Cross-Reference(s) to Related Application(s)
Technical Field
[0002] This application relates generally to hand tools. More specifically, this application
relates to a non-powered hammer capable of absorbing and/or damping the impact shock
before reaching the user's hand.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0003] The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented
for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be
protected.
FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example shock-absorbing hammer;
FIGURE 2 shows an isometric exploded view of an example shock-absorbing hammer;
FIGURE 3 shows some details of the example shock-absorbing hammer-head of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 shows an isometric view of the hammer of FIGURE 2 in assembled form.
FIGURE 5 shows a cross-sectional view of another example shock-absorbing hammer;
FIGURE 6 shows a cross-sectional view of another example shock-absorbing hammer with
an adjustable shock-absorbing mechanism; and
FIGURE 7 shows another example of a shock-absorbing hammer-head that can replace the
hammer-head of FIGURE 2.
Detailed Description
[0004] While the present disclosure is described with reference to several illustrative
embodiments and example devices described herein, it should be clear that the present
disclosure should not be limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of
the embodiments provided herein is illustrative of the present disclosure and should
not limit the scope of the disclosure as claimed. In addition, it will be appreciated
that the disclosure may be applicable with other types of hammer configurations.
[0005] When a tool, such as a hammer, strikes the surface of an object, part of the energy
produced by the blow is used to perform the intended work (for example, taking out
a nail), part becomes heat, and part is dissipate through the hammer. The energy that
is dissipated through the hammer often produces inconvenient results, such as recoil
of the hammer from the striking surface, or excessive vibration of the hammer. The
inconvenient results produced by hammer blows have been a persistent problem for manufacturers
of hammers and other percussive tools. Hammers that have minimum rebound or recoil
characteristics are sometimes referred to as "dead blow" hammers, impact absorbing
hammers or vibration reducing hammers. The terms dead blow, shock absorbers and vibration
reducers are reciprocally used in the present disclosure.
[0006] Some previous approaches for absorbing the hammer shock, for example, the use of
sliding weights or ears behind the hammering head, is problematic because the weights
themselves develop potential energy when the hammer strikes a surface and tends to
recede, thus causing inconvenient vibration or oscillation of the hammer. In addition,
dead-blow hammers are limited: (i) because the requirement of a hollow chamber causes
the size of said hammers to be out of proportion to the weight; and (ii) because,
unless a special punch mix is used, the punch is often not useful in preventing recoil
of the hammer. An object of the present disclosure is to overcome these and other
limitations of the prior art.
[0007] Briefly described, a shock absorbing or dead-blow hammer is disclosed for driving
nails and striking various objects. The disclosed hammer reduces the recoil and vibration
caused by the hammer blow, preventing a great portion of the blow from reaching the
user's hand and wrist. In one of the embodiments, hammer-head is pivoted to the hammer
handle while an energy absorbing mechanism, situated between the two parts, affects
the movements of the hammer-head with respect to the hammer handle. In various embodiments
the energy absorbing mechanism may utilize friction as a means to dissipate the shock
energy and in other embodiments the energy absorbing mechanism may resemble an automobile
shock-absorbers. In other embodiments, after each strike, a spring returns the hammer-head
to its default or rest position.
[0008] An important advantage of the design of this disclosure is that the hammer-head disclosed
here is heavier and therefore more efficient than the hammer-heads in the prior art,
for the same size and/or same weight hammers.
[0009] In various embodiments a shock-absorbing hammer may include a hammer-handle, an end
of which has a lateral pin hole; a hammer-head, a part of which is a clevis that houses
and is pivoted to the end of the hammer-handle by a pin passing through the clevis
and the pin hole of the hammer-handle; and a shock-absorbing mechanism, which is installed
such that to affect the rotational movements of the hammer-head relative to the hammer-handle
and to retard the shocks transferred from the hammer-head to the hammer-handle.
[0010] In other embodiments an efficient shock-retarding hammer may include a hammer-handle;
a hammer-head, a part of which is U-shaped and at least a part of the hammer-handle
is contained within the U-shaped part of the hammer-head and is pivoted to the U-shaped
part by a pin passing through the hammer-handle and the U-shaped part of the hammer-head;
and a shock-retarding component that is placed between the hammer-head and the hammer-handle
such that to hamper transfer of all or some vibrations or frequencies from the hammer-head
to the hammer-handle.
