Fastener pulling tool

A staple pulling plier of the type consisting of a pair of pivoting members having handles and jaws forming a head portion. The head portion has opposite side faces, and the jaws in a closed position define a substantially continuous post engaging top ridge. Pincer points are provided on the jaws adjacent the top ridge and are moved to a closed staple grasping position on closure of the handles. A fulcrum member is formed integrally with the head portion and projects from one of the opposite side faces of the head portion, the fulcrum member defining an upper edge extending in a plane substantially normal to the post engaging top ridge of the jaws. When the bight of a staple is held by the pincer points, the two legs of the staple and the joining bight are in a plane normal to the post engaging top edge of the head portion. When the staple has been driven into a post to secure a horizontal strand of the fence, its plane is usually vertically disposed. Thus, as the plier is swung in a direction coinciding with the plane of the staple, the upper edge of the fulcrum member engages the post, and pressure can be applied in an up or down direction to more effectively withdraw the staple.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates to a fastener pulling tool such as a plier used in
 fencing operations including fence repairs when it is necessary to loosen
 or remove staples, nails and the like from posts.
 BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
 Various tools are used in building, repairing or removing fencing. A common
 form of fencing which has been in use for many years consists of barbed
 wire and/or page wire fencing which is stretched tightly and fastened to
 wooden posts by way of metal staples driven into the post. Without a
 proper tool, it is difficult to remove the staple once it has been driven
 tightly against a strand of wire making up the fence. The most common tool
 presently sold is designed for various uses in fencing, and this tool,
 which is designed for removing staples, is a more modern version of the
 tool shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,949,335, Feb. 27, 1934 to Settles. While
 variations of this tool are still being developed, see for example U.S.
 Pat. No. 5,303,748, Apr. 19, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,586, Dec. 24,
 1996, both of Haldemann, the design of the most commonly accepted fencing
 tool has remained substantially unchanged for a long period of time.
 The above described tool which has been most readily available has certain
 deficiencies with regard to the use it is most commonly put, i.e., that of
 pulling staples. In many cases the fence post is a section of a trunk of a
 small tree, such as a cedar tree and is of a substantially circular
 cross-section. In some instances the post may be of relatively small
 diameter. In driving the staple horizontally into the post to capture a
 stretched strand of fencing wire, the staple is oriented so that it is in
 a vertical plane. Thus, using as an example FIG. 5 of the above-identified
 U.S. Pat. No. 1,949,335, when the tool is clamped onto a staple, as
 illustrated, the tool must be swung in a direction which is normal to that
 of the staple, i.e. in a horizontal plane. This results in the curved tail
 portion of the tool which provides a moving fulcrum for the outward prying
 of the staple, moving about the outer circumference of the post, thereby
 continuously reducing the outward pull on the staple and actually
 progressively pulling the staple sideways. This usually results in the
 bending of the staple, and when the post is of small diameter, it may
 become necessary to attempt to finish the pull by exerting a pull straight
 outward and without the advantage of leverage. Alternatively, to finish
 the pull of the staple the plier may be moved to another prying position.
 Also, one frequent reason for removing the staples to release the fencing
 wires from the post is that the post has been broken, usually at or
 slightly above ground level. In this situation, it becomes virtually
 impossible to exert any withdraw force on the staple by turning the plier
 in a horizontal plane because this simply causes the post to effectively
 twist about its own longitudinal axis.
 There is available on the market another fencing plier which has cut out
 portions in the jaws so as to provide separated pincer portions for
 straddling the staple and being disposed to grasp the wire being held by
 the staple at either side of the staple. The purpose of the design is
 obviously to allow a pull to be exerted by swinging the plier in a
 direction coinciding with the plane of the staple, as is done with the
 present invention. Another form of a plier which is designed to achieve
 the same result is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,911, Dec. 11, 1951, to R.
 A. E. Palmer. However, the principle of attempting to remove a staple by
 pulling on the wire being held by the staple is not usually practical.
