Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02242178 1998-07-03
STRIKING TOOLS WITH DEFLECTOR GRIPS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hand tools, and more particularly to "striking
tools" such as pin punches, cold chisels, nail sets, center punches, leather
punches,
drifts, etc., i.e. tools which are designed to be struck at one end, typically
by a
hammer, to transmit the force of the blow at the other end. More specifically,
this
invention relates to a deflector grip for such tools that will protect the
user's hand
from errant blows of the hammer.
There have been attempts to provide striking tools that incorporate a
deflector feature. U.S. Patent No. 4,133,362 discloses a complex protective
guard
means on a striking tool. The structure disclosed is not optimally designed to
actually deflect the blow away from the user's hand. Instead, the structure
disclosed
is directed to absorb the impact of an errant blow.
Some traditional tools have deflector means that lack structural
strength to actually deflect an errant hammer blow. Moreover, those
traditional tools
that had a resilient deflector, lacked a balanced weight design and/or had a
bulky
deflector that undesirably added additional weight to the tool. The result was
a
grossly disproportionate heavier top portion and a lighter bottom portion.
These
designs also suffered in that the combination of the deflector and striking
tool lacked
a truly integrated design. Finally, prior deflector designs restricted a clean
view of
the tool bottom end's alignment with the workpiece.
In the application of striking tools, there is always a need for a good
gripping surface for the user. Finally, there is a cost motivation for
desiring a simple
design that would not incur significant additional manufacturing costs forthe
striking
tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to overcome some of the drawbacks of
traditional striking tools with deflectors.
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It is an object of the invention to provide a deflector design to deflect
the errant blow of a hammer away from the user's hand.
It is another object of the invention to provide a good grip for the user
and which protects the user's hand from errant blows.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a striking
tool having an elongated metal core with a bottom end for contacting a
workpiece
and an upper end for receiving the impact of a hammer or the like, and a
plastic
overlay secured around a substantial portion of the core, with at least a
portion of
the upper end of the core extending beyond the plastic overlay. The plastic
overlay
includes a grip area and a flange. In a first embodiment, the flange comprises
a first
deflector tier surface and a second deflector tier surface positioned below
the first
deflector tier surface. The second tier extends a substantial distance
radially
outward above the grip area so as to protect a user's hand.
Preferably in the first embodiment, there are several angled or curved
ribs spaced radially around the plastic overlay, extending from an outer
periphery
of the first tier, and thence downwardly and outwardly to an outer edge of the
second tier, to aid in deflecting errant hammer blows away from the user's
hand.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the flange comprises a
single deflector tier having a curved ribbed portion adapted onto the
deflecting side
of the tier, extending from the top of the plastic overlay, and thence
downwardly and
outwardly to an outer edge of the deflector tier.
Additional features of the invention will be described or will become
apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in detail, with reference to the
accompanying drawings by way of example only, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a nail set;
Fig. 2 is a first side view of the nail set;
Fig. 3 is a second side view of the nail set, at ninety degrees to Fig.2;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the nail set;
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Fig. 5 is a top view of a reinforcement member;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the reinforcement member;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the core;
Fig. 8 is a side view of the core with the reinforcement member
installed thereon;
Fig. 9 is a view of a top portion of the core with the reinforcement
member shown in cross-section;
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2 with a reinforcement
member;
Fig. 10a is a partial cross-sectional view of Fig. 2, at ninety degrees
thereto;
Fig. 11 is a similar view to Fig. 10, but without the reinforcement
member;
Fig. 11 a is a similar view to Fig. 1 Oa, but without the reinforcement
member;
Fig. 12 is a side view of the nail set showing an alternative rib design;
Fig. 13 is a top view of the nail set shown in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a pin punch;
Fig. 15 is a top view of the pin punch;
Fig. 16 is a partial cross-sectional side view of Fig. 14;
Fig. 17 is a full cross-sectional side view of Fig. 14, at ninety degrees
th a reto;
Fig. 18 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of a cold chisel;
Fig. 19 is a top view of Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is partial cross-sectional view of Fig. 18; and,
Fig. 21 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a pin punch with
the deflecting flange having a single deflector tier;
Fig. 22 is a second side view of Fig. 21, at ninety degrees thereto;
and,
Fig. 23 is a top view of Fig. 21.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Traditionally, pin punches and other striking tools are manufactured
from square or hexagon bar stock to provide a grip and to prevent turning when
striking and resist rolling when placed on a flat surface.
Figs. 1-13 show a nail set 1 according to the first embodiment of the
invention, which has a core 2 having a bottom end 3 for contacting nails or
other
workpieces, a coined area 4 with an aperture 5 through which the plastic can
pass,
advantageously, for better security, and an upper end 6 for receiving the
impact of
a hammer or the like.
In the invention, a center core 2 is manufactured from preferably round
bar stock, or hex stock that has been machined or swaging processed to a size
of
a desired pin punch, cold chisel, nail set, center punch, leather punch,
ordrift. Once
processing is complete the blank is coined to provide a non-round area 4 to
which
can be molded a plastic sleeve 10 with a deflector flange, generally
designated 12.
Preferably, through the aperture of the coined area and the molded plastic, a
hole
15 is pierced for hanging purposes. At time of coining, the head of the core
may or
may not be upset to provide a larger striking surface than the basic diameter
of the
stock material in order to compensate for the use of the smaller diameter
material.
The upsetting operation will be dependent on the application of the tool and
will
provide an equal or better striking surface than found in existing products.
Prior to
the molding of the plastic sleeve, the coined and upset blank is hardened to
conform
to required specifications.
