Abstract
The present invention is a manual nailing tool configured to provide a user with improved functional advantages over prior art hammers. It manually drives a substantial or predetermined amount of a fastener, such as an 8.89 cm (3 inch) common nail, into a work piece with one hand using one striking action. The unique configuration of the integrally formed nail-starter and angled strike face closely combines the nail-starter function with a full force, sustained first strike on the nail head. The hammer is also configured with a unique head shape and strike face to improve striking power and facilitate a stronger and more direct impact force on the nail head.
Claims
1. A hammer (36) comprising: a handle (38), the handle having an upper handle portion (40), and a lower handle portion (42): and a head (37) disposed on the upper handle portion (40); the head (37) having a centrally configured head body (62) that is integrally formed with the upper handle portion, wherein the head (37) is comprised of a curved and tapering nail-starter strike face neck (46) of a predetermined length, wherein the nail-starter strike face neck has a nail-starter strike face (48), configured at a predetermined angle and the lower portion of the nail-starter strike face neck (46) further extends as a horizontal cylinder segment (50), wherein is configured a groove and magnet (54) to arrange and affix a nail thereon, a semi-circular nail head opening (58) comprising a shoulder and configured to receive the nail head in a position between the shoulder and the nail-starter strike face (48), and wherein the horizontal cylinder segment (50) includes a convex strike face (52) in both horizontal and vertical directions, characterized in that a chamfer (53) is disposed along the edges of the strike face (52); and wherein the adjacent end of the hammer (36) head (37) is configured with a bell neck (66) and bell (68), wherein the bell (68) includes a convex bell strike surface (70) in both horizontal and vertical directions, characterized in that a chamfer (71) is disposed along the edges of the strike face; and a bifurcated claw nail remover (64) disposed on top of the head (37).
2. The hammer (36) of claim 1, wherein the nail-starter strike face neck (46) tapers at a reducing diameter as it extends away from a center of the head body (62) and towards the nail-starter strike face (48).
3. The hammer (36) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nail-starter strike face is generally round shaped comprising a predetermined diameter and having the head disposed directly behind said nail-starter strike face.
4. The hammer (36) of claim 1, wherein the head (37) is laterally offset a predetermined distance (H) relative to a vertical center line (Y) of the lower handle portion (42).
5. The hammer (36) of claim 4, wherein the upper handle portion (40) is generally curved as it transverses upward to attach with a bottom center of the head (37).
6. The hammer (36) of claim 1, wherein the upper handle portion (40) comprises an I-shape cross-sectional profile having front and rear flanges, and a center web.
7. The hammer (36) of claim 1, wherein the nail-starter strike face is angled preferably between 75 and 85 degrees relative to a horizontal plane of the nail-starter strike face neck.
8. The hammer (36) of claim 1, wherein the handle (38) comprises a metal shaft and disposed with a covering of a different material on top of the metal shaft, and wherein the covering comprises at least one of indents, ridges and textures on a front and a rear surface of the covering.
9. The hammer (36) of claim 1, wherein the groove is a v-shaped nail shaft groove (60) comprising nail shaft support walls wherein the nail shaft support walls are angled to form a 60 degree vertical wedge.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(2) FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(3) FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(4) FIG. 4 is a left hand side elevational view of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(5) FIG. 5 is a right hand side elevational view of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(6) FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the integrally formed hammer head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(7) FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the integrally formed hammer head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(8) FIG. 8 is a partial top plan view of the nail-starter strike face and nail groove platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(9) FIG. 9 is a partial front view of the nail-starter strike face and nail groove platform in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(10) FIG. 10 is a partial left hand side elevational view of the integrally formed hammer illustrating different cross-sections of the nail groove platform and nail-starter strike face therethrough in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(11) FIG. 10A is a partial left hand side elevational view of the integrally formed hammer illustrating nail-starter strike face angle;
(12) FIG. 11 is a sectional view thereof along the line A-A of FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(13) FIG. 12 is a sectional view thereof along the line B-B of FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(14) FIG. 13 is a sectional view thereof along the line C-C of FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(15) FIG. 14 is a sectional view thereof along the line D-D of FIG. 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(16) FIG. 15 is a partial left hand side sectional view of the nail-starter strike face and horizontal cylinder segment with a nail disposed therein to demonstrate the use of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(17) FIG. 16 is a partial left hand side sectional view of the nail-starter strike face and horizontal cylinder segment with a nail head against the nail-starter strike face to demonstrate the use of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(18) FIG. 17 is a left hand side elevational view to illustrate strike face angles and center axis weight distribution of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(19) FIG. 18 is a partial left hand side view with nail head engaged by hammer claw to demonstrate the use of a secondary leverage point of the integrally formed hammer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
