Patent Grant
9718179
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hand-held striking tools, such as hammers and the like, that comprise a handle which is gripped by the user and a head that has at least one striking portion. More particularly, the present invention relates to such striking tools that have a head that is secured to the upper section of the handle. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such striking tools in which the head engages the handle and/or a connecting element is received through one end of the handle to secure the head to the handle.
B. Background
Hand-held striking tools have been in use for a very long time and are available in a wide variety of different configurations which are beneficially constructed and selected to accomplish one or more striking tasks. Such tools comprise a handle having a lower end and an upper end and a head that is either attached to or integral with the handle, typically at or near the upper end thereof. A gripping portion of the handle is sized and configured to be comfortably and safely held in the hand of the user so the user can swing the handle with his or her arm to direct the head of the tool to where the work is to be accomplished. The head of the striking tool is generally structured and arranged to accomplish the desired striking or other work objective. One common configuration for a striking tool is as a hammer with the head comprising at least one striking surface that is selected to contact a work object and achieve the desired work objective, which may be to drive the work object into another object, reshape the object, break the object into smaller pieces or like tasks. Another configuration for a striking tool is as an axe having at least one blade with a sharp edge that is driven against wood to shape or break the wood. Yet another configuration for a striking tool is as a small, hand-held pick having at least one generally pointed end that is used to contact an object, such as rock, brick, concrete pad or the like, and break or chip away a portion of the object.
With regard to striking tools that are configured as a hammer, there are a wide variety of different types of hammers. Perhaps the most common type of hammer is the claw hammer, which is utilized by millions of professional and non-professional carpenters and other construction workers throughout the world. The head of the typical claw hammer has a striking portion at one end and a claw portion at the opposite end. The striking portion of the head has an outwardly disposed striking face that is directed at and makes contact with the object, such as the head of a nail or the like, for which the striking tool is being utilized to accomplish a particular work objective, such as driving the nail into a piece of wood. The striking face may be planar or have a slight curvature thereto. The claw portion of the hammer typically comprises a pair of outwardly extending, divergently spaced apart claw members that are structured and arranged to be received under the head of a nail in a manner that allows the user of the claw hammer to apply leverage to the nail to pull or pry the nail out from where it was previously placed.
Pry bars and other tools having a similarly configured claw portion are also utilized to remove nails from an object. U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,432 to Martinez (the present inventor) describes a nail puller on the side of the head of a hammer. The nail puller comprises a pair of nail engagement edges and an opening into the hammer head. The opening is designed such that the head of the nail being pulled will fit inside the opening so the nail engagement edges will engage the underside of the nail head. The user pulls the nail out of the object by laying the hammer head next to the nail head, sliding the nail engagement edges under the nail head and then rotating the hammer head to pull the nail out of the object. The opening in the hammer head is positioned at the intersection of a striking axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the striking face, and a handle axis, which is substantially parallel to the handle shaft.
Other common hammers are the sledge hammer, ball-peen hammer and rock hammer. The sledge hammer is typically configured with a much larger and heavier head than a claw hammer and it usually has a striking portion at each end of the head, with each striking portion have a striking face. The striking faces of the two striking portions are usually configured to be in opposite facing directions. Sledge hammers are most commonly utilized to drive larger, heavier objects, such as a stake, wedge, drill, chisel or the like, or to break apart harder materials, including concrete, brick and the like. The head of a typical ball-peen hammer, which is also referred to as a machinist's hammer, has a flat striking portion with a generally planar striking face and a ball striking portion with a generally hemispherically-shaped peening surface. The ball striking portion of the head is utilized to round off edges of metal pins and fasteners, such as rivets. The head of a rock hammer, which is also known as the geologist's hammer or rock pick, typically comprises a flat striking portion with a generally planar striking face and a pick portion with an outwardly extending, generally pointed pick end. The pick portion of a rock hammer is commonly utilized for splitting and breaking rocks to determine the composition of a rock and by persons in mineral and fossil collecting to get at the minerals and/or fossils.
