Abstract:
An extension handle for bull floats and other tools is presented with an octagonal shaped handle. A connector end is provided to allow for additional lengths of extension to be added to the handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/488,143 filed Apr. 16, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a handle device used with tools. In particular, the invention relates to an octagonally-shaped extension handle having a connection end for attachment of additional lengths of handle. 
     When performing various types of construction and home-improvement projects, it is often necessary to perform tasks at a distance from the worker. Such tasks include, among others, painting ceilings or floating concrete. Many of these tasks are made easier when the craftsman is able to easily grip the handle for her tool. Handles are typically circular as this structure can be easily connected to a variety of tools and extension lengths. However, a circular handle becomes slick from sweat or rain, increasing slippage of the handle. Thus, it is desirable to have a handle that provides an improved surface for gripping. 
     Importantly, it is difficult to secure handles having an octagonal circumference to other devices or other extension handles. Use of an octagonal circumference in conjunction with a circular circumference is known in other applications. One such device is described in Chinese Patent Publication 203762499 published to Lai-Cheng on Aug. 13, 2014 entitled With One-way Pushing Function of Liquid Cosmetic Pencil. Lai-Cheng depicts a driving tube having an octagonal circumference enclosed within a pen barrel having a circular circumference. However, the driving tube does not secure to other tubes of similar circumference nor does it secure to other tubes of circular circumference. Lai-Cheng does not show an effective way of providing the gripping benefits of a handle having an octagonal circumference with the connection of a circular handle. 
     Another such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,702 issued to Hagey on Sep. 13, 2011 entitled Contoured Hand Grip Constructions for a Racquet teaches a handle shaft with a slidable contour sleeve having an octagonal exterior shape that fits around the interior shaft. The exterior sleeve has an interior shape conforming to the handle shaft shape to allow the exterior to be received on the handle shaft for attachment thereto. This arrangement allows for engagement with a smaller diameter circular shaft, but does not allow for a pairing of an octagonal handle and circular handle having a similar diameter, nor does it allow for joining of two octagonal handles having the same diameter. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,616 issued to Morrow et al. on Sep. 19, 2006 entitled Lacrosse Stick with Replaceable Modular Handle Section teaches a sectional handle being composed of substantially hollow tubing, an interlocking mechanism for the sectional handle, and a head. The sectional handle includes an upper elongate section having both a top end and a locking bottom end and a lower elongate section having both a locking top end and a bottom end. As illustrated in Morrow, the hollow tubing of the sectional handle has a cross-section that substantially resembles the shape of an octagon to thereby facilitate favorable hand gripping with minimal slippage. However, Morrow does not teach a swaged transition of an octagonal cross-section to a circular cross-section, nor does Morrow teach a connection of any extensions to the sectional handle. 
     International Patent Publication No. WO/03094646 published to Manners on Nov. 20, 2003 entitled Shoe Stud Fitting and Removal Tool teaches a tool having a head portion with means to engage a selected shoe stud, said means configured to transfer rotational movement of said head portion to a said selected shoe stud engaged with said means, the tool further comprising means for connecting said tool to a rotary drive apparatus, said means for connecting configured to transfer rotational movement from said rotary drive apparatus to said head portion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,854 issued to Chou on Apr. 9, 2002 entitled Handle Device of an Impact Hand Tool teaches a handle with a circular rod with a welded or shaped rectangular portion for engagement with a confining cover, which is a rectangular sleeve. Likewise, Chinese Patent No. 2,341,345 issued to Wu on Oct. 6, 1999 entitled Handle for Positioning Tools teaches a circular tube handle provided with a positioning mechanism within the circular tube to receive an interior faceted handle. Both Chou and Wu are hand tools and the engagement of a faceted tube piece within a circular handle portion when the handles portions are short in length does not provide the deflection issues which occur when the length of the handle is elongated. Likewise, the use of the faceted ends within the circular portion allows for a secured fit as the interior of the circular portion can be shaped to fit the faceted end. Conversely, providing a circular end piece for engagement within a faceted elongated handle presents issues of added weight and positioning of the engaged portion that the smaller handles shown in Chou and Wu do not accommodate for. Thus, there is a need in the art for the present invention. 
