AU2006201934B2

AU2006201934B2 - A Stake Driver

Info

Publication number: AU2006201934B2
Application number: AU2006201934A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Matthew Dickson; Damien Quinlan
Original assignee: MATHEW DICKSON
Current assignee: MATHEW DICKSON
Priority date: 2005-05-11
Filing date: 2006-05-09
Publication date: 2010-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-09
Also published as: AU2006201934B8; AU2006201934A1

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicants: Damien Quinlan and Matthew Dickson Address for Service: CULLEN & CO. Level 26 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Invention Title: A Stake Driver The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a stake driver. In particular, the invention concerns a slide hammer stake driver. BACKGROUND ART 5 Earth stakes, pegs, posts, spikes, rods or the like are usually driven into the ground or other bed of material using a hammer or mallet. A problem with hammering stakes manually is that it can be labourious, especially when a stake needs to be driven through hard earth. Another problem with hammering stakes manually is that hands tend to get 10 injured by the hammer or mallet as a labourer will need to hold the stake in close proximity of the hammer or mallet when driving the stake into the ground. Another problem with hammering stakes manually is that a stake may need to be driven within close proximity of a house or fixture and there may not be adequate clearance to swing the hammer or mallet such that it squarely strikes the stake. 15 Yet another problem with hammering stakes manually is that some stakes tend to burr, split, bend or break when struck repeatedly other than squarely in the "sweet spot". OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a stake driver that overcomes 20 or minimises at least one of the problems referred to above, or to provide the public with a useful or commercial choice. SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a slide hammer stake driver comprising: 25 a stake holder having a stake engaging end and an impact end opposite the stake engaging end; and a slide hammer having a passage within which the impact end is located and a striking surface situated at an end of the passage, wherein the slide hammer is movable relative to the stake holder so that the striking surface strikes the impact end 30 of the stake holder and drives the stake into the ground. A definition of the specific embodiment of the invention claimed herein follows. In a broad format, the invention provides a slide hammer stake driver comprising: 2a a stake holder having a stake engaging end and an impact end opposite the stake engaging end, wherein the stake engaging end comprises a sleeve and an upper region of the stake is extendable within the sleeve; a slide hammer having a passage within which the impact end is located and a 5 striking surface situated at an end of the passage, wherein the slide hammer is moveable relative to the stake holder so that the striking surface strikes the impact end of the stake holder and drives the stake into the ground; a retaining arrangement for retaining the impact end within the passage when the driver is in use, wherein the retaining arrangement comprises the passage 10 having a constriction and the stake holder having a lateral projection intermediate the stake engaging end and the impact end that cannot pass through the constriction; and two handles that extend from the slide hammer for sliding the slide hammer relative to the stake holder, wherein the handles extend laterally of the slide 15 hammer at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to each other. The term "ground" as used herein refers to earth or any other bed of material within which a stake can be driven. The bed of material can consist of, for instance, sand or concrete.