 When a staple has been driven tightly into the post, the horizontal strand
 of wire being held thereby is usually buried in the post under the bight
 of the staple, thus making it extremely difficult to force the pincer
 points behind the wire to achieve any pull on the wire. Moreover, if the
 staple is held firmly by the post, which is the usual situation, the wire
 will deform and will possibly break before the staple is released. Once
 the wire breaks, further work must be done to remove the staple. When the
 tool is being used in the repair of fences, the breaking of the wire can
 result in considerable additional repair work, and even a significant bend
 in the wire can result in future breaking of the wire.
 Moreover, while the most commonly sold fencing plier includes a hammer face
 at one side edge, it is the experience of most users that effective and
 straight driving of a staple or nail is not easily achieved. The
 ineffective use of such hammer face seems to be because of the orientation
 of the tool as held when using the hammer face or the lack of momentum
 which can be achieved due to the weight or distribution of weight in the
 head of such a plier when striking a staple or nail with the hammer face.
 Also, while such fencing pliers are usually provided with a pointed outer
 end of the tail portion making up the moving fulcrum, which pointed outer
 end can be also used, for example, in wedging out a tightly driven staple,
 many such pliers have no useful part for removing nails. Nails are
 frequently encountered because they may be used in attaching insulators to
 the posts for stretching electric fencing. Also, spikes which might be
 used in fencing for attaching bracing poles and the like.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a tool,
 more generally referred to hereinafter as a plier, of a simple structure
 which permits the removal of a fastener, such as a staple by exerting an
 effective pulling force on the fastener.
 It is an object of one form of the invention to provide in the fencing
 plier an effective hammer portion and to further form the structure
 utilized in the removal of staples to also function as a nail pulling
 claw.
 According to one form of the present invention there is provided a plier
 for pulling staples from posts and the like, the plier being of the type
 having a pair of members connected in scissor-fashion for pivotal
 operating action in a plane normal to pivot axis of the members. Each
 member includes a jaw and a handle portion and wherein the jaws of the
 pair of members form a head portion on a side of the pivot axis opposite
 to the handle portions, the head portion having opposed side faces formed
 by the jaws and disposed in substantially parallel planes normal to the
 axis. The jaws in a closed position define a substantially continuous post
 engaging top edge or ridge, and the jaws have opposed surfaces which may
 define staple grasping pincer points and are adjacent the top edge and
 move toward engagement on closure of the handles. The plier includes a
 fulcrum means formed integrally with the head portion and projecting
 laterally from one of the opposite side faces, the fulcrum means defining
 a post engaging surface extending in a plane substantially normal to the
 post engaging ridge defined by said jaws and providing a leverage for pull
 on a grasped staple upon swinging said handle portions normal to the post
 engaging ridge and in a direction towards the side from which the fulcrum
 means projects.
 When the staple has been driven into a post to secure a horizontal strand
 of the fence, its plane, i.e., the plane containing the bight of the
 staple and the two legs joined thereby, is substantially vertically
 disposed. It can be appreciated, therefore, that with the present
 invention, as the bight of the staple is grasped by the pincer points and
 the plier is swung in a direction coinciding with the plane of the staple,
 the upper edge of the fulcrum means engages the post and the pressure can
 be applied in an upward or downward direction, rather than around the
 post, to more effectively withdraw the staple. Also, in the present
 invention the withdrawing force is applied directly to the bight of the
 staple rather than to the fencing wire.
 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fulcrum means includes a
 pair of parallel fulcrum members one each being integrally formed with one
 of the jaws on a common side face of the head portion. More specifically
 the pair of fulcrum members together are of a hammer-claw configuration
 having inner side edges defining a nail grasping opening therebetween when
 the plier is in a closed condition.
 In one specific embodiment of the invention, a hammer head is integrally
 formed with one of the jaws and projects outwardly from the side face of
 the head portion which is opposite to the side face of the head portion
 from which the fulcrum means projects.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
 In the drawings, reference numbers denoting parts of the structure
 correspond to the reference numbers used herein to describe like parts,
 and reference number 10 generally denotes one embodiment of the present
 invention in the form of a fencing plier. As is common to the design of
 fencing pliers, the tool 10, hereinafter referred to as a plier, consists
 of two elongated members 11 and 12 connected together in a scissor fashion
 by way of a pivot means 13 which is closer to the upper end of the fencing
 plier. It should be appreciated that while the plier is generally used in
 any orientation, for the sake of convenience, reference is made to the jaw
 or head end of the plier, as is shown in FIG. 1, as being the upper end of
 the fencing plier 10.
