Staple removal tool

A tool for the removal of a staple employed for attachment of a cable to a support structure comprises a head member, including a pair of outwardly extending, generally parallel engagement members. The engagement members are spaced apart a distance which is less than the distance between the legs of the staple and which is greater than the lateral width of the cable. A handle member engages the head member in a manner such that the application of a force upon the handle member causes the engagement members to exert a force upon the crown of the staple to move the crown away from the support structure, thereby removing the legs of the staple from the support structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to tools and, more particularly, to 
a tool for the removal of a staple employed for attachment of a cable, 
such as an electrical cable to a support structure. 
Electrical cables, particularly cables used for the conducting of 
electrical current, such as house current, are generally required by 
building and/or other codes or specifications, to be firmly secured to a 
relatively stable support structure. Typically, in the case of electrical 
wiring used in the construction industry, current conducting cables are 
secured to wall studs, rafters, etc. utilizing one or more wire staples. 
Wire staples of this type, commonly referred to as "Romex" wire staples 
are sold in various sizes, depending upon the size of the electrical cable 
to be secured. Typically, each staple includes a pair of generally 
parallel legs which are interconnected on one end by a crown to form a 
generally U-shaped staple. The size of the staple to be used is selected 
so that the distance between the legs of the staple generally corresponds 
to or is at least slightly greater than the lateral width of the cable 
being secured. The staple is installed by placing one leg of the staple on 
either lateral side of the cable and then driving the staple legs into the 
stud or other support structure, with the crown of the staple spanning the 
wire. The legs are driven far enough into the support structure so that 
the cable is held securely in place with the crown of the staple either 
spaced slightly away from the cable or directly engaging the cable. 
Preferably, neither the crown nor the legs of the staple pierce, pinch or 
otherwise detrimentally affect the cable. When a staple of this type is 
properly installed, it will hold an electrical cable in place for 
substantially the entire length of the expected life of a building. 
It sometimes is desirable to reposition or remove an electrical cable which 
has been secured to a support structure utilizing such staples. While it 
is possible to remove staples of this type utilizing traditional tools, 
such as a claw-type hammer, pliers, screw driver, etc., because of the 
nature of such staples, removal utilizing such prior art tools is 
cumbersome, at best. In addition, when utilizing existing tools, there is 
a likelihood that the removal of a staple will result in the application 
of undesirable forces to the electrical cable, possibly damaging, or even 
severing, the cable. The present invention overcomes the problems 
associated with the existing tools by providing a staple removal tool for 
fast, efficient removal of such staples without damaging or otherwise 
detrimentally affecting the cable secured by the staple. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a tool for the removal of a 
staple employed for the attachment of a cable to a support structure 
without damaging the cable. The tool includes a head member having a pair 
of outwardly extending, generally parallel engagement members spaced apart 
a distance which is less than the distance between the legs of the staple 
and which is greater than the lateral width of the cable. The engagement 
members are employed for engaging the crown of the staple between the legs 
and between the crown and the support structure. A handle member engages 
the head member in a manner such that the application of a force upon the 
handle member causes the engagement members to exert a force upon the 
crown of the staple to move the crown away from the support structure and 
to remove the legs of the staple from the support structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like elements 
throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a staple removal tool generally 10. 
The staple removal tool 10 is employed for the removal of a staple 12 
which is used for the attachment of a cable 14 to a support structure 16. 
The cable 14, as illustrated in the drawing, is a "Romex" electrical cable 
of a type which is typically employed for conducting electrical energy 
throughout a house, building, or other facility. Cables of this type 
typically include a pair of electrically conducting primary wires, 
typically colored white and black (not shown), and, in most cases, a 
ground wire, typically covered with green insulation, or uninsulated (not 
shown). The cable 14 has a width (W) and a thickness or depth (D) which 
varies from cable to cable, depending upon the size of the cable and the 
particular application. Cable 14 also includes generally parallel, lateral 
sides 18 and 20. 
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while a "Romex" 
type cable 14 is shown in the drawings and will be hereinafter discussed 
in the specification, use of the present invention is not limited to a 
cable of this type. The present invention is equally usable in connection 
with the removal of a staple 12 from any other type of cable, wire, etc. 
(not shown). 
As discussed above, the support structure 16 typically comprises a wooden 
wall stud, rafter, wall or other relatively fixed structure which is 
employed for supporting the cable 14. It should also be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited for use 
in conjunction with any particular type of support structure but may be 
employed for the removal of a staple from any support structure. 
