GB2520014A

GB2520014A - Safety hammer

Info

Publication number: GB2520014A
Application number: GB1319545.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Allan Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-05
Filing date: 2013-11-05
Publication date: 2015-05-13
Also published as: GB201319545D0

Abstract

A safety hammer 10 includes a head 12 for delivering an impact to an object and a shaft 11 extending from the head 12. A wrist strap 25 is connected to the shaft 11 and a recess 20 is formed within the shaft 11 for receiving the wrist strap 25. An opening 22 is provided in the shaft 11, leading to the recess 20 and the wrist strap 25 is movable between a storage position where the strap 25 is contained within the recess 20 and a use position where the strap 25 extends from the opening 22. There may be a retaining cap 27 arranged to close the opening. There may be a securing means 19 to hold the cap in the opening, which may be a friction fit. The shaft may also have at least one notch (32 figure 6) adjacent the opening for ease of removal. The cap 27 may also be tightly and adjustably engaged with the strap 25 so that when in a released position the retaining cap is capable of tightening the wrist strap 25 around a wrist.

Description

SAFETY HAMMER

This invention relates to a hammer and in particular to a hammer having a strap configured for wearing on the wrist.

Many tools include a strap to enable the tool to be carried around the wrist of the user. A strap, typically in the form of a thin rope, is connected to the shaft of some hammers for this purpose. This arrangement facilitates carrying of the hammer while also allowing the user to climb a ladder or to carry other tools and equipment. This can be particularly advantageous in circumstances where there is no place safely to store the hammer when not being used, for example when working up a ladder. A strap may also be warn around the wrist while the hammer is actually being used such that, should the user accidentally lose grip of the hammer, the strap may serve as a safety feature.

While a strap on a hammer can be useful there are problems associated with the hammers discussed above.

Firstly, the straps of such tools have a tendency to become tangled around other tools and entangled with other straps when they are stored together in appropriate tool boxes. This makes it difficult and time consuming to retrieve a tool when required.

Secondly, the optimum length of a strap may vary depending on the wrist size of the user and also depending on the nature of intended use of the hammer. A single person may have several optimum strap lengths depending on the orientation in which the hammer is to be used. There is no mechanism allowing the length of the strap of existing hammers to be easily varied.

Thirdly, the straps of these hammers are not configured to provide a secure connection around the wrist. The strap must be sufficiently long to permit location around the wrist but when using a hammer at a height or in an awkward position the strap may easily slip from the wrist thus potentially allowing the hammer to fall to the ground. This can cause damage not only to the hammer but also to the user and indeed poses a significant safety risk to others.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a hammer having a strap which serves to address at least some of the above problems.

According to this invention, there is provided a hammer comprising a head for delivering an impact to an object; a shaft extending from the head; a wrist strap connected to the shaft; a recess formed within the shaft configured to receive the wrist strap therein; and an opening formed in the shaft, leading to the recess; wherein the wrist strap is movable between a storage position where the wrist strap is substantially wholly contained within the recess and a released position where the wrist strap extends from the opening.

The recess may be formed within part of the shaft. Alternatively, the shaft may be substantially hollow along at least part of its length to form the recess and this arrangement may be beneficial in minimising the weight of the shaft. Hammers of the present invention may be provided in a range of shapes and sizes to suit different intended uses and as such the size and configuration of the shaft may vary depending on the particular type of hammer. The recess though should be sufficiently large to permit storage of the wrist strap therein.

The head of the hammer may be any style and shape and may be fixed to the shaft in an entirely conventional manner. Preferably, the head of the hammer is compact and generally solid to enable sufficient impact to an object.

The opening provides access to the recess for the storage of the wrist strap when not in use. Since hammers are usually held around the end region of the shaft opposed to the head end, it is preferable that the opening is formed at or adjacent that end region. The opening may be formed through the end of the shaft diametrically opposed to the end connected to the head.

The wrist strap may be connected to the shaft by securing means configured to prevent complete removal of the strap from the shaft. For example, such securing means may comprise a pin connected across the width of the interior of the shaft and around which the strap may be looped. This arrangement ensures that the strap cannot accidently be removed completely from the shaft whilst also ensuring that the strap is not unnecessarily restricted within the shaft. Other securing means may of course be provided.

To ensure that the strap does not extend from the recess when in a storage position, the hammer preferably further comprises a retaining cap arranged selectively to close the opening. In use, the retaining cap may be configured completely to close the opening or the retaining cap may be arranged, in use, to close at least part of the opening sufficient to retain the strap in position.

