GB2208156A - Handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle for a kitchen utensil or sports equipment has an elongate rigid core (1) for attachment to the utensil or sports equipment and a sheath of rubber (10) or like material encasing a major part of the core (1), so as to provide substantial friction in the hands of a user. The sheath does not extend over the whole of the inner core and at least one part (2) of the core is exposed to form a raised, ridged portion so that in use a user holding the handle can grip the rubber covering sheath with their fingers and rest their thumb on the exposed ridged portion (2) of the core. The ridged part (2) of the core provides a suitable rest for the thumb with significant grip. The sheath is located on the core by means of complimentary protrusions and recesses (7,8,11,12) which are formed on the sheath and core, some of the protrusions (7) are formed on the core raked at an angle, to be received in complimentary recesses in the inner part of the sheath, the protrusions being raked to contribute to preventing the sheath from being peeled off in the opposite direction to the rake. <IMAGE>

Description

Handle The present invention relates to a handle, and in particular, though not exclusively, to a handle for kitchen utensils or sports equipment.

The handles of present day kitchen utensils, e.g.

saucepans and the like are made from a variety of materials, for example wood, polypropylene or ABS or other plastics material. It will be readily appreciated that a user of such utensils will inevitably from time-to-time be using them with wet or greasy hands. There is with relatively smooth handles the danger of dropping the utensil with the possibility of injury to the user, and damage to the utensil itself, not to mention the mess caused by spillage of contents of the utensil. If for example the utensil is a frying pan containing very hot fat the consequences can be most serious, and it is often the case that such utensils have to be handled quickly without time for a user to clean or dry their hands. Similarly, a knife wielded in a greasy or wet hand can easily slip and injure a user.

A similar problem is encountered with handles for sports equipment, where perspiration can make the handle of for example a squash or tennis racquet slippery. Though the results of this problem are not likely to be as serious as those encountered with kitchen utensils the disadvantages to a sportsman of a slippery handle can be considerable.

The present invention is concerned with providing a handle which overcomes at least to some extent the disadvantages of these known handles.

According to the invention there is provided a handle for a kitchen utensil or sports equipment comprising: an elongate rigid core and a sheath of rubber or like material encasing a major part of the core, so as to provide substantial friction in the hands of a user.

By providing a rubber sheath on a rigid core the handle of the present invention is both strong enough to be used in conjunction with kitchen utensils, while providing improved grip through the relatively high frictional qualities of the rubber sheath. Similar advantages occur when the handle is used for sports equipment.

Preferably the sheath does not extend over the whole of the inner core and at least one part of the core is exposed to form a raised, ridged portion so that in use a user holding the handle can grip the rubber covering sheath with their fingers and rest their thumb on the exposed ridged portion of the core. The ridged part of the core provides a suitable rest for the thumb with significant grip.

Preferably the sheath is located on the core by means of complimentary protrusions and recesses which are formed on the sheath and core. Advantageously protrusions can be formed on the core raked at an angle, to be received in complimentary recesses in the inner part of the sheath, the protrusions being raked to contribute preventing the sheath from being peeled off in the opposite direction to the rake.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure la is a plan view of a core of a handle according to the preferred embodiment; Figure lb is a vertical cross-section through the core of Figure la; Figure lc is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines A-A of Figure la, Figure ld is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines B-B of Figure ib, Figure 2a is a side view of a sheath of a handle according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, partly cut-away to show internal detail, Figure 2b is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line A-A of Figure 2a, Figure 2c is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of Figure 2b, showing part of the sheath, Figure 3a is a plan view of a ring part of the handle of the preferred embodiment, Figure 3b is a side view of the ring of Figure 3a, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of a handle of the preferred embodiment with parts assembled.

The handle, which as illustrated is for a kitchen utensil, is made of three parts; a core (1), and a sheath (10) and sleeve (20) of rubber or like material. These parts will be described separately first, and then in combination.

Referring first to Figure 1, a handle core (1) is generally an elongate member of rectangular cross-section, with rounded corners. The core has major flat faces (la, lb) and sides (inc, ld) (Figure lc). Towards one end, the "front" end (le), of the core, is a raised, ribbed portion (2) while towards the other "rear", end (lf) is a through hole (3). The front end of the core is flat with an abutment flange (4) which is chamfered towards the end of the core. The end of the ribbed portion (2) adjacent the front end of the core forms an abutment flange (5), which forms a pair with the front end abutment flange (4). At the rear end of the ribbed portion (2) is a further abutment flange (6).Rearwards of the rear ribbed portion abutment flange (6) are upstanding pips (7), which, as can be seen in Figure lb are raked forward at a small angle to the vertical towards the front end of the core (1). Rearwards of the pips (7) is a blind hole or circular recess (8). The through hole (3) at the rear end of the core has a raised rim or rib (9) about its edge on each face of the core (1).

