Tool with slideable weight

A tool (10) includes an elongated shaft (11) having a handle (12) mounted at one end, a working implement (14) mounted to an opposite end, and a sliding weight (16) journalled upon the shaft for movement between the handle and working implement. The working implement includes a handle (41) which is mounted to the end of the shaft and a head (42). The handle has a longitudinal axis LA. The handle head mounting end (44) having two spaced apart flanges (45). Each flange has a central pivot hole (46) and a pull pin hole (47). The head has a central mounting portion (49) and an impact head (51) with an impact surface (52). The central mounting portion includes a central pivot hole (53), which is alignable with the handle flange central pivot hole, and an arcuate series of set pin holes (54), which are alignable with the handle flange set pin holes. A pivot pin (56) extends through the handle flange central pivot holes and head central portion pivot hole. A removable set pin (57) removably extends through the handle flange set pin holes and any one of the set of head set pin holes, depending upon the desired positioning of the head. The head is moveable between a lateral position and a longitudinal position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to tools, and specifically to hammers and other impact tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand tools such as hammers and prybars have existed for many years. Some such tools have incorporated an elongated shaft with a sliding weight to assist the tool in producing the desired working force. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,188 shows a roofing remover having a weighted sliding sleeve which contacts an abutment collar to impart a driving force upon the head. These tools however have not been designed to both drive nails and later pry them with the assistance of an ancillary weight.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a tool that enables one to easily drive and remove nails or other objects with the use of a sliding weight. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred form of the invention a tool comprises an elongated handle having a longitudinal axis, and a hammer head having an impact head with an impact surface. The hammer head is moveable between a first position wherein the impact head is aligned generally perpendicular to the elongated handle longitudinal axis and the impact surface aligned generally parallel with the elongated handle longitudinal axis and a second position wherein the impact head is aligned generally parallel to the elongated handle longitudinal axis and the impact surface aligned generally perpendicular to the elongated handle longitudinal axis. With this construction, with the hammer head impact head in its first position the tool may be used by swinging the tool in the fashion of a hammer, and with the hammer head impact head in its second position the tool may be used by moving or impacting the tool longitudinally along the handle longitudinal axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a tool10embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form. The tool10includes an elongated shaft11having a handle12mounted at one end, a working implement14mounted to an opposite end, and a sliding weight16journalled upon the shaft11for movement between the handle12and working implement14.

The handle12includes a grip18comprised of two halves19configured to be mounted together with the end of the shaft11sandwiched between them. Each half19has a set of two mounting holes20which are aligned with two mounting holes21extending through the shaft11adjacent the end. A mounting bolt22extends through each of the grip mounting holes20and shaft mounting hole21to fix the grip18to the shaft11. The handle12also includes a metal handle bumper or stop24. The stop24has two flanges25each having two mounting holes26therein which are alignable with two additional mounting holes27within the shaft11. Again, a mounting bolt28extends through each stop mounting hole26and shaft mounting hole27to fix the stop24to the shaft11.

The sliding weight16includes a hand gripping portion31, a handle abutment32, and a working implement abutment33. The weight16also includes a braking system34which enables the weight16to be locked in place. As best shown inFIG. 8, the braking system34includes a slideable locking bar35having a bottom surface36with a raised surface37and a lower surface38. The handle abutment32and implement abutment33may be of a two piece construction with the contacting surface made of a plastic material layer to soften the noise produced when the weight collides with the stops24and43identified hereinafter.

The working implement14is shown in the form of a hammer40. The hammer40includes a handle or handle portion41which is mounted to the end of the shaft11and a head or head portion42. The handle41has a longitudinal axis LA. The handle41has a weight stop43and a head mounting end44having two spaced apart flanges45. Each flange45has a central pivot hole46and a pull or set pin hole47. The head42has a central mounting portion49, a prying claw50, and an impact head51with an impact surface52. The central mounting portion49includes a central pivot hole53, which is alignable with the handle flange central pivot hole46, and an arcuate series of set pin holes54, which are alignable with the handle flange set pin holes47. A pivot pin56extends through the handle flange central pivot holes46and head central portion pivot hole53. A removable set or pull pin removably extends through the handle flange set pin holes47and any one of the set of head set pin holes54, depending upon the desired positioning of the head.

The working implement14may be designed to be removably mounted or coupled to the shaft so that different implements may be utilized. As such, the working implement handle may include a central, longitudinal mounting hole59extending inwardly from the end of the handle41. The mounting hole59may include two oppositely disposed channels60, which allow the passage of two protrusions61extending from the shaft11adjacent the end, and a pair of locking notches62offset from the channels60. The protrusions61can nest within the notches62to lock the handle41to the shaft11by rotating the handle relative to the shaft and having the protrusions positioned within the notches62. The protrusions61are maintained within the notches through the assistance of an internal spring63positioned within the handle and pushing against the shaft.

In use, the head portion42is rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position (a conventional hammer head position), the impact head is oriented generally normal, perpendicular or laterally to the shaft11and handle41so that the impact surface is generally parallel to the shaft11and handle41, as shown inFIG. 1. In the second position, the impact head51is oriented generally parallel or longitudinally with the shaft11and handle41so that the impact surface52is generally normal or perpendicular to the shaft11and handle41, as shown inFIG. 6.

With the head42in its first position (conventional position with the impact surface oriented generally parallel to the shaft), the tool may be used in conventional fashion to drive nails or impact upon an object by moving the tool laterally. The pry claw50may also be used in a conventional fashion, however, the weight16may be quickly slid upon the shaft11and impacted upon the handle stop43to exert an additional pulling force on the object being pried upon with the claw.

The head42may also be moved to its second position, shown inFIG. 6, by removing the set pin57from the head set pin hole54and rotating the head about pivot pin56. The head may also be moved to a number of positions between the first and second positions correlating to the number of set pin holes in the head. With the head42in the second position, the impact surface52may be place against an object (impact surface oriented generally perpendicular to the shaft and the direction of the impact force created by the contact of the sliding weight), such as a nail. The weight is then quickly moved in a direction towards the head42so that the weight impacts upon the weight stop43to exert a driving force upon the object through the impact surface52. As such, the tool is utilized by moving or forcing it longitudinally, i.e., by creating a longitudinal driving force.

The braking system34may be employed to lock the position of the sliding weight16relative to the shaft11. This locking prevents the weight16from sliding back and forth along the shaft11during transportation or storage of the tool. With the braking system locking bar35moved to an unlocked position the shaft11is positioned below the raised surface37so that the locking bar35does not contact the shaft11, thereby allowing free movement of the sliding weight16. To lock the weight in place, the locking bar35is moved to a locked position with the shaft11positioned below the lowered surface38so that the locking bar35frictionally contacts the shaft11, thereby restricting or preventing relative movement of the sliding weight16along the shaft11.

It should be understood that the terms parallel, perpendicular, normal, lateral, longitudinal and the like are not intended to represent exact degrees of relativity between objects and are intended to represent the general orientation due to variations in handle shapes, exact orientations of relative components, and the like.

It should be understood that the working implement may be of any variety, such as hatchets, prybars and prying tools, other types of hammers, and the like.

It should also be understood that the handle41may be configured with only one flange45, however, it is believed that two flanges45are preferred to provide better strength between the handle and head. Also, the set holes47and54may be reversed so that the handle flanges include a series of set holes and the head flange includes one or more set holes.

It thus is seen that a tool having a pivotal head is now provided which overcomes problems with those of the prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.