The retaining cap could be connected to or integrally formed with the shaft and may be selectively movable between open and closed positions. In a preferred arrangement the retaining cap is a separate component removable from the shaft. Securing means may be provided to hold the retaining cap in the opening. The securing means may be any suitable mechanism or releasable connection. Preferably, the securing means comprises a series of knurls around the opening arranged frictionally to engage the retaining cap. In such an arrangement at least one notch may be formed in the shaft, adjacent the opening to provide access to the retaining cap for removal.

In a preferred arrangement the retaining cap is engaged to the wrist strap. This may be a fixed engagement but more preferably the retaining cap is tightly engaged to the wrist strap and is moveable therealong. More preferably, the retaining cap is configured to tighten the wrist strap around a wrist. Such engagement may be achieved by having at least two openings formed in the retaining cap, through which the wrist strap may be looped. The openings should extend through the whole of the retaining cap thus permitting the wrist strap to extend from either end of the retaining cap. The openings may be formed to a size complementary to the size of the strap to ensure a tight engagement with the strap.

The retaining cap may be formed from a resiliently flexible material, such as rubber and configured such that the openings may be expanded by squeezing two ends of the retaining cap together to permit loosening of the strap. In such an arrangement the retaining cap may be held in the shaft opening allowing the length of the strap extending from the shaft to be varied or the retaining cap may be removed from the shaft opening and used to tighten the wrist strap around a user's wrist. The inside surface of the retaining cap in the region of the openings may be ridged frictionally to engage the strap.

Alternatively or additionally the outside of the strap, i.e. the part of the strap that does not make contact with the user may have a ridged surface.

The hammer may further comprise retraction means to retract the strap into the shaft. Such means may be configured to bias the strap in a storage position. The retraction means may be an elastic member. Alternatively, the retraction means may comprise a spring configured to exert a bias to the strap to retract the strap into the shaft. In this way the bias exerted by the spring ensures the spring is tensioned to urge the strap to a storage position. A one-way mechanism may also be provided to allow the strap to extend from the shaft to a use position without being automatically retracted therein. In this arrangement a release member may be provided on the shaft which is operable to release the one-way mechanism thereby to allow the spring to retract the strap into the shaft. In this way, the strap may be automatically retracted into the shaft simply by operating the release member to release the one-way mechanism. The one-way mechanism need not be complex and may comprise essentially any mechanism which permits movement of the strap in one direction but which prevents, unless released, movement in the opposing direction.

The strap may be a single piece of material connected together at the ends to form a continuous loop. The end regions of the strap may be secured together in an overlying manner such than the actual ends are immediately adjacent each other. This arrangement will be beneficial in guiding the strap into the recess. Alternatively, the strap may be formed from more than one piece of material connected together to form a continuous loop. The strap may be formed from any suitable material, including plastic or rubber. Where the retaining cap is formed from rubber, a plastic or rubber strap may frictionally engage the cap, thus providing a secure connection when required.

The strap of the hammer of the present invention may be stored within the recess when the hammer is not required, thus eliminating the problems associated with tangling of the strap. The length of the strap extending from the hammer may be varied and a retaining cap may be arranged to retain the strap around a user's wrist, thus providing a hammer with improved safety and versatility.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of hammer of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view through an embodiment of hammer of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hammer of Figure 1, in use; Figure 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the strap of the hammer of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a retaining cap for use as a component of the hammer of the present invention; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through the retaining cap of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of the hammer of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a hammer 10, having an elongate shaft 11 and a head 12 attached to one end 13 of the elongate shaft 11. The head 12 of the hammer 10 is compact and substantially solid and is illustrated having a claw-type configuration. Other types of head may be incorporated in the hammer and this would not depart from the scope of the invention. The head 12 of the hammer 10 and the way that the head is connected to the shaft 11 is entirely conventional and so will not be described in further detail here.

The elongate shaft 11 is generally cylindrical and includes a handle region defined by a rubber sleeve 14. The rubber sleeve 14 is secured around the region of the shaft 11 remote from the head end 13 and adjacent the other end 15 of the shaft 11 and provides a tactile grip for the user. The rubber sleeve 14 extends slightly beyond the part of the shaft to which it is secured so as to provide an extension 18. The interior of the extension 18 includes a knurled region 19.

The shaft 11 is substantially hollow thereby forming a recess 20 through the entire length of the shaft 11. The other end 15 of the shaft 11 is open thus defining a substantially annular shoulder 21. The extension 18 of the rubber sleeve 14 defines an opening 22 into the recess 20.

