US1795227A - Safety ax - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1931. o. MILLER r-:T AL 1,795,227

SAFETY Ax y Filed OCT.. 50. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l \N| N1 N1 ATTORNEY March-3, 1931. D. L. MILLER ET AL SAFETY AX Filed' Oct. 30, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY P atentecl Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED STTES PATE-'NT OFFICE: -g

DANIEL L. MILLER, or MoNRoEToN, AND'WILLIAM E, PELTON, oF CANTON, PENNSYL- VANIA SAFETY Ax Application fiiea october so, 192s. serial No. 403..,581.

This invention relates to cutting tools of the ax or hatchet type, and is more particularly concerned with a structure of this'type in which the cutting' blade is mounted; for C movement from an exposed cutting position to a concealed inoperative position in which the cutting edge is protected, the cutting head folding into and being embraced between a bifurcation formed in the handle head.

An object of the invention is the provision of an ax or hatchet of this type having a c ut-v ting blade folding into an inclosing extension of the handle distinguished by simplicity of' structure and convenient of operation.

A feature of the invention consists in the provision of a handle portion having a rigid bifurcated guard head extending longitudinally of its axis and approximating in outline that of the cutting blade with the cutting 2 blade pivoted at the upper non-cutting end between the outer ends of the bifurcation for swinging movement from a cutting position substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the guard head and handle to an 55 inoperative edge-protected position within said guard head, means being provided for detachably locking the cutting blade in operative cutting and inoperative guarded positions,

The invention consists in the constructions, arrangements and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed and will be more clearly understood from the following detailed specification which is to be read in l conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof and in which Figure l is a view in side elevation of a folding liatchet type tool construct-ed in accordance with the present invention and enibodyingone form of tool head and locking device.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section throuOh the hatchet blade and guard heac a 45 taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

tion taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l and illustrating the sectional construction of the handle and guard. y

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a modified Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section on Y the line 7 7 of Figure 6 illustrating the operation of the locking means for the ax head.

Figure 8 is a perspective detail of the latch# ing spring arin shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a Viewl Vin side elevation of an ax having a modified forni of latching means. Figure l0 is a perspective detail of the latching arm shown in Figure 9. y

.Referring to the drawings by numerals and with particular reference to Figures l, 2 and 3, l indicates coinpleinental rectilinear handle vsections which may take the form of metal stampings with flat abutting inner faces and Xedly connected by a plurality of traversing rivets 2. These sections decrease in thickness toward the front end of the handle giving a tapered conformation in cross .section with the top and bottom faces of the sections rounded to oval form providing a convenient hand grip. At the forward ends of the rectilinear portion of the handle section they are Y flattened andtransversely enlarged to form eompleniental guard plates 3 and 4 having an outline approximating that of the cutting blade 5 of the hatchet or axwith the lower eclge of the plates 3 and et notched out as at 6, Figure l,

The guard plates 3 and 4 are in .i

parallel spaced relation providing thereby a rrigid bifurcated guardhead for the handle. lheir outer edges are rounded on the curvature of a circle as shown, corresponding to the curvature of the upper non-cutting edge of the blade v5 which is pivotally mounted therebetween on the center ofsaid curvature by means of a rivet or other pivot-ing element 7 passing through the opposite side guard v Y plates 3 and 4 Mld vthrough an alined bore in Figure 3 is a transverse longitudinal secthe blade 5. In the form of the invention shown in Figures l and 2, thev upper noncutting edge of the blade 5 is formed with an integral hammer head extension ;8- projecting above the upper edge of the side plates 3 and 4. ln the operative position o'f the blade 5 .shown in Figure 1 it is held in detachably locled relation to the inclosing guard plates 3 and 4 by means ot' a locking stud 9 extending inwardly from the outer end of an elongated spring arm 10 pinned or otnerwise anchored at its rear end to a side plate 4 and projecting through an opening of correspon ding diameter in theside plate4 and into a .similar and alined opening in the upper end ot the blade 5. A second locking opening 1'1 is termed in the blade at a radial distance from the stud 9 of the locking arm equal to tlnt ot' the iirst lockingopen'ing' and at a 90 angle thereto. By pulling the locking pin 9 outwardly in the position ot' the blade shown in Figure 1, the latter may be swung or folded inpwardly ann in between the spaced guard plates 3 and 4 unt-il the second locking openin 11 alines with the pin 9 which is then released to lock the blade in inoperative position with its cutting edge alining with and guarded by the corresponding curved rear edge 12 of the bifurcation formed by sai-d plates. The lower side edge of the blade as thus enclosed and protected will be exposed by the notched out portions 6 for engagement by the lingers in witlnlrawing the blade to active cutting position as suggested by the dotted line showing in Figure 1. Pre-ferably, the blaue 5 adjacent this edge will be provided with a linger notch or notches 13 to facilitate gripping by the lingers and withdrawal ot the blade to cutting position. hammer head extension S at thc upper end of the blade projects sutliciently beyond the edge ot the side plates to clear said edges when the bladeis swung to and 'from folded position. rl`he provision of the guard plates 3 and 4 extending longitudinally of the axis of the handle and simulating approximately the outline ot' the cutting blade permits the blade to be snugly housed therein when in inactive guarded position with its cutting edge fully protected and without presentingany awkward pro-tuberances interfering` with compact storage oi the tool or with its carriage on the person. l

