Roof shingle remover

Apparatus for removing an outer layer, or covering, such as of shingles from a flat surface such as a roof includes a frame with an elongated, linear cutting blade attached to a lower, forward portion thereof and adapted for displacement along and in contact with the roof. The apparatus further includes a blade drive arrangement for displacing the blade in a reciprocating manner along its length and parallel to the roof. Also attached to a forward portion of the frame immediately above the blade is a concave, upward extending deflector for directing the removed shingles forward of the apparatus as it is displaced over the roof. A handle extends from the frame to facilitate manual displacement of the apparatus over the roof as the roofing nails, or other attachment means, are served by the blade in removing the shingles from the roof. Alternative embodiments include lower skids to facilitate pushing the apparatus over the roof surface as well as wheels including a drive wheel coupled to a drive source for self-propelled operation. To facilitate displacement of the apparatus over an inclined roof, a first cable may be attached to a pulley positioned near the peak of the roof, with one end of the cable attached to the apparatus frame and its other end attached to an operator via a safety belt for preventing either the operator or apparatus from falling off of the roof and to facilitate moving the apparatus up the inclined roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to the removal of an outer layer or 
covering from an underlying flat surface and is particularly directed to 
apparatus for removing shingles from a roof. 
The removal of shingles from a roof is time-consuming, labor intensive, and 
expensive. Shingle removal is generally accomplished by prying up the 
individual shingles using a pitchfork, directing the thus removed shingles 
down the slope of the roof using a shovel, and preparing the roof surface 
for a replacement layer of shingles by either removing the nails used to 
attach the removed shingles or driving the nails into the roof. This work 
is also dangerous and exhaustive. 
One attempt to facilitate the removal of shingles from a roof is disclosed 
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,547 to Dike which describes a pair of jaw-like 
members inserted beneath a shingle which are displaced apart by pneumatic 
pressure for removing the shingle. While this approach appears to be 
easier than removing the individual shingles with a hammer or pitchfork, 
it requires the removal of each shingle individually and is thus slow and 
tedious. 
The present invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior 
art by providing apparatus for removing several roof shingles at one time 
by severing the roof shingle attachment means, i.e., nails or an adhesive 
cement, over an extended portion of the roof. The roof shingle removing 
apparatus may be either hand-operated or power propelled in a direction 
either along or down the slope of the roof. The roof shingle removing 
apparatus is easily operated, lightweight, and highly efficient in 
removing roof shingles. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved apparatus for removing an outer covering or layer affixed to a 
flat underlying support structure. 
Another object of the present invention is to facilitate removal of a 
surface covering attached to a flat underlying support structure with 
nails or other attachment means by severing the attachment means and 
scraping the thus loosened covering away from the support structure. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, 
portable, easily controlled and operated apparatus for removing shingles 
from a roof. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a manual or powered 
apparatus with a reciprocating blade for stripping a surface covering from 
a flat support structure to which it is affixed. 
A still further object of the present invention is to substantially reduce 
the time required to remove a covering layer, such as of shingles, from a 
roof, while leaving the roof in condition for receiving a replacement 
covering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a roof shingle remover 10 removing 
shingles 14 from a roof 12 in accordance with the principles of the 
present invention. Additional details of the roof shingle remover 10 are 
shown in the partial side view of FIG. 2 and the sectional view of FIG. 3 
taken along site line 3--3 in FIG. 2. 
The roof shingle remover 10 is adapted for removing shingles 14 attached to 
a roof 12 by conventional means such as nails or an adhesive cement. The 
roof shingle remover 10 includes a frame 20 comprised of a plurality of 
coupled structural members including a pair of upright frame members 44, a 
pair of side frame members 40, and an aft frame member 42 coupling the 
side frame members. The side frame members 40 as well as the aft frame 
member 42 serve as skids to support the roof shingle remover 10 on the 
roof 12 as it is manually displaced by means of a handle 18 coupled to the 
structural frame 20 in removing shingles. As shown specifically in FIG. 3, 
the T-shaped handle 18 is pivotally coupled to a cross-member 46 by means 
of a pivot pin 54. An intermediate portion of the T-shaped handle 18 is 
adapted for coupling to a center bracket 48 by means of a positioning pin 
52 inserted through aligned apertures in the handle and center bracket. 
The height of the handle 18 may be selected by inserting the positioning 
pin 52 through an aperture in the handle as well as through an aligned 
aperture 50 in the center bracket 48. The height of the T-shaped handle 18 
may thus be adjusted as desired by an operator of the roof shingle remover 
10 depending upon operator preference and the slope of the roof. The 
handle 18 may be provided with a connecting loop 36 for attachment to a 
cable as described below to facilitate operation and handling of the roof 
shingle remover 10 or an inclined roof surface. Each of the structural 
members comprising the frame 20 is preferably comprised of a high 
strength, lightweight metal such as structural steel. The structural 
members are coupled by conventional means such as weldments so as to form 
a unitary structure. 
Disposed on a forward portion of the structural frame 20 is an elongated, 
linear channel member 34 defining a slot extending the width of the frame. 