 The elongated member 11 is normally formed as an integral unit, such as by
 casting, and includes a jaw portion 14 and a handle portion 15, and
 similarly the elongated member 12 includes a jaw portion 16 and a handle
 portion 17 formed integrally with the jaw portion 16. The pivot means 13
 may be a pin member formed separately of either of the elongated members
 11 and 12, or alternatively, it could be in the form of a cylindrically
 shaped stub post integrally formed with one of the elongated members and
 rotatably received in a circular opening in the other member.
 The elongated handle portions 15, 17, which terminate at a lower handle end
 of the plier, are preferably shaped to provide slightly curved hand
 engaging areas 15' and 17'. The handle portions 15 and 17 are customarily
 covered with a soft insulating material, such as plastic. The distance of
 the hand engaging area 15' and 17' from the pivot means 13 is considerably
 greater than the distance of the operating portions of the jaws from the
 pivot means in order to provide the required leverage for tight gripping
 by the jaws. As is also well known in fencing plier designs, the elongated
 member 11 is provided with sharp edged slots 20a, 20b which are radially
 disposed relative to the center of the pivot means 13, and elongated
 member 12 is provided with like slots 21a, 21b which aligns with slots
 20a, 20b when the handle portions 15 and 17 are partially separated to an
 opened position. Aligned slots 20a, 21a and 20b, 21b of the two elongated
 members 11 and 12 provide an opening for receiving a fencing wire when the
 handles are partially opened, whereby on closure of the handle portions 15
 and 17, a wire disposed in the slots may be severed by the scissor action
 between the edges of the slots.
 The jaw portions 14 and 16 together form what might be overall termed a
 head portion 22 in the area of the pivot means 13. In the head portion 22,
 a front flat face of the jaw portion 14 of member 11, hereinafter referred
 to as the front face 23 of the head portion (FIG. 4), is in the same plane
 as a flat front face of the jaw portion 16 of member 12, hereinafter
 referred to as the front face 24, and a flat face of jaw portion 14,
 hereinafter referred to as the back face 25 (FIG. 1), is in the same plane
 as the back flat face of the jaw portion 16, hereinafter referred to as
 the back face 26. Thus, the head portion 22 has overall front and back
 surfaces which are flat and parallel to each other.
 The jaw portions 14 and 16 have on the handle side of the pivot means 13
 opposed inner surfaces 27 and 28 which move towards each other as the
 handle portions are closed, but remain slightly separated even when the
 handle portions are closed to their maximum. The surfaces 27 and 28 are
 serrated and are used for gripping fencing wire when the wire is being
 tightened as is well known in the art.
 Above the pivot means 13, the jaw portions have opposed inner side surfaces
 30 and 31 which move to engage in a closed position as the handle portions
 16, 17 are completely closed. When closed, a continuous top ridge 32 of
 the head portion 22 is formed by the uppermost portion of the two jaw
 portions 14 and 16. As is most apparent from FIGS. 3 and 5, the coplanar
 front and back surfaces of the two jaw portions converge inwardly and
 upwardly at the top, as shown at 33 and 34, to form the top ridge 32.
 The top ridge 32 terminates at one side of the head portion 22 in a hammer
 surface 35 formed at the outer side of jaw portion 14. The hammer surface
 may be used for driving staples. At the other side of the head portion,
 the jaw 16 terminates in a point 36 of a tail portion 37. The tail portion
 37 is preferably curved slightly and hooked downwardly, and the sides 40
 and 41 thereof converges inwardly to provide the point 36 at the outer end
 of the tail portion 37. Thus, the top ridge 32 of the head portion 22
 curves downwardly from the inner side surface 31 of jaw portion 16 to the
 point 42 . Also, there is preferably a slight curvature of the top ridge
 32 from the inner side surface 30 of the jaw portion 14 downwardly to the
 hammer surface 35 giving a slight overall curvature along the full length
 of the ridge 32.
