Metal Snips

Abstract

Hand tools which have an ergonomic using a palm handle and finger handle designs which achieve mechanical efficiency and ease of use. The ergonomic handle is compatible with the muscle movements of an operator using a hand tool reducing muscle strain and pain. Optionally, the palm and finger handles can have ergonomically designed cushions. In an embodiment, the finger handle can have a finger set which has a forward finger flange, a tail finger flange and a pinky grip. The ergonomic handle can also use a relief washer system to achieve a smooth low frictional resistance cutting stroke.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A handle for a hand tool, comprising:
 a palm handle pivotally connected to a finger handle;   said palm handle adapted to pivotally connect to at least a first portion of a nosepiece of the hand tool;   said finger handle having a finger set having a forward finger flange and a tail finger flange;   said finger handle adapted to pivotally connect to at least a second portion of said nosepiece; and   said handle having closed state and an open state.   
     
     
         2 . The handle according to  claim 1 , wherein said forward finger flange has a forward finger flange peak and said tail finger flange has a tail finger flange peak, said forward finger flange peak configured at a finger set width from said tail finger flange peak. 
     
     
         3 . The handle according to  claim 1 , wherein said forward finger flange has a forward finger flange height and said tail finger flange has a tail finger flange height different from said forward finger flange height. 
     
     
         4 . The handle according to  claim 1 , wherein said forward finger flange has a forward finger flange height and said tail finger flange has a tail finger flange height which is the same as said forward finger flange height. 
     
     
         5 . The handle according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a purlicue grip having a purlicue peak, wherein said finger set is configured such that the purlicue peak has a purlicue peak projection which projects between said forward finger flange and said tail finger flange when the handle is in a closed state and when said handle is in an open state.   
     
     
         6 . The handle according to  claim 1 , wherein the finger handle comprises an extended finger grip. 
     
     
         7 . The hand tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said front blade is pivotally connected to said back blade by a blade pivot which passes through at least a relief washer opening and an adjacent blade washer opening. 
     
     
         8 . The handle according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of a nosepiece comprises a first cutting member pivotally connected to said palm handle and said second portion of said nosepiece comprises a second cutting member pivotally connected to said finger handle. 
     
     
         9 . The handle according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion of a nosepiece comprises a first gripping member pivotally connected to said palm handle and said second portion of said nosepiece comprises a second gripping member pivotally connected to said finger handle. 
     
     
         10 . A hand tool, comprising:
 a front blade pivotally connected to a back blade;   said front blade connected to a palm handle;   said back blade connected to a finger handle; and   said finger handle having a first finger flange at a distance from a second finger flange.   
     
     
         11 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said finger handle comprises a finger set having a finger trough positioned at a location between said first finger flange and said second finger flange. 
     
     
         12 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an extended finger grip adjacent to said first finger flange.   
     
     
         13 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said palm handle comprises a purlicue grip having a portion having a partial torus shape. 
     
     
         14 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said finger handle comprises a finger handle chamfer. 
     
     
         15 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said front blade is pivotally connected to said back blade by a blade pivot which passes through at least a relief washer opening and an adjacent blade washer opening. 
     
     
         16 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein a gripping force applied to at least one of a portion of the palm handle and a portion of the finger handle is force multiplied by a leverage ratio of 9.9 to 20. 
     
     
         17 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein a gripping force in a range of 0.5 kgf to 20 kgf applied to at least one of a portion of the palm handle and a portion of the finger handle results in a cutting force in a range of 50 kgf to 205 kgf imparted onto a workpiece by at least one of the front blade cutting edge and back blade cutting edge. 
     
     
         18 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said hand tool is a metal cutter. 
     
     
         19 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said hand tool is a metal snips. 
     
     
         20 . The hand tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said hand tool is an aviation snips.