GB2411144A

GB2411144A - Hand tool aid

Info

Publication number: GB2411144A
Application number: GB0503442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Sean Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-18
Filing date: 2005-02-18
Publication date: 2005-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-18
Also published as: GB2411144B; GB0503442D0; HK1080032A1

Abstract

A hand tool aid comprises a resilient member 2, means 7 to attach said member to a hand tool 1 and means 3,6,8 to attach said member to the lower arm or wrist of a user of said hand tool. A method of using the hand tool aid is also provided. Preferably, the resilient member 2 can exert a force between the user's wrist or lower arm and the tool 1 to aid use of the tool and reduce fatigue. The hand tool is preferably a hammer. The resilient member 2 may be a spring (as shown) or a length of elastic cord.

Description

241 1 144 Hand tool Aid The present invention relates to a hand tool aid,

and to a method of using a hand tool using such an aid.

Use of hand tools, especially hammers can be tiring and lead to pain in the arm of the person using the hammer, especially if they must use it for long periods of time, for example, as part of their job. Also, hammering can be a difficult and tiring pursuit for the elderly and disabled.

When using a hammer, the user employs their biceps and triceps to flex their arm in different directions, these muscles can tire rapidly.

There present invention seeks to address these issues According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand tool aid comprising a resilient member, means to attach said member to a hand tool and means to attach said member to the lower arm or wrist of a user of said hand tool.

The aid is preferably adapted to be arranged such that when in use with a hand tool the resilient member can exert a force between a user's wrist or lower arm and the tool to aid use of the tool, and reduce stress of using the tool on the user.

A hand tool to be used with the aid preferably comprises a handle, to which the resilient member may be attached in use. The aid is particularly intended for use with a hammer comprising a head and a handle.

Preferably said means to attach said resilient member to the lower arm or wrist of a user comprises a band that may be worn upon the lower arm or wrist of the user.

The resilient member is preferably elongate and flexible. In one embodiment the resilient member is a spring. In another embodiment the resilient member is a length of elastic cord.

Preferably the handle of a hand tool with which the aid is to be used defines at least one aperture through which at least one finger or thumb of a user may pass, to aid gripping of the handle.

Preferably said handle incorporates resilient padding. Preferably said padding is of a rubber material, such as neoprene.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand tool aid according to the first aspect of the invention, the resilient member of which is connected to the handle of a hand tool.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of use, by a user, of a hand tool incorporating a handle and a head comprising the steps of: providing a hand tool aid comprising a resilient member, means to attach said member to a hand tool and means to attach said member to the lower arm or wrist of a user of said hand tool; attaching the resilient member to a lower arm or wrist of the user; attaching the resilient member to the handle of the hand tool; grasping the handle of the hand tool; and moving the hand tool such that contraction of said resilient member aids movement of the tool in a desired manner.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. I illustrates a person holding a hammer made according to the present invention; Fig.2 illustrates the components of the present invention; Fig.3 illustrates the resilient member and wrist band of the present invention; Fig.4 illustrates the resilient member and wrist band of Figure 3 attached to the handle of a hammer in accordance with the present invention; Fig.S illustrates a person holding a hammer made according to the present invention; and Fig. 6 illustrates the mechanism of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, there is shown a hammer handle 1 connected by a spring 2, to a wrist band 3. In the present embodiment, the wrist band is made of an elasticised rubber material, however it will be obvious that it may be made of any other suitable material.

Spring 2 is connected to the hammer handle below a gripping area 5 of the handle, and on the opposite side of the handle to the working end of the hammer head C. One end of spring 2 is connected to handle 1 by means of spring ring 7 which passes through handle ring 9. The other end of spring 2 is attached to the wrist band by means of spring ring 6, which passes through wrist band ring 8. The spring rings 6 and 7 are key-ring type rings, which allow for the spring to be attached or detached to or from the hammer and/or the wrist band.

Hammer handle 1 comprises a finger cage of four finger holes 4 through which, in use, the fingers of a user pass. The finger cage locks and supports the fingers, allowing the user to reduce their grip on the hammer handle and thereby reduce the tightness and tension in the hand used to obtain a grip on the handle. It also limits the chance of the hammer falling out of the hand of the user.

A grip area 5 made of neoprene is provided on the hammer handle. The neoprene grip area is for the palm of the user to grip while using the hammer and absorbs shock from impact of the hammer head.

Figure 2 shows the components of the invention detached from each other.

Figure 3 shows the spring and wrist band alone.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus according to the present invention in use. Wrist band 3 is situated around the user's wrist A and attached to spring 2 by spring ring 6. Spring ring 7 connects the other end of spring 2 to hammer ring 9, which is situated near the base of the hammer handle. Fingers B pass through finger holes 4 of the finger cage. Fingers B grip the hammer handle 1 towards the palm D, thereby pressing neoprene grip area 5 against the palm.

As the user lifts their arm and rotates their wrist A upwards along angulation 2, spring 5 extends simultaneously along angulation 3, whilst the head end of the hammer moves backwards along angulation 1. As the user strikes with the hammer and moves their arm down, wrist A rotates downwards along angulation 2, spring 2 contracts along angulation 3 and enhances the speed and power of the hammer strike as the business end of the hammer moves forwards along angulation 1 by forcing the user's hand down.

Use of an aid in accordance with the present invention together with the illustrated hammer, which also forms part of the invention, compared to a conventional hammer reduces the strain on the arms biceps, triceps and tendons of the user and thereby allows the user to endure hammering for longer periods of time without experiencing pain. Also, the reduction in the energy required to hammer allows users to enhance the speed and power of hammer impacts with less physical movement of their arms.

The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims: 1. A hand tool aid comprising a resilient member, means to attach

said member to a hand tool and means to attach said member to the lower arm or wrist of a user of said hand tool.
2. The hand tool aid of Claim I arranged such that when in use with a hand tool the resilient member can exert a force between a user's wrist or lower arm and the tool to aid use of the tool.
3. The hand tool aid of Claim 1 or 2 wherein the aid comprises a handle to which the resilient member may be attached in use.
4. The hand tool aid of any preceding Claim wherein the hand tool is a hammer comprising a head and a handle.
5. The hand tool aid of any preceding Claim wherein the means to attach said resilient member to the lower arm or wrist of a user comprises a band that may be worn upon the lower arm or wrist of the user.
6. The hand tool aid of any preceding Claim wherein the resilient member is elongate and flexible.
7. The hand tool aid of any preceding Claim wherein the resilient member is a spring.
8. The hand tool aid of any preceding Claim wherein the resilient member is a length of elastic cord.
9. The hand tool aid of any of preceding Claim wherein the hand tool comprises a handle and said handle defines at least one aperture through which at least one finger or thumb of a user may pass, to aid gripping of the handle.
10. The hand tool aid of any of preceding Claim wherein the hand tool comprises a handle and said handle incorporates resilient padding.
11. The hand tool aid of any preceding Claim wherein said padding is of a rubber material, such as neoprene.
12. A method of use, by a user, of a hand tool incorporating a handle and a head comprising the steps of: providing a hand tool aid comprising a resilient member, means to attach said member to a hand tool and means to attach said member to the lower arm or wrist of a user of said hand tool; l O attaching the resilient member to a lower arm or wrist of the user; attaching the resilient member to the handle of the hand tool; grasping the handle of the hand tool; and moving the hand tool such that contraction of said resilient member aids movement of the tool in a desired manner.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said hand tool is a hammer.
14. A hand tool substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.