 Formed immediately below the top ridge 32, and in the inner surfaces 31 and
 32 of the jaw portions 14 and 16, there are opposed, substantially
 semi-circular transverse grooves 43 and 44, which together form a
 substantially circular transverse opening 45 when the plier are completely
 closed. The circular transverse opening 45 together with the converging
 surfaces 33 and 34 which form the top ridge 32 provide opposed pincer
 points 46 and 47 of jaw portions 14 and 16, respectively, immediately blow
 the top ridge 32.
 Projecting from the rear faces 25, 26 of the jaw portions 14,16 there is
 provided a lateral protuberance 50 forming a fulcrum means projecting
 laterally from the rear face of the jaw portion 14. While this laterally
 projecting protuberance or fulcrum means 50 may be a single element formed
 integrally with either of the jaw portions 14 and 16, it is shown in the
 present embodiment in the form of two spaced tail portions 51 and 51', one
 each formed integral with the jaw portions 14, 16, respectively, and
 extending substantially perpendicularly from the back faces 25 and 26
 thereof. In this embodiment, the laterally projecting tail portions 51,
 51' have a shape similar to that of the tail portion 37 previously
 described. The tops of each tail portion 51,51', which are defined by top
 ridges 53, 53', respectively, merge at there inner ends substantially with
 or slightly below the top ridge 32 of the head portion 32. The top ridges
 53,53', which extend in parallel vertical planes relative to each other
 are provided with a slight downward curvature along their length and
 terminate in outer points 52,52' as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. Each of
 the tail portions 51, 51' have side surfaces 54, 54' which curve upwardly
 and inwardly towards the ridges 53, 53', and the side surfaces also
 converge towards the outer points 52, 52'. Each of the tail portions 51,
 51' have a relatively flat, slightly downwardly curved bottom surface 55,
 55', respectively.
 As indicated instead of providing a pair of the tail portions 51, 51', as
 shown, the laterally projecting protuberance 50 would function with only
 one tail portion disposed on either of the back faces 25 and 26 of the jaw
 portions 14 and 16. However, better balance in extracting staples, as will
 be described in more detail below, is obtained with the two tail portions
 51, 51' as shown, disposed equal distance from the pincer points 46,47.
 Moreover, it would be possible to provide two laterally projecting
 protuberances, one on the back face of the head portion 22 and one on the
 front face of the head portion 22.
 As has been indicated above, the illustrated fencing plier 10 includes
 design features to allow use for usual fencing functions, including
 grasping and tensioning wire to some degree, cutting wire and hammering
 staples and/or nails. The fencing plier offer superior operation, however,
 in removing staples, such as shown at 57, which have been driven into a
 post 58 to secure a horizontal strand of fencing as shown at 60 (FIGS. 4
 and 5). In order to pull the staple the plier are opened a small amount
 and the pincer points 46,47 are placed on either side of the bight portion
 of the staple. The plane of the staple, i.e., the plane which contains the
 two legs of the staple and the bight portion which connects the two legs,
 is disposed in a generally vertical plane in order to embrace the strand
 60 which extends horizontally. As the handle portion 15, 17 are squeezed
 together, the pincer points 46, 47 come together under the bight of the
 staple 57 so that the bight of the staple is enclosed within the
 transverse opening 45 in the head portion 22 of the plier.
 It might first be explained that as seen in the top view of the plier, as
 shown in FIG. 4, the staple 57 is thus grasped by the pincer points 46, 47
 as would be done with conventional fencing plier. In order to remove the
 staple with a conventional plier, the plier is swung in a substantially
 horizontal plane in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 4. It can
 be seen in doing so the top ridge 32 of the tail portion 37, which
 provided a fulcrum means in conventional pliers, rides around the outer
 circumference of the post 58 so that the point of contact of the tail
 portion 37, thus providing the fulcrum point for the outward pull of the
 staple, moves continuously to a less advantageous point leverage-wise.
