Hand tool support

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand tool support ( 10 ) having a pair of handles ( 14, 16 ) angled with respect to one another, or parallel with one another. A frame element or connecting means ( 26 ) adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one ( 16 ) of said handles ( 14, 16 ) and at the other end to a hand tool ( 12 ), whereby, in use, the handles ( 14, 16 ) are located above hand tool ( 12 ).

1 . A hand tool support including a pair of handles angled with respect to one another, or parallel with one another, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one of said handles and at the other end to a hand tool, whereby, in use, said handles are located above said hand tool, and wherein said handles are located above said hand tool at a height to allow an operator to remain seated in a substantially upright posture during use.  
   
   
       2 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said handles includes a control means for activating said hand tool.  
   
   
       3 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein said handles are substantially at right angles to one another.  
   
   
       4 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein said handles are substantially co-planar.  
   
   
       5 . The hand tool support of  claim 1  wherein said handles are adjustable between two positions, a first position whereby said handles are substantially at right angles to one another and second position whereby said handles are substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       6 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein said frame element or connecting means includes a vertical tube with said handles attached thereto at one end and a bracket at the other end thereof for supporting said tool.  
   
   
       7 . The hand tool support of  claim 6 , wherein at least one counterbalance is provided.  
   
   
       8 . The hand tool support of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one counterbalance is located on said bracket or said vertical tube.  
   
   
       9 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein one of said handles is aligned, in use, above or substantially parallel to the centre line of said hand tool.  
   
   
       10 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein said hand tool is a grinder and a junction of said handles overlies above the centre of the grinding disc of said grinder.  
   
   
       11 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein said hand tool is a grinder and a junction of said handles is offset from and overlies above the centre of the grinding disc of said grinder.  
   
   
       12 . The hand tool support of  claim 1 , wherein said hand tool includes a dust shroud and, in use, said frame element or connecting means is attached to said dust shroud.  
   
   
       13 . The hand tool support of  claim 10 , wherein said grinder includes a dust shroud.  
   
   
       14 . A hand tool with integrated hand tool support, said hand tool support including a pair of handles angled with respect to one another or parallel to one another, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to at least one of said handles and at the other end to said hand tool with said handles being located above said hand tool.  
   
   
       15 . A hand tool support including at least one handle means, a frame element or connecting means adapted to be connected at one end thereof to said at least one handle means and at the other end to a hand tool, whereby, in use, at least one handle means is located above said hand tool at a height to allow an operator to remain seated upright during use.  
   
   
       16 . The hand tool support of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one handle means includes a pair of handles angled with respect to one another, or parallel with one another, and said frame element or connecting means is adapted to be connected to at least one of said handles.  
   
   
       17 . The hand tool support of  claim 15  wherein said handles are located above said hand tool at a height to allow an operator to remain seated in a substantially upright posture during use and said handles are at or near the seat height of the operator, typically 35 cm to 50 cm.  
   
   
       20 . The hand tool support of  claim 15 , wherein a pair of handles are provided, one of said handles being connected to said frame element or connecting means and the other handle at the rear of said hand tool.  
   
   
       21 . The hand tool support of  claim 20 , wherein each of said handles includes a loop formed of linked parallel arms.  
   
   
       22 . A dust shroud for an abrading tool, said dust shroud including a base plate and a peripheral skirt depending therefrom, an outlet pipe opening into said base plate for extraction of abraded material, and a flexible skirt attached to the outer periphery of said depending skirt depending beyond said peripheral skirt.  
   
   
       23 . The dust shroud of  claim 22 , further including a clamping means to hold said flexible skirt to said depending skirt to allow for adjustment of the depth of said flexible skirt.  
   
   
       24 . The dust shroud of  claim 22  wherein said flexible skirt is made of rubber or a similar material.  
   
   
       25 . The dust shroud of  claim 23  wherein said clamping means is a band clamp.  
   
   
       26 . The dust shroud of any one of claims  22  wherein said base plate is circular.  
   
   
       27 . The dust shroud of  claim 22  wherein said base plate has a flattened segment which has a matching depending skirt part to expose said abrading tool for edging work.  
   
   
       28 . The dust shroud of  claim 22  further including a separate arcuate segment having a base plate and a co-operating depending skirt part, said arcuate segment co-operating with said flattened segment when edging work is not required.  
   
   
       29 . The dust shroud of  claim 28 , wherein said co-operating depending skirt part includes a flexible skirt part.  
   
   
       30 . The dust shroud of  claim 22  wherein said flexible skirt has a cut out section or gap along a part of said flattened segment.  
   
   
       31 . The dust shroud of  claim 22  further comprising a fixing means to attach said dust shroud to said abrading tool.  
   
   
       32 . The dust shroud of  claim 22  wherein said abrading tool is a grinder.