Patent Publication Number: US-2012037384-A1

Title: Mattock

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to striking tools, and more particularly to mattocks. 
     A mattock typically includes a handle and a head. The head often includes a digging blade at one end of the head and a cutting edge at another end of the head opposite the digging blade. The head also typically includes an eye or aperture into which the handle extends to couple the handle and the head. In operation, a user grabs the handle and swings the mattock to use either the cutting edge or the digging blade to strike the ground or an object in the ground. For example, the digging blade is typically used to penetrate and dig into the ground, break-up dirt clumps, and the like and the cutting edge is typically used to cut roots and the like that are exposed by the digging blade. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a striking tool that includes a head having an eye, a cutting end portion that extends from the eye and includes a cutting edge, a striking end portion that extends from the eye opposite the cutting end portion and defines a striking end, and a first longitudinal axis that extends through the cutting edge, the eye, and the striking end. A handle is coupled to the eye and the handle includes a first end portion disposed completely within the eye, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and an intermediate portion that extends between the first end portion and the second end portion. The handle is configured to be grabbed by a user when using the striking tool. A second longitudinal axis extends through and along the center of the first end portion of the handle perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and intersects the first longitudinal axis to define a connection point of the handle and the head. A third longitudinal axis extends through the center of a portion of the second end portion of the handle and parallel to the second longitudinal axis. The third longitudinal axis intersects the first longitudinal axis to define an offset point. The intermediate portion of the handle is curved so that the offset point is located on the first longitudinal axis between and spaced apart from the connection point and the cutting edge. 
     In another embodiment the invention provides a mattock including a head having an eye, a cutting end portion that extends from the eye and includes a cutting edge, a digging blade that extends from the eye opposite the cutting end portion, and a first longitudinal axis that extends through the cutting edge, the eye, and the digging blade. A handle is coupled to the eye such that the handle extends from the head in a first direction. The handle includes a first end portion disposed completely within the eye and a second end portion opposite the first end portion and configured to be grabbed by a user when using the mattock. A second longitudinal axis extends through and along the center of the first end portion of the handle perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and intersects the first longitudinal axis to define a connection point of the handle and the head. A length of the digging blade is defined as the distance from the connection point to an end of the digging blade furthest from the connection point measured in the direction of the first longitudinal axis. The digging blade includes a bottom surface that extends along the length of the digging blade facing the first direction and a top surface that extends along the length of the digging blade facing a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The head includes a fin that extends from the top surface of the digging blade in the second direction. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a mattock including a head having an eye, a cutting end portion that extends from the eye and includes a cutting edge, a digging blade that extends from the eye opposite the cutting end portion, and a first longitudinal axis that extends through the cutting edge, the eye, and the digging blade. A handle is coupled to the eye such that the handle extends from the head in a first direction. The handle includes a first end portion disposed completely within the eye, a second end portion opposite the first end portion and configured to be grabbed by a user when using the mattock. A second longitudinal axis of the first end portion of the handle intersects the first longitudinal axis to define a connection point of the handle and the head. A digging blade is formed as part of the head, and the digging blade includes a first end adjacent the eye, a second end opposite the first end, a length that is defined as the distance from the connection point to the second end, a bottom surface that extends along the length of the digging blade facing the first direction, and a top surface that extends along the length of the digging blade facing a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The bottom surface of the digging blade includes a first end adjacent the eye and a second end that is opposite the first end of the bottom surface. The top surface of the digging blade includes a first end adjacent the eye and a second end opposite the first end of the top surface. A digging blade pitch axis extends through the first end of the top surface of the digging blade and the second end of the bottom surface of the digging blade. A digging blade pitch angle is defined as the angle between the digging blade pitch axis and the second longitudinal axis and the digging blade pitch angle is greater than or equal to 80 degrees. A first end of the cutting end portion is adjacent the eye, and a second end of the cutting end portion is opposite the first end of the cutting end portion, and the second end of the cutting end portion forms the cutting edge. A length of the cutting end portion defined as the distance from the connection point to the cutting edge. A bottom surface of the cutting end portion extends along the length of the cutting end portion facing the first direction, a top surface of the cutting end portion extends along the length of the cutting end portion facing a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and the top surface of the cutting end portion includes a first end adjacent the eye and a second end opposite the first end of the top surface of the cutting end portion. A cutting end portion pitch axis extends through the first end of the top surface of the cutting end portion and the second end of the top surface of the cutting end portion, and a cutting end portion pitch angle is defined as the angle between the cutting end portion pitch axis and the second longitudinal axis. The cutting end portion pitch angle is greater than 90 degrees. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mattock according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the mattock of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial front side view of the mattock of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial rear side view of the mattock of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mattock according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the mattock of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial front side view of the mattock of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial rear side view of the mattock of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a striking tool  30  that includes a head  32  and a handle  34 . The head  32  and handle  34  are coupled together to define a connection point  36  that will be described and defined in more detail below. The handle  34  is coupled to the head  32  such that the handle  34  extends from the head  34  generally in a first direction represented by arrow  38  of  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the head  32  includes an eye  42 , a cutting end portion  44  that extends from the eye  42  and includes a cutting edge  45 , and a striking end portion  46  that extends from the eye  42  opposite the cutting end portion  44  and includes a striking end  47 . The eye  42  is formed by an aperture that extends vertically through the head  32 , and the aperture of the eye  42  receives the handle  34  to couple the handle  34  to the head  32 . A longitudinal axis  50  of the head  32  is defined as an axis that extends through the cutting edge  45 , the eye  42 , and the striking end  47 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cutting end portion  44  includes a first end  52  adjacent the eye  42  and a second end  54  that is opposite the first end  52  and forms the sharp cutting edge  45 , which is a straight cutting edge in the illustrated construction. A length  58  of the cutting end portion  44  is defined as the distance, measured in the direction of the axis  50 , from the connection point  36  to a point  60  on the cutting edge  45  that is furthest from the connection point  36 . The cutting end portion  44  further includes a bottom surface  64  and a top surface  66 . The bottom surface  64  extends along the length  58  of the cutting end portion  44  and generally faces the first direction  38 . The top surface  66  extends along the length  58  of the cutting end portion  44  and generally faces a second direction, represented by arrow  70 , that is opposite the first direction  38 . The top surface  66  includes a first end  72  that is adjacent the eye  42  and the second end  60  that is opposite the first end  72 . A length  76  of the cutting edge  45  extends from the top surface  66  to the bottom surface  64  and a longitudinal axis  78  of the cutting edge  45  extends along the length  76  of the cutting edge  45 . The cutting end portion  44  further includes a pitch axis  80 . The pitch axis  80  is defined as an axis that extends through the first end  72  of the top surface  66  and the second end  60  of the top surface  66 . 
     The striking end portion  46  includes a digging blade  84  in the illustrated embodiment such that the striking tool  30  is a mattock. In other embodiments, the striking end portion  46  can take other forms such that the striking tool is a sledge, hammer, ax, or the like. The digging blade  84  includes a first end  86  adjacent the eye  42 , the second or striking end  47  that is opposite the first end  86 , a bottom surface  90 , a top surface  92  ( FIG. 1 ), and a fin  94  that extends from the top surface  92  in the second direction  70 . A digging blade length  96  is defined as the distance from the connection point  36  to the second end  47  measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis  50 . In the illustrated construction, the digging blade length  96  is greater than the length  58  of the cutting end portion  44 . In one such construction, the digging blade length  96  is about 9.5 inches and the cutting end portion length  58  is about 7.5 inches. An overall length  98  of the head  32  is defined as the cutting end portion length  58  plus the digging blade length  96 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the bottom surface  90  of the digging blade  84  extends along the length  96  of the digging blade  84  and generally faces the first direction  38 . The bottom surface  90  is convex such that the bottom surface  90  has a focus  100  above the top surface  92  along a majority of the length  96  of the digging blade  84 . In the illustrated construction, the focus  100  is located in a vertical plane  101  of the fin  94 . The bottom surface  90  further includes a first end  102  adjacent the eye  42  and a second end  104  that is opposite the first end  102 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the top surface  92  of the digging blade  84  extends along the length  96  of the digging blade  84  and generally faces the second direction  70 . The top surface  92  is concave such that the top surface  92  has a focus  108  ( FIG. 5 ) above the top surface  92  along a majority of the length  96  of the digging blade  84 . In the illustrated construction, the focus  108  is located in the vertical plane  101  of the fin  94 . The top surface  92  further includes a first end  110  ( FIG. 1 ) adjacent the eye  42  and a second end  112  that is opposite the first end  110 . A digging blade pitch axis  116  is defined as an axis that extends through the first end  110  of the top surface  92  and the second end  104  of the bottom surface  90 . 
