Hammer Construction

Abstract

A hammer construction including a support member overhanging the hammer poll and defining a plurality of nail body receiving slots of different lengths perpendicular to the face of the poll in an ordered arrangement and a nail head receiving recess at the upper end of each slot. A head supporting projection overlies each recess and defines a hooked tip extending over the next adjacent slot intermediate its ends to assist in retaining a nail in the slot and the hammer head is magnetized to do the same. The hammer head may be provided with a V-shaped flange member to receive nail heads thereunder and remove same. The handle may be equipped with a measuring device or a leveling device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various attempts have been made to facilitate the starting of the driving of nails and other similar fasteners with a hammer. Various attachments have been conceived for attachment to or integral with a standard claw hammer to produce this result, however, such devices have been difficult to use, did not hold the nails properly, or had limited versatility when in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by the invention disclosed herein by providing a plurality of different lengths of nail receiving slots about the head of the hammer substantially parallel to the centerline of the head and magnetic means for retaining the nails within the slots until the driving of the nail is started. Extension means may be provided to increase the effective reach to drive the nail and nail removal means may be provided to remove the nail after driving has started if the proper location of the nail has not been achieved. The slots are of different lengths to provide for different size nails so that the length of extension of each size nail past the head of the hammer will be approximately the same thus facilitating the starting of the nail.

Another embodiment of the invention may be provided as an adapter having the nail receiving slots therein and which can be selectively affixed to the head of a conventional hammer to provide the same nail holding capabilities as the other embodiment.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a face view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along 4--4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an adapter embodying the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 in FIG. 8; and,

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the invention incorporating a measuring device; and,

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the invention incorporating a leveling mechanism therein.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose specific embodiments of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited thereto since it may be embodied in other forms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1-4, a hammer 10 is illustrated including a first embodiment of the invention. Hammer 10 includes a head 11 and handle 12. The head 11 is provided with the usual poll 14, nail removing claws 15 and a main body 16 with eye 18 for receiving the handle 12. A reduced diameter connector 19 is integral with the body 16 at its one end and poll 14 at its other end to position the poll 14 so that its centerline CL-P is substantially perpendicular to the centerline CL-H of handle 12 as is conventionally done. This positions the plane of the nail driving face 20 substantially parallel to the centerline CL-H.

The forward end of head 11 is provided with an arcuate support 17 which is integral with connector 19 and has a thickness such that it presents an overhanging portion 21 projecting out over the peripheral surface 22 of poll 14. It will also be noted that support 17 extends substantially half way around connector 19 and it is understood that the location around the connector 19 at which the support 17 is located may be changed as described herein.

The overhanging portion 21 of support 17 defines a plurality of circumferentially space slots 24 therein which have a generally semi-circular cross-section and extend parallel to the centerline CL-P. While four such slots 24 are shown in the figures it is to be understood that different numbers of slots may be formed as will be explained. Each slot 24 opens onto that surface of portion 21 adjacent the surface 22 of poll 14 with the slots having different lengths. The slots 24 are arranged so that their length increases or decreases as one moves circumferentially about the support 17 as will become apparent. The diameter of slots 24 are such that the main body of a different standard size nail N, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, will just fit into that slot 24 which is a prescribed distance "a" shorter than the length of the nail. Thus, when the standard nail is positioned in its proper slot 24, it will project past the driving face 20 of poll 14 a prescribed distance "b."

A nail head receiving recess 25 is provided at the end of each slot 24 opposite the poll 14 and extends generally transversely of the axis of slot 14. This recess 25 is dimensioned sufficiently to just receive the head of nail N when its main body is within slot 24. A projection 26 extends out over each recess 25 opposite slot 24 and is dimensioned so that its driving surface 28 covers the head of the nail in recess 25. The slots 24 are so located that the projection 26 associated with each recess 25 overlies a portion of the adjacent slot 24 having a length greater than that associated with the particular projection 26. That portion of projection 26 overlying a slot 24 is undercut at 29 as best seen in FIG. 4 to form a continuation of the cross-sectional shape of the particular slot 24. Thus, a hook shaped tip 30 extends partially over the intermediate slots 24 to assist in retaining the particular nail N in its proper slot 24. The tip 30 is so dimensioned to allow the nail to be inserted in slot 24 yet helps retain it therein once it is in place. Because the centrifugal force generated as the hammer 10 is swung tends to force the nail N directly outwardly along a path parallel to the centerline CL-H of the handle 12, the overhanging tip 30 is effective to retain the nail. This is especially true if the slots 24 are located in that area of the poll 14 from the front to the back when moving counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 2.

