Hand-tool grips

Abstract

A hand tool having hinged nipping or cutting blades and handles that are squeezed to effect the cutting or nipping action, at least one of the handles being profiled in cross section to accept and retain a slide-on cushion.

Claims

1. A hand tool comprising hinged nipping or cutting blades, at least a first slide-on cushion, and handles adapted to be squeezed to effect a cutting or nipping action, at least one of the handles being profiled in cross section to accept and retain the first slide-on cushion, wherein the at least one handle is bifurcated to include a pair of elongated members and the first slide-on cushion has an ‘H’ shaped cross section having a pair of outer members connected with a cross member, wherein the at least one handle is configured to releasably accept and retain the first slide-on cushion by sliding the cross member between the pair of elongated members such that each of the pair of elongated members is located between the pair of outer members and the pair of elongated members are separated by the cross member.

2. A hand tool according to claim 1, wherein the first slide-on cushion has an end-stop that abuts the end of the handle remote from the blades.

3. A hand tool according to claim 2, further comprising an internal spring.

4. A hand tool according to claim 1, wherein the hand tool is a podiatrists' nippers.

5. A hand tool according to claim 4, wherein the blades are razor sharp.

6. A hand tool according to claim 4, wherein the blades have a flat cut.

7. A hand tool according to claim 1, wherein the first slide-on cushion is of autoclavable material.

8. A hand tool according to claim 7, wherein first slide-on cushion is of ethylene-vinyl acetate.

9. A hand tool according to claim 1, wherein the hand tool is enclosed in a sterile pack.

10. A hand tool according to claim 1, further comprising a second slide-on cushion, wherein each of the handles is profiled in cross section to accept and retain the first or second slide-on cushion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A hand tool according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of a podiatrists' nail nipper and a slide on cushion; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the cushion of FIG. 1 on the line A-A of that Figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) The drawings illustrate a hand tool, in particular, a podiatrists' nipper 11, comprising hinged nipping or cutting blades 12 and handles 13 that are squeezed to effect the cutting or nipping action. The handles 13 are profiled in cross section to accept and retain a slide-on cushion 14, of which only one is shown, the other being a mirror image. Of course, both cushions could be the same, simplifying production.

(5) The handles 13 are bifurcated and the cushion 14 has an ‘H’ shaped cross section as seen in FIG. 2.

(6) The cushion 14 has an end-stop 15 that abuts the end of the handle 13 remote from the blades 12.

(7) The handles 13 are recessed at 13a from the hinge end by the thickness of the cushion 14 to give a smooth transition at the hinge end of the cushion 14.

(8) The tool 11 has an internal spring 16. This adapts the implement better to cleaning and sterilising, as there is essentially no trap for foreign matter. The tool 11 may be enclosed in a sterile pack 18.

(9) The blade 12 are razor sharp, and have a flat cut, which is to say that they come together along their entire edged when closed, rather than just meeting at their ends. Razor sharpness is a feature particularly appropriate to disposable, single use, or at least limited use nail nippers, and further reduces the incidence of RSI as less force is required to cut through a nail than with multiple use nippers, which are manufactured less than razor sharp in order that they maintain a constant sharpness throughout their life. Razor sharp nippers dull quickly, but this is, of course, of no consequence in a disposable implement.

(10) The cushions are made of an autoclavable polymer such as ethylene-vinyl acetate.