Abstract:
An ergonomic handle for use with a hand tool, such as a pair of scissors or the like, is disclosed which includes first and second opposing lever members coupled together at a pivot point to permit reciprocating movement of the lever members between a closed position and an open position. The lever members may include a cutting blade or other tool feature on a first end adjacent the pivot point, and a handle on a second end adjacent the pivot point opposite the first end. The fixed handle has a loop portion which includes an inner surface and an outer surface along one side of which abuts a corresponding outer surface of the opposing lever member while in the closed position. Each loop portion is made from a rigid material segment and a resilient material segment, with the rigid material segment having a cavity open at the outer loop surface and the resilient material segment extending across the cavity at the inner loop surface.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to an ergonomic handle for tools, more specifically, to an ergonomic handle for tools having a scissoring action, such as, for example, scissors. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Scissors are commonly configured to include two pivotably interconnected lever members having a handle and a cutting blade on opposite sides of the pivot point. The two opposing cutting blades are typically comprised of a cleanly-sharpened cutting edge of stainless steel or other hard metal, which culminate in a point and frictionally overlap as they are brought together. The handle on each lever member is typically comprised of a closed or open loop with one loop being sized for a user&#39;s thumb and the other for a user&#39;s first finger or two. The loops are generally made of a rigid material, either a plastic or the same metal material of the blades. 
   In use, the fingers and thumb of a user are placed into the handle loops with the remaining fingers coming to rest on the outer surface of the handle loops. A repeated opening and closing motion creates a cutting effect at the overlapping blades. This repeated motion, if prolonged, can tire the user&#39;s hand muscle and irritate the contacting skin on the user&#39;s fingers within and around the handle loops. 
   Some prior art devices have attempted to alleviate some discomfort by providing a resilient material applied to the outer surface of both handle loops. The resilient material cushions somewhat the impact on the user&#39;s fingers. However, those skilled in the art have failed to address cushioning of other key areas of the scissor handles. 
   Thus, there is a need, generally, for an ergonomic handle that provides a user with sufficient cushioning and minimizes discomfort and fatigue during prolonged use of a particular tool. Specifically, a need exists for an ergonomic handle for scissors which provide comfort to the user&#39;s fingers during use. 
   SUMMARY 
   There is disclosed generally herein, an improved ergonomic tool handle which includes improved features for providing a user with cushioned finger loops to minimize development of fatigue during prolonged use. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to specifically provide scissors comprising first and second opposing lever members coupled together at a pivot point to permit reciprocating movement of the lever members between a closed position and an open position. The lever members comprise a cutting blade on a first end adjacent the pivot point, and a handle on a second end adjacent the pivot point opposite the first end, and including a fixed loop portion having an inner loop surface and an outer loop surface which abuts along a length a corresponding length of the outer loop surface of the opposing lever member while in the closed position. Each loop portion includes a rigid segment and a resilient segment, the rigid segment defining a loop having a cavity open at the outer loop surface, the resilient segment extending across the cavity at the inner loop surface. 
   It is a further object wherein the resilient segment is configured to deflect upon application of a force. The resilient segment is preferably formed of a resilient material and shaped to extend into the loop portion of each lever. 
   An illustrative embodiment of the present invention relates to a handle for a tool having opposing members operated in a scissoring action, the handle comprising a first lever member pivotally coupled to a second lever member at a pivot point to permit the first lever member to reciprocate between a first position and a second position relative to the second lever member. A handle portion is attached to at least one of the first and second lever members at an end adjacent the pivot point, and includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The handle portion includes a rigid material segment and a resilient material segment, the rigid material segment defining a cavity positioned within the outer loop surface open at the outer loop surface, the resilient material segment extending across the cavity along at least one of either the inner loop surface and the outer loop surface. 
