Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an improved handle, which is equipped on a hand tool, that provides a secure grip and reduces stress on a user&#39;s hand by providing a recessed surface area on a side of the handle for receiving a thumb, and a multi-ridged surface area on a side opposing the recessed surface area, the multi-ridged surface area providing at least two ridges that intercalate between an index finger and a middle finger and between a middle finger and a ring finger.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to the field of handles used with a variety of tools.  
         [0002]     There are a variety of hand tools that aid a person in everyday life whether it is in the kitchen, in the garden, or in the garage. A hand tool typically enables the user to exert a certain force onto the hand tool though the gripping portion, or the handle, to facilitate the function of the hand tool. Often times the function of the hand tool, e.g., turning a screw or cutting a piece of meat, requires that the user repeat a movement with the hand tool. Repetitive use of a hand tool will cause physical strain on the hand of the individual and can often result in some type of injury to the user&#39;s hand. Also, repetitive use can increase the risk of slippage of the hand tool from the user&#39;s hand and run the risk of injury to the user or to another individual. As for users with chronic arthritis or other degenerative diseases that afflict the hand, often times the design of the handle makes gripping painful and use of the tool unbearable.  
         [0003]     There are a number of handles in existence that aid in the grip of a hand tool either by contouring the handle one of a variety of ways, from the basic cylindrical shape to a curved back with opposing side having ridges that intercalate with the user&#39;s fingers. While the varied designs have their benefits, they each have their limitations by either failing to provide a secure grip or by failing to relieve stress, and sometimes pain, on the user&#39;s hand, or both.  
         [0004]     One particular design for a handle for use on a poultry knife is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,256 (Peppel, Alan S., et al.). The handle is disclosed as an ergonomic handle that consists of a lower surface with an index finger engaging surface and an opposing upper surface with a thumb engaging surface. Alternate embodiments are described (see FIGS.  11 A-C) that provide concave thumb engaging surfaces either on one side or the other. While this handle attempts to provide improvements over existing designs, problems still remain. In particular, the underside of the handle only provides a distal abutment for the index finger and fails to secure the remaining fingers. Also, all embodiments engage the fingers on the bottom side, which creates spatial problems as the fingers prevent additional downward movement of the knife because the fingers will inherently come in between the knife and any cutting surface.  
         [0005]     Another design utilizes a moldable material to form the surface of the handle, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,878 (Dellis). In this example the handle needs to be heated and then the handle can be molded to conform to the user&#39;s hand grip. While this handle allows for custom-shaped handles that conform to the user&#39;s grip, a cumbersome heating process is required. This heating process must be repeated if a different user is using the handle. Also, the heating process could result in risk of burning to the user.  
         [0006]     There still remains a need for a handle that provides a user a secure grip and relieves stress on the user&#39;s hand, especially during extensive use of the hand tool on which the handle is located.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention addresses the above-mentioned needs in the art and, more specifically, includes a handle to be used on hand tools that provides a more secure grip for a user while relieving stress on the user&#39;s hand.  
         [0008]     In general, the present invention comprises a contoured handle that includes a plurality of recessed surface areas that can receive at least a finger and a thumb. The plurality of recessed surface areas are situated on the handle so that the recessed surface areas for receiving a finger are located on one side of the handle, while the recessed surface area for receiving a thumb is locate on the opposite side. The recessed surface areas for receiving a finger are separated from one another by a protruding ridge, which assists in securing the position or grip of a user&#39;s fingers. This arrangement allows for the hand of a user to grip the handle in a comfortable manner and provide the user a secure grip that allows for exertion of force with minimal risk of slippage.  
         [0009]     One aspect of the present invention includes a slightly curved handle that accommodates the slight curvature of the palm of a user&#39;s hand.  
         [0010]     These aspects and additional aspects of the present invention will be understood by one of ordinary skill upon reviewing the provided disclosure along with the drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is another side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top planar view of an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a bottom planar view of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     The present invention relates to an improved handle that provides a user a secure grip with reduced stress on the user&#39;s hand. The improved handle is useful with an assortment of hand-operated tools whether the tools are for the kitchen, garden or general handy work. Hand-operated tools include the following non-limiting examples: a spatula, mixer, ice cream scoop, spade, scraper, culinary knife, pizza cutter, and paint brush.  
