Patent Publication Number: US-6339858-B1

Title: Hammer with holder

Description:
OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of the allowed and pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/483,590, filed on Jan. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,539, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hammer, and more particularly, to a hammer with a non-perpendicular handle member with a holder. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 1,041,903 issued to W. Thomas. However, it differs from the present invention because the Thomas&#39; patent includes a complicated mechanism for holding the nail in place. The present invention provides a hammer with a non-perpendicular handle member to allow for a user&#39;s hand not to come in contact with the surface where the nail is driven. The present invention includes also a magnetized head with a claw assembly integrally built on the face portion of the head that minimizes the movements required from a user when using the claw assembly. Finally, the blade assembly opposite to the head facilitates the work of a user specially when is working in roofs. 
     Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention includes a magnetized head with a claw assembly integrally built on the face portion of the head. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a hammer with a non-perpendicular handle member so that a user may position the claw assembly of the hammer&#39;s head at an angle with respect to a horizontal surface thereby providing sufficient clearance for a user&#39;s grip of the handle member. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a hammer that includes a magnetized head with a claw assembly integrally built on the face portion of the head. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved hammer with a removably blade assembly mounted on the head of the hammer, opposite to the face portion. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a holder fort the improved hammer that makes the latter readily available. 
     Another object is to provide a hammer and holder combination specially suitable for a roofer. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 represents an isometric view of one of the preferred embodiments for the present invention with a belt (in phantom). 
     FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of the holster and the hammer (in phantom) mounted thereon. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a back elevational view of the holster and the hammer (in phantom) mounted thereon. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the hammer subject of the present application and the position of the handle of the prior art hammer is shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the head assembly. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevational view of the headed pin assembly. 
     FIG. 7 represents a back view of the headed pin assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes holster assembly  20  typically carried by a user on his/her belt and improved hammer assembly  40 , that includes handle member  50  and head assembly  60  mounted at one end. Handle member  50  is rigidly mounted to head assembly  60  so that it is not perpendicular, but rather it is mounted at an angle between 5 and 10 degrees. In a typical hammer, head assembly  60  and the handle assembly are perpendicularly mounted to each other. This relatively small permits a user to grab handle member  50  and strike a flat surface (or drive a nail in and specially to use claw assembly  130  without hitting his hand. Using claw assembly  130  typically requires that a user inserts it at angle, therefore, unless allowance is provided for this a user would not be able to use claw  130  when it is integrally built on head assembly  60 . Of course, there is an advantage for having claw assembly  130  as an extension of the face portion, namely, a user does not have to turn around the handle. Rather, it is right there. This is desirable when working in rough surfaces such as roofs, where irregularities tend to scratch a user&#39;s hands. 
     As it can be seen in FIG. 1, holster assembly  20  includes loop member  22  which in the preferred embodiment is made out of a flexible material through which a user&#39;s belt is passed. Frame assembly  30 , as best seen in FIG. 3, extends downwardly. Loop member  22  permits a user to insert his/her belt through it, keeping frame assembly  30  suspended in a substantially vertical position. 
     Frame assembly  30  includes upper and lower rigid elongated members  31 ,  32 , and side rigid elongated members  33  and  34 . Members  31 ;  32 ;  33  and  34  are joined to each other defining a frame. Between members  33  and  34  there is a hook assembly  70  that includes U-shaped member  72  with outwardly extending legs  73  and  74  that are rigidly attached to members  33  and  34 , respectively. 
     Head assembly  60  includes headed pin assembly  80  perpendicularly mounted on side  62 . Assembly  80  is designed to engage hammer  40  to holder  20 . Assembly  80  is mounted to head assembly  60  through fastening members  81  and  83  that are passed through holes  81 ′ and  83 ′, and driven into openings  61  and  53 , respectively. Pin head  82  is kept at spaced apart relationship with respect to side  62  so that it can be removable inserted within the bay of U-shaped member  72 . Hook assembly  70  is positioned substantially closer to member  32  than to member  31 , so that handle member  50  is kept at a confortable distance from a user&#39;s hand. 
     Blade assembly  100 , is removable mounted to one end of head assembly  60 , as seen in FIG.  4 . Bracket  102  is designed to removably support assembly  100  and keep the latter at a suitable distance away from head assembly  60 . 
     Magnetic member  120  is seen in FIGS. 5 and 7 as a cylindrical insert in face portion  64 . Member  120  is designed to hold ferromagnetic nails by their heads facilitating the nailing operation. Member  120  is covered with a case  120 ′ of nonferrous material. 
     Claw assembly  130  extends from face portion  64  towards handle member  50 . It is designed to be readily available to a user in the event that it needs to be used to pull a nail out. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.