(20) FIG. 18A is a top plan view of another embodiment with reduced bifurcated claws configured so as to primarily utilize an alternate leverage point;
(21) FIG. 19 is a left hand side view of prior art that shows a typical configuration of mass and the positioning of nail and nail starter during the striking action;
(22) FIG. 20 is a left hand side view that shows a preferred configuration of mass and the positioning of nail and nail starter strike face during the striking action;
FIGURE REFERENCE NUMERALS
(23) 36hammer 37head 38handle 40upper handle portion 42lower handle portion 43butt-end portion 46nail-starter strike face neck 48nail-starter strike face 50horizontal cylinder segment 52horizontal cylinder segment strike-face 53horizontal cylinder segment chamfer 54magnet 56magnet opening 58semi-circular nail head opening 60v-shaped nail shaft groove 62head body 64claw nail remover 66bell neck 68bell 70bell strike face 71bell chamfer 72lower handle covering 74front finger grip area 76rear finger grip area 78nail
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(24) One embodiment of the present invention consists of a curved head 37 disposed on the upper handle portion 40 of a curved handle 38. The curved nail-starter strike face neck 46 tapers so as to be reducing in diameter as it extends away from the center weight area of the head 37 and towards the nail-starter strike face 48. Said curved neck then extends further as a horizontal cylinder segment 50. In this segment a v-shaped nail shaft groove 60 with a recessed magnet 54 retains the nail while it is transported to the work piece surface in a typical manual nailing action.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(25) FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a hammer 36 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The hammer 36 includes a handle 38 and a head 37. The handle 38 includes a lower portion 42 and an upper portion 40. The head 37 is disposed on the upper portion 40 of the handle 38. The head 37 includes two striking surfaces 48 and 52 disposed at one end of the nail-starter strike face neck 46 and a bell neck 66 and bell strike face 70 disposed on the adjacent end.
(26) The hammer 36 includes the overall length dimension (OAL). In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the overall length dimension (OAL) of the hammer 36 is measured along (or relative to) a central vertical axis A-A of the hammer 36. The (OAL) of one embodiment of the present invention as measured along the axis A-A is preferably 38-45 cm (15-18 inches).
(27) In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the head 37 is configured with a curved nail-starter strike face neck 46 tapering so as to be reducing in diameter as it extends away from the center weight area of the head 37 and towards the nail-starter strike face 48. The head 37 is generally curved whereby the horizontal center axis aligns with a typical arcing swing plane of the user when driving a nail into a work piece. The nail-starter strike face 48 diameter, as shown in FIG. 14 with a sectional view taken along the line D-D of FIG. 10, to head body 62 diameter is configured with a ratio of 1:2.2.
(28) In one embodiment, the head 37 of the hammer 36 is integrally formed with the upper handle portion 40, as shown in FIGS. 1-5. The integrally formed handle 38 is made of metal, a composite material, or a synthetic material. In another embodiment, the head 37 and the handle 38 are formed separately and then connected to one another. Any suitable manner of connecting the head 37 and handle 38 may be employed. In this embodiment, the handle 38 shaft can be made from a different material than the head 37, such as wood, aluminum, a plastic material, a fiberglass material, or other suitable material.
(29) As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the hammer 36 includes a manually engageable lower handle covering 72. In one embodiment, the lower handle covering 72 is simply the outer surface of the handle material (e.g., wood or metal). In another embodiment, the manually engageable lower handle covering 72 of the hammer 36 is molded onto an inner or core portion of the lower handle portion 40. In one embodiment, the lower handle covering 72 is made of a rubber based material, a plastic based material or other suitable material. Optionally, the lower handle covering 72 can be ergonomically shaped. For example, a plurality of ridges spaced longitudinally along the front finger grip area 74 and the rear finger grip area 76. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the lower handle covering 72 ergonomically includes an extended toe on the front facing edge of a butt-end portion 43.
(30) The upper handle portion 40 is configured likewise to provide durability and/or strength. It is configured with an I-shape cross sectional profile to provide a beneficial distribution of mass. The I-shape cross-sectional profile includes front and rear flanges and connecting web. Front flange preferably provides a broad surface adapted to reduce damage to handle 38 and/or a target caused by striking contact there-between, such as due to an overstrike. Web preferably resists bending and provides strength for handle 38 to allow generation and delivery of substantial striking forces by striking surface.
