Patent Publication Number: US-2019184543-A1

Title: Multi-pronged handle for a hand tool

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to hand tools, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a handle for a hand tool with multiple prongs. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hand tools generally provide a mechanical advantage to assist a user in performing a specific task. Generally, to perform a specific task, a requisite amount of force must be applied to the hand tool. For example, the user may place their hand around a handle of the hand tool, such as a screwdriver, and generate sufficient torque directed around the shaft of the screwdriver to provide enough rotational force to drive a screw into a suitable material. 
     However, many users of hand tools struggle to use hand tools. Some users may develop discomfort handling a hand tool, as the user may place strain on their wrist and fingers to correctly position their hands on the handle of the hand tool. Users with various skeletal and joint disorders or diseases, such as arthritis, may especially develop discomfort when using hand tools. Other users, such as those with insufficient finger and hand strength, for example, may struggle to generate enough torque to provide the sufficient force required to perform a task, such as to drive a screw into a material. Because of this, many users may be unable to properly use the hand tools to perform specific tasks. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a handle for a hand tool. The handle may include at least four prongs that extend outwardly from a central point. An arcuate surface may be disposed between each of the at least four prongs. A connection member may extend outwardly from a central point perpendicularly in relation to the at least four prongs. 
     Each of the prongs may include fillet edges. Each prong may include an equal length. Each of the prongs may include the same angle in relation to each adjacent prong. The connection member may include a threaded outer surface to threadingly engage with the hand tool. The connection member may include a magnetic element within the connection member, where the magnetic element may magnetically engage to a magnetic component disposed within the hand tool. The hand tool may include a locking element to lock the connection member to the hand tool. The handle may include a substantially flat top surface. 
     The handle may include four prongs that extend outwardly at about a 90 degree angle in relation to each adjacent prong. The handle may include five prongs that extend outwardly at about a 72 degree angle in relation to each adjacent prong. Each arcuate surface may include a pair of protrusions extending from each of the arcuate surfaces wherein each pair of protrusions form a second arcuate surface between the pair of protrusions. 
     The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a handle for a hand tool, where the handle includes at least four prongs extending outwardly from a central point. Each of the at least four prongs may include an arcuate surface between each of the at least four prongs. The handle may include a pair of protrusions extending from each of the arcuate surfaces, where each pair of protrusions form a second arcuate surface between the pair of protrusions. A connection member may extend outwardly from the central point perpendicularly to the at least four prongs. 
     Each of the at least four prongs may include at least one fillet edge. The connection member may be configured to frictionally engage with a space formed within the hand tool. The connection member may include a metallic element within the connection member, where the metallic element may magnetically engage with a magnetic component within the hand tool. The handle may include five prongs that extend at a 72 degree angle in relation to each adjacent prong. The at least four prongs may include a width that decreases as each prong extends outwardly from the center of the handle. Each of the prongs may include an equal length. The handle may include one of a thermoplastic, polyactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), and high impact polystyrene (HIPS). The hand tool may include a ratcheting screwdriver. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustration of a handle in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustration of a handle and a hand tool in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view illustration of a handle in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustration of a handle in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustration of a hand tool and a handle in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a handle. The handle may be engaged to a hand tool, which may include, but is not limited to, a screwdriver, ratcheting screwdriver, or wrench. The handle comprises at least four prongs extending outwardly from a central point. At least four arcuate surfaces are disposed between each of the prongs. The handle includes a connection member extending outwardly from the central point perpendicularly in relation to the at least four prongs. The connection member may be configured to engage with the hand tool. 
     Each arcuate surface may be configured to receive a finger of a user. The handle may allow an ergonomic fit for the hand of the user placed on the handle, such that at least four fingers of the user&#39;s hand may be placed between the prongs, and received by each of the arcuate surfaces. When the user&#39;s fingers are positioned between the prongs of the handle, the required torque that is needed to provide sufficient force to perform a given task may be reduced. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a handle  100  in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The handle  100  may be configured to be engaged with a hand tool  50 , as discussed further below in  FIG. 2 . 