The handle of a typical striking tool, including hammers, is sized and configured for the user to securely, safely and comfortably grip the striking tool and to maintain that grip as he or she swings the tool and contacts the head of the tool against an object. The handle of a hammer can be made out of wood, polymers and a variety of metals, including steel, aluminum, titanium and the like. As set forth above, the head of the hammer can be attached to or integral with the upper section of the handle. In one embodiment, the upper section of the handle is sized and configured to be received in an aperture in or through the head and then secured thereto using a wedge or like mechanism. In another embodiment, the handle may be made by casting or forging and joined to the head by welding or other connecting mechanism appropriate for the materials used for the handle and head. Depending on the material utilized for the handle, the lower section thereof may be coated, covered, imbedded with or otherwise comprise a gripping material that provides the user with the ability to better grip the handle, swing the tool and absorb the contact with the object being hit.
Typically, the head of a striking tool was made out of hardened steel or other very hard metals, usually by a casting or forging process, to provide a striking portion, claw portion, pick portion or other portions which are sufficiently rigid and impact resistant to allow the user provide the necessary force with the striking tool to accomplish the desired work objective. More recently, striking tool heads have also been made out of lighter weight materials, such as titanium and titanium-based alloys, that are sufficiently strong enough to accomplish the desired striking objectives but reduce the weight of the portion of the tool that is swung by the user. In addition to being easier to carry and swing, the use of a lighter weight head increases the speed of the head as it arcs through its swing path to provide a greater amount applied force at the striking face or at the other desired striking portion of the tool. An example of a light-weight striking tool that is made out of titanium or a titanium-based alloy is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,059 to Martinez (the present inventor). Compared to hardened steels and the like, titanium is a softer material. As a result, the impact force against the striking portion of the head can result in wear and distortion, particularly at or near the striking face. To reduce the likelihood of wear and distortion, U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,308 to Thorne, et al. describes the addition of a separate, steel hardened striking member on the head of the striking tool to provide the desired striking face or working surface. In one embodiment, the hardened steel striking member has a cylindrical projection that is sized and configured to be shrink fit into a cylindrical recess in the head of a hammer, with the head being made out of the lighter weight titanium or titanium-based alloy.
Despite the various advantages of the prior art with regard to improved configurations for striking tools, including those set forth above, there remains a need for further improvements to striking tools. Specifically, with regard to the head of the striking tool, there is a need to be able to separately replace either the head or the handle of the striking tool. As well known by persons skilled in the art, often either the head or the handle of the striking tool will prematurely wear or become damaged so it is no longer useable, such as the striking portion becoming misshaped or the handle breaking, while the other portion of the tool is still useable. Presently, because it is usually too difficult or not cost effective to replace only the head or the handle of a striking tool, it is common that the entire striking tool is replaced.
What is needed, therefore, is a striking tool that has an improved mechanism for connecting the head and handle together. In one configuration, the improved striking tool should join the head and the handle together in a way which makes replacement of one of these components much easier and less expensive than with current striking tools. The mechanism for joining the head and handle of the improved striking tool should safely and effectively secure the head to the handle so these components will not become disengaged during use. Preferably, such an improved striking tool will be able to be configured as a wide variety of different types of tools, including hammers, axes and the like, so the benefits thereof can be utilized with such tools. The improved striking tool should be also adaptable for utilizing an improved configuration of a nail puller that can be utilized to help pull nails out of an object and for use with an improved striking member that reduces the likelihood of damage to the striking portion of a head that is made out of lighter weight materials, such as titanium and titanium-based alloys.
The striking tool of the present invention solves the problems and provides the benefits identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses a new striking tool having an improved mechanism for connecting the head and handle of the tool together. The mechanism which joins the head and handle together of the improved striking tool is structured and arranged such that it safely and effectively secures the head to the handle so head will not become disengaged from the handle during use of the striking tool. In one embodiment, the improved striking tool allows the user to separate the head from the handle of the tool so that he or she may replace either the head or the handle as necessary or desired. In one configuration, the handle has an aperture at the upper end thereof that is positioned perpendicular to the handle axis that receives a pin, bolt or other connector that engages the head to secure the head to the handle. In another configuration, the striking tool also or alternatively utilizes a cooperatively configured key and keyway structure to join the head and handle together. The improved striking tool of the present invention is able to be configured as a wide variety of different types of striking tools, including hammers, axes and the like. For use with heads that are made out of titanium, titanium-based alloys and other relatively softer metals, a separate striking member can be connected to the head of the striking tool of the present invention to reduce the likelihood of impact damage to the striking portion of the head. An improved nail puller can also be utilized with the improved striking tool of the present invention to allow use of the striking tool pull nails out of an object. Other secondary work objects, such as specially configured wrenches and the like, can also be attached to the striking tool of the present invention.
