Axes and methods for manufacturing axes

Abstract

The invention relates to an axe comprising a handle with a first gripping end and an axe head at a second end of the handle, the axe head comprising an edge portion defining a striking direction of the axe, characterized in that the handle further comprises a straight tubular portion comprising a filler and a curved tubular portion which is curved in a striking plane defined by the striking direction of the axe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to axes and methods for manufacturing axes. Background Technology

[0002] In previously known axes, the axe head is connected to the axe handle. In these known solutions, the axe handle either has a straight profile and / or is solid. These known solutions for axe handles focus on stabilizing the user's grip through various configurations of widened portions, protrusions, recesses, and surface materials, rather than on the ergonomics of the user's grip as observed from the user's wrist position.

[0003] The aforementioned known axes are traditionally manufactured by securing the attachments together by inserting separately manufactured straight handles through holes in the axe head. These separately manufactured handles are traditionally produced by cutting wood, casting metal, or injection molding plastic. Known methods of manufacturing axe handles using the aforementioned techniques limit the shape or structure of the handle, thus forcing it to be solid.

[0004] As mentioned above, the disadvantages of axe handles are that straight handles force the user's wrist into an unfavorable position when using the axe. This may reduce the efficiency of axe use or cause unnecessary stress to the user's body when using the axe frequently over long periods. Additionally, the weight of a solid axe handle makes the axe less user-friendly and less portable. Furthermore, manufacturing a solid axe handle requires more raw materials and increases processing time. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of this invention is to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and to provide an axe that exhibits excellent performance during use and is easy and reliable to manufacture. These and other objects are achieved by the axe according to independent claim 1 and by the method according to independent claim 10.

[0006] When the gripping end of the axe handle includes a tubular curved portion of the feature portion according to independent claim 1, the gripping end is in an advantageous position for use, thereby producing improved usability and ergonomics.

[0007] Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. Attached Figure Description

[0008] In the following description, the invention will be illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 A perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0010] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 Rear view of the implementation method;

[0011] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 Side view of section BB;

[0012] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 A side view of the implementation method;

[0013] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 Rear view of section AA;

[0014] Figure 6 It shows Figure 1 A rear view of the embodiment, wherein the curved core remains inside the handle, and

[0015] Figure 7 It shows Figure 6 Side view of section BB;

[0016] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for manufacturing an axe is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Figures 1 to 5 An embodiment of an axe 1 is shown, comprising a handle 10 and an axe head 20. The handle 10 has a first gripping end 10a, and the axe head 20 is located at a second end 10b of the handle 10. The axe head 20 includes an edge portion 21 defining a striking direction of the axe 1. The edge portion 21 and the striking direction also define a striking plane, preferably, the axe 1 is symmetrical with respect to the striking plane. The handle 10 also includes a straight tubular portion 11 and a curved tubular portion 12. The straight tubular portion 11 includes filler, and the curved tubular portion 12 is curved on the striking plane defined by the striking direction of the axe 1. The curved portion of the curved tubular portion 12 is located in the striking plane and preferably faces the striking direction. Thus, the curved tubular portion extends from the straight tubular portion 11 into a curved portion facing the striking direction. The tubular structure of the unfilled curved portion 12 allows the axe to be lighter, and the bend of the curved portion 12 allows the user to grip the handle 10 in a more advantageous wrist position. Another advantage of the curved tubular portion 12 is that the center of gravity of the axe 1 is further shifted along the handle 10 of the axe 1 toward the axe head 20, thereby making the axe more efficient and more maneuverable.

[0018] exist Figures 1 to 5 In this embodiment, the filling material of the straight tubular portion 11 is... Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 The filler component 13, visible in the image, is formed separately and prefabricated. Alternatively, the filler can be applied during the manufacturing process of the handle 10 using the same material as the handle 10, instead of using a separate filler component 13. However, using a separate prefabricated filler component 13 is advantageous for the surface quality of the handle 10 because it allows the tubular portion of the handle 10 to have a substantially constant wall thickness t1. Using a separate filler component 13 also reduces the curing time of the handle 10, as there is no need to wait for the filler to cure. Furthermore, since the filler component 13 remains hidden during normal use, waste materials remaining from other manufacturing processes can be used as raw materials for the filler component 13.