The entire head 11 is magnetized so that once a nail N has been placed in its proper slot 24, it will be forcibly retained therein. The head 11 may be magnetized by winding a wire therearound and momentarily connecting same to a direct current source such as an automobile battery.

In use, the nail N to be driven is selected and inserted into the proper slot 24 with its head in recess 25. This causes the tip of the nail to project the prescribed distance "b" beyond the face 20 of poll 14. The handle 12 is then grasped and struck one blow in conventional manner to start the driving of the nail. The tip 30 and magnetic forces in head 11 prevent the nail from being ejected from the slot 24 before it is started. The magnetic force in head 11 is not so great as to prevent release of the nail from slot 24 once it is started to allow the completion of the driving of the nail in conventional manner by striking the head of the nail with the face 20 of poll 14. As indicated earlier, the slots 24 may be located anywhere about the poll 14 as long as their ordered arrangement is maintained.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outboard end of the handle 12 is provided with a pair of passages 34 which are perpendicular to each other and to the centerline CL-H of handle 12. One passage 34 is parallel to the centerline CL-P of head 11 and the other is perpendicular thereto. By inserting an appropriately sized nail through one of the passages 34 and holding the hammer 10 adjacent a wall in which it is desirable to locate the studs therein so that the centerline CL-H of handle 12 is approximately parallel to the surface of the wall and the face 20 of poll 14 or the side of head 11 is closely adjacent but not touching the wall, the magnetic forces in head 11 will attract any ferr-magnetic material in the wall (usually a nail in a stud or a metal stud) and cause the head 11 to swing into alignment with the stud to locate same.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, the second embodiment of the invention is embodied in a hammer 100 with a head 101 and a handle 102. The head 101 includes a poll 104 with a driving surface 105 and a peripheral edge 106. The main body 108 of head 101 is larger in diameter than poll 104 and concentrically located with respect thereto to provide an overhanging portion 109 similar to portion 21 of hammer 10.

A plurality of slots 110, recesses 111 and projections 112 are provided on body 108 corresponding in location and use with slots 24, recesses 25 and projections 26 of the hammer 10. Also, the head 101 is magnetized similar to head 11 of hammer 10. Thus, it will be seen that hammer 100 can be used to start nails in the same manner as hammer 10.

Instead of claws as provided on hammer 10, hammer 100 is provided with a nail pulling unit 114. Unit 114 can be used to pull nails that have just been started with the hammer 100 if they are improperly located as will be apparent. Unit 114 is a V-shaped member 115 integral with and extending tangentially back from body 108 toward handle 102. Member 115 has a pair of diverging flanges 116 defining a V-shaped opening 118 therebetween and a nail head receiving cavity 119 under the flanges. Thus, to remove a nail on which driving has just started, the unit 114 is manipulated until the nail head is received within cavity 119 under flanges 116. The hammer 100 is then pulled so that flanges 116 dislodge the nail from the material in which it is started.

The handle 102 is extendable and includes a plurality of interlocking sections 120. Fasteners 121 or locking rings 122 may be provided to hold sections 120 together. Thus, virtually unlimited reach can be provided with hammer 100.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a third embodiment of the invention is incorporated in an adapter 200 for use on a standard hammer H having a poll P carried by a reduced diameter shank S.

Adapter 200 has a cylindrical body 201 with a cylindrical bore 202 therein just large enough to slidably receive the poll P of a standard hammer therein through its upper open end 204 as seen in FIG. 9. The bottom of bore 202 is closed to provide a driving surface 205 to be engaged by the face F of poll P. A pair of diametrically opposed recesses 206 are provided in body 201 along bore 212 in which leaf springs 208 are attached adjacent the upper end of bore 212. The lower ends 209 of springs 208 are resiliently urged out of recesses 206 into bore 202. The length of springs 208 is such that when the poll P is fully seated against surface 205, the ends 209 of the springs will project out over poll P at its juncture with shank S to lock the adapter 200 on hammer H.

Withdrawing pins 210 are connected to the backside of ends 209 and extend out of body 201 through holes 211. This allows pins 210 to be grasped and ends 209 to be withdrawn from bore 202 for removal of adapter 200 from hammer H. Since the major force applied to adapter 200 is encountered when starting and driving a nail as is apparent, the strength of springs 208 need not be great.

The body 201 is provided with a poll 214 forward of the poll P in bore 212. Poll 214 is slightly smaller in diameter than body 201 to form an overhanging portion 215 corresponding to portion 21 in hammer 10.

