Compacting tool with welded handle

Abstract

A compacting tool includes an upper mass and a lower mass coupled to the upper mass. The upper and lower mass define a driving axis that extends centrally through the upper and lower mass. The compacting tool includes a motive source supported by the upper mass, the motive source having an output shaft, a battery configured to provide power to the motive source, and a handle coupled to the upper mass. The handle defines a handle axis that extends centrally trough the handle and intersects the driving axis at an intersection point. The handle includes a first and second hollow frame members, a grip portion, and a solid insert partially received by the first frame member and partially received by the second frame member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compacting tool comprising:
 an upper mass;   a lower mass coupled to the upper mass, the upper and lower mass defining a driving axis that extends centrally through the upper and lower mass;   a motive source supported by the upper mass, the motive source including an output shaft;   a battery configured to provide power to the motive source; and   a handle coupled to the upper mass, the handle defining a handle axis that extends centrally through the handle and intersects the driving axis at an intersection point, the handle including
 a first frame member, 
 a second frame member, wherein the first and second frame members are hollow, 
 a grip portion, and 
 a solid insert, 
   wherein the solid insert is partially received by the first frame member and partially received by the second frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The compacting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a welded joint coupling the first frame member, the second frame member, and the solid insert to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The compacting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes an interface support welded to the grip portion. 
     
     
         4 . The compacting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the solid insert is located at a distance between 50 millimeters and 250 millimeters from the intersection point along the handle axis. 
     
     
         5 . The compacting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second frame members each include a recess. 
     
     
         6 . The compacting tool of  claim 5 , wherein the recess of the first frame member and the recess of the second frame member are each located at a distance between 75 millimeters and 150 millimeters from the intersection point along the handle axis. 
     
     
         7 . The compacting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion extends between and connects the first and second frame members. 
     
     
         8 . The compacting tool of  claim 7 , wherein the grip portion is formed of solid metal. 
     
     
         9 . The compacting tool of  claim 7 , wherein the grip portion is welded to the first frame member and to the second frame member. 
     
     
         10 . The compacting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a carry handle portion extending between the first and second frame members and welded to the first and second frame members. 
     
     
         11 . A compacting tool comprising:
 an upper mass;   a lower mass coupled to the upper mass, the upper and lower mass defining a driving axis that extends centrally through the upper and lower mass;   a motive source supported by the upper mass, the motive source including an output shaft;   a battery configured to provide power to the motive source; and   a handle coupled to the upper mass, the handle defining a handle axis that extends centrally through the handle and intersects the driving axis at an intersection point, the handle including
 a first frame member, 
 a second frame member, wherein the first and second frame members are hollow, 
 a solid insert received within the first frame member and the second frame member proximate a first end of the handle, and 
 a welded joint coupling the first frame member, the second frame member, and the solid insert to each other. 
   
     
     
         12 . The compacting tool of  claim 11 , wherein the handle includes a carry handle portion extending between the first frame member and the second frame member and is welded to the first and second frame members. 
     
     
         13 . The compacting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the carry handle portion is a hollow tube. 
     
     
         14 . The compacting tool of  claim 11 , wherein the handle includes a pair of brackets, one of the pair of brackets is coupled to the first frame member and the other of the pair of brackets is coupled to the second frame member. 
     
     
         15 . The compacting tool of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second frame members each include a recess. 
     
     
         16 . A compacting tool comprising:
 an upper mass;   a lower mass coupled to the upper mass, the upper and lower mass defining a driving axis that extends centrally through the upper and lower mass;   a motive source supported by the upper mass, the motive source including an output shaft;   a battery configured to provide power to the motive source; and   a handle coupled to the upper mass, the handle defining a handle axis that extends centrally through the handle and intersects the driving axis at an intersection point, the handle including
 a first frame member, 
 a second frame member, wherein the first and second frame members are hollow, 
 a solid grip portion extending between the first hollow frame member and the second hollow frame member, and 
 a solid insert received within the first and second frame members at an end of the handle opposite the solid grip portion. 
   
     
     
         17 . The compacting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the solid insert and the solid grip portion are welded to the first and second frame members. 
     
     
         18 . The compacting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the handle includes a carry handle portion extending between the first hollow frame member and the second hollow frame member and located between the solid insert and the solid grip portion along the handle axis, wherein the carry handle portion is welded to the first and second hollow frame members. 
     
     
         19 . The compacting tool of  claim 16 , further comprising a roller coupled to the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The compacting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the solid insert is located at a distance between 50 millimeters and 250 millimeters from the intersection point along the handle axis.