초록 ▼

A handle assembly is disclosed for tools such as shovels and the like having a primary handle and an auxiliary handle. The primary handle includes first and second legs, each of which has a first end that is securable to a tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly from the tool

A handle assembly is disclosed for tools such as shovels and the like having a primary handle and an auxiliary handle. The primary handle includes first and second legs, each of which has a first end that is securable to a tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly from the tool head in generally parallel relation to one another. A primary grip or handlebar extends between the legs at the ends opposite the tool head. The auxiliary handle is slideably connected to the first and second legs so as to be moveable toward and away from the primary grip. The auxiliary handle is removeably connectable to the legs and may be stored in a generally planar alignment between the legs to facilitate stacking or the auxiliary handle may be shaped to facilitate nesting of adjacent auxiliary handles of stacked handle assemblies.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tool comprising: a tool head;a tool handle that includes a primary grip and first and second legs, each of the first and second legs having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second legs connected to the tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly f

1. A tool comprising: a tool head;a tool handle that includes a primary grip and first and second legs, each of the first and second legs having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second legs connected to the tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly from the tool head in generally parallel relation to one another, the primary grip being connected between the second ends of the first and second legs; andan auxiliary-handle assembly including first and second mounting members disposed between the first and second legs with an auxiliary grip extending between said first and second mounting members, the first and second mounting members releaseably coupling to the first and second legs respectively,wherein the tool comprises a first tool and the auxiliary grip of the first tool is narrower than the spacing between the first and second legs of the first tool, the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first tool fits between first and second legs of a similarly constructed second tool oriented such that the auxiliary grip of the second tool extends in the same direction as the auxiliary grip of the first tool, and the first and second tools are stackable with the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first tool at least partially passing between and beyond the first and second legs of the second tool. 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting members further comprise a support arm and curved base that form a J-shaped member. 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting members further comprise a support arm and a curved base, and wherein the curved bases extend in opposite directions from one another and at least approximately 180 degrees around the circumference of first and second legs respectively. 4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the curved bases of the first and second support members extend greater than about 180 degrees around the circumference of the first and second legs respectively. 5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting members angle inward toward the auxiliary grip. 6. The tool of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second mounting members is securable to a respective first and second leg by securing a pin through a hole in the respective first and second mounting members and an aligned hole in the first and second legs, the aligned hole in the first and second legs selected from one of a plurality of holes formed in the first and second legs. 7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary-handle assembly is removable from the first and second legs. 8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool head includes first and second handle mounting sleeves disposed on opposite sides thereof that receive the first ends of the first and second legs respectively. 9. The tool of claim 1, further comprising: a cross member that extends between the first and second legs adjacent to and spaced apart from the primary grip. 10. A tool comprising: a tool head;a tool handle that includes a primary grip and first and second legs, each of the first and second legs having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second legs connected to the tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly from the tool head in generally parallel relation to one another, the primary grip being connected between the second ends of the first and second legs; andan auxiliary-handle assembly including first and second mounting members disposed between the first and second legs with an auxiliary grip extending between said first and second mounting members, the first and second mounting members releaseably coupling to the first and second legs respectively,wherein the tool comprises a first tool and the auxiliary grip of the first tool is narrower than the spacing between the first and second legs of the first tool, the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first tool fits between first and second legs of a similarly constructed and oriented second tool, and the first and second tools are stackable with the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first tool at least partially passing between and beyond first and second legs of the second tool;wherein the auxiliary grip of the first tool nests between first and second mounting members of the auxiliary-handle assembly of the second tool. 11. A tool comprising: a tool head;a tool handle that includes a primary grip and first and second legs, each of the first and second legs having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second legs connected to the tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly from the tool head in generally parallel relation to one another, the primary grip being connected between the second ends of the first and second legs; andan auxiliary-handle assembly that includes first and second mounting members with a curved base and a support arm extending therefrom, the support arms of the first and second mounting members being disposed between the first and second legs and securing an auxiliary grip therebetween, and the curved bases of the first and second mounting members extending in opposite directions to one another and receiving the first and second legs respectively. 12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the support arm and curved base of the first and second mounting members forms a J-shaped member. 13. The tool of claim 11, wherein the auxiliary grip is narrower than the spacing between the first and second legs and a plurality of the tools are stackable with their auxiliary grips nested between the first and second legs of the respective adjacent tool. 14. The tool of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary grip is nested between the support arms of the first and second mounting members of the respective adjacent tool. 15. Nested tool-handle assemblies comprising: a first tool-handle assembly and a second tool-handle assembly aligned in a substantially parallel orientation and each includinga tool handle that includes a primary grip and first and second legs, each of the first and second legs having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second legs configured to couple to a tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly from the tool head in generally parallel relation to one another, the primary grip being connected between the second ends of the first and second legs, andan auxiliary-handle assembly that includes first and second mounting members disposed between the first and second legs and securing an auxiliary grip therebetween, and the first and second mounting members releaseably coupling to the first and second legs respectively,wherein the auxiliary grip passes between and at least partially beyond the first and second legs of the second tool handle assembly and the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first tool handle assembly is nested between the first and second legs of the second tool handle assembly. 16. The nested tool-handle assemblies of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first tool-handle assembly is nested between the first and second mounting members of the second tool-handle assembly. 17. The nested tool-handle assemblies of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first tool-handle assembly is longitudinally offset from the auxiliary-handle assembly of the second tool-handle assembly. 18. The nested tool handle assemblies of claim 15, wherein the first and second mounting members each include a curved base, the curved bases extending in opposite directions to one another and receiving the first and second legs respectively. 19. A handle for a tool having a tool head, the handle comprising; a primary grip and first and second legs, each of the first and second legs having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second legs connectable to the tool head such that the first and second legs extend outwardly from the tool head in generally parallel relation to one another, the primary grip being connected between the second ends of the first and second legs; andan auxiliary-handle assembly including first and second mounting members disposed between the first and second legs with an auxiliary grip extending between distal ends of said first and second mounting members, the first and second mounting members releaseably coupling to the first and second legs respectively, the auxiliary-handle assembly being enabled to pass between and at least partially beyond first and second legs of a similarly configured and oriented second handle for a tool and to nest at least partially between first and second mounting members of an auxiliary-handle assembly of the second handle for a tool. 20. The handle for a tool as in claim 19, wherein the first handle for a tool is stackable with the second handle for a tool such that the auxiliary-handle assembly of the first handle nests between the first and second legs of the second handle. 21. The handle for a tool as in claim 19, wherein the first and second mounting members each include a curved base, the curved bases extending in opposite directions to one another and receiving the first and second legs respectively.