A Combination Tool.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combination Tool.
We, CHARLES AUGUSTUS KETCHUM, Salesman, WILLIAM WRIGLEY, Jr.,
Merchant, and WILLIAM SCATCHARD. Jr., Merchant, all of No. 157 Kinzie
Street, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States
of America, 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 a tool to be used as a hatchet, nail-claw, or extractor,
and hammer; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, and novel
operation of the parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and
specifically claimed.
Heretofore hatchets have generally been made with a claw for withdrawing nails,
tacks, and spikes, on the back part of the head or hammer, or are formed on the
rear side edge of the blade with a notch or open slot to engage the nail, and
sometimes both constructions are used. Each of these constructions have been
found to be unsatisfactory, for the reason that nails whose heads are imbedded in
the wood in which they are driven cannot be extracted without defacing the
surface of the material or otherwise injuring it.
The objects of my invention, therefore, are first, to embody in one implement
several tools, in such a manner that it will be simple, and inexpensive in construction,
strong and durable, yet effective in operation; and second, such a device, which
shall be adapted for driving nails, chopping or cutting, and for extracting nails, the
heads of which may be imbedded in the wood, without injury to the surface of the
material in which they are driven.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our invention pertains to
make and use the same, we will now proceed to describe it, referring to the
accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1, is a view in side elevation of my combination tool or hatchet, showing
a portion of the handle thereof. And
Figure 2, is an edge view thereof.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawing.
A, represents a hatchet, made of any suitable size, having as usual a blade or
cutting-edge a, a head or hammer b, and a handle C, which is inserted in an eye or
or opening provided for its reception in the ordinary manner.
Near the rear
portion of the blade or cutting-edge a, or that part thereof adjacent to the handle C,
is formed an "A"-shaped opening or slit e, which extends obliquely towards the
central portion of the hatchet, as is clearly seen in Figure 1, of the drawing. Each
of the edges of this opening, are preferably bevelled on both sides, as is seen at e¹,
in Figure 2, and thus present sharp or cutting edges to the nail or spike with which
they are to engage. The ends e², and e³, of the opening or slit e, at the enlargement
thereof project somewhat beyond the line of the cutting-edge a, and are sharpened
or bevelled on each side, thus offering points which can be easily inserted under the
head of a nail. These points or projecting ends also afford a device for puncturing
or perforating the lids of boxes, which contain fruit or other articles requiring air,
and also for marking or otherwise preparing thin pieces of wood, which would split
with the grain, if struck with the full blade, for breaking.
From the foregoing, and by reference to the drawing, it will be seen and under-
stood that if the heads of the nails are imbedded deeply within the box-lid, that
the cutting-edge a, may be inserted between the lower surface of the lid, and the
edge of the box, in such a way that when it is forced thereunder, the slit e, will

page_text: stride the nail, when its bevelled or cutting-edges will create therein indentations or
notches, when by prying with the handle, the nail will be raised until it can be
reached beneath the head, and above the top of the box. It will also be
understood that by taking the handle C, in one hand and the head or
hammer b, in the other, that sufficient leverage can be obtained to extract almost
any nail.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
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As an improved article of manufacture, a combination tool or hatchet having an
A "-shaped slit or opening therein extending obliquely from the cutting-edge and
towards the center of the body of the tool, said slit or opening having its edges
bevelled on both sides, and provided at its outer extremity with the points or
projections e², and e³, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of January 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.