Patent Publication Number: US-9889550-B1

Title: Step down handle for a hand tool

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This utility application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/619,505 filed Apr. 3, 2012 by Simon McNeny, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to hand tools. Specifically, and not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a handle attachment for a hand tool. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The use of hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, and brooms are quite popular in and around the home and other living and work areas. In the example of a shovel, the shovel includes a blade end typically constructed of a heavy duty steel attached to an elongated wooden or plastic member. On the opposite side of the elongated member is a D-shaped handle. A user normally grasps the D-shaped handle with one hand and a portion of the elongated member with the other hand. However, the configuration of the handle and elongated member provides a very awkward and uncomfortable grip for the user. The user usually holds the elongated member with the user&#39;s wrist extended. This provides a very unnatural grip on the elongated member and can result in damage to the wrist and hand when using repetitively over a long period of time. 
     In addition to the uncomfortable grip necessary to hold and use the hand tool, a user must bend his back or stoop when positioning the hand tool end at a position below the user. With use of the hand tool for a period of time, it is quite common for a user&#39;s back to be strained or injured. 
     It would be advantageous to have a handle attachment for use on a hand tool to enable a comfortable grip by the user upon the handle while allowing less strain upon the back of the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is a hand tool having a step down mechanism. The hand tool includes a step down mechanism having a plate with a first end and an opposite second end. The plate also has an upper surface and a lower surface. The step down mechanism has an upper tube located near the first end and projecting from the upper surface and a lower tube located near the second end and projecting from the lower surface. In addition, the hand tool also includes an upper shaft affixed to the upper tube and a lower shaft affixed to the lower tube. The lower shaft has a hand tool implement affixed to an end of the lower shaft. The upper tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold the upper shaft and the lower tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold the lower shaft. In one embodiment, the step down mechanism includes a handle projecting upward from the upper tube. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a step down mechanism for a hand tool. The step down mechanism includes a plate having a first end and an opposite second end. The plate also has an upper surface and a lower surface. Furthermore, the step down mechanism also includes an upper tube located near the first end and projecting from the upper surface and a lower tube located near the second end and projecting from the lower surface. The upper tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold an upper shaft of a hand tool and the lower tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold a lower shaft of a hand tool. The step down mechanism may also include a handle projecting upward from the upper tube. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a hand tool having a handle attachment. The hand tool includes a handle attachment having an elongated tube having two ends and a handle projecting upward from the elongated tube. The hand tool includes an upper shaft affixed to the first end of the elongated tube and a lower shaft affixed to the second end of the elongated tube. The lower shaft has a hand tool implement affixed to an end of the lower shaft. The first end of the elongated tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold the upper shaft and the second end of the elongated tube is sized and shaped to receive and hold the lower shaft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a shovel in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a conventional existing shovel with a unitary shaft cut to show the lower shaft and the upper shaft; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the step down mechanism of  FIG. 1  being positioned between the lower shaft and the upper shaft; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the step down mechanism of  FIG. 1  in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the step down mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the step down mechanism in a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a rake in another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a broom in another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a shovel having an upright handle attachment in another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a rake with the upright handle attachment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a handle attachment for a hand tool.  FIG. 1  is a side view of a shovel  10  in one embodiment of the present invention. The shovel  10  includes a first end  12  having a hand tool implement, such as a shovel blade  14  and a second end  16  having a handle  18 . Unlike conventional shovels having an elongated member running from the first end to the second end, in one embodiment, the present invention includes a step down mechanism  20  located between the first end  12  and the second  16 . The step down mechanism is attached to a lower shaft  22  adjacent the first end  12 . The step down mechanism  20  is also attached to an upper shaft  24  adjacent the second end  16 . The lower shaft  22  and the upper shaft  24  are actually derived from existing hand tools having one elongated unitary member where no step down mechanism is used. However, in the present invention, the traditional unitary shaft or member of the hand tool is divided into the upper shaft  24  and the lower shaft  22  and affixed to the step down mechanism  20 . The step down mechanism  20  laterally displaces or steps down the lower shaft  22  from the upper shaft  24 . Specifically, the lateral displacement is between a lower axis running through the lower shaft and an upper axis running through an upper shaft. The unitary shaft of an existing hand tool may be cut to form the upper and lower shafts. 
