Patent Publication Number: US-2023132983-A1

Title: Multi-use hammer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/808,751, filed Mar. 4, 2020, titled “MULTI-USE HAMMER”, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/813,421, filed Mar. 4, 2019, titled “HAMMER” and 62/898,630, filed Sep. 11, 2019, titled “HAMMER”, the entire contents of these applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related generally to hammers and is more particularly related to hammers which have secondary functions. 
     2. Related Art 
     In the construction industry, workers regularly use a number of different tools for various functions related to building framing and shaping and hanging drywall sheets. Such tools often include a hammer, a stud finder, a ruler, and a T-square. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is related to a hammer with a head and a handle which extends from the head. The head has at least two surfaces that face towards the handle and that lie in a common first plane. At least a portion of the handle extends linearly and perpendicularly from the first plane to allow a user to draw a straight line which is perpendicular to the first plane. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the head includes a front portion on one side of the handle and a pair of claws on an opposite side of the handle from the front portion and wherein the front portion has an outer surface that partially lies in the first plane. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the front portion of the head is hexagonally shaped with a side that lies in the first plane. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, the claws extend to respective ends which are located in the first plane. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, the head further includes a shoulder adjacent the handle and wherein the shoulder lies in the first plane. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, the handle further includes measurement indicia which indicates distance from the first plane. 
     According to still a further aspect of the present invention, the head includes a pair of claws which extend to respective ends and the handle further includes angle indicia which indicates angles relative to the ends of the claws. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the hammer is fourteen and a half inches long. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of the handle of the hammer is one and a half inches wide. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, a magnet is attached with the handle. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, the handle has a plurality of spaced apart notches. 
     According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, the head has a groove for receiving a projection on a surface and wherein a writing instrument can be placed in one of the notches and the hammer can be rotated about the projection to draw a circle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following description of the presently preferred embodiments, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a hammer constructed according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is another perspective view of the hammer of  FIG.  1    and taken from a different perspective than  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3 A  is a front elevation view of the hammer of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3 B  is a back elevation view of the hammer of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4 A  shows the hammer of  FIG.  1    being used to draw a line that is perpendicular to an edge of a wood board; 
         FIG.  4 B  shows the hammer of  FIG.  1    being used to draw a line that is perpendicular to a wall; 
         FIG.  5    shows the hammer of  FIG.  1    being used to draw a prescribed angle on a wood board; 
         FIG.  6    shows the hammer of  FIG.  1    being used to measure a distance between neighboring studs; 
         FIG.  7    shows the hammer of  FIG.  1    being used to measure the width of a stud; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of a hammer constructed according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  9    is another perspective view of the hammer of  FIG.  8    taken from a different perspective than  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the hammer of  FIG.  8    being used to draw a forty-five degree (45°) angle; 
         FIG.  11    shows the hammer of  FIG.  8    being used to draw a circle on a sheet of drywall; 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of a hammer constructed according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  13    is a front elevation view of a hammer constructed according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of an alternate head for a hammer; 
         FIG.  15    is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG.  14   ; 
         FIG.  16    is an enlarged view of a different portion of  FIG.  14    than  FIG.  14   . 
