Vibration-damping control handle for a portable power tool

A power tool comprising:

• a shaft subject to vibration in a direction generally transverse to its axis during operation of said power tool;
• and
• handle means, adapted to be grasped by an operator of said power tool, for supporting and controlling the motion of said power tool, said handle means including:
• cantilever spring means, circumscribing an axial portion of said shaft, for receiving and absorbing vibration, said cantilever spring means having first and second longitudinally spaced connection areas and an intermediate portion extending between said connection areas,
• means for securing said first connection area of said cantilever spring means to said shaft in a manner such that said intermediate portion and second connection area of said cantilever spring means are isolated from said shaft, said intermediate portion of said cantilever spring means extends generally parallel to said axis, and said shaft defines a stop for limiting lateral flexure of said cantilever spring means,
• a handgrip adapted to be grasped by an operator of said power tool, and
• means for securing said handgrip to said second connection area of said cantilever spring means,
• said second connection area has a generally spherically curved outer surface and said means for securing said handgrip comprising a handgrip connecting section secured to said handgrip and having clamping means for clamping said handgrip connecting section to said outer surface in a multiplicity of positional orientations relative thereto.

A power tool comprising:

• an elongated shaft;
• drive means, operatively connected to one end of said shaft, for generating rotational power;
• rotationally drivable means operatively connected to the opposite end of said shaft;
• means for transmitting rotational power from said drive means to said rotationally drivable means;
• and
• handle means for holding and guiding said shaft, said handle means including:
• an elongated, flexible vibration isolation section longitudinally extending generally axially along said shaft,
• means for securing a first longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section to said shaft with a second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section, including an outer end thereof, being cantilevered relative to said shaft for lateral flexure relative thereto toward and away from a stopped position in which further lateral flexure of said second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section toward said shaft is directly stopped by said shaft, and
• a handgrip section secured to said second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section at a location thereon longitudinally spaced from said first longitudinal portion.

A power tool comprising:

• an elongated shaft;
• drive means, operatively connected to one end of said shaft, for generating rotational power;
• rotationally drivable means operatively connected to the opposite end of said shaft;
• means for transmitting rotational power from said drive means to said rotationally drivable means;
• and
• handle means for holding and guiding said shaft, said handle means including:
• an elongated, flexible vibration isolation section extending axially along said shaft, said elongated, flexible vibration isolation section coaxially circumscribing said shaft,
• means for securing a first longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section to said shaft with a second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section, including an outer end thereof, being cantilevered relative to said shaft for lateral flexure relative thereto, and
• a handgrip section secured to said longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section at a location thereon longitudinally spaced from said first longitudinal portion.

A power tool comprising:

• an elongated shaft;
• drive means, operatively connected to one end of said shaft, for generating rotational power;
• rotationally drivable means operatively connected to the opposite end of said shaft;
• means for transmitting rotational power from said drive means to said rotationally drivable means;
• and
• handle means for holding and guiding said shaft, said handle means including:
• an elongated flexible vibration isolation section extending axially along said shaft,
• means for securing a first longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section to said shaft with a second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section, including an outer end thereof, being cantilevered relative to said shaft for lateral flexure relative thereto, and
• a handgrip section secured to said second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section at a location thereon longitudinally spaced from said first longitudinal portion;
• and
• resilient stop means, connected to said vibration isolation section, for engaging said shaft upon lateral flexure of said vibration isolation section.

A power tool comprising:

• an elongated shaft;
• drive means, operatively connected to one end of said shaft, for generating rotational power;
• rotational drivable means operatively connected to the opposite end of said shaft;
• means for transmitting rotational power from said drive means to said rotationally drivable means;
• and
• handle means for holding and guiding said shaft, said handle means including:
• an elongated vibration isolation section extending axially along said shaft,
• means for securing a first longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section to said shaft with a second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section being laterally outwardly spaced from said shaft, and
• a handgrip section secured to said second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section at a location thereon longitudinally spaced from said first longitudinal portion;
• said handgrip section being positionally adjustable relative to said vibration isolation section and adjustably securable to an outer end portion of said second longitudinal portion of said vibration isolation section;
• said outer portion having a generally spherically curved outer surface, and said handgrip section having a split annular clamping band portion having a radially inner surface complimentarily curved relative to said outer surface and adapted to be clamped to said outer surface in a multiplicity of positional orientations thereon.

Vibration isolation handle apparatus connectable to a shaft subject to vibration comprising:

• a generally tubular, laterally flexible vibration isolation section having a first and second opposite end portions;
• means for securing said first end portion of said vibration isolation section to said shaft with the balance of said vibration isolation section, including said second end portion, circumscribing said shaft and being laterally spaced apart therefrom in a cantilevered relationship therewith;
• a handgrip section adapted to be manually grasped;
• and
• means for securing said handgrip section to said second end portion of said vibration isolation section, whereby a substantial portion of the shaft vibration transmitted to the cantilevered vibration isolation section will be absorbed therein to thereby substantially diminish shaft vibration received by said handgrip section.

Vibration isolation handle apparatus connectable to a shaft subject to vibration comprising:

• a generally tubular, laterally flexible vibration isolation section having first and second opposite end portions;
• means for securing said first end portion of said vibration isolation section to said shaft with the balance of said vibration isolation section circumscribing said shaft and being laterally spaced apart therefrom;
• a handgrip section adapted to be manually grasped;
• and
• means for securing said handgrip section to said second end portion of said vibration isolation section, whereby a substantial portion of the shaft vibration transmitted to said vibration isolation section will be absorbed therein to thereby substantially diminish shaft vibration received by said handgrip section,
• said means for securing said handgrip section being operative to permit selective positional adjustment of said handgrip section relative to said second end portion of said vibration isolation section,
• said second end portion of said vibration isolation section having a generally spherically curved outer surface, and said means for securing said handgrip section including a generally annular clamping band having a radially inner surface adapted to engage said outer surface and having a curvature generally complementary thereto.

A method of isolating the handgrip section of a power tool handle free from vibration of a shaft portion of the tool to which the handle is secured at a connection area thereon, said vibrations being generally transverse to an axis, said method comprising the steps of:

• separating said handgrip section from said connection area with an elongated, laterally flexible vibration isolation section of said handle which is longitudinally interconnected between said handgrip section and said connection area, and extends generally parallel to said axis in a cantilevered relationship with said shaft portion of the tool;
• providing said vibration isolation section with a generally tubular configuration;
• and
• inserting said shaft portion through said vibration isolation section.