Patent Application
20180214718
This invention generally relates to striking tools and, particularly, to though used in demolition, security, and fire rescue activities.
Axes, sledgehammers, mattocks, and other striking tools are well known in the art. Generally, they comprise a head piece mounted to a handle, the head piece being configured to performing a specific function, e.g., splitting wood, applying crushing blunt force, or cutting materials. They are operated by the user angularly accelerating the head by means of the handle, the head being directed toward the target object. The inherent mechanical function of such tools relies on them impacting the target object on which significant force is applied. Where the target object is not readily frangible, the striking tool head will often become embedded into the target object slowing or preventing the user from extracting the tool head and continuing in his task. In certain situations, particularly fire rescue operations, a tool becoming inextricably embedded can create or exacerbate life threatening situations.
Certain examples in the prior art help illustrate common limitations with previous attempts to improve on the function of striking tools. U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,205 discloses a Wedge and Axe Head. This reference describes an axe head that comprises a pair of levers which help to split the target object, in this case wood. The head has a set of lateral ribs which act to shield the levers from the splitting wood advancing on either side of the head. The ribs neither prevent the head from advancing into the target object, but facilitate the head continuing advancing into the target object by allowing the levers to work to further split the wood apart and around the head cutting surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,558 discloses an Axe Maul Apparatus. This reference describes an axe head the cutting surface of which is configured with one or more penetration points enhancing the head's penetrating capability. Ribs are disposed along the sides of the head to reduce the surface area of the head that is in contact with the head's target object (i.e., it “rides over”) during penetration. Like U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,205, this reference discloses features which encourage the head to continue into the target object as far as the head's momentum will allow upon striking, and contemplate complete obliteration or explosion of the target object obviating any extraction of the head. When the target object does not explode, the user is left prying the head out of the target object.
A review of the foregoing references and the rest of the prior art reveals that existing striking apparatus technology is not designed to prevent striking heads from becoming substantially embedded. Indeed, existing technologies are adapted to improving splitting function to the point where the target object will be substantially fragmented or obliterated, leaving nothing left into which the head could become embedded. Because many, if not most, occasions on which a striking apparatus might be used will not involve a singular target object or multiple target objects which a striking apparatus user desires to obliterate or explode, existing designs fail to be comprehensive of mechanical actions a user will want to exert on his environment.
The present invention is a striking apparatus comprised of a head and a handle. The head has fore, mid, and aft portions. The fore portion has two sides, forming a blade-like extension from the mid portion. A transition portion exists between the fore and mid portions on which at least two shoulders are formed as the mid portion transitions into the fore portion. The fore portion has a striking means that comprises a longitudinal arcuate striking face. At the lateral apex of the arcuate striking face is a piercing edge, that edge tapering into a splitting edge in both directions along the arcuate striking face. The head is adapted to receive a handle, the handle being used to angularly accelerate the head against a target object. On impact, the piercing edge leads and penetrates into the target object. As the piercing edge penetrates, the target object is split along the tapering arcuate striking face and sides of the fore portion until it meets the shoulders, limiting the head's overall penetration into the target object and helping to prevent the head from becoming embedded therein. However, to assist with removing the head from the target object in the case the head becomes embedded, the user may simply lift the handle away from the target object whereby the shoulders act as fulcra against the target object allowing the fore portion to be rotated out of the target object.
The fore portion has a channel on either side into which tines of a forked tool may be secured. The fore, mid, and aft portions share a continuous, flat top surface to enable the striking apparatus to be used as a ram. The striking apparatus may be used to breach a door
It is an object of the invention to provide a striking apparatus free from the limitations of standard axe-type and splitting striking tools. It is another object of the invention to teach a method of using a striking tool, as described herein, in door breaching procedures as may be used in demolition, security, or fire rescue operations. It is another object of the invention to teach a method of using a striking apparatus, as described herein, to strike a target object and then remove the partially-embedded striking apparatus by means of the shoulder features acting as fulcra and the striking apparatus' handle as a lever. Further objects and features of this invention will become more apparent upon considering the following drawings and description.
The accompanying figures and drawings, incorporated into and forming part of the specification, service to further illustrate the present invention, its various principles and advantages, and its varying embodiments:
Provided is a striking apparatus the head one embodiment of which is illustrated in
Another embodiment of the striking apparatus appears in
The head, as illustrated herein, may be made from any material suitable for striking purposes which generally comprise durable metal alloys (e.g., rolled steel and titanium alloys). The handle may generally be made from wood, fiberglass, laminated carbon fiber, or other materials which are shock resistant and/or have vibration-dampening characteristics. The handle may be secured within the longitudinal journal of the head by adhesive and/or collared means as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/016,240.
While the striking apparatus invention and methods of use thereof have been described with reference to certain embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/592,671 filed Feb. 1, 2017 which is still pending.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 29592671 | Feb 2017 | US |
| Child | 15661387 | US |