[0019] exist Figures 1 to 5 In one embodiment, the filling component 13 is through Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 The visible positioning element is positioned relative to the axe head 20. In particular, the positioning element is a concave / convex element that limits the relative movement of the filling member 13 and the axe head 20. Figure 5 As can be seen, the filling member 13 has a recess that receives the protrusion of the axe head 20, thereby limiting the relative lateral movement of the member with respect to the striking plane. Accordingly, as Figure 3 and Figure 7 As seen in section BB, the axe head 20 has a recess into which the filling member 13 protrudes, thereby restricting the relative movement of the parts in the striking direction. Other positioning elements, such as tapered elements or other commonly known alignment members, can also be used. When manufacturing the axe 1, these positioning elements allow the sub-parts to be easily positioned accurately, making the process faster, more efficient, and more accurate.

[0020] exist Figures 1 to 5 In this embodiment, the filling component 3 is solid, which is in Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 As can be seen in the image. The advantage of using a solid filler component 13 is that it is easy to manufacture. Alternatively, the filler component 13 can have a hollow structure or contain filler. Such a filler component 14 with a hollow structure or filler can be manufactured, for example, by additive manufacturing. These choices reduce the weight of the filler component 13 and thus the weight of the axe 1.

[0021] exist Figures 1 to 5In one embodiment, the curved tubular portion 12 includes a portion having a substantially constant wall thickness. Alternatively, the wall thickness of all tubular portions of the handle 10 may have a substantially constant wall thickness. The more constant the wall thickness, the more uniformly the handle 10 is cured, thereby improving the quality of the handle 10.

[0022] exist Figures 1 to 5 In this embodiment, the top linear portion 16 of the curved portion 12 at least partially follows a circular path on the striking plane defined by the striking direction of the axe 1. The curvature of the top linear portion 16 allows the wrist to be placed in a natural position when gripping the axe 1, because the wrist is located on the top linear portion 16 when using the axe 1. In this context, the top linear portion refers to the side portion of the axe handle 10 that faces away from the striking direction and is located above when the axe is struck with the edge 21 of the axe head 20 facing downward. In addition, following a circular path makes it easier to accurately design and manufacture the mold and core for the curvature used to manufacture the axe 1. The angle formed by the curvature between the first gripping end 10a of the handle 10 and the straight tubular portion 11 of the handle 10 is preferably between 1° and 15°, more preferably between 5° and 11°, and most preferably 8°.

[0023] exist Figures 1 to 5 In this embodiment, the curved tubular portion 12 is hollow, and the internal region a1 of the hollow curved tubular portion 12 of the handle 10, perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis X1 of the curved tubular portion 12, increases towards the first gripping end 10a of the handle 10. This forms a stop for the handle 10 without increasing the wall thickness of the hollow curved tubular portion 12. When using the axe 1, this stop reduces the likelihood of the handle 10 slipping from the user's hand.

[0024] exist Figures 1 to 5 In this embodiment, the second end 10b of the handle 10 partially surrounds the axe head 20 in the longitudinal direction X2 of the straight tubular portion 11 of the axe 1, such that the second end 10b limits the relative movement of the handle 10 and the axe head 20 in the longitudinal direction X2. In other words, the second end 10b of the handle 10 is provided with an opening, and the axe head 20 protrudes through the opening. This allows the handle 10 to be manufactured by injection molding around the axe head 20, rather than manufacturing the axe head 20 and the handle 10 separately and then joining the axe head 20 and the handle 10 together.

[0025] exist Figures 1 to 5In this embodiment, the curved portion 12 includes a surface portion 30. The surface portion 30 enhances the comfort of the handle 10 and improves the user's grip. Preferably, the surface portion 30 is softer than other portions of the handle 1. The surface portion 30 may also additionally include a surface texture, particularly a surface texture in the form of recesses or protrusions, to improve grip and reduce the likelihood of the user's hand slipping when using the axe 1.