         FIG.  17    is a front elevation view of a hammer constructed according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  18    is a front view showing the hammer of  FIG.  17    being used to draw an angled line on a work piece; and 
         FIG.  19    is a fragmentary view showing a portion of a hammer constructed according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, one aspect of the present invention is related to an improved multi-tool device which has the form of a hammer  20 . As discussed extensively below, the hammer  20  has a number of built in features that are functional which allow the hammer  20  to perform other functions beyond pounding nails. These features are incorporated into the hammer  20  in such a way that the basic shape of the hammer  20  remains intact, and thus, the performance of the hammer  20  for driving nails is not compromised. In various embodiments discussed below, some (but not all) of the additional functions that the hammer  20  is able to perform include measuring and drawing angles; measuring lengths; locating studs behind a drywall sheet; tightening fasteners; starting nails; and starting fencing staples. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 3   , a first exemplary embodiment of the hammer  20  is generally shown. The hammer  20  has a head  22  and a handle  24  that extends away from the head  22  in a first direction. The head  22  extends in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, from a face  26  at one end to a pair of claws  28  at an opposite end. The head  22  has opposing cheeks  30  which lie in respective planes that are both perpendicular to a plane of the face  26 . In the exemplary embodiment, the face  26  has a hexagonal shape and is textured. However, alternate shapes and configurations may be employed. The claws  28  are spaced apart from one another by a converging groove. As with conventional hammers, a user can hold and swing the hammer  20  from the handle  26  to drive nails with the face  26  and can pull nails with the claws  28 . Thus, the hammer  20  satisfies the basic purposes of a conventional hammer. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the handle  24  of the hammer  20  is made out of wood or a thermosetting polymer matrix (fiberglass), and the head  22  is made out of metal (such as iron, steel, or an alloy steel). The metal head  22  is preferably shaped to its final shape through a casting or a forging operation. However, any suitable process or combination of processes may be employed. In the exemplary embodiment, the head  22  has an elliptical hole, and a top end of the handle  24  extends into the elliptical hole to connect the handle  24  with the head  22 . During manufacture of the hammer  20 , once the top end of the handle  24  is inserted into the proper position within the elliptical hole of the head  22 , one or more wedges  29  are driven into the material of the handle to lock the handle  24  with the head  22 . This configuration allows for cost savings through economies of scale by allowing the same head  22  to be used with differently configured handles. Also, while the connection between the handle  24  and the head  22  is fully secure, a user can switch handles by drilling out the top end of the existing handle  24 , inserting the top end of a new different handle (which could be identical to or different than the handle  24 ), and driving a new wedge or new wedges into the new handle. 
     The hammer  28  can also be used to conveniently and easily draw ninety degree (90°) lines to the first and second planes on objects and to measure lengths in a manner similar to the use of a T-square. With reference to  FIG.  3   , to perform this function, the head  22  has at least two (three in the exemplary embodiment) co-planar features. Specifically, in the head  22 , the three co-planar surfaces are a lower surface  32  of a front area adjacent the face  26 , a shoulder  34  adjacent where the head  22  meets the handle  24 , and the ends of the claws  28 . In other words, all three of these features (the lower surface  32 , the shoulder  34 , and the ends of the claws  28 ) lie in a common first plane. Additionally. an uppermost surface  35  of the head  22  extends linearly in a second plane which is parallel to the first plane. At least one side surface of the handle  24  extends linearly from the head  22  and perpendicularly to the first plane for a distance which is greater than halfway from the head  22  to a distal end of the handle  24 . In the exemplary embodiment, the side surfaces of the handle  24  are parallel with one another such that both side surfaces extend linearly from the head  22  and perpendicularly to the first plane. 
     Thus, as shown in  FIG.  4 A , one method of drawing a perpendicular line involves the user placing all three of the co-planar surfaces (the lower surface  32 , the shoulder  34 , and the ends of the claws  28 ) against a first surface, such as on a wood board. The user then uses the linear side surface on the handle  24  as a straight edge to draw a line on the wood board with a writing utensil. As shown in  FIG.  4 B , an alternate method of drawing a perpendicular line involves the user butting the uppermost surface  35  of the head  22  against a surface and using the linear side surface of the handle  24  as a straight edge to draw a line on the wood board. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 A , a front surface of the handle  24  is provided with indicia indicating the distance from the first plane. Accordingly, the hammer  20  can also be used as a ruler by placing all three of the co-planar surfaces (the lower surface  32 , the shoulder  34 , and the ends of the claws) against a first surface and using the indicia to measure a distance from that first surface. In the exemplary embodiment, the indicia for measuring length is in units of inches. However, any suitable unit for measuring length may be employed. Drawing perpendicular lines and taking length measurements are but two new functions that the hammer  20  can perform but conventional hammers cannot, and the features which allow for these new features do not interfere with the performance of the hammer  20  for driving and pulling nails. 
