Handle assembly for tool

Abstract

A handle assembly for a power tool 1 comprises a housing 2 defining a handle 4 and housing a motor for actuating an output member of the tool, such as a drill bit or jigsaw blade. The handle assembly comprises at least one flexible sheet 8 adapted to be mounted to a surface of the handle of the power tool and having a series of protrusions 10 adapted to be engaged by a hand of a user of the tool. The protrusions 10 retain one or more blister packs (not shown) containing at least one vibration damping gel material between the flexible sheet 8 and the surface of the handle 4.

1 . A drill comprising: 
 a motor housing;    a handle extending downwardly from said motor housing, said handle having a front surface, a rear surface and side surfaces, said handle comprising a gripping portion;    a chamber enclosing a gel material disposed on said handle, said chamber disposed about the rear surface of said handle and extending forwardly along both said side surfaces, said chamber extending outwardly from said gripping portion.    
   
   
       2 . The drill recited in  claim 1  further comprising a trigger switch extending through said front surface, said chamber disposed on said handle at a location opposite said trigger switch.  
   
   
       3 . The drill recited in  claim 1 , an upper transition defined between said motor housing and said handle, said chamber disposed so as to encompass said transition.  
   
   
       4 . The drill recited in  claim 3 , said drill comprising a lower housing structure disposed below said handle, a lower transition defined between said handle and said lower housing structure, said chamber terminating at a location adjacent said lower transition.  
   
   
       5 . The drill recited in  claim 4 , said lower housing structure comprising a battery receiving housing.  
   
   
       6 . The drill recited in  claim 1 , said handle having a longitudinal center axis, said chamber extending along said side surfaces so as to terminate rearwardly of said center axis.  
   
   
       7 . The drill recited in  claim 6  further comprising a trigger switch extending through said front surface, said chamber disposed on said handle at a location opposite said trigger switch.  
   
   
       8 . The drill recited in  claim 7 , an upper transition defined between said motor housing and said handle, said chamber disposed so as to encompass said transition.  
   
   
       9 . The drill recited in  claim 6 , an upper transition defined between said motor housing and said handle, said chamber disposed so as to encompass said transition.  
   
   
       10 . A drill comprising: 
 a motor housing;    a handle extending downwardly from said motor housing, said handle having a front surface, a rear surface and side surfaces;    a lower housing structure disposed below said handle;    an upper transition defined between said motor housing and said handle;    a lower transition defined between said handle and said lower housing structure; and    first and second chambers enclosing a gel material disposed on said handle, said chambers disposed about the rear surface of said handle and extending forwardly along both said side surfaces, said chambers displaced from each other in the longitudinal dimension of the handle and jointly covering a portion of the rear surface of the handle defined between the upper transition and the lower transition.    
   
   
       11 . The drill recited in  claim 10 , the portion comprising a majority of the rear surface of the handle defined between the upper transition and the lower transition.  
   
   
       12 . The drill recited in  claim 11  further comprising a third chamber enclosing a gel material disposed on said handle, said first, second and third chambers displaced from each other in the longitudinal dimension of the handle and jointly covering a majority of the rear surface of the handle defined between the upper transition and the lower transition.  
   
   
       13 . The drill recited in  claim 11 , one of said chambers disposed so as to encompass said upper transition.  
   
   
       14 . The drill recited in  claim 13 , said lower housing structure comprising a battery receiving housing.  
   
   
       15 . The drill recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a cover plate made of a material which is relatively hard as compared to said chambers, said cover plate disposed on said handle and including an aperture through which said chambers protrude.  
   
   
       16 . A drill comprising: 
 a motor housing;    a handle extending downwardly from said motor housing, said handle having a front surface, a rear surface and side surfaces;    a chamber enclosing a gel material disposed on said handle, said chamber disposed about the rear surface of said handle and extending forwardly along both said side surfaces;    and a cover plate made of a material which is relatively hard as compared to said chamber, said cover plate disposed on said handle and including an aperture through which said chamber protrudes.