 Therefore, the smaller the diameter of the post the more difficult it
 becomes to completely remove the staple 57 in a single smooth operation.
 It is not unusual that the purpose of removing the staple is to free the
 fencing strand 60 from a post which is broken off near the ground. In such
 a situation the turning of the plier in the direction of the arrow B
 simply causes the post to rotate about its own vertical axis with out
 applying any real pull of the staple in a direction parallel to the prongs
 of the staple.
 With the present invention, on the other hand, once the staple has been
 gripped, as shown in FIG. 4, the handles of the plier are pushed
 downwardly as indicated by arrow B in FIG. 5, i.e., in a direction toward
 the side from which the fulcrum means 50 projects. This causes the top
 ridges 53, 53' which form post engaging surfaces of the laterally
 projecting fulcrum means 50 to engage the post 58 below the staple 57, and
 as the point of contact, i.e., the fulcrum point, moves down the post,
 good leverage is provided as the pincer points 46,47 pull outwardly in a
 direction remaining in the vertical place containing the staple 57 with
 only a small downward component by the time the staple has been completely
 withdrawn from the post 58. In the event the post is broken off near the
 ground, good leverage can be provided against significant movement of the
 post by blocking the lower end of the post from swinging outwardly. It may
 be appreciated that the orientation of the plier relative to the staple
 have been shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as one example. Alternatively, the plier
 can be turned over before being brought into gripping engagement with the
 staple 57 so that the protuberance or fulcrum means 50 projects upwardly
 instead of downwardly as shown in the above example. Thus, in this
 alternative gripping position, the handles are swung upwardly within a
 substantially v vertical plane to withdraw the staple. This alternative
 may be preferable when the post is broken as it may be easier to prevent
 the bottom of the post from swinging inwardly and for the upper portion of
 the post swinging outwardly from the user while pulling upwardly on the
 plier. If the head portion 22 is provided with a laterally projecting
 protuberance on either side thereof, the plier can be swung either up or
 down once the staple has been grasped.
 Referring now to the second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 6
 to 11, the fencing plier 10a of this embodiment in the main has the same
 parts as the earlier described embodiment, including handle portions 15a,
 17a, jaw portions 14a, 16a, head portion 22a defined between front and
 back faces, a hammer surface 35a, a tail portion 37a, and pincer points
 46a, 47a. In this embodiment, the jaw portions 14a, 16a forming the head
 portion 22a are very similar in structure and shape to that previously
 described, and no further description in this regard is believed
 necessary. However, in addition to the jaw portion 14a having the hammer
 surface 35a similar to that of the first embodiment, and like those formed
 on conventional fencing pliers, the head portion 22a is provided with a
 supplementary hammer head portion 62 laterally projecting from a front
 face thereof.
 The supplementary hammer head 62 is shown as having the shape of the
 driving head of a conventional hammer, including a driving front surface
 63 and a base portion 64 which may be formed integrally with the front
 face 23a of the jaw portion 14a. As best seen in FIG. 11, the jaw portion
 14a has formed integrally therewith and extending rearwardly therefrom a
 stub shaft 65 which is received in an opening 66 in jaw portion 16a, thus
 providing pivot means 13a of the plier 10a. The hammer head 62 is
 coaxially disposed relative to the stub shaft 65 and projects forwardly
 from the front face 23a of the jaw portion 14.
 It can be seen, therefore, that the plier 10a can be used to drive staples
 or nails using the surface 63 of the hammer head 62, and because the tool
 can be held with better balance while providing more momentum, straight
 driving is more easily achieved and larger nails can be driven more
 effectively. In fact because of the greater momentum provided by the
 greater weight due to the presence of the hammer head 62, more effective
 driving is achieved even when the surface 35a is used.
