Single motion, ergonomic fail-to-safe trigger/switch with rapidly adjustable securement
A handle assembly for a media blast hose including a handle grip and at least a clamp affixed to the handle grip and configured to secure the handle assembly to the media blast hose. The at least a clamp including a closed ring and a mechanism configured to adjust an amount of friction between the at least a clamp and the media blast hose. In a first engagement position of the at least a clamp, the handle assembly may be linearly and rotationally independent of the media blast hose and in a second engagement position of the at least a clamp, the handle assembly may be rigidly attached to the media blast hose through frictional engagement.
1 . A handle assembly for a media blast hose, comprising:
a handle grip; and
a clamp affixed to the handle grip and configured to secure the handle assembly to the media blast hose, wherein:
the clamp comprises:
a closed ring; and
a mechanism configured to adjust an amount of friction between the clamp and the media blast hose, wherein the mechanism when actuated reduces a diameter of the closed ring to position the clamp from a first engagement position to a second engagement position wherein:
the first engagement position of the clamp comprises a first predetermined diameter of the closed ring to configure the handle assembly to be linearly and rotationally independent of the media blast hose to allow for repositioning during use of the handle assembly in a continuous motion without detaching or removing the clamp from the media blast hose; and
the second engagement position of the clamp comprises a second predetermined diameter of the closed ring to configure the handle assembly to be rigidly attached to the media blast hose through frictional engagement.
2 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closed ring comprises:
a friction material layer comprising material having a static coefficient of friction of at least 0.6, wherein the friction material layer is configured to resist slippage between the clamp and the media blast hose when the clamp is in the second engagement position.
3 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the closed ring comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting regions configured to receive and secure the handle grip.
4 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a security feature positioned adjacent to the mechanism and configured to restrict movement of the mechanism.
5 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamp further comprises a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism comprises:
at least two separable segments of the closed ring; and
a mechanical fastening interface configured to mechanically connect the at least two separable segments of the closed ring, wherein the two separable segments are configured to encircle the media blast hose.
6 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle grip comprises a pistol grip handle wherein the pistol grip handle is configured to permit single-handed actuation of the mechanism.
7 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle grip is removably connected to the clamp by a mechanical fastening interface.
8 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle grip further comprises a trigger mechanism, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises:
a safety switch positioned adjacent to a trigger;
the trigger operably coupled to the safety switch; and
a control connection situated within the handle assembly and operably connected to both the safety switch and the trigger, wherein the control connection is configured to control an operating state of the media blast hose in response to activation of the safety switch when the trigger is engaged.
9 . The handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the safety switch is configured to physically obstruct movement of the trigger until the safety switch is displaced through an arc of motion within a range of approximately 15 to 30 degrees.
10 . The handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
in an operating position of the handle assembly, the trigger mechanism is aligned with a user's palm.
11 . The handle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the trigger mechanism is:
positioned on a proximal side of the handle grip relative to a user; and
oriented in a direction aligned with a force vector of the media blast hose during operation.
12 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein reducing the diameter of the closed ring comprises a circumferential clamping force that compresses the media blast hose radially inward and resists axial and rotational movement of the handle assembly during use.
13 . The handle assembly of claim 12 , wherein actuation of the closed ring is configured to apply the circumferential clamping force to an outer surface of the media blast hose of at least 40 pounds of force.
14 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second clamp affixed to the media blast hose at a position spaced apart from the clamp to provide distributed stability.
15 . The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined diameter of the closed ring comprises an expanded position and the second predetermined diameter of the closed ring comprises a contracted position.
16 . A method for attaching a handle assembly to a media blast hose, the method comprising:
affixing a handle grip to a clamp comprising a closed ring to form a handle assembly;
positioning the handle assembly on the media blast hose using a mechanism configured to adjust an amount of friction between the clamp and the media blast hose, wherein the mechanism when actuated reduces a diameter of the closed ring to position the clamp from a first engagement position to a second engagement position wherein:
the first engagement position of the clamp comprises a first predetermined diameter of the closed ring to configure the handle assembly to be linearly and rotationally independent of the media blast hose to allow for repositioning during use of the handle assembly in a continuous motion without detaching or removing the clamp from the media blast hose; and
the second engagement position of the clamp comprises a second predetermined diameter of the closed ring to configure the handle assembly to be rigidly attached to the media blast hose through frictional engagement.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the handle grip comprises a trigger mechanism, the method further comprising:
manually displacing a safety switch through an arc of motion between approximately 15 and 30 degrees to unblock a trigger; and
actuating the trigger to activate a control connection that modifies an operating state of the media blast hose.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein reducing the diameter of the closed ring comprises a circumferential clamping force that compresses the media blast hose radially inward and resists axial and rotational movement of the handle assembly during use.
19 . The handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein actuation of the closed ring is configured to apply the circumferential clamping force to an outer surface of the media blast hose of at least 40 pounds of force.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first predetermined diameter of the closed ring comprises an expanded position and the second predetermined diameter of the closed ring comprises a contracted position.