[0011] In yet other embodiments a blow-back-shock impeding hammer may include a hammer-handle;
a hammer-head with a U-shaped part to contain a part of the hammer-handle, where the
hammer-handle part within the hammer-head is pivoted to the U-shaped part of the hammer-head
and can rotate relative to the hammer-head; and an energy-storing and/or an energy
dissipating component that is placed between the hammer-head and the hammer-handle
such that to restrict shocks or vibrations generated by the hammer-head and transferred
to the hammer-handle.
[0012] Each of the shock-absorbing mechanism or the shock-retarding component or the energy-storing
and/or an energy dissipating component can be designed to restrict the transfer of
all or some vibrations or frequencies from the hammer-head to the hammer-handle. In
another word, these mechanisms and components are mechanical filters that may be designed
to stop undesirable vibrations from passing through the filter. These filters may
be designed to be adjustable or be replaceable.
[0013] It is to be noted that directions, orientations, and other relative terms such as
"front", "back", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "interior",
"exterior", "downward", "upward", "front-facing", "down-facing", "vertical", "horizontal",
"diagonal", and the like are described with respect or relative to a distinguishing
feature of the system or device body itself. For example, if the front part or surface
of a system body or an object is identified in the description, then rear or back
is defined as the part or surface opposite the front surface, left is defined as the
left side when looking into the front surface, and so on. As long as directions are
unambiguously identifiable based on the descriptions and figures, how the orientations
are defined is immaterial.
[0014] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example shock-absorbing hammer-head 104
and part of a hammer handle 102. In some embodiments the hammer-handle 102 itself
may be constructed from more than one piece, such as a wooden handle core and a rubber
grip. In various embodiments the hammer-head 104 also may have different sections
such as a hammer-face 112 for striking a desired object; a hammer-claw 100 for pulling
nails; and a magnetic nail holder 113. In various embodiments the disclosed hammers
do not need to have a hammer-eye to attach the hammer-head to the hammer-handle, which
advantageously adds to the weight of the hammer-head. In this example shock-absorbing
hammer, the hammer-head 104 is pinned to the hammer-handle 102 by a pin 106 and can
rotationally move with respect to handle 102 in a restricted manner. In a rested or
default position, a spring 118 forces the hammer-head 104 to rotate counter-clockwise
and stop rotating once it hits the hammer-handle 102 at point 108. Similarly, when
hammer-face 112 strikes an object such as a nail head, the hammer-head 104 will rotate
clockwise, while depressing spring 118, but stops rotating once it hits the hammer-handle
102 at point 110. Always, at rest, the hammer-head 104 is in contact with the hammer-handle
102 at point 108 but, whether or not the hammer-head 104 contacts the hammer-handle
102 at point 110 depends on the severity of the strike.
[0015] In the example shown in Figure 1, the shock-absorbing assembly 114 comprises a pin
120, a spring 118, and a sleeve 116. In some embodiments there is friction between
the pin 120 and sleeve 116 and in the other embodiments the pin 120 moves without
friction inside sleeve 116. As can be seen in Figure 1, the head of pin 120 and the
tail of sleeve 116 are rounded to help them easily move with respect to handle 102
and hammer-head 104, respectively, whenever the hammer-head 104 rotates around pin
106.
[0016] In a somewhat similar arrangement in
US Patent No. 8,438,953 (Patent "'953"), the hammer-handle is U- shaped (clevis or forked connector) at the
top to receive, enclose, and house the I-shaped extension of the hammer-head. Because
of this design of Patent `953, some weight is unnecessarily subtracted from the hammer-head
and is added to the hammer-handle. This needlessly reduces the efficiency of strikes
by the hammer.
[0017] In contrast to patent `953, Figure 2 shows an isometric exploded view of an example
shock-absorbing hammer, where the hammer-handle 206 is relatively flat at the top
and does not fork out, instead, the extension 213 of the hammer-head 200 is forked
out (U- shaped, clevis, also called "two-wall clevis") to receive, enclose, and house
the hammer-handle 206. Here, the hammer-handle 206 enters the hammer-head 200 in the
direction 212 and is pivoted to the hammer-head 200 by the pin set 202 and 204. The
shock-absorbing mechanism set 214 is mounted between the hammer-head 200 and the hammer-handle
206. In this embodiment the handle cover or handle grip 208 is an optional component,
which can receive the hammer-handle 206 through opening 210 and be removable or permanently
attached to it.
