Abstract:
A protective device for a user&#39;s hand and arm region while operating a hand tool, the device including a rigid protective shield ( 1 ) adapted to substantially cover the user&#39;s hand and forearm, in which the shield incorporates a hand tool mount ( 4 ) adapted to mount the hand tool ( 5 ) in a manner allowing the user to operate the tool while confined to and protected by the shield.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No. 2004902159 filed on 23 Apr. 2004, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     INTRODUCTION OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the use of manual hand tools, particularly garden tools, where the operator may be exposed to environmental hazards in the close environment of the tool.  
         [0003]     In particular this invention relates to a protective device adapted for use with a range of hand operated tools so as to provide the user with protection to the hand and arm region whilst operating a range of tools.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     A wide range of manually operated hand tools, particularly the type of tools used in gardening and agriculture expose the users hand and arm region to a range of hazards including thorns, prickles, barbs, plant irritants and similar hazards. A typical gardeners tool might be a pair of secateurs which provide the user with minimal protection to the hand and arm regions as the secateurs are used to prune and cut a range of plant products. Similarly garden shears, brooms, pruning saws, rakes, shovels, etc similarly have the potential to expose the users hand and arm to hazardous situations and it would be highly desirable if the users hand could be provided with a form of protection that would minimise or eliminate the potential for damage to the hand and arm whilst allowing the hand tool of choice to be operated with minimal interference.  
       STATEMENT OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     In a first aspect the invention provides a protective device for a users hand and arm region whilst operating a hand tool, said device comprising a rigid protective shield adapted to substantially cover the users hand and lower forearm, wherein said shield incorporates a hand tool mounting means adapted to mount said hand tool in a manner allowing said user to operate said tool whilst confined to said shield.  
         [0006]     The shield may extend to cover and enclose the hand, wrist and forearm of the user.  
         [0007]     The tool mount is preferably fitted to said shield as an accessory and adapted for interchange to suit a range of hand tools.  
         [0008]     The tool mount may incorporate a trigger to allow remote control and activation of said hand tool.  
         [0009]     The tool mount may be adapted to incorporate said tool within the confines of the shield wherein said shield has an opening for the active part of said tool to project from said shield in order to perform its normal function.  
         [0010]     The tool mount may be adapted to receive a pair of secateurs wherein one handle of said secateurs may be fitted to the inwardly projecting tool mount and the cutting jaws of said secateurs project from said shield via a slot.  
         [0011]     The shield may be formed of a rigid material adapted to resist piercing or chemical attack.  
         [0012]     The shield may be formed of compliant and flexible material allowing wrist movement of the user.  
         [0013]     The tool mount may include an inwardly projecting or internal handle adapted to be grasped by the user from within the shield and an external holder for said tool.  
         [0014]     The tool holder may be adapted to receive a tool handle including elongate handles for rakes, shovels, etc. The tool holder may be positioned on the underside, upperside or front of said shield.  
         [0015]     The tool mount may include an internal handle and an external mount for a tray or other collecting means.  
         [0016]     The shield may include ventilation means.  
         [0017]     The tool mount may include an internal trigger to operate an externally mounted tool. The externally mounted tool may be a pair of shears, grasping jaws, seed collector, etc.  
         [0018]     Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 
     
    
       [0019]     The invention will now be described with referenced to the following figures and Legend which show a selection of particularly preferred embodiments and are not to be regarded as limiting.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  Shows a version of the protective shield in top, side and bottom views. The shield is fitted with an internal tool mount.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  Shows a longitudinal compressible version of the protective shield in top, side, bottom and end views.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  Shows the shield fitted with an external tool mount.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  Shows the shield fitted with a collecting tray.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  Shows the shield fitted with a garden rake or similar tool.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6, 6   a  &amp;  6   b  Shows the shield fitted with shears or long reach gripper.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  Shows the shield fitted with an extension pole and seed collector.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 8 &amp; 9  Shows the shield fitted with a prickly bush stripper.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  Shows the shield with a pod, nut and seed stripper.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 11 &amp; 12  Shows the shield fitted with an internal pistol grip.  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  Shows the shield incorporating a rigid lifting hook.  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  Shows the shield incorporating a swivel hook.  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  Shows the shield incorporating a lifting device and tool holder.  
