Abstract:
A multi-purpose hand tool is provided which allows an individual to perform several tasks and reduces the need for additional tools. Specifically, the tool includes a hammer and a claw with an extension providing additional leverage to the claw for prying objects apart and for pulling nails. Additionally, the hand held tool provides a ring and catches useful for pulling fence wiring such as barbed wire during the installation of a fence.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to hand tools and methods of using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multi-purpose hand tool that combines a hammer including a protuberance loop generally increasing leverage for nail pulling as well as rings and catches to enable one to tighten and pull fencing during installation of same. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings contained herein exemplify a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The embodiment shown is purely an example, and the invention is capable of variations of said embodiment. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the multi-purpose tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the multi-purpose tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the multi-purpose tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevated isometric view of the multi-purpose tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of one configuration of the multi-purpose tool according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4  illustrate an embodiment of a multi-purpose tool  10 . The tool  10  comprises a head  12  similar to traditional claw hammer configurations. The head  12  has a first generally flat face  14  that serves as a first striking surface. The first striking surface can be used for hammering a variety of items such as, but not limited to, nails, posts, or for a number of purposes such as, but not limited to, dismantling or shaping objects and the like. On the opposite side from flat face  14  of head  12  is a claw  16 . The claw  16  comprises a traditional claw or the conventional two prongs separated by a generally V shaped slot used in conjunction with nail pulling. A substantially semi-circular loop  18  is attached at the top of head  12 . The loop  18  may be made integral with the head  12 , welded on, glued on, or attached any other way known in the art. Loop  18  can be utilized in a variety of ways. For instance and not intending to be limiting, loop  18  can be used as a hanger for the tool. The tool  10  can be hung on a shelf, nail, hook, vehicle, or any other convenient place to hang a tool. The tool  10  can be hung from a tool belt or any type of belts on clothing or protective clothing. Loop  18  also provides more leverage for pulling a nail. 
     Conventional hammer heads typically provide a curved portion at the claw which extends into a curved portion on the top of the hammer head. This claw and top portion contact a surface containing a nail during nail pulling. A contact point, or fulcrum point, exists between the hammer head and the surface and this point moves as the hammer head rolls in a nail pulling motion. In one aspect, the loop  18  provides a different path for the hammer head to roll during the nail pulling motion because the loop  18  extends further than the top of a conventional hammer head. The extension provided by loop  18  increases the distance between the fulcrum point and the nail being pulled. This extension results in mechanical advantage as compared to conventional hammer heads, because less movement of the handle is required to generate the same displacement of the claw  16  and any nail being pulled. 
     Additionally, the extension provided by loop  18  allows the claw  16  to remain in pulling contact with the nail for a greater distance. This provides a particular advantage if the nail to be pulled is long. Smaller conventional hammer heads lose or begin to lose vertical pulling power on longer nails after some pulling. Once this pulling grip fails it often becomes necessary to place an object, such as a wooden block, beneath the hammer to finish pulling the nail. In contrast, the loop  18  of the tool  10  alleviates the need for this block in pulling certain longer nails and allows the pulling of nails of substantially any length with more ease and accuracy. The loop  18  can also be used in conjunction with the handle for pulling a comealong cable attached to a hook. 
     Head  12  can be mounted onto a handle  22 . The handle  22  may be broadly understood to be a shaft with a first end and a second end. The means of attachment of head  12  to handle  22  can vary and should not be viewed as a limitation thereof. The head  12  may be attached to handle  22  in any variety of conventional ways such as well as by welding, gluing, bolts, screws, nails, and the like. 
     A ring  26  disposed around handle  22  allows the tool  10  to be used as a fence stretcher. Fence stretchers are typically used in the construction of barbed wire or woven fences to tension the wires between two posts.  FIG. 1  illustrates barbed wire  34  being stretched by the multi-purpose tool  10 . A notch  30  in the ring serves to receive a wire  34  and the inner diameter of the ring  26  allows the wire  34  to slide between the ring  26  and the handle  22 . The operation of the present invention for stretching wire will be described in greater detail herein below. It should be appreciated the ring  26  and the handle  22  are configured for the ring  26  to rotate freely around the handle  22  and slide axially up and down the handle  22 . 
