Cushioning handle wrap for isolating vibration

A continuous strip of generally rectangular body portion which is foam filled can be serpentinely wrapped around the handle or steering wheel of a tool or vehicle to isolate the transmission of high frequency vibrations from the user's hands. This will significantly reduce the incidence of occupational disabilities associated with the use of these tools and hand steered vehicles.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to the field of vibration isolation. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to a cushioning handle wrap 
for use on tools or vehicles to isolate the operator's hands and arms from 
high frequency vibration. 
The operation of certain power tools such as chain saws, chipper hammers, 
hand held grinders, hammer drills, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and the 
like, can result in occupational disabilities including carpal tunnel 
syndrome, vibration induced white finger, and hand-arm vibration syndrome 
(HAVS). These infirmities typically result from the continuous, repeated, 
transmission of high frequency vibration, from the tool to the hand and 
arm of the user. Similar problems can result from operation of manually 
steered vehicles such as motor cycles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, 
and farm equipment including tractors, harvesters, and the like. 
The present invention provides an inexpensive, yet effective, solution for 
such tools and vehicles to significantly reduce the transmission of high 
frequency vibrations that produce these injuries. The present invention is 
comprised of a cushioning wrap for wrapping serpentinely about a tubular 
surface to be gripped by a user, said cushioning wrap comprising a 
generally rectangular elastomeric body portion; a foam core substantially 
filling said elastomeric body portion; means for securing said cushioning 
wrap to said surface; whereby when said cushioning wrap is wrapped 
serpentinely about said tubular surface such that successive passes of 
said rectangular elastomeric body portion are juxtaposed to each other, 
said cushioning wrap will provide a grippable surface that will isolate 
the user's hands from high frequency vibrations. The outer surface is 
preferably protected by a layer of skin which is made of a oil, gasoline, 
abrasion and impact resistant material such as a nitrile based 
thermoplastic or thermoset elastomer or polymer. This skin may be ribbed, 
pebbled, or flocked to enhance the grippability of the handle equipped 
with the wrap of the present invention. 
It is another feature of the present invention that the cushioning wrap of 
the present invention include a first flange extending laterally from an 
upper surface of a first side of said elastomeric body portion and a 
second flange extending laterally from a lower surface of a second 
opposite side of said elastomeric body portion. The generally rectangular 
elastomeric body portion has a first upward offset on said lower surface 
toward said first side for receiving said second flange from a previous 
wrap and a second downward offset on said upper surface toward said second 
opposite side for receiving said first flange from a subsequent wrap. A 
lower surface of said first flange and an upper surface of said second 
downward offset form a first mating pair of surfaces, while an upper 
surface of said second flange and a lower surface of said first upward 
offset form a second mating pair of surfaces. At least one surface of each 
of said first and second mating pairs of surfaces has an adhesive layer 
applied thereto. It is preferred that the elastomeric member have an 
exterior skin which is grime-resistant and puncture resistant. 
Various other features, advantages and characteristics of the present 
invention will become apparent after a reading of the following detailed 
description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A first embodiment of the cushioning wrap of the present invention is shown 
in FIG. 1A generally at 20a. Cushioning wrap 20a is formed as an elongated 
strip of elastomeric material with a solid, thin-walled generally 
rectangular body portion 22a surrounding a porous core 24a. Porous core 
24a may be formed by the introduction of a blowing agent into the 
elastomer before it is molded or extruded into the final shape of wrap 
20a. Alternatively, gas-filled microspheres can be compounded into the 
elastomer prior to treatment. In either case, as the elastomer undergoes 
heat treatment, the core portion will expand producing the porous core 
24a. A first flange 26a extends laterally from an upper surface 30a of a 
first side 34a of said elastomeric body portion 22a and a second flange 
28a extends laterally from a lower surface 32a of a second opposite side 
36a of said elastomeric body portion 22a. 
The generally rectangular elastomeric body portion 22a has a first upward 
offset 38a on said lower surface 32a toward said first side 34a for 
receiving said second flange 28a from a previous wrap and a second 
downward offset 40a on said upper surface 30a toward said second opposite 
side 36a for receiving the first flange 26a from a subsequent wrap. A 
lower surface 27a of the first flange 26a and an upper surface 41a of said 
second downward offset 40a form a first mating pair of surfaces, while an 
upper surface 29a of the second flange 28a and a lower surface 39a of said 
first upward offset 38a form a second mating pair of surfaces. At least 
one surface of each of said first and second mating pairs of surfaces has 
an adhesive layer applied thereto. As depicted here, each of the four 
named surfaces has an adhesive layer 42a thereon. Wax-coated release 
strips (not shown) may be utilized to protect adhesive layers 42a prior to 
installation so that cushioning wrap 20a may be stored in the form of a 
roll. 