[0018] In various embodiments the shock-absorbing mechanism set 214 may be adjustable or
be removable and replaceable so that the user can adjust it for filtering certain
vibrations or exchange it with another shock-absorbing mechanism more suited for her/his
intended job. To adjust or change the shock-absorbing mechanism, the user removes
the pin set 202 and 204, adjusts or replaces the mechanism and reinstalls the pin
set 202 and 204. In various embodiments a few shock-absorbing mechanism sets may be
attached to or housed in the hammer-handle or the handle-grip.
[0019] Figure 3 shows some details of the example shock-absorbing hammer-head of Figure
2. In Figure 3, the hammer-head 200 of Figure 2 is shown from another angle which
more clearly illustrates the clevis 302 and the pin-holes 304. As seen in Figure 3,
the clevis 302 will add more weight to the hammer-head 200 in comparison with the
flat hammer-head extension of Patent `953. The details of the design and structure
of the clevis 302 can be manipulated as desired to be made bulkier and add to the
mass of the hammer-head. The mass of the hammer-head in Patent `953 cannot be changed
as much as the hammer-head disclosed in this specification. For example for the same
size and dimension hammers, the hammer-head of the present disclosure can be made
heavier than the hammer-head in Patent `953.
[0020] Figure 4 shows isometric view of an example disclosed shock-absorbing hammer 400.
This hammer is the assembled combination of the parts shown in Figure 2. As seen in
Figure 4, the hammer-head 404 has housed and is pivoted by pin 402 to the hammer-handle
412 which itself is housed within the optional handle-grip 406. In this example embodiment,
the hammer-head 404 has a magnetized nail holder 410. Furthermore, in this embodiment
the shock-absorbing mechanism 408 can be seen from outside of the hammer-head 404.
In other embodiments the shock-absorbing mechanism 408 may be covered by an opaque
or a clear component of the hammer-head. In some embodiments the shock-absorbing mechanism
408 may be adjustable through the mentioned opening without the need to remove the
hammer-head 404 from the hammer-handle 412.
[0021] In the example shown in Figure 5, the shock-absorbing assembly 506 is again acting
between the pivoted hammer-head 504 and the hammer-handle 502, but it is located at
a different position compared to the one shown in Figure 1. Similarly, in various
embodiments, the shock-absorbing assembly may be placed in different positions between
the pivoted hammer-head and the hammer-handle. Different positions of the shock-absorbing
assembly can offer different advantages such as ease of manufacturing of the hammer-head,
the hammer-handle, and/or the shock-absorbing assembly or even offer more pronounced
shock-depleting effect.
[0022] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of another example shock- retarding hammer
with an adjustable shock- retarding mechanism. In this embodiment, the example shock-retarding
mechanism that includes a threaded pin 610, a sleeve 606, a spring 608, and an adjustment
nut 612, are positioned between the hammer-head 604 and the hammer-handle 602. As
seen in Figure 6, the adjustment nut 612 is approachable from outside of the hammer
without the need to separate the hammer-head 604 from the hammer-handle 602. By turning
the adjustment nut 612, a user can vary the pre-stressed force of the spring 608 and
effectively change the characteristics of the shock-retarding mechanism or the mechanical
filter. It is easy to see that by completely compressing the spring 608, the user
can fix the hammer-head 604 to the hammer-handle 602 and make it a regular or traditional
hammer, if desired. In other example embodiments if, for example, an air-based or
a gas-based shock-absorber is used, a similar adjustment may be provided to widen
or restrict the gas or the air passage and, again, effectively change the characteristics
of the shock-absorber or the mechanical filter. Here also, the opening or closing
of the gas or the air passage will have extreme effects on the mechanical filter and
in turn on the behavior of the hammer.
[0023] Figure 7 shows another example of a shock-absorbing hammer-head 700 that can replace
the hammer-head 200 of Figure 2. As illustrated and described in detail above, the
hammer-head 200 of Figure 2 has a clevis 213 with two walls, in between which the
hammer-handle 206 is retained and to which walls the hammer-handle 206 is pivoted
by the pin set 202 and 204. In Figure 7; however, the hammer-head 700 has a single
wall 701 ("single-wall clevis") that is somewhat similar to one of the walls of clevis
213 (clevis 213 is shown more clearly in Figure 3). The hammer-handle 206 can likewise
be pivoted to the hammer-handle 206 by a pin set similar to the pin set 202 and 204.
And again, the design details of the structure of the wall 701 can also be manipulated
as desired to be made bulkier and increase the mass of the hammer-head 700.
[0024] Changes can be made to the claimed invention in light of the above Detailed Description.