Slots 216, recesses 218 and projections 219 are provided which correspond in location and use to slots 24, recesses 25 and projections 26 of hammer 10. The body 201 is magnetized similarly to the head 11 of hammer 10 to start nails.

MEASURING DEVICE

FIG. 10 shows hammer 10 with its handle 12 equipped with an inside-outside measuring device 50. The device 50 includes a calibrated member 51 which is slidably received in a longitudinally extending passageway 52 in handle 12. The protruding end of member 51 is provided with an abutment 54, the forward end 55 of which engages the rear end 56 of handle 12. A leaf spring tensioning device 58 is carried in passageway 52 and retained by notches 59. The device 58 resiliently engages one edge of member 51 to frictionally retain it in selected position.

The top edge of member 51 as seen in FIG. 10 is calibrated for outside measuring as indicated by indicia 60. Thus, when the outside of an object is to be measured, the forward edge 55 of abutment 54 is placed on one side of the object and the rear edge 56 of handle 12 is abutted against the opposite side of the object. The correct measurement is then indicated by the indicia 60 in alignment with the rear edge 56 of handle 12.

Because it is frequently desirable to measure the inside distance between objects such as studs in walls, the bottom edge of member 51 is calibrated for inside measuring as indicated by indicia 70. The indicia 70 takes into account the length of handle 12 and head 11 as well as the abutment 54 so that when the forward edge of head 11 is placed against one object and the rear edge 71 of abutment 54 is placed against the other object, the indicia 70 aligned with the rear end 56 of handle 12 will indicate the total distance between the objects.

LEVELING DEVICE

Referring now to FIG. 11, the hammer 10 is shown with its handle 12 equipped with a leveling device 75. Device 75 has a first unit 76 constructed and arranged to indicate when the straight line L joining the outermost point P-1 of poll 14 with the outermost point P-2 of handle 12 is vertical. Device 75 also has a second unit 78 constructed and arranged to indicate when line L is horizontal. Each unit 76 and 78 is carried in a hole 79 through handle 12 and includes a slightly curved fluid tube 80 filled with liquid and having an air bubble therein.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it is to be understood that full use may be made of modifications, substitutions, and equivalents without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

I claim:

1. A hammer construction including a head comprising a poll and nail positioning means for carrying a nail for starting the driving thereof, said nail positioning means including:

a support defining a plurality of nail body receiving slots oriented generally parallel to the centerline of said head and a plurality of nail head receiving recesses, one of said recesses communicating with each of said slots at that end opposite said poll and arranged to position a nail carried therein so that its point extends a prescribed distance beyond the face of said poll; and,

a plurality of projections carried by said support, one of said projections overlying each of said recesses opposite said slot, said head being magnetized to retain a nail in said slots to start same, said slots being ordered in arrangement from shortest to longest and arranged so that said projection associated with each of said slots except said projection of said longest slot extends over the next adjacent slot, that portion of each said projection extending over said adjacent slot being undercut to define a hooked tip on said projection overlying a portion of said adjacent slot to allow a nail to be inserted in said slot yet be partially retained by said hooked tip.

2. An adapter constructed and arranged to fit onto the head of a hammer for carrying a nail during the starting of the driving thereof, said adapter including:

a body defining an open ended bore therein adapted to receive said hammer head and a poll in said body;

a plurality of nail body receiving slots defined in said body and oriented generally parallel to the centerline of said body and a plurality of nail head receiving recesses, one of said recesses communicating with each of said slots at that end opposite said poll and arranged to position a nail carried therein so that its point extends a prescribed distance beyond the face of said poll; and,

a plurality of projections carried by said body, one of said projections overlying each of said recesses opposite said slot, said body being magnetized to retain a nail in said slots to start same, said slots being ordered in arrangement from shortest to longest and arranged so that said projection associated with each of said slots except said projection of said long slot extends over the next adjacent slot, that portion of each said projection extending over said adjacent slot being undercut to define a hooked tip on said projection overlying a portion of said adjacent slot to allow a nail to be inserted in said slot yet be partially retained by said hooked tip.

3. The adapter of claim 2 further including holding means for releasably maintaining said hammer head in said bore.

4. The adapter of claim 3 for mounting on the head of a hammer having a poll and defining an abutment behind said head poll wherein said holding means includes a plurality of resilient members carried by said body within said bore and constructed and arranged to engage said abutment to hold said adapter onto said head; and manually engagable withdrawal members operatively connected to said resilient members for selectively releasing said resilient members from engagement with said abutment.