A second embodiment of the cushioning wrap of the present invention is 
shown in FIG. 1B generally at 22b. As compared to the corresponding 
surfaces of first embodiment 22a, the lengths of flanges 26b and 28b and 
offset surfaces 39b and 41b are about 1/2 as long. In the first 
embodiment, offset surfaces 39a and 41a extend roughly across one half the 
length of body portion 22a such that each of the surfaces 27a, 29a, 39a 
and 41a extend 1/4 of the width of cushioning strip 20a. At generally 1/20 
the lateral extent of the FIG. 1A embodiment, surfaces 27b, 29b, 39b, and 
41b are generally 1/6 of the overall width of strip 20b. These proportions 
are merely exemplary of the possible configurations of the cushioning 
strip 20. 
A third embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 1C and 1D. As an alternative to the 
use of an adhesive to secure wrap 20 in place, a bead and groove zip lock 
fastening system 50c can be used. As best seen in FIG. 1D, zip lock 
fastening system 50c includes a securement groove 52c in a first of the 
paired surfaces 27c and 41c and an extending bead 54c on the other. Bead 
54c has a pair of tapered leading surfaces 56c which facilitate the bead's 
entrance into groove 52c and a pair of inclined rear surfaces 58c which 
engages complementary surfaces 60c of groove 52c to lock the bead 54c in 
groove 52c when the wrap 20c has been serpentinely wrapped. While for the 
sake of simplicity, only one pair of mating surfaces (27c and 41c) are 
shown with the fastening system 50c, the other pair (29c and 39c) could be 
equipped similarly, or alternatively. 
In both of the FIG. 1A and 1B embodiments, exposed upper surfaces 30a and 
30b have a skin 44a (44b) thereon which is chemically and abrasion 
resistant. Specifically, skins 44a and 44b are resistant to attack by gas 
and oil as well as abrasive dirt or puncture. Suitable elastomeric 
materials which will form an outer chemically and abrasion resistant skin 
would include nitrile-based thermoplastic and thermoset elastomers and 
polymers. Butyl-based elastomers could also be used. This skin 44a and 44b 
will preferably be textured to improve its grippability. This texturing 
may take the form of ribbing 46b as shown in FIG. 1B or a fiber flocking 
or pebbles added to material forming skin 44a, 44b to increase friction so 
as to reduce possibility of slippage in the user's hands. Alternatively, 
bumps or knobs could be molded on the skin's surface. 
FIG. 2 depicts one application of cushioning wrap 20 of the present 
invention. The tubular surface 11 depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, is a bow 
handle for a chain saw, or the like. The exact configuration will be a 
function of the shape of the handle to be cushioned and may range from a 
short linear tubular section to a circular tubular section formed as a 
steering wheel. FIG. 2 shows the cushioning strip 22 wound serpentinely 
about bow handle 11. As seen in greater detail in FIG. 3, bow handle 11 
has a pair of flanges 13 and 17 molded on either end which define a recess 
15 therebetween. A cylindrical cap 19 can be used to compressively grip 
the first and last wrap on the bow handle 11 securing strip 20 in place. 
The inwardly protruding flange 21 is snapped into recess 15 preventing 
lateral sliding movement along the surface of bow handle 11. Of course, 
other securement means could alternatively be used. The ends 23 of bow 
handle 11 can be received into recesses 25 of the tool or vehicle with 
which it is used and secured by a screw or pin, not shown. It will be 
appreciated that the cushion wrap 20 of the present invention can be 
utilized on handles having various other shapes as well. 
The elastomeric body portion 22 and foam core 24 will cooperate to isolate 
the user's hands from the vibrations of the tool or vehicle with which 
cushioning strip 20 of the present invention is used. This isolation from 
these repetitive high frequency vibrations will significantly reduce the 
incidence of occupational disabilities such as carpal tunnel, vibration 
induced white finger, and HAVS. 
Various changes, alternatives and modifications will become apparent to a 
person of ordinary skill in the art following a reading of the foregoing 
specification. It is intended that all such changes, alternatives and 
modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims be 
considered part of the present invention.