HAND TOOL WITH REPLACEABLE TOOL HEAD

Abstract

A modified hand tool for remote location use such as trail maintenance or fighting forest or brush fires. The hand tool can be fitted with replaceable tool heads and is designed so that the tool head can not slide off the handle in either direction.

Claims

1. A hand tool comprising: an elongated handle having a flared proximal end; a connecting head comprising an endplate having a center aperture and a plurality of alignment holes spaced around the center aperture, the connecting head adhesively attached about the flared proximal end of the elongated handle; a removable tool head having a plurality of alignment holes for alignment with respective alignment holes of the endplate; a threaded bolt positioned thru each aligned hole of the tool head and endplate to secure the removable tool head to the connecting head; and, a nut for securing a respective threaded bolt.

2. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein the removable tool head further comprises a plurality of drilled areas in which the wall thickness of the removable head in the drilled areas is less than the thickness of the adjacent area of the removable tool head.

3. A hand tool comprising: an elongated handle having a flared proximal end; a connecting head comprising an endplate having a center aperture and a plurality of alignment holes spaced around the center aperture, the connecting head adhesively attached about the flared proximal end of the elongated handle, and where the adhesive between the proximal end and the connecting head is thicker on opposing sides in the impact direction; a removable tool head having a plurality of alignment holes for alignment with respective alignment holes of the endplate; a threaded bolt positioned thru each aligned hole of the tool head and endplate to secure the removable tool head to the connecting head; and, a nut for securing a respective threaded bolt.

4. A hand tool comprising: an elongated handle having a flared proximal end; a connecting head comprising a center aperture and an endplate having a plurality of alignment holes spaced around the center aperture, the connecting head adhesively attached about the flared proximal end of the elongated handle; the flared proximal end of the elongated handle being sufficiently dimensioned to prevent the connecting head from sliding off the handle at the proximal end; a removable tool head having a plurality of alignment holes for alignment with respective alignment holes of the endplate; a threaded bolt positioned thru each aligned hole of the tool head and endplate to secure the removable tool head to the connecting head; and, where the tool head prevents the connecting head from sliding off the handle at the distal end.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the modified hand tool.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of assemblying the connecting head to the handle.

[0027] FIG. 3 is the position of the connecting head to the handle for epoxy application.

[0028] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the connection of a tool head to the connecting head.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative tool head design.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second alternative tool head design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0032] The figures presented herein are for illustrative purposes and the illustrated parts are not necessarily shown in correct proportion or scale.

[0033] The modified hand tool 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Hand tool 10 has an elongated wood handle 12 that has a narrow distal end 14 and a flared proximal end section 16 which is positioned within connecting head 18.

[0034] Connecting head 18 comprises a tapered shaft portion 20 and an endplate 22 which is welded thereto. Shaft portion 20 is of a generally oval cylindrical configuration. Ribs 24 provide structural support between shaft portion 20 and end plate 22. As best viewed in FIG. 4, connecting head 18 has a central aperture A which is a generally oval cylindrical configuration that is tapered being wider at the end closest to the tool head 28. Tool head 28 includes hole B which reduces the overall weight of tool head 28. Hole B is smaller than the cross sectional area of flared proximal end 16 to prevent tool head 28 from travel along handle 12.

[0035] Because of the dimensions of flared proximal end 16 and tapered shaft portion 20, the narrow distal end 14 of handle 12 is first slid through central aperture A as illustrated in FIG. 2 and connecting head 18 is slid down the length of handle 12 until final position as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0036] Once connecting head 18 is in position about flared proximal end 16 of handle 12, epoxy 60 is thereafter inserted to fill the annular space between handle 12 and shaft portion 20. FIG. 5 illustrates the thickness of the epoxy coating relative to the impact direction of tool head 28. Epoxy thickness is greatest at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions which correspond to the impact directions for tool head 28 when it is used to strike the ground or other object. The thicker epoxy in these regions acts as a shock absorber to lessen the impact to the user as the tool head strikes the ground. In addition, there may or may not be epoxy at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions shown in FIG. 5 and will depend upon the thickness of the handle 12 relative to the diameter of shaft portion 20.

[0037] Endplate 22 further comprises a plurality of holes 30 which are present to align with respective holes 40 present on tool head 28. When the holes of the endplate and the tool head are aligned, threaded bolt 48 can engage each pair of holes and secure tool head 28 to connecting head 18 using a respective lock washer 36 and nut 50.

[0038] Tool head 28 further comprises a plurality of holes 52. These holes are present to reduce the overall weight of tool head 28 without sacrificing structural integrity. The reduced weight makes the improved hand tool 10 easier to handle.

[0039] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate alternative tool head designs 128 and 228 respectively which can be secured to connecting head 18 and function as a replacement to tool head 28. Holes 52′ are of a different pattern than illustrated by holes 52 but function in the same way to reduce tool head weight. Additionally, Hole B′ illustrates an alternative hole design that function similarly to Hole B. B′ is smaller than the cross sectional area of flared proximal end 16 to prevent tool head 128 or 228 from travel along handle 12.