[0026] Preferably, the handle 10 is made of polyamide (PA) reinforced with 30% to 40% glass fiber.

[0027] Preferably, the filler or filler component 13 is made of polyamide (PA) with 30% to 40% glass fiber, similar to the material of the axe handle 10. This is advantageous because it provides increased adhesion between the filler and the handle 10. Other materials may also be used, such as polypropylene, which is available as waste plastic.

[0028] The axe head 20 can be made of, for example, carbon steel. However, other axe head materials, such as stainless steel, can also be used.

[0029] Preferably, the material of the surface portion is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and more particularly, the material of the surface portion is styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene (SEBS).

[0030] The axe 1 can be an axe for one-handed use. Such an axe is generally smaller than an axe for two-handed use. In axes primarily intended for one-handed use, the bend in the handle 10 is particularly advantageous because it is the only point of contact between the user and the axe when using the axe 1.

[0031] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a manufacturing method for manufacturing an axe 1 is shown. This method can be implemented, for example, for manufacturing... Figures 1 to 7 The axe shown is manufactured. For example, this manufacturing step can be performed using an injection molding machine. An embodiment of the method includes the following steps: A, arranging the axe head 20 into a mold; B, arranging a filler into the mold to contact the axe head 20; C, arranging a curved core 15 into the mold to contact the filler; D, introducing molten material into the mold to form a handle 10 by utilizing the molten material around the filler and the curved core 15, and by utilizing the molten material partially around the axe head 20; and E, removing the curved core 15 from the formed handle 10 when the handle 10 has solidified. Through these steps, the improved axe can be easily manufactured with a high-quality and repeatable process.

[0032] The initial steps shown in the flowchart require a prefabricated axe head 20, a mold for the axe 1, suitable filler material or a prefabricated filler component 13, and a curved core 15. These components are then inserted into the mold in the correct positions. Once the components are in place inside the mold, the mold can be filled with molten material to fill the gaps between the mold and the components inside. When the mold is filled, the axe 1 is cured before opening the mold and removing it.

[0033] Preferably, the bent core 15 is removed from the mold by taking the bent core 15 out along a bending path corresponding to the bending portion of the bent core 15.

[0034] Preferably, if a filling component 13 is used, the filling component 13 and the axe head 20 are shaped with compatible positioning elements, thereby improving the accuracy and production time of the manufacturing process and ensuring that the individual components are correctly aligned. The filling component 13 can be locked to the axe head 20 by the positioning elements.

[0035] Alternatively, the bent core 15 and the filler can also have compatible positioning elements, thereby improving the accuracy and production time of the manufacturing process and ensuring that the components are correctly aligned. Thus, the bent core 15 can be locked to the filler by the positioning elements.

[0036] Preferably, the mold and the bent core 15 are sized to together obtain the wall thickness of at least a portion of the bent portion 12. This dimensional setting ensures that the performance of the axe 1 is as expected, and that the curing of the handle 10 is uniform.

[0037] It should be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its scope.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an axe (1), the method comprising: Place the axe head (20) into the mold (A). The method is characterized in that it further includes: The filler (B) is placed into the mold such that the filler contacts the axe head (20). The bent core (15) is arranged (C) into the mold so that the bent core (15) contacts the filler. The molten material is introduced (D) into the mold to form a handle (10) by surrounding the filler and the curved core (15) with the molten material and partially surrounding the axe head (20) with the molten material. Remove the bent core (15) from the formed handle (10) (E).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: The filling component (13) is used as the filling material. The filling component (13) and the axe head (20) are shaped to have compatible positioning elements (14), and The filling component (13) is locked to the axe head using the positioning element (14).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: The bent core (15) and the filler are shaped to have compatible positioning elements (14), and The bent core (15) is locked to the filler to position the bent core (15) in the mold.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: The mold and the curved core (15) are dimensioned in an interactive manner to obtain a constant wall thickness (t1) in at least a portion of the curved tubular portion (12) of the axe (1).

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