     The hammer  20  can also be used to conveniently and easily measure and draw desired angles other than ninety degrees (90°) onto objects, such as drywall sheets or wood boards. Referring now to  FIG.  3 A , adjacent the length indicia, the front surface of the handle  24  is provided with angle indicia that is accompanied with a plurality of lines that all point directly to the ends of the claws  28  and that indicate respective angles from the ends of the claws  28  relative to the first plane. The angle indicia on the front surface of the exemplary embodiment of the handle  24  uses the units of degrees. Referring now to  FIG.  3 B , a back surface of the handle  24  is provided with two different sets of angle indicia. One set of angle indicia is measured in the units of degrees, and the other set is common cuts measured in rise over run ratios with the run being fixed at  12 . For example, in the exemplary embodiment, the common cuts angle indicia includes markings which correspond with 2:12, 4:12, 8:12, 10:12, 14:12, and 16:12 common cuts. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , to draw an angled line, first the user, places the three co-planar features of the head  24  (the lower surface  32 , the shoulder  34 , and the ends of the claws  28 ) against a first surface on the wood board. Next, the user pivots the hammer  20  about the ends of the claws  28  until the first surface on the wood board is aligned with a desired angle indicia. The user then holds the hammer  20  at this particular orientation and traces along the linear portion of the handle  24  to draw a straight line onto the wood board at the desired angle. The indicia includes both degree markings and common cut markings which indicate common angles for cutting in the building construction industry. An angle can be measured by a similar process. 
     The hammer  20  can further be used to identify stud locations on, for example, a wood board or a drywall sheet. Referring to  FIG.  6   , a total length of the hammer  20  from a top surface of the head  22  to an end of the handle  24  is fourteen and a half inches (14.5 in), which matches the distance between facing surfaces of adjacent studs according to building codes in the United States. In an alternate embodiment, the total length of the hammer is sixteen inches (16 in), which matches the center-to-center distance between adjacent studs. In other embodiments, the total length of the hammer could match either the distance between adjacent studs or the center-to-center distance between adjacent studs according to building standards in different locations. 
     Additionally, the handle  24  has a width of one and a half inch (1.5 in), which is the standard thickness of a 2×4, 2×6, or 2×8 stud. Accordingly, once a user locates one stud on a sheet of drywall, the hammer  20  can be used to quickly mark out where the remaining studs are located by alternating between the arrangement of the hammer shown in  FIG.  6    and the arrangement shown in  FIG.  7    and marking the drywall sheet accordingly. This can save the user a great amount of time, particularly in the drywall industry and eliminates the need for a tape measure to perform this task. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  8 - 11   , a second embodiment of the hammer  120  is generally shown with like numerals, separated by a prefix of “1”, indicating corresponding parts with the first exemplary embodiment described above. In the second exemplary embodiment, the handle  124  is made mostly out of metal (as opposed to wood in the case of the first exemplary embodiment) and has a measuring portion  136  and a gripping portion  138 . The gripping portion  138  is fixedly attached with the measuring portion  136  via a pair of screws which extend through aligned openings in both of the measuring and gripping portions  136 ,  138 . 
     The measuring portion  136  of the handle  124  includes ruler measuring indicia on one side and extends linearly on an opposite side. On the side with the measuring indicia, notches  140  are provided at certain locations, such as at each inch, so that a user can easily make markings at these often used locations. The linear opposite side of the handle  124  allows for the hammer  120  to be used to draw straight edges. 
     The hammer  120  can also be used to draw circles onto a surface, such as on a drywall sheet. With reference to  FIG.  11   , to perform this function, a top surface of the head  122  is provided with a groove  142  which receives a projection, such as a nail, which will serve as a center of the circle. The user then places a pencil (or any suitable writing instrument) into one of the notches  140  formed into the handle  124  and rotates the hammer  120  three hundred and sixty degrees (360°) around the projection to draw the circle. 
     The hammer  120  further has features which allow it to detect studs behind a sheet of drywall and to tighten certain types of fasteners. Specifically, a magnet  144  is disposed in the gripping portion  138 . A user can grip the hammer  120  by the head  122  and hold the gripping portion  138  up against a wall. The magnet  144  will be attracted to nails or screws, thereby identifying to the user the locations of the studs in the wall. Further, a bottom end face of the gripping portion  138  has a hexagonal shaped opening  146  which can receive and be used to tighten certain types of fasteners. In the exemplary embodiment, the hexagonally-shaped opening  146  is sized to receive thirteen millimeters (13 mm) and one half inch (0.5 in) fasteners. 
