Patent Publication Number: US-9902055-B1

Title: Welding slag hammer

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a welding slag hammer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Large construction steel erection projects require a variety of tools and accessories in order to produce a high-quality job in a minimum amount of time. One (1) of these tools that have been used for generations is that of the slag hammer. Such hammers are used to remove extra weld splatter and hard slag consisting of excess steel, flux, and other contaminants that exist near the side of weld. These hammers also typically permit a user to maneuver bolt holes into alignment and separate touching steel components by use of a wedge incorporated into the hammer&#39;s handle. 
     Most slag hammers typically use a sharp pointed head to break through the crust of the slag. Of course, over time, such points become broken or dull, and require sharpening or even total replacement of the hammer. This not only is a costly endeavor, but slows down the work process while a new hammer is procured. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the pointed head on a slag hammer can be ensured at all times in an effort to address the problems as described above while providing a chisel face, a pointed handle for aligning steel bolt holes, wedge and other accessories as would typically be found on a slag hammer. The use of the welding slag hammer meets all these needs in a manner which not only provides for fast easy work, but saves time and cost associated with total hammer replacement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a welding slag hammer. 
     It is therefore the purpose of the inventor to provide a hammer comprising a head having a tip aperture located within a front end, a chisel located at a rear end, an impact area located on an upper face, a front shoulder disposed adjacent to the front end, a rear shoulder disposed adjacent to the rear end, a handle protruding perpendicularly from the head between the front shoulder and the rear shoulder of the head, and a tip configured to be removably secured within the tip aperture. 
     The head and the handle of the hammer may both be forged from a unitary piece of steel. In an alternate embodiment, the head and the handle may be forged from a unitary piece of strengthened steel. The hammer&#39;s front and rear shoulders may be configured to enable the hammer to be removably stowed within a scabbard of a support structure. 
     The aforementioned handle may taper to a spike at its lower end while an attachment aperture may run through an upper end of the handle at an angle perpendicular to the head. The handle may also further comprise a pair of grooves positioned on opposite sides and running parallel to each other. The spike may also have a wedge tip at its distal end. 
     The tip may also have a middle portion capable of securing the tip within the tip aperture and a pair of opposing distal ends which taper from the middle portion. Some tip embodiments have a retention device which is configured to secure the tip within the tip aperture. These tips may also comprise carbon steel and be zinc coated. In certain embodiments, the tip aperture comprises female threads and the middle portion of the tip comprises male threads. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric right side view of the welding slag hammer  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric right side view of the welding slag hammer  10  with the replaceable tip  15  and retention device  20  removed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric left side view of the welding slag hammer  10  with the replaceable tip  15  and retention device  20  removed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the replaceable tip  15  as used with the welding slag hammer  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the replaceable tip  15 , as used with the welding slag hammer  10 , with the retention device  20  installed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  welding slag hammer 
               12  front end 
               15  replaceable tip 
               17  back end 
               20  retention device 
               25  vertical chisel 
               30  tapered spike 
               35  grooves 
               40  handle 
               42  upper handle 
               44  lower handle 
               45  front shoulder area 
               47  back shoulder area 
               50  head 
               55  wedge tip 
               60  tip aperture 
               65  female threads 
               70  attachment aperture 
               75  flat impact area 
               80  male threads 
               85  tapered conical shape 
               90  spike end 
               95  travel path “t” 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the welding slag hammer  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Said welding slag hammer  10  comprises a generally hammer-shaped hand tool with the approximate dimensions of thirteen-and-a-half inches (13½ in.) tall and seven inches (7 in.) in width. The main head and handle area would be of a unitary construction ideally made of drop forged strengthened steel for improved strength and durability although other types of forged steel such as pressed are envisioned. A replaceable tip  15  and a retention device  20  are the remaining separate pieces of the welding slag hammer  10  and will be described in greater detail herein below. 
     The welding slag hammer  10  is also provided with a vertical chisel  25  on the back end  17  and opposite the replaceable tip  15  located on the front end  12  as would be expected with a conventional slag hammer. Both the replaceable tip  15  and vertical chisel  25  would be used to remove weld splatter and to remove hard slag remaining after welding operations. The welding slag hammer  10  is also provided with a tapered spike  30  which is located at the lower handle portion  44  that functions as a spud wrench and may be used to wedge the welding slag hammer  10  into place and/or align bolt or pin holes. The tapered spike  30  allows the welding slag hammer  10  to also be used a “T”-handle pry bar. 