     Handle  22  can have a variety of cross-sectional shapes. In one embodiment, handle  22  is of a circular cross-sectional shape, however, the cross-sectional shape can be that of a square, rectangle, or any polygonal shape or any combination thereof. When the handle  22  is configured with a circular cross section, the ring  26  is generally circular with an inner diameter and an outer diameter that allows the ring  26  to both rotate radially around the handle and to slide axially up and down the handle. 
     The head  12  ultimately limits the ring&#39;s  26  axial upward movement along the handle  22 . The ring&#39;s  26  axial movement is also interfered with towards the top of the handle  22  just below the head  12  by a protrusion or bump, which severs as a ring holder  24 . Specifically, the ring holder  24  interferes with the movement of the ring  26  because the ring  26  and the ring holder  24  are configured such that the ring  26  can be manipulated past the ring holder  24 . For example, when a notch  30  in the ring  26  is aligned with the ring holder  24 , the ring  26  can slide past the ring holder  24 . When the notch  30  is not aligned the ring  26  the ring holder  24  will interfere with ring&#39;s  26  axial movement so the ring  26  remains in a space  38  between the ring holder  24  and the head  12 . It should be appreciated the ring holder  24  can protrude from any circumferential point on handle  22 . Regardless of the cross-sectional shape of handle  22 , ring holder  24  would preferably still be positioned to be able to limit the axial movement of ring  26 . The protrusion of ring holder  24  extends out from the handle  22  such that the inner diameter of the ring is too small to pass over the ring holder  24 . It should also be appreciated that ring holder  24  can be a series of protuberances located around the circumference or the outside surface of the upper portion of handle  26 . 
     Without further modification, the ring  26  could slide axially up and down the handle  22  of the multi-purpose tool  10  during the swinging motion of the tool  10  as the tool is used for hammering. The ring  26  could also slide up and down the handle  22  of the tool  10 , as the tool is orientated in different directions to take advantage of various tool features. However, notch  30  allows the ring  26  to pass over the ring holder  24  when the notch  30  is aligned with the protrusion of the ring holder  24 .  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  illustrate a small space  36  between the ring holder  24  and the portion of the head  12  which expands such that the ring  26  will not slide past it. Once above the ring holder  24 , the rings movement axially along the handle  22  is limited to the small space  36 . Therefore, during operation, the ring holder  24  prevents the ring  26  from sliding and contacting the user&#39;s hand. 
     Below ring holder  24  toward the second end of the handle is ring stop  28 . Ring stop  28  can be an expansion of the outer diameter of the handle  22  having conical shape so that the cone portion faces ring holder  24 . Unlike ring holder  24 , ring stop  28  is an absolute limit on the movement of the ring  26 . At the ring stop  28 , the outer diameter of the handle  22  expands to an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the ring  26 . 
     At the end of the handle  22  opposite to the hammer head  12  is a pry bar  32 . The pry bar  32  consists of a wedge extending from the second end of the handle  22 . The pry bar  32  has a slot  38  to form two prongs like the claw  16 , but is straight rather than curved like the claw  16 . Like a conventional crow bar, the wedge of the pry bar narrows to a flat face. This shape allows the pry bar  32  to be forced between objects. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the ring  26  held in place above the ring stopper  24 . In the alignment illustrated in  FIG. 4  the cross-section of the handle  22  at the ring stopper  24  is such that the inner diameter of ring  26  will not pass over it. As previously described the ring  26  can be moved by rotating the notch  30  into alignment with the ring holder 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a second flat face  20  serving as a second striking surface may be formed on the back of the loop  18  or the end of loop  18  closest to the claw  16 . The second flat face  20  can be a generally flat portion of loop  18  as it joins head  12  at a point near claw  16 . Preferably the second flat face  20  will be of a smaller size than the first flat face  14  and will be for making small adjustments or final driving of a nail. A further purpose of the second flat face  20  is to allow driving a nail or striking an object without having to turn the hammer in the opposite direction. It should be appreciated that the exact location and size of loop  18  can vary depending on the exact use or need of the tool  10 . Further, the exact positioning of the second striking surface  20  can also vary and should not be looked upon and should not be viewed as a limitation herein. It should also be appreciated that the configuration of head  12  can vary from that of the conventional hammer head, i.e. first flat face  14  can be larger or smaller as needed as well as claw  16  can be smaller or larger as needed. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the material for manufacturing tool  10  can vary and can be a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, steel, wood, various plastics, fiber glass, magnetic materials, or any combinations thereof. 
