 110 and defining a tether-connector loop 166 when installed on the power hand tool 10. In some embodiments, tethering assembly 100 includes two ring connectors 110 configured to be installed on opposite sides 16a, 16b of the gear housing 16 of the power hand tool 10. In some embodiments, each ring connector 110 is selected as a figure-eight ring that defines a fastener opening 112 and a sling opening 114. In other embodiments, the ring connectors 110 define only a fastener opening 112 and are mechanically attached to the sling 150. In some embodiments, the tether-connector loop 166 is the sling extending over the power hand tool 10 between first and second ring connectors 110, or a closed loop or eye formed by sling 150, where a tether 180 can be attached to the tether-connector loop 166. Various examples of tethering assembly 100 are discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-4. Other variations are acceptable.

(28) In optional step 315, the side handle 24 is removed from the power hand tool 10. Typically, side handle 24 is threadably attached to one side 16a, 16b of the gear housing 16. When the side handle 24 is removed, a threaded bolt bore 28 is revealed in the gear housing 24 (or other side portion of power hand tool 10) as well as a handle fastener 26 extending from an end of the side handle 24. In other embodiments of method 300, a single ring connector 110 is provided and is installed using a second bolt bore 30 on the opposite of the gear housing 16 from the side handle 24.

(29) In step 320, the fastener opening 112 of each ring connector 110 is aligned with a bolt bore 28, 30 on the power hand tool 10, where the bolt bore 28, 30 is sized and configured to receive the handle fastener 26 of the side handle 24. In one embodiment where the tethering assembly 100 includes two ring connectors 110, the fastener opening 112 of a first ring connector 110a is aligned with a first bolt bore 28 on the first side 16a of the gear housing 16 and the fastener opening 112 of a second ring connector 110b is aligned with a second bolt bore 30 on the opposite second side of the gear housing 16.

(30) In step 325, each ring connector 110 of the tethering assembly 100 is secured to the power hand tool 10 with a bolt extending through the fastener opening 112. In some embodiments, the bolt is the handle fastener 26 of the side handle 24, where the side handle 24 is installed on the gear housing with the handle fastener 26 extending through the fastener opening 112 of a ring connector 110. In other embodiments, the bolt is auxiliary fastener 200 installed into second bolt bore 30 opposite of the side handle 24 with the auxiliary fastener 200 extending through the fastener opening 112 of the ring connector 110. In some embodiments, side handle 24 and/or the handle fastener 26 is a replacement part. For example, a replacement handle fastener 26 is provided and installed into the side handle 24 in place of the existing handle fastener 26, where the replacement handle fastener 26 has a longer length to accommodate the ring connector 110. Optionally, the ring connector(s) 110 are positioned to extend upward and/or rearward of the gear housing 16.

(31) In some embodiments, the tethering assembly 100 includes first and second ring connectors 110a, 110b. A first ring connector 110a is installed using a first bolt bore 28 and a second ring connector is installed using a second bolt bore 30, usually on an opposite side 16a or 16b of the gear housing 16. For example, the first ring connector 110a is installed using handle fastener 26 and side handle 24. The second ring connector 110 is installed on the power hand tool 10 with a fastener, such as auxiliary fastener 200, extending through the fastener opening 112 of the second ring connector 110b and engaging second bolt bore 30. Step 325 optionally includes providing the auxiliary fastener 200 as part of the tethering assembly 100.

(32) In step 330, the sling 150 is connected to the ring connector(s) 110 if not already connected. In one embodiment, step 335 includes passing the sling 150 through the sling opening 114 of each ring connector, such as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4. In other embodiments, sling 150 starts as a wire rope or the like that is passed through each sling opening 114 and formed into an eye that captures the ring connector 110, such as shown in FIG. 2. Step 330 may also include attaching a ring connector or forming tether-connector loop 166 in middle portion 155 of sling 150. In some embodiments, step 330 is performed prior to step 320 of aligning each fastener opening 112 with a bolt bore 28, 30. In some embodiments, step 330 also includes mechanically splicing the sling to form an eye or loop, such as with a crimp 162.

(33) In step 335, a tether-connector loop 166 is positioned away from the working part (e.g., cutting wheel 20) for connection to a tether 180. Preferably, the tether-connector loop 166 extends or is positioned to extend rearward from the gear housing 16 along the top surface 12a of the tool body 12. In some embodiments, the tether-connector loop 166 is formed by sling 150 extending between ring connectors 110. In one embodiment, eyes 158, 160 of sling 150 are brought together and overlapped for connection to the tether 180. In another embodiment, one eye 158 extends through another eye 160 in a slip-knot fashion and is used as the tether-connector loop 166. In other embodiments, sling 150 defines an eye or includes a connector on the sling 150 as the tether-connector loop 166. In some embodiments, the sling 150 is positioned to extend over the top surface 12a of the power hand tool 10 between first and second connector rings 110a, 110b.

(34) In optional step 345, a tether 180 is connected to the tether-connector loop 166. The tether 180 may also be connected to the worker or to a nearby structure or other object.

(35) In use, embodiments of tethering assembly 100 provide reliable tethering attachment for power hand tools 10, such as grinders, polishers, cut-off tools, and some heavy-duty drills, where power hand tool 10 has a hand grip 11 on the tool body 12 and a side handle 24 attached to the gear housing 16. By positioning the tether-connector loop 166 away from the working part of the tool, such as rearward of the gear housing 16, a tether 180 connected to tether-connector loop 166 is generally positioned out of the way of the working part of the tool (e.g., cutting wheel 20). For example, the sling 150 and tether 180 extend rearwardly along the top or side of the tool body 12 where the worker may grab the hand grip 11 without the sling 150 or tether 180 preventing use of the power hand tool 10 or interfering with function of the power hand tool 10.

(36) Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.