         [0033]      FIG. 16  Shows a pallet or box lifting device.  
         [0034]      FIG. 17  Shows the shield incorporating a pruning saw.  
         [0035]      FIG. 18  Shows the shield incorporating a hand saw.  
         [0036]      FIG. 19  Shows the shield applied to a general applicator or tool head.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 20 &amp; 21  Shows the shield incorporating a tool holder handle.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 22 &amp; 23  Shows the shield incorporating a front end tool holder and a section of tools. 
     
    
     LEGEND  
       [0039]      1 . Shield  
         [0040]      2 . Open end  
         [0041]      3 . Terminal end  
         [0042]      4 . Mounting means  
         [0043]      5 . Tool  
         [0044]      6 . First arm  
         [0045]      6   a . Second arm  
         [0046]      7 . First opening  
         [0047]      8 . Second opening  
         [0048]      9 . Cutting blades  
         [0049]      10 . Telescopic corrugations  
         [0050]      11 . Nose  
         [0051]      12 . Inward projecting handle  
         [0052]      13 . External tool holder  
         [0053]      14 . Clamp  
         [0054]      15 . Protective face  
         [0055]      16 . Insertion peg  
         [0056]      17 . Seed collecting tray  
         [0057]      18 . Garden rake  
         [0058]      19 . Handle  
         [0059]      20 . Toggle  
         [0060]      21 . Pivoting head  
         [0061]      22 . Shears/Gripping means  
         [0062]      23 . Remote trigger  
         [0063]      24 . Extended nose  
         [0064]      25 . Seed collector  
         [0065]      26 . Extension arm  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0066]     Referring firstly to  FIG. 1  the invention provides a protective device adapted for wearing by the user of a manual tool where the device comprises a protective shield  1  in the form of a hollow and substantially enclosed sleeve shaped, configured and dimensioned to allow a user to insert their hand through an open end  2  to the protective shield and form a fist at the terminal end  3  thereof. The shield incorporates a hand tool mounting means  4  positioned at or near the terminal end in such a manner as to allow the user to grasp a tool  5  mounted therein for operation in the usual manner. A particular tool of interest may be a pair of secateurs where a first arm of the secateurs  6  can be inserted in the mounting means  4  such that the second arm  6   a  remains available for clasping by the users hand and operation in the usual manner. The protective shield is provided with a first opening  7  on the underside thereof which is adapted to receive the mounting means and can receive any one of a selection of mounting means particularly adapted for use with a variety of hand tools. The protective shield is provided with a second opening  8  on the uppermost side. The second opening takes the form of elongate slot and is particularly adapted to allow projection of the cutting blades  9  of the secateurs. The second opening can take whatever form is appropriate for the particular hand tool selected for use and is not limited to the particularly preferred embodiment of secateurs.  
         [0067]     Referring now to  FIG. 2  the protective shield  1  may be provided as a telescopic unit having a plurality of corrugations  10  extending at least along the wrist region of the shield. The shield terminates at the terminal end  3  with a round or other shaped nose  11  which is adapted for ease of penetration into shrubbery, twigs and other compact vegetative situations. In this manner the telescopic region of the shield allows additional versatility and flexibility for the users wrist to maximise manual dexterity not withstanding the user wearing the protective shield of the invention.  
