U.S. patent number 3,599,255 [Application Number 04/769,214] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-17 for combination tool.
Invention is credited to Thomas P. Carroll, Sr..
United States Patent |
3,599,255 |
Carroll, Sr. |
August 17, 1971 |
COMBINATION TOOL
Abstract
A combination tool having an insulated handle and a head with a
top, bottom, front and rear and section attached at one end of the
handle. A cutting edge is formed along the edge of the front
section of the head. The thickness of the head increases from the
cutting edge to the rear section which terminates in a blunt rear
face. The sides of the rear face converge downwardly to form a
prying point. A concavously shaped ripping edge is formed along the
bottom of the head between the prying point and the handle. An
aperture in the head is adapted to fit a water hydrant valve and a
nail puller is formed by a V-shaped indentation along the bottom
edge of the head between the front section and the handle. The
other end of the handle has a wedge-shaped projection which acts as
a wrecking bar head and an aperture in the wrecking bar head is
adapted to fit a gasline valve.
Inventors: |
Carroll, Sr.; Thomas P.
(Canton, OH) |
Family
ID: |
25084813 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/769,214 |
Filed: |
October 21, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
7/138; 7/145;
254/26R; 7/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25F
1/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B25F
1/00 (20060101); B25f 001/00 (); B25d 001/00 ();
B25d 017/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;7/8,8.1,9,12,17
;254/26 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Morse, Jr.; Wayne A.
Claims
I claim:
1. An article of manufacture comprising:
an elongated handle having an electrically insulating covering;
a head having a top, bottom, front and rear secton attached to one
end of the handle;
a convex cutting edge formed along the edge of the front section of
the head;
a relatively thick rear section having a blunt rear face which lies
in a plane generally parallel to the axis of the handle and
transverse to the top of the head and acts as a hammer;
the sides of the rear face converging continuously downwardly to
form a single prying point which utilizes the top of the rear face
as a pivot;
a concave ripping edge along the bottom of the head between the
prying point and the handle, said ripping edge cooperating with
said prying point to act as a hooking means which may puncture and
rip materials;
an aperture in the head which, in conjunction with the handle,
forms a water hydrant wrench;
a nail puller formed by a V-shaped indentation along the bottom
edge of the head and the top side edges of the head which acts as a
pivot point;
a wrecking bar head formed by a wedge-shaped head at the other end
of the handle, the bottommost face of the wrecking bar end forming
an acute angle with the axis of the handle;
a wrench for a gasline valve formed by an aperture in the wrecking
bar head in conjunction with the handle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When entering burning buildings, firemen cannot be certain what
obstacles they will encounter in their efforts to rescue trapped
victims or to reach the source of the fire. For this reason, they
are required to carry various tools which enable them to penetrate
the interior of a building. For example, a prying instrument of
some type is usually required to remove hasps, roof slates,
shingles, or rip off window casings. A hammer is often necessary to
break windows or other obstacles which cannot be opened.
Axes, of course, must also be carried by the firemen who find it
necessary to break through walls or cut electrical conduits which
are a source of trouble. A wrecking bar and nail puller are often
required to rip off larger items such as wooden panels.
Other emergency tools a fireman must carry are a water hydrant
wrench and gas valve wrench for the obvious reasons of opening the
water supply and shutting off any dangerous gas supply.
These various tools, that is, a hammer, an ax, a prying instrument,
a wrecking bar, a nail puller, and water and gasline wrenches are
normally carried in a special belt worn by the fireman. The weight
and bulk of the belt and tools necessarily create a burdensome load
for firemen to carry up ladders, through buildings and so
forth.
The inconvenience of using various tools is also a significant
factor. In an emergency situation efficiency is a requirement and
delay is often fatal. The time required for a fireman to replace a
tool previously used, select a new one and extract it from his belt
could mean the difference between tragedy and rescue.
The instant invention provides a combination tool which performs
all of the functions normally required of a fireman's tools. It has
a size which is easily handled and carried and yet has sufficient
weight to act as a hammer or ax. Specifically, it performs the
functions of a hydrant wrench, a gas valve wrench, a wrecking bar,
a nail puller, a hammer, an ax, a ripping instrument and a prying
tool. Being a combination tool, this invention eliminates the time
lost in changing tools.
While this combination tool was particularly designed for firemen,
it has many obvious uses for the handyman, policeman, carpenter and
the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This combination tool has a handle and a head with a top, bottom,
front and rear section attached to one end of the handle. A cutting
edge is formed along the front section of the head. The thickness
of the head increases to a relatively wide blunt rear face. The
sides of the rear face converge downwardly to form a prying point
which utilizes the top of the head as a fulcrum point. A ripping
edge connects the prying point and the handle. A wrecking bar head
is formed by a wedge-shaped head at the other end of the handle. An
aperture in the head and a second aperture in the wrecking bar head
form a water hydrant and a gas valve wrench, respectively.
FIG. 1 is a rear plan view of the combination tool of this
invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side plan view of the combination
tool.
