Multi-Use Punch

A multi-use punch has a core, a handle, a chuck and at least one tool head. The core is metal and has a chuck end. The handle is mounted around the core and has a butt end having at least one chamber and a cap. The cap is detachably mounted on the butt end of the handle. The chuck is mounted on the chuck end of the core and has a detent. The tool head is alternately mounted in the chuck end of the core and the chamber of the handle and has a detent corresponding to and being selectively held securely by the detent of the chuck. Each tool head can be easily changed so the punch can be easily and conveniently used for multiple tasks.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a punch, and more particularly to a multi-use punch with changeable tool heads for improved convenience and versatility.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIG. 7, a conventional punch (60) comprises a core (61) and a grip (62).

The core (61) is metal and has a central segment, a head (611) and a butt (612).

The head (611) is metal and is formed on and protrudes from the core (61) and tapers to a point.

The butt (612) is formed on the proximal end of the core (61). The grip (62) is rubber and is mounted around the core (61) and has a hand grip (621) and a tool grip (622). The hand grip (621) comprises multiple non-slip ribs. The tool grip (622) is polygonal and can be held conveniently by a tool such as pliers, a wrench or the like.

In use, the head (611) is placed on a target, the butt (612) is struck by a tool, such as a hammer, to drive the point of the head (65) toward the target and form a hole or drive the target into a work surface.

However, the conventional punch (60) must be changed for different jobs, therefore, multiple punches (60) must be carried, which is inconvenient.

Furthermore, the conventional punch (60) cannot be used as a different tool, so is carried exclusively for punching holes and pins or nails.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a multi-use punch to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a multi-use punch with changeable tool heads for improved convenience and versatility.

The multi-use punch in accordance with the present invention has a core, a handle, a chuck and at least one tool head. The core is metal and has a chuck end. The handle is mounted around the core and has a butt end. The butt end of the handle has at least one chamber and a cap. The cap is detachably mounted on the butt end of the handle. The chuck is mounted on the chuck end of the core and has a detent. The tool head is alternately mounted in the chuck end of the core and the chamber of the handle and has a detent corresponding to and being selectively held securely by the detent of the chuck. Each tool head can be easily changed so the punch can be easily and conveniently used for multiple tasks.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a punch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the punch in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section showing the punch in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view in partial section of the punch in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the punch in FIG. 1 fitted with a screwdriver head; and

FIG. 6 is an operational perspective view of the punch is FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a conventional punch in accordance with the prior art.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, a multi-use punch in accordance with the present invention comprises a core (20), a handle (10), a chuck (30), and at least one tool head (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D).

With reference to FIG. 4, the core (20) is metal and has a chuck end (21) and a butt end (22).

The chuck end (21) of the core (20) has a head hole (210), a wall (211), a chuck hole (213), an optional shoulder (212) and an optional spring mount (214). The head hole (210) is non-circular and may be hexagonal. The chuck hole (213) is formed through the wall (211) and communicates with the head hole (210). The shoulder (212) is formed on the wall (211) and protrudes into the head hole (210).

The butt end (22) of the core (20) may be hexagonal in cross section. With further reference to FIG. 2, the handle (10) is mounted around the core (20) and has a butt end (12) and an optional grip, and may be plastic or rubber.

The butt end (12) of the handle (10) has at least one chamber (120A, 120B), a connecting sleeve (121) and a cap (123). The at least one chamber (120A, 120B) is formed in the butt end (12) of the handle (10) around the core (20) and multiple chambers (120A, 120B) may be implemented and may have different lengths. The connecting sleeve (121) is formed on and protrudes from the butt end (12) of the handle (10) and has an outer surface and an annular ridge (122). The annular ridge (122) is formed on the outer surface of the connecting sleeve (121).

The cap (123) is detachably mounted on the connecting sleeve (122) around the butt end (22) of the core (20), selectively covers the at least one chamber (120A, 120B) and may be formed from a guard cap (124) and a cover cap (125) and comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, a through hole, a mounting recess (1241) and an optional guard (1240, 1250).

The guard cap (124) has an inner surface as the inner surface of the cap (123), an outer surface and a hole (123A) as a top segment of the through hole of the cap (123).

The cover cap (125) is mounted on the outer surface of the guard cap (124) and has an inner surface, a connecting protrusion (1252), a hole (123B) being formed through the connecting protrusion (1252) as a bottom segment of the through hole of the cap (123) and an outer surface as the outer surface of the cap (123). The connecting protrusion (1252) corresponds to and is detachably mounted in the hole (123A) of the guard cap (124), is formed on and protrudes from the inner surface of the cover cap (125).

The inner surface of the cap (123) abuts the butt end (12) of the handle (10).

The outer surface of the cap (123) is defined at a side of the cap (123) opposite to the handle (10), and the butt end (22) of the core (20) protrudes out from the outer surface of the cap (123).

The through hole is formed through the cap (123), mounted around the butt end (22) of the core (20), may be hexagonal in cross section and may be formed through the guard cap (124) and the cover cap (125).

