Ergonomic handle for a tool

Abstract

An ergonomic handle for a manually applied tool is provided. The handle includes at least one concave or convex grip lengths, and preferably two curved grip lengths. The curved grip lengths reduce slippage of a user's hands along the elongate shaft and provide opportunities to adjust the user's hands and thereby reduce the incidence of repetitive stress damage. The grip lengths are spaced closer to a shovel blade or a pitch fork fixture, and further away from a hoe blade or a rake head head. The user may thus stand more upright when raking or hoeing and conversely apply more physical power when shoveling or forking material. The grip lengths may be retrofittable onto handles having an elongated shaft. The ergonomic handle may be detachabley attachable to tool fixtures.

1 . An ergonomic handle, the ergonomic handle attached to a fixture, the handle comprising: 
 an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft extending substantively longitudinally along an A axis, the shaft having an ergonomic grip length and a fixture end;    the fixture end configured for attachment with the fixture; and    the ergonomic grip length having a continuously-curved concave shape, the concave shape oriented substantively relative to a grip center point of the A axis, and the ergonomic grip length shaped to fit within a six inch radius from the grip center point.    
   
   
       2 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic handle further comprises a second ergonomic grip length shaft, the second ergonomic grip length located along the elongated shaft and between the ergonomic grip length and the fixture end, and the second ergonomic grip length having a continuously-curved concave shape, the concave shape of the second ergonomic grip length oriented substantively relative to a second grip center point of the A axis, and the second ergonomic grip length shaped to fit within a six inch radius from the second grip center point.  
   
   
       3 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic grip length is shaped to fit within a three inch radius from the grip center point.  
   
   
       4 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 3 , wherein the ergonomic handle further comprises a second ergonomic grip length shaft, the second ergonomic grip length located along the elongated shaft and between the ergonomic grip length and the fixture end, and the second ergonomic grip length having a continuously-curved concave shape, the concave shape of the second ergonomic grip length oriented substantively relative to a second grip center point of the A axis, and the second ergonomic grip length shaped to fit within a three inch radius from the second grip center point.  
   
   
       5 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the grip center point is located within one foot of the fixture end.  
   
   
       6 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1  wherein the grip center point is located approximately more than one foot from the fixture end and approximately less than four feet from the fixture end.  
   
   
       7 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1  wherein the grip center point is located approximately more than four feet from the fixture end and approximately less than six feet from the fixture end.  
   
   
       8 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture end is detachably attached to the fixture.  
   
   
       9 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a shovel blade.  
   
   
       10 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a pitchfork.  
   
   
       11 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a rake head.  
   
   
       12 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 1 , wherein the fixture is a hoe blade.  
   
   
       13 . An ergonomic handle, the ergonomic handle attached to a fixture, the handle comprising: 
 an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft extending substantively longitudinally along an A axis, the shaft having an ergonomic grip length and a fixture end;    the fixture end configured for attachment with the fixture; and    the ergonomic grip length having a continuously-curved convex shape, the convex shape oriented substantively as a concave shape relative to a spatial grip center point, the spatial grip center point located along an N axis and approximately six inches from the A axis, the N axis substantively normal to the A axis, and the ergonomic grip length shaped to fit within a six inch radius from the spatial grip center point.    
   
   
       14 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 13 , wherein the ergonomic grip length is shaped to fit within a three inch radius from the spatial grip center point.  
   
   
       15 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 13 , wherein the fixture is a shovel blade.  
   
   
       16 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 13 , wherein the fixture is a pitchfork.  
   
   
       17 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 13 , wherein the fixture is a rake head.  
   
   
       18 . The ergonomic handle of  claim 13 , wherein the fixture is a hoe blade.  
   
   
       19 . An ergonomic grip, the ergonomic grip for attachment to an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft extending substantively longitudinally along an A axis, the grip comprising: 
 a continuously-curved concave length, the concave length shaped to fit within a six inch radius from a spatial grip point; and    an attachment feature, the attachment feature configured to attach the ergonomic grip to the elongated shaft in an orientation wherein the spatial grip point is approximately located on the A axis.    
   
   
       20 . The ergonomic grip of  claim 19 , wherein the ergonomic grip further comprises a second attachment feature, the second attachment feature for attaching the ergonomic grip to the elongated shaft and providing improved stability to the ergonomic handle relative to the elongated shaft.  
   
   
       21 . The ergonomic grip of  claim 19 , wherein the ergonomic grip is detachably attached to the elongated shaft.  
   
   
       22 . An ergonomic grip, the ergonomic grip for attachment to an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft extending substantively longitudinally along an A axis, the grip comprising: 
 a continuously-curved convex length, the convex length shaped to fit within a six inch radius from a spatial grip point; and    an attachment feature, the attachment feature configured to attach the ergonomic grip to the elongated shaft in an orientation wherein the spatial grip point is approximately located on an N axis normal to the A axis and approximately six inches distance from the A axis.    
   
   
       23 . The ergonomic grip of  claim 22 , wherein the ergonomic grip further comprises a second attachment feature, the second attachment feature for attaching the ergonomic grip to the elongated handle and providing improved stability to the ergonomic handle relative to the elongated shaft.  
   
   
       24 . The ergonomic grip of  claim 22 , wherein the ergonomic grip is detachably attached to the elongated shaft.