In one general aspect of the present invention, the new striking tool comprises an elongated handle, a head and an attachment mechanism safely and securely connecting the head and the handle. The handle has an upper end and a lower end, with an upper section disposed toward the upper end and a lower section disposed toward the lower end. The head has a striking portion that is used to accomplish the desired work objective. In one configuration, the striking portion comprises a generally flat or planar striking surface. The attachment mechanism can comprise a key at an upper end of the handle that is slidably or otherwise received in a slotted keyway on a lower side of the head or a connecting element that is disposed in a passageway which is transversely disposed through a tubular body portion at the upper portion of the handle so as to be received in a passageway of the body portion of the head. In one embodiment, the striking tool comprises both of these attachment mechanisms.
For the key/keyway configuration, the key has a first side and a second side and the keyway has a slot defining a first engagement side and a second engagement side. To provide the desired engagement of the key in the keyway, the first engagement side of the keyway is cooperatively configured with the first side of the key and the second engagement side of the keyway is cooperatively configured with the second side of the key. The tool head has an engagement face that is cooperatively positioned with the keyway so as to abut a first end of the key when the key is disposed in the keyway and the head is connected to the handle. Various devices and processes, including a shrink fit process, can be utilized to secure the key in the keyway and, as a result, attach the head to the handle.
For the connecting element configuration, the connecting element has an elongated body that is sized and configured to extend through the tubular body portion of the handle and engage an aperture in a body portion of the head. More specifically, the elongated body of the connecting element has a first end and a second end, the tubular body portion has a first end and a second end and the aperture is disposed in an engaging face of the body portion of the head. The first end of the connecting element is sized and configured to pass through the passageway and engage the aperture in the body portion of the head to place the first end of the tubular body in abutting relationship with the engaging face of the body portion to secure the head to the handle. In one configuration, the connecting element has a cap at the second end of the elongated body, with the cap being sized and configured to engage the second end of the tubular body portion when the connecting element is fully received in the passageway with the first end of the connecting element received in the aperture of the body portion. Various devices and processes, including a shrink fit process, can be utilized to secure the connecting element in the passageway through the handle and the aperture to the head to attach the head to the handle.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the striking tool comprises one or both of the attachment mechanisms described above and a striking member that is secured to the striking portion of the head. In one embodiment, the striking member provides a generally flat or planar striking surface for the head. The striking member is particularly useful when the head is made out of titanium or titanium-based alloy, or other relatively soft materials, with the striking member being harder than the titanium or titanium alloy of the head. For the configuration where the attachment mechanism comprises the connecting element, the striking member has an aperture that is sized and configured to receive and engage the distal or first end of the connecting element. In use, the connecting element extends through the passageway of the tubular body portion of the handle and through the body portion of the head to be received in and engage the aperture of the striking member to secure the head to the handle and the striking member to the head.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, the striking tool also comprises a side nail puller that is attached to or integral with the upper section of the handle. The side nail puller comprises a body that is shaped and configured and in spaced apart relation to an outer surface of the handle to define a chamber with the outer surface of the handle. The body has a pair of nail engaging edges that define a v-shaped opening opposite the outer surface of the handle, with the v-shaped opening being sized and configured to receive a nail with the nail head in the chamber of the side nail puller to facilitate pulling the nail out of an object, such as a piece of wood. The v-shaped opening of the nail puller has an apex that is positioned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the handle.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved striking tool that provides the advantages discussed above and overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with presently available striking tools.
It is also an important object of the present invention to provide a new striking tool that utilizes an improved mechanism for connecting the head of the striking tool to the handle, which in one embodiment will allow the user to remove the head from the handle to replace either the head or the handle.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a new striking tool that has a hardened striking member and/or a side nail puller.
An important aspect of the present invention is that it provides an improved mechanism for attaching the head of a striking tool to the handle of the tool that effectively and safely secures the head to the handle.
Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides an improved striking tool which, in one embodiment, allows the user to separate the head from the handle of the tool so that he or she may replace either the head or the handle as necessary or desired.
Another important aspect of the present invention is that it provides an improved striking tool that is able to be configured as a wide variety of different types of striking tools, including hammers, axes and the like.
