Claims
- 1. A shock-absorbing hammer comprising:
- a handle;
- a tension rebar positioned within the handle;
- a compression rebar positioned within the handle;
- a striking head coupled to the compression rebar;
- a claw head coupled to the tension rebar, wherein the striking head and the claw head are adapted to move relative to one another;
- a lug extending from a first end of the claw head;
- the striking head defining a cavity adapted to slidably receive the lug; and
- wherein the lug and the cavity are generally square-shaped to prevent the striking head and the claw head from twisting relative to each other.
- 2. A shock-absorbing hammer comprising:
- a handle; and
- a head coupled to the handle, the head having a top surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the head being coupled to the handle, the head defining a striking head and a claw, the claw including a first slit for pulling nails, the head further defining a second slit extending from the top surface of the head towards the
- lower surface of the head situated generally between the striking head and the claw to allow the claw to move toward the striking head upon a hammer strike.
- 3. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the head defines a recess extending down from the top of the head, wherein the slit extends through at least part of the portion of the head that defines the recess.
- 4. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 3 wherein the recess is generally rectangular-shaped.
- 5. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 2 further comprising a stress relief hole extending through the head, the slit extending from the top surface of the head to the stress relief hole.
- 6. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 2 further comprising a hard stop for preventing the slit from opening more than a desired distance.
- 7. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 6 wherein the hard stop comprises:
- first and second pins fixed on opposite sides of the slit;
- a link defining first and second openings adapted to fit over the first and second pins, the openings having diameters larger than the diameters of the pins; and
- the link being placed over the pins such that the slit is allowed to close upon a hammer strike, but not open more than a predetermined distance.
- 8. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 6 wherein the hard stop comprises:
- a generally U-shaped member defining a pair of legs;
- the head defining first and second holes situated on opposite sides of the slit, each hole being adapted to receive one of the legs and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the leg; and
- the legs being placed within the holes such that the slit is allowed to close upon a hammer strike, but not open more than a predetermined distance.
- 9. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 2 wherein the handle, the striking head and the claw are integrally formed.
- 10. A hammer comprising:
- a handle, the handle defining a first end and a second end, the first end being opposite the second end;
- a striking assembly coupled to the first end of the handle, the striking assembly including a main striking head and a secondary striking head; and
- a claw feature rotatable attached to the second end of the handle.
- 11. A shock-absorbing hammer having a claw feature, the hammer comprising:
- a striking head having a first end for striking objects and a second end;
- an upper handle portion having a first and a second end; a claw feature being integrally attached at the upper handle first end forming a lagging mass, the upper handle second end defining a pocket adapted to receive the striking head second end in a manner such that the striking head and the claw feature move with respect to each other when the striking head strikes an object;
- an elastomeric material separating the striking head second end from the upper handle second end; and
- a lower handle portion attached to the upper handle portion.
- 12. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 11 wherein the lower handle portion is hingedly attached to the upper handle portion such that the upper and the lower handle portions move pivotally with respect to each other when the striking head strikes an object, but remain fixed together when the claw feature is used.
- 13. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 12 further comprising a retaining member for biasing the upper and lower handle portions together when the claw feature is used while allowing the upper and lower handle portions to move pivotally with respect to each other when the striking head strikes an object.
- 14. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 12 further comprising an elastomeric encapsulation covering the striking head second end, the upper handle second end, and at least part of the lower handle portion.
- 15. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 11 further comprising:
- the striking head second end defining a bore therethrough;
- a pin having two ends extending through the bore, each end being fixed within the upper handle second end; and
- the bore having a diameter larger than the diameter of the pin, such that the striking head is movable laterally relative to the upper handle.
- 16. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 11 further comprising a compressible biasing member situated between the striking head portion and the upper handle portion for biasing the striking head away from the upper handle portion.
- 17. A shock-absorbing hammer comprising:
- a head portion having a striking head for driving nails and a claw for pulling nails, the head portion defining an opening having an axis transverse to an axis defined by the head portion;
- a handle defining a top surface extending into the opening, the handle pivotally attached to the head portion;
- the head portion and the handle arranged such that the handle pivots relative to the head portion upon striking a nail.
- 18. The shock absorbing hammer of claim 17 wherein the head portion and the handle are further arranged such that the handle does not pivot with respect to the head portion upon pulling a nail.
- 19. The shock absorbing hammer of claim 17 wherein the handle further defines a first lateral surface adjacent the striking head and defining a first notch therein, the first notch extending from the top surface to a pivot point about which the handle pivots with respect to the head portion.
- 20. The shock absorbing hammer of claim 19 wherein the head further includes a bottom portion and the handle further defines a second lateral surface adjacent the claw, the second lateral surface defining a second notch therein extending from the pivot point past a point where the bottom portion meets the handle.
- 21. The shock absorbing hammer of claim 20 wherein the first and second notch are filled with an elastomer.
- 22. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 17 wherein the first striking head cavity and the second striking head lug are generally square-shaped to prevent the striking heads from twisting relative to each other.
- 23. A shock-absorbing hammer comprising:
- a handle;
- a rigid, load bearing head cover affixed to the handle, the head cover defining a cavity therein;
- first and second striking heads situated within the head cover, each striking head including a striking portion and defining a circumferential collar; the first striking head defining a cavity adapted to slidably receive a lug extending from the second striking head;
- the head cover having first and second ends, each end defining an opening through which the striking portions of the first and second striking heads, respectively, extend;
- the head cover first and second ends each defining a hard stop, against which the circumferential collars of the first and second ends, respectively, seat for preventing the striking heads from falling out of the head cover; and
- a biasing member situated between the circumferential collars for forcing the first and striking heads apart such that a gap is formed between the striking heads.
- 24. A hammer for driving nails, the hammer comprising:
- a handle;
- a striking head coupled to the handle, the striking head adapted to strike and therefore drive a nail, wherein the construction of the striking head is such that vibrations are produced in the striking head when a nail is struck by the striking head; and
- means coupled to the handle and to the striking head for allowing the striking head to pivot relative to the handle, thereby absorbing at least a portion of the vibrations produced when a nail is struck by the striking head.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/042,057, entitled "Dead Blow Hammer with Claw Feature," filed Apr. 9, 1997 by the same inventors, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (28)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1137125 |
May 1957 |
FRX |
1 273 449 |
Jul 1968 |
DEX |
4206588-A1 |
Jan 1993 |
DEX |