# US 11,110,585 B2 · Grip component for a hand tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,585 B2 - Document ID: US11110585B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/666,776 - Filed: 2019-10-29 - Published: 2020-04-30 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-02 - Assignees: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. - Applicants: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. - Inventors: Keith Lombardi; Aliaksei Chernyshou; Thomas Pelletier; George Soria; Antony Orsini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110585B2 ## CPC - B25G 1/01: Shock-absorbing means (B25G1/02 takes precedence) - B25G 3/34: by pressing the handle on the implements; using cement or molten metal, e.g. casting, moulding, by welding or the like - B25B 23/16: Handles (in general B25G) - B29C 45/1671: {with an insert} - B29C 45/1676: {using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part} - B25B 15/00: Screwdrivers (hand-driven gear-operated B25B17/00; impact screwdrivers B25B19/00; portable power-driven B25B21/00 {; screwdrivers specially adapted for osteosynthesis A61B17/8875}) - B25D 1/04: with provision for withdrawing or holding nails or spikes - B26B 23/00: Axes; Hatchets {(attaching of the handles B25G)} - B29C 45/14336: {Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article (B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence)} - B29C 45/14426: {Coating the end of wire-like or rod-like or cable-like or blade-like or belt-like articles} - B29C 2045/1673: {injecting the first layer, then feeding the insert, then injecting the second layer} - B29K 2021/003: {Thermoplastic elastomers} - B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29L 2031/463: {Grips, handles (handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029)} - B25G: HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS (attaching the blades or the like to handles of hand tools for soil working A01B1/22; handles of hand implements for harvesting A01D1/14; handles integral with brushware A46B) - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B25D: PERCUSSIVE TOOLS {(percussive machines for forging B21J; hand-held drilling machines, in general B23B45/00, for wood B27C3/08; drilling machines, used for mining or quarrying, with reciprocating tool which is turned intermittently when out of contact with the working face E21B1/00)} - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A hand tool comprising a head portion, a shaft, and a grip component is provided. The grip component and the shaft form a handle of the hand tool. The grip component is a reverse-molded component formed by: forming the external portion of the grip component by molding a first thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) material into a shell that surrounds a first cavity; after forming the external portion; placing the shaft into the first cavity; and, after the external portion is formed and the shaft is placed into the first cavity, forming the inner portion of the grip component by injecting a second TPE material or TPU material into the first cavity and onto the shaft. The first TPE or TPU material has a first level of hardness, and the second TPE or TPU material has a second level of hardness lower than the first level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand tool, comprising: a shaft forming a driving bit at a first end of the hand tool, or having a bit-receiving socket at a first end of the hand tool; and a grip component disposed around the shaft at a second and opposite end of the hand tool, wherein the grip component and the shaft form a handle of the hand tool, wherein the grip component has: an external portion formed from a first thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) material, a first inner portion formed from a second TPE or TPU material having a lower level of hardness relative to the first TPE or TPU material, and a second inner portion disposed between the shaft and the first inner portion, wherein the second inner portion has a sleeve portion that is in direct contact with the shaft and extends along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the second inner portion has a plurality of wall portions that extend from the sleeve portion to the external portion of the grip component, wherein the grip component is a reverse-molded component formed by: forming the external portion of the grip component by molding the first thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) material into a shell that surrounds the shaft and forms a first set of cavities located between the shaft and the shell; after the external portion of the grip component is formed, forming the first inner portion by injecting the second TPE or TPU material into the first set of cavities, wherein the first inner portion is located between the external portion and the shaft, wherein the external portion is formed after the second inner portion is formed, and wherein, after the external portion is formed and before the first inner portion is formed, the external portion surrounds a space between the external portion and the second inner portion, and wherein the space is divided into the first set of cavities by the plurality of wall portions of the second inner portion, wherein the first inner portion includes a plurality of sub-portions that are formed by injecting the second TPE or TPU material into the first set of cavities, respectively, and wherein the first inner portion further includes a connection sub-portion disposed at the second end of the hand tool, wherein the connecting sub-portion connects the plurality of sub-portions that were formed in the first set of cavities. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the second inner portion is formed from a material that is harder than the first TPE or TPU material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the external portion is an exposed user contact surface for the grip component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hand tool of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the first inner portion is greater than a thickness of the external portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the second TPE or TPU material has a durometer that is in a range of shore 00-10 to shore 00-30. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hand tool of claim 1, wherein, after the hand tool is formed, the first inner portion has one or more cavities within the second TPE or TPU material thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the first inner portion is not covered by the external portion at the second end of the hand tool. ### Claim 8 A hand tool, comprising: a shaft forming a driving bit at a first end of the hand tool, or having a bit-receiving socket at a first end of the hand tool; and a grip component disposed around the shaft at a second and opposite end of the hand tool, wherein the grip component and the shaft form a handle of the hand tool, wherein the grip component has: an external portion formed from a first thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) material and has a first inner portion formed from a second TPE or TPU material having a lower level of hardness relative to the first TPE or TPU material, wherein the grip component is a reverse-molded component formed by: forming the external portion of the grip component by molding the first thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) material into a shell that surrounds the shaft and forms a first cavity located between the shaft and the shell; after the external portion of the grip component is formed, forming the first inner portion by injecting the second TPE or TPU material into the first cavity, wherein the first inner portion is located between the external portion and the shaft, and wherein, after the hand tool is formed, the first inner portion has one or more cavities within the second TPE or TPU material thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hand tool of claim 8, wherein each cavity of the one or more cavities extends along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The hand tool of claim 8, wherein the external portion is an exposed user contact surface for the grip component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The hand tool of claim 8, wherein a thickness of the first inner portion is greater than a thickness of the external portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The hand tool of claim 8, wherein the second TPE or TPU material has a durometer that is in a range of shore 00-10 to shore 00-30. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The hand tool of claim 8, wherein the first inner portion is not covered by the external portion at the second end of the hand tool. ### Claim 14 A hand tool, comprising: a shaft forming a driving bit at a first end of the hand tool, or having a bit-receiving socket at a first end of the hand tool; and a grip component disposed around the shaft at a second and opposite end of the hand tool, wherein the grip component and the shaft form a handle of the hand tool, wherein the grip component has: an external portion formed from a first thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) material and has a first inner portion formed from a second TPE or TPU material having a lower level of hardness relative to the first TPE or TPU material, wherein the grip component is a reverse-molded component formed by: forming the external portion of the grip component by molding the first thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) material into a shell that surrounds the shaft and forms a first cavity located between the shaft and the shell; after the external portion of the grip component is formed, forming the first inner portion by injecting the second TPE or TPU material into the first cavity, wherein the first inner portion is located between the external portion and the shaft, and wherein the first inner portion is not covered by the external portion at the second end of the hand tool. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hand tool of claim 14, wherein, after the hand tool is formed, the first inner portion has one or more cavities within the second TPE or TPU material thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The hand tool of claim 14, wherein the external portion is an exposed user contact surface for the grip component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The hand tool of claim 14, wherein a thickness of the first inner portion is greater than a thickness of the external portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The hand tool of claim 14, wherein the second TPE or TPU material has a durometer that is in a range of shore 00-10 to shore 00-30.