     Operation of the Device 
     Fence Stretcher/Wire Puller 
     The multi-purpose tool  10  as described herein provides a particular advantage in its compact design, its light weight, and its ability to perform various functions. This multi-purpose tool provides numerous capabilities useful in many tasks, but these capabilities provide a particular advantage in the setting up of fences and specifically wire fences. In one aspect, the multi-purpose tool as described herein can be used as a fence stretcher. To ensure a sturdy fence, whether it&#39;s a barbed wire fence or a chain link fence, tensioning the wires between each post becomes critical. Small gauge wire used in fencing, and especially barbed wire, can injure the hands of an individual attempting to tension the wire by hand, even through protective gloves. In one aspect, the multi-purpose tool provides a means for tensioning fence wire, which helps prevent these injuries. 
     In order to operate the multi-purpose tool  10  as a fence stretcher, the ring  26  is positioned below the ring holder  24 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Wire, such as barbed wire  34 , is tied off at one end to a fence post. The free end of the wire  34  is slid into the notch  30  of the ring  26 . The inner diameter of the ring  26  and the outer diameter of the handle  22  are dimensioned to allow the wire  34  to fit between them. In order to pull or tension the wire  34 , the multi-purpose tool  10  may be held by the head  12 , by the handle  22  or by the loop  18  and pulled. The ring  26 , which grips the wire  34  against the outer diameter of the handle  22 , slides to the ring stopper  28 . The conical expansion of the handle  22  at the ring stopper  28  grips the wire  34  against the inner diameter of the ring  26 . As the tool  10  is pulled, the ring stopper  28  and the inner diameter of the ring  26  tightly grip the wire  34 , and the tool  10  is pulled to tension the wire. 
     Hammer 
     The multi-purpose tool  10  as described herein can be used as a convention hammer. As described above, the ring  26  can be placed in the small space  36  above the ring holder  24  by aligning the rings notch  30  with the protrusion in the handle  22 . Once the ring is out of the way, the ring  30  is rotated again to take the notch  30  out of alignment with the protrusion of the ring holder  24 . Once the ring  26  is secured above the ring holder  24 , the tool can be held by the handle  22  and swung for striking objects in the conventional manner with the fist flat face  14 . 
     Claw 
     The claw  16  on the back of the head  12  provides a conventional claw formed by two prongs in a V shape, each prong ending in a sharp wedge. The sharp wedge allows claw  16  to be forced in between objects for prying them apart. As with conventional claws the configuration of a slot between the prongs allows the claw to grip nail heads for pulling nails. 
     Pry Bar 
     Opposite the head  12  is a pry bar  32  attached to or formed with the handle  22 . The pry bar  32  has a wedge shape allowing it to be forced between objects. The handle  22  operates as a handle for prying such objects apart. 
     U Nail Puller 
     A slot  38  cut away from the wedge of pry bar  32  creates two prongs. Each prong is significantly narrower than the prongs of the conventional claw  16 . One or both of these prongs are particularly advantageous for pulling staples or U nails. The prongs of a conventional claw are typically too wide to insert beneath the staple or U nail, but these narrow prongs are ideally shaped for pulling staples and U nails. U nails or staples may be hammered into place to secure wire, such as barbed wire to posts. The present tool, therefore provides the means for inserting and removing staples and U nails whereas conventional hammers are not capable of removing staples or U nails. 
