U.S. patent application number 10/991439 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for protective hand shield.
Invention is credited to George Cicero.
Application Number | 20060107432 10/991439 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36459552 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060107432 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cicero; George |
May 25, 2006 |
Protective hand shield
Abstract
The present invention comprises a flexible shield for use with
hand tools designed to cover and protect the back of the user's
hand, fingers and knuckles. An open-ended design allows freedom and
maneuverability for the user's fingers to manipulate the tool and
operate its controls. One or more straps or fasteners may be used
to secure the hand shield during its use without inhibiting finger
movement. The shield may be formed to cover the vent of an
air-powered hand tool in order to redirect exhaust air through the
interior of the shield and away from the work material, thereby
suppressing the generation and entrainment of harmful particulates
and their suspension in the air of the workplace where they may be
inhaled.
Inventors: |
Cicero; George; (Mt.
Arlington, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS J. GERMINARIO, ESQ.
154 ROUTE 206
CHESTER
NJ
07930
US
|
Family ID: |
36459552 |
Appl. No.: |
10/991439 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25F 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/016 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/08 20060101
A41D013/08 |
Claims
1. A protective shield for use with a hand tool, comprising: (a) a
flexible shield having a forward closed side and a rear open side,
the forward closed side being formed to wrap around the back of the
user's hand, while leaving the fingers free to grasp and operate
the tool; and (b) a working opening in the forward closed side of
the shield, through which opening the working end of the tool can
protrude and engage the work material.
2. The protective shield according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
shield is fabricated from a material which is an electrical
insulator, thereby protecting the user's hand with respect to
contact with electrical wiring, circuits or connections associated
with the work material.
3. The protective shield according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
shield is fabricated from an extruded plastic material.
4. The protective shield according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3,
wherein the forward closed side is formed to cover the area of an
air-powered hand tool from which exhaust air is vented, such that
the exhaust air is diverted downward and backward and escapes
through the rear open side of the shield, thereby reducing the
risks associated with the exhaust air entraining dust and/or
particles from the surface of the work material and causing such
airborne dust and/or particles to become suspended in the air of
the workplace where they may be inhaled.
5. The protective shield according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3,
further comprising one or more straps or fasteners extending across
the rear open side of the shield and around the user's hand,
thereby securing the shield to the hand in the optimal protective
position.
6. The protective shield according to claim 4, further comprising
one or more straps or fasteners extending across the rear open side
of the shield and around the user's hand, thereby securing the
shield to the hand in the optimal protective position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The use of hand tools presents, even to experienced
mechanics, risks of injury to the hands, fingers and knuckles
ranging from minor cuts and abrasions to more serious lacerations,
dislocations, and broken bones. In using a wrench to tighten or
loosen a nut, for example, the tool frequently slips, causing the
user's hand to scrape against the sharp protruding edges of metal
components. The risk of infection and other complications resulting
from even relatively minor hand injuries is heightened by the fact
that mechanical work is typically performed in an environment in
which dirt and grease are prevalent and likely to enter any open
wound or abrasion.
[0002] Another area of health risk to hand tool users involves the
inhalation of dust and particles that are released into the air
from the action of the tool on the work material. For example, an
automotive mechanic using an air-powered wrench or "gun" to remove,
adjust or install brake drums or rotors, is exposed to
asbestos-laden dust released from the surface of the brake linings.
Since compressed air is typically vented from an exhaust port in
the front of such air guns and is directed toward the brake
linings, it contributes to the dust inhalation problem by loosening
more particles and entraining fine and microscopic particles such
that they remain suspended in the air for longer durations. Thus,
even if the mechanic is wearing a protective face mask while
operating the air gun, asbestos-laden fine/microscopic particulates
will remain suspended in the air of the work environment and will
be inhaled when the face mask is removed.
[0003] Similarly, the operation of loosening a bolt with an
air-powered wrench or ratchet tool is apt to abrade painted
surfaces, causing fine particles of lead-based paints to become
entrained by the tool's exhaust air. In other applications, the
action of the air-powered tool may abrade masonry, generating
silica dust, or chemically treated lumber, generating dust
contaminated with arsenic or chromium.
