Adjustable extraction pliers

An adjustable pliers-like tool, for the extraction of hollow wall toggle bolt fasteners, having substantially rectangular antipodal flat jaw plates, the lower jaw having a forked notch therein. Each jaw is integrated with and positioned by a pair of movable, flat linearly extending handles having means to provide adjustability to vary the range of jaw movement. The handle of the lower forked jaw extends perpendicularly from the upper surface thereof and forms an obtuse angle with respect to the jaw plate. The upper jaw handle extends substantially parallel beyond the upper surface of the upper jaw plate and then angles acutely upwards with respect to the upper jaw plate, both handles being substantially parallel in assembled form. The tool is designed to straighten out retracted toggle bolt arms to allow removal of the toggle bolt assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a special purpose pliers-like toggle bolt 
extraction tool having antipodal jaws, one jaw having a forked notch 
therein, positioned by a pair of angular movable handles, the handles 
further having means to vary the range limits of jaw movement. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
The inventor has no knowledge of the existence of any specialized tool for 
the removal of hollow wall fasteners, commonly known as toggle bolts, 
other than the tool of the present invention. The tool of the present 
invention does not necessarily reduce the absolute number of tools 
necessary to remove the toggle bolt fasteners, but the tool does 
substantially simplify and make the removal more efficient while 
protecting the surface of the wall, in which the bolt is secured, from 
further damage during removal. 
Removal of a toggle bolt fastener entails straightening out the integrated 
expanded fastener arms from their retracted fixed position abutting a 
wall. This operation has previously been accomplished, for example, by 
backing the screw out of the encompassing threaded retaining fastener 
portion; and by using a hammer to pound upon the head of the screw to 
drive it towards the wall and straighten the expanded arms. 
The possibility of striking the screw too hard, thereby forcing the toggle 
flange and screw into the wall, creates the potential of further damage to 
the wall especially if the wall is of a soft substance such as wallboard. 
Another problem connected with the first problem arises, especially upon a 
hard irregular surface, whereby the toggle flange may become jammed in the 
wall and thus difficult to pry away and remove. 
Accordingly the present invention envisions a pliers like tool designed to 
fluidly reverse the mounting procedure to effect the straightening of the 
expanded toggle bolt fastener arms by means of the tool through the grip 
of an operator's hand. The tool protects the surface of the wall from 
further marring and eliminates the possibility of the toggle flange 
jamming in the wall. The tool further provides a means to remove the 
entire toggle bolt fastener in basically one operation, the removal of 
which previously required the operation of a hammer and some sort of 
gripping pliers, none of which have proven extremely effective. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The adjustable hollow wall toggle bolt extraction pliers-like tool of the 
present invention is comprised of two distinct movably secured 
complimentary components. Each component has two distinct members, a 
handle-lever member and a jaw member. 
One component is characterized by a substantially rectangular jaw member, 
which is a flat plate, and a perpendicularly affixed, flat linearly 
extending handle-lever member. The handle portion eminates vertically from 
the surface of one end of the jaw plate for a distance and then abruptly 
angles obtusely with respect to an horizontal plane formed by the jaw 
plate. This jaw plate itself is characterized by a V-shaped fork within 
the end opposing the handle end. The vertical portion of the handle 
contains a longitudinal slot, through which a securing pivot pin fits, to 
provide adjustability. 
The other component is characterized by a substantially rectangular flat 
plate jaw member and an integrated flat handle member. The handle is 
affixed perpendicularly and runs the length of the plate. Thereafter the 
handle extends beyond the plate for a distance in a plane parallel a the 
horizontal plane formed by the plate and then angles acutely with respect 
to a horizontal plane. 
In operation, the jaw plate having the V-shaped fork is slipped between a 
loosened toggle fastener flange and the wall and the other jaw plate is 
placed against an already backed-out screw. Manual pressure is applied to 
the handles, causing them to act as levers, thereby forcing the screw back 
into the wall which in turn causes the expanded fastener arms to 
straighten. This allows simple removal of the entire toggle bolt fastener 
assembly by simply retracting the extraction pliers perpendicularly from 
the wall, the flange and head of the screw being retained within the fork 
and between the operative surfaces of the jaws. 
The present invention, therefore, provides a simple means to efficiently 
remove a toggle bolt fastener while effectively preventing any further 
damage to the wall. Further features of the present invention will become 
apparent from the following drawings and descriptions thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the unassembled and assembled views of the 
invention respectively, the pliers-like extraction tool of the present 
invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. It may be 
readily observed that tool 10 is comprised of two distinct components 12, 
14, each component having a flat, substantially rectangular jaw plate 
member, designated 16 and 18 respectively, and each having a flat linearly 
extending handle member, designated 20 and 22 respectively. Pliers-like 
tool 10 may be constructed from stainless steel or any suitably strong 
metal or material. Components 12 and 14 could be produced by form molding 
one integrated piece or constructed as herein embodied and illustrated for 
essentially simple, sturdy and economical construction. 