Inserted in the end of the channel member 34 and extending the width of 
the structural frame 20 is a severing assembly 26. The severing assembly 
26 is inserted in tight-fitting relation within the channel member 34 and 
is freely displaceable along the length thereof. A conventional lubricant 
may be disposed within the channel member 34 and in contact with the 
severing assembly 26 to facilitate its linear displacement therein. The 
severing assembly 26 includes a displacement bar 28 to which an aft 
extension 57 is attached. The connecting rod 58 couples the aft extension 
57 to a reciprocating motor 61 by means of a drive shaft 59. Operation of 
the reciprocating motor 61 causes the severing assembly 26 to be displaced 
in a reciprocating manner within the channel member 34. The reciprocating 
motor 26 may be conventional in design and operation and may be either 
electrically or pneumatically driven or gasoline powered. 
A severing blade 30 is mounted to a forward portion of the displacement bar 
28. The severing blade 30 is preferably comprised of a high strength, hard 
steel and includes a plurality of spaced teeth on the leading edge 
thereof. The blade 30 is securely attached to a forward portion of the 
severing assembly 26 by a plurality of spaced flathead screws 32 which are 
welded to a lower surface of the blade and threadably engage the severing 
assembly. The blade preferably is displaced in a reciprocating manner over 
a distance of one inch at approximately 2400 strokes per minute. The 
severing assembly 26 may be removed from the frame 20 by sliding the 
displacement bar 28 from an end of the channel member 34 after 
disconnecting the severing assembly from the displacement motor 61. 
Disposed immediately above the severing blade 30 and attached to a forward 
portion of the frame 20 is a generally concave, upward and aft extending 
deflector 16. The deflector 16 moves the severed shingles forward and 
maintains them in front of the roof shingle remover 10 as it is displaced 
along the roof. The thus severed shingles may be easily pushed off the 
roof by the deflector 16 as the roof shingle remover 10 approaches an edge 
of the roof. The deflector 16 thus eliminates the step of collecting and 
disposing of the shingles after they are loosened from the roof. Disposed 
adjacent to respective ends of the deflector 16 and extending forward 
thereof are a pair of cutting elements 20 and 24. The cutting elements 20, 
24 are each provided with a sharp leading edge to severe the loosened 
shingles which are displaced up the deflector 16 from those shingles which 
have not yet been severed from the roof. The cutting elements 20, 24 thus 
permit a shingle-less path to be cut across the roof, with adjacent layers 
of shingles remaining for removal during subsequent passes. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are shown side and aft perspective views 
of a powered driven shingle remover 60 in accordance with the present 
invention. As in the previously described embodiment, the power driven 
shingle remover 60 includes a frame 62 having a generally T-shaped channel 
62a in a forward portion thereof for receiving a displacement bar 64. 
Attached to a leading edge of the displacement bar 64 is a severing blade 
66. The displacement bar and severing blade combination is freely 
displaceable along the length thereof within the T-shaped channel 62a. 
Attached to a forward portion of the frame is a concave, upward extending 
shingle deflector 68 which maintains severed shingles in front of the 
power driven shingle remover 60 for removal from the roof. Disposed 
adjacent respective lateral ends of the shingle deflector 68 are first and 
second cutting elements 70 and 72 which severe loosened and unloosened 
portions of adjacent shingles permitting the power driven shingle remover 
60 to cut a shingle-less swath across the surface of the roof. An 
adjustable handle 84 is pivotally coupled to the frame 62 to allow for 
adjustment of its height. A connecting loop 56 affixed to an aft cross 
member 77 of the frame 62 permits the power driven shingle remover 60 to 
be attached to a restraining system to facilitate positioning of the 
shingle remover apparatus as well as for increased safety as described 
below. 
Attached to an aft portion of the displacement bar 64 is an aft extension 
bar 94. A displacement motor 86 is coupled to the aft extension bar 94 by 
means of a drive shaft 88, a coupler 90, and a connecting link 92. The 
displacement motor 86 is of the reciprocating type for driving the 
displacement bar 64 and severing blade 66 combination along its length 
within the T-shaped channel 62a. The reciprocating displacement motor 86 
may be either gasoline, electrically, or pneumatically powered and may be 
conventional in design and operation. The displacement motor 86 is 
securely attached to the structural frame 62 by means of a mounting 
bracket 96. 
Attached to the structural frame 62 are a plurality of wheels, two of which 
are identified as elements 74 and 76 in the figures. It should be noted 
that wheels 74 and 76 are shown in dotted line form in FIG. 5 for the sake 
of clarity. Attached to wheel 76 by means of a drive chain and sprocket 
combination 82 is a drive motor 78. The drive motor 78 is securely 
attached to the structural frame 62 by means of a motor mounting bracket 
80. The drive motor 78 rotationally displaces the drive wheel 76 via the 
chain and sprocket combination 82 for displacing the power driven shingle 
remover 60. While the displacement motor 86 is of the reciprocating type, 
the drive motor 78 is preferably a rotary-type motor for rotationally 
displacing the drive wheel 76. The drive motor 78 may also be gasoline 
powered or electrically or pneumatically driven. 