The staple 12 illustrated in the drawing is of a type well known in the art 
and typically referred to as a "Romex" staple. The staple 12 includes a 
pair of generally parallel legs 22 and 24 which are spaced apart a 
predetermined distance. The spacing between the staple legs 22 and 24 will 
vary, depending upon the size of the staple. Typically, staples of this 
type are available in a range of sizes, including 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch 
sizes. Preferably, the size of the staple 12 is determined by the size of 
the cable 14 to be secured by the staple. Thus, the predetermined spacing 
between the staple legs 22 and 24 is preferably at least as great as the 
lateral width (W) of the cable 14. In this manner, the staple 14 can be 
installed without piercing or otherwise damaging the cable 14. 
A first end of each of the staple legs 22 and 24 are interconnected by a 
crown 26. When the staple is installed in the support structure 16, as 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crown 26 spans the cable 14 to secure the 
cable to the support structure 16. The other ends (not shown) of the 
staple legs 22 and 24 are preferably tapered or beveled to facilitate 
installation of the staple legs 22 and 24 into the support structure 16 as 
shown. As discussed above, preferably the staple 12 is installed with the 
legs 22 and 24 extending into the support structure 16 so that the crown 
26 is spaced slightly away from the cable 14 or is in engagement with the 
cable 14 in a manner such that the crown does not pierce, crimp or 
otherwise detrimentally affect the cable 14, yet adequately secures the 
cable 14 to the support structure 16. 
In the presently preferred embodiment, the staple removal tool 10 includes 
a head member 28 which preferably is formed of a high strength material, 
such as steel or tool steel. The head member 28 is generally block-like 
and includes a pair of generally parallel lateral side surfaces 30 and 32, 
generally parallel first and second end surfaces 34 and 36, a top surface 
38, and a bottom surface 40. As best shown in FIG. 1, the top surface 38 
is not parallel with the bottom surface 40 but, instead, extends at an 
angle for purposes which will hereinafter become apparent. In the 
presently preferred embodiment, the angle is approximately 23.degree., 
although it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the angle 
may vary. Because of the angled position of the top surface 38, the side 
surfaces 30 and 32 are generally trapezoid shaped and the end surfaces 34 
and 36, although generally rectangular in shape, are of differing sizes. 
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the shape of 
the preferred embodiment of the head member 28 is as shown and described, 
it could be of some other shape without departing from the scope of the 
present invention. 
A pair of generally parallel engagement members 42 and 44 are removably 
secured to the lateral side surfaces 30 and 32 of the head member 28. In 
the embodiment shown, a small shoulder is provided on the bottom end of 
each of the side surfaces 30 and 32 for receiving the engagement members 
42 and 44. In the presently preferred embodiment, each of the engagement 
members 42 and 44 comprises a generally flat plate which is secured to the 
head member side surfaces 30 and 32 utilizing a pair of threaded fasteners 
which extend through suitably sized openings in the engagement members 42 
and 44 and into complementary threaded openings within the side surfaces 
30 and 32. In the presently preferred embodiment, the threaded fasteners 
are illustrated as being screws 46. However, it will be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art that other types of threaded fasteners, such as 
bolts, Allen screws, etc could alternatively be employed. It will also be 
appreciated that some other type of fastening means, such as gluing, 
welding, press fitting, etc., could alternatively be employed for securing 
the engagement members 42 and 44 to the side surfaces 30 and 32 of the 
head member 28. In addition, it will be appreciated that the engagement 
members 42 and 44 may be secured to the head member 28 without the use of 
the small shoulders. 
As best shown in FIG. 1, the engagement members 42 and 44 each include a 
generally curved bottom portion 52 and a generally tapered or pointed 
portion 54. Preferably, the engagement members 42 and 44 are made of a 
relatively hard material, such as hardened tool steel, in order to 
minimize wear or breakage, particularly of the pointed portion 54. The 
curved portion 52 of the engagement members 42 and 44 extends beyond the 
bottom surface 40 of the head member 28 for purposes which will 
hereinafter become apparent. Likewise, the pointed portion 54 extends 
outwardly beyond the end surface 36 of the head member 28, again, for 
purposes which will hereinafter become apparent. 
