Patent ID: 6610963
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
Ergonomic over-handle, in combination with a welding torch having a torch-handle and having a service cable attached at a rear end thereof, wherein:the over-handle includes an attachment-component, and the attachment-component makes physical contact with, and is fixedly attached to, the torch, at a point of attachment; the said point of attachment between the attachment-component of the over-handle and the torch occurs at a location that is in front of the torch-handle; the over-handle includes a hand-grip component, and the hand-grip component extends rearwards from the attachment-component; the torch-handle includes a top-surface, and the hand-grip component overlies, and is spaced from, the said top-surface of the torch-handle; the hand-grip component is so disposed in relation to the torch-handle as to create a space, between the top-surface of the torch-handle and an undersurface of the hand-grip component; the space thus created is so shaped and sized as to be capable of, and suitable for, receiving the first web area of the hand of a person, into that space, the first web area being the webbed area between the thumb and the forefinger; the space thus created is so shaped and sized as to be capable of, and suitable for, exerting a slight squeeze-grip upon the first web area of a person's hand, when the first web area is located in the said space; the over-handle is open at the sides of the hand-grip component, to the extent that, when the first web area of a person's hand is located in the said space, the fingers of the hand can lie to the right side of the torch-handle, and the thumb of the hand can lie to the left side of the torch-handle; the shape of the over-handle is such that, when the first web area of a person's hand is located in the said space, the attachment-component lies in front of the first web area; and the configuration of the space created between the top-surface of the torch-handle and the undersurface of the hand-qrip component is such that, when the first web area of a hand is located in the said space, the first web area is gripped between the top-surface of the torch-handle and the undersurface of the hand-grig component securely enough that the person can manipulate and manhandle the torch, with the service cable attached, substantially without exerting any muscular squeeze or grin on the torch-handle.