Multiple-impact adapter for a hammer tool

An adapter for converting a hammer tool into a multiple-impact object driving tool, the hammer tool having a housing with a barrel portion including a rear section and a nose section, a passage extending through the barrel portion with an opening in the nose section extending into the passage, the hammer tool having a reciprocating impact member being positioned in the passage, the adapter comprising:

• a shroud for removably mounting on a hammer tool, the shroud having a forward end and a rearward end, a bore being formed through the upper shroud between the forward and rearward ends, the shroud having a rear portion located at the rearward end of the shroud for removably receiving a portion of the hammer device, the shroud having a front portion located forward of the rear portion;
• a drive punch positioned in the bore of the shroud with a rear section for being impacted by the reciprocating impact member of the hammer tool and a forward end for impacting an object to be driven;
• a guide bushing extending forwardly from the shroud, the guide bushing having a forward end and a rearward end, a channel extending through the guide bushing between the forward and rearward ends for receiving a portion of the object to be driven, the guide bushing being slidably mounted on the front portion of the shroud such that the guide bushing is movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
• and
• a muffling means for muffling noise and vibration mounted on the shroud for mounting on the hammer tool with the shroud and removal from the hammer tool with the shroud;
• wherein the muffling means comprises a muffler member mounted on the rear portion of the shroud, the muffler member having a bore in communication with the bore of the shroud, an annular space being formed about the bore of the muffler member for extending about a barrel portion of the hammer tool when the shroud is mounted on the hammer tool, and a muffling material for absorbing vibration being positioned in the annular space for extending about the barrel portion when the shroud is mounted on the hammer tool.

An adapter for converting a hammer tool into a multiple-impact object driving tool, the hammer tool having a housing with a barrel portion including a rear section and a nose section, a passage extending through the barrel portion with an opening in the nose section extending into the passage, the hammer tool having a reciprocating impact member being positioned in the passage, the adapter comprising:

• a shroud for removably mounting on a hammer tool, the shroud having a forward end and a rearward end, a bore being formed through the upper shroud between the forward and rearward ends, the shroud having a rear portion located at the rearward end of the shroud for removably receiving a portion of the hammer device, the shroud having a front portion located forward of the rear portion;
• a drive punch positioned in the bore of the shroud with a rear section for being impacted by the reciprocating impact member of the hammer tool and a forward end for impacting an object to be driven;
• a guide bushing extending forwardly from the shroud, the guide bushing having a forward end and a rearward end, a channel extending through the guide bushing between the forward and rearward ends for receiving a portion of the object to be driven, the guide bushing being slidably mounted on the front portion of the shroud such that the guide bushing is movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
• wherein the channel of the guide bushing has an entire length extending from a first end of the guide bushing to a second, opposite end of the guide bushing, the channel having a substantially uniform diameter along said entire length of the guide bushing;
• wherein the rear portion of the shroud includes retaining means for retaining the shroud on the nose of the hammer tool;
• wherein the retaining means includes:
• a longitudinal slit formed in the rear portion of the shroud toward the forward end;
• and
• a pair of retaining tabs, each of the retaining tabs are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal slit;
• and a fastener for constricting the longitudinal slit by pulling the retaining tabs toward each other.

An adapter for converting a hammer tool into a multiple-impact object driving tool, the hammer tool having a housing with a barrel portion including a rear section and a nose section, a passage extending through the barrel portion with an opening in the nose section extending into the passage, the hammer tool having a reciprocating impact member being positioned in the passage, the adapter comprising:

• a shroud for removably mounting on a hammer tool, the shroud having a forward end and a rearward end, a bore being formed through the upper shroud between the forward and rearward ends, the shroud having a rear portion located at the rearward end of the shroud for removably receiving a portion of the hammer device, the shroud having a front portion located forward of the rear portion;
• a drive punch positioned in the bore of the shroud with a rear section for being impacted by the reciprocating impact member of the hammer tool and a forward end for impacting an object to be driven;
• a guide bushing extending forwardly from the shroud, the guide bushing having a forward end and a rearward end, a channel extending through the guide bushing between the forward and rearward ends for receiving a portion of the object to be driven, the guide bushing being slidably mounted on the front portion of the shroud such that the guide bushing is movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
• and
• an extender assembly removably mounted on the shroud, the extender assembly including a collar extending about the shroud and an extender member pivotally mounted on the collar and extending forwardly past the forward end of the shroud and the forward end of the guide bushing, a foremost end of the extender member having a forked configuration for receiving a portion of a fastener to position the fastener as it extends into the channel of the guide bushing.