Hammer with compact hammer head

Abstract

A hammer with a compact head body that requires only less clearance in operation compared to common hammers. The hammer does not include an auxiliary tool, such as a skid or wedge, located at the rear of the hammer. Under the condition of omitting the auxiliary tools, the hammer is provided with more gaps and is greatly pulled back before a user strikes an object. Furthermore, the weight of the hammer head can be substantially the same as that of a common hammer head, such as seven ounces, so that the striking force of the hammer is not affected by the compact nature of the hammer. The centerline of the hammerhead base may be offset relative to the centerline of the hammer handle, which also allows the rear portion of the hammerhead to have less mass, allowing greater pullback prior to striking an object.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to hammers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hammer having a compact hammer head suitable for use in low clearance areas. Background Art

[0002] Hammers are commonly used in the automotive industry and in other applications to strike or hit metal or other objects. A hammer includes a hammer head connected to a handle that a user grips while striking another object in a swinging motion. Typically, the user removes the hammer from the object being struck, perhaps by pulling the hammer back, and striking the object from the pulled back position.

[0003] Many hammer applications require the use of the hammer in low clearance areas, such as under the body panels or fenders of a vehicle. In such situations, it can be difficult for the user to obtain the necessary clearance to pull the hammer back and strike the desired object with sufficient force. For example, a common hammer includes a pry or wedge that is used to remove a workpiece or clamp an object on the end opposite the striking end. This pry or wedge is located on the rear side of the hammer head, which extends the length of the hammer head beyond that required to simply strike the object or workpiece. Extending the length of the hammer head requires additional clearance for the hammer head, which is difficult to obtain in low clearance areas. Summary of the invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention broadly include a hammer with a compact hammer head that requires less clearance than conventional hammers. A hammer of one embodiment of the present invention omits any protrusions or additional tools, such as pry blocks or wedges, located on the rear side of the hammer head while maintaining substantially the same weight as a conventional hammer, such as seven ounces. In addition, the centerline of the hammer head can be axially offset relative to the centerline of the hammer handle, thereby allowing less mass on the rear of the hammer head and allowing for greater pullback before striking an object for more effective force.

[0005] Another embodiment of the present invention broadly includes a tool including a head having a base and a face extending from the base. When the tool is used, the face is adapted to strike an object, and the head has a head centerline extending through a center portion of the base. The tool also includes a handle having a handle centerline extending through a handle center axis, wherein the head centerline and the handle centerline are offset relative to each other.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a tool including a head having a base and a face extending from the base. When the tool is used, the face is adapted to strike an object, and the head has a rear portion opposite the face portion, the rear portion having no auxiliary tool thereon. The tool also includes a handle connected to the head at the base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] To facilitate understanding of the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, and by examining the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, the construction and operation of the invention and its numerous advantages will be readily understood and appreciated.

[0008] Figure 1 is a side view of a hammer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 is a side perspective view of a hammer head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 3 is another side perspective view of a hammer head according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] While the invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, which are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, including preferred embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure should be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments shown.

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention broadly include hammers that require less swing or arc clearance than conventional hammers by eliminating additional auxiliary tools disposed on the rear side of the hammer head while maintaining substantially the same weight as conventional hammers, e.g., seven ounces. The hammer head and hammer handle may include an offset centerline so that the hammer head includes less mass at the rear, thereby enabling the hammer head to be pulled back more before striking an object.

[0013] refer to Figure 1 , the tool 100 may include a handle 105 having a grip 110 at a lower end of the handle 105, and a neck 115 at an upper end of the handle 105 extending from the grip 110 to a tapered region 120. The tool 100 may also include a head 125, such as a hammer head, connected to the handle 105 at the upper end of the handle 105. The head 125 may include a rear portion 130 opposite a face 135, wherein the face 135 is adapted to strike an object when the user uses and swings the tool 100.

[0014] The handle 110 can be any structure that allows the tool 100 to be better held. For example, the handle 110 can be knurled or otherwise textured, or can include a separate structure, such as a rubber tube that fits over the handle 105. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, any other method that can improve the user's grip can be implemented at the handle 110. In addition, the tool 100 does not need to include any structure that can improve the user's grip at the handle 110, but can make the handle 110 have the same structure and / or texture as the rest of the handle 105.

[0015] The tapered region 120 can be tapered, for example, the portion near the neck can be thicker and the portion near the head 125 can be thinner. The tapered region 120 can include a smaller portion of the head 125 that extends beyond the tail portion of the handle 105, if there is any portion. For example, the tapered region 120 is tapered so that when connected, the rear portion 130 of the head 125 extends just beyond the tail portion of the handle 105, if there is any. By providing a structure in which the rear portion 130 extends more forward, less of the mass of the head 125 is disposed at the rear of the handle 105, thereby requiring more clearance during the pull-back process of using the tool 100.

[0016] The head 125 may include a base 140 that forms the structural foundation of the head 125. The base 140 may be connected to the face 135 by a transition region 145. For example, the width of the base 140 may be less than the width of the face 135, and the transition region 145 may bend or otherwise extend from the base 140 toward the end of the face 135 to connect the face 135 and the base 140. In some embodiments, the base 140 is centered relative to the face 135 to evenly distribute the weight of the base 140.

