Abstract:
A multi-function tool having a handle portion and a plurality of structures operable therewith for the performance of a plurality of functions. The multi-function tool allows fast and convenient transition between any of the plurality of functions in order to enable completion of jobs or tasks requiring such functions without acquisition, storage, and/or maintenance of a plurality of specialized tools.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to hand tools, and, more particularly, to a multi-function tool suitable for various demolition tasks. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many construction or building projects, including demolition tasks, require a plurality of functions for proper completion. Accordingly, numerous specialized tools are frequently needed to perform specific respective functions. For large or complex jobs, the acquisition, storage, and/or maintenance of a large number of specialized tools required may become burdensome and/or expensive. 
         [0003]    In order to alleviate such burden and to reduce such cost, multi-function tools have been designed to allow a single tool to perform two or more tasks. The specific functionality selected for a multi-function tool is typically selected to allow performance of tasks or functions that are commonly necessary to complete a single project. For example, the common roofing project of shingling frequently requires both a striking function to drive nails, as well as a cutting function to adjust shingle size. Accordingly, hammers having a striking surface and cutting means have been developed and employed to make performance of both functions more convenient. Unfortunately, the number of such multi-function tools is limited, typically to jobs or projects that require relatively few functions, such as two or three. For many projects, however, many more functions are necessary, even if infrequently, and thus require numerous specialized tools, including one or more of multi-function tool(s). 
         [0004]    Thus, it is clear that there is an unmet need for a multi-function tool that conveniently enables performance of a greater number of functions, whereby the number of specialized tools required to complete a large or complex job may be reduced, preferably to a single tool, and whereby the need for storage and carriage of a large number of tools may be reduced or eliminated. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Briefly described, in an exemplary embodiment, the multi-function tool of the present disclosure overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a tool by providing a multi-function tool providing a hammer function, a first-class lever function, a second-class lever function, a chisel function, an axe function, a wrench function, and a scoring function, among others. 
         [0006]    More specifically, the exemplary multi-function tool includes a generally extended handle portion, such as in the form of a bar or shaft, and a plurality of structures associated therewith, each structure configured and arranged to enable performance of at least one function or task. The handle portion preferably includes a grip for comfortable secure grasping and manipulation. The handle portion further preferably terminates at a first end in a chisel point or blade, whereby the handle portion may be used to drive the chisel point or blade, such as for chiseling, chipping, gouging, or puncturing, or to manipulate the point or blade, such as for scoring or cutting. A wrench structure may additionally be included proximate the first end, whereby nuts, bolts, or other threaded fasteners, or the like, may be adjusted. Furthermore, a nail or other fastener removing structure may be included proximate the first end, such as a second-class lever nail puller. 
         [0007]    A hammer head is preferably included on a second end of the handle portion having a striking face radially spaced from a longitudinal axis of the handle portion in a first direction. The striking face may be smooth or textured, such as having a waffle pattern. A claw is preferably also included on the second end of the handle portion extending generally radially from the longitudinal axis of the handle portion in a second direction. The claw portion may be configured for use in prying a first-class lever, including for pulling nails, or the like, and may additionally include chisel blades, or the like, for chipping or chiseling. An axe blade is preferably further included proximate the second end of the handle, such as formed over a lateral edge of the side handle, preferably at a transition between the handle portion or grip proximate the hammer head and/or the claw. The axe blade may enable a cutting and/or chopping function. 
         [0008]    The second end of the handle portion may optionally further be provided with a slot adapted to receive a member, such as a piece of dimensional lumber, or the like, whereby the handle portion may be used to wrench or lever the member. The slot may include a varying dimension or a plurality of slots having different dimensions may be provided in order to accommodate members having different dimensions. Additionally, teeth or other textured gripping structures or surfaces may be included to ensure secure gripping of the member in the slot. 
         [0009]    Generally, the exemplary multi-function tool is configured such that any enabled function may be performed without interference from structures of the tool that enable different functionality without reconfiguration or other manipulation. Accordingly, the tool need not be adjusted in order to accomplish any function, whereby transition between performance of various functions may be accomplished quickly and conveniently. Furthermore, the configuration of the tool is preferably selected to at least partially imitate the general configuration of known tools, such as the overall configuration of a hammer, whereby the tool may be used with conventional accessories, such as a toolbox or case, a tool belt, or the like. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, one feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a tool useful for the performance of a plurality of different tasks whereby acquisition, storage, and/or maintenance of a plurality of task-specific tools may be avoided. 
         [0011]    Another feature and advantage of the present tool is its ability to enable quick and convenient transition between the performance of different one of a plurality of various functions. 
         [0012]    These and other features and advantages of the tool of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Accordingly, the present disclosure will be understood best through consideration of, and with reference to, the following drawings, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description of the Invention referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various drawings designate like structure, and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multi-function tool; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a multi-function tool according to an alternative configuration. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the scope of the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    In describing exemplary embodiments of the tool of the present disclosure illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0019]    In that form of the tool of the present disclosure chosen for purposes of illustration,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show tool  100  including body  101  and grip  103 . Body  101  is preferably formed as a monolithic or unitary member from a suitable metal, composite, or synthetic material, or the like and includes grip  103  formed or installed thereon. Grip  103  may be formed from natural or synthetic rubber, plastic, composite, or the like, and may be resilient and/or sculptured or contoured to provide a comfortable and secure grasping surface. Grip  103  is preferably disposed proximate a medial portion of body  101  along longitudinal axis  102 . Body  101  preferably includes first end  101   a  and second end  101   b  each extending beyond grip  103 , and each preferably carrying or including at least one structure adapted to enable at least one associated function. 