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there are respectively shown side and top plan 
views of a tractor-type shingle remover 100 in accordance with another 
embodiment of the present invention. The tractor-type shingle remover 100 
includes a motor housing 102 enclosing a drive motor 110 for rotationally 
displacing a pair of forward drive wheel 116a and 116b. Each of the drive 
wheels 116a, 116b is provided with a plurality of studs on the outer 
surface thereof for securely gripping the roof surface, particularly in 
the case of an inclined roof. The shingle remover 100 further includes a 
control panel 104, a steering wheel 106, a seat 108 and an aft, steerable 
wheel 112 coupled by suitable linkage to the steering wheel. An operator 
positioned on the seat 108 has access to the control panel 104 as well as 
a hydraulics panel 114 and a plurality of control pedals 115 for 
controlling various operations of the shingle remover 100. 
Attached to the motor housing 102 by conventional means such as flexible 
linkage or slidably engaged coupling members (not shown for simplicity) is 
a positioning platform 118. The positioning platform 118 is capable of 
vertical displacement relative to the motor housing 102 under the control 
of a wench 120 and a plurality of cables 122a, 122b, 122c and 122d 
coupling the wench to the positioning platform 118. The wench 120 and 
cables permit the positioning platform 118 to be lowered under the 
influence of gravity to a roof engaging position as shown in the figures 
or to be upraised to a non-use position for transport or storage. 
Attached to a forward portion of the positioning platform 118 is a 
generally concave, upward extending deflector 124. Also attached to a 
lower, forward portion of the positioning platform 118 is a displacement 
bar 126 which is freely moveable along its length within the positioning 
platform. Attached to a lower, forward portion of the displacement bar 126 
is a severing blade 130, while attached to an upper portion of the 
displacement bar is a connecting rod 128 for coupling the displacement bar 
to a reciprocating displacement motor 132. Suitable control linkage 134 
coupled to the displacement motor 132 allows an operator of the shingle 
remover 100 to control the displacement motor in actuating the shingle 
severing blade 130. The hydraulic panel 114 is coupled to and controls the 
wench 120 by suitable hydraulic linkage (not shown) for controlling the 
raising and lowering of the positioning platform 118 and the position of 
the severing blade 130. The displacement motor 132 is also mounted on the 
positioning platform 118 and is raised and lowered with the displacement 
bar 126 and severing blade 130. The cables 122a, 122b, 122c and 122d are 
coupled to the wench 120 and are independently adjustable for controlling 
the height of the forward and aft portions of the positioning platform 118 
above the roof. As in the previous embodiments, the severing blade 130 is 
reciprocally displaced in a direction generally transverse to the 
direction of movement of the shingle remover 100. 
Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown in simplified schematic diagram form an 
operator/shingle remover restraining system 138 for use with the roof 
shingle remover of the present invention. The restraining system 138 is 
adapted for use on inclined roof sections 142a and 142b of a structure, or 
building, 140. The restraining system 138 includes a plurality of jacks 
146 securely attached to a first inclined roof section 142a by 
conventional means such as nails or threaded fasteners. The jacks 146, 
only one of which is shown in the figure for simplicity, are positioned in 
a spaced manner along a length of the roof and are coupled at respective 
upper ends thereof by means of a cable 145. Attached to and suspended from 
the cable 146 is a pulley 148 having a cable 144 suspended therefrom. 
Attached to one end of the cable 144 is a safety belt 152, while attached 
to a second end of the cable is a loop coupler 150. The loop coupler 150 
is adapted for attachment to a handle-mounted connecting loop previously 
described and illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. A safety belt 152 is adapted 
for positioning about the waist of an operator of a roof shingle remover 
such as shown in FIGS. 1-5. The safety belt 152 attached to the roof 
shingle remover operator prevents the operator from falling off the 
inclined roof section 142b, while the loop coupler 150 attached to the 
shingle remover prevents the shingle remover from slipping off of the 
inclined roof section. The jacks 146 are securely attached to the opposing 
side of the inclined roof from which the shingles are being removed. 
There has thus been shown a roof shingle remover which includes a 
motor-driven, reciprocally operated cutting blade adapted for insertion 
beneath the shingles for severing the shingle attachment means. The 
severing blade is mounted in a forward, lower portion of a movable frame 
which may be either pushed or motor drive. Disposed immediately above the 
severing blade and on a forward portion of the structural frame is a 
deflector for collecting the thus removed shingles and pushing them off of 
the roof. The roof shingle remover may be either in the form of a 
lightweight, portable, hand-held unit, or may be in the form of a larger, 
tractor-type vehicle on which the operator rides for larger shingle 
removing jobs. An operator and roof shingle remover restraining system 
prevents either the shingle removing apparatus or an operator from falling 
off an inclinded roof. 
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and 
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and 
modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its 
broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all 
such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of 
the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and 
accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a 
limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in 
the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the 
prior art.