Dual material tool handle

Abstract

An improved tool handle for a resulting tool is configured to be of an ergonomic cross section, such as a rounded triangle or a teardrop. The improved tool handle may include a core of glass strands within a plastic binder, as well as a coating formed over the core that resists penetration of glass strands therethrough. The coating of such a tool handle may be formed of two separate materials of two durometer hardness in order to provide both a relatively hard grip region and a relatively soft grip region that are contiguous. Such a tool handle may additionally include texturing such as knurling on the harder grip region.

1 - 37 . (canceled)  
     
     
         38 . An elongated handle for a tool, the handle comprising: 
 a core;    a coating disposed on the core:    the coating including a first portion and a second portion, the coating having an external surface;    the first portion being of a first material;    the second portion being of a second material;    the first portion having a first external surface, the first external surface being at least a portion of the external surface of the coating;    the second portion having a second external surface, the second external surface being at least a portion of the external surface of the coating;    the first material being of a first hardness;    the second material being of a second hardness; and    the first hardness being different than the second hardness.    
     
     
         39 . The handle as set forth in  claim 38 , 
 in which the first portion is textured.    
     
     
         40 . The handle as set forth in  claim 38 , 
 in which the core includes a plurality of fibers and a binder; and    the coating being structured to resist penetration of the fibers therethrough.    
     
     
         41 . The handle as set forth in  claim 38 , 
 in which the handle in cross section is of a generally rounded triangle shape.    
     
     
         42 . The handle as set forth in  claim 41 , 
 in which the generally rounded triangle shape includes a first arc, a second arc, and a third arc connected generally end-to-end.    
     
     
         43 . The handle as set forth in  claim 42 , 
 in which the first arc has a first center and a first radius, the second arc has a second center and a second radius, and third arc has a third center and a third radius, the relationship among the first, second, and third centers and radii including at least one of:    at least two of the first, second, and third radii being of unequal lengths; and    at least two of the first, second, and third centers being spaced apart from one another.    
     
     
         44 . The handle as set forth in  claim 38 , 
 in which the handle in cross section is of a generally rounded teardrop shape.    
     
     
         45 . The handle as set forth in  claim 44 , 
 in which the generally rounded teardrop shape includes a first arc, a pair of second arcs, and a connecting portion, the first arc and the connecting portion each being connected with both of the second arcs, whereby the second arcs each extend generally between the first arc and the connecting portion.    
     
     
         46 . The handle as set forth in  claim 45 , 
 in which the second arcs are each of a radius and have a center;    the radii being of substantially the same length;    the centers being spaced apart from one another.    
     
     
         47 . The handle as set forth in  claim 38 , 
 in which the core has an outer surface; and    the second material is in surface-to-surface contact with the outer surface of the core.    
     
     
         48 . The handle as set forth in  claim 38 , 
 in which the second material substantially surrounds the outer surface of the core.    
     
     
         49 . The handle as set forth in  claim 48 , 
 in which the first material is layered over a section of the second material.    
     
     
         50 . A manually-employed tool comprising: 
 an elongated handle; and    an implement mounted on the handle;    the handle including a core and a coating, the coating being disposed on the core;    the coating including a first portion and a second portion, the coating having an external surface;    the first portion being of a first material;    the second portion being of a second material;    the first portion having a first external surface, the first external surface being at least a portion of the external surface of the coating;    the second portion having a second external surface, the second external surface having at least a portion of the external surface of the coating;    the first material being of a first hardness;    the second material being of a second hardness; and    the first hardness being different than the second hardness.    
     
     
         51 . The tool as set forth in  claim 50 , 
 in which the first portion is textured.    
     
     
         52 . The tool as set forth in  claim 50 , 
 in which the core includes a plurality of fibers and a binder; and    the coating being structured to resist penetration of the fibers therethrough.    
     
     
         53 . The tool as set forth in  claim 50 , 
 in which the handle in cross section is of a generally rounded triangle shape.    
     
     
         54 . The tool as set forth in  claim 53 , 
 in which the generally rounded triangle shape includes a first arc, a second arc, and a third arc connected generally end-to-end.    
     
     
         55 . The tool as set forth in  claim 54 , 
 in which the first arc has a first center and a first radius, the second arc has a second center and a second radius, and third arc has a third center and a third radius, the relationship among the first, second, and third centers and radii including at least one of:    at least two of the first, second, and third radii being of unequal lengths; and    at least two of the first, second, and third centers being spaced apart from one another.    
     
     
         56 . The tool as set forth in  claim 50 , 
 in which the handle in cross section is of a generally rounded teardrop shape.    
     
     
         57 . The tool as set forth in  claim 56 , 
 in which the generally rounded teardrop shape includes a first arc, a pair of second arcs, and a connecting portion, the first arc and the connecting portion each being connected with both of the second arcs, whereby the second arcs each extend generally between the first arc and the connecting portion.    
     
     
         58 . The tool as set forth in  claim 57 , 
 in which the second arcs are each of a radius and have a center;    the radii being of substantially the same length; and    the centers being spaced apart from one another.    
     
     
         59 . The tool as set forth in  claim 50 , 
 in which the core has an outer surface; and    the second material is in surface-to surface contact with the outer surface of the core.    
     
     
         60 . The tool as set forth in  claim 59 , 
 in which the second material substantially surrounds the outer surface of the core.    
     
     
         61 . The tool as set forth in  claim 60 , 
 in which the first material is layered over a section of the second material.