WO2002018104A1

WO2002018104A1 - Attachment for a hammer

Info

Publication number: WO2002018104A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001556
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrè NELSON
Original assignee: Nelson Andre
Priority date: 2000-08-29
Filing date: 2001-08-29
Publication date: 2002-03-07
Also published as: AU2001282384A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an attachment (10) for a conventional hammer (12) comprising a head (14) that is fitted to the end of a handle (16). The attachment (10) includes a securing sleeve (18) for securing the attachment (10) to the head (14) of the hammer (12), and a front, striking element (20). The sleeve (18) defines a recess (22) for allowing the attachment (10) to be securely and snugly press fitted onto the head (14). The striking element (20) defines an external striking face (24) and an internal contact face (26) against which the face of the hammer's head (14) abuts, in use.

Description

ATTACHMENT FOR A HAMMER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to an attachment for a hammer, and in particular to a plurality of interchangeable attachments for a hammer, each attachment being adapted for a particular purpose.

Typically, a hammer comprises a heavy metal head mounted to an end of a handle, and is used to, for example, drive in nails and assemble and disassemble machinery or equipment. There are, however, a number of handheld tools, including axes and mallets, which have a similar construction, namely a handle with a head fitted thereto, the head being adapted to perform a specific function. Typically, therefore, users are compelled to purchase a plurality of hammers and hand-held tools in order to fulfill the variety of functions and purposes required by the user.

This is clearly undesirable, in that not only are these tools relatively expensive, but they also tend to take up valuable storage space. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an attachment for a hand-held tool, such as a hammer, comprising a head and a handle, the head being fitted to an end of the handle, the attachment including:

a securing sleeve that defines a mouth for allowing the attachment to be mounted to the head of the hammer; and

a striking element defined at a front end of the securing sleeve, the striking element comprising a striking face for allowing an object to be struck.

Conveniently, the striking element further defines a contact face against which the head of the hammer abuts once the attachment has been fitted to the hammer.

Typically, the head of the hammer is round, in cross-section, and has a flat face, with the sleeve accordingly defining a tube and the contact face being flat, so as to complement the shape and configuration of the head.

Advantageously, the sleeve snugly encloses the head, with the sleeve being secured to the head by means of a friction fit.

Preferably, the sleeve is fitted with adjustable clamping means for clamping the sleeve onto the head. In one version, the clamping means comprises an aperture defined in the sleeve and a spigot member arranged to extend through the aperture for abutting against the head of the hammer so as to clamp the sleeve onto the head. Alternatively, the securing sleeve includes a pair of opposed lips, with the clamping means being arranged to clamp the opposed lips together. Typically, the striking face is substantially flat so as to define a mallet, wherein the face is constructed from a material selected from the group comprising a plastics material, nylon material, rubber and wood.

Alternatively, the striking face is knurled so as to define a meat tenderising hammer.

As a further alternative, the striking face is arranged to receive a striking tip so as to define a brick hammer.

As yet a further alternative, the striking face includes an axe head.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment is an integral unit in which the sleeve and the striking element are formed as a unitary component.

Alternatively, the attachment is a dyad wherein the securing sleeve and the striking element are two separate components, with the striking element being removably fitted to the sleeve.

Advantageously, the striking element includes an expanded head that fits into a complemental recess defined in the sleeve, so as to secure the striking element to the sleeve.

In one version of the invention, the hammer's head defines a recess or channel for receiving a lip extending inwardly from the expanded head. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a hammer and an attachment therefor, according to a first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the attachment shown in

Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the attachment shown in

Figure 1, fitted with securing means according to a first aspect of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of an attachment according to a second aspect of the present invention, and its associated securing means;

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional front view of an attachment according to a third aspect of the present invention, and its associated securing means; and

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of an attachment according to a fourth aspect of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to Figure 1 , an attachment 10 is shown for a conventional hammer 12 comprising a head 14 that is fitted to the end of a handle 16. The attachment 10 includes a securing sleeve 18, which defines a mouth 19, for securing the attachment 10 to the head 14 of the hammer 12, and a front, striking element 20. The sleeve 18 defines a recess or channel 22 for allowing the attachment to be securely and snugly press fitted onto the head 14. The striking element 20 defines a striking face 24 and a contact face 26 against which the head 14 contacts or abuts, in use.

In Figure 1 , the head 14 of the hammer 12 has a round head with a flat face, with the sleeve 18 accordingly defining a tube, and the contact face 26 being flat, so as to complement the particular shape and configuration of the head 14. Clearly, however, the present invention may be applied to any conventional hammer, having a variety of different shapes and configurations, with a complementally shaped attachment being fitted onto the head of the hammer. For example, the head of the hammer could be square, or any other shape, in cross-section, and could either have a flat face, as shown in Figure 1 , or the face could be convex or rounded.

The previous paragraph referred to the internal features of the attachment, defined by the sleeve 18, for allowing the attachment to be compatible with the head of the hammer. Similarly, the external features of the attachment, defined by the striking face 24 of the striking element 20, could vary depending on the attachment's particular application. Thus, for example, the striking face 24 could comprise a flat face, as shown in the figures, in which case the modified hammer takes the form of a mallet, or the face 24 could comprise a brick hammer head, an axe head or even a meat tenderising head. In turn, the material from which the attachment is constructed would depend on its application. Thus, for example, for the mallet version of the invention the attachment would typically be made from a plastics or nylon material, or from rubber or wood. For the axe, brick and meat tenderising versions, however, the attachment would be constructed from a metallic material, such as steel.