     Two (2) grooves  35  are provided along the handle  40  to prevent the welding slag hammer  10  from slipping or spinning in a gloved hand during usage. The handle  40  is approximately one-and-a-quarter inches (1¼ in.) in diameter. A front shoulder area  45  and back shoulder area  47  are each formed between the handle  40  and a head  50  to allow the welding slag hammer  10  to be easily stowed in the scabbard of a tool belt or loop of work pants. Finally, the lower portion of the tapered spike  30  is provided with a wedge tip  55  to allow the welding slag hammer  10  to get between two (2) surfaces and pry them apart prior to lifting them apart. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an isometric view of the welding slag hammer  10  with the replaceable tip  15  and retention device  20  removed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The head  50  is provided with a tip aperture  60  complete with female threads  65 . Said threads are envisioned to be sized at three-eighths of an inch (⅜ in.), however, such thread sizes are not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. The tip aperture  60  is approximately one-and-a-half (1½ in.) inches deep (into the head  50 ) and is envisioned to taper slightly inward after the first three-quarters of an inch (¾ in.). The welding slag hammer  10  is provided with an attachment aperture  70  in the handle  40  of the welding slag hammer  10 . Said attachment aperture  70  is envisioned to be approximately one-quarter of an inch (¼ in.) in diameter through the entire handle  40  and is issued for the purposes of attaching a leash for tethering purposes when working at heights. The head  50  of the welding slag hammer  10  is provided with a flat impact area  75  allowing it to be struck with a four to six pound (4-6 lb.) sledgehammer. This hammering operation would occur during use of the tapered spike  30  and wedge tip  55  features of the welding slag hammer  10 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , an isometric view of the replaceable tip  15  as used with the welding slag hammer  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The replaceable tip  15  is approximately three inches (3 in.) in length and three-eighths of an inch (⅜ in.) of an inch in diameter with slightly tapered ends. The middle section of the replaceable tip  15  is provided with male threads  80  that mate with the female threads  65  (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The total length of the replaceable tip  15  provided with male threads  80  is envisioned to be approximately one inch (1 in.). The male threads  80  are envisioned to be approximately three-eighths of an inch (⅜ in.) in size, although such a parameter is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. The outer portion of the replaceable tip  15  is provided in a tapered conical shape  85  with a spike end  90 . Those skilled in the art will realize that the symmetrical nature of the replaceable tip  15  will allow it to be placed within the head  50  (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) of the welding slag hammer  10  in a total of two (2) different ways. This feature allows the user to remove the replaceable tip  15 , rotate it one hundred eighty degrees (180°), and replace it in the welding slag hammer  10  when it becomes worn. Such rotation could occur once per replaceable tip  15  on an as-needed basis, perhaps as often as once a week during heavy daily usage. After both ends of the replaceable tip  15  are worn, the subject replaceable tip  15  would be removed, discarded, and replaced with a new replaceable tip  15 . As such, it is envisioned that the replaceable tip  15  would be sold separately from the welding slag hammer  10  to reduce costs. The replaceable tip  15  is envisioned to be made of carbon steel coated with a five micrometer (5 μm) zinc coating for corrosion resistant properties. The replaceable tip  15  is envisioned to be highly useful around when performing welding operations around weld access holes or “rat holes” when welding flanges of I-beams and T-beams across their full width. 
     Referring finally to  FIG. 5 , an isometric view of the replaceable tip  15 , as used with the welding slag hammer  10 , with the retention device  20  installed, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The retention device  20  is envisioned as a common three-eighths inch (⅜ in.) jam nut, thus matching the female threads  65  (as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and the male threads  80 . This feature allows for easy replacement should it become lost as the commonality of the jam nut allows it to be found at almost all work sites. The retention device  20  is placed on the replaceable tip  15  using a turning motion as defined by a travel path ‘t”  95 . This action tightens the retention device  20  up against the head  50  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and prevents rotation and dislodgement of the replaceable tip  15  from the welding slag hammer  10 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the welding slag hammer  10  would be constructed in general accordance with  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 . After procurement of the welding slag hammer  10 , envisioned to occur via conventional welding tool procurement methods, the user would ensure that a replaceable tip  15  is placed in the head  50  of the welding slag hammer  10  and tightly secured by a retention device  20 , such that a non-worn spike end  90  is protruding outward. 
     At this point in time, the welding slag hammer  10  could be used as a conventional slag hammer to remove weld splatter and provide general post welding cleanup operations. Such operations would utilize the replaceable tip  15  and the vertical chisel  25  of the welding slag hammer  10 . The welding slag hammer  10  may also be used for other assembly operations such as duplicating the action of a spud wrench or bull pin to align steel prior to bolting or welding. Prying and chiseling operations would be provided by the tapered spike  30  and the wedge tip  55 . Such actions could also be amplified by hammering action upon the flat impact area  75  should additional leverage or force be required. These various work activities continue in a cyclical manner until the spike end  90  becomes too damaged to perform a proper job. 
     To replace or rotate the replaceable tip  15 , the user would first loosen and remove the retention device  20  by following an inverted travel path ‘t”  95 . Next, the replaceable tip  15  is removed by following the same rotational path as the retention device  20 . The replaceable tip  15  can either be rotated, should the opposite spike end  90  be non-worn, or it can be replaced by a new replaceable tip  15 . The replaceable tip  15  is placed into the head  50  of the welding slag hammer  10  by a tightening action as defined by the travel path ‘t”  95 , followed by the retention device  20  in a similar manner. At this point in time, the welding slag hammer  10  is ready to return to use as defined above. Such usage, rotation, replacement process continues in a cyclical manner. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.