         [0068]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 a  further adaptation of the invention is shown where the tool mounting means  4  takes the form of an external tool holder having an inwardly projecting handle  12  and which is adapted to be inserted into the underside or first opening  7  such that the inwardly projecting handle  12  is positioned within the confines of the terminal end  3  of the shield whilst the tool mount means  4  is positioned external to the shield. In this form, the tool mount acts as an external tool holder  13  and can include a suitable clamp  14  and may incorporate a protective face  15  to provide additional protection to the round nose  11  of the protective shield. The mounting means in this configuration can be inserted through the underside or first opening  7  and secured to the protective shield by way of an insertion peg  16  which can be fastened through the upperside or second opening  8  of the shield. This particular adaptation of the tool mounting means can be utilised by long handled tools, for example garden rakes, shovels, etc which can be fitted to the external clamp  14  and manipulated by the user with their hand inserted into the protective shield and grasping the inwardly projecting handle. In this manner garden rakes, shovels, etc can be thrust into otherwise hazardous environments and provide full protection for the users hand whilst maintaining maximum manual dexterity and control by the user of the selected tool.  
         [0069]     Referring now to  FIG. 4  an alternative type of tool is shown fitted to the shield which takes the form of a seed collecting tray  17  which is adapted for fitting to the tool mounting means which in this case has the external holder  13  positioned on the upperside and adapted to receive a tray or other collecting means  17  which is accordingly positioned on the upperside of the shield  1 . The mounting means again has an inwardly projecting handle  12  which allows the operator to fully control the collecting tray from within the confines and protection of the shield  1 . In this manner the tray can be thrust or placed deep within the hazardous environment of a thorny or prickly bush thereby allowing much greater control and collection efficiency from such an environment.  
         [0070]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  the tool mount  4  this time takes the form of an external holder  13  in a manner similar to that detailed with reference to  FIG. 3 . The particular tool of interest may be a garden rake  18  which has an elongate square or other shaped handle  19 . The external holder  13  can be adapted to receive such a handle configuration and is provided with a tightening toggle  20  allowing the user to adjust the position of the rake from the shield  1 . The rake may be provided with a pivoting head  21  so as to allow the user the option of operating dual rakes with either hand utilising two shields. In this manner a modified rake can compensate for the slight limitation to manual dexterity imposed by the shield and thereby provide the user with comprehensive and virtually unhindered use of such a tool whilst being comprehensively protected from the environment.  
         [0071]     Referring now to  FIG. 6  another embodiment of the invention is shown where the tool mount takes the form of an external holder  13  which is positioned in a forward pointing direction over the terminal end  3  of the shield. In this manner a tool such as the shears or gripping means  22  can be suitably positioned at the forward end of the shield which is the correct orientation of such a hand tool relative to the position of the users hand. The tool mount may incorporate a remote trigger  23  allowing the user access and comprehensive operation of the tool from within the confines of the shield  1 . The shield may incorporate an optional extended nose region  24  so as to allow such a tool extra reach and provide remote operation and maintain protection of the users hand during use. Such a tool would provide deep penetration into potentially hazardous environments and allow use and adaptation for such a tool in a manner not previously or otherwise available.  
         [0072]     Referring now to  FIG. 7  another form of remote tool, for example a seed collector  25  can be used with the invention by way of an extension arm  26  which can be connected to the shield  1 .  
         [0073]     FIGS.  8  to  21  show variations on the invention which illustrate the scope of adaptation.  
         [0074]     The shield may also be provided with a ventilation means to ensure the users hand receives adequate ventilation and does not become stinky or clammy.  
         [0075]     The invention provides for the first time an economical and highly versatile shield for use in gardening and other hazardous situations which is adapted to protect a users hand and forearm regions whilst maintaining operation of a range of hand tools by way of a selection of mounts for such tools incorporated within the construction of the shield. The shield can take the form of a rigid or flexible unit and be made of suitable materials which resist penetration of spikes, barbs, abrasion and hazardous chemicals or other compounds that may otherwise be exposed to a users hand. The shield is adapted to receive a wide range of hand tools including secateurs, trowels, forks, rakes, shovels and virtually any hand operated tool that is capable of being suitably mounted and operated remotely by way of a suitable adaptation of the mounting means. The protective shield of the invention is therefore opened to wide use adaptation in a broad range of situations not limited to the particularly preferred embodiments concentrating on gardening implements and tools. The protective shield of the invention could extend to a range of metal or woodworking situations and with suitable design configurations also apply to a range of industrial situations including chemical and other hazardous environments.  
         [0076]     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.