The version of the attachment shown in Figures 1 and 2 is particularly advantageous in that the attachment can be quickly and easily removed, with the attachment being held in place by means of a friction fit. It is, however, envisaged that for certain hammers the attachment would need to be fastened or secured to the head of the hammer. Various securing arrangements for clamping the attachment onto the head are shown in Figures 3 to 5.

Referring to Figure 3, it is envisaged that in certain applications it will be necessary to clamp the chosen attachment onto the head of the hammer. As indicated above, the attachment could be constructed from a relatively flexible, resilient material, such as rubber, or even plastics, although to a lesser extent. In these versions, the attachment would be relatively flexible at its mouth 19, so that the attachment can be secured or fastened to the head by a conventional hose clamp 28. Advantageously, the clamp 28 may be adjusted by a screw 30 or wing nut to ensure that the attachment is tightly secured to the head.

Turning now to Figure 4, an aperture may be formed in the sleeve for receiving a screw 32, such as a grub screw. This arrangement enables attachments made from relatively rigid materials, such as steel, copper, brass or aluminium to be secured to the head.

As a further alternative, and referring now to Figure 5, an attachment 34 could be integrally formed with a clamp 36. In this version, the attachment 34 includes a pair of opposed elongate lips 38, 40 that define at least one aperture for receiving fastening means, such as a screw 42.

The attachments described above are all integral units in which the sleeve and the striking element have been formed as a single unit. However, and turning now to Figure 6, an attachment 44 could be a dyad comprising a tubular sleeve 46 and a striking element 48 which is press- or snap-fitted into the sleeve 46. The element 48 includes an expanded head 50 that fits into a complemental recess defined in the sleeve 46, so as to secure the two components 46 and 48 together. As shown in Figure 6, the hammer's head 52 could be modified so that it defines a circular recess or channel 54 for receiving a lip 56 extending internally from the expanded head 50. Clearly, however, this channel 54 is optional. In the event of the channel 54 not being provided, the lip 56 would simply contact the head 52 directly in a friction fit. Alternatively, or in addition, any of the other securing arrangements described above could be used to secure the attachment 44 to the head 52.

As yet a further alternative, the attachment could be a triad in which an intermediate buffer element is disposed between a tubular sleeve and a striking element. The buffer element is press- or snap-fitted into the sleeve, with the striking element being arranged to be secured to the buffer element. The buffer element will typically be constructed from a high impact resistant material, such as carbon steel, and so this version of the invention will be ideally suitable for use with larger size hammers.

Thus, the present invention allows a conventional hammer to be transformed to any one of a plurality of specialised tools, by simply interchanging the attachments.

Claims

1. An attachment for a hand-held tool comprising a head and a handle, the head being fitted to an end of the handle, the attachment including:

a securing sleeve that defines a mouth for allowing the attachment to be mounted to the head of the tool; and

2. An attachment according to claim 1 wherein the striking element further defines a contact face against which the head of the tool abuts once the attachment has been fitted to the tool.

3. An attachment according to claim 2 wherein the head of the tool is round, in cross-section, and has a flat face, with the sleeve accordingly defining a tube and the contact face being flat, so as to complement the shape and configuration of the head.

4. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sleeve snugly encloses the head, with the sleeve being secured to the head by means of a friction fit.

5. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sleeve is fitted with adjustable clamping means for clamping the sleeve onto the head.

6. An attachment according to claim 5 wherein the clamping means comprises an aperture defined in the sleeve and a spigot member arranged to extend through the aperture for abutting against the head of the tool so as to clamp the sleeve onto the head.

7. An attachment according to claim 5 wherein the securing sleeve includes a pair of opposed lips, with the clamping means being arranged to clamp the opposed lips together.

8. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sleeve and the striking element are formed as an integral unit.

9. An attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the attachment is a dyad, with the securing sleeve and the striking element being two separate components, with the striking element being arranged to be fitted to the sleeve.

10. An attachment according to claim 9 wherein the striking element is removably fitted to the sleeve.

11. An attachment according to either one of the preceding claims 9 or 10 wherein the striking element includes an expanded head which fits into a complemental recess defined in the sleeve, so as to secure the striking element to the sleeve.

12. An attachment according to claim 11 wherein the tool's head defines a recess or channel for receiving a lip extending inwardly from the expanded head so as to secure the attachment to the tool.

13. An attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the attachment is a triad, with a buffer element being disposed between the securing sleeve and the striking element.

14. An attachment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the striking face is substantially flat so as to define a mallet, with the face being constructed from a material selected from the group comprising plastics material, nylon material, rubber and wood.

15. An attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the striking face is knurled so as to define a meat tenderising tool.

16. An attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the striking face is arranged to receive a striking tip so as to define a brick hammer.

17. An attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the striking face includes an axe head.

18. An attachment according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the striking face is constructed from a metallic material.