Impact tool and compound handle-retaining wedge therefor

Abstract

Abstract A COMPOUND WEDGE ADAPTED TO BE PRESSED INTO THE CONFORMABLY SLOTTED DISTAL END OF A FRESH WOODEN IMPACT TOOL HANDLE IN ORDER TO SPREAD SUCH END AND COMPRESS THE WOOD THEREOF OUTWARDLY AGAINST THE WALLS OF THE EYE IN THE HEAD OF THE IMPACT TOOL AND THUS PERMANENTLY TIGHTEN THE HANDLE AND HEAD TOGETHER. THE WEDGE EXERTS A SPREADING ACTION IN BOTH LATERAL DIRECTIONS AND IT IS COMPRISED OF A RESILIENT COMPRESSIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A MODULUS OF ELASTICITY WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY MATCHES THE SHRINKAGE AND EXPANSION FACTOR OF THE WOOD WHICH IT DISPLACES SO THAT, AS THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE WOOD EVAPORATES AND AND SHRINKAGE TAKES PLACE, THE RESTORATIVE PROPERTY OF THE WEDGE COMPENSATES FOR SUCH SHRINKAGE. CONVERSELY, AS THE SHRUNKEN WOOD ABSORBS MOISTURE AND REGAINS SIZE, THE WEDGE IS FORCIBLY CONTRACTED. THUS, IN ANY CONDITION OF THE WOOD, THE HANDLE REMAINS TIGHT. AN IMPACT TOOL EMBODYING SUCH A WEDGE.

Inventors

• 👤 Worthel C Parks

Bibliographic Details