     The fin  94  extends from the top surface  92  of the digging blade  84  in the second direction  70  such that the fin  94  is generally normal to the top surface  92  of the digging blade  84  (see  FIG. 5 ). Referring to  FIG. 3 , the fin  94  includes a first end  120  adjacent the connection point  36  and a second end  122  that is opposite the first end  120 . A length  124  of the fin  94  is defined as the distance from the first end  120  to the second end  122  measured along the longitudinal axis  50 , and in the illustrated construction, the fin  94  extends parallel to the longitudinal axis  50 . In the illustrated construction, the length  124  of the fin  94  is about 80 percent of the length  96  of the digging blade  84 . In other constructions, the length  124  of the fin  94  is at least half of the length  96  of the digging blade  84 . The fin  94  further includes a bottom edge  126  ( FIG. 1 ) adjacent the top surface  92  of the digging blade  84  and a top edge  128  that is opposite the bottom edge  126 . A height  130  of the fin  94  is defined as the distance between the top edge  128  and the bottom edge  126  normal to the longitudinal axis  50 . In the illustrated construction, the height  130  of the fin  94  decreases along a majority of the length  124  of the fin from the first end  120  toward the second end  122 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the handle  34  includes a first end  134  adjacent the head  32  and a second end  136  that is opposite the first end  134 . The handle  34  further includes a first end portion  138  that is defined as a portion of the handle  34  disposed completely within the eye  42 , a second end portion  140  that is opposite the first end portion  138 , and a curved intermediate portion  142  that extends between the first end portion  138  and the second end portion  140 . A longitudinal axis  146  of the first end portion  138  extends through and along the center of the first end portion  138  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  50  of the head  32 . A digging blade pitch angle  148  is defined as the angle between the digging blade pitch axis  116  and the longitudinal axis  146  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the illustrated construction, the digging blade pitch angle  148  is about 87 degrees. In other constructions, the digging blade pitch angle  148  can be greater than or equal to 80 degrees. A cutting end portion pitch angle  150  is defined as the angle between the cutting end portion pitch axis  80  and the longitudinal axis  146  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In the illustrated construction, the pitch angle  150  is about 97 degrees, and in other constructions, the cutting end portion pitch angle  150  can be greater than or equal to 90 degrees. A cutting edge angle  152  ( FIG. 2 ) is defined as the angle between the longitudinal axis  78  of the cutting edge  45  and the axis  146 . In the illustrated construction, the cutting edge angle  152  is about 12 degrees, and in other constructions, the cutting edge angle  152  can be greater than or equal to 5 degrees. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the connection point  36  of the head  32  and the handle  34  is defined as the point where the longitudinal axis  50  of the head  32 , as defined above, and the longitudinal axis  146  of the handle first end portion  138 , as define above, intersect. A length  156  of the handle  34  is defined as the distance from the connection point  36  to the end  136  of the handle  34  measured in the direction of the axis  146 . In the illustrated construction, the length  156  of the handle  34  is about 2.2 times the overall length  98  of the head  32 , and in other constructions, the length  156  of the handle  34  is at least twice the overall length  98  of the head  32 . 
     A third longitudinal axis  160  is defined as an axis that extends through the center of at least a portion of the second end portion  140  of the handle  34  such that the axis  160  extends parallel to the longitudinal axis  146  of the handle first end portion  138 . An offset point  162  is defined as the point where the axis  160  intersects the longitudinal axis  50  of the head  32 . In the illustrated construction, the intermediate portion  142  of the handle  34  is curved so that the offset point  162  is located on the axis  50  between and spaced apart from the connection point  36  and the cutting edge  45 . Furthermore, the intermediate portion  142  of the handle  34  is curved so that the offset point  162  is located on the axis  50  closer to the cutting edge  45  than to the striking end  47 . An offset length  164  is defined as the distance from the connection point  36  to the offset point  162  measured along the longitudinal axis  50  of the head  32 . In one construction, the offset length  164  is about 3 inches. An offset ratio is defined as the offset length  164  divided by the length  58  of the cutting end portion  44 . In the illustrated construction, the offset ratio is about 0.4. In other constructions, the offset ratio is greater than 0.4, in other constructions, the offset ratio is at least 0.4, and in yet other constructions, the offset ratio is at least 0.3. 
       FIGS. 6-9  illustrate a striking tool  130  according to another construction. The striking tool  130  is similar to the striking tool  30  of  FIGS. 1-5  and therefore only the differences between the striking tools  30  and  130  will be discussed in detail below and like components have been given like reference numbers plus 100. The striking tool  130  includes a cutting end portion  144  that includes a cutting edge  145  formed as a pick  170 . 
     In operation, referring to  FIG. 2 , the user grabs handle  34  of the mattock  30  at the second end portion  140  and swings the mattock  30  as is well understood in the art. The user swings the mattock  30  and uses the digging blade  84  to dig into and break up soil, other ground surfaces, and the like. The user swings the mattock  30  and uses the cutting edge  45  to cut plant or tree roots and the like. The digging blade  84  includes the fin  94  and curved surfaces  90  and  92  ( FIG. 5 ). The fin  94  and the curved surfaces  90  and  92  decrease the amount of soil that sticks to the digging blade  84  after the blade  84  has been removed from the ground. Also, the fin  94  and curved surfaces  90  and  92  allow the digging blade  84  to penetrate the ground with less effort than mattocks without these features. In addition, the fin  94  allows the user to remove the digging blade  84  from the ground with less effort than a mattock without the fin  94 . 
     Also, the digging blade pitch angle  148 , the cutting end portion pitch angle  150 , and the cutting edge angle  152  are configured to reduce stress on the user&#39;s back. The digging blade pitch angle  148  and offset length  164  reduces stress on the user&#39;s back because digging blade  84  penetrates the ground without the user having to bend or tilt their back as far when compared to mattocks without such digging blade pitch angles  148  or offset lengths  164 . 
     Although operation, features, and advantages of the striking tool  30  were described in regard to the mattock  30  of  FIGS. 1-5 , the mattock  130  of  FIGS. 6-9  includes similar operation, features, and advantages. 
     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.