Abstract:
A hand tool with a handle that is configurable for free rotation or adjustable to multiple locking rotation positions. The handle includes a cylindrical bore and a faceted bore, each of which is configured to separately receive a faceted stem on a shaft of the tool. The cylindrical bore permits free rotation of the handle about the shaft. The faceted bore permits selectively adjustable locking rotation of the handle about the shaft.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to handles used primarily with scraping tools in the construction trade. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable swiveling handle for a hand-held manual scraper. 
         [0002]    In certain construction trades involved with the installation of floor covering materials, such as carpet and tile, hand-held manual scraping tools are often used to remove adhered residue from floors as part of a final preparatory step. Heavier scraping tools, especially machine-driven scrapers, are often used to prepare large areas by removing old floor coverings and associated residue. However, it is often necessary to remove lesser amounts of residue, especially from relatively small areas such as in corners and under overhangs, which heavier scraping tools are unable to clear effectively. In addition, removal of residue from less rugged surfaces, such as interior walls, sometimes requires a more controllable, lighter and smaller tool. 
         [0003]    To meet demand for lighter, more controllable scraping tools, various hand-held scrapers have been developed. One type of scraping tool, sometimes called a “T-handled scraper”, utilizes a thin, razor-like blade in a scraping position at the end of a shaft, which is typically about eighteen inches long. The scraping blade itself typically has a cutting edge about three to five inches long. At the other end of the shaft, an oblong handle is fixed to the shaft. The handle is configured to be grasped in the palm of one hand, with the shaft of the scraper passing between the fingers of the hand. With this type of scraper, a user can clean surfaces using a single hand, leaving the other hand free. 
         [0004]    Considerable hand pressure may sometimes be required when using such a tool, which may cause hand or arm fatigue when the tool is used repeatedly. In addition, heavy use of a hand-held scraping tool may cause blisters on a user&#39;s hand, because of relative movement between the hand and the handle of the scraper. To overcome these concerns, prior art scrapers have included a handle that swivels freely around the shaft during use. A handle with such freedom of movement has been found to relieve strain on a user&#39;s arm and wrist, as well as reducing relative movement between the user&#39;s palm and the handle. 
         [0005]    However, a handle with such freedom of movement may in some instances prove a detriment rather than a benefit. In some cases a user may find that a fixed handle may provide better leverage and greater ease of use in certain instances. In addition, there may be times where a fixed handle having an angle of rotation about the shaft different from that of the scraping blade may provide for greater ease of use. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a new type of adjustable, swiveling handle that may at times freely rotate about the shaft of the tool and at other times be adjustable to a plurality of fixed rotational positions. This new type of handle would be less fatiguing to use and less likely to cause blisters during heavy use. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other related advantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a hand tool, preferably a scraper, comprising a tool head, a tool shaft, and a handle. The tool shaft has a first end which is attached to the tool head and a faceted second end to which the handle is attached. 
         [0008]    The handle is selectively and adjustably attached to the second end of the tool shaft by a bore. The bore comprises a cylindrical first section for receiving the second end of the tool shaft in a manner permitting free rotation of the handle relative to the tool shaft. The bore also comprises a coaxial, faceted second section for alternatively receiving the second end of the tool shaft in a manner preventing free rotation of the handle relative to the tool shaft. A lock releasably secures the handle to the second end of the tool shaft. 
         [0009]    The cylindrical first section of the bore defines a first interior shoulder and the faceted second section defines a second interior shoulder in the bore. The second end of the tool shaft defines an exterior shoulder. When the cylindrical first section of the bore receives the second end of the tool shaft, the first interior shoulder engages the exterior shoulder of the second end of the tool shaft. When the faceted second section receives the second end of the tool shaft, the second interior shoulder engages the exterior shoulder. 
         [0010]    The handle may be made from plastic, reinforced plastic, die-cast metal or machined metal. Types of plastic may include nylon or ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) wherein the handle is metal may be made from aluminum coated with a rubberized plastic. 
         [0011]    When the cylindrical first section receives the second end of the tool shaft, the handle freely rotates about the tool shaft in a plane perpendicular to the tool shaft. When the faceted second section receives the multiple facets of the second end of the tool shaft, the handle is adjustably rotatable to multiple locking positions about the shaft in a plane perpendicular to the shaft. The lock includes threads mated to threads in an opening in the shaft or lugs mated to recesses in the opening in the shaft. 
