Abstract:
The disclosure relates to an arm holder for a pole-handled tool such as a broom, a mop, a squeegee, etc. that allows effective use of the pole-handled tool with only one hand. The arm holder comprises an arm grip having an arm-holding structure; and an attachment portion capable of attaching the arm grip to the pole-handled tool; wherein the arm-holding structure is capable of receiving an arm positioned within the arm-holding structure while a corresponding hand of the same arm grasps the pole handle, the pole handle acting as a lever where the corresponding hand forms a fulcrum of the lever.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an arm holder for a pole-handled tool. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Using a tool such as a broom or a mop with a pole handle typically constrains the user to use both hands to hold the tool. However, often it would be advantageous to have one hand free to do something else while using the tool. For example, it would be desirable to use a broom to sweep while moving furniture and other objects out of the way or to hold a dustpan to sweep debris into the dustpan with the broom. Accordingly, there is a need for a device to allow effective use of a pole-handled tool with only one hand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosure relates to an arm holder for a pole-handled tool such as a broom, a mop, a squeegee, etc. that allows effective use of the pole-handled tool with only one hand. The arm holder comprises an arm grip having an arm-holding structure; and an attachment portion capable of attaching the arm grip to the pole-handled tool; wherein the arm-holding structure is capable of receiving an arm positioned within the arm-holding structure while a corresponding hand of the same arm grasps the pole handle, the pole handle acting as a lever where the corresponding hand forms a fulcrum of the lever. 
     In an embodiment, the attachment portion includes a hole disposed on an end of the arm-holding structure that accommodates the pole handle extended through the hole along the pole handle. In another embodiment the attachment portion includes an apertured attachment device that includes a protruding portion, an apertured base and a tightening fastener. The protruding portion is accommodated by a corresponding aperture disposed on an end of the arm-holding structure to couple the arm-holding structure to the apertured attachment device (and thereby to the pole handle). The apertured base includes an aperture encompassed by a pair of pliable ends, wherein the tightening fastener received by a corresponding receiving hole is disposed on the pair of pliable ends to tighten and loosen the apertured attachment device around the pole-handled tool. In various embodiments, the arm holder can be constructed entirely of metal or plastic, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, most or all of the arm holder is made of a molded thermoplastic. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an environmental view of an arm holder for a pole-handled tool, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another view of the arm holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the arm holder of  FIG. 1  unattached; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a an arm holder for a pole-handled tool according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a detail view of the arm holder of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up perspective view of an attachment portion for attaching the arm holder of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up view of the attachment portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an environmental view of an arm holder  120  for a pole-handled tool  130  in use, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the arm holder  120  is attached to a broom. However, in other embodiments, the pole-handled tool  130  could be a mop, a rake, a squeegee, etc. As depicted, a user has a first arm  112  with a corresponding hand  112 A. It is to be understood that the user also has a second arm (not shown) used for other purposes, such as holding a dustbin. The arm holder  120  can receive the user&#39;s first arm  112  which is positioned within the arm holder  120 , as shown. The pole-handled tool  130  can include a pole handle  132 . The pole handle  132  may be grasped by the user&#39;s hand  112 A while the arm  112  presses firmly against the arm holder  120 . In use, the pole handle  132  acts as a lever where the hand  112 A forms a fulcrum at the grasping point. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another view of the arm holder  120 . Attachment of the arm holder  120  to the pole-handled tool  130  may be accomplished by slipping the arm holder  120  onto the pole handle  132  below the grip  134 , forming a snug friction fit. Alternatively, the arm holder  120  may be attached permanently to the pole handle  132  by use of a suitable adhesive, for example. The arm holder  120  includes a hole  108  to accommodate the arm handle  120 . The arm holder  120  may be extended through the hole  108  and onto the pole handle  132 . In this case, the hole  108  will have about the same or a slightly larger diameter than the pole handle  132 . The arm holder  120  may be sold separately from the pole handled-tool  130 . In other embodiments, the arm holder  120  and the pole-handled tool  130 , such as a broom, will be sold together as one unit. In the latter case, the pole-handled tool  130  and the arm holder  120  may either be included as separate parts to be assembled by the user or assembled together as one piece at the point of manufacture. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the arm holder  120  unattached to the pole handle  132 . As shown, the arm holder  120  includes a C-shaped portion  110  and the hole  108 . The C-shaped portion  110  may receive a user&#39;s first arm  112 , and may have a C-shape hook  110 A or the like. The C-shaped portion  110  typically has a width that may be slightly greater around the middle of a curvature  109  of the C-shaped portion  110  than at a distal end  114  of the C-shaped portion  110  to ergonomically accommodate and fit the user&#39;s first arm  112 . The C-shaped portion  110  may be approximately 3.5 inches by 4.0 inches in length to accommodate most arm dimensions, for example. In other embodiments, the C-shaped portion  110  may be a closed ring (not shown) and have an opening of any size to receive the user&#39;s first arm  112 . 