     Further, the handle  124  includes a shoulder  147  which separates the measuring portion  136  from the gripping portion  138  and which is angled at a forty-five degree (45°) angle relative to the first plane and relative to the measuring portion  136 . Thus, as shown in  FIG.  10   , the shoulder  147  can be placed against a surface on a work piece (such as a board of lumber) and one of the side surfaces of the measuring portion  136  can then be used as a straight edge to draw a forty-five degree (45°) line. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  12  and  13   , a third exemplary embodiment of the hammer  220  is generally shown with like numerals, separated by a prefix of “2”, indicating corresponding parts with the first two embodiments described above. In the third embodiment, the head  222  of the hammer  220  is provided with a nail starting feature in the form of a channel  248  which is located on an upper surface of the head  222 . The channel  248  extends from a forwardly facing nail starting surface on the head  222  and opens at the face  226 . A nail  250  can be placed in the channel  248  with a head of the nail  250  resting against the nail starting surface and with the sharp end of the nail  250  projecting past the face  226  of the hammer  220 . In this fashion, a user can controllably pound the nail  250  into a precise location without having to hold the nail  250  with his or her fingers. Referring now to FIG.  11 , a fourth exemplary embodiment of the hammer  320  is generally shown with like numerals, separated by a prefix of “3”, indicating corresponding parts with the first three embodiments described above. In this embodiment, the measuring portion  336  of the handle  324  has measuring indicia on both sides (specifically, angles on one side and lengths on the other side) without the notches found in the second and third embodiments. 
     In contrast to the first embodiment shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7   , the handle  324  of the fourth embodiments has a width which is less than one and a half inches (1.5 in). Thus, as shown in  FIG.  13   , in this embodiment, the shoulder  334  of the head  322  has a width W which is one and a half inches (1.5 in) to match stud width. 
     Further, the fourth embodiment of the hammer  320  includes a lanyard  351  adjacent a bottom end of the handle  224 . The lanyard  351  can be attached to an article of clothing on a user so that, in the event that a user drops the hammer  320 , it will only fall as long as the lanyard  351 . The length of the lanyard  351  should be long enough to not impair use of the hammer  320 . The gripping portion  328  of the handle  324  further includes a pair of bubble levels  353   a ,  353   b  oriented perpendicularly to one another. One of the bubble levels  353   a  can measure the orientation of an object when the uppermost surface  335  or the co-planar features (the lower surface  332 , the shoulder  334 , and the ends of the claws  328 ) are placed against an object. 
     Turning now to  FIGS.  14 - 16   , an alternate embodiment of a head  424  for a hammer, such as any of the first four embodiments shown in  FIGS.  1 - 13    and discussed above, is shown with like numerals, separated by a prefix of “4”, indicating corresponding parts with the above-described embodiments. In this embodiment, the head  424  has a pair of staple grooves  452   a ,  452   b  for holding staples  454   a ,  454   b . One of the grooves  452   a  is formed into a top of the head  422  and is U-shaped for holding a U-shaped Romex staple  454   a , which are commonly used by electricians for holding wires against studs in buildings. The other groove  452   b  is formed into a bottom of the head  422  and is V-shaped for holding a V-shaped fencing staple  454   b , of the type commonly used by ranchers to install fences. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  17  and  18   , a fifth embodiment of the hammer  520  is shown with like numerals, separated by a prefix of “5”, indicating corresponding parts with the above-described embodiments. This hammer  520  is similar to the first embodiment shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7    but further includes a pair of openings  556 . The openings  556  correspond with common cut angles indicated in the angle indicia. As shown in  FIG.  18   , a pin  558  can be inserted into and through one of the openings to hold the hammer  520  in a predetermined orientation corresponding to the desired angle. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  19   , a sixth embodiment of the hammer  620  is shown with like numerals, separated by a prefix of “6”, indicating corresponding parts with the above-described embodiments. In this embodiment, the head  624  has a pair of longitudinally offset side nail pulling notches  660 . The side nail pulling notches  660  face in opposite directions, and the offset allows the side nail pulling notches  660  to access more nails. In other words, one side nail pulling notch  660  can reach some nail heads that the other cannot and vice versa. 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that all features of all claims and all embodiments can be combined with each other as long as they do not contradict each other. Further, it is to be understood that certain terms of direction, such as upper, lower, top, and bottom are in reference to the orientation of the hammer as shown in  FIG.  1    and are not intended to be limiting.