     The handle  100  includes at least four prongs  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle  100  may include four prongs  10 . In other embodiments, the handle  100  may include five or more prongs  10 . Each prong  10  may extend outwardly from the central point C. Each prong  10  may extend outwardly from the center C in a direction perpendicular to the central axis A 1 . Each prong  10  may comprise a generally rectangular shape. Each prong  10  may include another suitable shape, such as, but not limited to, a substantially cylindrical or curved shape. The length of each prong  10  may be greater than the width of each prong  10 . Each prong  10  may be substantially straight. Each prong  10  may decrease in width as the prong  10  extends outwardly from the center C. 
     The peripheral surfaces of each prong  10  may include a fillet edge. Alternatively, some or a portion of the peripheral surfaces of each prong  10  may be fillet, chamfer, or squared. For example, a first side of each prong  10  may include a fillet edge, while the second side of each prong  10  includes a chamfer edge. In another example, only the peripheral surfaces that may contact the user&#39;s hand may be filleted to provide additional comfort to the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle  100  includes at least four arcuate surfaces  20 . Each arcuate surface  20  is disposed between each of the prongs  10 . Each arcuate surface  20  may include an arcuate, parabolic, or ‘U’ shape that is curved toward the central point C. Each of the user&#39;s fingers may be disposed near or in contact with each of the arcuate surfaces  20 . 
     The palm or hand of the user may be disposed above or in contact with a top surface  12  of the handle  100 . The handle  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, may provide for at least four fingers of the user to be placed on or in contact with each of the arcuate surfaces  20  with greater space between each finger without additional strain on the user&#39;s hand and wrist. 
     The handle  100  may include one or a combination of a thermoplastic, polyactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (PA), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), or another suitable material known in the industry The handle  100  or any portion thereof may be covered with a padded material, flexible rubber, plastic, or another suitable material to provide additional comfort to the user. Each prong  10  may include a length from the al point C ranging from 1 to 3 inches. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustration of a handle  100  engaged to a hand tool  50  in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, handle  100  may be configured to removably engage with a hand tool  50 . Such hand tools  50  may include, but are not limited to, a screwdriver, a ratcheting screwdriver, a wrench, or another suitable hand tool known in the industry. The handle  100  may be disposed at an end of the hand tool  50  opposite the active component  56  of a hand tool  50 . The active component  56  may include the driving bit of a screwdriver, for example. The handle  100  and the hand tool  50  may include a common central axis A 1 . In at least one embodiment, the handle  100  and the hand tool  50  may be affixed to each other to create a unitary hand tool device. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view illustration of a handle  100  in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The handle  100  may include at least four prongs  10 , a top surface  12 , and a connection member  30 . 
     The handle  100  may include a top surface  12  that extends perpendicularly from the central axis A 1 . The top surface  12  and each prong  10  may extend in parallel with axis A 2 . Central axis A 1  may be substantially perpendicular to axis A 2 . As shown, the top surface  12  is substantially flat. In some embodiments, the top surface  12  may be curved to provide a comfortable fit for the hand of the user. A cover material, such as flexible rubber or plastic comprising padding or cushioning may be disposed over the top surface  12  of the handle  100 . 
     The handle  100  may include a connection member  30 . The connection member  30  may be removably engaged to a shaft of a hand tool. The connection member  30  may be disposed centrally on the handle  100 . The connection member  30  may extend outwardly from the handle  100 , extending along central axis A 1 . The connection member  30  may be extend substantially perpendicular to the plurality of prongs  10  and axis A 2 . The connection member  30  may length of 1 to 3 inches, and a width ranging from 1 to 3 inches. The connection member  30  may include a cylindrical shape. The connection member  30  may include a rectangular or another suitable shape. 
     In one embodiment, the connection member  30  is configured to frictionally engage with a hand tool. In an embodiment, the connection member  30  includes a threaded periphery surface  32 . The inner surface of the hand tool  50  may be threaded such that the inner surface of the hand tool  50  is threadingly engaged with the threaded periphery surface  32  of the connection member  30 . In some embodiments, the periphery surface  32  may include, but is not limited to grooves or slots that allow for the periphery surface  32  to threadingly engage with the inner surface of the hand tool  50 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustration of a handle  100  in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The handle may include at least four prongs  10 , at least four arcuate surfaces  20 , a connection member  30 . In some embodiments, the handle  100  may include a pair of protrusions  40 ,  42 . 
