Patent Application
20080216328
The described invention relates generally to a hand and finger protection system for use with hand-operated saws, and more specifically to an easily attachable and detachable hand and finger guard for use with saws, hacksaws and the like.
The hacksaw is a common tool used for sawing or cutting through metal, plastic, and other particularly hard materials. Hacksaws typically include a handle, often of a pistol-grip type, which is attached to one end of a frame that is used to support a saw blade. The user of a hacksaw grips the handle firmly and usually exerts considerable force on both the saw and the material being cut with the saw. As the process of sawing through material such as metal or hard plastic proceeds, sharp and/or jagged edges are often formed on the material being cut. A forceful forward stroke of the hacksaw may bring the hand and fingers of the user into direct contact with these sharp and/or jagged edges, thereby creating a significant risk for debilitating injury. While some hacksaw hand guards have been disclosed in the art, these devices are not necessarily viable in a commercial sense because they are too mechanically complex, are limited to use with specific types of saws, or because they substantially block the view of the user, making it difficult to clearly see the material being cut. Thus, there is an ongoing need for an effective, inexpensive, and easily-used hand and finger guard for use with saws, and hacksaws in particular.
The following provides a summary of exemplary embodiments of a hand and finger guard for use with saws, according to the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical aspects or elements of the present invention or to delineate its scope.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a saw and hand guard system is provided. An exemplary embodiment of this system includes: a hand-operated saw, wherein the saw further includes a handle having a rear portion and a front portion, and wherein the rear portion is adapted to receive a user's hand; and a hand guard adapted to be mounted on the front portion of the handle. The hand-guard further includes: a durable, rigid plate, wherein the plate further includes a single, unitary piece of material, and wherein the single piece of material is formed, shaped, or fabricated to provide at least two distinct protective surfaces; at least one bracket attached to or formed integrally with the plate for detachably mounting the plate on the front portion of the handle; and at least one connector, wherein the at least one connector cooperates with the at least one bracket for mounting the hand-guard on the front portion of the handle.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a safety system for use with saws or other tools is provided. An exemplary embodiment of this system includes: a hand-operated saw, wherein the saw further includes a handle having at least a rear portion and a front portion, and wherein the rear portion is adapted to receive a user's hand; and a detachable hand-guard device mountable on the front portion of the handle in either a right-handed orientation or a left-handed orientation. The hand-guard device further includes: an impact resistant plate, wherein the plate further includes a single piece of material, and wherein the single piece of material is contoured or otherwise shaped to provide multiple protective surfaces; at least two substantially C-shaped brackets affixed to or formed integrally with the plate, wherein the at least two brackets are each adapted to receive the front portion of the handle; and at least two quick-release connectors, wherein the at least two quick release connectors cooperate with the at least two brackets for detachably mounting the hand-guard on the front portion of the handle of the hand-operated saw.
In yet another aspect of this invention, a hand and finger guarding device for use with hand-operated saws is provided. This device includes: a hand and finger guarding device for use with hand-operated saws, comprising: a durable, rigid plate, wherein the plate further includes a single piece of material, and wherein the single piece of material is shaped to provide at least two distinct protective surfaces; at least one mounting bracket attached to or formed integrally with the plate; and at least one connector, wherein the at least one connector is adapted to cooperate with the at least one mounting bracket for detachably mounting the hand and finger guarding device on a hand-operated saw.
Additional features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and associated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention, and wherein:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the Figures. Reference numerals are used throughout the detailed description to refer to the various elements and structures. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form for purposes of simplifying the description. Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.
The present invention relates to a safety system for use with hand-operated cutting tools. As previously indicated, a first general embodiment of this invention provides a saw and hand guard system; a second general embodiment of this invention provides a safety system for use with saws; and a third general embodiment of this invention provides a hand and finger guarding device for use with hand-operated saws such as hacksaws. With reference now to the Figures, one or more specific embodiments of this invention shall be described in greater detail.
As best shown in
Mounting brackets 40 and 50, which are typically C-shaped brackets, are attached to the front portion of handle 14 by connectors 44 and 54 respectively (see
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in certain detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to any of the specific details, representative devices and methods, and/or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