     The step down mechanism  20  includes an upper tube  30  attached to a first end  26  and first side  28  of plate  32 . On an opposite end  31  and opposing side  33  of the plate  32  relative to the upper tube  30  is a lower tube  34  (see  FIG. 4 ). As shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper tube projects out 180 degrees in an opposite direction from the lower tube. A handle  36  is affixed outwardly from the upper tube  30  at approximately a 90 degree angle. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a conventional existing shovel  10  with a unitary shaft  40  cut at point A, thereby providing the lower shaft  22  and the upper shaft  24 . The shaft  40  is cut to allow attachment to the step down mechanism  20 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the step down mechanism being positioned between the lower shaft  22  and the upper shaft  24 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the upper shaft  24  and the lower shaft  22  are tubular. The upper tube  30  is sized and shaped to receive the upper shaft  24  within a hollow portion  42  of the upper tube  30 . Likewise, the lower tube is sized and shaped to receive the lower shaft in a hollow portion  44  of the lower tube  34 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the step down mechanism  20  in one embodiment of the present invention. The handle  36  may project from the upper tube  30  at approximately a 90 degree angle relative to the surface of the upper tube  30 . However, the angle of the handle relative to the upper tube may be any angle and still remain in the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the upper tube may be cut at a 60 degree angle and attached to the plate  32 . Furthermore, the lower tube  34  may also include a 60 degree cut on the end affixed to the plate  32 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the plate is thus positioned at a 60 degree angle relative to the projecting upper and lower tubes. However, the plate relative angle may vary from 60 degrees and still remain in the scope of the present invention. The upper tube  30  and lower tube  34  may each have one or more set screw orifices  46  allowing insertion of set screws  47  (see  FIG. 3 ) for holding the lower shaft  22  and upper shaft  24  of the shovel in place within the hollow portions of the upper and lower tubes. The upper and lower tube and the handle may be affixed by any attachment means, such as by welding or using attached joints. In other embodiments, the step down mechanism may be constructed from an injection molding process. The placement of the upper and lower tubes upon the plate may take any form and still remain within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the step down mechanism  20 . The lower tube  34  includes the hollow portion  44  sized and shaped to snugly fit the lower shaft  22  of the hand tool. In a similar manner, the upper tube  30  may include the hollow portion  42  with a size and shape to snugly fit the upper shaft  24  of the hand tool. The upper and lower tubes are preferably tubular in shape, however, may be any shape to accommodate the shape of the lower and upper shafts. The hollow portions  42  and  44  may be approximately 1.375 inches in diameter. The upper and lower tubes may include a wall surface depth of approximate 0.125 inches and constructed of a rigid material such as steel or durable composite or plastic. The upper and lower tubes may have a length of approximately 4 inches. The plate  32  may have a width of approximately 2 inches and a length of approximately 5.33 inches. Additionally, the handle  36  may be tubular in shape and sized and shaped to fit a user&#39;s hand. In one embodiment, the handle may have a diameter of approximately 1 inch and a length of approximately 4 inches. The handle, although depicted as projecting out at a 90 degree angle from the upper tube may project out at any angle and may be positioned anywhere on the step down mechanism  20  and still remain within the scope of the invention. Additionally, although dimensions have been given for the step down mechanism, the size and configuration of the step down mechanism and its components may vary and still remain in the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the step down mechanism  20  in a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the handle  36  includes a contoured grip  50 . The contoured grip is contoured to fit a user&#39;s hand. Additionally, the step down mechanism includes a stability wedge  52  providing stability and strength to the step down mechanism  20 . The stability wedge may be affixed by welding or other attachment means to the step down mechanism. The stability wedge may be a solid rigid structure to support the plate against the upper tube. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the upper and lower tubes each include a 3.5 inch hollow portion. 
     Although a shovel is depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , the present invention may be utilized with other hand tools.  FIG. 7  is a side view of a rake  70  in another embodiment of the present invention. The step down mechanism  20  may be utilized with any type of hand tool having an elongated member. As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the rake  70  includes the lower shaft  22  and the upper shaft  24  attached within the upper and lower tubes of the step down mechanism.  FIG. 8  is a side view of a broom  80  in another embodiment of the present invention. The step down mechanism is shown being used as a broom. The present invention may be used on any hand tool having an elongated shaft. The present invention may also be used on any hand tool of any size and shape. 
     The step down mechanism may be used for existing hand tools. In this embodiment, an existing hand tool, such a shovel, has its shaft  40  cut into at least two sections. The first lower shaft  22  is inserted into the lower tube  34 . A set screw (not shown) is inserted into the set screw orifice  46  and embedded into the lower shaft, thereby affixing the lower shaft to the step down mechanism  20 . Likewise, the upper shaft  24  is inserted in into the hollow portion  42  of the upper tube  30 . A set screw may also be inserted through the set screw orifice  46  and embedded into the upper shaft. The present invention may use other attachment devices to hold the shafts in place. In another embodiment, the hand tool may be constructed with the step down mechanism integrated into the shaft where attachment means may not be necessary. In another embodiment, the step down mechanism may not include the handle and only include the upper and lower tubes providing the step down function without an additional handle. 
     The step down mechanism enables the user to hold the hand tool on the handle  36  while not requiring the user to stoop as low as with a conventional hand tool. The present invention enables the user to comfortably hold the hand tool without extending the user&#39;s wrist. Furthermore, less strain is placed on the user&#39;s lower back by using the step down mechanism. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the present invention may provide an upright handle for the hand tool without the step down feature of the step down mechanism  20 .  FIG. 9  is a side view of a shovel  78  having an upright handle attachment  82  in another embodiment of the present invention. The upright handle attachment  82  is “T” shaped having an elongated tube section  84  and an upright handle  86 . The elongated tube section includes a lower tube  90  and an upper tube  92  on the opposite end. The upper and lower tubes are aligned in the same axis and may each include hollow portions on each end to accommodate the upper shaft  24  and lower shaft  22 . The upright handle may be affixed in a similar manner as the handle  36  with welding or other attachment mechanisms. The handle may be contoured. As depicted in  FIG. 9 , the handle is affixed at a 90 degree angle relative to the elongated tube portion section  84 . However, in other embodiments, the handle may be affixed at an angle. The upper and lower shafts of the hand tool may be affixed within the hollow portions by set screws or other fastening devices. The handle attachment  82  may be incorporated into the handle as a unitary part of the shaft of the hand tool or, in a similar manner as the step down mechanism  20 , may be used with an existing conventional hand tool where the shaft is cut and the upper and lower shafts are inserted within the elongated tube section of the handle attachment  82 . 
     The handle attachment  82  may also be utilized with other hand tools.  FIG. 10  is a side view of a rake  94  with the upright handle attachment  82 . In a similar fashion as the shovel  78  depicted in  FIG. 9 , the upright handle attachment  82  may be used with the rake  94 . 
     The handle attachment  82  may be utilized with any type of hand tool and is not limited to just rakes or shovels. The handle attachment may be used with existing hand tools or incorporated into the design of new hand tools. The present invention provides an upright handle allowing the user to easily use the hand tool while gripping the hand tool in a comfortable manner. 
     While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility. 
     Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof. 
     It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.