(31) Yet another embodiment would configure the head body 62 in an increased aerodynamic, non-spherical shape, whereby the generally curving and tapered nail-starter strike face neck 46 transverses the bilateral axis of the head 37 and upper handle portion 40 and thereby extends as the bell neck of the adjacent strike face bell.
(32) As shown in the partial views of FIGS. 8-10, a grooved horizontal cylinder segment 50 extends from the lower portion of the nail-starter strike face neck 46. FIG. 8 shows a magnet 54 is located in the opening 56 of the v-shaped nail shaft groove 60. The magnet opening is 5 mm ( 3/16 in.) in diameter and with the perimeter disposed 2 mm ( 1/16 in.) from the front wall of the semi-circular nail head opening 58. The groove 60 is constructed and arranged to receive and retain a nail 78, (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 10), therein when the nail 78 is disposed in an initial nail driving position to facilitate the start of a nail driving operation.
(33) Also shown in FIGS. 8-10, is a semi-circular nail head opening 58 disposed between the v-groove 60 and the nail-starter strike face 48. Said opening is constructed and arranged to provide open space for the head of a nail 78. Thus, the v-groove 60 and the magnet 54, combined with the force and momentum of the hammer 36, act together to position and to initially connect the nail 78 with a work piece. The nail-starter strike face 48 is constructed and arranged at an angle of 81 degrees in relation to the v-groove longitudinal axis. The width of the nail head opening 58 as measured along the longitudinal center axis of the neck is 4 mm ( in.).
(34) FIG. 10 shows a partial left hand side elevational view of the nail-starter strike face neck 46 and horizontal cylinder segment 50 of the hammer 36 illustrating different cross-sections being taken therethrough in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
(35) FIG. 10A shows a partial left hand side elevational view of the nail-starter strike face neck 46 and horizontal cylinder segment 50 of the hammer 36 whereby B represents a nail-starter strike face 48 angle of 81 degrees relative to the horizontal cylinder segment center line marked as A-A.
(36) FIGS. 11-14 show progressive cross-sectional views of the horizontal cylinder segment 50 and the v-shaped nail shaft groove 60 of the hammer 36 taken along various sections of FIG. 10 (eg., at lines A-A through D-D) moving from the horizontal cylinder segment strike-face 52 of the head 37 to the nail-starter strike face 48 (as shown in FIG. 10) of the head 37 of the hammer 36.
(37) FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the head 37 of the integrally formed hammer 36 taken along the line A-A of FIG. 10. It shows the leading edge of the horizontal cylinder segment strike-face 52 and the angles of the v-shaped nail shaft groove 60 walls. In this diagram B represents 60 degrees.
(38) FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the head 37 of the integrally formed hammer 36 taken along the line B-B of FIG. 10. The opening 56 for receiving the magnet 54 is shown in the cross-sectional view.
(39) FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the head 37 of the integrally formed hammer 36 taken along the line C-C of FIG. 10. The semi-circular nail head opening 58 for receiving the nail head is shown in the cross-sectional view. The hatched area indicates a cross-sectional view of the horizontal cylinder segment as it forms the perimeter of the nail head opening.
(40) FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the head 37 of the integrally formed hammer 36 taken at an 81 degree angle in relation to the horizontal axis of the v-shaped nail shaft groove 60 along the line D-D of FIG. 10. The leading edge of the nail-starter strike face 48 in relation to the hatched area indicating the connection between nail-starter strike face neck 46 and the horizontal cylinder segment 50.
(41) FIG. 15 shows how the nail starter and nail starter strike face function together. Initial contact with the work piece surface is made by the nail point. This contact between the nail point and the inert mass of the work piece slows the nail movement. The nail point is therein connected to, and in that manner, part of the work piece. Kinetic energy from said contact is minimal and dissipates quickly. The hammer 36 continues toward the work piece so as to cause the nail shaft to transverse laterally along the v-groove 60 toward the nail-starter strike face 48. Hence the nail head is thereby impacted by the nail-starter strike face 48. This impact against the lower region of the nail head applies force against the upper portion of the nail shaft, thereby causing it to move out from the v-groove 60 and disconnect from the magnetic field of the magnet 54. Hence, shifting of the nail head on the nail-starter strike face 48, as shown in FIG. 16, aligns the nail shaft to be perpendicular to the nail-starter strike face. Said alignment thereby allows for the direct transference of kinetic energy from the weight and momentum of the head and all other connected mass to drive the nail shaft, which is already connected to, and therefore part of, the work piece, deeper into the work piece. Said transference of energy becomes more like a traditional hammer strike on a nail head. The magnet 54 and the nail shaft support 60 perform the task of a nail starter and the nail-starter strike face 48 acts as the main strike force applied to the nail head and shaft.
