The Cole-Bar Hammer, a patented multi-tool that has been called “the Optimus Prime of Hammers,” has attracted over $131,000 in pledges on the crowd funding Kickstarter.com in sixty days, making it most funded hand tool launched via the crowd funding site.

Indianapolis, IN -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/24/2013 -- The Cole-Bar Hammer, a patented multi-tool created by an Indianapolis inventor and his late son, has attracted over $131,000 in manufacturing support via the crowd-funding site Kickstarter.com, making it the most funded hand tool ever via the site. Over 1,800 individual donors have backed the project on Kickstarter since it launched on April 24, 2013. Donors who have pledged at least $65 will receive a Cole-Bar of their own from among the first few thousand manufactured. The Cole-Bar combines a hammer, a crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers.

"The Cole-Bar Hammer has been in development since 1997," says Brandon Hyde, the inventor's spokesperson. "We were fortunate enough to make it all the way to the finals of the DIY Network Cool Tools inventor's challenge in 2009. But it's funding via the Kickstarter campaign that is finally making this tool a reality. We thank God that almost two thousand do-it-yourselfers, contractors and tool fans have caught our vision for this project."

Brandon Hyde continues, "Our original goal was $100,000. We met that goal in just 30 days, so we added a stretch goal of $125,000 to add a set of metric measurement guides to the Cole-Bar Hammer. We met our stretch goal over the weekend. It's amazing, because $65 is a very generous pledge on Kickstarter. We expected a lot more supporters to come in below that amount, but it turns out that the vast majority of our backers want a Cole-Bar of their own. So in a way, the Kickstarter campaign has also served as a kind of market research for us."

"Some of this funding will help finalize the design and fund the materials testing," says Brandon. "We have some engineering issues to work out, and we want to investigate making a later version of the Cole-Bar Hammer in a high-end material like titanium. We've received a lot of requests for that. If everything goes as planned, we hope to take delivery of the first production run in late summer."

The Cole-Bar Hammer was the brainstorm of Brandon's father, Lance Hyde and Brandon's brother, Cole, in 1997. Lance and Cole (who was eleven years old at the time) were putting an assortment of tools away at the end of a long day spent constructing a pole-barn. Wishing they had fewer tools to wrangle, the pair had a simultaneous brainstorm to combine a hammer with a crowbar. They even constructed a crude prototype.

Cole died in a tragic accident on their property just a few months later. Distraught over his loss, Lance Hyde shelved the multi-tool idea for several years. He later decided to move forward with the development of the tool in Cole's memory, recruiting Cole's older brother Brandon and his sister Heather to help with the development and take it to market. Lance Hyde was awarded a U.S. Patent for the multi-tool in 2011.

About the Cole-Bar Hammer
The Cole-Bar Hammer is a patented multi-tool that combines a hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers. It is the first hand tool invention successfully funded via Kickstarter.com, raising over $131,000 from over 1,800 donors. Since its Kickstarter campaign launched, the Cole-Bar Hammer has been featured on several national home improvement shows and tool blogs, including "Popular Science Radio," the "DIY Live" radio show with Karl Champley, and the "On The House" radio show with the Carey Brothers. Dan Maxey of the Tools in Action blog called it the "Optimus Prime of Hammers."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Cole-Bar Hammer, a multi-tool that combines a hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers, has become the first hand tool successfully launched via Kickstarter, the crowd funding website. The inventor of the patented multi-tool has raised nearly $123,000 to start commercial production of the tool.

Indianapolis, IN -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/21/2013 -- Nearly 1,700 individual donors have found the idea of a combination crow bar and hammer so compelling that they've pledged over $123,000 on Kickstarter.com toward manufacturing and marketing the Cole-Bar Hammer, a patented multi-tool created by an Indianapolis inventor, Lance Hyde, and his late son Cole.

"As far as we can tell, this is the most funded hand tool ever on Kickstarter," says Brandon Hyde, Lance Hyde's older son and the family spokesperson. Donors who have pledged at least $65 will get a Cole-Bar of their own from among the first few thousand made. "Cole would be so excited to see his idea becoming a reality," says Brandon.

Kickstarter is making the Cole-Bar possible," he continues. "The Cole-Bar made it to the finals of the DIY Cool Tools inventor's competition a few years ago, but it wasn't until we posted this project on Kickstarter that we pulled together enough funding to take the tool to production. Kickstarter is the ideal incubator for a project like this. It makes venture capital accessible to anybody. If you have a great idea, and the Kickstarter community shares your vision, your dreams can come true."

