Method of hanging an object

A hammer hanger is useful for hanging objects off the ground. The hammer hanger includes a Slide hammer tube that impacts a stake to insert the stake into and remove it from the ground. The slide hammer comprises a slide hammer tube that is slidingly captured on the stake. A spade of the stake prevents the hammer hanger from tipping in soft or wet soil. One or more arms are pivotally held on the slide hammer tube for folding and unfolding. Objects are hangable on the unfolded arms. The arms may have hooks that are specially constructed to hang archery bows. The slide hammer may be one or more slide hammer tubes that are releasably lockable to each other for assembling and disassembling the tubes. A stop on the stake coats with the slide hammer tube to prevent the slide hammer tube from rotating on the stake.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to hanging objects off the ground, and more particularly to hanging apparatus that is insertable into and removable from the ground.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is a very common practice to hold selected objects off the ground by means of posts or poles inserted into the ground. Clotheslines, telephone wires, and fences are but a tiny sample of the great variety of objects that are held above the ground by poles and/or posts.

Many poles and posts are intended to be permanently placed in the ground. Others, however, are intended only for temporary use. For example, real estate sales signs are often hung from a post on the property being advertised for sale. After the transaction associated with the property has been completed, the sign and post are removed for transporting to a different property.

In the past, it was an onerous chore to drive a post such as a real estate sign post into the ground. A person required a shovel or similar tool, which was difficult to use in compacted or rocky ground. It was a second chore to remove the post. That was especially true if the ground froze while the post was in place. Removing a post from frozen or otherwise hard ground risked damage to the tools as well as the post itself.

Another example of temporarily hanging objects off the ground concerns archery bows. During competition or at a practice site, an archer frequently sets his bow down between shots. Since bows are expensive, archers desire to protect them from moisture and dirt. That was difficult to do when laying them on the ground. Accordingly, it is desirable to hang the bows from a support rather than lay them on the ground. However, no suitable bow hanger exists for archery use.

In the past, it was an onerous chore to drive a post such as a real estate sign post into the ground. A person required a shovel or similar tool, which was difficult to use in compacted or rocky ground. It was a second chore to remove the post. That was especially true if the ground froze while the post was in place. Removing a post from frozen or otherwise hard ground risked damage to the tools as well as the post itself.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,873 shows a fishing pole holder that includes a stake drivable into the ground. A slide hammer on the holder aids in the inserting and removing process. The holder of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,873 is unsuitable for holding such large items as signs and archery bows.

Thus, a need exists for improvements in supports that temporarily hold objects off the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a hammer hanger is provided that is easily erected into and taken down from the ground. This is accomplished by apparatus that includes a stake and a slide hammer.

The stake is comprised of a rod having a flange between the ends of the rod. A stop is fixed to the first rod end. According to one aspect of the invention, the stake stop has a rectangular outer periphery. Preferably, a spade is secured to the rod between its second end and the flange.

The slide hammer comprises a tube that is captured on and slides over the stake. The slide hammer tube has an inner periphery that matches the size and shape of the stake stop outer periphery. There is a washer on the tube lower end. The slide hammer tube is slideable in a first direction until the washer strikes the flange on the stake. The slide hammer tube is slideable in the opposite direction until the washer strikes the stop on the stake. The slide hammer tube may be of any practical length. According to one embodiment of the invention, the slide hammer tube is approximately four feet long.

At the upper end of the slide hammer tube is an arm. The arm is constructed to hold any of a number of different objects. According to one aspect of the invention, the arm is constructed as a hanger for signs. In another embodiment, the arm is equipped with hooks for hanging archery bows.

It is a feature of the invention that the arm is foldable on the slide hammer tube. When the arm is folded, it lies alongside the slide hammer tube and thus occupies a minimum of space. When the arm is unfolded, it is generally perpendicular to the slide hammer tube in a position for hanging a sign, archery bow, or other object.

The hammer hanger is used by placing the stake rod first end on the ground at the desired location. The slide hammer tube is oriented to be substantially vertical. The slide hammer tube is slid in the upward direction until the washer on its lower end approaches the stop on the stake rod. Then the slide hammer tube is slid rapidly such that the washer strikes the stake flange with an impact that drives the stake rod into the ground. The process is repeated until the stake rod and spade are at the desired depth in the ground. Then the arm is unfolded to hang the selected object off the ground. The spade on the stake prevents the hammer hanger from tipping over in soft ground. The rectangular shapes of the stake stop outer periphery and the slide hammer tube inner periphery prevent the slide hammer tube from rotating on the stake. If the stake stop and slide hammer tube have circular outer and inner peripheries, respectively, a locking device may be used to prevent the slide hammer tube from rotating on the stake.

When it is desired to remove the hammer hanger from the ground, the slide hammer tube is slid very rapidly away from the stake flange until the washer strikes the stop on the stake. The impact causes the stake to move upwardly out of the ground. The process is repeated until the stake can be pulled from the ground. The arm is folded for transporting the hammer hanger to a different site.