         [0012]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the use of a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a close-up front view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a close-up exploded view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a close-up exploded view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional exploded view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional exploded view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a top view of a hand tool of the present invention illustrating the free rotation feature thereof; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional exploded view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional exploded view of a handle on a hand tool of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a top view of a hand tool of the present invention illustrating the multi-position locking rotation feature thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    As shown in the exemplary drawings, for purposes of illustration, the present invention is directed to a hand tool, generally referred to by reference numeral  20 , with a novel swiveling/adjustable handle. The present invention was specifically designed with the hand tool  20  being a hand-held scraper but may find application in other types of hand tools. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hand tool  20  consists primarily of a tool head  22  attached to one end of a shaft  24  with a handle  26  attached to the other end of the shaft  24 . The tool head  22  includes a thin, razor-like blade  28  with a narrow margin of the blade  28  exposed. The blade  28  is typically a steel, double-edged blade about three to five inches long, such as are commercially available for prior art scraping tools. The tool head  22  is typically a die-cast metal piece, which provides a desirable combination of adequate strength and low cost for holding the blade  28 . In the alternative, the tool head  22  may comprise a molded, high strength plastic or reinforced plastic piece, an assembly of stamped metal pieces, or a machined metal piece. 
         [0028]    The shaft  24  extends from a bushing  30  that is preferably integral with the tool head  22 . The shaft  24  is typically between about six inches and thirty inches long. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shaft  24  is about eighteen inches long. The shaft  24  is preferably made from a piece of metal, such as steel or aluminum, either solid or hollow tubing with a smooth exterior wall. 
         [0029]    As shown more clearly in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the handle  26  is a relatively narrow oblong piece of material that may be easily grasped by a hand. The handle  26  is designed to carry the dynamic load of the tool  20  during use. Suitable materials for the handle  26  include plastic such as nylon, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and like materials, particularly when reinforced. More durable handles  26  may be provided, comprised of die-cast or machined metals, such as aluminum, that are coated with a rubberized plastic for enhanced grip and comfort. 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8  and  10 - 11 , the shaft  24  is mounted perpendicularly and directly into a bore  32  through the center of the handle  26 . The bore  32  through the handle  26  is configured for receiving a stem  34  on the end of the shaft  24 . The stem  34  includes a faceted portion  36  in which the perimeter of the stem  34  is segmented into three or more outwardly oriented faces  38 . The remainder of the stem  34  is preferably smooth and cylindrical as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , but may be faceted as well. 
         [0031]    The bore  32  includes a cylindrical section  40  at one end thereof and a coaxial, faceted section  42  at the other end. The handle  26  may be attached to the stem  34  through either end of the bore  32 . In this way, either the cylindrical section  40  or the faceted section  42  will surround the stem  34  and engage the faceted portion  36  thereof. If the cylindrical section  40  is the portion of the bore  32  that engages the faceted portion  36 , then the handle  26  will freely rotate about the stem  34  as shown by arrow A in  FIG. 9 . The surface of the cylindrical section  40  should be formed or machined smooth so that any contact between the cylindrical section  40  and the faceted portion  36  is essentially frictionless, allowing free rotation of the handle  26  about the stem  34 . 
         [0032]    The faceted section  42  of the bore  32  includes three or more inwardly oriented faces  44 . The number of faces  44  in the faceted section  42  preferably equals the number of faces  38  on the faceted portion  36  or is some multiple thereof, such that matching faces  38 ,  44  can engage and lock the handle  26  at a particular rotational angle with respect to the stem  34  as shown by arrows B in  FIG. 12 . The rotational angle of the handle  26  with respect to the stem  34  may be changed by lifting the handle such that the faces  38  no longer engage the faces  44 . The handle  26  may then be rotated to a different position and lowered back onto the stem  34  such that the faces  38  again engage the faces  44 . 
         [0033]    To switch between a freely rotating configuration or a locked rotation configuration, the handle  26  may be completely removed from the stem  34  and rotated 180° so as to switch between the cylindrical section  40  or the faceted section  42  engaging the stem  34  of the shaft  24 . The interior of the bore  32  may include a narrower central section  46  such that a first interior shoulder  48  is adjacent to the cylindrical section  40  and a second interior shoulder  50  is adjacent to the faceted section  42 . Similarly, the stem  34  may have a relatively narrower section  52  such that an exterior shoulder  54  is defined adjacent to the faceted portion  36 . When the handle  26  is attached to the stem  34 , either the first or second interior shoulders  48 ,  50  would engage the exterior shoulder  54 . The surfaces of these shoulders  48 ,  50 ,  54  are all formed or machined smooth so as to create an essentially frictionless surface. 
         [0034]    A lock or locking pin  56  is removably attached to the stem  34  so as to secure the handle  26  when attached. The lock  56  may be secured to an opening  58  in the end of the stem  34  and may be secured by mating threads  60 , lugs  62  and recesses within the opening  58 , or other commonly known methods of securing. When the locking pin  56  is secured in the opening  58 , the pin  56  will secure the handle  26  against the stem  34 . 
         [0035]    Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.