Ergonomic, multi-purpose, auxiliary handle assembly (tool attachment)

Abstract

An ergonomic, multi-purpose, attachable and adjustable, auxiliary handle assembly that provides a single supplementary handle for multiple tools and implements. The handle assembly is comprised of an L-shaped cylindrical bar that is combined with an adjustable yet lockable, hinged clamp that can be conveniently positioned along the primary cylindrical shaft of elongated tools and implements. This adjustable placement of this new auxiliary handle provides greater convenience in utilizing the tool to maximize its leverage or lifting capability while reducing the risk of muscular strain and fatigue. The adjustable feature allows operators of different sizes; tall to short, to conveniently place the adjustable handle on their tool or implement, at a position on the elongated shaft, that maximizes their preferred handling of the tool for operation. This auxiliary handle allows the user to maximize the effective use of the tool while reducing arm and back strain or injury. In addition to the ergonomic benefits, this new auxiliary handle provides multiple functional benefits for more effective lifting, pulling and pushing operation of tools and implements. In addition, the auxiliary handle enables operational use of tools and implements, with all the above-mentioned benefits, for both day and night use, given the convenient optional lighting component attached to the L-shaped handle that sheds light on the tool or implement head (where the head is the shovel, rake, hoe, broom or other tool end attachment).

Claims

1. An ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly for attachment to an elongated tool, wherein a hinged mounting assembly attaches to an elongated tool or implement at a preferred location along the elongated tool handle, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. The preferred placement of the attached auxiliary handle accommodates a variety of operator physical statures and enables the operator to achieve optimized gripping of the tool with both hands from a standing position, given the multiplicity of gripping areas on the auxiliary handle for the operator. Of particular note is the angular design of the Tubing at 100 degrees which provides an optimal gripping height for the second hand of the operator. This combination of the optimized gripping surface and the optimal gripping height of the auxiliary handle from the elongated tool reduce hand, arm and back strain especially if the operator uses the tool over an extended period of time.

2. An ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary handle is, comprised of (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4); a hinged mounting structure assembly comprised of Tubing (1) that is cylindrical, light-weight, rust-proof, and is composed of galvanized steel that is designed with specific dimensions to enable optimized gripping, maximized lifting capability and endurable longevity of the tubing. Of particular note is for the auxiliary handle's design to be safe enough to withstand at least 300 pounds of weight in a single shovel lifting operation without failing, bending breaking or becoming detached from the tool.

3. An ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle is, (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4); a hinged mounting structure assembly comprised of a common metal plumbers flange (4) with square holes to support bolt locking. The metal flange is welded to the Tubing (1) (which has been pre-cut to mate to the top side of the flange). The welding of the Tubing (1) to the flange (4) provides the most secure bond to ensure the optimized strength and endurance of the designed auxiliary handle.

4. An ergonomic auxiliary handle, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle is, comprised of (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4); a hinged mounting structure assembly comprised of a rubber spacer (7) placed within the flange that gets compressed when the locking bolts are tightened, in order to prevent rotational movement or slippage of the auxiliary handle as attached to a cylindrical elongated tool or implement. The combination of the rubber spacer and the bolt locking of the auxiliary handle assembly bolts supports continuous use of a tool or implement while eliminating the need for re-adjusting, re-tightening, or re-aligning the handle due to slippage, rotation, loosening of the handle or loosening of the handle's clamp or related bolts, which is a noted deficiency in other related prior art.

5. An ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle is, comprised of (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4); a hinged mounting structure assembly comprised of a common 1 inch plastic plug (2) inserted into the tubing end to seal the tubing end and provide a surface for affixing other featured components in this design.

6. An ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle is, comprised of (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4); a hinged mounting structure assembly comprised of an LED Light (3) affixed to the plastic cap to provide support for both day and night use of tools and implements, given the optional LED lighting component that can be attached to the Tubing and sheds light from the auxiliary handle towards the tool head (where the head is the shovel or rake or hoe or other end attachment) can now have better visibility for night operation of the tool.

7. An ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle provides a rapid, one-time setup and secured/locked attachment of the auxiliary handle to an elongated tool or Implement. As is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4; the auxiliary handle is comprised of hex carriage bolts that insert into the flange's square holes for locking the bolts via tightening of the supplied nuts. The bolts and nuts can be readily tightened with a common battery-powered drill for fast, convenient, one-time setup of the auxiliary handle assembly that secures it to the elongated handle preventing movement or shifting during use of the tool.

