Abstract:
A hand tool (or an add-on accessory for the hand tool) with a handle includes one or more retractable arms that, when unfolded and extended maintains the tool in an upright position while the tool is at rest; and an attachment coupling the one or more retractable arms to the handle, the one or more arms rotatably engaged to attachment and the handle and when unfolded the one or more arm maintains the handle in an upright position off the ground to make the tool visible to an operator, wherein the one or more arms are retracted and secured into a closed position against the handle when the operator desires to resume work.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application 61/458,950 filed Dec. 6, 2010 and 13/281,423 filed Oct. 25, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a stand to be used on the handles of hand tools; more specifically it relates to a retractable stand device that can be attached to the handles of garden, construction, landscaping, maintenance, and household hand tools that holds the handle in an upright position for safety and ease of use in a working environment. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Various types of stands are used to hold or prop up various types of items for greater convenience of use. They come in many shapes and sizes with specific uses and purposes as needed to assist in the use of a specific item. For example, stands are commonly used to prop up items like signs, bicycles, telescopes, artwork, cameras, equipment, displays etc. Most stands are used to keep items stable and in an easily accessible position so when the user decides to use the item, it is quickly available. 
         [0004]    Stands such as a tripod used on an artist&#39;s easel, a camera or telescope are used to stabilize the device while using them. The three legs provide the stability required to maintain the device in a more or less upright disposition. Three points of contact to the ground are the minimum required for stability. 
         [0005]    With a bicycle, the use of a kickstand is designed specifically to_keep the bicycle in an upright standing when the bicycle is not in use. Kickstands are commonly “kicked” down and out by a rider&#39;s foot, where it locks in place. 
         [0006]    In the use of handled tools such as rakes, hoes, and the like, when the tool is not in use, it is either set down on the ground, or as convenient, it is positioned up against a wall, fence, or some other vertical surface in order to prop it up. It goes without saying that leaving a handled tool on the ground when not in use especially in a work environment, creates a dangerous environment where people can trip over the tool, step on its tines, and cause injury. These hand tools lying on the ground may also be broken or damaged by the people that step on them or with the subsequent use of other equipment. It is not uncommon for a tool to be left on the ground and accidentally run over by a lawn mower, tractor, or car. 
         [0007]    In a work environment tools left on the ground creates a particularly dangerous environment due to the number of workers in the area. A hand tool left on the ground is a common hazard to workers who may not see them. Likewise a hand tool left on the ground at the worksite often results accidently leaving the tool behind at the completion of a day&#39;s work only to find it missing the next day. Replacement is expense especially considering the loss of time of replacement. 
         [0008]    In normal use, the operator of a hand tool will put the tool to the ground while temporarily changing tasks, then pick it back up again. This inconvenience may be repeated several times during the day. In a work environment, it magnifies the problems of potential injury to others, or damage, as well as the stress on the user&#39;s body. Continually picking up and putting down hand tools not only creates undo stress to the body, it slows down work. This is particularly true if the user elects to avoid the danger of leaving a tool on the ground and looks for a place to prop it up, for example a nearby wall. With elderly or handicapped people bending down to pick up a tool may not be an option due to pain or discomfort to the body. It may even cause serious back injury. 
         [0009]    As an alternative to lying a hand tool on the ground, the worker may try to find a nearby location to lean the hand tool against in an upright disposition. The problem with leaning a hand tool against an object in a work environment is that the object used, may need to be used for another purpose, thus the hand tool is set in yet another location (unbeknownst to the worker) or left lying on the ground. 
         [0010]    At times hand tool in use, such as a mop, may be propped up against a nearby counter, although this tends to be unstable. If is slides off sideways, it can create spillage of soapy water, or any other substance that is being used or cleaned up such as chemicals, tar etc. creating a possible dangerous or damaging condition. The threat of being hit with a falling unstable hand tool in the work area is also of concern. 
         [0011]    It is understandable that without some form or means of maintaining a handled stand in a visible, obvious, upright, disposition, the problems with prior art will persist. The existing stands used for various devices are created with specific application and with specific purposes for those devices and are inadequate for use with hand tools. 
         [0012]    A hand tool stand device overcomes the numerous problems associated with prior art would be valuable to the trades of gardening, construction, landscaping, maintenance, and household and others. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    In one aspect, a tool consists of an attachable means that is secure to the handle of a hand tool in which a retractable arm or arms as the case may be are secured. The retractable arm, when unfolded and extended maintains the tool in an upright position while the tool is at rest. The arm or arms may rotate up or down manually as needed from its attachment to the handle. When unfolded downward the arm maintains the handle of the tool in an upright position and off the ground. This makes the tool visibly accessible to the operator, and visible to those in the work area. The tool stand device of the present invention can quickly be retracted manually and secured into the closed position against the handle when the operator desires to resume work. 
         [0014]    In another aspect, a hand tool (or an add-on accessory for the hand tool) with a handle includes one or more retractable arms that, when unfolded and extended maintains the tool in an upright position while the tool is at rest; and an attachment coupling the one or more retractable arms to the handle, the one or more arms rotatably engaged to attachment and the handle and when unfolded the one or more arm maintains the handle in an upright position off the ground to make the tool visible to an operator, wherein the one or more arms are retracted and secured into a closed position against the handle when the operator desires to resume work. 
         [0015]    Implementations of the above aspect can include the following. The tool can be made with the device “built into” the handle, making the device and the handle one complete unit that is flush with the handle. In other words the retractable arm is attached directly to the handle itself. It may also form-fit the handle without being obtrusive. When the present invention is installed, and the arm or arms of the stand are deployed from the handle downward resting atop the ground surface, the tool head and tool handle combined with the stand creates two or more contact points that provide stability to the tool in an upright position. The reason that only two points of contact may provide stability is that at least one of the two is broad enough across its base to form at least a three-point disposition, similar to that of a tripod. For example the tool head on a rake spreads two to three feet across, and with a second point being the retractable arm, there is a tripodal effect. This tripodal effect consists of the two outer ends of the rake and the single retractable arm of the present invention. 
         [0016]    Another embodiment of the hand tool stand device is that the arms of the device may have a telescoping feature, so if needed, the operator may determine the upright angle of the handle. 
         [0017]    Advantages of the preferred embodiments may include one or more of the following: 
         [0000]    1) Provide a stabilizer for maintain a hand tool in an upright disposition;
 