"We are about $2,000 away from hitting our stretch goal of $125,000, at which point we will add a set of metric measurement guides to the tool," says Brandon. "We only have four days to go, but I'm sure we'll make it. Kickstarter backers are so enthusiastic about the Cole-Bar that many of them are buying multiples of the tool to give as gifts to other DIY fans in the family."

The Cole-Bar Hammer was the brainstorm of Lance Hyde and his son Cole. The pair was putting tools away at the end of a long day of pole-barn building back in 1997. Cole, who was then just eleven years old, laid a crow-bar down on top of a hammer, and the father and son both had the same thought: "Wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer and crow bar in the same tool?"

Cole died in a tragic accident just a few months later. Distraught over his loss, Lance Hyde shelved the idea for almost a decade. In 2008, he decided to make a new prototype of the tool in Cole's memory, recruiting Cole's half-siblings Brandon and Heather to help develop the tool and take it to market. In 2011, Lance Hyde was awarded a U.S. Patent for the multi-tool.

About the Cole-Bar Hammer
The Cole-Bar Hammer is a patented multi-tool that combines a hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers. It is the first hand tool invention successfully funded via Kickstarter.com, raising over $123,000 from nearly 1,700 donors. Since its Kickstarter campaign launched, the Cole-Bar Hammer has been featured on several national home improvement shows and tool blogs, including "Popular Science Radio," the "DIY Live" radio show with Karl Champley, and the "On The House" radio show with the Carey Brothers. Dan Maxey of the Tools in Action blog called it the "Optimus Prime of Hammers."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The story behind the invention and ultimate manufacturing of the Cole-Bar Hammer is a tale of a dad and his kids...the late son who helped invent it, and his surviving brother and sister who are helping to bring it to market via Kickstarter.com, the crowd funding website where artists, designers, and inventors go to have their dreams backed by individual donors.

Roan Mountain, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/17/2013 -- The Cole-Bar Hammer is a patented multi-tool that combines a hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers. Over 1,600 individual donors have found the invention so compelling that they've pledged over $118,000 on Kickstarter.com toward manufacturing and marketing the tool. Donors who've chipped in at least $65 will get a Cole-Bar of their own from among the first few thousand made.

The story behind the invention and ultimate manufacturing of the Cole-Bar Hammer is a story of a dad and his children...the late son who helped invent it, and his surviving brother and sister who are helping to make it a reality. "This project has been a Godsend for my family," says Lance's older son, Brandon, a resident of Tennessee. "It helped Dad do something positive in Cole's memory, and it helped bring my father and I closer together. That's a perfect thing to celebrate this Father's Day."

In 1997, Cole Hyde, 11, was helping his father, Lance Hyde, put tools away at the end of a long day of pole-barn building. Cole laid a crow-bar down on top of a hammer, and the pair both had the same thought: "Wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer and crow bar in the same tool?"

They built a prototype that day, but a few months later, before the idea went anywhere, Cole died in a tragic accident on their property. He was just twelve years old. The "crowbar hammer" invention lay dormant for years, as Lance dealt with his loss. Eventually, Lance decided to make a another prototype as a way of paying tribute to his late son. He then recruited Cole's older brother, Brandon, and sister, Heather to help turn their idea into a real product.

Over the next few years, the family manufactured a total of five Cole-Bar Hammer prototypes. In 2011, Lance Hyde was awarded a U.S. Patent for the multi-tool.

"Kickstarter is what has taken us to the next level," says Brandon. "The Cole-Bar made it to the finals of the DIY Cool Tools inventor's competition a few years ago, but it wasn't until we posted this project on Kickstarter that we pulled together enough funding to take the tool to production. And the enthusiasm from backers has been incredible. They're making multiple pledges so they can get one Cole-Bar for themselves, and one for a Father's Day present or one for a brother or son," says Brandon." One backer, Bob Peek, commented, "I asked my dad if he wanted one and he said 'who wouldn't. Sweet product. Sweet story." Another with the screen name ArniesAirsoft said, "Can I adjust my pledge to cover two hammers and not just one? Let me know how to do it and I'll adjust accordingly. I figure my dad could do with one too!"

The Cole-Bar Hammer is among the first tool designs ever to be funded via Kickstarter. The Hyde family has raised over $100,000 in pledges to launch commercial production of the tool in just the first thirty days of the the sixty-day campaign. Brandon Hyde continues, "It's incredible how many people have been inspired to help us. Our story gives people hope. With God's help, we've turned a tragic loss into something positive that my brother Cole would be so proud of. He would just love this."

