Abstract:
An apparatus and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed for an impact device with interchangeable tools for applying precise momentum force to an external object. The device includes two elongated members, one of which containing a hollow portion, and a tool head disposed on one side of the first elongated member. The device can be configured to allow the first elongated member to be removably inserted into the second elongated member and to allow the second elongated member to strike the tool head in order to impart force on an external object.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a hand operated impact device containing a guided ram for applying precise momentum force to a plurality of interchangeable tools. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     With the recent boom in housing and real estate development, many companies are operating at maximum capacity to keep up with the demand for their services. As such, these companies employ workers for performing various construction and labor related tasks such as installing new underground facilities (i.e. cable, telephone, sprinklers, etc), compacting earth and stripping roof tiles to name a few. To accomplish the work, these companies must provide their workers with several hand tools such as axes, shovels, hedgers, and compactors among others. In addition, many of these companies have divisions which work on large machinery and must further provide employees with specialized slugging wrenches, sledges and other such tools. In each of these instances, the tools are utilized by imparting manual force through the tool to the object being worked on. In a typical example, a worker attempting to dig a trench must step on top of a shovel or swing a trench cutter (also known as a womper) or axe several times into the ground in order to make a hole. In addition to the physical exertion and inaccuracy caused by constantly swinging a heavy tool, workers often suffer injuries resulting from inadvertent contact with the tool in motion. 
     Several patents have been granted for impact type tools including: Lee U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,303; Corsini U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,586; and Trujillo U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,724, however, none of these address the issues outlined above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an impact device containing a guided ram for applying precise momentum force to an interchangeable tool. One object of the present invention is to provide a single impact device with a series of interchangeable tools capable of replacing several conventional construction tools and improving efficiency and safety of workers. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention can include two elongated members, one of which containing a hollow portion, and a tool head disposed on one side of the first elongated member. The device can be configured to allow the first elongated member to be removably inserted into the second elongated member, and to allow the second elongated member to strike the tool head in order to impart precise momentum force on an external object. 
     Yet another embodiment of the present invention can include a method of manufacturing an impact device as described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal view of an impact device with an interchangeable tool according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another frontal view of an impact device with an interchangeable tool according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a tool head according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a frontal view of an impact device with an interchangeable tool in use according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a compactor tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a magnetized pounder tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the device with an interchangeable tool according to an one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of an axe tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a chisel tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of a hedger tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a tile stripper tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of a carpet stretching tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a wrench tool according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of a stationary turbine blade remover and installer tool head according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a general architecture of an impact device  1  that includes an interchangeable tool  10  and a guided Ram  12  capable of imparting substantial momentum force to the tool. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the interchangeable tool  10  includes an elongated base member  11  preferably constructed of strong bar-like steel with protrusions  13  disposed at one end and an impact plate  14  disposed at the opposite end. 
     The impact plate  14  is positioned between the bottom of the base member  11  and the top of the tool head  30 . The impact plate  14  is preferably a rectangular plate constructed of hardened reinforced steel having a large surface area that is parallel to a location in which the bottom of the tool head  30  is to be applied. As such, the impact plate may be permanently and securely affixed between the base member and the tool head via a weld or may be molded with the base member and the tool head at the factory to produce a continuous steel component. Alternatively, the tool head  30  may be removably secured to the impact plate  14  using any known attachment method such as screws or bolts. In one embodiment, an optional rubberized sound absorbing material may be placed on top of the impact plate  14  to reduce noise from the device when in use. 
     The Ram  12  is preferably constructed of strong reinforced heavy bar-like steel and includes a hollow portion  17  centered within the Ram  12  into which the base member  11  can be inserted. The diameter of the hollow portion of the Ram  12  can be slightly larger than the diameter of the outer portion of the base member  11  and the protrusions  13  to allow the Ram  12  to slide up and down the length of the base member  11 . A suitable securing means  15  can be secured to the body of the Ram  12  through any one of the holes  16 . Moreover, the Ram  12  may be provided with optional safety features such as a handle  18  and a rubberized grip  19  to allow better grip and to protect against electrocution in the event the device inadvertently makes contact with a live power wire. In an alternate embodiment, the Ram  12  may be constructed to include additional weight for imparting maximum momentum force. Additionally, in one embodiment both the base member  11  and the Ram  12  can be of equal lengths, however, it is preferred that the base member  11  be shorter than the Ram  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the securing means  15  can be removably attached to the ram such that one end of the securing means can interact with at least one of the protrusions  13  to form a ram stop. To this end, when the Ram  12  is extended upward with respect to the base member  11 , the securing means  15  can make contact with one of the protrusions  13  to prevent the ram from separating from the base member. Moreover, as the Ram  12  includes several holes  16  through which the securing means  15  can be placed, a user can select the position that works best for the job at hand (i.e. low overhang, or adjust for height of worker). In another embodiment, the securing means may extend to make contact directly with the base member  11  such that the Ram  12  is prevented from moving. Such a feature would be particularly helpful when carrying the device. As would be understood by one of skill in the art, the securing means  15  may be any form of robust metal and may take the shape of a removable rivet, bolt, pin or the like. 