     The pair of protrusions  40 ,  42  may extend outwardly from each arcuate surface  20 . Each of the pair of protrusions  40 ,  42  may include a curved surface. The pair of protrusions  40 ,  42 , may combine to form a second arcuate surface  44  between the pair of protrusions  40 ,  42 . The second arcuate surface  44  may include a greater parabolic angle relative to the first arcuate surface  20 . The second arcuate surface  44  may provide a surface configured to receive the finger of the user. The pair of protrusions  40 ,  42  extending from each arcuate surface  20  may include one or more fillet edge. The user with at least four fingers in contact with the second arcuate surface  44  may provide force to one of the pair of protrusions  40 ,  42  to provide torque to perform a specific task. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each prong  10  may extend outwardly from the central point C of the handle  100  along axis P. Each of the prongs  10  may be equiangular to each adjacent prong  10 . The length of each prong  10  may be equal. Each prong  10  may extend along an axis P such that each angle between each prong  10  is represented by the angular distance between a first prong  10  and each adjacent prong  10 . The angular distance between each axis P relative to the central point C may represent the distance between each prong  10 . 
     Each prong  10  may be co-planar on a plane perpendicular with the central axis A 1 . For example, each prong  10  may extend along an axis P comprising about a 72 degree angle relative to each other prong  10 . In another example, each prong  10  may be disposed at about a 90 degree angle relative to one another to substantially resemble a plus-sign shape. For example, one or more of the prongs  10  may be disposed at about a 90 degree angle, i.e. each prong may comprise an angle within ten degrees of 90 degrees. In another embodiment, each of the prongs  10  extend along an axis P comprising varied angles relative to each adjacent angle to resemble the general anatomical position of many user&#39;s fingers. For example, each angle P between each of the prongs  10  may vary between 60 and 120 degrees. 
     Each prong  10  may be substantially straight and comprise a uniform width. In another embodiment, each prong  10  may comprise a variable width. For example, the width of each prong  10  may decrease as each prong  10  extends a greater distance from the central point C. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view illustration of a hand tool  50  and a handle  100  in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, the handle  100  may be configured to engage to an end of the hand tool  50  to comprise a unitary hand tool piece. In another embodiment, the handle  100  may be removably engaged to the hand tool  50 . One of multiple handles  100  comprising components as described herein may be removably engaged to the hand tool  50 . 
     The handle  100  may connect to the hand tool  50  using the connection member  30 . In an embodiment, the connection member  30  is sized to appropriately engage within a space  52  formed in the hand tool  50 , so that the connection member  30  may frictionally engage with the hand tool  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the connection member  30  is hollow. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the connection member  30  may include a magnetic material  34  disposed within the connection member  30 . The magnetic material  34  may include any conventional magnetic material or blend of materials known in the industry. The hand tool  50  may include a magnetic material  54  comprising a known magnetic material with an opposing polarity to the magnetic material  34  of the connection member  30 . The magnetic material  34  of the connection member  30  may be configured to magnetically engage with the magnetic material  54  of the hand tool  50 . 
     In an embodiment, the connection member  30  may comprise a locking mechanism  36 . The locking mechanism  36  may be disposed on the hand tool  50 . The locking mechanism  36  may extend into the connection member  30  to frictionally engage the connection member  30  to prevent the connection member  30  from being removed from the hand tool  50 . In one embodiment, the locking mechanism  36  may include a lock that may slide between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locked position may bias the connection member  30  within the hand tool  50  to prevent the connection member  30  from being removed from the hand tool  50 . 
     In operation, the user may place their hand above the handle  100 . At least four fingers of the user may contact each of the arcuate surfaces  20 . In some embodiments, each of the at least four fingers may be disposed on each of the at least four second arcuate surfaces  44  formed between the pair of protrusions  40 ,  42  disposed on each arcuate surface  20 . When the hand is placed on the handle  100 , the wrist of the user may be substantially straight to avoid discomfort from the wrist of the user bending. The palm of the user may rest above the handle  100  or rest on a top surface  12  of the handle  100 . 
     When the fingers of the user are received by the arcuate surfaces  20  of the handle  100 , the user may provide torque onto the handle  100  directed around the central axis A 1 . The user may turn the handle  100  to perform a task, such as drive a screw into a material. The length of the prongs  10  of the handle  100  may allow for a greater mechanical advantage when rotating the handle  100 , which may allow for greater force applied to the active component  56  of the hand tool  50  with a certain amount of torque provided. This may allow for less overall rotational torque to be applied to the handle  100  to provide sufficient force to perform a task, such as drive a screw into a material. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” or “illustrative” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.