     Second Striking Surface 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the loop  18  may be provided with a second flat face  20 , as a second striking surface, located opposite the head  12 . The second flat face  20  operates the same way as the first flat face. The ring  26  is secured above the ring holder  24 , and the handle  22  is gripped to swing the tool  10 . The second flat face  20  provides an advantage in that the tool does not need to be reoriented to switch between a task such as nail pulling and hammering. In one embodiment the second flat face  20  is envisioned smaller than the first flat face  14  for the final driving of nails. 
     Additional Nail Pulling Leverage 
     The loop  18 , as previously described, provides the tool  10  with additional leverage for pulling longer nails. The position, size, and configuration of the loop  18  determine how much additional leverage is applied and the length of nails that can be pulled. The claw  16  is applied to pull a nail in the conventional manner. The nail head is slid in between the prongs of the claw until firmly gripped. Then the handle  22  is pushed or pulled in order to pull the nail. The additional curvature of loop  18  increases the distance from the claw  16  or nail being pulled to the fulcrum. This increased distance increases the leverage of the claw  16  in that less movement of the handle  22  is required to effect a certain displacement of the claw  16  and any nail being pulled. 
     Loop as a Hooking Device 
     The exterior of loop  18  provides the advantages as previously described relating to increasing leverage and nail pulling power. Unlike any prior art device the protrusion is in the form of a loop  18  which provides additional advantages, such as the ability to catch hooks. A hook, such as a comealong hook attached to a comealong cable, can be latched to the loop  18 . The tool  10  can then be gripped by the handle  22  and pulled. Like the fence stretcher, the loop  18  provides a means for grabbing an article so it can be pulled by handle  22 . This helps avoid injuries and overcomes the general difficulty of gripping and pulling cables. The loop  18  can also be used to hang the tool  10  off a belt or off other hooks in work spaces including workshops. 
     Fence Tightener/Fence Twister 
     Once a barbed wire fence, for example, has been set in place, all the wires should be set with a certain tension. This tension is important for the integrity of the fence. Eventually the weight of the wire itself and other forces, such as the wind or animals leaning on the fence, tend to stretch the wires and reduce the tension in the fence. A fence tightener can reestablish the desired tension in the fence wire. The pry bar  32  with the slot  38  in one embodiment of the tool  10  provides a means for tightening these fence wires in place. The slot  38  of the pry bar  32  is positioned to accept the wire, the wire being secured at both ends. The tool  10  is then rotated about its handle  22 . To the extent there is slack in the wire, the wire will begin to wrap around the end of the pry bar  32  and the slack will be removed. 
     Magnet 
     In one embodiment, a portion of, or the entire handle  22  is formed of a magnetic material. The material could be any material with the requisite strength for connecting to the head  12  and withstanding the forces associated with striking and prying of various aspects of the tool  10 . In one embodiment, the magnetic material is a hard or permanent magnet. The magnet can be used to pick up nails and other metallic objects that have been dropped out of view, such as in tall grass or into a small separations in cement. 
     Jack Handle 
     The pry bar  32  of the tool  10  can be configured such that the wedge portion can interact with a jack. The handle  22  would then provide leverage for the tool  10  to be used as a jack handle. The prior bar  32  would be engaged with the jack and twisted or pushed in order to operate the jack. In one embodiment, the slot  38  of the pry bar  32  may catch a member within the jack and rotating the tool  10  for rotating the same member may operate the jack. In another embodiment the tool engages the jack and is pumped up and down in order to operate the jack. 
     Tie Down Handle 
     Tie downs are used in a number of fields. They typically comprise a long shaft for insertion into the ground with a loop, hole or other means at the top for tying down objects such as tents, fences, canopies, trees, airplanes and many other things. These tie downs are typically twisted into the ground, and the tool  10  in one embodiment can be configured to act as a handle to aid in twisting the tie down into the ground. In one embodiment the top of the tie down is configured to receive the pry bar  32  and the tool  10  is rotated about the axis of its handle  22  in order to twist the tie down into the ground. In another embodiment, the pry bar  32  may be slid through an opening in the tie down, so the handle  22  of the tool  10  is perpendicular to the shaft of the tie down. A user can then grip the pry bar  32  on one side and the loop  18  or head  12  on the other side and twist the tool  10  to screw the tie down into the ground.