[0004] Another risk encountered by hand tool users is electrical
shock. When the user's hand is exposed, it may come into contact
with electrical wiring that is connected to the work material,
causing the user to sustain a shock.
[0005] The existing art in the field of protection for hand tool
users is inadequate to address these risks. The most common form of
hand protection is work gloves, but gloves inherently limit the
mobility of the user's fingers, particularly when precision work is
involved. The thicker the glove material, the more the user's
digital dexterity is compromised. Thinner, more flexible glove
materials allow greater hand/finger mobility, but at the cost of
less protection from injury. In connection with the use of
air-powered hand tools, gloves provide no ability to prevent the
entrainment of deleterious particles from the work material. Nor do
they typically provide the user's hand with insulation from
electrical shock.
[0006] While there are patents directed to shields for use with
hand tools, W. D. Sullivan, U.S. Pat. No. 792,475 and Steven A.
Sullivan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,937, neither of these provide
flexible hand protection, and thus they unacceptably limit digital
dexterity to a degree incompatible with the more sophisticated hand
tools in use today, which often require use of the fingers to
activate controls. Moreover, existing hand shields do not provide
insulation from electrical shock or suppression of air-borne
particulates associated with use of air-powered hand tools. The
patents that do provide dust protection in connection with tool
use, such as Kelly, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,317, Whitman, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,220,753, Azar et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,207, and
Radigan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,912, do not provide simultaneous hand
protection.
[0007] Therefore, there is an unanswered need in the current art
for a shield for use with hand tools which will: (a) protect the
hand, fingers and knuckles from injury without compromising manual
and digital dexterity, (b) suppress the generation and entrainment
of deleterious particulates in connection with the use of
air-powered tools, and (c) insulate the hand from electrical
shock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention addresses the need for a hand shield
adapted for use with both manual powered and air-powered tools
which will not significantly limited mobility of the user's hand
and fingers and will suppress the generation and entrainment of
fine particles associated with abrasion of the work material and
venting from air-powered tools. The invention uses a flexible
durable material, such as extruded plastic or a heavy canvas cloth,
to cover the back of the hand and fingers, so that they are
protected from injuries resulting from contact with the work
material. By covering only the back of the hand, the flexible
shield leaves the user's fingers free to grasp the tool and
manipulate levers, triggers, switches, buttons, or other controls
needed to activate and adjust the tool's operations. In connection
with the use of air-powered tools, the flexible shield is formed to
cover the area from which exhaust air is vented and divert it
downward and backward, away from both the user's face and the work
material. Consequently, the compressed air is not directed toward
the work material and does not loosen and entrain fine particles
from that material or by contact with electrical
wiring/connections.
[0009] A protective hand shield having features of the present
invention comprises a single-piece flexible shield fitting around
the body of a hand tool and accommodating the handling of the tool
by the user. Through a rear open side of the shield, the user's
hand is extended to grasp the tool, with the fingers free to
manipulate the functions of the tool. A forward closed side of the
shield encloses the back of the user's hand that faces the work
material. The forward closed side of the shield is thus oriented
towards the action of the tool, e.g. tightening or loosening a nut,
and protects the hand, fingers and knuckles from any injury which
may be caused by slipping or rubbing against the surface of the
work material or by contact with electrical wiring/connections.
[0010] A working opening is provided in the forward closed side of
the shield so that the working end of the hand tool may protrude
out of the shield and engage the work material. In an alternate
embodiment, one or more straps or fasteners extend across the rear
open side of the shield and around the user's hand, thereby
preventing the shield from slipping out of position on the hand and
exposing areas of the hand to injury.
[0011] In an alternative embodiment designed for compatibility with
air-powered hand tools, the shield extends to cover the area of an
air-powered hand tool where exhaust air is vented from the tool.
