Suncast Corporation

Michael R Vogler

Torrence C Anderson

Thomas A Tisbo

Stephen P Whitehead

Michael G Uffner

Brian R Moon

Lyle A Rosine

Clyde A Torp, Jr

Paul R Miessler

Michael R Hall

A D-shaped grip handle for use with a hand manipulated implement includes a generally U-shaped portion having an integral mounting sleeve for mounting the grip handle on the end of a shaft and having a hand grip bar integrally formed with the U-shaped portion so as to be disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mounting sleeve. The grip bar has a layer of soft rubber material, such as thermoplastic rubber, formed circumferentially thereon so as to create a pattern of spaced raised pads along approximately one-half of the circumference of the soft rubber layer, with the remaining half of said circumference defining a continuous smooth grip surface having an undulating contour to receive the fingers of the user's hand. The raised pads on the soft grip layer provide improved traction with the palm of the user's hand while the smooth opposite surface of the soft grip layer spreads the lifting force evenly onto the palm of the user's hand to thereby increase the comfort during use and reduce the effort required to manipulate an implement with which the grip handle is used.

Grip handle for shovel type implement

A portable work center includes a molded base panel having a plurality of clamping members, at least one wheel assembly support and at least one support leg in spaced relation to the wheel assembly support. A molded top panel is in spaced, parallel relation to the base panel, and has a plurality of clamping members, each corresponding to a clamping member on the base panel. A pair of opposingly oriented side panels extend between and connect the top and base panels to one another. A rear panel is positioned adjacent and between the side panels and extends between the top and base panels. A pair of pivotal front door panels is disposed in opposing relation to the rear panel and extends substantially between the top and base panels and the side panels. Together, the side panels, rear panel, top panel, base panel and door panels define an internal storage region and four corners. Corner support posts are positioned at each of the corners and extend between the base panel and the top panel. The posts traverse through and join the respective side panels with the rear panel and join the respective side panels with the front door panels. The posts positioned at the front corners are pintles defining axes for pivoting the front door panels relative to the side panels. Clamping member secure the posts to the top and base panels, and a wheel assembly is operable connected to the base at the wheel assembly support.

Portable work center

A user-friendly roof rake is provided to readily remove snow from a roof. The lightweight roof rake has a special plastic blade with a rounded contour to pull, curl and rapidly remove snow from a roof. The roof rake-blade can be reinforced with a series of curved ribs and can have an array of downwardly extending ribs that provide rounded teeth to prevent the lower leading edge of the blade from digging into the shingles or otherwise damaging the roof. The convenient roof rake has an expandable multi-piece handle, which preferably comprises a set of snap-fitting interlocking metal tubes that can be readily assembled and expanded for use, and can be easily dissembled for storage. The metal tubes of the handle can be thermally insulated and more easily gripped with a ribbed plastic sleeve. The outer portions of the roof rake-blade can be reinforced by stabilizing struts or braces.

Roof rake

Handle grip

Cabinet

Molded hose reel cart with guide

Molded portable hose reel cart

A portable hose reel cart has a folding handle that is pivotable between an in-use position and a storage position. The cart includes a pair of spaced apart side frames members having a base portion. A rotatable spool is positioned between the side frames and is operably connected thereto for rotation of the spool about an axis of rotation. A folding handle assembly has a pair of spaced apart mounting arms and a gripping portion extending between the mounting arms. Each of the mounting arms is associated with a respective one of the side frame members and the spool is positioned intermediate the mounting arms. The mounting arms are lockable in the handle in-use position by latches that engage their respective side frames. A pair of wheels is mounted to the cart at the base, generally vertically below the handle gripping portion, when the handle assembly is in the in-use position. The wheels are mounted to the cart independently of one another by hubs that extend from the respective side frames and insert into the wheels.

Portable hose reel cart having a folding handle

A cabinet includes a pair of spaced apart opposingly oriented, molded side panels, a molded rear panel disposed between the side panels at first edges thereof and joined thereto, a molded top panel disposed at an uppermost edge of the side and rear panels, a molded base panel in spaced, opposing relation to the top panel, disposed at a bottommost edge of the side and rear panels and a pair of pivotal, molded front door panels disposed in opposing relation to the rear panel and between the side panels and pivotally joined thereto. The cabinet includes corner support posts positioned at at least two corners that extend between the base panel and the top panel. The posts that traverse through and join the respective side panels with the door panels define front corners forming pintles defining axes for pivoting the door panels relative to the side panels. The cabinet includes clamping members for securing the posts to the top and base panels, through the cabinet corners. The cabinet includes shelves and bins that are height adjustable that slide along rails formed in the cabinet side panels.

A telescoping snow tool can be conveniently retracted for compact storage in vehicles and can be easily extended for use in shoveling and removing snow or ice. The comfortable telescoping snow tool can have an outer composite shaft with a manually grippable, thermally insulating sleeve that encloses a tubular metal core into which slides an inner shaft. The inner shaft can comprise a metal tube with a protective coating. The telescoping snow tool can have a handgrip and a blade, such as a lightweight plastic snow shovel blade.

Expandable snow tools for vehicles

Border edging

Portable hose reel cart with guide

A convenient easy-to-maneuver assembly provides a user-friendly gardening center, work bench and cart. The assembly can be readily arranged to fit the needs of the user. The preferred assembly features a table with an ergonomic handle, a wheeled base, and strong composite posts comprising metal tubes encased within impact-resistant plastic sleeves. Preferably, the versatile assembly has interchangeable modules or inserts, such as bins, grates and cutting boards, which can be placed on the table and function as shelves between panels or walls that extend between the base and table. For further capacity and versatility, the assembly can have a superstructure comprising a riser shelf that is positioned above the table.

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, IL, United States of America

Michael R Vogler