Another important aspect of the striking tool of the present invention is that is adaptable for utilizing a separate, steel-hardened striking member that is connected to the head of the striking tool when the head is made out of titanium, titanium-based alloys or other relatively soft metals to reduce the likelihood of impact damage to the striking portion of the head.
Yet another important aspect of the striking tool of the present invention is that it can include an improved nail puller and/or other secondary work objects on the side of the striking tool to increase the functionality of the striking tool.
As will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows, the above and other aspects are provided or accomplished by the present invention. As set forth herein and will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims. The description of the invention which follows is presented for purposes of illustrating one or more of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims which follow after the discussion.
In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed text and drawings are merely illustrative of one or more of the preferred embodiments and, as such, only represent several possible ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the illustrations and description provided herein are generally directed to certain types of striking tools, namely a claw hammer and a ball-peen hammer, and to certain configurations and materials for those tools, persons who are skilled in the relevant art will readily understand that such illustrations are merely for purposes of simplifying the present disclosure and that the present invention is not so limited. As will be further appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the new and improved features of the striking tool of the present invention can be incorporated into a wide variety of different striking tools and can be made in different tool configurations and out of a wide range of materials.
An improved striking tool that comprises the components and which is configured pursuant to various embodiments of the present invention is shown generally as 10 in the figures. As best shown in
The head 12 and handle 14 of the striking tool 10 of the present invention can be made out of wide variety of different materials, with the head 12 and handle 14 either being the same material or being different materials. In one embodiment, the head 12 is made out of hardened steel, as is common for many hammers, axes, picks and other striking tools, and formed by a casting or forging process. In another embodiment, the head 12 is made out of titanium, a titanium-based alloy or other relatively lighter weight materials (i.e., lower density than hardened steel). As described in the prior art, particularly with regard to U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,059 to Martinez and U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,308 to Thorne, et al., the disclosure of these two patents are incorporated herein as though full set forth in the present disclosure, the use of lighter weight materials such as titanium and titanium-based alloys has certain advantages with regard to swing movement and applied force and certain disadvantages with regard to wear, distortion and the generation of sparks when struck against certain surfaces. Despite any of the disadvantages, however, the use of titanium, titanium-based alloys and/or other lighter weight materials for head 12 is very popular.
The handle 14 of striking tool 10, including claw hammers and the like, can be made out of wood, polymers and a variety of metals, including hardened steel, aluminum, titanium and the like. The lower section 30 of the handle 14 is beneficially sized and configured for the user to securely, safely and comfortably grip the striking tool 10 and to maintain that grip as he or she swings the tool 10 and contacts the striking portion 16 of the head 12 against an object. Depending on the material utilized for the handle 14, the lower section 30 thereof may be coated, covered, imbedded with or otherwise comprise a gripping material 32, as shown in
For the striking tool 10 to function for its intended purpose, the head 12 must be safely and securely attached to the handle 14. Prior art striking tools generally either are made with the head 12 and the handle 14 being integrally formed or fixedly attached by welding or the like or they provide an aperture (also referred to as an eye) that is vertically disposed (i.e., aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle) through the head that is sized and configured for the upper end of the handle to pass through the aperture to position the head at the upper section of the handle. Various devices are used to then secure the upper end of the handle inside the aperture through the head. The striking tool 10 of the present invention provides an improved attachment mechanism, shown generally as 36 in
In the embodiment of the striking tool 10 shown in
As best shown in
In one embodiment, the key 40 is integrally formed with or attached to the upper end 24 of the handle 14. In the embodiment shown in the figures, with both attachment mechanisms 36, the key 40 is integrally formed with the tubular body portion 44 and extends from the first end 64 of the tubular body portion 44 to the second end 66 thereof, as best shown in