     However, these prior art extension handles and poles and others like them suffer from a number of deficiencies. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide an extension handle which provides an improved gripping surface that can be easily extended. The present invention satisfies these and other needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the above-stated problems and limitations, and others, and to achieve the noted objects, there is provided an octagonal handle having a swaged end. 
     Bull float handles are elongated handles that stretch from the bull float handle attachment to the user. Sometimes, these handles extend a great distance between the bull float and the user. It is necessary that these handles provide a lightweight extension that allows a user to float the concrete for extended periods without excessive tiring and without sagging. 
     Conventional handles are circular, which do not provide resistance or a good gripping surface. Faceted handles, in contrast, increase grip and provide slip-resistance, even with wet or sweaty hands. Testing has shown that an octagonal handle provides increased grip strength by an average of 20%. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an elongated handle that improves grip strength. 
     However, the faceted or octagonal design of the handle provides additional challenges for use. Elongated handles are typically connected to provide further extension. The octagonal handle must be adapted to allow for extension. Therefore, it an object of the present invention to provide for an extendable elongated octagonal handle. 
     Bull float brackets and other handles still provide circular cross-sections. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for an elongated octagonal handle which can connect to circular handles and brackets. 
     As elongated handles are extended, weight is added with each handle. Additionally, as more handles are added, the handles begin to sag. If the handle is used with a tilt bracket, like one provided by Marshalltown Company and known commercially as the Rock-It®, handle sag makes turning the handle difficult. This increases fatigue for the user. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to decrease handle sag. 
     The grip surface of the handle is equally important in the tool it is used with. With larger tools, such as channel bull floats, bump cutters, and check rods, more effort is necessary to pitch the tool and keep in place. With concrete tools, the user also has to break the suction force between the tool and the surface of the concrete. The faceted handle provides a better gripping surface when using wide tools. 
     Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a workman using a bull float having an extension handle of the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of an octagonal extension handle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front side view of the octagonal extension handle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a right side elevational view of a bull float having an octagonal extension handle with an intermediary connector; 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up view of section A of  FIG. 2 , showing the connection of the octagonal extension handle having an intermediary connector; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of section A of  FIG. 2 , showing the intermediary connector of the octagonal extension handle; 
         FIG. 7  is a right side elevational view of a bull float having an octagonal extension handle with a swaged end; 
         FIG. 8  is a close-up view of section B of  FIG. 5 , showing the swaged connection of the octagonal extension handle; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of section B of  FIG. 5 , showing the swaged connection end of the octagonal extension handle; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view comparison of the extension handle arrangement of  FIG. 2  and the extension handle arrangement of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a table showing the results of different trials of deflection for handles; and 
         FIG. 12  is a table showing the results of different trials of rotational force for handles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, from another element. For instance, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Similarly, the second element could also be termed the first element. 
     The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     It will be further understood that the terms “comprise”, “include”, “have”, etc. when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations of them but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “deflection” refers to bending or displacement of at least part of the handle, either as a single piece or as elongated by multiple pieces. 
     As used herein, the term “rotational force” refers to the force applied by the user for rotating the handle. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like components throughout the several views, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are next described. The following description of one or more preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the prior art teaches an elongated tubular handle  10  is employed by a user  5  to move a float  12  across a wet concrete surface  14 . The float  12  is connected to the handle  10  by a bracket  16 . 