     The tool head of the present invention can take any one of several different shapes as will be described with reference to the figures below. However, in each instance the specific tool head will be affixed to the bottom the impact plate  14  of the tool  10  as described above. 
     Accordingly, in one embodiment, the tool head may take the form of a cable burier as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The cable burier tool head  31  may be a solid steel blade that can penetrate dirt or grass with the application of pressure. The cable burier tool head  31  may preferably have a dimension of 8×14″ to allow a user to dig a trench with a consistent depth. However, as would be readily appreciated by one of skill in the art, the cable burier can be sized for specific applications. For instance, in several municipalities, low voltage (i.e. telephone and cable) wiring must be placed 6 inches below ground. As such, the dimension of the cable burier tool head  31  can be 6×12 to accommodate particular industries. 
     In operation, the device  1  according to one embodiment can be used to safely and accurately impact momentum force from the Ram  12  to the tool  10  in order to dig a trench for the placement of underground utilities or other needed items. To this end, a user can place the bottom of the tool head  31  on the ground in a location where a trench is needed and raise the Ram  12  until the securing means  15  makes contact with the protrusion  13  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the user can propel the ram in a downward motion until the bottom of the ram strikes the impact plate  14 . The momentum force associated with one or more ram strikes will cause the cable burier  31  to penetrate the ground until the bottom of the tool head reaches a desired depth or until the bottom of the impact plate  14  makes contact with the ground. Moreover, as the tool  10  remains stationary (i.e. is not lifted from the ground with each strike) the present embodiment allows the device to precisely apply momentum force to the same location with each strike of the ram. This feature greatly reduces fatigue caused from inaccurate strikes by a conventional tool as well as significantly reducing the potential for injuries to workers resulting from unexpected contact with a conventional tool. 
     Although the above embodiments describe the tool head of the device with respect to a cable burier, the invention is not so limited. For instance,  FIG. 5 , illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1  that includes a compactor tool head  50 . In this embodiment, the compactor tool head  50  can consist of a heavily weighted square steel plate having a large surface area for flattening the ground when force is applied to the top of the impact plate  14  by the bottom of the Ram  12  through the process described above. 
       FIG. 6 . illustrates another alternative embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1  that includes a magnetized pounder tool head  60 . In this embodiment, the magnetized pounder tool head  60  can consist of a heavily weighted square plate  61  and a magnetized portion  62  to allow the device to be applied at a perpendicular angle to metallic objects  63 . For instance, when working on large equipment or other such machinery, a worker can position the magnetized pounder tool head  60  of the device  1  perpendicular to any angle that the object  63  is located. As the head of the pounder tool is magnetized, the device will attach to the object, where a momentum force can be impacted from the Ram  12  without damaging parts. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and as stated above, the device  1  is configured to accommodate a variety of interchangeable tools. Accordingly, when a worker needs to switch tools using the device, the Ram  12  can simply be removed from one tool containing a first tool head (the cable burier  31  for example) and can be placed onto another tool containing a second tool head (such as the compactor tool head  50  for example). 
     As can be readily discernable to one of skill in the art, the uses for this device are virtually limitless with application of new tool heads. For example, the tool  10  can include any generic construction tool heads such as an axe  80 , chisel  90 , hedger  100 , tile stripper  110  or carpet stretcher  120  as illustrated in  FIGS. 8-12 . Moreover, the tool can also incorporate custom tool heads built to perform specialized tasks such as a specialized wrench  130  or stationary turbine blade remover  140 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 13-14 . Each of  FIGS. 8-14  also illustrating an attached base member  11  and an impact plate  14 , the functions of which are described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As such, this invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.