ln Figures 4 and 5 ot the drawings a somewhat modilied torni of the mea-ns for detachably locking` the blade in position is shown. l'n this form ot the tool similar handle sections 1a? inter-joined by traversing rivets 2a employed and similar side plates 3a and 441th the guard head extension oit the handle are also used. These guard plate sections also have their lower edges notched out as at 6a to exposethe lower side edge o'l' the blade 5a in its protected position.

rEhe outer end of the side plates 3a, 4a are, however, rounded on the curve of a circle and at alined points in the vertical diameter ot the circle are formed with tapered notches 14 therein (Figure 5). The edge of the cutter blade 5a. in the position shown in Figure The' 4 is formed with a similar notch 15 in its upper edge and a second notch 1G spaced therefrom at approximately 900. The upper non-cutting end ot the blade 5a is pivotally mounted between the outer end of the spaced plates 8a, 4a by means of a pivot stud such as the rivet 16a passing tliroughalined bores in the blade 5a, plates 3a, 4a and the embracing spaced side plates 17, 18 ot a Vlhe plates 17,4 V1S, as will be seen from Figures 4 and 5, ex-

locling head for the blade.

tend upwardly above the outer edge ot the blade and side plates and are belled out to Yform a hollow'hammerhead 19 at the upper end of a neck portion 20. TJertically extending slots 21 are formed at alincd points transversely ot the neck portion 2O and the lower portion ot the head 19 and guide the outwardly extending ears or lifting fingers 22 formed at theupper end of a tapered locking dog 23 (Figure 5) adapted to extend downwardly into a notch 15 or 16 in the edge of the cutter blade" when alined with the notches 14 in the upper edge of the side plates 3a, 4o to lock the blade to said side plates in Veither operative cutting` or inoperative guarded positions. This locking dog is normally pressed downwardly to locking position by means of a coiled spri 24 encircling the stud 25 projecting upwardly from the upper end of the dog within the hollow hammer head `19. As shown, this stud projects through an opening in the upper face or" the hammer head, permitting the stud to extend upwardly therethrough when the ears 22 are lifted to withdraw the latchingdog.

As in the iirst form ot the tool described. the cutter blade 5a extends at right angles to the longitudinalv axis ot"y the handleld in its operative position and is locked therein by the dog 23 extending into the alined notches 14 and 15 in the side'plates and in the edge ot the cutter blade. To swingl the cutter blade to inoperative protected position. the ears 22 are engaged by the fingers and lifted upwardly and the blade swung through an arc ot 900 to bring its second edge notch 16 in line with the edge notches 14 ot tne side plates 3a, 4a whereupon the latching dog 23 is permitted to enter and loch the cutter blade in its inoperative position with its cutting edge protected by the correspondingly curved rear face 12a of the bifurcation, the lower side'tace of the cutter blade being exposed by the notch 6a so that its linger .notch or notches 13a maybe readily engaged in returning the blade to operative cutting position.

lVhere a hammerhead is not desired in the tool and a cutting blade alone is to be provided. the constructionsl shown in Figures (3--10, inclusive, may be employed.

ln the form of such an ax shown in Figures G and 7, complemental rectilinear handle secllt) ets 27 and similar to handle sections l of Figures 1-5, are similarly flattened at their forward ends and transversely enlarged to form complemental guard plates 28 and 29 having an outline approximating that of the ax blade 30, the lower edge of the guardplates being notched out at 30 to permit access to the finger notch 32 in the blade when in inswung position between the guard plates. These plates are in parallel spaced relation forming a rigid bifurcated guard head integral with the handle and their ends are rounded on the curvature of a circle corresponding to the curvature of the upper or non-cutting end of the aX blade which is pivotally mounted between the guard plates on the center of said circle by the pivot stud 33.