About the Cole-Bar Hammer
The Cole-Bar Hammer is a patented multi-tool that combines a hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers. The Cole-Bar Hammer had its official launch at the 2013 National Hardware Show. An earlier prototype made it to the finals in a DIY Network inventors competition. The Cole-Bar Hammer was inspired by its inventor's late son, Cole Hyde, who had the idea for the tool when he was just eleven years old. When Cole tragically passed away less than a year later, Cole's father, Lance Hyde, decided to move forward with a prototype of the tool in tribute to his son, ultimately naming the tool after him. The Cole-Bar Hammer is most funded hand tool designs ever on Kickstarter.com, so far raising nearly $120,000 from over 1,635 backers to date.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Brandon Hyde, the co-developer of a new multi-tool, the Cole-Bar Hammer, relied on his faith in God to help him survive the tragic accidental death of his twelve-year-old brother, Cole – the inspiration of the combination hammer and crow-bar that bears his name. The Cole-Bar is the most successful hand tool design ever launched on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter.com.

Roan Mountain, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/07/2013 -- Indiana resident Cole Hyde, 11, was helping his father, Lance Hyde, build a pole barn. While putting tools away at the end of the day, Cole laid a crow-bar down on top of a hammer. The pair both had the same thought — "Wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer and crow bar in the same tool?" Just a few months later, before Lance Hyde could pursue their idea, Cole died in a tragic accident on their property. He was just twelve years old.

Cole's half-brother Brandon says, "I Ioved being Cole's big brother. He was one of the most loving little boys you could ever meet. Our family was just devastated at his senseless loss. I had my faith in God to help get me through, but my father was not at the same place with his faith," says Brandon Hyde. "Dad was crushed, and angry at God for taking this innocent child."

"A couple of years after Cole passed away, Dad called me to say that he had decided to move forward with the multi-tool that he and Cole had talked about before he died, as a way of paying tribute to my brother."

Over the next few years, the family manufactured five Cole-Bar Hammer prototypes. In 2011, Lance Hyde was awarded a U.S. Patent for the Cole-Bar Hammer. "Development of the Cole-Bar Hammer has been a real rollercoaster ride," says Brandon Hyde. "We had a couple of 'big breaks' that didn't pan out. We had some business deals fall through. But whenever we would hit an obstacle, I just prayed."

"At the time, Dad couldn't fully relate to it, but my faith is my foundation. I'm not an inventor. I'm not a marketing expert. What do I know about bringing a tool to the market?" Brandon Hyde asks. "Well, God knows all, so who better to rely on than the one who knows everything?"

The Cole-Bar Hammer is among the first tool designs ever to be funded via Kickstarter. The Hyde family has raised $100,000 in pledges to launch commercial production of the tool in just the first thirty days of the the sixty-day campaign. Brandon Hyde continues, "It's incredible how many people have been inspired to help us. Our story gives people hope. With God's help, we've turned a tragic loss into something positive that my brother Cole would be so proud of. He would just love this."

"I graduated from Lee University, a Christ-centered college," Brandon Hyde continues. "Dad has always known where I stand as a Christian and he deep down has always had a level of faith himself, but there were times he didn't want to talk about his faith because he was hurting. Now we look back and see all the things that have taken place in the development of the Cole-Bar Hammer, the obstacles that have miraculously turned into opportunities...now Dad is thinking, 'Maybe there's something to this whole God thing.' Dad is talking about God in ways he never has before. Because he has seen the miracles," says Brandon Hyde.

About the Cole-Bar Hammer
The Cole-Bar Hammer is a patented multi-tool that combines a hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers. The Cole-Bar Hammer had its official launch at the 2013 National Hardware Show. An earlier prototype made it to the finals in a DIY Network inventors competition. The Cole-Bar Hammer was inspired by its inventor's late son, Cole Hyde, who had the idea for the tool when he was just eleven years old. When Cole tragically passed away less than a year later, Cole's father, Lance Hyde, decided to move forward with a prototype of the tool in tribute to his son, ultimately naming the tool after him. The Cole-Bar Hammer is among the first hand tool designs ever funded on Kickstarter.com, raising more than $100,000 from over 1,575 supporters to date.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Brandon Hyde has appeared on Popular Science Radio, "DIY Live" Karl Champley, and "On The House" with the Carey Brothers. He's an eloquent, passionate and articulate spokesperson for both the Cole-Bar Hammer and his Christian faith. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Brandon directly using the information listed in this release.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Cole-Bar Hammer’s production team is formulating stretch goals for their Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign, in hopes of tripling or quadrupling their initial $100,000 goal. Having raised over $100,000 in just the first thirty days of the sixty-day campaign, the team now aims to fund not just pre-production, but also manufacturing and a complete national marketing launch of the new multi-tool invention.