2) Create a safer work environment by reducing tripping over tools;
 
3) Eliminate the need for leaning unstable tools against or onto objects;
 
4) Eliminate the problem of tools sliding off, slipping or falling when placed against an object;
 
5) Make hand tools convenient to use;
 
6) Reduce loss of hand tools by making hand tools more viable;
 
7) Reduce breakage or damage of hand tools by keeping them off the ground;
 
8) Make a standalone unit easy to install on existing tool handles;
 
9) Make the hand tool stand device an inexpensive attachment;
 
10) Make the handles with the hand tool stand device part of a complete unit that is retractable into the handle.
 
11) Provide a hand tool stand-up device with one or more stabilizing arms or in some cases a wider base unit on the stand itself.
 
         [0018]    Other advantages of the preferred embodiments may include one or more of the following. The stand for handled tools of the present invention overcomes the problems associated with prior art. The present invention is a device that is designed specifically for the use with hand tools to enhance the stability, workability, safety and functionality of garden, maintenance, landscape, construction and household tools. The present invention is adaptable to most hand tools that are able to create a tripodal effect. In other words it has the same type of stabilizing properties as that of a tripod. 
         [0019]    By employing the tool, the need to bend down and pick up the hand tool is eliminated, thus creating better accessibility to the tool later on when needed. In addition there is no need to lean the tool against other objects which eliminates the risk of the tool falling or causing damage if it slides away. The hand tool stand device is a complete unit and attachable to any hand tool handle and may be installed easily to existing hand tools. It may also be standard equipment with replacement handles, with the hand tool stand device already attached. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, it is an object of this application to illustrate the preferred embodiments and broadly state the methodologies that may be used in order to maintain a hand tool in an upright disposition. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of representation illustrating components that make up various preferred embodiments and their related elements. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention illustrating it in a closed disposition. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention with two shafts forming a tripod effect. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of yet another variation of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Description of the Present Invention 
       [0026]    In  FIG. 1  the present invention  10  consists of hand tool H (in this instance a rake), with a handle  20  and a tool head  30 . The present invention, hand tool stand  10  consists of a standup shaft  12 , a foot  14 , a keyhole shaped adapter  16 , pivot pin  17 , and a socket holder  18 . Keyhole adapter  16  has a U-shape similar to that of shower ring or a common plumbing pipe hanger. As shown, keyhole adapter  16  wraps around handle  29  and secures the upper end of shaft  12  onto adapter  16  by having pivot pin  17  threaded through shaft  12 . 
         [0027]    As illustrated, hand tool stand  10  is in an upright disposition off of ground G, with standup shaft  12  extended downward with foot  14  resting firmly on ground G, thus supporting hand tool H. As illustrated, handle  20  extends outward and upward into the air, above ground surface G. In this upright disposition, hand tool H is clearly off the ground and visible to other persons or workers in the area, thus eliminating the potential dangers of a hand tool that is lying on the ground. 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1  there are two surfaces that touch the ground. The first being the tool head T and the second being foot  14  of the present invention  10 . As can be easily understood, this combination presents a tripodal effect due to the broad width of tool head T. The positioning of hand tool stand  10  is important and cannot be too near the top end of handle  20  as would then tend to lose the tripodal effect and may become somewhat unstable. Likewise if it is connected to low down on handle  20  near tool head T, then it may be somewhat top heavy. The use of the present invention is not limited to only rakes, but may be used on any number of hand tools such as hoes, brooms, screeds, and so on. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 2  the retractable standup shaft  12  is illustrated in a folded-up disposition with standup shaft  12  locked into and secured by socket holder  18 . The retractability is made possible with the upper end of shaft  12  pivotally pinned in place by pivot pin  17  that connects through both sides of keyhole shaped adapter  16  with shaft  12  in between. In this folded up disposition, hand tool H is ready to be put in use. The retractable tool stand  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  facilitates easy opening, and the flipping down of hand stand  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    The present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be made in various configurations similar to those illustrated. For example, the adapter  16  may have its pivot pin  17  on the bottom side or the top side of handle  20 , or may even have pivot pin  17  running through handle  20  in median location. Tool stand shaft  12  may also be connected directly to handle  20  without adapter  16 , but solely with a pivot pin that is connected directly through handle  20 . The tool stand shaft  12  may be made in any number of configurations, tubular, solid or otherwise, with the provision that it can be pivotally attached to handle  20 . Likewise foot  14  may be in any number of configurations that suitably allow it to stand upright or, there may be no foot at all. All of the components that make up hand tool stand  10  may be made from steel, aluminum, plastic, even wood. 
       E. Variations 
       [0031]    In  FIG. 3  the present invention, hand tool stand  40 , is shown as one single piece attached to handle  50 , which handle may be that of a rake, hoe, broom, and so on. In this variation, shaft  42  is a half-round piece of metal that conforms to the round handle  50  and is attached to handle  50  through pivot pin  47 . As illustrated there is no adapter, just the single pivot pin  47  that affixes shaft  42  to handle  50 . In this variation there is also a simple foot  44 , which may be a rubber, vinyl, or metal boot, or there may be none at all. It will still function admirably without. This configuration is more adaptable to an OEM manufacturer instead of attaching later on and performs essentially the same as the invention in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0032]    The style disclosed in  FIG. 3  may be effectively manufacturers with a spring clip (not shown) attached to pivot pin  47  and mounted beneath the underlying shaft  42 . The spring clip allows the present invention to hold securely against handle  50  when in a closed disposition, and when hand tool stand  40  is pulled open against the resistance of the spring clip, it snaps open into position perpendicular to handle  50  and thus, the hand tool stands up. This type of action with the spring clip is similar to that of a windshield wiper on an automobile. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is one other variation of the present invention, which shows hand tool stand  70  with two shafts  72   a  and  72   b . This variation is more suitable for hand tools that do not have tool heads with much breadth, such as the shovel illustrated. While a single shaft such as shafts  12  and  42  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , forms a tripodal effect with a broad tool head, the variation in  FIG. 4  creates a true tripod, with the too shafts  72   a  and  72   b  touching the ground and spaced apart from one another and tool head S being the third leg in the tripod. The retracting of the two arms may be much like that of the previously disclosed inventions, except that the two are spaced apart. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 5 , a hand tool includes a handle pole  102  that has a stand portion  108  that curves downwardly from the hand tool handle pole  102 . The stand portion  108  terminates in a handle grip  110  that guards a contact point on the ground. The other end of the hand pole  102  is connected to a tool head  104 . The tool head offers several substantial advantages. First, it maintains an even drawing when the user (not shown) pulls on the hand tool. In other words, one side will not dip down or rise up further than the other. Second, the ease of pulling on the hand tool is lessened preventing tiring by the user, which is particularly important when raking or dozing larger surfaces. Third, the handle gives the user the unprecedented ability to push and pull the rake, thus greatly speeding up the intended process. Fourth, with the tool the user may easily feather surfaces, which is highly desirable in many applications. Fifth, the handle can be pushed against comfortably by the body when needed to give additional weight and power to the tool head to move snow, dirt or other materials when necessary. For example, dirt and gravel walkway, school grounds, a baseball infield, grass surfaces where it may be desired to remove pick up leaves and pine cones without interrupting or snagging the underlying grass. The device of  FIG. 5  serves not only serves as a stabilizer or a leverage device during use, it also provides a grading function that smoothes down surface after the raking when using the pulling process. 
         [0035]    As illustrated, the present invention may be made in a multitude of configurations and styles. Other variations may include telescoping shafts so the user may adjust the angle and height to which the hand tool stands up. It may even include more than two shafts if a broader stance is preferred. Regardless of the means of attachment to the handle or the method in opening the hand tool stand, the result is essentially the same. 
         [0036]    The spirit of the present invention provides a breadth of scope that includes all methods of making and using it. Any variation on the theme and methodology of accomplishing the same that are not described herein would be considered under the scope of the present invention.