         [0020]    For example, and as illustrated best in  FIG. 2 , first end  101   a  preferably includes chisel  111  and/or blade  113 . Additionally, first end  101   a  may include first and second wrench apertures  115  and  117 , respectively, adapted to engage nuts, bolts, or the like, of different sizes. Slot  119  may further be included for prying nails or the like. As will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, the sizes, shapes, or other configuration parameters selected for each of chisel  111 , blade  113 , wrench apertures  115  and  117 , and/or slot  119  may be selected as desired, such as for use with commonly found fasteners, materials, or tasks. For example, chisel  111  may be formed as a pointed member, as illustrated in  FIG. 2  or as a flat member, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , depending on a material with which tool  100  is intended to be used. Similarly, the sizes and configurations of wrench apertures  115  and  117 , e.g. half inch hex pattern, may be selected as desired. As will further be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, first end  101   a  may include additional and/or alternative structures to enable additional and/or alternative functions, such as a Phillips or flat head screwdriver bit, a saw blade, a rasp surface, wire stripping slots, an awl, or the like. 
         [0021]    Second end  101   b  preferably includes a generally V-shape having first projection  105  and second projection  107 . First projection  105  preferably includes hammer head  121  disposed or formed generally at a distal end thereof and spaced radially from longitudinal axis  102 . Hammer head  121  may include a smooth or textured face and is preferably configured and arranged for at least one of driving fasteners, breaking objects, or moving objects. Accordingly, first projection  105  is preferably configured to withstand repeated substantial impact forces without failure. Hammer head  121  and/or first projection  105  may additionally include one or more structures, such as a magnetic nail holder, bottle opener  123 , or the like. Second projection  107  is preferably arranged opposite first projection  105  and includes claw  125  extending away from longitudinal axis  102 . Claw  125  may include slot  127  for pulling nails, or the like, and/or at least one blade  129  for use in chipping, chiseling, or prying. Second projection  107  preferably further includes blade  131  formed over a length of an edge portion thereof. Blade  131  may be used for cutting, splitting, chopping, or the like, and may optionally include notch  132  for use in pulling nails, cutting or stripping wire, or the like. Accordingly, and similar to first projection  105 , second projection  107  is preferably adapted to withstand repeated impact forces without failure. 
         [0022]    Additionally, second end  101   b  preferably further includes at least one open-ended slot  133  between first and second projections  105  and  107 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , slot  133  includes a first wider portion  135  and a second narrower portion  137 . Teeth  139  or other texture or friction surface is preferably provided on portions of second end  101   b  proximate slot  133 , or at least one or more portion thereof, for enabling secure gripping engagement of tool  100  with a board or other member disposed within slot  133 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the sizes of wider portion  135  and narrower portion  137  may be selected to accommodate different sizes of dimensional lumber, metal studs, plywood, engineered lumber, composite members, or the like typically found or used in construction or demolition projects. As will further be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art, wider portion  135  and narrower portion  137  of slot  133  may be replaced by separate slots  135   a  and  137   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , wherein one or more of slots  135   a  and  137   a  may include varying or different dimension portions. 
         [0023]    In use, tool  100  may be used to perform many different functions necessary for a selected job or task. For example, with regard to a demolition task, tool  100  may be used as a hammer wherein a user may hold tool  100  by grip  103  and swing second end  101   b  to strike a desired object with hammer head  121 . Such striking may be useful in demolishing tile, masonry, metal, and/or wood structures, among others. When removing tile, hammer head  121  may be used to break a tile to remove it. Once the tile is removed, adjacent tiles may easily be removed by driving chisel  111  or blade  129  beneath the tile, whereby the tile may be pried loose either by a leverage action or by an increasing dimension of chisel  111  or blade  129 . Specifically, chisel  111  may be used as a second-class lever wherein the tip of chisel  111  acts as the fulcrum and wherein force is applied to grip  113  and/or second end  101   b.  Claw  125 , however, may be used as a first-class lever wherein force is applied to grip  103  and/or first end  101   a  and wherein a curved surface of claw  125  acts as a fulcrum to move blade  129 . 
         [0024]    When desired tiles have been removed, tool  100  may further be employed to open a wall or floor to which the tiles were previously attached by striking with hammer head  121  blade  129 , blade  131 , and/or chisel  111 . Enclosed wires, pipes, or other conduits may likewise be demolished or removed by chopping with blade  131  or by striking with hammer head  121 . Structural members such as studs, beams, joists, or the like, may be removed by striking with hammer head  121  and/or by wrenching or torquing such members via grip  103  and/or first end  101   a  and slot  133 . Nails or other fasteners projecting from removed members or remaining structures may be removed via slot  127  of claw  125 , via slot  119 , via notch  132 , or may be driven flush or bent flat via striking with hammer head  121 . Furthermore, any structures secured via bolts may be removed by disposing a bolt head or nut within a corresponding one of apertures  115  and  117  and by torquing via application of force to second end  101   b  and/or grip  113 . 
         [0025]    Thus, many different functions may be performed by tool  110  in order to accomplish a task without the need for additional tools. Accordingly, in many instances, tool  100  may be the only tool necessary to complete a selected task or job. As a result, such task or job may be finished more quickly due to the ability of a user to transition between different functions without having to stop, find a different tool, and resume work. 
         [0026]    Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.