In a modified embodiment, the slide hammer is constructed with two tubes. A bottom slide hammer tube has a washer at its lower end, and it is slidingly captured on a stake. A top slide hammer tube has an arm at its upper end and a pilot at its lower end. The pilot is assembleable to and disassembleable from the bottom slide hammer tube. In that manner, different top slide hammer tubes with different arms can be used interchangeably with a single bottom slide hammer tube and stake.

The method and apparatus of the invention, using one or more slide hammer tubes slideable on a stake, thus makes it an easy task to erect and take down the hammer hanger. Different arms can be used for hanging different objects, even though only a single stake is required.

Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a hammer hanger1is illustrated that includes the present invention. The hammer hanger1is particularly useful for holding selected objects off the ground3. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to outdoor applications.

The hammer hanger1is comprised of a stake5that is insertable into and removable from the ground3by means of a slide hammer7. An arm9on the slide hammer7is foldable to lie alongside the slide hammer as shown inFIG. 1. The arm9is also unfoldable so as to be generally perpendicular to the slide hammer as shown inFIG. 2. It is preferred that the hammer hanger be made of steel components.

Looking also atFIGS. 3 and 7, the stake5is made of a rod11. A flange13is welded to the rod11approximately mid-way between the rod bottom end15and top end17. As illustrated, the flange13is part of a collar19surrounding and welded to the rod. At the top end17of the rod is a stop21, which preferably is a short tube that fits over and is welded to the stake rod. According to one aspect of the invention, the stop21has a rectangular outer periphery37. However, a round outer periphery is also acceptable. Close to the collar19is a spade23. The spade23is depicted as generally diamond in shape, but other shapes are also within the scope of the invention.

The slide hammer7includes a tube25having a longitudinal axis26and upper and lower ends27and29, respectively. A rubber cap31may be pressed over the slide hammer tube upper end27. Fixed on the slide hammer tube lower end29is a washer33. The washer33has an inner diameter34that is sized to slide easily over the stake rod11. The slide hammer tube25has an inner periphery35sized and shaped to slide easily over the outer periphery37of the stake stop21. The inner diameter34of the washer33is smaller than the periphery37of the stake stop. Consequently, the slide hammer is captured on the stake5, but the slide hammer is free to slide on the stake. Specifically, the slide hammer is slideable in the direction of arrow39until the washer33strikes the flange13on the stake. The slide hammer is slideable in the direction of arrow41until the washer33strikes the stake stop21. To hold the hammer hanger1with the washer33and flange in contact, the present invention further includes a connector such as a shock cord43. One end of the connector43has a hook45that engages a ring47on the slide hammer tube25. The other end of the connector has a second hook49that is engageable with a hole51in the stake spade23.

To hold the arm9to the slide hammer tube25, a clamp53is used. Also seeFIGS. 5 and 6. In the illustrated construction, the clamp53is a channel having spaced parallel sides55with a bight57that wraps around the slide hammer tube. A fastener59passing through the clamp sides55enables the clamp to firmly grip the slide hammer tube. There is a pair of aligned holes60in the clamp sides near their distal ends62.

The particular arm9illustrated is a rectangular tube64having aligned holes that receive the clamp fastener59. The arm tube64also has aligned second holes61, and a pair of eyes63.

InFIGS. 1 and 6, the arm9is shown in a folded position whereat it lies alongside the slide hammer tube25. To unfold the arm, it is pivoted in the direction of arrow65until the arm holes61align with the clamp holes60. Then a pin67, which may be a safety pin with a conventional spring loop69, is inserted through the holes60and61to retain the arm in the unfolded position,FIGS. 2 and 5. when the arm is in the unfolded position, a sign69or similar object can be hung from the eyes63.

InFIGS. 1-3, the slide hammer7has a single long slide hammer tube25. A preferred dimension for the slide hammer tube25is approximately 57 inches. Other preferred dimensions include lengths of approximately 27 inches for the stake rod11, and approximately 19 inches for the arm9.

InFIG. 4, an alternate slide hammer7′ is made with to slide hammer tubes. A bottom slide hammer tube71is constructed with a ring such as the ring47and a washer such as the washer33of the slide hammer tube25described previously. The bottom slide hammer tube71is captured on and is slideable along a stake5in the same way as the slide hammer tube25. The bottom slide hammer tube71has an upper end73near which is welded a nut75. A screw77is threaded to the nut75and passes through a hole79in the bottom slide hammer tube wall.

The slide hammer7′ also has a top slide hammer tube81having a lower end83. A pilot tube85is welded to the interior of the top slide hammer tube81and assembles into the interior of the bottom slide hammer tube71until the ends73and83abut. Then the screw77is tightened to lock the two slide hammer tubes to each other. In that manner, different top slide hammer tubes can be used with a single bottom slide hammer tube and stake5.