   A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of the present scissors in an open position; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , shown in a closed position; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged side view of the handle loop portion of one lever of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective of the handle loop portion shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross section of the handle loop of both levers shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged cut-away of the underside of one embodiment of the pivot point used to connect the two levers; and 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged cut-away of the topside of the pivot point shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiment illustrated. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , there is depicted a scissor, generally depicted by the number  10  throughout this application. Likewise, each reference number used herein will refer consistently to a single component throughout this application, as well as in all relevant drawing figures. While the present invention is almost exclusively shown and described in terms of scissors  10 , it will be appreciated that the unique handles of this application may be applied to most any hand tool which benefits from the scissor-like mechanics and finger-loop handle of the present invention. 
   Scissors  10  include a first lever  12  and a second lever  14  interconnected through an aperture in each lever by a pin or some other suitable means at pivot point  16 . Each lever  12 ,  14  is preferably divided at the pivot point  16  into two distinct portions. 
   The first portion is a cutting blade  20 . Blade  20  is typically comprised of a length of tool-cut material, preferably a stainless steel, though many other suitable metals and non-metals are known to those skilled in the art, having a sharpened front edge  22  opposite a blunted back edge  24 . The blade  20  may culminate in a pointed end or tip  26 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or it may be rounded, squared-off, etc. (not shown). Additionally, the sharpened front edge  22  may take the form of a smooth cutting surface ( FIG. 1 ) or it may be configured with a serrated, scalloped, or any other possible cutting edge (not shown) known by those skilled in the art. 
   When interconnected, first and second levers  12 ,  14  form an X in an open position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The sharpened front edge  22  of each lever  12 ,  14  is in a facing relationship with one another such that as the edge  22  of each lever  12 ,  14  is brought together, they meet first at a point most proximate the pivot point  16  and progressively overlap a distance until the tip  26  of each lever  12 ,  14  overlap. 
   The cutting blade  20  may be designed to cut paper of various thicknesses, metal or wire of various gauge, plant stalks, branches and limbs of various sizes, or any other material for which it is desirable to cut. Modification of the presently disclosed cutting blade to achieve such results, usually by changing the blade thickness, cutting edge, blade length, etc., would be well within the skill of those in the art. 
   Further, the cutting blade  20  may be substituted for by other tool components. For example, though not shown, clamping surfaces may be used to grasp, clamp, or otherwise manipulate materials. Alternatively, the tool ends may be used to crimp, ply, stamp, hold, twist, scoop, mold, etc., a material needing of such manipulation. 
   Regarding the handle  30  of each lever  12 ,  14 ,  FIGS. 3-6  most readily illustrate the key features of this component. 
   Each handle  30  extends from the pivot point  16  to form a tang  32 . The tang  32  is most preferably integral to the cutting blade  20 , and is most easily formed of the same material. The tang  32  extends a distance from the pivot point  16  which is most suitable for the attachment of loop portion  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Preferably, the loop portion  34  is a separately molded component having an inner loop surface  40 , an outer loop surface  42 , and body  44 . The loop portion  34  is preferably sized to account for the positioning of a user&#39;s fingers—i.e., where greater power is required to make cuts, such as for cutting thick paper, metal and the like, user fingers are typically placed further into the loops—and may be of most any desired shape. The two individual loops may be of the same or different sizes and shapes as well. 
   The loop portion  34  is preferably produced by injection molding a rigid material directly to the tang  32  and then overlaying a resilient material along the inner loop surfaces  40  and at key areas of the body  44 . Suitable rigid material includes polypropylene, glass-filled polypropylene, nylon, ABS. Additionally, suitable resilient material includes thermoplastic rubber (TPR), such as SANTOPRENE™, and many other elastomeric materials. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the cross-section of the two handles  30  are shown. The rigid material segment  50  preferably forms a complete loop as well as a substantial portion of the body  44  surrounding a portion of the tang  32 . However, the section of the loop portion  34  which forms the inner edge comprises an obround cavity or hollow  52  defined by wall  54  ( FIG. 4 ). 