As best shown in FIG. 2, the engagement members 42 and 44, when secured to 
the head member 28, are generally parallel to each other and are spaced 
apart a distance which is at least slightly less than the distance between 
the legs 22 and 24 of the staple 12. Preferably, the spacing of the 
engagement members 42 and 44 is precisely established so that the pointed 
portions 54 engage the staple crown 26 adjacent to the legs 22 and 24 as 
illustrated in FIG. 2. Because of the spatial relationship between the 
engagement members 42 and 44 with respect to the staple legs 22 and 24, 
the pointed portions 54 may be easily inserted between the staple legs 22 
and 24 and into firm engagement with the crown 26 without the need to 
apply an insertion force. Correspondingly, the distance between the 
engagement members 42 and 44 is greater than the lateral width (W) of the 
cable 14. In this manner, the engagement members 42 and 44, particularly 
the pointed portion 54 thereof, may engage the crown 26 of the staple 12 
between the staple legs 22 and 24 without engaging, crimping or otherwise 
detrimentally affecting the cable 14 (see FIG. 2). Likewise, the curved 
portion of the engagement members 42 and 44 could roll over any other 
cables (not shown) or other components located proximate to the staple 12 
without damaging such cables or components. As will be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art, the spacing of the engagement members 42 and 44 
may vary depending upon the size of the staple 12 and/or the size of the 
cable 14. For example, if the staple is wider than the staple 12 shown in 
the drawings, the engagement members 42 and 44 could be spaced further 
apart, either by providing a wider head member 28 or by providing thicker 
engagement members 42 and 44. On the other hand, if the staple was smaller 
than that shown in the drawing, the spacing between the engagement members 
42 and 44 would be decreased by providing a narrower head member 28. It 
should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the head 
member 28 and engagement members 42 and 44 could comprise a monolithic 
structure rather than the three-part structure shown in the drawing. 
A handle member 56 is removably secured to the head member 28. In the 
presently preferred embodiment, the handle member or handle 56 includes a 
first threaded end 58 which is adapted to be received within a suitably 
sized, complementary threaded opening 60 within the top surface 38 of the 
head member 28. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 
the handle 56 could be removably secured to the head member 28 utilizing 
some other form of mechanical interconnection (not shown) or could be 
permanently secured to the head member. 
In the present embodiment, the handle 56 extends from the head member 28 at 
an angle of about 22.degree.. It will be appreciated that the handle 56 
could extend from the head member 28 at any other desired angle. It will 
also be appreciated that the handle 56 could be secured to the head member 
28 utilizing a knuckle, ratchet or any other type of mechanical attachment 
device (not shown) to permit use of the tool 10 in a restricted space or 
other difficult work environment. 
The second end 62 of the handle 56 is suitably sized and shaped for 
convenient gripping by a user. Preferably, gripping means in the form of 
knurling, ridges, etc. is provided to facilitate gripping and holding of 
the handle 56. 
In using the staple removal tool 10, the tool is positioned as shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the pointed portion 54 of the engagement members 42 
and 44 may be easily inserted between the staple crown 26 and the support 
structure 16 without the use of an insertion force. As discussed above, 
the engagement members 42 and 44 are suitably spaced apart so that the 
pointed portion 54 of each engagement member can be easily inserted 
between the staple legs 22 and 24 without engaging the cable 14 (see FIG. 
2). The handle 56 is then moved away from the staple 12 (toward the right 
when viewing FIG. 1) in a manner so that the curved portion 52 of each of 
the engagement members 42 and 44 rotates upon the support structure 16, 
thereby causing the pointed portion 54 of the engagement members to move 
away from the support structure 16 (upwardly when viewing FIG. 1). 
Movement of the pointed portion 54 of the engagement members 42 and 44 
away from the support structure results in a force being exerted upon the 
crown 26 of the staple to move the crown 26 away from the support 
structure 16 (upwardly when viewing FIGS. 1 and 2) and to thereby remove 
the staple legs 22 and 24 from the support structure 16. Continued 
movement of the handle 56 results in the staple 12 being completely 
removed from the support structure 16, thereby permitting the cable 14 to 
be freely moved, as desired, and permitting reuse of the staple 12. 
From the foregoing description of a presently preferred embodiment, it can 
be seen that the present invention comprises a tool for the removal of a 
staple. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes 
could be made to the embodiment described without departing from the 
inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this 
invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is 
intended to cover all modifications which are within the scope and spirit 
of the invention as defined by the appended claims.