Component 12 is characterized by jaw plate member 16 which, on one end, has 
mediately positioned V-shaped symmetrical forked notch 24 which is capable 
of slipping over various sized toggle bolt flanges. The edges of fork 24 
may be beveled, the desirability of which will become apparent in 
conjunction with FIG. 3. Jaw plate 16 is substantially rectangular, but as 
embodied, the lower portion of handle 20 is formed from a portion of the 
end of jaw plate 16 which opposes the end having forked notch 24. Flat 
handle 20 has a inner portion 26 rising vertically perpendicular to jaw 
plate 16. Inner vertical handle portion 26 further includes longitudinal 
slot 30 which has a plurality of notched ridges 32 which provide 
adjustability to various sized hollow wall toggle bolt fasteners. The 
lengths of vertical handle portion 26 and slot 30 are dependent upon the 
range of sizes of toggle bolts desired to be removed. The remainder of 
handle 20, extending from inner vertical portion 26, abruptly angles 
obtusely with respect to a horizontal plane formed by jaw plate 16. 
Component 14 is characterized by substantially rectangular flat jaw plate 
member 18 formed, as embodied, by two bent plates 34, 36 juxtaposed and 
suitably secured by rivets or other suitable means. Flat handle 22 
eminates perpendicularly from one of the plates 34, 36 and forms a T shape 
with respect to jaw plate member 18. Inner handle portion 37 extends for a 
distance, substantially parallel to a horizontal plane formed by jaw plate 
18. The length of portion 37 corresponds to the length of vertical inner 
handle portion 26. Handle 22 further has a bore 38 approximately at the 
midpoint of inner portion 37. The outer portion of handle 22 thereafter 
angles acutely with respect to a horizontal plane formed by jaw 18. 
FIG. 2 illustrates assembled pliers-like extraction tool 10. Component 14 
and upper jaw plate member 18 is positioned upon component 12 and lower 
jaw plate member 16. Keyed threaded pivot pin 40, lock washer 42 and nut 
44 are used to secure components 12, 14 through bore 38 and slot 30 
respectively. It can be readily observed that, due to the angular 
relations of the handles, the major outer gripping portions of handles 20 
and 22 are substantially parallel. The angles formed by the gripping 
portions of handles 20 and 22 with respect to a horizontal plane should be 
between 15.degree. and 30.degree. for most efficient operation and 
handling. Thus handle 20 for lower jaw 16 is the upper handle and handle 
22 for upper jaw 18 is the lower handle. 
It should be noted that lower jaw plate 16 extends somewhat beyond upper 
jaw plate 18 to accommodate handle 20. The rear of jaw 18 abuts lower 
vertical handle portion 26 and is movable thereby. Also the flat surfaces 
of handles 20, 22 are slidable by each other. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the removal of hollow wall toggle bolt fastener 50 
through the use of the assembled tool 10 of FIG. 2. Before tool 10 may be 
used toggle bolt screw 52 must be backed out of the threaded neck portion 
54 of fastener 50 approximately one-eighth inch by means of a screw 
driver. Screw head 56 thereafter should be tapped lightly by means of a 
hammer. This operation will retract the internal fastener portion enough 
to release flange 58 of fastener 50 from wall 60. Screw 52, by means of a 
screw driver, is backed further out of fastener 50 to an extent which 
allows minimum thread engagement between screw 52 and threaded fastener 
neck 54. 
The toggle bolt assembly is now prepared for removal through the 
application of extraction tool 10 which in effect fluidly reverses the 
procedure of toggle bolt mounting. Tool 10 and antipodal jaws 16 and 18 
are opened. Forked notch 24 of lower jaw 16 is inserted between fastener 
flange 58 and wall 60. Upper jaw plate 18 is then positioned to abut screw 
head 56. The operator manually closes jaws 16, 18 by bringing handles 20, 
22 together, which act as levers, causing screw 52 to be forced back into 
the wall. This causes expanded fastener arms 62 to be retracted and thus 
straightened out to allow the removal of the fastener assembly. When this 
operation is completed screw head 56 and flange 58 will be snuggly secured 
between jaws 16 and 18. The operator will then simply move the tool 
perpendicularly from the wall to effect the removal. 
It is readily obvious that if forked notch 24 is beveled, the insertion 
between fastener flange 58 and wall 60 will be effected more easily. Also 
it is desired that the thickness of jaw plates 16 and 18 be as thin as 
practically possible with suggested thickness ranging from one-sixteenth 
to one-eighth inch. 
It should be noted that tool 10 could be applied to various extraction uses 
and may be embodied and constructed in various forms, such being simple 
design choices. The inventor, therefore, does not wish to be limited to 
the specific disclosure and criteria herein disclosed but only to the 
spirit and scope of the following claims.