Abstract: An in-line tool (20) is provided with a jacket (50) which includes a flexible substrate material (53) having a plurality of ribs (51--51) adhered thereto. The jacket is such that when it is wrapped about a barrel (41) of the tool, the ribs extend longitudinally along the tool barrel. The substrate material between adjacent ribs may be cut to provide a jacket which is tailored to the barrel of a particular size tool. Strips (55, 56 and 59) of material having relatively flexible hooking and looping elements projecting therefrom are attached to the jacket and to the barrel. When the jacket is wrapped about the barrel, the hooking and looping elements interlock to secure the jacket to the barrel. Tabs (54--54) extend laterally of the barrel from an end of each of a predetermined number of ribs adjacent to a working portion (40) of the tool. A user grasps the tool in a manner to cause the ulnar side (48) of the gripping hand (43) to engage the tabs.

Abstract: A work surface is supported for adjustment in a vertical direction by a device which includes a base and an angle post upstanding therefrom with a column mounted for sliding movement in engagement with the post. The work surface is mounted on an upper end of the column which is moved slidably by manual movement of a ratchet type mechanism and which is maintained in engagement with the post by an arrangement which provides for three dimensional as well as torsional stability. The work surface is provided with a further degree of mobility by mounting an axle and wheels on the base in such a way that the axle is moveable between a rest position in which the base rests on a floor and a mobile position in which the base is spaced above the floor by the wheels which ride thereon.

Abstract: In the wire-wrapping of terminals which extend from a terminal block, an operator uses a hand tool which includes a housing having a bit that wraps a wire-like conductor about each terminal, and a handle which allows the tool to be held in a modified prehensile manner. The handle is configured to include a laterally disposed thumb rest which is effective to support the thumb in a relaxed position. The surface of the rest which supports the thumb includes a port which is covered and uncovered repetitively by relatively slight movements of portions of the thumb to control the operation of a fluidic circuit to turn the bit and cause the conductor to be about the terminal. This arrangement results in a substantial reduction in the movement of particular joints of the thumb and of particular muscles which control the movement of the thumb so that worker fatigue is substantially reduced.