GB2373475A - Safety Cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A Safety Cover for use with a cast Sledgehammer, has a cylindrical body of rubber construction open both ends, 10,11, consertinaed in the area 12. The concertinaed section nearest the handle has three air release holes, 13 spaced evenly around its circumference. One end of the Safety Cover, 14 fits tightly over the hammerhead leaving the rest of the Safety Cover, including the concertinaed section, to move freely without restriction over the cast steel head. When in use, the hammer head will impact with the surface to be broken. The momentum of the impact causes the Safety Cover to drop down around the impact area and thus contains any flying fragments. See fig.5.

Description

M @@w This invention relates to a cover that can be fitted to a conventional cast steel type Sledgehammer of any weight or even a smaller Lump or Club type hammer.

If it becomes necessary to break up a section of concrete (old or new) by the use of a Sledgehammer, on contact with the surface it soon becomes apparent that fragments of loose concrete are propelled into the air. These fragments, often travelling at great velocity, can cause server injury to the operator or any one in the vicinity. Also if the work area is near windows or vehicles etc. the damage caused can be very expensive.

(See Fig. 1).

Once the Sledgehammer is fitted with the Cover, all loosened particles are contained within the impact area (See Fig. 2) and the concrete/tarmac etc. can be removed in safety.

The specific design of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, illustrates the problem of using a Sledge type hammer on a solid surface such as concrete.

Figure 2, shows the Safety Cover before it is fitted to the Sledgehammer.

Figure 3, shows the Safety Cover fitted to a Sledgehammer.

Figure 4, illustrates the problem solved using the Safety Cover.

Figure 5, illustrates a cross sectional representation of the Safety Cover at work as it contains the loosened particles once fitted to a Sledgehammer.

Referring to the drawings the cover comprises of a cylindrical rubber tube open both ends 10,11, as shown in Fig. 2, concertinaed in the centre 12. This is to allow the cover to move both up 17 and down 16, (due to the momentum of the cover on impact), on contact with the surface in varying degrees whilst the contact face 10 completely surrounds the impact area without deformation as shown in figure 5.

The Cover is fitted to the hammer by pulling and stretching the tight fitting section 14, over either one of the 2 ends of Sledge hammerhead. This section is the only part of the Safety Cover that fits tightly. Care should be taken to ensure that the cover fits correctly and that the cover face 10 is not forward of the hammer face. See Fig. 3. The Cover being of a rubber nature would grip the hammer head tightly and will not become easily dislodged when in use.

To the rear of the Cover on the last consertinaer there is three holes 13 to allow air to escape from the inside of the Cover when in use.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1 A Safety Cover comprising of a cylindrical rubber tube, open both ends, concertinaed in the centre, the Safety Cover being of the size as to fit tightly over one side of a cast steel Sledgehammer covering the head down to the impact face of the hammer as to provide a safe working environment by containing loose flying particles
2. 2 A Safety Cover as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the one open end of the tube would be slightly smaller than the circumference of the Sledgehammer as to provide a tight fit.
3. 3 A Safety Cover as claimed in Claim lor 2 wherein the open impact end of the Safety Cover, (when fitted) and the concertinaed section would be of a larger circumference than the hammer as to provide clearance so that the safety cover can move up and down as required when in operation
4. 4 A Safety Cover as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the concertinaed portion nearest the handle of the hammer when fitted has three air release holes.
5. 5 A Safety Cover substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.