In use, the arm9is usually folded and the cord hook49engages the spade hole51when transporting the hammer hanger1to the desired location. If the slide hammer7′ with the two slide hammer tubes71and81is used, the two tubes may be disassembled from each other for transporting. The hammer hanger is erected by placing the stake rod end15on the ground3and orienting the slide hammer tube to be vertical. The cord hook49is disengaged from the spade hole51. The slide hammer tube25or71is slid upwardly in the direction of arrow41until the washer33approaches the stop21. Then the slide hammer tube is slid rapidly downwardly in the direction of arrow39until the washer strikes the flange13. That action produces an impact on the stake5that drives the rod11into the ground. The process is repeated as often as necessary until the spade23is fully inserted into the ground. If used, the top slide hammer tube81is assembled to the bottom slide hammer tube71. The arm9is unfolded and retained in place with the pin67. The spade prevents the hammer hanger from tipping over in soft or wet soil and also prevents the stake from rotating in the ground about the rod longitudinal axis. The coaction between the rectangular slide hammer tube25or71and the rectangular stake stop21prevents the slide hammer from rotating about its longitudinal axis26on the stake. If a stake stop with a round outer periphery and a slide hammer tube with a round inner periphery are used, the slide hammer preferably includes a locking device that prevents the slide hammer from rotating about its longitudinal axis on the stake. A suitable locking device is a nut and screw similar to the nut75and screw77described above. The nut is welded to the slide hammer tube near its lower end. The screw threads to the nut and passes through a hole in the slide hammer tube to lock against the rod11. In that manner, the hammer hanger having either a round or rectangular stop and slide hammer tube remains in place after it is erected until it is taken down.

To take down the hammer hanger1, the sign69other object removed from the eyes63. The pin67is removed from the clamp holes60and arm holes61, and the arm9is folded against the slide hammer tube25. If the hammer hanger has the two-piece slide hammer7′, the screw77is loosened to unlock the pilot85of the top slide hammer tube81from the bottom slide hammer tube71, and the top tube is disassembled from the bottom tube. After disengaging the cord hook49from the spade hole51, the slide hammer7is slid rapidly in the direction of arrow41until the washer33strikes the stop21. The impact thus produced tends to remove the stake5and spade23from the ground3. Depending on the condition of the ground, it make take more than one cycle of striking the stake stop with the slide hammer tube before the stake is removed from the ground. Eventually, the stake is removed, and the hammer hanger is ready for transporting to another site.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the hammer hanger is eminently suitable for hanging different types of objects off the ground3. Turning toFIG. 8, a hammer hanger87is depicted that is used with for hanging archery bows, typically represented at reference numeral88, off the ground. The hammer hanger87is shown with a slide hammer89having a bottom slide hammer tube71′ and a top slide hammer tube81′. However, it will be appreciated that a single slide hammer tube such as the slide hammer tube25described previously is also acceptable for the slide hammer87. On the top slide hammer tube81′ is a clamp91. According to one aspect of the invention, the clamp91is comprised of a pair of parallel plates93held together by a pair of fasteners95. The plates93extend in Opposite directions from the top slide hammer tube. Between the plates on each side of the top slide hanger tube is an arm9′. The arms9′ are held to the clamp by the fasteners95. Safety pins67′ are used to retain the arms9′ in the unfolded position as shown inFIG. 8. The arms are foldable alongside the slide hammer tube81′ by removing the pins67as was described previously in connection with the hammer hanger1ofFIGS. 1-7.

On each arm9′ are a number of hooks. As illustrated, there are three hooks on each arm, but that number is not critical to the invention. Two of the hooks97have shanks99that are generally perpendicular to the arm and supports101that are generally parallel to the arm. Another hook103at the free end of each arm is generally parallel to the arm for the hook full length. It will be appreciated, of course, that the construction of the hooks97and103may vary without departing from the scope of the invention. The hammer hanger87is erected at the site of archery practice fields and competition events to hang the expensive bows88off the ground between shots.

The illustrated hammer hanger87has two arms9′ on opposite sides of the top slide hammer tube81′. However, if desired, only one arm9′ and associated hooks97and103, together with the clamp53ofFIGS. 1,2,5, and6, may be used instead of the two arms9′ and clamp91shown.

In summary, the results and advantages of hanging various objects off the ground3can now be more fully realized. The hammer hanger of the invention provides both easy erection and take down of the hammer hanger as well as convenient transportation between sites. This desirable result comes from using the combined functions of the slide hammer and the arms. The slide hammer impacts the stake5in the directions39and41to both erect and remove, respectively, the hammer hanger. The spade23maintains the hammer hanger upright in soft or wet soil. The rectangular cross-sections of the slide hammer tube and stake stop21prevent the slide hammer tube from rotating on the stake. The arms are foldable for easy transportation. Different kinds of holding elements can be fixed to the arms for holding different kinds of objects, such as a sign69or archery bows88. The slide hammer tube may be in more than one piece, thereby even further enhancing the versatility and usefulness of the invention.

It will also be recognized that in addition to the superior performance of the invention, its construction is such as to be of modest cost in relation to the benefits it provides. In fact, the hammer hanger will quickly pay for itself due to increased productivity related to hanging signs and previously unavailable protection for archery bows.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a hammer hanger that fully satisfies the aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.