As shown in Figs. 1 - 3, molded around or otherwise suitably secured
to the core is a plastic overlay 10, which includes a grip area 11 and the
protective
deflector flange 12. The grip area may be shaped and/or textured as desired,
in
order to provide a secure grip, the accompanying drawings illustrating several
examples of such shaping and/or texturing. The upper end 6 should extend above
the plane of the top of the plastic overlay, so that the hammer impacts
directly on
the upper end, and not on the plastic, both for greater durability and for
more direct
force transmission. As shown in Figs. 4, 13, 15, and 23 the protective
deflector
flange 12 preferably includes notches or spaces 20 between adjacent ribs 13.
The
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notches depend from the outer edge of the second tier and extend inwardly
towards the axis of the core. The notches advantageously permits visual
alignment of the tool bottom end 3 with the workpiece. As a result, the
deflector
flange design, advantageously, does not impede the basic utility of the
striking
tool.
Materials suitable for such a molding can be selected based on properties
which will provide a suitable gripping surface and will not fracture if
accidentally
struck. Suitable materials may include nylons, PVC, nylon/polypropylene
composites, polyethylene, high impact polystyrene or ABS blends, vinyls, TPR
(thermoplastic rubber) or any other sufficiently strong resin. In the
preferred
embodiment, the material is SANTOPRENET"", which is a thermoplastic rubber
compound.
As shown in Figs. 1 - 4, in the first embodiment, the deflector 12 comprises
of two tiers. The two-tier deflector comprises a first deflector tier,
generally
designated 30, and a second deflector tier positioned below the first tier,
generally
designated 32. Both the first and second deflector tiers extend radially
outward.
The second deflector tier, however, extends out further than the first tier
and
extends a substantial distance outward so as to sufficiently protect a user's
hand
from an errant blow. The protective deflector flange preferably is supported,
strengthened and protected against direct impact by several angled ribs 13
(there
being four such ribs in a first preferred embodiment). The ribs are shaped so
as
to encourage the deflection of an errant hammer away from the user's hands. As
shown in Figs. 3, 12 and 14, the ribs, in the first embodiment, depend from
some
portion of the first tier and then extend downwardly and outwardly in a
gradual
sloping fashion. Advantageously, an errant blow will be naturally encouraged
to
deflect away from the tool and the user's hand as a result of the shape of the
ribs.
Additionally, the ribs, advantageously provide structural support for the
flange to
percent undesirable deflection of the flange when an errant blow strikes
thereon.
The ribs, therefore, allow for a reduction of the thickness traditionally
required in
deflectors. As a result, the weight of the flange is, advantageously, reduced.
The
two-tier structure for the deflector flange advantageously allows for an
errant blow
of a hammer to deflect away from the user's hand at two different levels.
Since
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most errant blows slightly miss the striking head, the first deflector tier,
which is
nearest to the striking head of the two deflector tiers, usually receives the
first
impact of an errant blow. In this situation, when the errant blow is weak, the
blow
is deflected away sufficiently from the tool once the hammer strikes the first
tier.
The upper periphery of the first tier has, preferably, a bevelled edge 31 so
as to
further encourage an errant blow to deflect away from the tool and the user's
hand.
In circumstances when the errant blow is strong, the blow after striking the
first
deflector tier may then be deflected onto the second deflector tier. The
second tier
then in turn deflects the blow away from the tool once the hammer strikes the
second tier or the ribs disposed thereon. Advantageously, the original amount
of
force of the errant blow would have been dampened by the deflection on the
first tier
before striking the second tier.
As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, preferably with heavy duty tools, a
reinforcement member 17 is introduced onto the core to add strength to the
deflector collar. The reinforcement member rests on the upper shoulders of the
coined area as best shown in Fig. 9. The reinforcement member includes arms 18
that outwardly radially extend from a central shaft. Various shapes forthe
arms may
be utilized; however, the sloped arms shown in Figs. 5-9 encourage,
advantageously, the deflection of an errant blow of a hammer away from the
user's
hands and interact well with the deflector flange designs. The shaft has an
opening
19 extending therethrough. The opening is sized so as to accommodate the top
diameter of the core, but is small enough to prevent the reinforcement member
from
sliding past the upper shoulder of the core. Advantageously, the reinforcement
member provides additional strength to the deflector to assist the plastic
sleeve in
resisting deflection during an impact by a hammer. Moreover, the preferable
two-
piece design of the reinforcement member and the core facilitates simple
manufacturing of the striking tool. As described earlier, the core may be
manufactured from round bar stock, whereas the reinforcement member may be
separately made from either hard plastic or metal.
Once complete, the reinforced core has directly molded to it the
plastic sleeve and deflector flange described above which provides a non-
rotating
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gripping surface with a square, hexagon or finger grip profile, for example,
as well
as a protective deflector flange intended to prevent injury should a glancing
blow be
made to the edge of the head.
Figs. 14-17 show a pin punch 20, which is essentially very similar to
the nail set of Figs. 1-13.
Figs. 18-20 show a cold chisel 30, which again is similar to the nail set
of Figs. 1-13. The deflector flange in this embodiment of the invention has
ribs that
begin at the upper most outer periphery of the first tier.
Figs. 12-13 show an alternative embodiment to the flange design.
Figs. 21-23 show a flange having a single deflector tier. In this second
embodiment of the invention, the flange comprises a single deflector tier
having a
curved ribbed portion adapted onto the deflecting side of the tier, extending
from the
top of the plastic overlay, and thence downward and outwardly to an outer edge
of
the deflector tier. In this embodiment of the invention, many of the
advantages
described with respect to the first embodiment equally apply.
The invention provides striking tools which are substantially lighter
than conventional striking tools, by virtue of a smaller diameter core being
used, and
which have a more positive and comfortable grip than traditionally found in
the
marketplace. The deflector flange also provides greater safety for the worker
and
reduces the likelihood of hand injuries.
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