US1614949A - Folding hatchet - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 18, 1927.

C. A. FINLEY FOLDING HATCHET Filed March 26, 1925 Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES.

1,614,949 P'ATENT' OFFICE.

CLYDE A. FINLEY, F GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WALTER MONTGOMERY, OF SAUK CITY, WISCONSIN.

FOLDING HATCHET.

This invention relates to folding hatchets. Objects of this invention are to provide a hatchetwhich may be folded to a compact form adapted to be readily carried, which t is adapted to be suspended from a belt or other suitable member, for instance, or if desired, carried in the pocket, and which is so contoured as to readily permit this manner of carrying it.

Further objects are to provide a folding hatchet in which positive and secure looking means are provided for holding the hatchet in extended or folded condition without any chance of accidental motion of 1-" parts of the hatchet, and to provide means which are independent of jar or jolts to the hatchet for looking it in either extreme position, thus securing a secure,'firm and reliable folding hatchet. 2a Further objects are to provide a folding hatchet, which may be readily manufactured wholly from metal, which is extreme- 1y flat and compact in construction, and which is very simple, and may be cheaply manufactured.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of the hatchet opened out, such view being partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a view partly in section showing the hatchet folded.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

The hatchet comprises a head 1 having a rearwardly projecting extension 2 integral therewith. The handle-portion 3 is formed of metal and is substantially channel-shaped with a reenforcing web t intermediate its ends, such web having a beveled lower side 5 for a purpose hereinafter to appear. The handle is provided with a downwardly projecting enlargement 6 adjacent its rear end to facilitate gripping the handle and is provided with a strap receiving slot 7. Its forward end is curved, as indicated at 8 to rovide a gradually curved end when in olded condition, as shown in Figure 2. The rearward extension 2 of the head 1 is mounted within the channel-shaped handle 3 and secured pivotally thereto by means of the rivet 9.

The rearward extension 2 is adapted to be locked in either extended or closed position by means hereinafter described. This rearward extension is provided with an arm 10 which has a flat upper face 11 adapted to be engaged by the lower face of the sliding wedge or latch 12, as shown in Figure 1, and to thus hold the hatchet in extended position.

It is to be noted that the upper edge 13 of the extension 2 contacts with the inner side of the channel-shaped handle 3 when it is in extended position. Further, it is to a be noted that the latching member is securely wedged between the face 11 of the portion 10, and the inner portion of the handle to thus prevent reverse rotation of the hatchet extension 2 with reference to the handle.

The. latching member 12 is provided with a rivet 1 1 which projects throughelongated slots 15 in the handle 3, and thus guides the latching member. It is to be noted from Figure 2 that the latching member is cutout to provide a recess 16 on its inner side within which the forward end of the helical spring 17 is received. The rear end of this spring surrounds a pin 18 carried within the web 4 of the handle. When the hatchet is in closed position, as shown in Figure 2, the rear face of the head 1 contacts with the slanting face 5 of the web 4 and thus prevents further inward motion of the head. This holds the sharp cutting edge out of contact with the handle, as shown in Figure 2. It is also to be seen from such figure that the cutting edge is held in spaced relation to the slot 7 when the hatchet is folded and thus prevents any cutting of the suspension strap by such edge.

In order to hold the hatchet in folded condition, the side of the extension 10 opposite the side 11, is provided with a flat face 19 which cooperates with the latch 12, as shown in Figure 2, so that when the hatchet is folded, the latch is immediately projected by the spring into binding engagement with this face, such latch being wedged between the inner side of the handle and the face 19.

Thus the hatchet is prevented from inadvertently opening from folded condition.

It is to be noted that due to the spring action of the latching means that such latching means is at all times held outwardly in binding relation to the extension 2 of the head, and thus cannot bev dislodged by jolts or jars.

Obviously, in either folding or unfolding the hatchet, it is merely necessary for the operator to catch the rivet let on opposite sides between his thumb and first finger and retract the latching member 12. This permits free rocking of the head with reference to the handle.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously embodied and is, therefore, to be limited only as claimed.

I claim:

1. A folding hatchet comprising ahead having a rearwardly projecting arm pro vided with an aperture therethrough and having an extension projecting beyond said aperture, said extension having a tapered upper face, a channel-shaped handle enclosing a portion of said arm and having a pivot pin passing through said aperture and having a portion extending forwardly beyond said pivot pin and contacting with the upper edge of said arm, a spring pressed plunger slidably carried within the channel in said handle and contacting with the inner upper surface of said channel, said plunger having a locking end provided with a tapered face on the under side of its forward end contacting with and wedging against said first mentioned tapered face when said hatchet is extended, the locking end of said plunger being positioned directly between the said extension and the channeled portion of said handle, and means for operating said plunger, whereby the locking end of said plunger wedges between said extension and the inner upper surface of said channel-shaped handle.

2. A hatchet of the class described comprising a head having a rearwardly projecting arm, a handle pivotally connected adjacent the end of said arm, said handle being channel-shaped and adapted to receive thereinthe cut-ting edge of said hatchet when the same is folded, a projection carried by said arm and extending beyond the pivotal connection with said handle, said handle having its end portion extending beyond the pivoted point and adapted to overlie a part of the arm bet-ween the pivot and hatchet when the same is opened for use, and a wedge-shaped element movable between the projection car ried by the arm and the base of the channelshaped arm for locking the arm and handle in alignment.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois.

CLYDE A. FINLEY.

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