While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes
the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the
claimed invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably
in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the claimed invention
disclosed herein.
[0025] Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure
should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be
restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the disclosure
with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following
claims should not be construed to limit the claimed invention to the specific embodiments
disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly
defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claimed invention encompasses
not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or
implementing the claimed invention.
[0026] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein,
and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally
intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including
but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least,"
the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.).
It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of
an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited
in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For
example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage
of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations.
However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction
of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular
claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one
such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or
more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or
"an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the
same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations.
In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly
recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically
be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two
recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or
two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous
to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is
intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention
(e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited
to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together,
B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention
analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction
is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention
(e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited
to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together,
B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood
by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting
two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should
be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either
of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to
include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B." It is further understood that
any phrase of the form "A/B" shall mean any one of "A", "B", "A or B", or "A and B".
This construct includes the phrase "and/or" itself.
[0027] The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the
manufacture and use of the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the claimed
invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure,
the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. It is further understood
that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended
to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
1. A shock-absorbing hammer comprising:
a hammer-handle, an end of which has a lateral pin hole;
a hammer-head, a part of which is a one-wall or two-wall clevis, wherein the clevis
is pivoted to the end of the hammer-handle by a pin passing through the clevis and
the pin hole of the hammer-handle; and
a shock-absorbing mechanism, wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism is placed such
that to affect the rotational movements of the hammer-head relative to the hammer-handle.
2. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism is comprised
of a pin, a sleeve, and a spring.
3. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism is comprised
of a pin, a sleeve, and a spring and energy is dissipated by friction between the
pin and the sleeve.
4. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism is an
oil-based shock absorber; or
wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism is a gas-based shock absorber; or
wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism is an air-based shock absorber.
5. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 1, wherein the hammer-handle has a storage part
to store at least one other shock-absorbing mechanism.
6. The shock-absorbing hammer of claim 1, wherein the shock-absorbing mechanism can be
dismounted and be exchanged with a different shock-absorbing mechanism for different
purposes.
7. An efficient shock-retarding hammer comprising:
a hammer-handle;
a hammer-head, a part of which is U-shaped, wherein at least a part of the hammer-handle
is contained within the U-shaped part and is pivoted to the U-shaped part by a pin
passing through the hammer-handle and the U-shaped part of the hammer-head; and
a shock-retarding component, wherein the shock-retarding component is placed between
the hammer-head and the hammer-handle such that to hamper transfer of any shock from
the hammer-head to the hammer-handle.
8. The efficient shock-retarding hammer of claim 7, further comprising a space in the
hammer-handle to store at least one other shock- retarding component.
9. The efficient shock-retarding hammer of claim 7, wherein the shock- retarding component
can be dismounted and be exchanged with a different shock- retarding component for
different purposes.
10. The efficient shock-retarding hammer of claim 7, wherein the shock-retarding component
is comprised of a pin, a sleeve, and a spring; or wherein
the shock- retarding component is comprised of a pin, a sleeve, and a spring and energy
is dissipated by friction between the pin and the sleeve; or wherein
the shock- retarding component is an oil-based or and air-based or a gas-based shock
absorber.
11. A blow-back-shock impeding hammer comprising:
a hammer-handle;
a hammer-head with a U-shaped part to contain a part of the hammer-handle, wherein
the hammer-handle part within the hammer-head is pivoted to the U-shaped part of the
hammer-head and can rotate relative to the hammer-head; and
an energy-storing and/or an energy dissipating component, wherein the component is
placed between the hammer-head and the hammer-handle such that to restrict shocks
generated by the hammer-head and transferred to the hammer-handle.
12. The blow-back-shock impeding hammer of claim 11, further comprising a space in the
hammer-handle to store at least one other energy-storing and/or an energy dissipating
component.
13. The blow-back-shock impeding hammer of claim 11, wherein the energy-storing and/or
an energy dissipating component can be dismounted and be exchanged with a different
energy-storing and/or an energy dissipating component for different purposes.
14. The blow-back-shock impeding hammer of claim 11, wherein the energy-storing and/or
an energy dissipating component is comprised of a pin, a sleeve, and a spring; or
wherein
the energy-storing and/or an energy dissipating component is comprised of a pin, a
sleeve, and a spring and energy is dissipated by friction between the pin and the
sleeve; or wherein.
the energy-storing and/or an energy dissipating component is an oil-based or and air-based
or a gas-based shock absorber.