         [0016]     The improved handle provides specific recessed surface areas for positioning a user&#39;s thumb and at least one of the user&#39;s fingers for securely gripping the improved handle. In general, these specific areas result in the user&#39;s thumb being essentially opposed on the opposite side of the improved handle by at least one of the user&#39;s fingers. This opposed arrangement provides for a firm grip as the user&#39;s thumb and at least one finger firmly squeeze the improved handle against one another. The recessed surface area for receiving a thumb is shaped to receive a thumb as the thumb is aligned parallel to the long axis of the improved handle. Whereas, the recessed surface area for receiving fingers are shaped to receive fingers as they are positioned nearly perpendicular to the long axis of the improved handle and the length of the thumb, when the thumb is engaged on the improved handle. This alignment of thumb and fingers allows for a comfortable grip as the thumb is perpendicular to the fingers as when a fist is formed with the thumb pointing upward, as typically seen in a “thumbs up” signal using one&#39;s hand.  
         [0017]     The improved handle also provides at least one protruding ridge that separates adjacent recessed surface areas for receiving fingers and allows the user to grip the improved handle more securely as the ridge provides an abutment that prevents slippage of gripping fingers. The protruding ridge also adds comfort to the grip. In particular, when significantly raised, the protruding ridge wedges between at least a pair of adjacent fingers preventing fingers from bunching together and rubbing against one another during ongoing use of a hand tool equipped with the improved handle.  
         [0018]     The improved handle is generally cylindrical in shape, allowing a user to grip the improved handle in a natural manner such as when making a fist. Preferably, the radius of the cylindrical shape is large enough to allow for a comfortable and secure grip without being too large so that gripping the improved handle would be cumbersome. The improved handle has a slightly curved shape along the length of the handle so that the curved shape compliments the curved nature of a user&#39;s palm. A top side view of the improved handle shows the convex nature of the curved shape. This complimentary curvature allows for the improved handle to comfortably fit within the palm of a user. Also, the curvature provides additional support towards keeping the fingers from slipping along the length of the improved handle as the user squeezes user&#39;s grip around the improved handle.  
         [0019]     Furthermore, the contour of the improved handle relieves stress from the user&#39;s hand, especially as the user undergoes prolonged use of the hand tool equipped with the improved handle. Again, the curved shape of the improved handle provides comfort as the hand is allowed to adopt its naturally curvature. Also, the recessed surface areas for the thumb and fingers allows the user to squeeze the improved handle optimally as the thumb opposes the fingers on opposite sides of the improved handle, thereby requiring less force to securely grip the improved handle. The positioning of thumb and fingers along the sides of the improved handle also allows the user to move the improved handle up and down in a chopping motion, e.g., when wielding a knife, with the user&#39;s palm facing down. This movement is more natural and creates less stress on the wrist. This positioning of the user&#39;s hand also allows for a user to force the improved handle, and the hand tool to which it is attached, against a flat surface area without smashing the user&#39;s fingers. This aspect provides much comfort to the user during operations that include chopping or cutting objects on a flat surface, e.g., cutting food items on a cutting board.  
         [0020]     In certain hand tools, the improved handle will require side to side motion or tilting in order to operate the hand tool. In such hand tools, the improved handle still provides the secure grip as discussed above, but the improved handle also enables the user to effectively apply force to either side of the improved handle as both the thumb and at least one of the fingers are positioned on the sides of the improved handle. In this position, the thumb and the at least one finger can easily apply force to opposing sides of the improved handle to cause the hand tool, to which the improved handle is attached, to move and function as intended.  
         [0021]     An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 .  FIGS. 1-2  are opposite side views of a handle  1  having a generally cylindrical shape with a slightly curved length.  FIG. 1  also shows a pair of recessed surface areas for receiving a finger  10 , which are separated and defined by a series of protruding ridges  11 . On the opposite side from the surfaces areas for receiving a finger  10  is a recessed surface area for receiving a thumb  20 . Both the recessed surface areas are situated towards the distal end of the improved handle  1 , which is the end that has the functional element of the hand tool attached to it, such as the knife depicted in the figures. The recessed surface area for receiving a thumb  20  is situated at nearly the same position as the recessed surface area for receiving a finger  10  along the length of the improved handle  1 . This allows a user to ideally grip the improved handle  1 , as the force of the thumb will be directly opposed by the force of the finger as they squeeze the improved handle.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of a horizontal cross section along the length of the handle, while  FIG. 4  shows the bottom view. Both figures show the side contours that include the recessed surface areas for receiving a finger  10  along with the series of protruding ridges  11  on one side and a recessed surface area for receiving a thumb  20 .