Ergonomic handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10376978-B2
Application number	US-201514941078-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2015
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

Methods and Apparatuses related to an ergonomic handle are disclosed. An example apparatus for supporting an elongate tool having a barrel may include an ergonomic handle housing. At least a portion of an exterior profile of the ergonomic handle housing includes one or more depressions spatially arranged in series along the portion of the exterior profile of the ergonomic handle housing. The apparatus may also include an attachment device coupled to the ergonomic handle housing and configured to couple the barrel of the elongate tool to the ergonomic handle housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a soldering pen having a tip attached to a barrel;
an ergonomic handle housing, wherein at least a portion of an exterior profile of the ergonomic handle housing comprises one or more depressions spatially arranged in series along the portion of the exterior profile of the ergonomic handle housing; and
an attachment device fixedly coupled to the ergonomic handle housing and configured to couple the barrel of the soldering pen to the ergonomic handle housing such that the barrel is non-rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the ergonomic handle housing, wherein the attachment device comprises (i) a first element affixed to an end of the ergonomic handle housing and having a concave portion, wherein the first element has a flange on a first side of the first element, and (ii) a second element having a corresponding flange on a corresponding first side of the second element, wherein the second element has a notch configured to accommodate a fastener to be disposed therethrough and through the corresponding flange of the second element and through the flange of the first element so as to couple the first element to the second element, wherein the second element has a respective concave portion such that when the second element is coupled to the first element, the concave portion of the first element and the respective concave portion of the second element form a barrel-receiving bore therebetween configured to accommodate the barrel of the soldering pen, wherein a radius of curvature of the concave portion of the first element and a respective radius of curvature of the respective concave portion of the second element are the same as a radius of the barrel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic handle housing comprises a concave side and a convex side, wherein the one or more depressions are disposed on the concave side.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
as the second element is coupled to the first element, the flange of the first element is positioned in a face to face arrangement with the corresponding flange of the second element, and
the flange of the first element is coupled to the corresponding flange of the second element via the fastener disposed through the notch so as to couple the first element to the second element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a second side of the first element and a corresponding second side of the second element are coupled to each other by way of a hinge, such that the second element is rotatably connected to the first element at the hinge and is configured to pivot about the hinge relative to the first element between an open position and a closed position, wherein:
in the open position, the barrel of the soldering pen is received between the first element and the second element, and
in the closed position, the flange of the first element is positioned in the face to face arrangement with the corresponding flange of the second element, thereby forming the barrel-receiving bore therebetween.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first element is an integral part of the ergonomic handle housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the barrel is coupled to the ergonomic handle housing, the barrel is cantilevered on both sides of the attachment device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic handle housing is made of a non-conductive material.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a soldering pen having a tip attached to a barrel;
an ergonomic handle housing, wherein at least a portion of an exterior profile of the ergonomic handle housing comprises one or more depressions spatially arranged in series along the portion of the exterior profile of the ergonomic handle housing, and wherein an integral end of the ergonomic handle housing is concaved to form a concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing; and
an attachment device configured to be coupled to the concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing, wherein the attachment device has a concave portion corresponding to the concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing, wherein the attachment device is configured to secure the barrel of the soldering pen to the ergonomic handle housing, wherein the concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing has a flange on a first side thereof, wherein the attachment device has a corresponding flange on a corresponding first side thereof, wherein the attachment device has a notch configured to accommodate a fastener to be disposed therethrough and through the corresponding flange of the attachment device and through the flange of the concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing so as to couple the attachment device to the concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing, wherein a second side of the concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing and a corresponding second side of the attachment device are coupled to each other by way of a hinge, such that the attachment device is rotatably connected to the ergonomic handle housing at the hinge and is configured to pivot about the hinge relative to the ergonomic handle housing between an open position and a closed position, wherein:
in the open position, the barrel of the soldering pen is received between the attachment device and the ergonomic handle housing, and
in the closed position, the flange of the concaved end of the ergonomic handle housing is positioned in a face to face arrangement with the corresponding flange of the attachment device, thereby forming a barrel-receiving bore therebetween configured to accommodate the barrel of the soldering pen.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a radius of curvature of the concave end of the ergonomic handle housing and a respective radius of curvature of the concave portion of the attachment device are the same as a radius of the barrel of the soldering pen.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cable entering through an end of the barrel and configured to provide electric power to the tip of the soldering pen.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a disk disposed about an exterior surface of the barrel between the ergonomic handle housing.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Estevo Curtis R
• Bowman Stephen W

Classifications

• B23K3/0346 Primary

  Handles · CPC title

• B25G1/102

  the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip · CPC title

• B25G3/12

  Locking and securing devices · CPC title

• B25G3/20

  comprising clamping or contracting means acting concentrically on the handle or socket · CPC title