Roan Mountain, TN -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/31/2013 -- A multifunction tool based on a combination hammer and crowbar has met its $100,000 Kickstarter goal with 30 days to spare. The crowd-funded campaign launched April 24 and ends June 24, 2013. "We are all amazed at the overwhelming positive response to the Cole-Bar and we are very excited about making the best tool that we can," said the Cole-Bar team's spokesperson, Brandon Hyde.

The Cole-Bar Hammer was inspired by its inventor's late son, Cole Hyde, who had the idea for the tool when he was just eleven years old. When Cole tragically passed away less than a year later, Cole's father, Lance Hyde, decided to move forward with a prototype of the tool in tribute to his son, ultimately naming the tool after him.

Over the next several years, Lance and Cole's brother Brandon Hyde continued to create prototypes, eventually becoming the finalists on the DIY Network's Cool Tools inventor's competition show. Lacking the budget for expensive materials research, industrial design and manufacturing development, the family turned to Kickstarter.com in April of 2013. Headquartered in New York City, Kickstarter is a "crowd funding" website that has helped artists, innovators, designers and other creators fund over 40,000 projects, from art installations to underwater robots to music albums and restaurants. The Cole-Bar is one of the first hand tools ever funded via Kickstarter.

Pledge levels on the Kickstarter project start at $1 and go up to $5,000 or more. As of May 31, 2013, the project has brought in $106,299 in pledges. Most funders seem to be eager to get their own Cole-Bar Hammer, with 1,397 of the 1,480 pledges coming in between $65 and $85, in exchange for which the recipient will get a production model of the demolition multi-tool. The highest pledge so far is for $1,000, which will get the backer one of the first 100 Cole-Bar Hammers manufactured, plus a certificate of authenticity signed by Lance Hyde, and a picture of his son Cole, who inspired the tool.

The highest pledge level available is $5,000, which will get the donor one of the first 25 Cole-Bar Hammers produced, plus a trip to Indianapolis, Indiana and dinner with Lance Hyde and his family. All $5,000 donors will also be welcome to join the production team on set of the Cole-Bar infomercial, to be filmed later this year.

"We are overwhelmed by the success and we sincerely thank everyone who has pledged to our project," said Brandon Hyde in a recent update. "Due to the great success, we are already in the process to move forward with full production. We have already been in discussion with our engineers/designers as we analyze the current prototype. We will decide on what changes we can make to improve the tool before we move into pre-production."

About the Cole-Bar Hammer
A combination hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers, the Cole-Bar Hammer is named for its inspiration, Cole N. Hyde. Cole was just eleven years of age when he and his father Lance Hyde were building a pole barn. While putting tools away after a long day, Cole had laid a crow bar on top of a hammer. They both had the same thought — "Wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer and crow bar together?" Sadly, Cole passed away at the age of twelve after a tragic accident but his father and family never gave up on Cole's idea, manufacturing five prototypes over the years to test and refine the concept. The Cole-Bar Hammer had its official launch at the 2013 National Hardware Show. An earlier prototype made it to the finals in a DIY Network inventors competition. Check the Kickstarter page at http://bit.ly/colebarpr for the latest news updates.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

A Kickstarter "crowd funding" campaign to underwrite commercial production of a new multifunction demolition and construction tool, the Cole-Bar Hammer, has raised $96,853 in pledges after just 22 days.

Roan Mountain, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2013 -- A Kickstarter campaign to fund commercial production of a new multifunction demolition and construction tool, the Cole-Bar Hammer, has achieved 96% funding after just 22 days. Over 1,351 backers had pledged $96,853 of the project's $100,000 goal, according to the project leader, Brandon Hyde and the tool's inventor, Lance Hyde. The project had already proven popular on the funding platform—it had raised over $30,000 before the campaign was officially launched at the 2013 National Hardware Show on May 7.

Kickstarter is a "crowd funding" website that nearly four million people have used so far to fund over 40,000 creative projects in the arts, technology, design, and more. The Cole-Bar will only be funded if at least $100,000 is pledged by Monday Jun 24, 9:11pm EDT via Kickstarter.com. "Funds will be used to build the moulds, tooling and pre-production, testing, marketing and distribution, among other things," according to Brandon Hyde, son of Lance Hyde.

A combination hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers, the Cole-Bar Hammer was a finalist in a DIY Network inventors competition. The Cole-Bar's inventors have been refining their prototypes for over five years.

