Connectable tool assembly

A tool assembly including a hammer to which a secondary tool, such as a dual-ended pry bar, is connectable. The hammer and the secondary tool are connectable via a slidable locking mechanism, including a detent pin that engages with a corresponding slot on a rail disposed on the secondary tool. One embodiment of the secondary tool includes multiple rails, which allows for the secondary tool to be attached to the hammer in multiple different orientations. The different orientations in which the secondary tool can be connected to the hammer allows for the first working end of the secondary tool or the second working end of the tool to be used alternatively as needed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tools. Specifically, the present invention relates to an assembly of tools that are connectable together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Construction workers, repairmen, and other such individuals who routinely work with tools are force to carry multiple different tools with them at all times in order to handle the variety of tasks with which they are faced. Furthermore, conventional pry bars are often not long enough to provide sufficient leverage to efficiently remove fasteners from dug-in positions. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a tool assembly that provides the functionality of multiple tools in an efficient manner and, for embodiments of the present invention comprising a pry bar, provides a pry bar having an extended length for improved leverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of connectable tool assemblies now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a novel connectable tool assembly that is configured to provide users with a means to connect a secondary tool to a hammer in multiple different working positions. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a tool assembly including a hammer to which a secondary tool, such as a dual-ended pry bar, is connectable. The hammer and the secondary tool are connectable via a slidable locking mechanism, including a detent pin that engages with a corresponding slot on a rail disposed on the secondary tool. The secondary tool includes multiple rails, which allows for the secondary tool to be attached to the hammer in multiple different orientations. The different orientations in which the secondary tool can be connected to the hammer allows for the first working end of the secondary tool or the second working end of the tool to be used alternatively as needed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the present tool assembly. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, an embodiment will be discussed as the first tool being a hammer and the second tool being a dual-ended pry bar; however, this is provided solely for representative purposes and should not be read as limiting in any respect. Furthermore, the figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-2, there are shown perspective views of an embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a hammer101to which a secondary tool102is connectable. The hammer101comprises a shaft111having a handle or grip and a head112having a striking surface. The hammer101comprises a claw hammer, as shown, and all other such hammers. The secondary tool102comprises a shaft131, a first working end132disposed at a first end of the shaft131, and a second working end133disposed at a second end of the shaft131. The secondary tool102is connectable to the hammer101in alternative orientations, allowing for use of the first working end132or the second working end133as desired. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the secondary tool102comprises a dual-ended pry bar. As used herein, “working end” refers to the section of a tool that is used to accomplish the task for which the tool was designed.

The secondary tool102is connectable to the hammer101via a slidable locking mechanism. The hammer101comprises a channel114disposed on the head112that is configured to receive a first rail134and a second rail135, which are disposed on the shaft131of the secondary tool102. The channel114further comprises a spring-biased detent pin115disposed therein, which is configured to engage with a slot136,137disposed on the rails134,135. As the rail134,135is slid into the slot136,137, the rail134,135depresses the detent pin115until the detent pin115is aligned with the slot136,137, at which point the detent pin115engages with the slot136,137and locks the secondary tool102to the head112of the hammer101. When the hammer101and the secondary tool102are connected together, the locking mechanism prevents the hammer101and the secondary tool102from moving longitudinally with respect to each other until the detent pin115is disengaged.

The rails134,135are sized to a close tolerance of the channel114, thereby preventing lateral movement of the rails134,135within the channel114with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hammer101, while allowing the channel114to slidably receive the rails134,135therein. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the channel114and the rails134,135are T-shaped. As used herein, “close tolerance” refers to there being sufficient clearance between components such that they are movable in relation to each other in one direction, e.g. longitudinally, but the physical dimensions being nearly equal such that, when engaged, the components are prevented from moving in a second direction, e.g. laterally. In this embodiment of the present invention, the T-shaped channel114can additionally be used as a means for pulling nails by inserting the exposed head of the nail into the channel114and then pivoting the hammer101upwardly.

In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the first rail134is disposed on the shaft131adjacently to the first working end132such that when the first rail134is engaged with the channel114, the second working end133extends beyond the head112of the hammer101and is thereby usable. Furthermore, the second working end135is disposed on the shaft131adjacently to the second working end133such that when the second rail133is engaged with the channel114, the first working end132extends beyond the head112of the hammer101and is thereby usable. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the first rail134and the second rail135are oriented perpendicularly to each other along the shaft131of the secondary tool102, thereby ensuring that when one of the working ends132,133is in use, the working end132,133not in use is oriented away from the shaft111of the hammer101so that it does not interfere with the connection between the rail134,135and the channel114.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention further comprises a cap113composed of hardened material, e.g. steel, disposed at the distal end of the shaft111of the hammer101. The cap113provides a hardened surface that can be struck against another surface to assist in disconnecting the secondary tool102from the hammer101, without causing damage to the hammer101. The sharp vertical force supplied by striking the hammer101against a surface assists in disengaging the detent pin115from the slot136,137of the rail134,135that is disposed within the channel114. Once the detent pin115is disengaged from the slot136,137, the rail134,135can then be slid from the channel114, disconnecting the secondary tool102from the hammer101.

Referring now toFIGS. 3A-3B, there are shown cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of the head portion of the hammer of the present invention along line3-3. In one embodiment of the present invention, the head112of the hammer comprises a single slot disposed on a first side of the head112. In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 3B, the head112of the hammer comprises a pair of channels114disposed on opposing sides of the head412. Each of the channels114comprises a detent pin115and is configured to receive a rail of the secondary tool for connecting the secondary tool to the hammer, as is described above with respect to the single-channel embodiment of the present invention.