The flow of the exhaust is redirected downward and backward through
the interior of the shield and is released through the back and
bottom of the rear open side. This prevents the exhaust air from
being directed toward the work material and loosening and
entraining fine particles therefrom, which may include harmful dust
and contaminants, and causing such particles to become suspended in
the air of the work environment where it would be inhaled by the
user and others. In this embodiment, the rear open side of the
shield is designed to accommodate the compressed air inlet of the
air-powered tool.
[0012] The present invention thereby fulfills the need for a
flexible shield which may be utilized to protect the user's hand
while affording the hand and fingers freedom to move and manipulate
the tool and its controls. In connection with the use of
air-powered tools, it also provides a means of suppressing the
production of harmful particulates from the work material and the
entrainment of such particulates in the work environment where they
may be inhaled. The present embodiment is not limited in its
application to particular types of tools, but is readily
adaptability for use with any type of hand tool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the protective hand
shield mounted on an air-powered wrench, which is shown in ghost
view.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the protective hand
shield mounted on an air-powered ratchet, which is shown in ghost
view.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective hand shield
embodying the features of the present invention 10 comprises a
flexible shield 11 with a forward closed side 12 and a rear open
side 13. The shape of the flexible shield 11 is adaptable to
various hand tools 15. A typical air-powered wrench "gun" 15 is
shown in FIG. 1, and an air-powered ratchet 15 is shown in FIG. 2.
In each case, a working opening 14 is provided in the forward
closed side 12, which opening is designed to fit around the hand
tool 15 yet still allow the working end of the tool 15 to protrude
from the flexible shield 11 and engage the work material (not
shown). Additionally, the shape of the shield 11 may be adapted to
accommodate the compressed air inlet 16 on an air-powered hand tool
15. The shield 11 is fabricated from a material, such as extruded
plastic or canvas cloth, which is durable and thick enough to
prevent injury to the user's hand, but also light-weight and
flexible enough so as not to hinder hand and finger movements.
Optimally, the material from which the shield 11 is fabricated is a
good electrical insulator.
[0016] The forward closed side 12 is molded to conform to the shape
of the back of the hand, knuckles and fingers. The molding of the
forward closed side 12 accommodates both right and left handed
users. The a rear open side 13 accommodates the insertion of the
user's hand and affords sufficient space for the hand to maneuver
and manipulate the hand tool 15. With respect to the relative
proportions of the forward closed side 12 and the rear open side
13, the shield 11 is configured such that the back of the hand is
fully enclosed but the fingers and the wrist remain
unencumbered.
[0017] As applied to an air-powered hand tool 15, the flexible
shield 11 is designed to redirect the air released by the exhaust
air vent 17. The forward closed side 12 is formed to cover the area
of the exhaust air vent 17 such that the exhaust air is diverted
downward and backwards, escaping through the rear open side 13
towards the ground, rather than being directed at the work material
(not shown). This prevents the exhaust air from entraining dust
and/or particles from the surface of the work material (not shown)
and prevents such airborne dust/particles, which may contain
harmful constituents, from becoming suspended in the air of the
workplace where they may be inhaled by the user and others.
[0018] In an alternate embodiment, in order to secure the shield 11
in the optimum protective position, one or more straps or fasteners
18 extend across the rear open side 13 and around the user's hand.
Such straps or fasteners may be fabricated of a flexible plastic,
cloth, or elastic material
[0019] In practice, the user places the flexible shield 11 over the
hand tool 15 by sliding the working opening 14 over the functioning
end of the tool 15. In the case of an air-powered tool, the forward
closed side 12 is placed over the exhaust air vent 17 and the rear
open side 13 is aligned with compressed air inlet 16. The user
inserts his/her hand through the rear open side 13 around the hand
tool 15, positioning the knuckles in the molding of the forward
closed side 12. In an alternate embodiment, one or more straps or
fasteners 18 are placed around the user's hand to secure its
position in shield 11.
[0020] While the present invention has been described is some
detail with reference to certain currently preferred embodiments,
other embodiments are feasible and will readily suggest themselves
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the
appended claims are not limited to the description of the preferred
embodiment contained herein.
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