8. The ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle is detachable and adjustable for use in conjunction with elongated handles of a multiplicity of tools; snow shovels, dirt shovels, garden rakes, brushes, brooms, mops, hoes and any other tools or implements with cylindrical elongated handles which are operated from a standing position. The auxiliary handle can be easily removed from the tool or implement to which it is attached in order to re-position the handle or to remove it entirely for use with another tool or implement.

9. The ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle enables convenient hanging and storage for elongated tools and implements, given the design of the auxiliary tool handle which provides a hook-like design that enables convenient hanging of the tool on walls utilizing standard wall hooks or fixtures.

10. The ergonomic auxiliary handle assembly, as in any of the preceding claims, in which, the auxiliary handle provides a simplified design that enables a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, given the common/standard components incorporated into the assembly design. The components included in the auxiliary handle assembly are thus susceptible to low prices for sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tool handles economically available to the buying public.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The present invention is an ergonomically designed auxiliary handle attachment. The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described herein below in detail are preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments.

[0038] There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

[0039] The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention appended hereto.

[0040] Other advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

[0041] This invention is comprised of a cylindrical elongated curved or L-shaped tubing terminating in an adjustable hinged clamp that is can be attached as desired by the operator along the elongated tool handle, facing upward parallel to the elongated tool handle and pointing towards the end of the tool handle. The auxiliary handle assembly can be affixed to the elongated cylindrical shaft of the tool at any desired location along the along the length of the shaft of the tool.

[0042] FIG. 1Typical Operator Tool Postureillustrates a typical posture for an average user operating an elongated tool (snow shovel in this example).

[0043] FIG. 2How It Worksillustrates a typical attachment of the auxiliary handle attached to a typical elongated tool handle with a tool end, which in this case is a snow shovel. FIG. 2 shows the auxiliary tool handle assembly attached to a snow shovel whereby the handle is oriented pointing towards the working end of the shovel (tool head). This positioning enables the tool operator to grasp the auxiliary handle at a multiplicity of locations along the auxiliary handle tubing to enable the most effective control for utilizing the tool. This auxiliary handle positioning also enables the operator to utilize the supplied white LED light to enable utilization of the tool for nighttime operation.

[0044] FIG. 3Assemblyshows the auxiliary tool handle assembly components including; (1) Tubing (cylindrical, light-weight, rust-proof, galvanized steel tubing handle), (2) common 1 inch plastic plug inserted into the tubing to seal the tubing end, (3) Optional, LED Light accessory that can be affixed to the plastic cap, (4) common metal plumbers flange with square holes to support bolt locking. The metal flange is welded to the Tubing (1) (which has been cut to mate to the top side of the flange), (5) common carriage bolts with square neck for locking the flange for a compressed fit with adjacent bolts (6), and finally, (7) a standard 13 1/16 inch thick Rubber Spacer to be inserted within the flange to prevent rotation of the attached auxiliary handle on the elongated cylindrical handle of the tool or implement.

[0045] FIG. 4Dimensionsshows detailed dimensions of the auxiliary tool assembly. Of particular note is the design of the 100 degree bend (8) of the Tubing which provides optimized gripping and leverage for the auxiliary handle when attached to an elongated tool handle. Also of particular note is the design of the length of the straight sections of the Tubing; (9) optimize height of 4 9/16 inches for elevating the auxiliary handle with a 10 inch parallel offset (10) from the elongated tool handle to enable optimized gripping and leverage for the auxiliary handle when attached to an elongated tool handle, (11) the primary gripping surface has an optimized length of 4 inches to support most effective gripping surface for variety of operator hand sizes. Also of particular note is the design of the 1 1/16 Steel Tubing diameter and 1/16 inch Wall thickness (12) for enabling optimized gripping and lifting capacity and strength.

[0046] The preferred embodiment of the auxiliary tool handle is composed of steel tubing approximately 14 inches in total length (before bending) whereby one end of the handle is welded to a metal hinged clamp shown as illustrated in FIG. 3. The auxiliary handle is linear for 4 9/16 inches from the welded region to the beginning of the bend on the Tubing. The Tubing is then bent 80 degrees (for approximately 3 inches of Tubing) and then is linear for another 4 inches of Tubing as is illustrated in FIG. 4. After the auxiliary handle is attached to an elongated tool handle, the auxiliary handle will be slightly above parallel to the tool handle at a distance of approximately 10 inches from the elongated tool handle. At the end of the auxiliary tool handle a plastic cap (2) that is inserted to seal the Tubing and provides an attachment surface for the LED light (3) which can be affixed to the plastic cap, as is illustrated in FIG. 3.