The hammer 10 includes a generally flat-type wrist strap 25, as best shown in Figure 3. The wrist strap 25 extends into the recess 20 of the shaft 11 and is prevented from being withdrawn completely from the recess 20 by a securing pin 26 driven across the width of the interior of the shaft 11 and around which the wrist strap 25 is looped. The securing pin 26 extends into the recess from the exterior of the shaft 11 but is not visible from the exterior as it is hidden from view by the rubber sleeve 14.

The hammer 10 includes a generally cylindrical retaining cap 27 having a closed end 28 and an exposed end 29. The retaining cap 27 is configured frictionally to engage the series of knurls 19 in the opening 22, defined by the extension 18, with the closed end 28 of the cap 27 contacting the shoulder 21 of the other end 15 of the shaft 11 so as to close access to the recess 20. Two notches 32 are provided in the extension 18 of the rubber sleeve 14 to provide access to the retaining cap 27 tor removal.

The retaining cap 27 is engaged to the wrist strap 25 by two openings 33 formed through the retaining cap 27 from the closed end 28 to the exposed end 29. The openings 33 are of a complementary size to the wrist strap 25 and are generally curved towards the outer periphery to provide a smooth surface 34 for the wrist strap 25. The wrist strap 25 passes through the openings 33 in a looped arrangement so as to be tightly engaged to the retaining cap 27. When in a storage position, part of the strap 35 is visible from the exposed end 29 of the retaining cap 27.

The hammer 10 may be formed from one or more conventional materials, such as steel or other metals preferably with a gripping handle material, such as rubber.

When the hammer 10 is not being used, the wrist strap 25 may be stored in the recess 20 and the retaining cap 27 engaged in the opening 22. When the wrist strap 25 is required the desired length may be selected by extending the wrist strap 25 from the exposed end 29 of the retaining cap 27. This may be achieved while the retaining cap 27 is engaged in the opening 22 or when the retaining cap 27 is removed from the opening 22. When the retaining cap 27 is removed from the opening 22, it may serve as a tightening safety feature. This is achieved, following attachment of the strap 25 around a user's wrist 36 by pulling the wrist strap 25 from the closed end 28 of the retaining cap 27 thus reducing the amount of strap 25 extending from the exposed end 29 of the retaining cap and thus tightening the strap 25 around the user's wrist 36.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A safety hammer comprising a head for delivering an impact to an object; a shaft extending from the head; a wrist strap connected to the shaft; a recess formed within the shaft configured to receive the wrist strap therein; and an opening formed in the shalt, leading to the recess; wherein the wrist strap is movable between a storage position where the wrist strap is substantially wholly contained within the recess and a use position where the wrist strap extends from the opening.
2. A safety hammer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a retaining cap arranged selectively to close the opening.
3. A safety hammer as claimed in claim 2, wherein securing means is provided to hold the retaining cap in the opening.
4. A safety hammer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the securing means comprises a series of knurls around the opening arranged frictionally to engage the retaining cap.
5. A safety hammer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least one notch is formed in the shaft, adjacent the opening, providing access to the retaining cap for removal thereof.
6. A safety hammer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the retaining cap is tightly engaged to the wrist strap.
7. A safety hammer as claimed in any of claim 6, wherein the retaining cap is moveably engaged to the wrist strap such that, in a released position, the retaining cap is capable of tightening the wrist strap around a wrist.
8. A safety hammer as claimed in as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the c'aims have been made as follows:CLAIMS1. A safety hammer comprising a head for delivering an impact to an object; a shaft extending from the head; a wrist strap connected to the shaft; a recess formed within the shaft configured to receive the wrist strap therein; an opening formed in the shaft, leading to the recess; and a retaining cap arranged selectively to close the opening, wherein the wrist strap is movable between a storage position where the wrist strap is substantially wholly contained within the recess and a use position where the wrist strap extends from the opening and wherein the retaining cap serves to ensure that the strap does not extend from the recess when in a storage position.IC) 10 2. A safety hammer as claimed in claim 1, wherein securing means is provided to hold the retaining cap in the opening.0 3. A safety hammer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing means comprises a series of knurls around the opening arranged frictionally to engage the retaining cap.4. A safety hammer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one notch is formed in the shaft, adjacent the opening, providing access to the retaining cap for removal thereof.5. A safety hammer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the retaining cap is tightly engaged to the wrist strap.6. A safety hammer as claimed in any of claim 5, wherein the retaining cap is moveably engaged to the wrist strap such that, in a released position, the retaining cap is capable of tightening the wrist strap around a wrist.7. A safety hammer as claimed in as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. IC)CO (0 (4