US2463142A - Toolhead handle ratchet wedge - Google Patents

Description

March 1, 1949. R. B. BRETER 2,463,142

TOOL HEAD HANDLE RATCHET WEDGE Filed April 15, 1947 INVENTOR. R/chmw 5. 5n: fer

Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE 2,463,142.. TOoLHEAD'IiANDLE arrears WEDGE Richard B. Breter, Northeast, Pa. Application April '15, 1947-, Serial no. 74 1-543 4 claims. (01.. see -ear This invention relates to wedge elements ror securing tool heads, such as hammer, hatchet, axe, and sledge hammer heads on the ends of handles by wedging surfaces of the handles against adjacent inner surfaces of the heads of the tools, and in particular a wedge element of the usual type in the edges of which spring steel pawls are provided which are positioned to engage with coacting teeth in the corresponding surfaces at the ends of the handle-receiving socket of the tool head.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means in. a wedge element for securing tool heads on handles which locks the wedge in the securing position in the head, wherein the wedge cannot work loose.

Wedge elements and devices have been provided of numerous types and designs, with some holding in the wood, or' material of theh'andle, and some locking in the head; but as the: wood shrinks or wears, the usual type of wedge works loose and the head finally works off of the end of the handle. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a wedge element adapted to be driven into a saw cut in the end of a tool handle in which ratchet elements are incorporated for engaging ridges or teeth in the tool head to positively lock the wedge element in the head with the said wedge element positioned in the saw cut of the handle.

The object of this invention is to provide a wedge having ratchet elements in combination therewith for securing tool heads on handles in which the Wedge positively secures the handle in the head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wedge for securing tool heads to handles thereof in which the holding elements thereof are permanently incorporated in the wedge providing a single complete unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge element for permanently mounting a tool head on a handle in which the wedge is driven into the usual saw cut in the end of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wedge element for permanently securing tool heads on handles in which play developing in the mounting between the end of the handle and head of the tool may readily be taken up by driving the wedge element further into the handle and head.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wedge element having ratchet elements in combination therewith for positively securing tool 2 heads on handles; which is of a simple ahd'ec'iinomical construction.

With these and other objects in view, the invention em-bodies a combination wedge element and tool head wherein the wedge is adapted to be driveni'nto a slit or saw cut in the end of "a handle and the edges of the wedge element are provided with extendiiig spring-"pawls positioned to engage with teeth in the tool head positioned in opp'o'site ends of the handle-receiving socket thereof.

Gther features and advantages of the invention will appear from the followingde'seiii l idh taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing alongit'udinal sec tion through a tool head; or hammer; with a part of the handle also shown in section and-parts broken away; and with: thewed'ge elementshown in elevation.

Figure 2= -i's a view showing a side elevation of the wedge element.

Figure 3 is a view showing an end elevation of the wedge element.

Figure 4 is a view showing the hammer or tool head illustrating the position of the ratchetgripping teeth in the handle-receiving socket thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the improved tool head mounting of this invention includes a wedge element Ill, a tool head II, and a handle 12.

The wedge l 0 is formed with a large end 13 and sides [4 and 15 thereof sloped from the large end or head to a point It. The ends I7 and I8 are also slightly tapered, as shown in Figure 2. The edges I1 and I8 are provided with transverse recesses l9 and 20 positioned substantially midway of the length thereof and fiat spring steel elements 2| and 22 are positioned in the recesses with the inner ends thereof extending into sockets 23 and 24 of the wedge.

The tool head H is provided with a handlereceiving socket 25 and the surfaces of the head in opposite ends of the socket are provided with teeth 26 and 21 which are positioned to be engaged by the spring elements 2| and 22 as the wedge I0 is driven into a slit 28 in the end of the handle I2.

With the parts arranged in this manner, a tool head may be mounted upon the end of a handle in the usual manner and with the end of the handle provided with a slit 28, the wedge l0 may be driven therein and as the wedge approaches the position illustrated in Figure 1, the spring elements 2| and 22 will engage the teeth 26 and 21, thereby making it substantially impossible for the wedge element to back up or move out ward; and as wear develops in the mounting due to shrinkage of the handle or other elements, the wedge may be driven further in and the spring elements will move along the teeth, thereby positively securing the handle in the head in substantially any position.

The wedge element may be provided in various sizes for hammer, hatchet, axe, and sledge hammer heads, and it will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tool handle having a slit in an end thereof, a tool head having a handlereceiving slot positioned on the end of the handle with the slit therein with the end of the handle extending into the slot in the head and with inner surfaces of the head at opposite ends of the slot provided with transversely disposed teeth, and a wedge element with transverse slots in the edges intermediate the ends and flat springstin said slots extending outward from the ends of the wedge and sloping from the mounting points thereof in the Wedge toward the large end of the Wedge. I

2. A tool head mounting comprising a tool head having a substantially rectangular centrally disposed socket extending herethrough with transversely positioned grooves in the head at opposite ends of the socket, asubstantially solid wedge element positioned in said socket, and spring pawls extending outward diagonally from the ends of said wedge element, said pawls inclined from the point of support thereof toward the large endof the wedge.

3. In combination, a tool handle having a slit 4 in an end thereof, a tool head having a handlereceiving slot positioned on the end of the handle with the slit therein with the end of the handle extending into the slot in the head and with inner surfaces of the head at opposite ends of the slot provided with transversely disposed downwardlysloping teeth, and a wedge element with transverse slots in the edges intermediate the ends and flat springs in said slots extending outward from the ends of the wedge and sloping from the mounting points thereof in the wedge toward the large end of the wedge.

4. A tool head mounting comprising a tool head 4 having a substantially rectangular centrally disposed socket extending therethrough with transversely positioned downwardly-sloping grooves in the head at opposite ends of the socket, a substantially solid wedge element positioned in said socket, and spring pawls extending outward diagonally from the ends of said wedge element, said pawls-inclined from the point of support thereof toward the large end of the wedge.

RICHARD B. BRE'I'ER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 100,347 Australia Mar. 4, 1937

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