     The present invention provides an elongated faceted shaft handle  20  constructed of aluminum or other suitable material. Multiple facets are desirable as the number of facets assist in providing grip and increase rotational force. At least five facets are preferred, as fewer facets provide a handle that is uncomfortable for use over long periods of time. As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , the handle  20  has an octagonal cross-section with eight facets  22  connected edge to edge forming a vertices  24  between the edges. The elongated handle  20  is substantially hollow with an open interior  26  to reduce the weight of the handle  20 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the deflection of the handle  40  with the use of the interior connector  50  (shown in  FIG. 5-6 ) is shown with the handle  40  connected to the tool  12  at connection point  48 . As shown, the sag or deflection of the handle with the connector  50  is illustrated. The measured deflection of the handle  40  is discussed more below. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the handle  40  has an octagonal gripping portion  42  that extends between two ends  44 ,  46 . At each end, apertures for connection to an interior connector  50  are provided in the handle to allow for engagement of fasteners or quick connect snap spring connectors to engage with the handle  20 .  FIG. 5  provides detail of  FIG. 4  at Section A.  FIG. 5  shows the interior connector  50  partially exposed as the handle  40  is connected to a subsequent handle  41 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the interior connector  50  has snap spring connectors  52  on each end  54 ,  56  of the internal connector  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , the second embodiment of the present invention is presented. The handle  70  has an octagonal gripping portion  72  which extends a length  74  from a first end  76  to a swaged portion  78 . The swaged portion  78  extends a length  80  from the octagonal gripping portion  72  to the circular end portion  82 . The circular end portion  82  extends a length  90  to the end of the handle  70 . The circular end  82  length  90  is preferably between approximately three inches and approximately six inches in length as its minimum length. As can be appreciated, the length  90  can extend the length of the next extension handle, however, additional length increases weight and does not improve deflection. The circular end  82  length  90  must be within a range suitable for engagement with other handles  70  or the deflection benefits of the swaged handle are lost. At the circular end portion  82 , fasteners or quick connect snap spring connectors  84  for connection to a subsequent handle  71  are provided in the handle  70  to allow for engagement of apertures in the subsequent handle  71  to engage with the handle  71 . 
     It has been discovered that the use of the swaged end of the handle can substantially reduce deflection in contrast to the use of the circular handle and the circular connectors  50  used with the octagonal pole. This was determined by conducting preliminary experiments with multiple handles of each type of handle. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the octagonal handle  40  with the internal connector  50  is depicted on the left and the swaged octagonal handle  70  is depicted on the right. As shown in preliminary results provided in  FIG. 11 , Applicant has measured deflection across a twenty foot span for the octagonal insert handle  40 , the octagonal swaged handle  70 , for circular handles with an insert and for circular handles with a swaged end. The handles are noted in  FIG. 11  by their cross-sectional shape of octagon or circle and whether the handle has an insert or a swaged end. In each test, four 72 inch extensions were used to form a complete handle extension measuring 24 feet in length. All handles were supported at a Point A and a Point B on either side of the twenty foot span and the deflection between the points was measured in inches. 
     To assess the deflection of the four types of handles, Applicant measured the exact deflection at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. The average deflection for all four points can be ascertained. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the average deflection for the octagonal swaged handle  70  was measured at 1.74 inches, which is reduced significantly in comparison to the other handles. The average deflection for the octagonal handle  40  with the internal connector  50  was measured at 3.02 inches. The average deflection for the circular handle  10  with a swaged end was measured at 1.93 inches and the average deflection for the circular handle  10  with an insert was measured at 2.68 inches. This improved reduction of deflection of the handle across a span of twenty feet shown in the preliminary experiments illustrates the need for the swaged octagonal handle of the present invention. 
     It has additionally been discovered that the use of the octagonal handle can substantially increase the grip of the handle in contrast to the use of the circular handles. This was determined by conducting trials and additional field tests.  FIG. 12  provides tests results measuring the increased rotational force on the octagonal handle compared to the circular handle. As shown in the example trial depicted in  FIG. 11 , the average increase of rotational force for one handed use is 15% and for two handed use is 20%. This improved rotational force illustrates the need for the octagonal grip portion of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.