Patent Publication Number: US-2004045412-A1

Title: Slide hammer confidential and proprietary document

Description:
I FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to power tools, and specifically to slide hammers.  
       II BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] During the course of metal body working including, but not limited to, auto body repair, force must be applied to deformed sheet metal and/or structural member (herafter referred to as the workpiece) to move it back into its proper position. Slide hammers are well known in the art, having been used for a number of years. The majority of them are large, heavy, and cumbersome, making them difficult for one person to handle and difficult to use in confined spaces.  
       [0003] The present invention provides a simple, lightweight, inexpensive, and compact means of applying force to an object.  
       [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,719 discloses a prior art slide hammer. This device uses spring loaded parts, adding to its complexity and presenting a possiblity of malfunction. In addition, this device is many times heavier and more expensive than the present invention.  
       III SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       A. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a means to apply force to a workpiece to bend it back to its original shape.  
       [0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a means to apply force to a workpiece to bend it back to its original shape.  
       [0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that is light and is easily used by one person.  
       [0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used in confined spaces.  
       [0009] Another object of the present invention is to be inexpensive.  
       [0010] Other objects will be apparent from the following Descriptions and Drawings.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0011] The present invention comprises a strong sleeve with a heavy, sliding member which concentrates force at the end farthest from the user in order to reshape the workpiece. 
     
    
    
     IV. THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of all major elements of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing its relative size as compared with existing devices.  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slide.  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve.  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chain accessory.  
     [0017]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the extension accessory.  
     [0018]FIG. 7 is perspective views of the head accessories.  
     [0019]FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of the present invention, showing it in use.  
    
    
     V. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0020] In accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention, generally at  10 . The three major sections of the present invention comprise slide  100 , sleeve  200 , and head  300 .  
     [0021]FIG. 2 shows the relative size of the present invention  10  as compared with an example of a competitive, prior art device  20 . As can be seen, the present invention is considerably lighter and more compact than the prior art device.  
     [0022] Slide  100  (FIG. 3) comprises handle  120 , which is made of steel or other metal, plastic or composite strong material. Handle  120  may be covered with a spongy material to provide a good grip and comfort for the user. Shaft  110  is also made of steel or other metal, plastic or composite strong material. Shaft is permanently or removably attached to handle  120  by means of welding, interference fit, or mechanical fasteners etc.  
     [0023] Sleeve  200  (FIG. 4) comprises body  220 , chain anchor  205 , and anvil  240 . All components are made of steel or other strong, durable material.  
     [0024] Body  220  has an outer diameter  225 , and an inner diameter  227  which is just slightly larger than the diameter of shaft  110 , allowing shaft  110  to move freely in and out of sleeve  200 .  
     [0025] Flange  230  is permanently attached to body  220  by means of welding, interference fit, etc. The purpose of flange  230  is to provide a means to allow the user to retain a grip on the tool without being injured by its operation.  
     [0026] Chain anchor  205  comprises flat surface  210  and angled forked surface  215 . Flat surface  210  is permanently attached to body  220  by means of welding. Angled forked surface  215  projects upward at an acute angle and provides an anchoring means for chain  500 . Anvil  240  comprises plug  243  which is permanently attached to one end of body  220  by means of welding, interference fit, etc. Groove  247  accepts “C” ring  245 .  
     [0027]FIG. 5 shows chain accessory  500 , which comprises a plurality of links  510 , a large end  520  and a small end  530 . Large end  520  is bent at an acute angle (less than 90 degrees) to afford a grip on a workpiece. Small end  530  includes hole  535  to afford attaching chain accessory  500  to a protrusion such as a stud or bolt.  
     [0028]FIG. 6 shows extension accessory  400 , which comprises extension body  420  and extension anvil  440 . Extension body  420  is a hollow tube made of steel or other strong and durable material. Extension body  420  has an outer diameter  425  and an inner diameter  427 , which is just slightly larger than the diameter of plug  243 , allowing extension accessory  400  to be removably attached to sleeve  200  and held in place by “C” ring  245 . Extension anvil  440  comprises extension plug  443  which is permanently attached to one end of extension body  420  by means of welding, interference fit, etc. Extension plug  443  has a groove  447 , which accepts extension “C” ring  445 .  
     [0029]FIG. 7 shows head accessories  300 , which comprise large head  310 , small head  350 , and chisel head  370 .  
     [0030] Large head  310  comprises foot  315 , receiving section  320 , and inner diameter  325 . Foot  315  is the part of the component which makes contact with the workpiece.  
     [0031] Receiving section  320  is generally the same diameter as body  220 , and inner diameter  325  is slightly larger than plug  243 . When large head  310  is attached to anvil  240  or extension anvil  440 , it is held in place by “C” ring  245  or extension “C” ring  445 , respectively. Small head  350  comprises foot  355 , receiving section  360 , and inner diameter  365 . Foot  355  is the part of the component which makes contact with the workpiece to be straightened.  
     [0032] Receiving section  360  is generally the same diameter as body  220 , and inner diameter  365  is slightly larger than plug  243 . When small head  350  is attached to anvil  240  or extension anvil  440 , it is held in place by “C” ring  245  or extension “C” ring  445 , respectively. Chisel head  370  comprises chisel  375 , receiving section  380 , and inner diameter  385 .  
     [0033] Chisel  375  is the part of the component which makes contact with the workpiece.  
     [0034] Receiving section  380  is generally the same diameter as body  220 , and inner diameter  385  is slightly larger than plug  243 . When chisel head  370  is attached to anvil  240  or extension anvil  440 , it is held in place by “C” ring  245  or extension “C” ring  445 , respectively.  
     [0035] In FIG. 8A, slide  100  is shown inserted into the open end of sleeve  200 . One of the heads  300  is attached to plug  243  and held in place by “C” ring  245 . The operator rapidly pushes slide  100  down sleeve  200  in the direction shown by arrow  50 . Shaft  110  is shown approaching, but not contacting anvil  240 .  
     [0036] In FIG. 8B, shaft  110  is shown in contact with anvil  240 . The kinetic energy produced by the rapid movement of the weighted handle  120  is transferred down shaft  110 , to anvil  240 , to head  300 , and to the workpiece.  
     [0037] If the user desires to impart a twisting force to the workpiece, chain accessory is used. One link  510  is hooked over angled forked surface  215  of chain anchor  205 . Depending upon the nature of the workpiece, either large end  520  or small end  530  is fastened to the workpiece. The user can then impart a twisting action or a twisting action combined with normal slide hammer operation as previously described.