3 The term "stake" as used herein refers to an earth stake, peg, post, spike, rod or any other elongate member that can be driven into the ground. The stake holder can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The stake holder can be made of any suitable material or materials. Preferably, the stake 5 holder is made of steel. The stake engaging end can engage the stake in any suitable way. The stake engaging end can comprise, for example, a sleeve or clip for engaging the stake. Preferably, the stake engaging end comprises a sleeve and an upper region of the stake is extendable within the sleeve. 10 The impact end can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The stake holder can have a dead weight extending from the sleeve and the impact end can be provided by an upper surface of the dead weight. The dead weight can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The dead weight can be of any suitable weight. The dead weight can be made of solid steel. Preferably, the sleeve and dead weight 15 are both cylindrical and extend along a common longitudinal axis. The slide hammer can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The slide hammer can be made of any suitable material or materials. Preferably, the slide hammer is made of steel. The slide hammer can have an upper region and a lower region. Preferably, the 20 lower region comprises a sleeve and the passage extends within the sleeve. The slide hammer can comprise a dead weight and the striking surface can be provided by a surface of the dead weight. The dead weight can be located at the upper region of the slide hammer. The dead weight of the slide hammer can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. The dead weight can be of any suitable weight 25 but preferably is 1-12 kg and more preferably 2-5kg. The dead weight can be made of solid steel. Preferably, the dead weight extends from the sleeve of the slide hammer, and both the sleeve and dead weight are cylindrical and extend along a common longitudinal axis. 30 The stake driver can have a retaining arrangement for retaining the impact end within the passage. Any suitable type of retaining arrangement can be used. Preferably, the retaining arrangement includes the passage having a constriction and the stake holder having a lateral projection intermediate the stake engaging end and the impact end. Preferably, the lateral projection is a flange that cannot pass through 4 the constriction. Preferably, the lateral projection is disposed on the dead weight. Preferably, the slide hammer has a cap having a central aperture through which extends the sleeve of the stake holder, the constriction is provided by the cap and the cap extends across a lower end of the sleeve of the slide hammer. 5 The stake driver can have at least one handle extending from the slide hammer for sliding the slide hammer relative to the stake holder. The handle can be of any suitable size, shape and construction. Preferably, the handle is made of steel. The handle can extend laterally of the slide hammer. Preferably, two handles extend radially and laterally of the slide hammer and the handles extend at an angle of about 10 900 relative to one another. Preferably, each handle has an upper region extending laterally of the upper region of the slide hammer, a lower region extending laterally of the lower region of the slide hammer, and an intermediate region extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slide hammer. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of 15 examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a slide hammer stake driver, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a detailed view of the stake driver shown in Figure 1; 20 Figure 3 is an exploded view relating to Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the stake driver of Figure 2 but also shows how the stake driver would be positioned in order to drive a stake into the ground; and Figure 5 shows the stake driver of Figure 4 after having driven a stake into the ground. 25 In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like features. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The figures show a slide hammer stake driver 1 comprising a stake holder 2, a slide hammer 3 and a pair of handles 4. The stake driver 1 is made of steel. The stake holder 2 has a stake engaging end in the form of a sleeve 10. As 30 seen in Figures 4 and 5, an upper region of a stake 30 is extendable within a passage 13 of the sleeve 10. The stake holder 2 also has an impact end 11 that is best seen in Figure 3. The impact end I1 is provided by an upper surface of a dead weight 12 (made of solid steel) that extends from the sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 and dead weight 12 are both 5 cylindrical and extend along a common longitudinal axis, as best seen in Figure 3. A flange 7 extends laterally of the dead weight 12 intermediate the impact end 11 and the sleeve 10. The slide hammer 3 has a lower region comprising a sleeve 15 and a passage 5 16 extends within the sleeve 15. The slide hammer 3 has a striking surface 21 at an upper end of the passage 16 that is best seen in Figures 3 and 4. A dead weight 20 (comprising two solid steel bodies 20) is located at an upper region of the slide hammer 3. A lower surface of the dead weight 20 is the striking surface 21. 10 The dead weight 20 extends from the sleeve 15, and both the sleeve 15 and dead weight 20 are cylindrical and extend along a common longitudinal axis. The slide hammer 3 has a cap 23 that extends across a lower end of the sleeve 15. The cap 23 is best seen in Figure 3. The cap 23 has a central aperture (not labelled) through which extends the sleeve 10 of the stake holder 2. The flange 7 is 15 unable to pass through the central aperture of the cap 23. The impact end I I is able to move slidingly within the passage 16 between the cap 23 and the striking surface 21. The handles 4 each extend radially and laterally of the dead weight 20 and sleeve 15. The handles 4 extend at an angle of about 900 relative to one another. Each handle 4 has an upper region 25 extending laterally of the dead weight 20, a 20 lower region 26 extending laterally of the sleeve 15, and an intermediate region 27 extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slide hammer 3. In use, a stake 30 is positioned to extend within the sleeve 10 such that a lower end of the stake 30 rests on the ground, as shown in Figure 4. The slide hammer 3 is raised such that there is clearance between the striking surface 21 and the impact end 25 11. The slide hammer 3 is then pulled downwards by way of the handles 4 such that the striking surface 21 impacts on the impact end 11, and, upon doing so, the stake 30 is driven into the ground, as shown in Figure 5. The stake 30 can be driven further into the ground by again raising the slide hammer 3 and allowing the striking surface 21 to strike the impact end 11. If 30 necessary, the stake driver 1 can be used as a drift by striking the upper end of the slide hammer 3 with a hammer or mallet. The stake 30 can be an earth stake which ties an electrical installation to the mass of the earth. Such a stake is typically made of solid bar with a copper coating.

6 Such a stake typically has a length between 1400-1800 mm and a diameter between 12-19 mm. Advantages of the slide hammer stake driver include that: e it can drive a stake into the ground more readily than using a hammer or 5 mallet; e it is compact and can therefore be used in close proximity of a house or fixture; " there is no need to hold a stake in position by hand, and thus hand injuries are less likely to occur; 10 e it can readily strike a stake repeatedly and squarely in the "sweet spot", and thus the stake is less likely to burr, bend, split or break; e it is robust and durable; e no lubrication is required to keep it in working order; e the handles are orientated such that, during use, the knuckles of an operator are 15 unlikely to be injured; and e the stake driver does not require the use of a power source, such as electricity or an air compressor. The term "comprise" and variants of the term such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated 20 integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein 25 set forth.

Claims

1. A slide hammer stake driver comprising: a stake holder having a stake engaging end and an impact end opposite the stake engaging end, wherein the stake engaging end comprises a sleeve and an upper region of the stake is extendable within the sleeve; a slide hammer having a passage within which the impact end is located and a striking surface situated at an end of the passage, wherein the slide hammer is moveable relative to the stake holder so that the striking surface strikes the impact end of the stake holder and drives the stake into the ground; a retaining arrangement for retaining the impact end within the passage when the driver is in use, wherein the retaining arrangement comprises the passage having a constriction and the stake holder having a lateral projection intermediate the stake engaging end and the impact end that cannot pass through the constriction; and two handles that extend from the slide hammer for sliding the slide hammer relative to the stake holder, wherein the handles extend laterally of the slide hammer at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to each other.

2. The driver of claim 1, wherein the stake holder has a dead weight extending from the sleeve and the impact end is provided by an upper surface of the dead weight.

3. The driver of claim 2, wherein said sleeve and dead weight are both substantially cylindrical and extend along a common longitudinal axis.

4. The driver of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide hammer comprises an upper region and a lower region, the lower region comprises a sleeve and the passage extends within the sleeve of the slide hammer.

5. The driver of claim 4, wherein the slide hammer comprises a dead weight located at the upper region and the striking surface is provided by a lower surface of the dead weight of the slide hammer. 8

6. The driver of claim 5, wherein the dead weight of the slide hammer extends from the sleeve of the slide hammer, and said sleeve and dead weight of the slide hammer are both substantially cylindrical and extend along a common longitudinal axis.

7. A slide hammer stake driver substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Date: 21 April 2010