A system of hand-held lathe tool assemblies especially for executing large scale deep and/or hollow work efficiently and rapidly while minimizing operator fatigue. Tool working portions may be integral with their carriers or holders or may be selectively connected to them by means of a conventional chuck or collet. The butt portions of very long lathe tool assemblies permit the turner to apply forewarm and/or upper body to the tool and gain sufficient leverage to work comfortably and hence with enhanced control while performing large scale work with tool reaches from rest to tool cutting point as high as 36 inches in length. A "slicer" tool facilitates separation (and conservation) of large volumes of material without comminution in the rough shaping stages of work. Other tool forms are disclosed.
A lathe tool includes a stiff shank and handle portion and, adjustably extending forward from the shank, cantilever fashion, an elongated resilient blade. The combination is configured and disposed on a tool rest so that, when the tip of the blade engages a downwardly moving surface of a workpiece, a vibration or chatter of the blade results and produces a three dimensional textured pattern on the workpiece. Pattern and texture may be selectively varied by adjusting the unsupported length of the blade (to control its frequency of vibration), by changing speed of rotation of the workpiece, by changing pressure of the tool blade on the workpiece, and by lateral and rotational manipulation of the tool.
A manually directed lathe tool system for removal of internally disposed material and creating a void inside a lathe turned form. As shown in FIG. 1, an articulated boring bar (32) of a tubular crosssection is slidably manipulated and supported by a plane surface (140) during a cutting action. To increase offset cutting ability several different lengths of a detachable and hinged arm assembly (40) are used. Arm assembly can be fixed or moved to three different positions relative to boring bar (FIG. 2) by manipulating a hand knob (36). A moveable and replaceable cutting tool (198) is held at the end of the arm assembly. A wall thickness caliper system (44) which ends in a tip (130) of some flexible material to allow operator appraisal of the internally disposed cutting tool's position. A back restraint assembly (141) is used to prevent the downward pitch of the boring bar's cutting end during material removal and consequent upward pitch of the opposite end of the boring bar, and especially during a highly leveraged cutting action. An outrider (38) attached to the boring bar prevents rotational movement of the tool relative to its longitudinal axis, especially during a leveraged offset cutting action. The outrider is able to be attached at several different locations on the boring bar and also serves as the support for the caliper system. Platform base (34B) is mounted rigidly to the lathe bed (30) and maintains platform assembly (34A) at a proper height. A precise wall thickness that mirrors the outside form can be achieved with this system. The system can be used to hollow-out forms not possible with previous practice. A narrow and restricted mouth opening does not hinder hollowing-out large diameters and deep forms. The operator is in control during all leveraged cutting actions and experiences minimal operator fatigue.
The handle assembly comprises a beam which extends from an area on the user's forearm to just beyond the user's knuckles between the phalanges and metatarsals. A saddle at the forearm end distributes loads over the forearm area. The saddle may be fitted with a adjustable strap to hold the saddle in place. There is a journal at the knuckle end, the axis of the journal being essentially parallel to the beam and positioned such that the hub of a hand grip attached to a shaft in the journal fits between the fore and middle fingers of the users hand. An adaptor is attached to the shaft to facilitate attaching any of a variety of tools or implements to the assembly. In one embodiment of the invention the grip comprises a second saddle which engages the wrist joint for the hand. Mounting the grip and adaptor on the journalled shaft enables altering the active direction of the tool or implement without moving the forearm saddle on the arm.
The present invention relates to an improved ergonomic handle that comprises an elongated member having a distal end, a proximal end, a first portion adjacent to the distal end, a second portion adjacent to the proximal end, and a middle portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion defining a grip. A hand supported implement is attached to the distal end of the elongated member, and the second portion is aligned along an axis and comprises a forearm support member. The middle portion forms an angle of substantially at least ninety degrees to the axis, and a barrier is formed at a junction between the first portion and the middle portion for inhibiting the handle from slipping out of a hand. A user grips the middle portion of the elongated member with his or her hand and places his or her forearm on the forearm support member. When the ergonomic handle is lifted, causing the hand supported implement to be lifted as well, the barrier lies on the user's index finger, preventing the ergonomic handle and the hand supported implement from slipping out of the user's hand.
A multipurpose tool holder with a frame and pivoting ring fitting over the arm has a first handle to grasp when only the forearm is inserted and a second handle to grasp when the full arm is inserted, the pivoting ring allowing bending of the elbow. A tube with a keyless chuck serves as the second handle and receives the end of a tool.