 In the embodiment of the plier shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the upper edges of
 the jaw portions 14a, 16a provide a top edge or ridge 32a which is
 continuous when the jaw portions 14a, 16a are closed and is shaped much
 like that of the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 1 to 5. When closed,
 the pincer points 46a, 47a come together so as to encompass in the
 transverse opening 46a there below the bight of a staple 57 (not shown in
 FIGS. 6 to 11). However, instead of the fulcrum means 50a being of the
 shape utilized in the first embodiment, the laterally projecting members
 forming the fulcrum means 50a are in the form of a pair of closely spaced
 claws 67, 67 not unlike those of a conventional claw-type hammer.
 Each claw 67, as seen from the side is somewhat similar in shape to the
 tail portion 51,51' in that they have an upper surface 70,70 which
 converges with the top ridge 32a and curves smoothly outwardly and
 downwardly away from the inner ends integrally formed with the back faces
 23a and 24a of the jaw portions 14a, 16a. The claws 67, 67 have opposed
 grooved inside edges 71, 71, which converge towards the back faces 14a,
 16a, in the manner of conventional hammer claws.
 The manner in which the fencing plier 10a may be used to withdraw a spike
 72 is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 wherein the spike 72 is shown as
 fastening a plank 73 to the post 58. With the handles 15a, 17a tightly
 grasped, the claws 67, 67 and the head of the spike 72 clamped in the
 V-shaped space between the claws, the handles are pulled in the direction
 indicated by the arrow C of FIG. 10 so that the tool is rocked about a
 fulcrum provided by the top ridge 32a, thus providing an upward force on
 the spike 72. It should be noted that with the particular structure
 provided by the plier 10a, the claws can be utilized with advantages not
 available with a conventional claw-type hammer. The two claws 67, 67 are
 each formed integrally with a separate one of the jaws 14a, 16a. Thus as
 the plier is opened by spreading the handles 15a, 17a, the claws 67, 67
 are separated. Then, on tightly closing the handles, the inside edges 71,
 can be caused to wedge under a head of a tightly driven nail or spike.
 This action is enhanced by forming a sharp edge at the juncture of the
 inside edge 71 and the upper surface 70. Also because of the gripping
 action on the spike which can be achieved with the sharpened edges, the
 nail of the spike can be released by opening handles 15a, 17a, and then by
 rocking the plier back in a direction opposite to arrow C, the shank of
 the spike can be gripped again between the sharpened edges closer to the
 surface of the wood before again swinging the plier in the direction of
 the arrow C to pull a further length of the spike from the wood. Thus, the
 spike can be completely pulled without utilizing a block to lift the tool
 to a higher level as is a common practice when pulling a long nail with a
 conventional hammer.
 When pulling a staple as in the situation illustrated for the previous
 embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bight of the staple 57 is
 grasped within the transverse opening 46a under the pincer points 46a,
 47a. The tool is then rocked sideways so as to use the upper surfaces 70,
 70, of the laterally extending claws 67,67 which thus functions as a
 moving fulcrum point in the same fashion as described in relation to the
 fulcrum means 50 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the second
 embodiment as shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, has the same advantageous features
 and ability to extract staples from posts and the like and it has other
 features allowing more effective driving of nails, staples and the like
 and further allowing the withdrawing of driven nails and the like.
 Referring now to the third embodiment of the invention in the form of the
 fencing tool 10c shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, this embodiment again has parts
 which correspond to some extent with those of the two previously described
 embodiments. Again, the plier 10b includes a pair of elongated members
 providing handles 15b, 17b and being pivotally connected in scissor
 fashion by a pivot means 13b. A head portion 22b is disposed on the
 opposite side of the pivot means 13b as the handles 15b, 17b. Like the
 second embodiment, the third embodiment includes a hammer head 62b
 projecting laterally from the front surface of the head defined by front
 faces 23b and 24b of jaw portions 14b and 16b, respectively. Of
 significance, however, while plier 10b has a top edge or ridge 32b, the
 jaw portions 14b and 16b do not include a portion providing a hammer
 surface corresponding to hammer surfaces 35 and 35a of the two previous
 embodiments, nor do they include a tail portion corresponding to the tail
 portions 37 and 37a of the two previous embodiments. Instead side edges 74
 and 75 of jaw portions 14b and 16b, respectively, extend upwardly and
 curve smoothly inwardly to pincer points 46b and 47b, so that together,
 the top portions of side edges 74 and 75 form a substantially
 semi-circular shaped top ridge or outline 32b of the head portion.
