Hammer-head mounting

Abstract

A hammer includes a replaceable head having a threaded shank fixed thereto and mated with the internal thread of a tubular upper end portion of a handle. A nonrotatable key slidably captivated in the tubular portion is spring urged into mating engagement with a keyway formed in the lower end of the shank to keep the head from turning on the handle. Projections fixed to the key and extending outwardly through elongated slots on opposite sides of the tubular portion permit the key to be slid downwardly to overcome the spring so the head may be turned loose from the handle and replaced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hammer of the type having a replaceable head formed of soft metal and, more particularly, relates to the mounting for securing the head to the handle of the hammer so that the head may be replaced from time to time after being worn out.

One hammer of the foregoing character is disclosed in Clay U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,334.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary obejct of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hammer-head mounting of the above general character which is of particularly simple construction enabling the head to be removed quickly and easily for replacement and yet is adapted to hold the head securely against rotation on the handle during use of the hammer.

A more detailed object is to achieve the foregoing through the provision of an interfitting key and keyway coacting between the head and the handle to keep the head from turning relative to the handle.

The invention also resides in the provision of a spring normally urging the key into mating engagement with the keyway and in the novel arrangement whereby the key may be slid out of mating engagement with the keyway to permit the head to be separated from the handle for replacement.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hammer embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing parts of the hammer head mounting in moved positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is embodied in a hammer 10 of the type having a head 11 which is formed of a soft metal such as lead and which is removable from the handle 13 of the hammer. Thus, the head may be replaced after becoming worn from usage.

Herein, the lead portion 14 of the head 11 is molded within an external steel retaining collar 15 so that the collar is captivated within an annular recess 16 (FIG. 3) extending completely around the midsection of the lead portion. Fixed to the collar and extending downwardly therefrom is an externally threaded shank 17 whose lower end portion is telescoped with the handle 13. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the latter comprises an elongated tubular member 19 with a hollow upper end portion including an internal thread 20 which mates with the external thread 21 of the shank. Molded around the lower end portion of the tubular member is a cast-aluminum hand grip 23 having a generally elliptical cross-sectional shape to fit conveniently within the hand of a user.

In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, provision is made of a simplified mounting 24 for use within the hammer 10 to keep the head 11 from turning on the handle 13 during usage while still enabling quick and easy replacement of the head. For these purposes, the hammer includes a nonrotatable key 25 and a keyway 26 coacting between the head and the handle to prevent the head from being turned on the handle. The key normally is urged into mating engagement with the keyway and yet is slidably supported within the hammer to be retracted from the keyway so the head may be separated easily from the handle and replaced as desired.

In the present instance, the keyway 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed as a slot extending diametrically across the lower end of the shank 17 in a direction perpendicular to the length of the head 11. Accordingly, when the key is mated with the keyway, the key extends edgewise generally perpendicular to the length of the head. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, the key 25 is a generally T-shaped plate housed within the upper end portion of the tubular member 19 and extends lengthwise in a generally axial direction within the member. Projections 27 at the upper end of the key extend outwardly through elongated slots 29 formed in opposite sides of the upper end portion of the member. The slots extend lengthwise in a generally axial direction and are somewhat longer than the length of the key. By virtue of this construction, the key is kept from turning within the handle 13 and is limited to slide axially toward the keyway and within the member by engagement with the upper edges 30 of the slots.

Advantageously, means in the form of a coil spring 31 telescoped over the lower end portion 33 of the key 25 urges the latter into mating engagement with the keyway 26 by acting against a stop surface 34. The latter is located within the tubular member 19 to form the bottom of the upper end portion of the member so that the spring normally is partially compressed between the projections 27 and the stop surface. When assembling the key and spring with handle, the spring is fully compressed against the stop so the key may be slid edgewise through one of the slots 29 and into the tubular member.

To hold the head 11 against wobbling on the handle 13 during usage, a nut 35 is threaded onto the shank 17 toward the head prior to mounting the head on the handle. Once the shank is threaded into the upper end portion of the tubular member 19 and the key 25 and keyway 26 are mated to prevent the head from turning on the handle, the nut is turned downwardly on the shank to abut the upper end of the handle (see FIG. 3) and to pull the mating threads of the shank and the handle tightly against each other. Thus, the head is held securely on the handle against turning or wobbling during usage.

Removal of the head 11 from the handle 13 for replacement is accomplished easily and quickly by turning the nut 35 upwardly on the shank toward the head and then by pulling the key 25 downwardly against the spring 31 to retract the upper edge of the key from mating engagement with the keyway 26. Thereafter, the head may be separated from the handle for replacement by simply turning the head loose from the handle.

Thus, it is seen from the foregoing that the hammer head mounting 24 of the present invention is particularly adapted to keep the head 11 of the hammer 10 from turning on the handle 13 during usage while also providing for quick and easy removal of the head so that it may be replaced after being worn out. Advantageously, the foregoing features are achieved through the novel provision of slidable key 25 which normally is urged into mating engagement with the keyway 26 by the spring 31 to hold the head against turning from a fixed angular position relative to the handle.

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. A hammer including a replaceable head having a downwardly projecting shank fixed thereto, a handle having a tubular upper end portion telescoped over the lower end portion of said shank, means normally holding said shank against being axially separated from said tubular portion, a keyway formed in the lower end portion of said shank, a nonrotatable key slidably captivated in said tubular portion and urged into mating engagement with said keyway to keep said head from turning on said handle, a spring urging said key into mating engagement with said keyway, means for sliding said key out of engagement with said keyway to permit said head to be separated from said handle for replacement, said key sliding means including an elongated slot formed through said tubular portion and a projection fixed to and extending outwardly from said key and through said slot to be slid in an axial direction to overcome said spring to retract said key from the keyway and to prevent said key from being turned within said handle.

2. A hammer as defined by claim 1 wherein said spring is a coil spring compressed between said key and the lower end of said tubular portion.

3. A hammer as defined by claim 2 wherein said keyway extends diametrically across the lower end of said shank.

4. A hammer as defined by claim 3 including two of said slots disposed on opposite sides of said tubular portion and two of said projections, one of said projections extending outwardly through one of said slots from one side of said key and the other of projections extending outward through the other slot from the other side of said key.

5. A hammer as defined by claim 4 wherein said holding means includes an externally threaded lower end portion of said shank and an internally threaded section of said tubular portion threadably mated with said lower end portion.

6. A hammer as defined by claim 5 including a nut normally threaded onto said shank and into abutment with the upper end of said tubular portion to keep said head from wobbling on said handle.