Hand and arm protective sleeve
A protective device for a user's hand and arm region while operating a hand tool, the device including a rigid protective shield (1) adapted to substantially cover the user's hand and forearm, in which the shield incorporates a hand tool mount (4) adapted to mount the hand tool (5) in a manner allowing the user to operate the tool while confined to and protected by the shield.
The present application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No. 2004902159 filed on 23 Apr. 2004, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
INTRODUCTION OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to the use of manual hand tools, particularly garden tools, where the operator may be exposed to environmental hazards in the close environment of the tool.
In particular this invention relates to a protective device adapted for use with a range of hand operated tools so as to provide the user with protection to the hand and arm region whilst operating a range of tools.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONA wide range of manually operated hand tools, particularly the type of tools used in gardening and agriculture expose the users hand and arm region to a range of hazards including thorns, prickles, barbs, plant irritants and similar hazards. A typical gardeners tool might be a pair of secateurs which provide the user with minimal protection to the hand and arm regions as the secateurs are used to prune and cut a range of plant products. Similarly garden shears, brooms, pruning saws, rakes, shovels, etc similarly have the potential to expose the users hand and arm to hazardous situations and it would be highly desirable if the users hand could be provided with a form of protection that would minimise or eliminate the potential for damage to the hand and arm whilst allowing the hand tool of choice to be operated with minimal interference.
STATEMENT OF INVENTIONIn a first aspect the invention provides a protective device for a users hand and arm region whilst operating a hand tool, said device comprising a rigid protective shield adapted to substantially cover the users hand and lower forearm, wherein said shield incorporates a hand tool mounting means adapted to mount said hand tool in a manner allowing said user to operate said tool whilst confined to said shield.
The shield may extend to cover and enclose the hand, wrist and forearm of the user.
The tool mount is preferably fitted to said shield as an accessory and adapted for interchange to suit a range of hand tools.
The tool mount may incorporate a trigger to allow remote control and activation of said hand tool.
The tool mount may be adapted to incorporate said tool within the confines of the shield wherein said shield has an opening for the active part of said tool to project from said shield in order to perform its normal function.
The tool mount may be adapted to receive a pair of secateurs wherein one handle of said secateurs may be fitted to the inwardly projecting tool mount and the cutting jaws of said secateurs project from said shield via a slot.
The shield may be formed of a rigid material adapted to resist piercing or chemical attack.
The shield may be formed of compliant and flexible material allowing wrist movement of the user.
The tool mount may include an inwardly projecting or internal handle adapted to be grasped by the user from within the shield and an external holder for said tool.
The tool holder may be adapted to receive a tool handle including elongate handles for rakes, shovels, etc. The tool holder may be positioned on the underside, upperside or front of said shield.
The tool mount may include an internal handle and an external mount for a tray or other collecting means.
The shield may include ventilation means.
The tool mount may include an internal trigger to operate an externally mounted tool. The externally mounted tool may be a pair of shears, grasping jaws, seed collector, etc.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The invention will now be described with referenced to the following figures and Legend which show a selection of particularly preferred embodiments and are not to be regarded as limiting.
1. Shield
2. Open end
3. Terminal end
4. Mounting means
5. Tool
6. First arm
6a. Second arm
7. First opening
8. Second opening
9. Cutting blades
10. Telescopic corrugations
11. Nose
12. Inward projecting handle
13. External tool holder
14. Clamp
15. Protective face
16. Insertion peg
17. Seed collecting tray
18. Garden rake
19. Handle
20. Toggle
21. Pivoting head
22. Shears/Gripping means
23. Remote trigger
24. Extended nose
25. Seed collector
26. Extension arm
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring firstly to
Referring now to
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FIGS. 8 to 21 show variations on the invention which illustrate the scope of adaptation.
The shield may also be provided with a ventilation means to ensure the users hand receives adequate ventilation and does not become stinky or clammy.
The invention provides for the first time an economical and highly versatile shield for use in gardening and other hazardous situations which is adapted to protect a users hand and forearm regions whilst maintaining operation of a range of hand tools by way of a selection of mounts for such tools incorporated within the construction of the shield. The shield can take the form of a rigid or flexible unit and be made of suitable materials which resist penetration of spikes, barbs, abrasion and hazardous chemicals or other compounds that may otherwise be exposed to a users hand. The shield is adapted to receive a wide range of hand tools including secateurs, trowels, forks, rakes, shovels and virtually any hand operated tool that is capable of being suitably mounted and operated remotely by way of a suitable adaptation of the mounting means. The protective shield of the invention is therefore opened to wide use adaptation in a broad range of situations not limited to the particularly preferred embodiments concentrating on gardening implements and tools. The protective shield of the invention could extend to a range of metal or woodworking situations and with suitable design configurations also apply to a range of industrial situations including chemical and other hazardous environments.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Claims
1. A protective device for a user's hand and arm region while operating a hand tool, said device comprising a rigid protective shield adapted to substantially cover a user's hand and forearm, said shield including a hand tool mount adapted to mount a hand tool in a manner allowing said user to operate said tool while confined to and protected by said shield.
2. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said protective shield extends to substantially cover and enclose hand, wrist and forearm regions of said user.
3. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said tool mount is fitted to said shield as an accessory and is interchangeable with other hand tool mounts to suit a range of hand tools.
4. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said tool mount includes a trigger to allow remote control and activation of said hand tool.
5. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said tool mount is adapted to incorporate said tool within confines of said shield and wherein said shield has an opening for an active part of said tool to project from said shield.
6. A protective device according to claim 5, wherein said tool mount is inwardly projecting and adapted to receive a pair of secateurs fitted thereto with cutting jaws of said secateurs projecting from said shield via said opening.
7. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said shield is formed of a rigid material resistant to piercing and chemical attack.
8. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said shield is telescopic.
9. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said mount includes an internal handle and an external holder for said tool.
10. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said tool holder is adapted to receive a tool positioned on one of the following of said shield:
- an underside,
- an upperside, and
- a front.
11. A protective device according to claim 1, wherein said tool mount includes an internal trigger adapted to operate an externally mounted tool.
12. A protective device according to claim 1 wherein said shield includes a ventilation arrangement.
13. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 21, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2005
Inventor: John Kelly (Ararat)
Application Number: 11/111,174