The mounting recess (1241) is formed in the inner surface of the cap (123), may be formed in the inner surface of the guard cap (124), corresponds to and is mounted on the connecting sleeve (121) and has an inner surface and an annular groove (1242). The annular groove (1242) is formed in the inner surface of the mounting recess (1241) and detachably engages the annular ridge (122) of the outer surface of the connecting sleeve (121).

The guard (1240, 1250) is formed on and protrudes from the cap (123), may be formed on and protrude from the guard cap (124) and the cover cap (125) to prevent a striking tool hitting a hand holding the handle (10) and may be polygonal.

The chuck (30) is mounted around the wall (211) of the chuck end (21) of the core (20) and comprises a detent. The detent may be mounted through the chuck hole (213) of the of the core (20) and may comprise a holding ball (31), a holding sleeve (32) and a spring (33). The holding ball (31) is moveably mounted in the chuck hole (213) of the core (20) and selectively protrudes into the head hole (210) of the core (20). The holding sleeve (32) corresponds to and is slidably mounted around the wall (211) and has an inner surface, a ball recess (35) and a spring recess. The ball recess (35) is formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve (30) and selectively communicates with the chuck hole (213) of the core (20). The spring recess is formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve (32) and is disposed adjacent to the spring mount (214) of the core (20). The spring (33) is mounted around the wall (211) of the core (20), in the spring recess of the holding sleeve (32) and abuts the spring mount (214) of the core (20) and the holding sleeve (32) to provide a returning force.

In a locked position, the spring (33) ensures the holding sleeve (30) prevents the holding ball (31) from sliding. To unlock the chuck (30), the holding sleeve (30) is slid along the core (20) so the ball recess (35) aligns with the chuck hole (213) of the core (20) so allowing the holding ball (31) to slide out of the head hole (210) of the core (20). When released, the holding sleeve (32) returns to the locked position by the returning force.

The at least one tool head (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) is alternately and detachably mounted in a corresponding chamber (120A, 120B) of the handle and the head hole (210) of the core (20), is held by the detent of the chuck (30) and has a tip (41), a shaft (42) and a proximal end (43). The tip (41) of the at least one tool head (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) may be a punch tip, drill tip, screwdriver head tip or the like. The shaft (42) of the at least one tool head (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) corresponds to the head hole (210) of the chuck end (21) of the core (20), may be hexagonal in cross section and has a detent (420) detachably engaging the detent of the chuck (30). The proximal end (43) of the at least one tool head (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) corresponds to and securely abuts the shoulder (212) of the chuck end (21) of the core (20). Multiple tool heads (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) may be implemented and may have different lengths.

With further reference to FIG. 6, when the chuck (30) is in a locked position, the shaft (42) of the tool head (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) is held securely by engagement of the detents (420) of the shaft (42) and chuck (30).

The punch may be struck by a striking tool such as a hammer before drilling a hole or fastening a screw. The handle (10) is held in one hand and the other hand holds the striking tool to hit the butt end (22) of the core (20) and force the tip (41) of the tool head (40A) forward to punch holes or nails. Therefore, the multi-use punch can be used as a hole punch, nail punch, screwdriver or the like safely and contains alternate tool heads (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) that are easily interchanged so is convenient to use and carry.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A multi-use punch comprising:

a core being metal and having a chuck end having a head hole being non-circular and a wall; and a butt end;
a handle being mounted around the core and having a butt end having at least one chamber being formed in the butt end of the handle around the core; a connecting sleeve being formed on and protruding from the butt end of the handle and having an outer surface and an annular ridge formed on the outer surface of the connecting sleeve; and a cap being detachably mounted on the connecting sleeve around the butt end of the core, selectively covering the at least one chamber and comprising an inner surface abutting the butt end of the handle; an outer surface, wherein the butt end of the core protrudes out from the outer surface; a through hole being formed through the cap and being mounted around the butt end of the core; and a mounting recess being formed in the inner surface of the cap, corresponding to and being mounted on the connecting sleeve and having an inner surface and an annular groove formed on the inner surface of the mounting recess and detachably engaging the annular ridge of the connecting sleeve;
a chuck being mounted around the wall on the chuck end of the core and comprising a detent; and
at least one tool head being detachably mounted in the head hole of the chuck end of the core and having
a tip; and
a shaft corresponding to the head hole of the chuck end of the core and having a detent detachably engaging the detent of the chuck.

2. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 1, wherein

one chamber is implemented; and
multiple tool heads having different lengths are implemented and are alternately mounted in the chamber in the butt end of the handle and the head hole of the core.

3. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 1, wherein

multiple chambers having different lengths are implemented; and
multiple tool heads having different lengths are implemented and alternately mounted in the chambers in the butt end of the handle and head hole of the core.

4. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the chuck end of the core further has a chuck hole being formed through the wall and communicating with the head hole of the core; and
the detent of the chuck is mounted through chuck hole of the core.

5. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the chuck end of the core further has a chuck hole being formed through the wall and communicating with the head hole of the core; and
the detent of the chuck is mounted through chuck hole of the core.

6. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the chuck end of the core further has a chuck hole being formed through the wall and communicating with the head hole of the core; and
the detent of the chuck is mounted through chuck hole of the core.

7. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the chuck is slidably mounted around the chuck end of the core and comprises

a holding ball being movably mounted in the chuck hole of the core and selectively protruding into the head hole of the core;
a holding sleeve corresponding to and being slidably mounted around the wall on the chuck end of the core and having an inner surface; a ball recess being formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve and selectively communicating with the chuck hole of the core; and a spring recess being formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve; and
a spring being mounted around the wall of the core in the spring recess of the holding sleeve to provide a returning force.

8. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the chuck is slidably mounted around the chuck end of the core and comprises

a holding ball being movably mounted in the chuck hole of the core and selectively protruding into the head hole of the core;
a holding sleeve corresponding to and being slidably mounted around the wall on the chuck end of the core and having an inner surface; a ball recess being formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve and selectively communicating with the chuck hole of the core; and a spring recess being formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve; and
a spring being mounted around the wall of the core in the spring recess of the holding sleeve to provide a returning force.

9. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chuck is slidably mounted around the chuck end of the core and comprises

a holding ball being movably mounted in the chuck hole of the core and selectively protruding into the head hole of the core;
a holding sleeve corresponding to and being slidably mounted around the wall on the chuck end of the core and having an inner surface; a ball recess being formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve and selectively communicating with the chuck hole of the core; and a spring recess being formed in the inner surface of the holding sleeve; and
a spring being mounted around the wall of the core in the spring recess of the holding sleeve to provide a returning force.

10. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises

a guard cap having an inner surface abutting the butt end of the handle; an outer surface; a mounting recess being formed in the inner surface of the guard cap, corresponding to and being mounted on the connecting sleeve and having an inner surface and an annular groove formed on the inner surface of the mounting recess and detachably engaging the annular ridge of the connecting sleeve; and a hole being formed through the guard cap;
a cover cap being mounted on the outer surface of the guard cap and having an inner surface; an outer surface, wherein the butt end of the core protrudes out from the outer surface; a connecting protrusion being formed on and protruding from the inner surface of the cover cap, corresponding to and being detachably mounted in the through hole of the guard cap; and a hole being formed through the connecting protrusion of the cover cap and being mounted around the butt end of the core.

11. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cap further comprises

a guard cap having an inner surface abutting the butt end of the handle; an outer surface; a mounting recess being formed in the inner surface of the guard cap, corresponding to and being mounted on the connecting sleeve and having an inner surface and an annular groove formed on the inner surface of the mounting recess and detachably engaging the annular ridge of the connecting sleeve; and a hole being formed through the guard cap;
a cover cap being mounted on the outer surface of the guard cap and having an inner surface; an outer surface, wherein the butt end of the core protrudes out from the outer surface; a connecting protrusion being formed on and protruding from the inner surface of the cover cap, corresponding to and being detachably mounted in the through hole of the guard cap; and
a hole being formed through the connecting protrusion of the cover cap and being mounted around the butt end of the core.

12. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cap further comprises

a guard cap having an inner surface abutting the butt end of the handle; an outer surface; a mounting recess being formed in the inner surface of the guard cap, corresponding to and being mounted on the connecting sleeve and having an inner surface and an annular groove formed on the inner surface of the mounting recess and detachably engaging the annular ridge of the connecting sleeve; and a hole being formed through the guard cap;
a cover cap being mounted on the outer surface of the guard cap and having an inner surface; an outer surface, wherein the butt end of the core protrudes out from the outer surface; a connecting protrusion being formed on and protruding from the inner surface of the cover cap, corresponding to and being detachably mounted in the through hole of the guard cap; and a hole being formed through the connecting protrusion of the cover cap and being mounted around the butt end of the core.

13. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the head hole in the chuck end of the core is hexagonal; and
the shaft each one of the at least one tool head is hexagonal in cross section.

14. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the head hole in the chuck end of the core is hexagonal; and
the shaft each one of the at least one tool head is hexagonal in cross section.

15. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the head hole in the chuck end of the core is hexagonal; and
the shaft each one of the at least one tool head is hexagonal in cross section.

16. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the butt end of the core is hexagonal in cross section; and
the through hole of the cap is hexagonal.

17. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the butt end of the core is hexagonal in cross section; and
the through hole of the cap is hexagonal.

18. The multi-use punch as claimed in claim 14, wherein

the butt end of the core is hexagonal in cross section; and
the through hole of the cap is hexagonal.
Patent History
Publication number: 20100132530
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 3, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 3, 2010
Inventor: Kun-Chen Chen (Dajia Chen)
Application Number: 12/327,339
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Tool Is Single Element With Continuous Cutting Edge (e.g., Punch, Etc.) (83/698.91)
International Classification: B21D 28/34 (20060101);