Impact hand tool

Abstract

An impact hand tool comprising an impact head including an impact surface to engage a work piece and an enlarged hand grip including a palm engaging surface to engage at least a major portion of a person's palm interconnected by an elongated handle such that when in use a person grasps the enlarged hand grip positioning the palm engage surface in the palm of the hand and gripping the side of the enlarged hand grip on opposite sides of the elongated handle.

Claims

1. A hand tool comprising: an impact head comprising an elongated body that extends between a first end and a second end, the first end comprising an impact surface configured to engage a work piece; the impact surface has a diameter that extends in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the impact head; and a handle, the handle comprising an elongated member and a gripping member; wherein the elongated member comprises a first end that abuts the impact head, and a second end opposite to the first end of the elongated member, wherein the second end of the elongated member abuts the gripping member; wherein the gripping member is a cylinder that comprises two flat faces that extend in respective planes that are parallel to each other and parallel to the plane of the impact surface; and wherein the cylinder further comprises a peripheral side that extends between the two flat faces; wherein the diameter of each of the flat faces of the gripping member is larger than a width of the elongated member; and wherein the width of the elongated member extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongated member of the handle and perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylinder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art hammer.

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the impact hand tool of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the impact hand tool of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view of the impact hand tool of the present invention gripped by a person.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the impact hand tool of the present invention held by a person with a different hand grip.

(7) Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) As shown in FIG. 1, a typical hammer generally indicated as 10 comprises an impact head generally indicated as 12 including an impact surface 14 securely mounted to an elongated handle 16. In use, a person simply grasps the proximal end portion 18 of the elongated handle 16 by wrapping the person's fingers around the elongated handle 16, which positions the radius above the ulna. As disclosed and described below the present invention is configured to improve the ability of a user to grasp an impact hand tool.

(9) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the impact hand tool generally indicated as 20 comprises an impact head generally indicated as 22 including an impact surface 24 to engage a work piece and an enlarged hand grip generally indicated as 26 to grasp the impact hand tool 20 interconnected by an elongated handle 28.

(10) As depicted, the impact surface 24 may be in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which the enlarged hand grip 26 is disposed.

(11) The enlarged hand grip 26 comprises a substantially circular gripping member 30 including a palm engaging surface 32 and a peripheral side surface 34 extending around the periphery of the substantially circular gripping member 30.

(12) As shown in FIG. 4, when in use a person grasps the enlarged hand grip 26 by positioning the enlarged hand grip 20 in the palm of the user such that a substantial portion of the palm engaging surface 32 engages the palm of the person's hand while the thumb and fingers engage the peripheral side surface 34 of the substantially circular gripping member 30 of the enlarged hand grip 26 on opposite sides of the proximal end portion 36 of the elongated handle 28, which positions the radius alongside the ulna.

(13) FIG. 5 depicts an alternate way in which to grip the impact hand tool 20. In particular, a person grasps the enlarged hand grip 26 by positioning the enlarged hand grip 20 in the palm of the user such that a substantial portion of the palm engaging surface 32 engages the palm of the person's hand while the thumb and index finger engage the peripheral side surface 34 of the substantially circular gripping member 30 of the enlarged hand grip 26 on one side of the proximal end portion 36 of the elongated handle 28 and the other three fingers engage the peripheral side surface 34 of the substantial gripping member 30 of the enlarged hand grip 28 on the opposite side of the proximal end 36 of the elongated handle 28.

(14) When in use, a person grasps the enlarged hand grip 26 by positioning the enlarged hand grip 20 in the palm of the user such that a substantial portion of the palm engaging surface 32 engages the palm of the person's hand while the thumb and fingers engage the peripheral side surface 34 of the substantially circular gripping member 30 of the enlarged hand grip 26 on opposite sides of the proximal end portion 36 of the elongated handle 28 with the thumb resting in recess 38 formed on the surface of the enlarged hand grip 26 adjacent the elongated handle 28.

(15) The hand grip or grasp when using the impact hand tool 20 of the present invention is 90° from the hand grip or grasp of prior art hand tools 10. This provides a greater flex of the wrist during use, a result of positioning the radius alongside the ulna using mine vs radius above the ulna using others.

(16) While the impact head 22 is shown as a hammer head, the impact hand tool may comprise a hatchet, pick or similar impact hand tool.

(17) It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

(18) It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

(19) In describing the invention, certain terms are used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations should be inferred beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different structural and functional elements, apparatuses, devices, compositions, and methods described herein may be used alone or in combination with other structural and functional elements, apparatuses, devices, compositions, systems and methods. It Is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims hereinafter.

(20) Now that the invention has been described,