Hand tools having a protective hand guard

Abstract

Hand tools having a hand guard for protecting a user's working hand are provided. In one embodiment, the hand tool may be a paint roller that includes a roller assembly having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, and a hand guard attached to the roller assembly. The roller assembly may include a handle portion extending from the proximal end of the roller assembly, and a support portion extending from the distal end of the roller assembly to the handle portion. The support portion may include a support arm assembly attached to the handle portion and a cover support positioned at the distal end of the roller assembly and rotatably attached to the support arm assembly. The hand guard may be positioned over a top surface of the handle portion and may include a plurality of walls defining an interior space configured to receive a user's hand therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paint roller comprising:
 a roller assembly having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the roller assembly comprising:
 a handle portion extending from the proximal end of the roller assembly, the handle portion comprising a finger opening configured to receive a user's fingers therethrough; and 
 a support portion extending from the distal end of the roller assembly to the handle portion, the support portion comprising a support arm assembly attached to the handle portion and a cover support positioned at the distal end of the roller assembly and rotatably attached to the support arm assembly; and 
   a hand guard attached to the roller assembly and positioned over a top surface of the handle portion, the hand guard comprising a plurality of walls defining an interior space configured to receive the user's hand therein.   
     
     
         2 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion further comprises a plurality of tabs, wherein the hand guard comprises a plurality of mounting holes, and wherein the hand guard is attached to the rake body via the tabs received within the mounting holes. 
     
     
         3 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion further comprises a cross-member extending along a width of the handle portion and positioned between a proximal end of the handle portion and the finger opening. 
     
     
         4 . The paint roller of  claim 3 , further comprising a top grip member positioned on a top surface of the cross-member and a bottom grip member positioned on a bottom surface of the cross-member. 
     
     
         5 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the hand guard comprises an open proximal end and an opposite, closed distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls of the hand guard comprises:
 a front wall positioned along the distal end of the hand guard and having a planar or substantially planar shape;   a top wall extending from the proximal end of the hand guard to the front wall and having a planar or substantially planar shape;   a first sidewall extending from the proximal end of the hand guard to the front wall and having a planar or substantially planar shape;   a second sidewall extending from the proximal end of the hand guard to the front wall and having a planar or substantially planar shape;   a first transition wall extending from the proximal end of the hand guard to the front wall and from the first sidewall to the top wall and having a planar or substantially planar shape; and   a second transition wall extending from the proximal end of the hand guard to the front wall and from the second sidewall to the top wall and having a planar or substantially planar shape.   
     
     
         7 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm assembly comprises:
 a first arm attached to the handle portion;   a second arm attached to the cover support and pivotally attached to the first arm via a hinge connection such that an angle between a longitudinal axis of the second arm and a longitudinal axis of the first arm may be selectively adjusted by a user.   
     
     
         8 . The paint roller of  claim 7 , wherein the support arm assembly further comprises a lock configured to selectively prevent pivotal movement of the second arm relative to the first arm to maintain the angle between the longitudinal axis of the second arm and the longitudinal axis of the first arm. 
     
     
         9 . The paint roller of  claim 8 , wherein the lock comprises:
 an outer housing attached to the first arm;   an inner cylinder attached to the second arm and positioned within the outer housing; and   a fastener extending through the outer housing and the inner cylinder.   
     
     
         10 . The paint roller of  claim 9 , wherein the inner cylinder is configured to rotate within the outer housing, and wherein the fastener is configured to selectively prevent rotation of the inner cylinder relative to the outer housing. 
     
     
         11 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wheels attached to the hand guard and configured to rotate relative to the hand guard. 
     
     
         12 . The paint roller of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of wheels are positioned outside of the interior space. 
     
     
         13 . The paint roller of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of wheels extend below a bottom surface of the hand guard. 
     
     
         14 . The paint roller of  claim 13 , wherein the hand guard extends above the plurality of wheels. 
     
     
         15 . The paint roller of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of wheels extend below a bottom surface of the handle portion. 
     
     
         16 . The paint roller of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of wheels comprises a first wheel positioned along a first side of the hand guard and a second wheel positioned along a second side of the hand guard. 
     
     
         17 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the hand guard extends below a bottom surface of the handle portion. 
     
     
         18 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm assembly comprises:
 a straight section extending from the handle portion; and   a U-shaped section positioned at a distal end of the support arm assembly and rotatably supporting the cover support.   
     
     
         19 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , wherein the hand guard is fixedly attached to the handle portion, and wherein the support arm assembly is fixedly attached to the handle portion. 
     
     
         20 . The paint roller of  claim 1 , further comprising a roller cover removably attached to the cover support.