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.

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.

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.