Improved Means for Securing Axes, Picks, Hammers, and the like Socketed Tools to their Handles.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Securing Axes, Picks, Hammers, and the like
Socketed Tools to their Handles.
I SHERARD OSBORN COWPER COLES of 95 Wigmore Street in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improved means for securing tools having socketted heads
(such as axes, picks, and hammers) to their shafts or handles, whereby all risk of
their working loose and flying off is removed, and provision is made for adapting one
shaft to two or more tools in succession.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 shews inside view, and
:-
Fig. 2 in back view, an axe fitted to its shaft according to my invention.
For securing the head of the axe to its shaft, I use what may be termed a compound
wedge, consisting of a metal piece, and a wooden or equivalent elastic portion, which
are brought into close contact. This metal piece consists of a stem a, formed of a flat
strip of metal, and having a flat head a' standing out at right angles, or nearly so,
from the back face thereof. This head is made in such proportions with respect to
the stem, as to present, when in place, overlapping edges to the head of the tool, and
it also serves to overlap the head of the wooden portion b, which is cut to a wedge
shape. The metal strip is also (preferably) tapered slightly towards its lower end,
and it terminates in a hook or spur a², standing at right angles, or thereabouts, to the
stem, and in an opposite direction to the head, for the purpose of insertion into a
notch made for it in the back of the shaft.
In applying my invention to the fixing of an axe head to its shaft, I insert the
shaft into the axe head, and push the axe head down sufficiently far to allow of the
application of the compound wedge, inserting the hook or spur a² in the notch
prepared for it in the shaft. To complete the operation, I drive the axe head up into
position, or until it has taken a firm grip of the compound wedge and the shaft, when
the tool may be used with perfect safety.
For removing the shaft, it will only be necessary to strike its lower end smartly on
the ground, and the axe will drop away from the wedge, when the shaft will be free
to receive another tool.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are modifications of the metal portion a of the compound wedge.
In Figure 3, in place of the spur a², the stem is provided with V shaped transverse
projections, which bed themselves in the shaft, when lateral pressure is applied to the
wedge, and the overhanging edge of the head is bent down at right angles, to
embrace the head of the piece b.
Fig. 4 shows another slight modification, the stem carrying, near the middle of its
length, a dove-tail projection a², which is designed to enter a recess formed to receive
it in the shaft or handle.
Fig. 5 shews a further modification of the metal portion of the compound wedge,
which permits of the wedge being driven into place after the tool has been applied to
the top of the shaft or handle.
When thus inserted into the socketted head, the stem a is secured to the shaft by a
screw or pin a³, passed through a hole in the tail end of the stem, into the shaft or
handle.
This example shows no lateral projections for the head, the head, in this instance,
corresponding in breadth with the stem.
It will be obvious that the metal portion of the combination wedge may be
constructed of any suitable metal or alloys, forged, stamped, or cast, as may be
thought most desirable.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
A fastening for handles of axes, picks, hammers, and the like socketted tools,
consisting of a compound wedge, constructed as and for the purpose above described.
Dated this 17th day of May 1890.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.