   The hollow  52  is formed using a slider positioned within the loop portion mold during the molding process. Essentially, the slider has a size dimension and a shape dimension which exactly conforms to that of the desired cavity or hollow, and its use allows formation of a surface without which such a surface would not be possible. When positioned, the slider prevents the injection molded material from forming in a specific area of the loop portion mold. Upon completion of the material injection and curing of the rigid material, the slider is removed. This process is well-known and understood by those skilled in the art of injection molding. 
   The rigid material segment  50  may also comprise a stop  55 . The stop  55  is also positioned on the inner edge of the loop portion  34 . Collectively, the stops  55  help prevent pinching the user&#39;s skin by stopping the handles  30  at a distance apart to form a gap  56 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . They are also effective in preventing overextension of the levers  12 ,  14  when moving to a closed position. 
   Once the rigid material segment  50  is formed onto the tang  32  of the handle, the resilient material segment  60  can be formed. Again, this segment  60  is overmolded to the rigid material segment  50  along the inner loop surface  40  and at the finger rest area  66  of the body  44 . The resilient material segment  60  comprises a raised area  62  which, because it extends across the hollow  52  of the rigid material segment  50 , is significantly unsupported. 
   The raised area  62  is formed in much the same way as the hollow  52 . A slider with the desired size and shape dimensions is positioned during the injection of the resilient material. Upon curing, the slider is removed and the raised area  62  remains. Obviously, the raised area  62  can be configured to most any size and shape which adequately covers hollow  52  along the inner loop surface  40 . The hollow  52  remains open to the opposite surface, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   The combination of the hollow  52  and the unsupported raised area  62  provides a spring action to the scissors during use. The thickness of the resilient material used may be varied to achieve the desired combination of cushioning, comfort, and spring. The raised area  62  for each handle  30  may be identical or different, preferably depending on the loop handle configuration itself. 
   In addition to the inner loop surface  40  having resilient material, the finger rest area  66  of the body  44  may include resilient material as well. This may be added during the same molding process as the overmolding of resilient material segment  60  to the inner loop surface, or it may be done by a completely separate step. If done simultaneously, the resilient material may be either injected through a different gate for the target area, or a channel  70  in the surface of the rigid material segment  50 , as shown best in  FIG. 3 , may be used to allow the resilient material to flow from the inner loop surface  40  to the target finger rest area  66 . Alternatively, a sub-surface tunnel (not shown) could be used through the rigid material segment  50  to give the appearance of separate components by hiding the flow path internally. The addition of a tunnel or channel to the rigid material segment  50  would require a second slider during the molding process. 
   The handle  30  may also comprise a finger grip  77 . The finger grip  77  is positioned near the inner edge of the loop portion  34  of handle  30  of either lever  12  or  14 . The finger grip  77  may be formed of resilient material, including TPR. The finger grip  77  may further be joined to the resilient segment through such means as a channel through the rigid material segment  50  or a bore through the rigid material segment  50 , as is well-known and understood by those skilled in the art of injection molding. 
   Finally, a ring  76  of material, rigid or resilient, may be molded around the pivot point of the two levers, as shown in  FIG. 8 . While the illustrated embodiment demonstrate the use of a slot  72  and tab  74  ( FIG. 1 ) to provide the pivot point  16 , any known connecting method which allows the two levers  12 ,  14  to pivot relative to one another would be suitable. A non-removable cap (not shown) made from a material similar to that of the ring  76  may also be utilized to prevent dust, debris and the like from interfering with the pivot mechanism. 
   From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided an improved handle for hand tools, such as scissors  10 , which greatly facilitate prolonged, as well as short-term use. While the preferred embodiments described herein incorporate the handle loops in combination with a pair of scissors  10 , it should be understood that the handle may be separately and independently incorporated into other embodiments of a hand tool, such as, e.g., pruning shears, pliers, wire cutters, tin snips, crimpers, tongs, and other such tools of similar design. 
   The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.