(42) FIG. 17 shows a left profile view of the integrally formed hammer 36 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In non-limiting examples, the weight of the integrally formed head 37 is nominally between 510 and 907 grams (18 and 32 ounces); and the overall length dimension (OAL) of the integrally formed hammer 36 is between 38 and 45 cm (15 and 18 inches). In one embodiment, the handle 38 and the head 37 of the hammer 36 are made from steel material.
(43) FIG. 17 also shows the head 37 of this embodiment is disposed back from the center of balance, indicated by the bisecting broken line of Y-Y. Said position of the head 37 behind the center axis allows for a greater draw-back distance between nail point and strike surface when the hammer 36 is used in a typical arcing motion. In this configuration the upper handle portion 40 curves generally back from the axis of center balance, defined by the vertical broken line marked Y-Y until the leading edge of the upper handle portion 40 vertically aligns with the rear edge of the lower handle portion 42. This alignment is indicated in by the broken line marked H-H.
(44) Also shown in FIG. 17, indicated by the broken line marked U, is the distance between the nail-starter strike face 48 and the bell strike face 70. For the purpose of OAL, measurement of said U shall represent head 37 length. The ratio of U to handle length in this embodiment of the present invention is 1:2.25
(45) FIG. 17 further indicates the angles of head 37 strike faces in relation to the handle 38 center of balance as defined by the vertical broken line marked Y-Y. The bell strike face 70 angle, indicated as S, is configured at 81 degrees relative to the broken vertical line marked Y-Y. The horizontal cylinder segment strike-face 52 angle, indicated as R, is configured at 99 degrees relative to the broken vertical line marked Y-Y.
(46) FIG. 18 shows a bifurcated claw nail remover 64 centrally located on top of the head body 62 of one embodiment provides and leverage point, indicated with an arrow as J in conventional use pulling nails. During a nail pulling operation the top edge of the nail-starter strike face neck 46 provides for a second leverage point, shown in FIG. 18 as point K, for use with said bifurcated claw. This function could be enhanced by reducing the overall size of the bifurcated claw as shown in FIG. 18A.
(47) FIG. 19 shows the typical prior art configuration of a nail starting hammer. Illustrated is the position of greatest nail impact force. A minimal amount of weight and mass is directed to a portion of the nail head with a glancing blow before it loses contact with the strike face.
(48) FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of the present invention to illustrate the configuration of mass and positioning of nail starter strike face in relation to nail head. Illustrated is the position of greatest nail impact force. A substantial amount of weight and mass is directed to the entire nail head and sustains contact for the complete action of driving the nail substantially into the work piece.
(49) While these descriptions contain many specificities, they should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of one (or several) embodiment(s) thereof. Many other variations are possible.
(50) Other Advantages of the Invention
(51) Nail insertion depth is determined by the distance the horizontal cylinder segment 50 extends outward from the nail-starter strike face 48. In some instances it is beneficial to predetermine the depth to which nails are implanted into the work piece. Hence the horizontal cylinder segment 50 may be configured for alternate nail starter depths.
(52) Another advantage of this embodiment of the present invention is the reduction of torque and vibration effects experienced by the user. Common hammer handles have a tendency to transfer torque (the twisting across the longitudinal axis of the handle) and kinetic energy to a user's hand when a work piece is impacted. In order to maintain force direction and tool positioning, the user grips the handle more firmly while impacting the work piece. This embodiment of the present invention allows the user to do the opposite. Once the vertical descent motion has been initiated the user can loosen their grip on the handle 38 and allow the head 37 to implant the nail while only minimally maintaining contact with the handle 38 so as to guide it. The proximity of nail-starter strike face 48 to nail head thereby transfers less vibration and spread of kinetic energy.
(53) Summation
(54) Among various other advantages this tested embodiment of the present invention surpasses many objectives of prior art nailing hammer and nail-starter hammers. It places a nail deeper into a work piece with the first strike. It also places the nail more consistently and reliably with fewer strikes, and is capable of placing the nail to a predetermined depth with one strike.
