WO1992008581A1

WO1992008581A1 - Handle to be applied to an elongated element

Info

Publication number: WO1992008581A1
Application number: PCT/SE1991/000761
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Strand
Original assignee: Michael Strand
Priority date: 1990-11-12
Filing date: 1991-11-11
Publication date: 1992-05-29
Also published as: SE9003583L; SE9003583D0; SE467650B

Abstract

A handle (1) for application to an elongated element (10) such as the shaft of an implement or tool. The handle has a handle sleeve (2), an operating part (3) which can be turned relative to sleeve (2) about the geometric axis of sleeve (2) and fixed in the required rotational position relative to the latter, and an engagement part arranged within handle sleeve (2) and having the shape of at least one helical spring unit (4) into which the elongated element (10) is to be inserted and which is, by one of its ends, non-rotatably connected with handle sleeve (2) and, by its other end, non-rotatably connected with operating part (3). The diameter of spring unit (4) diminishes as operating part (3) is turned in one direction and increases again as operating part (3) is turned in the opposite direction.

Description

HANDLE TO RR APPT.TF.n TO AN ELONGATED ELEMENT The present invention relates to a handle for application to an elongated element such as the shaft of an implement or tool. It has proved in many situations that the shafts present on

* 5 manual implements or tools, which may on occasion be provided with c special grips or also only have the shape of a retaining feature such as the prong of a file, are inadequate, either because they are too short where greater reach is required, for instance in case of painting work, or too small where greater power is needed, for 10 instance when releasing a stiff screw by means of a screwdriver. Also handicapped persons, for instance persons suffering from rheumatism and nerve defects, frequently find that the dimensions of said shafts are too small to match their diminished motor capacity in hands and arms. 15 The above situations have this in common that there does not exist any serviceable aid in the form of a grip that can be applied to virtually any elongated element such as the shaft of an implement or tool, irrespective of its shape, and which can be applied to said shape using only little force.

20 In order to overcome the problems which can arise in above situations, a grip is provided according to the invention, which is characterised by a handle sleeve, an operating part capable of being turned relative to the sleeve about the geometric axis of the sleeve and of being fixed in the desired rotational position relative to

25 the latter, and an engagement part arranged within the handle sleeve and having the shape of at least one helical spring unit into which the elongated element is to be inserted and which by one of its ends is non-rotatably connected with the handle sleeve and by its other end is non-rotatably connected with the operating part,

30 whereby the diameter of the spring unit diminishes as the operating part is turned in one direction and again increases as the operating part is turned in the opposite direction.

* A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail , below with reference to the attached drawing, in which

35 Fig. 1 is a partly cut-away side view and shows a handle with a toothbrush inserted therein;

Fig. 2 is an end view and shows the handle seen from the line II-II in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an end view according to Fig. 2, but shows the shank of the toothbrush locked in the handle.

Handle 1 which is shown in the drawing has a cylindrical handle sleeve 2, an operating part 3 which is also shaped as a sleeve and can be turned relative to handle sleeve 2 about the geometric axis of handle sleeve 2, and an engagement part also shaped as a sleeve which is arranged within the two other sleeves 2, 3.

With the embodiment shown the inner sleeve constituting the engagement part has at one of its ends a flange 5 which rests on the outer end of handle sleeve 2 and is non-rotatably connected with the latter by means of a lug 6, and at its other end a claw element 7 engaging the outer end of operating part 3 and non-rotatably connected with the latter.

In a section situated within handle sleeve 2 the inner sleeve has three separate helical slots subdividing the section into three separate helical spring units 4. Instead of the arrangement with three slots shown, arrangements can of course be selected with both a smaller and larger number of slots or use can be made of an arrangement with several spring units 4 arranged in sequence. Handle sleeve 2 and operating part 3 have, at their ends facing each other, an anti-rotating device formed by gear rims with a saw-tooth gear profile, which are kept in engagement with one another as a result of the fact that spring unit 4 of the engagement part is prestressed. It is of course possible to select instead of the gear profile shown also a different suitable gear profile or an arrangement with a recess in handle sleeve 2 and a lug element in operating part 3 or vice versa.

When using the handle according to the invention, the shaft of an implement or tool is inserted into spring unit 4 of the engagement part and operating part 3 is turned relative to handle sleeve 2 in the direction causing the diameter of spring unit 4 to diminish and its helical arms to lock the shaft within the handle firmly. During the turning operation the gear rims of handle sleeve 2 and operating part 3 ride on one another without causing any signi- ficant resistance and lock handle sleeve 2 and operating part 3 against one another as soon as the turning motion has ceased. In order to remove the shaft again from the handle it is only necessary to pull apart handle sleeve 2 and operating part 3 against the prestresεing force of spring unit 4 until the gear rims have disengaged and turning back is made possible. This too requires little force thanks to the fact that the elastic spring unit 4 has a tendency to return to its initial position. The present invention is of course not restricted to the embodi¬ ment shown in the drawing but can be varied in many different ways within the scope of the attached patent claims. Operating part 3 may, for instance, be made in one piece with the engagement part and may, if required, have the shape of a long shaft. But it is also possible, in order to avoid any danger of pinching, to arrange a collar outside the locking element, which can in addition serve for controlling operating part 3 in relation to handle sleeve 2, thus making it possible to arrange within the latter a longer spring unit.

Claims

1. Handle for application to an elongated element (10), such as the shaft of an implement or tool, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a handle sleeve (2), an operating part (3) which can be turned relative to sleeve <2> about the geometric axis of sleeve <2> and can be fixed in the required rotational position relative to the latter, and an engagement part arranged within handle sleeve (2) and having the shape of at least one helical spring unit (4) into which the elongated element (10) is to be inserted and which is, by one of its ends, non-rotatably connected with handle sleeve (2) and is, by its other end, non-rotatably connected with operating part (3), whereby the diameter of spring unit (4) diminishes when operating part (3) is turned in one direction and again increases if operating part <3> is turned in the opposite direction.

2. Handle according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the engagement part consists of a second sleeve (4, 5, 6, 7) arranged within handle sleeve (2>, said second sleeve having three separate helical slots which subdivide at least one section of the second sleeve (4, 5, 6, 7> into three separate helical spring units (4).

3. Handle according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the engagement section is made in one piece with operating part <3>.

4. Handle according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that operating part (3) is capable of being fixed relative to handle sleeve (2) by means of an anti-rotation element consisting of axially directed gear elements on operating part (3) and handle sleeve <2>, whereby said gear elements are held in engagement owing to the fact that the engagement part is prestressed.