FIG. 3 is top view of the combination tool.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the combination tool has an
electrically insulating sleeve 10, such as rubber, which is tapered
at its ends covering a handle 11. A head 12 is connected at one end
of the handle 11 and has a front section 14, rear section 16, top
section 18 and bottom section 20. A slightly convex cutting edge 22
is formed along the relatively thin leading edge of the front
section 14 and is continuous from the top section 18 to the bottom
section 20.
As seen in FIG. 3, the head thickens from the cutting edge 22 to
the rear section 16 which terminates in a relatively broad blunt
rear face 24. Sides 26 and 28 of the rear face 24 are substantially
parallel for about one-third of the height of the head 12 until
they reach points 30 and 32, respectively, where they taper to a
prying point 34.
Between the prying point 34 and the hammer 11 is a ripping edge 36
which is generally concave downwardly and can be used in
conjunction with the pointed section ending at 34 to rip walls,
wires, wood paneling and the like.
A nail puller 38 is formed along the edge 39 of the bottom section
20 between the cutting edge 22 and the handle 11. The nail puller
38 is generally V-shaped with the point of the V directed toward
the top of the head 12. The nail puller is utilized by placing the
body of the nail within the V groove and the head adjacent to the
side facing upwardly as the tool lays on its other side. Pivoting
the tool 10 about the edge 40, as seen in FIG. 3, of the top
section 18 withdraws the nail.
A water hydrant wrench is also included in the combination tool and
is formed by means of a square aperture 42 in the head 12 when used
in conjunction with the handle 11. While the shape of the aperture
42 is usually square because that is the shape of most hydrant
valves, it may be hexagonal, octagonal or any other shape which is
required to fit a water hydrant. Favorable results have been found
when the aperture 12 is placed slightly forward of the axis of the
handle 11 and in proximity to the top section 18. This position
allows the user to apply a maximum torque to a water hydrant valve
by utilizing almost the height of the tool as a lever arm without
sacrificing any strength or rigidity of the head 12.
The other end of handle 11 has a wedge-shaped wrecking bar head 44.
The sides 45 and 46 of the wrecking bar head 44 flare outwardly
from the diameter of the handle at 47 to a relatively wide lower
edge 48. As seen in FIG. 2, the thickness of the wrecking bar head
44 decreases from the diameter of the handle 11 to the edge 48.
A rectangular aperture 50 in about the center of the wrecking bar
head 44 cooperates with the handle 11 to form a gasline valve
wrench. Of course, the aperture 50 may have any desired shape to
accommodate the gasline valve.
This combination tool is designed basically as a hand tool and as
such is about 14 inches high, 1 inch thick and 6 inches wide. The
entire tool with the exception of the insulating handle is normally
formulated of one piece of metal and will have a weight which can
be easily manipulated with one hand.
It should be noted that this combination tool is particularly
designed to have the various elements, including the common handle,
cooperate with each other. The ax on the front section cooperates
with the hammer and prying point on the rear section to
counterbalance the combination tool and thus reduce any torque
about the longitudinal axis of the handle. The aperture for the
water hydrant valve wrench is located to distribute the weight of
the head and obtain the desired balance. Moreover, the broad rear
face 24 and particularly the top edge thereof acts as a pivot for
the prying point 34 when it engages an article such as a door hasp
which is flush with the surface which holds it. The broad rear face
24 is particularly useful for stabilizing the prying point 34 as it
is placed in position.
The ripping edge 36 also cooperates with the prying instrument 34
by forming a hooking device. For example, as the ripping edge 36
engages a wire or other small obstacle, the prying instrument holds
it in the pocket formed by itself and the handle until it is
severed. Without this pocket, partially formed by the prying
instrument, the obstacle could slip away without being severed.
The nail puller cooperates with one of the edges of the top section
18 in order to obtain the necessary leverage.
The wrecking bar head 44 partially counterbalances the head 12 and
thus makes the tool easier to carry and use. The head 12 may also
act as a convenient handle for the wrecking bar head 44 to obtain
the maximum lever arm and torque. The flat side of the head 12
readily accommodates the palm of the hand through which the
required forces can be applied to the wrecking bar head 44. The
same observation may be made for the aperture forming a gasline
valve wrench in the wrecking bar head 44.
As stated earlier, this combination tool is capable of performing
all of the normal functions of an ax, hammer, prying and ripping
instrument, nail puller, wrecking bar, water hydrant wrench and
gasline valve wrench. Thus, a fireman using the combination tool
can readily break or force open windows, pry off door hinges, chop
through walls and electrical lines without fear of electrical
shock. He can also rip away lines or smaller items with the ripping
edge of the wrecking bar. Gaslines and water hydrant valves can be
opened or closed with the same tool.
Significantly, all of these functions can be performed by the
firemen by simply manipulating the single combination tool. It is
never necessary for him to waste valuable time by selecting a new
tool for every job. Invaluable time is thus spared during rescue
operations. Moreover, the fireman is relieved of the awkward and
substantial burden of simply carrying a large number of tools. The
significantly lighter and smaller tool load greatly increases the
fireman's agility in carrying out his functions.
For ease of description, the principles of the invention have been
set forth in connection with but a single illustrated embodiment.
It is not my intention that the illustrated embodiment nor the
terminology employed in describing it be limiting inasmuch as
variations in these may be made without departing from the spirit
of the invention. Rather I desire to be restricted only by the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *