MULTIFUNCTIONAL TOOL

A multifunctional tool which may be used for rivet removal, as well as other applications includes a prybar member coupled to a punch member, wherein the prybar creates a handle that holds the punch enabling the user to distance the punch from his/ her hand when striking the punch with a hammer. In certain embodiments, the tool further comprises at least one nail pull slot at the claw of the prybar element. In some embodiments, the tool also provides a chisel end, which may be used by striking the handle at an end opposite the chisel end.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to multipurpose tools, and more specifically to a tool useful in rivet removal.

Rivet removal may typically require multiple tools such as a punch, hammer, and a chisel. For example, a typical process for removal of a rivet from a sign may involve striking the punch with the hammer to loosen the center part of the rivet and driving the chisel between the rivet and the sign with a hammer for the final removal step. This process risks injury to the hand, in addition to requiring multiple tools. As such, there is a need for an improved system that addresses at least the above-mentioned limitation of the prior art.

SUMMARY

According to various embodiments, disclosed is a multifunctional tool which may be used for rivet removal, as well as other applications.

In certain embodiments, the multifunctional tool may comprise a prybar member comprising a shaft and a claw extending from a bottom end of the shaft; at least one nail pull slot within the claw of the prybar member; and a nail punch coupled to the shaft, wherein a longitudinal axis of the nail punch is at an approximate right angle to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Thus, the prybar member creates a handle that holds the punch instead of the user having to hold the punch in his hand. This enables the user to distance the punch from his hand when striking the punch with a hammer.

In some embodiments, wherein the nail punch is coupled proximate a top end of the shaft opposite the bottom end. In further embodiments, the nail pull slot includes an intermediate slot disposed within the claw proximate the top end of the shaft. In some embodiments, the intermediate slot includes a front-side opening and a rear-side opening, wherein the front-side opening extends from a front side of the claw to an intermediate section along the width of the claw, wherein the rear-side opening is stepped inwards from the front-side opening and extends from the intermediate section to a rear-side of the claw along the width of claw, and wherein the front-side opening is larger than the rear-side opening such that the intermediate section creates a platform for engagement of a fastener head. In further embodiments, the front-side opening is stadium shaped, wherein rear-side opening is teardrop shaped with its narrow end pointed towards a bottom edge of the claw.

In some embodiments, the bottom edge of the claw is a chisel edge. In certain embodiments, the nail pull slot includes an edge slot within the chisel edge of the claw. In some embodiments, the edge slot is a beveled triangular opening, which progressively narrows from a front side of the claw to a rear side of the claw. In some embodiments, the edge slot and/or bottom edge are specifically configured to accommodate a specific type of rivet. In certain embodiments, the nail punch is coupled to a rear side of the shaft. In further embodiments, the nail pull slot includes an intermediate slot proximate the bottom end of the shaft, the intermediate slot including a teardrop shape with a narrow end, wherein a narrow end of the edge slot points to the narrow end of the intermediate slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Disclosed is a multifunctional tool10, which may be used for rivet removal as well as other applications. In some embodiments, multifunctional tool10may provide a combination punch, chisel, prybar tool, which may be ideal for use in removal of a street sign15or other object as will be described.

According to various embodiments as depicted inFIGS.1-4, multifunctional tool10may generally comprise a prybar member11coupled to a punch member14. In further embodiment, the prybar member11may incorporate at least one nail pull slot13.

According to various embodiments, prybar member11comprises a shaft12and a claw18extending from a bottom end11A of shaft12. Shaft12is generally significantly longer than claw18and provides a leveraged handle for using claw18. In one embodiment, prybar member18may be a tempered steel prybar. In some embodiments as depicted inFIGS.1-4, claw18may be obtusely angled with respect to shaft12and may include a chisel end20. It shall be appreciated that different prybar configurations, including various alignment, shapes, and sizes of the claw and shaft as known in the art may be used in alternate embodiments.

In certain embodiments, nail pull slot13may include an intermediate slot16within the claw of prybar11. In further embodiments, nail pull slot13may comprise an edge slot22. In one embodiment, intermediate slot16may be disposed proximate top end11A of shaft12, while edge slot22may be provided on a bottom or chisel edge20of claw18. In some embodiments, multifunctional tool10may comprise only edge slot22, without intermediate slot16(seeFIG.5).

In some embodiments, intermediate slot16may comprise a front-side opening16A which extends from a front side18A of claw18to an intermediate section18B along the width of claw18. Intermediate slot16may further comprise a rear-side opening16B which is stepped inwards from front opening16A and extends from intermediate section18B to a rear-side18C along the width of claw18such that the intermediate section creates a platform for engagement of a fastener head, such as a nail head or rivet head. In one embodiment, front opening16A may be stadium shaped, while rear opening16B may be teardrop shaped with its narrow end pointed towards the chisel edge20, wherein front opening16A is larger than rear opening16B. In certain embodiments, edge slot22may be a beveled triangular opening, which progressively narrows from front side18A to rear side18C of claw18. In further embodiments, edge slot22and/or chisel edge20may be specifically shaped and/or sized to accommodate a specific type of rivet. In some embodiments, the narrow ends intermediate slot16and edge slot22point towards one another, as shown. As such, intermediate slot16and/or edge slot22provide a versatile nail/rivet removal system, which enables a user to easily remove nails of different sizes and positions with the mechanical advantage of a wedge and/or lever. In an alternate embodiment, multifunctional tool may omit intermediate slot16, wherein chisel edge20incorporating edge slot may be specifically configured to accommodate a rivet of a specific shape and size.

In certain embodiments, punch member14(also referred to as nail punch or pin punch) may be attached, e.g., welded, to shaft12of prybar11proximate a top end11B opposite bottom end11A of prybar member11. In certain embodiments, nail punch14may be attached with its longitudinal axis at an approximate right angle to the longitudinal shaft axis of prybar member11. In some embodiments, nail punch may be attached to the rear side of prybar member11, but not necessarily so. In certain embodiments, nail punch14may comprise a flat punch tip14A opposite a striking end14B of the nail punch, wherein both flat punch tip14A and striking end14B extend past the side edges of shaft12. In one embodiment, punch member14may comprise a tempered steel punch. As such, shaft12of prybar member18creates a handle that holds nail punch14instead of the user having to hold the nail punch in his hand. Additionally, shaft12enables the user to distance nail punch14from his hand when striking the punch with a hammer, thus eliminating the chance of accidentally striking and injuring the hand when hammering the punch.

In embodiments, multifunctional tool10may be used to remove a rivet from a street sign15or another object. A user may position flat punch tip14A at the center of the rivet and strike end14B of nail punch14with a hammer to release the rivet from pressure. The user may then engage the rivet within the intermediate slot16or edge slot22within the prybar claw, to pry the rivet off the sign. In one embodiment, the user may engage the rivet within the edge slot22and hammer the tool from the opposite end to enable the edge slot to get under the rivet and to dislodge it. As such, multifunctional tool10reduces the number of individual tools which need to be used for rivet removal and makes rivet removal and other tasks that require the use of chisels and punches safer and more convenient.

It shall be appreciated that multifunctional tool10can have multiple configurations in different embodiments. For example, in certain embodiments, multifunctional tool10may have a slide hammer configuration. It shall be appreciated that the components of multifunctional tool10described herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any size and/or dimensions. It shall be appreciated that components of multifunctional tool10may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.

The constituent elements of the disclosed device and system listed herein are intended to be exemplary only, and it is not intended that this list be used to limit the device of the present application to just these elements. Persons having ordinary skill in the art relevant to the present disclosure may understand there to be equivalent elements that may be substituted within the present disclosure without changing the essential function or operation of the device. Terms such as ‘approximate,’ ‘approximately,’ ‘about,’ etc., as used herein indicate a deviation of within +/-10%. Relationships between the various elements of the disclosed device as described herein are presented as illustrative examples only, and not intended to limit the scope or nature of the relationships between the various elements. Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.