In one embodiment, the head 12 can securely attach to the handle 14 by configuring the keyway 38 and key 40 so as to be closely dimensioned such that the key 40 tightly fits into the keyway 38. To ensure that the key 40 stays in engagement with the keyway 38, various attachment processes, devices and mechanisms can be utilized. For instance, depending on the respective materials for the head 12 and handle 14, the use of various adhesives may be sufficient to secure the key 40 in the keyway 38. With the key 40 fully in the slot 54 of keyway 38, such that the first end 64 of key 40 is abutting the engagement face 62 at the striking portion 16 of the head 12, a screw or other device or a spot weld can be placed at the location where the second end 66 of the key 40 is at the slot 54 (as best shown in
In the embodiment of
In one embodiment of the striking tool 10 of the present invention, the head 12 is joined to the handle 14 using only the keyway 38 and key 40 connection described above. In other embodiments, including the embodiments of
In one embodiment, the elongated body 72 of the connecting element 42 is threaded, the passageway 46 in the body portion 48 of the head 12 is correspondingly threaded and the receptacle 80 in the cap 74 is configured to facilitate connecting element 42 being received (threadably or slidably) through the passageway 82 and into the passageway 46 to secure the head 12 to the handle 14. With the above embodiment, the head 12 can be removably attached to the handle 14. In another embodiment, the connecting element 42 is a pin having a relatively smooth elongated body 72 that is dimensioned to be slightly larger than the passageway 82 and the passageway 46. Using a shrink fit process, the head 12 and at least the upper section 28 of the handle 14, having the tubular body portion 44, are heated so the passageway 82 through the handle 14 and the passageway 46 in the head 12 will expand a sufficient amount to allow the otherwise slightly larger elongated body 72 of the connecting element 42 to fit within the passageway 82 and passageway 46. Upon cooling, the passageway 82 through the tubular body portion 44 and the passageway 46 in the body portion 48 of the head 12 will shrink tightly around the elongated body 72 of the connecting element to secure the head 12 to the handle 14. In this manner of connecting the head 12 to the handle 14, it may not be necessary for the connecting element 42 to have cap 74 (i.e., the connecting element 42 only comprises the elongated body 72). If desired, various adhesives or other connecting mechanisms can be utilized in addition to or instead of the previously described threading or shrink fit processes.
In another embodiment of the striking tool of the present invention, the attachment mechanism 36 can comprise only the connecting element 42, tubular body portion 44 of the handle 14 and passageway 46 in the head 12, meaning no slotted keyway 38 or key 40. An example of such a configuration is shown with regard to the striking tool 10 being a ball-peen hammer in
In another embodiment of the present invention, the striking tool 10 also includes a side nail puller 94 on the side of the handle 14, as shown in
The nail puller 94 can be manufactured out of a variety of different materials and in a variety of different shapes. By utilizing the outer surface 100 of the handle 14 as part of the chamber 98 that receives the nail head 102, the striking tool 10 of the present invention eliminates the need to provide an opening inside the head 12 for the nail 104 (as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,432 to Martinez). The nail puller 94 of the present invention can be manufactured by forming or casting the nail puller 94 as an integral unit with the handle 14 or it can be attached to handle 14 using materials and processes suitable for the materials that are utilized for the nail puller 94 and handle 14. In other embodiments, the nail puller 94 may be manufactured by machining, punching or other metal removal processes.
While there are shown and described herein specific forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not so limited, but instead is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein and shown in the figures were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the present invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/156,850 filed May 4, 2015.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1133277 | Gore | Mar 1915 | A |
| 1515089 | Boyer | Nov 1924 | A |
| 3896864 | Green | Jul 1975 | A |
| 4270587 | Ludy | Jun 1981 | A |
| 4465115 | Palomera | Aug 1984 | A |
| 5002257 | Evans | Mar 1991 | A |
| 5280738 | Liou | Jan 1994 | A |
| 5871204 | Spirer | Feb 1999 | A |
| 5894764 | Hanlon | Apr 1999 | A |
| 5988020 | Johnson | Nov 1999 | A |
| 6301996 | Crawford | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6339974 | Kotschner | Jan 2002 | B1 |
| 6435059 | Martinez | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6536308 | Thorne | Mar 2003 | B1 |
| 6571666 | Te | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6923432 | Martinez | Aug 2005 | B1 |
| 6945138 | Kreitzer | Sep 2005 | B1 |
| 8141458 | Spencer | Mar 2012 | B1 |
| 8424845 | Cole | Apr 2013 | B2 |
| 9327394 | Chang | May 2016 | B2 |
| 20120186399 | Chen | Jul 2012 | A1 |
| 20140260812 | Chang | Sep 2014 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 949550 | Sep 1956 | DE |
| EP 2474392 | Jul 2012 | TW |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62156850 | May 2015 | US |