 Provided below pincer points 46b and 47b is the transverse opening 45b
 which together with the pincer points 46b and 47b form the staple grasping
 means as in the case of the previously described embodiments.
 Formed on and projecting lateral from the front face 23b of the jaw portion
 14b, on an axis parallel to but vertically above the pivot means 13b, is a
 hammer head 62b. The hammer head 62b is therefore preferably located on a
 radial line extending substantially from the pivot axis of the pair of
 members 11 and 12 and through closed pincer points 46b and 47b. Like the
 supplementary hammer head 62a described in relation to the previous
 embodiment, the hammer head 62b has the shape of the head of a
 conventional hammer, having a driving surface 63b. The hammer head 62b has
 a base portion 64b which is preferably formed integrally with the jaw
 portion 14b.
 The plier 10b is provided with a pair of claws 67b, 67b, on each jaw
 portions 14b, 16b, respectively, projecting laterally from the rear or
 back surfaces 25b, 26b, of the jaw portions. As is most apparent from
 FIGS. 13 and 14, when the handles of the plier are squeezed together to
 close the jaw portions 14b, 16b, opposed inside edges 71b, 71b, of the
 claws 67b, 67b have the same relation to each other as inside edges of
 claws on a conventional hammer. Thus, the claws of the plier 10b may be
 utilized for withdrawing nails or the like as described above in relation
 to the plier 10a.
 The claws 67b, 67b also form in relation to the pincer point 46b, 47b, a
 fulcrum means 50b, the claws 67b, 67b, each being shaped with an outwardly
 and downwardly curved upper surface 70b. The top ridge 32b is disposed a
 short distance above the upper surfaces 70b, 70b, with the upper surface
 70b, 70b at their inner ends adjacent the rear faces 25, 26, curving more
 abruptly upward and terminating at the top ridge 32b.
 When the pincer points 46b, 47b, are closed to capture the bight of a
 staple within the transverse opening 45b, such as in the case of a staple
 57 oriented in a vertical plane to secure a horizontal fence strand 60, as
 illustrated in FIG. 15, the handles of the plier are then pushed
 downwardly in the direction of the arrow D. As the plier is pushed in the
 direction of the arrow, the upper surfaces 70b, 70b of the fulcrum means
 50b come into engagement with the post 58 so as to provide a fulcrum point
 about which the head portion 22b pivots to pull the grasped staple from
 the post. During this action the point of contact providing the pivot
 point of the head portion moves vertically downward along the post.
 Accordingly, the plier 10b has the same advantageous staple pulley features
 as the previously described embodiments of the present invention.
 Moreover, with the third embodiment, wherein the hammer head 62a is
 located above the pivot means, and in substantially the same relationship
 to the claws 67b, 67b of a normal hammer 1 as shown, the tool has been
 found to have better balance and feel when driving a staple or nail than
 with the arrangement shown in the second embodiment. It has been further
 found that with the functional characteristics of the tool shown in FIGS.
 12 to 15, there may be little requirement for a hammer surface 35 and tail
 portion 37 as shown in relation to the first embodiment described above.
 Also the cleaner design of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 15 provides a
 less cumbersome tool to carry and use.
 Moreover, it can be seen in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 15, and
 particularly in the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 15, the hammer head 62 or
 62b effectively provides a laterally projecting protuberance on the face
 of the head portion of the tool opposite to laterally projecting
 protuberances 50a or 50b. Looking at FIG. 15, for example, it can be seen
 that if the plier is swung in a direction opposite to the arrow D, i.e.,
 upwardly instead of downwardly, should this be more convenient, the hammer
 head provides an effective fulcrum for withdrawing the staple as the plier
 is swung in a direction coinciding with the plane of the staple.
 While three embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, various
 modifications within the spirit of the invention as defined in the
 appending claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.