An apparatus for locking the head of a hand tool to the handle of the tool. The apparatus generally includes a tapered handle with one or more groove cut into the handle at the tool end of the handle. The grooves are then filled with a compressible material. The head of the tool (such as a pick axe, a hammer, an axe, etc.) is then placed over handle and moved over the grooves to the end. The compressible material will lock the head into place, fixing a longstanding problem with hand tools of the heads coming loose.
1. A hand tool, comprising:
a handle, the handle having a first end and tapering to a larger diameter at a second end and at least one groove cut into the handle;
a head, the head having an aperture therethrough, the aperture having a tapered inner surface such that the head can be frictionally held at the second end; and
a compressible member located within the groove, the compressible member having a first compressed portion between the head and the taper at the second end and a non-compressed portion extending from the interface between the head and the tapered portion and preventing movement of the head in the direction of the first end.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one grove runs axially with the handle.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein when the hand tool is assembled, a portion of the one or more grooves is located under the head and a portion of the one or more grooves extends from under the head.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the compressible member is constructed and arranged to form a stop at the interface, to further lock the head in place.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hand tool is a pick axe.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hand tool is a hammer.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hand tool is an axe.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the groove defines a hollowed out volume from the second end of the handle.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the compressible member is compressed within the at least one groove.
10. A method for locking a head to a handle, comprising:
placing one or more compressible members, into a groove on a second end of a handle, the handle having a first end and tapering to a larger outer diameter at the second end;
placing a head around the second end of the handle, the head having an aperture therethrough, the aperture having a tapered inner diameter corresponding to the taper at the second end of the handle such that the head can be frictionally held on the second end, around the handle;
moving the head so that the head is over a portion of the compressible member; and
further using friction on the head and permit the compressible member to form a stop at an edge of the head to lock the head in place.
11. The method in claim 10 , wherein the head is a pick axe.
12. The method in claim 10 , wherein the head is a hammer.
13. The method in claim 10 , wherein the head is an axe.
14. The method in claim 10 , further including compressing a first portion of the compressible member with the tapered inner diameter of the head and allowing a second portion of the compressible member to remain uncompressed.
15. The method in claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the compressible member is between the aperture of the head and the second end of the handle and the second portion of the compressible member extends beyond the aperture towards the first end of the handle.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the groove defines a hollowed out volume from the handle.