The rear end (lf) of the core (1) is rounded.

Referring now to Figure (2), a sheath (10) of rubber or rubber like material is generally tubular with a rectangular internal cross-section, corresponding to the external cross-section of the core (1). The sheath (10) is opened at a front end (lOa) and closed at a rear end (lOb).

Towards the front end of the sheath (10) on the inside are recesses (11) which are complimentary to the pips (7) on the core (1) and a circular protrusion (12), see Figure 2a.

Towards the rear end (lOb) of the sheath (10) holes a and b are formed in the sheath wall at positions corresponding to: the through hole (3) in the core.

The final part of the handle assembly is a ring or sleeve (20) of rubber material which has a generally oval or rectangular section with curved corners, but is otherwise quite plain as can be seen in Figure 3.

The thickness of the walls of the rubber sheath (10) and sleeve (20) is of the order of 2 to 3 mm. The sheath and the sleeve are dimensioned to be a tight fit about the core. The sheath and sleeve can conveniently be made from KRATON material which is moulded about the core, which can be ABS or like material, but once set the KRATON does not adhere to the core and is held in place by the form of the moulding and the cooperation between the sheath and sleeve, and the core.

The assembled handle is shown in Figure 4 with the sleeve (leo} fitted onto the rear end of the core (1) with the holes (13) in the sleeve positioned over the through hole (3) in the core (1) and the protrusions (12) on the inside of the sheath engage in the recesses (8) on the core, while the recesses (11) on the sheath receive the raked pips (7) on the core. The front end (lOa) of the sheath (10) abuts against the abutment flange (6) at the rear end of the ribbed portion (2) of the core so as to provide a smooth transition between the rubber sheath (10) and the ribbed portion (2). The rubber sleeve (20) is slid over the front end of the core (1) and fits snugly between the front end abutment flange (4) and the abutment flange (5) at the front end of the ribbed portion (2).

The handle may be attached by any suitable means to a saucepan or indeed any other kitchen utensil which may advantageously be provided with this form of handle.

In use the handle is held by a user with the large flat faces upper and lowermost with the thumb, and perhaps the forefinger engaging the ribbed portion (2) and the remainder of the fingers gripping the handle about the rubber sheath (10). The rubber material provides good frictional resistance in the hand of the user so that the handle is firmly held and so that the thumb and forefinger can apply extra pressure if necessary directly through the ribbed portion of the core, the corrugated surface of which provides a very good engagement surface. The sleeve (20) of rubber material beyond the ribbed portion (2) gives frictional resistance should the thumb slip off the ribbed portion (2). The utensil may be hung on a hook by the through hole (3).

The handle of the preferred embodiment is specifically intended for use with kitchen utensils, and this has influenced the shaping of the design, provision of the hole (3) etc. A sports handle for a tennis racquet or the like while differing in shape, would have the features of the invention, an elongate rigid core and a sheath of rubber or like material encasing a major part of the core, so as to provide substantial friction in the hands of a user. As already noted the frictional effect of the handle will have advantages for a sportsman or woman using a racquet with the handle fitted.

Claims (7)

Claims:

1. A handle for a kitchen utensil or sports equipment comprising: an elongate rigid core and a sheath of rubber or like material encasing a major part of the core, so as to provide substantial friction in the hands of a user.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the the sheath does not extend over the whole of the inner core and at least one part of the core is exposed to form a raised, ridged portion so that in use a user holding the handle in one hand can grip the rubber covering sheath with the fingers of that hand and rest the thumb on the exposed ridged portion of the core.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sheath is located on the core by means of complimentary protrusions and recesses which are formed on the sheath and core.

4. A handle as claimed in claim 3, wherein protrusions are be formed on the core raked at an angle, to be received in complimentary recesses in the inner part of the sheath, the protrusions being raked to contribute preventing the sheath from being peeled off in the opposite direction to the rake.

5. A kitchen utensil comprising a handle as described in any preceding claim.

6. Sports equipment comprising a handle as claimed in any preceding claim.

7. A handle as substantially as herein described, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.