     As mentioned, the hole  108  may accommodate the pole handle  132 . Therefore, the diameter of the hole  108  depends on the diameter of the pole handle  132 . The diameter of the hole  108  may be in the range of about 0.75 inch to 1.00 inch, for example. The fit between the hole  108  and the pole handle  132  may be a self-adhering relatively tight fit that still allows the first arm holder for a pole-handled tool  130  to be adjusted along the length of the pole handle  132 . The arm holder  120  may be made of a suitable plastic, metal or the like. In an embodiment, the arm holder  120  is a molded thermoplastic having a thickness of about one-half inch. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an arm holder  220  for a pole-handled tool  130 , according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the arm holder  220  includes an arm grip  205  and an attachment portion  250 . The attachment portion  250  may be slipped onto the pole handle  132 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pole-handled tool  130  is a broom. However, it is to be understood that the pole-handled tool  130  could be a mop, a rake, a squeegee, etc. The attachment portion  250  may include a hole  208  to accommodate the pole handle  132 . The arm holder  220  may be sold separately from the pole-handled tool  130 . In other embodiments, the arm holder  220  and the pole-handled tool  130 , such as a broom, can be sold together as one unit. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a detail view of the arm holder  220 . As mentioned, the arm holder  220  includes the arm grip  205  and the attachment portion  250 . As shown, the arm grip  205  includes a C-shaped portion  210  for receiving a user&#39;s first arm, and may have a C-shape hook  210 A or the like. The C-shaped portion  210  typically has a width that may be slightly greater around the middle of a curvature  212  of the C-shaped portion  210  than at a distal end  214  of the C-shaped portion  210  to ergonomically accommodate and fit the user&#39;s first arm. The C-shaped portion  210  may be approximately 3.5 inches by 4.0 inches to accommodate most users&#39; arm dimensions. In an embodiment, the C-shaped portion  210  is about one-half inch in thickness. Alternatively, the C-shaped portion  210  may be a closed ring (not shown) and have an opening of any size to receive the user&#39;s first arm. 
     The attachment portion  250  is used to attach the C-shaped portion  210  to the pole handle  132 . The attachment portion  250  may be an apertured attachment device including a protruding portion  252 , an apertured base  254  and a tightening fastener  256 . The protruding portion  252  may be accommodated by a corresponding aperture  216  that may be disposed on a second end  210 B of the C-shaped portion  210  to attach the C-shaped portion  210  to the attachment portion  250  (and thereby the pole handle  132 ). The corresponding aperture  216  can be an unthreaded cylindrical protrusion. The apertured base  254  may include an aperture  254 A that may be encompassed by a pair of pliable ends  258 A. The tightening fastener  256  may be received by a corresponding receiving hole  258 B disposed on the pair of pliable ends  258 A to tighten and loosen the apertured attachment device  251  around the pole handle  132 . More specifically, the tightening fastener  256  may be a tightening screw  256 A that may be screwed to pull the pair of pliable ends  258 A together to tighten the aperture  254 A around the pole handle. Notably, the arm holder  220  may accommodate a left hand orientation or right hand orientation by simply flipping the arm grip  205  to the other side. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up perspective view of the attachment portion  250 . As shown, the attachment portion  250  includes the protruding portion  252  and a stop  230 . The protruding portion  252  is preferably smooth and without threads and has a distal end  252 A with a substantially flat surface. The protruding portion  252  protrudes from a lateral surface of the apertured base  254  at about the center of the lateral surface. The stop  230  may be disposed adjacent to the protruding portion  252 , preferably near a corner of the lateral surface and under the protruding portion  252 , as shown. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the attachment portion  250  attached to the arm grip  205 . As shown, the second end  210 B includes a pair of apertures (holes)  216 , either of which can accommodate insertion of the protruding portion  252 . Although two (2) apertures  116  are shown, it is to be understood that the number of apertures could be more than two (2), or that there could only be a single aperture  116 . In operation, the user will select one of the apertures  116  for insertion of the protruding portion  252  into depending on such factors as arm size and comfort. As depicted, the right-most aperture  116  was selected allowing the arm grip  205  to be disposed more outwardly from the pole handle than had the left-most aperture  116  instead been chosen. To ensure that the arm grip  205  does not slip off, the distal end of the protruding portion  252  extends slightly (e.g., 10 mm.) through the aperture  116 . The attachment of the arm grip  205  to the attachment portion  250  described herein allows rotational movement of the arm grip  205 . The purpose of the stop  230  is to keep the arm grip  205  level and prevent downward rotation when the arm holder  220  is being used. 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.