[0017] The rear portion 130 of the head 125 may be a flat, rounded, or angled structure. The rear portion 130 may not have any auxiliary tools, such as pry blocks or wedges, that may be found in ordinary tools to avoid the presence of foreign objects at the rear portion 130 of the tool 100, which requires additional clearance during use. For example, during use of the tool 100, the user may pull the tool 100 back farther (compared to ordinary hammers or tools) because the tool 100 does not have auxiliary tools (such as pry blocks or wedges) located at the rear portion 130 of the tool 100. Despite the lack of auxiliary tools, the weight of the tool 100 can still be substantially the same as a conventional hammer head, such as seven ounces, so that the striking force of the tool 100 is not limited, even though the auxiliary tools of the head 125 are omitted. It should be clear that it is common to use a seven-ounce hammer head, but it is not common to use a seven-ounce head without auxiliary tools such as pry blocks and wedges, which is invented by the inventor of the present invention.

[0018] The handle 105 can have a handle centerline 150, and the head 125 can have a head centerline 155. The handle centerline 150 can represent the center of the handle 105 and can extend along the central axis of the handle 105, and the head centerline 155 can extend through the center of the base 140 of the head 125. As shown, the handle centerline 150 and the base centerline 155 can be axially offset relative to each other. In this case, the position of the rear portion 130 of the head 125 can be more forward than in the case without the centerline offset property. Arranging the head 125 and the handle 105 in this manner requires less clearance to perform the striking operation of the tool 100 because the head 125 is moved more forward on the handle 105 and the portion of the head 125 extending beyond the rear edge of the handle 105 is smaller.

[0019] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the head 125 includes an opening 160 for receiving an end of the handle 105, for example, an end extending from the tapered region 120. The handle 105 can be connected to the head 125 at the opening 160, or connected in any manner to any other area of ​​the head 125. For example, the handle 105 can be connected to the head 125 by adhesive, fasteners, interference fit, or the handle 105 can be integrally formed with the head 125.

[0020] The surface of the face 135 can be flat or semi-flat, such as round. Moreover, the face 135 can be disc-shaped or round. However, in some embodiments, the face 135 can be rectangular, square, triangular or oval. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, the face 135 can be any other shape.

[0021] As used herein, the term "connected" and its functional equivalents are not intended to be limited to direct mechanical coupling of two or more components. Rather, the term "connected" and its functional equivalents mean a direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, workpieces, and / or environmental materials. In some embodiments, "connected" also means that one object is integrated with another object.

[0022] The above description and accompanying drawings are only examples and do not limit the present invention. Although specific embodiments are shown and / or described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit and breadth of the present application. From an appropriate perspective, the actual scope of protection of the present invention is defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A tool comprising: a head having a base, a face, and a transition region extending between the base and the head, wherein the face is adapted to strike an object when the tool is in use, and the head includes a head centerline extending through a center of the base; and a handle connected to the base and having a handle centerline extending longitudinally along a central axis of the handle, Wherein, the head centerline is axially offset relative to the handle centerline in a direction toward the face and extends longitudinally through at least a portion of the handle.

2. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The head includes a rear portion without auxiliary tools.

3. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The head has a weight of approximately seven ounces.

4. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The handle includes a neck and a tapered region extending from the neck proximate the head.

5. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The face is flat.

6. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The face portion is circular.

7. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The face is semi-flat.

8. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The face has a face width, and the base has a base width that is smaller than the face width.

9. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The head includes a rear portion opposite the base, and wherein the rear portion is one of rounded, angled, and flat.

10. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The handle includes a grip.

11. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that The transition region is curved.

12. A hammer, comprising: a head having a base connected to the handle, a face, and a transition region extending between the base and the face, wherein the face is adapted to strike an object when the tool is in use, and the head includes a rear portion opposite the face, the rear portion being free of auxiliary tools, Wherein, the head includes a head centerline extending through the center of the base, the handle includes a handle centerline extending longitudinally along the central axis of the handle, and the head centerline is axially offset relative to the handle centerline in a direction toward the face and extends longitudinally through at least a portion of the handle.

13. The hammer according to claim 12, characterized in that The head has a weight of approximately seven ounces.

14. The hammer according to claim 12, characterized in that The handle includes a neck and a tapered region extending from the neck proximate the head.

15. The hammer according to claim 12, characterized in that The face has a face width, and the base has a base width that is smaller than the face width.

16. The hammer according to claim 12, characterized in that The handle includes a grip.

17. The hammer according to claim 12, characterized in that The face is one of round, flat and semi-flat.

18. The hammer according to claim 12, characterized in that The transition region is curved.

19. A head for a hammer having a handle having a handle centerline extending longitudinally along a center axis of the handle, the head comprising: a base portion adapted to be connected to the handle, a face portion, and a transition region extending from the base portion toward the face portion, wherein the face portion is adapted to strike an object, and the head portion has a rear portion opposite the face portion, the rear portion having no auxiliary tool, and A head centerline extends through a center of the base, wherein when the head is connected to the handle, the head centerline is axially offset relative to the handle centerline in a direction toward the face and extends longitudinally through the handle.

20. A tool comprising: Head, including: base, The face, which is suitable for striking objects, a curved transition region extending from the base toward the face, and a head centerline extending through the center of the base; and a handle connected to the base and having a handle centerline extending longitudinally along a central axis of the handle, wherein the head centerline is axially offset relative to the handle centerline in a direction toward the face and extends longitudinally through the handle, wherein the face has a face width and the base has a base width that is less than the face width.

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