Patent Publication Number: US-2018043568-A1

Title: Tool handle push stick

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a safety device for use with power tools, and specifically to a tool handle which can be utilized as a push stick to engage and advance materials through a woodworking table saw. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     When operating woodworking equipment, such as circular table saws, band saws, routers, jointers and similar stationary power tools, users must exercise caution so that they do not cause injury to any part of their body. A variety of safety devices may be employed for such purpose, including safety glasses, face shields, hearing protection and gloves. In particular, they must be careful not to injure their fingers or hands while advancing woodworking materials through the equipment. 
     Typically, a push stick is used to advance woodworking equipment through stationary power tools, such as a table saw. A push stick includes a handle that allows the user to guide the material past the saw blade while providing adequate distance between the cutting element and the user&#39;s hand, so as to prevent injury. Disadvantageously, push sticks are small and may be easily misplaced, and thus may not always be readily available when a user needs one. 
     There are several push stick designs available, however such devices may also be prone to being misplaced. Examples of single use push stick designs are U.S. Pat. No. Des. 278,022 (Ash), U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,521 (Wirth et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,740 (Werkheiser) and Des. 337,707 (McCord). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a tool handle comprising an elongate handle sized to be grasped by a user extending between its first and second ends along an axis, where the first end may be adapted to be engaged with and retain a tool therein, and the second end includes a notch in an end surface thereof adapted to engage upon a corner of a board. 
     The tool handle may include an insert secured to a handle base having the second end therein. The insert may be formed of wood. The handle may be formed of wood. 
     The notch may be formed of first and second notch surfaces, and the first and second notch surfaces form a notch angle therebetween. The notch angle may be 90 degrees. The first surface of the notch may be angled relative to the axis by an angle greater than the second surface of the notch. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a hand tool comprising an elongate handle sized to be grasped by a user extending between first and second ends, a tool head secured to the first end, wherein the second end includes a notch in an end surface thereof adapted to engage upon a corner of a board. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a tool with a push stick end engaged with a workpiece. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the notch of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side exploded view of the tool of  FIG. 1  with a replaceable notch end according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a tool for securely engaging and advancing a workpiece  8  through a cutting tool such as, by way of non-limiting example a table saw, according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at  10 . The tool  10  has an elongated handle  12  extending from a first end  14  to a second end  16  along a longitudinal axis  100  extending the length of the handle  12 . The handle is sized and shaped to be grasped by a user, as is commonly known. A hammer head  20  may be attached to the first end  14  of the handle  12  by any known means in the art. Although a traditional curved claw hammer head is illustrated, it may be appreciated that other forms of hammer heads or other tool types may be useful, as well. The handle  12  may be made of any suitable material as are commonly known, such as, by way of non-limiting example, wood, plastic or composite materials, as is common in the art. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , a notch  22  is formed into the second end  16  of the handle  12 . The notch has first and second surfaces  24  and  26 , respectively. The notch surfaces  24  and  26  form a notch angle  28  therebetween. The notch angle  28  is selected to be useful in engagement upon a workpiece such as, by way of non-limiting example, 90 degrees such that the notch  22  may engage with the end of a workpiece  8  as shown in  FIG. 1 , although it will be appreciated that other angles may be useful as well. The first notch surface  24  is formed at an angle  29  from the tool axis  100 , and may be optionally less than 45 degrees such that when engaged with a workpiece  8  the first end  14  of the tool  10  will be at a greater elevation than the second end  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     In operation, a user may position the notch  22  around the edge of a workpiece  8  for advancing such workpiece past a table saw  6 . Thereafter, continued movement in a direction generally indicated at  102  will complete the path of the workpiece past the table saw while keeping the user&#39;s hands and fingers at a safe distance. It will be appreciated that as the tool  10  is also useful as a hammer, a user will most commonly have such tool with them thereby reducing the risk of loss of the tool. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , an alternate embodiment of the invention, with a detachable insert  30  is illustrated. The insert  30  extends from an insert connection  32  to the second end  16 , as previously defined. The insert  30  has a top surface  34  at the insert connection with a protruding tenon  36  extending therefrom, formed in a size and shape as is commonly known. A cavity mortise  38  is formed in the handle  12  and is sized and shaped to receive the tenon  36 . The tenon  36  and mortise  38  may be temporarily secured together by any known means, such as, by way of non-limiting example, screws through the handle  12  and the tenon  36 . By utilizing a detachable insert  30 , the insert  30  may be replaced when damaged, rather than replacing the entire tool. The insert  30  may be made of wood, while the handle  12  may be made of another suitable material such as, by way of non-limiting example, fibreglass or the like. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.