Abstract:
A multiuse hammer having multiple pry features of varying configurations as well as a striking face on an enlarged head portion. One feature is formed on the handle end, another long length straight but angled claw on the head portion, and a pry tooth projects to one side of the claw.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/881,364, filed Jun. 14, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention concerns hammers and more particularly hammers suited for multiple use as by a roofer in carrying out nailing, striking, prying and/or nail removal tasks of the type typically encountered when roofing. 
     A standard carpenter&#39;s hammer has a curving claw projecting back from the striking face. Such a standard claw is often awkward to use for prying, as the handle must be tilted forward, and forward clearance is sometimes not available. The hammer head configuration does not create a great deal of leverage, such that excessive effort is required, even for extracting nails. 
     Further, the standard hammer claw is not well suited to a variety of prying applications encountered by a roofer, as when inserting the same under shingles, trim, flashing, siding, etc., and a roofer usually must carry other pry tools in addition to a hammer. 
     Another roofer need is convenience in carrying the hammer, as the roofer is usually working on his knees or stooped over, such that a belt holder makes removing the hammer awkward or necessitates standing up. Since a roofer must use his hammer frequently, even a slight hindrance is burdensome over the course of a work day. 
     It is now the usual practice to use a nailing gun for nailing the shingles, and a person usually would prefer to reach for a holstered nailing gun with the same hand as he reaches for a hammer. 
     It has heretofore been proposed to provide a leg holster for hammers as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,263, but that holster is complex and costly as it has a number of mechanical parts, and some effort is required in seating the hammer in the holder. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a hammer having multiple pry and extraction features which are configured to be particularly effective for roofers for striking as well as prying tasks. 
     It is another object to provide a hammer which can be held in simple and convenient belt loop holder. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above recited objects and others which will be understood upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a tool comprising a hammer having multiple pry features. The hammer is preferably of one piece metal construction including an extra heavy striking head shaped as an elongated straight bar, having an integral tubular handle attached at one end to the head at a location intermediate the length thereof and formed at its free end with slightly angled chisel prongs separated with a V-shaped slot. A bulging shape of the handle end together with a slight angling of the prongs allows a powerful mechanical advantage to be developed when grasping the head and using the handle length for leverage. The slight angle of the prongs allow the handle to extend away from a nail or shingle at a shallow angle to allow easy, convenient prying and extraction. 
     An extraction claw is also provided on one end of a head portion, which is of longer length than standard hammers, and which is flattened and extends from an angled surface of the striking head end to allow great leverage when prying or extracting a nail by a downward push on the handle to pull the nail partially out. This makes it easier to pull the nail the rest of the way out by pulling up on the handle in the conventional manner. 
     A pry tooth is also provided projecting from the outer side of at least one prong of the claw, which is upturned slightly to be effectively engageable with a vertical siding piece to slightly pry the same away from a vertical wall adjacent a roof surface by a force exerted with the tool handle. 
     This feature is useful to loosen siding to allow roof flashing to be inserted under the siding. 
     The hammer is also designed to be held in a simple belt loop holster. The head has sloping sides with a chamfer along the lower edges to be easily pulled past a nailer gun without catching. A pair of scallop features receive the belt holder strap, and a pair of integral webs each extending from the head to the handle locate and stabilize the hammer in the belt loop holder. 
     The webs also serve to increase the mass of the large head for increased striking power. 
     The scallop closer to the striking face is larger to function as a finger grip when extracting the hammer from the belt loop holder. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of the multiple use hammer according to the invention, inserted in a holder according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the hammer shown in FIG. 1, showing the pry tooth with siding shown in phantom lines. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary reverse end view of the roofer&#39;s hammer shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the lower end of the hammer handle, shown engaging a nail being extracted. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the hammer shown in FIG. 1 depicting the start of a nail extraction, the hammer handle pushed down as shown in phantom lines. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front view of the multiple use hammer in a belt loop holder. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, the roofer&#39;s hammer  10  is shown, preferably of one piece construction and of forged steel, with a handle  12  formed integrally with a straight bar shaped head  14 . The handle  12  is joined to the head  14  at an intermediate location along the length of the head  14 . The handle  12  is preferably formed by a hollow tube, as seen in FIGS. 2,  3 ,  4  and  6  to minimize shock when using the hammer as a striking tool. 
     The head  14  has a flat striking face  16  at one end thereof, and a straight, relatively long extraction claw  18  downwardly extending from the other end. A pair of webs  20 ,  22  are provided each extending between the handle  12  and head  14  which also insure a centered retention in a conventional belt loop holder  24 , shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The elongated bar shaped head  14  has sloping sides  26 ,  28  (FIG. 2) angling in from a parting line  30  to present a trim contour to enable easy withdrawal from the holder  24  and clearance to minimize interference with a holstered nailer gun (not shown). 
     The head  14  has an opposite face  32  angled down and blending into the elongated tapered thickness extraction claw  28  extending outwardly and downwardly from the opposite face  32 . An angled corner  34  provides an effective fulcrum point. 
     A V-shaped slot  36  (FIG. 3) is formed into the end of the extraction claw  18 . The corner  34  of the angled face  38  forms a fulcrum point when using the claw  18  for completing nail extraction or prying. The long length and flat configuration of the claw  18  makes it effective as a pry for loosening shingles without breakage. The claw  18  can also be used effectively to punch a hole in plywood, siding, etc., and is designed to be sufficiently sturdy for that purpose. 
     A pry tooth feature  38  projects laterally from one prong of the claw  18  adjacent the end thereof. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the pry tooth feature  38  is angled up slightly to be effective in loosening siding  40  on a vertical wall  42  intersecting a roof  60 . With the hammer  10  angled slightly away from the wall  42 , and with the handle  12  extending alongside the wall  42 , the feature  38  can be engaged with the bottom edge of the siding  40 . When the handle  12  is pulled to the side, with the head  14  engaging the roof surface, the pry tooth feature  38  exerts a pry force on the siding, enabling it to be loosened. This allows flashing pieces to be inserted under the siding  40 . 
     The handle  12  has a knurling or dimple pattern  44  for a secure grip is formed with a pair of pry-extraction prongs  46  separated by a V-shaped slot  48  on the lower end of the handle  12 . The prongs  46  are integral with the handle end and are angled out slightly from the handle axis (FIG.  6 ). The handle  12  has a bulge  50  at the end adjacent an inclined face  52  blending into the prongs  46 . The bulge  50  creates a fulcrum when prying using the prongs  46 , or when extracting a nail  54 . Since the entire length of the handle  12  is available as a lever arm acting on the short distance from the bulge  50  to the slot  48 , considerable force can be exerted. This pry feature comprised of the prongs  46  can more easily be used in many situations than a standard hammer claw, and allows the engagement of the user&#39;s knee to apply a force to the handle  12 . 
     The head  14  is also formed with a large finger grip scallop  56  on each side at one end, and a smaller scallop  58  on each side at the other end, webs  20 ,  22  blending into a respective scallop  56 ,  58  as shown. This allows the head  14  to receive the belt loop holder  24  and be located therein. The larger scallop  56  provide easier gripping when removing the hammer from the belt holder  24  (FIG.  6 ). The length and straightness of extraction claw  18  allow it to be used to advantage when removing nails, as seen in FIG.  5 . The nail extraction is started by pushing down on the handle  12 , a much quicker motion, which exerts a powerful upward pull on the nail  54  as indicated. The handle  12  can then be pulled up to complete extraction, as necessary.