The'upper edges of the guard plates 28, 29 in the vertical diameter of the circle are provided with alined tapering notches 34 therein, and the ax blade 30 is provided with similar notches 35 in its edge on radial lines of approximately ninety degree angularity, with one of these notches lying in the vertical diameter of the pivot 33 in the opened position of the blade shown in Figure 6.

An elongated flat latching plate 36 havlng a width greater than the overall width of the bifurcated guard plates 28, 29, overlies the flat upper edges of the guard plates and is bifurcated at its rear end to embrace the rear end of the top edge guard plate bifurcations and provided with downwardly extendingV lugs 37 fixed to the side faces of the bifurcation by pins or other suitable means. The forward end of the plate 36 has a tapered locking tooth 38 depending from and traversing its bottom face to seat in the notches 34 O the guard plate and an alined notch 35 in the ax blade 30 to lock the blade in its outswung operative position shown in Figure 6 or 1nswung and housed between the guard bifurn I cation in inoperative protected position as isv readily understandable. The elongated flat plate 36 is of spring steel vnormally tensioned downwardly but may be sprung upwardly by hand to release the aXle blade. The edges of the plate, as will be seen in Figure 7, project outwardly from the face of the guard plate and may readily be grasped by the lingers for latch releasing pull.

In Figures 9 and l0, a similar ax having a modified form of latch and release is shown. The handle and guard plate sections, ax blade, p ivot and notches correspond to those of Figures 6-8, and are identified by similar numerals. Instead of usin a resilient latching plate anchored to the ifurcated guard lying closely adjacent to and, in locking posi-v tion, parallel to the rectilinear flat upper edges of the guard plates. The forward end of this arm 40 is provided with a depending and laterally offset tapered tooth 41 shaped to fit in the notches 34, 35. At its rear end the arm 40 is pivotally mounted by a pin 42 ony the side face of the guard plate 28 at its upper rear end and is provided with an angular downwardly extending integral actuating arm 43, forming, in effect, a bell crank lever. The lower end of this arm is engaged by the forward end of a coiled Spring 44 whose rear end may conveniently be anchored under tension by a handle rivet 27. This spring normally tends to pull the lower end of the bell crank lever 40, 43, rearwardly and to force and hold its forward latching end downwardly into latching engagement with the notches 34, 35 of the guard plates and ax blade.

As a convenient means for moving the lever from latching position, a thumb pad 45 is applied over the top of the arm 43 at a point between its pivot 42 and its lower end where it is conveniently contacted by the thumb of aA hand grasping the ax handle adjacent its guard head. Downward pressure by the thumb of this hand will release the latched aX blade and permit it to be inswung 0r outswung, as the case may be, by the other hand. The handle portions of their integral guard plate sections may be economically made by metal stamping or dieing operations and' will provide a strong and rigid support for the cutter blade. The form of the blade locking means may be varied and the contour of the side plates of the bifurcated handle head may be correspondingly varied to conform to different shapes and types of cutting blades. Other changes in construction and arrangement may be made to adapt the tool to different conditions of manufacture and use within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In hatchet and aX type tools, a handle porf ti-on formed of complemental metal sectionsconnected with one another to form a handle, a bifurcated guard head integral with said handle and formed of elongated portions extending longitudinally from said handle sec-V tions, being wider than said handle portion and having its outer end rounded on the curve of a circle, a cutting blade having a contour substantially that of the guard head, pivoted at its non-cutting end between the outer ends of the guard head and provided with locking notches disposed substantially at a ninety degree relation to one another and manually operable locking means mounted upon the guard head and adapted to cooperate with either of such notches to maintain'said blade in either cutting or protected position.

DANIEL L. MILLER. WILLIAM E. PELTON.

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