Grip sleeve for a handle

In combination with a pair of pliers or nippers having a pair of handles and at least one leaf spring disposed between the pair of handles, the spring being positioned adjacent the interior of one of the pair of handles, the spring being arranged to exert a force on the other one of the pair of handles when the pliers are closed, the spring being further arranged to bias the pliers to an open position when a closing force is removed from the handles, the improvement comprising:

• a grip sleeve mounted on at least said one of the pair of handles, the sleeve having a longitudinally extending side slot positioned in facing relationship to the other of the pair of handles, the slot having a T-shape when seen in cross-section through the sleeve, the leg of the T-shape extending toward the other of the pair of handles and forming the opening in the slot, the crossbar of the T-shape having its cross-sectional dimensions suited to the cross-sectional dimensions of the leaf spring, one end of the slot being freely exposed to permit insertion of the leaf spring in the crossbar, the leg and the crossbar of the T-shape forming a pair of flanges in the sleeve on opposed sides of the opening in the slot, one end of the leaf spring being received in said one end of the slot, said one end of the leaf spring being retained in position by the pair of flanges.