US2680656A - Hammer with improved head retaining means - Google Patents

Description

' June 8, 1954 A, G, m 2,680,656

HAMMER WITH IMPROVED HEAD RETAINING MEANS Filed Jan. 30, 1952 Fig.1

24 322234 I0 Fig? 3% ,2 +3 iin; 24

Albert 6. Wing INVENTOR.

BY man Wm Em Patented June 8, 1954 HAMMER WITH IMPROVED HEAD RETAINING MEANS Albert G. Wing, Eagle, Idaho Application January 30, I952, SerialNo. 268,970

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to tools, generally classified, and has more particular reference to a tool characterized by a handle having a head wedged, keyed, or otherwise secured on one end of the handle, for example, hammers, picks, axes and so on and so forth.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the head of a hammer or hatchet, after repeated use, may become loose and accidentally fly oii. Statistics show that these accidents occur so frequently that many and varied styles and forms of safety-type devices have been offered by others to cope with. the situation. Many such devices employ the structural principle of harnessing the head on the handle, and all sorts of yolees and .lb'ridles have been put forth for adoption and use. Although many such adaptations have been patented, the fact that they are not, evidently,

in widespread use leads one to believe that notwithstanding the development of the prior art, there is still room for improvements.

The instant matter, therefore, has reference to improved ways and means whereby the desired end results may be attained. With this end in view, it is an object of the invention to improve upon and reduce the number of parts entering into the combination, thereby not only increasing the efficiency of the structural means as a whole, but rendering same less costly to manufacture and to otherwise simplify matters of assembling, sale and handling by users.

Another object is to structurally, functionally and to in other manners improve upon known similarly constructed prior art constructions, and, in so doing, to provide a construction in which manufacturers, hardware retailers and users will find their respective requirements and needs more satisfactoril met.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a head having an eye therein, the outward end portion of said eye having a countersunk recess, a handle having a portion fitting telescopically in said eye, a capping cleat seated in said recess and abutting the cooperating end of said handle, anchor means encircling a portion of said handle, diametrically opposite reach elements joined at corresponding ends to said anchor means and extending from the latter alongside said handle and through said head by way of said eye and having free end portions fastened to said cleat.

In carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleat is eifectively maintained in place by laterally bent ends of wire reach limbs or members which are securely clenched against the cleat, said wire members being extended through grooves provided therefor in the eye portion of the head and being joined with the handle encircling anchor means.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings,'wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a view essentially in elevation. but

partly in section showing a fragmentary portion of a handle, the head thereon and the improved means for securing the head against accidental displacement.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure seen in Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are sections taken on the section lines 3 -3, 4-4, and 55', respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cleat harnessing and hold-down bridle.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the especially constructed end portion of the handle.

In the general assembly view seen in Figure 1, the handle is denoted, generally, by the numeral 8 and the head by the numeral it). Although the invention is shown in connection with a hammer, it is understood that it applies to any tools in the same general structural category. As before mentioned, the head is provided with a passage extending therethrough which is commonly referred to in the trade and elsewhere as a handle-accommodating eye. In the instant situation, this serves to accommodate the reduced terminal end portion [2 of the handle. In order to conform with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle has a shoulder 14 which abuts the head and, in addition, it has an annular groove it. Then, too, there are diametrically opposite lengthwise grooves I8 extending from the groove Hi to the reduced head accommodation extension l2.

The outer end portion of the eye of the hammer is countersunk as at 20 to provide a recess which in the showing is somewhat ovate in form. The recess obviously serves as a pocket and accommodates a correspondingly shaped handle capping cleat 22. The cleat fits flush in the pocket and has diametrically opposite keeper notches 2t24.

The cleat serves as a hold-down cap for the head and also caps over the coacting end of the handle. The preferred harnessing means takes the form of a two-part wire bridle. The main part is formed from a single length of wire which is bent intermediate its ends to provide a semicircular portion 25 which fits into a half portion of the anchoring groove l5. The main reaches of the wire constitute limbs 2828 and these are in diametrical opposite relation and they have portions extending through accommodation grooves Bil-30 provided in the eye portion of the head in the manner shown best in Figure 3. The free end portions are laterally bent as at 32 and 34 and one end has a lateral terminal 36. These bent ends lock in the keeper notches and are clenched against the exterior surface of the cleat, thus fastening the cleat in place. In order to stabilize the construction, the second wire has a semi-circular portion 38 which corresponds to 26 and its end portions are twisted around the coacting portions of the reach limbs 28. The stated end portions are denoted at 40-40 and the twisted portions of the respective wires are denoted at l2-42 and these are mounted securely in the channels or grooves 18. The two portions 26 and 38 go to make up a sort of collar or ring which is broadly referred to as anchor means which encircles the handle by way of the anchor accommodating groove Hi.

It is within the purview of the invention to provide some other arrangement of wire equivalent to that shown or even a metal band which has a collar and reach limbs (not shown) provided that the reach members are engaged with and clench over the cleat to hold the cleat in the pocket and to thus securely wedge and retain the head on the handle.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this 4 art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

In a tool, such as a pick, axe, hatchet or the like, in combination, a head having an eye therein, the outward end portion of said eye having a countersunk recess, a handle having a reduced shouldered portion fitting telescopically into said eye, a capping cleat seated flush in said recess and abutting a cooperating end of said handle, said cleat being provided with diametrically opposite keeper notches, a pair of diametrically opposite reach members passing through said eye alongside of cooperating portions of the handle, corresponding ends of said reach elements being extended through and seated in said keeper notches and having terminal portions directed toward each other and bent and clenched against said cleat, and means for securing said reach elements to the handle including a groove formed in said handle, and a circular anchor seated in said groove, said anchor being in a plane at right angles to said reach members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images