"We've faced some challenges and obstacles with bringing the Cole-Bar to the market, but we have never given up no matter what we have faced. We will continue to do so until we can put it into the hands of consumers.", said Brandon.

Several different funding levels are being promoted on the site. Donation levels start at $1 and go up to $5,000 or more. So far, the most popular level is $65, in exchange for which the recipient will get a production model of the demolition tool. Over 1,257 backers have pledged at this level. Anyone donating at the $5,000 level will receive one of the first numbered 5 thru 25 Cole-Bar Hammers along with a certificate of authenticity signed by the inventor Lance Hyde, plus a picture of Cole Hyde, the eleven-year-old boy who inspired the tool. Donors at the $5,000 level will also enjoy a trip to Indianapolis and dinner with the Inventor and family, plus an invitation to join the inventors and supporters on the production set of the Cole-Bar Hammer infomercial.

About the Cole-Bar Hammer
The Cole-Bar Hammer is named for its inspiration, Cole N. Hyde. Cole was just eleven years of age when he and his father Lance Hyde were building a pole barn. While putting tools away after a long day, Cole had laid a crow bar on top of a hammer. They both had the same thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer and crow bar together?" Sadly, Cole passed away at the age of twelve after a tragic accident but his father and family never gave up on Cole's idea, manufacturing 5 prototypes over the years to test and refine the concept. A successful Kickstarter campaign will fund production and marketing of the first commercially available Cole-Bar Hammer.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

A Kickstarter "crowdfunding" campaign for the Cole-Bar, a new multi-function hammer design officially kicks off at National Hardware Show May 7 through 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Roan Mountain, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2013 -- Fundraising to launch commercial production of a new multifunction demolition and construction tool, the Cole-Bar Hammer, will be officially kicked off at the 2013 National Hardware Show, scheduled for May 7 - 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A combination hammer, crow bar, a demolition tool, angle measurement tool, ruler, a socket wrench and nail pliers, the Cole-Bar Hammer was a finalist in a DIY Network inventors competition. Popular Mechanics has called the tool,"The leatherman of hammers."

The inventors of the Cole-Bar have been refining their prototypes for over five years, and have launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to raise $100,000 in pledges to take the final prototype into production and distribution. Kickstarter is a "crowd funding" website that nearly four million people have used so far to fund over 40,000 creative projects in the arts, technology, design, and more.

"I believe that the Cole-Bar Hammer is one of the very first hand tool designs to seek funding through Kickstarter," said its inventor, Lance Hyde. "We are amazed at the response so far. Kickstarter launched the page just over a week ago, and already we have attracted nearly 500 backers who have pledged over $36,000 towards our goal...and that was before we officially launched the campaign!"

Comments from backers on Kickstarter are just as impressive. Josh Walker said, "Sent this link over to some friends of mine on construction teams...talk about excited, they claim to have watched the video at least 15+ times! Can't wait to see it in every hardware store across America!" A backer named Fernando Ramos shared, "This looks like a winning design. Practical and useful. I am looking forward to the finished product. I also wonder how a similar design might work for a camping hatchet. Great work!"

The National Hardware Show opens at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 7 and continues through Thursday, May 9 at 3:00 p.m. At the Las Vegas Convention Center, at 3150 Paradise Road. The event attracts over 27,000 industry professionals who come together to learn what's new and what's hot in the fields of hardware and tools, building products, plumbing and electrical, paint and accessories and other home and garden categories.

Project team leader Brandon Hyde noted, "Our demographics are mainly 25-55 year old males, but the Cole-Bar will be significant to anyone who is a 'do it yourself' enthusiast. Our product is a multi-tool that combines seven tools into one. The more tools you can get for a single price, the better. If you were to purchase all the tools that are found in the Cole-Bar, you would easily spend over $200. We will be able to cut that in half...It's also nice to know you always have a tool in your box that can pry up/apart most things you can throw at it. Besides…why not have a crow bar built in? It doesn't change how it functions as a hammer."

About the Cole-Bar Hammer
The Cole-Bar Hammer is named for its inspiration, Cole N. Hyde. Cole was just eleven years of age when he and his father Lance Hyde were building a pole barn. While putting tools away after a long day, Cole had laid a crow bar on top of a hammer. They both had the same thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if you had a hammer and crow bar together?" Sadly, Cole passed away at the age of twelve after a tragic accident but his father never gave up on Cole's idea, manufacturing 5 prototypes over the years to test and refine the concept. A successful Kickstarter campaign will fund production and marketing of the first commercially available Cole-Bar Hammer.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm