Fireplace tool

A fireplace tool comprising an elongated rod member having a handle grip on one end and a pointed poker formed on the other end and including a plurality of four-sided chisel members extending through the elongated rod at a portion near the poker end. Each chisel member includes a plurality of teeth formed along each edge defined by the four sides thereof. The teeth are formed by cut-outs in each edge. The chisel members are spaced approximately one-half inch apart and are aligned along the line axis of the elongated rod member. Further, the chisel members protrude either in equal amounts through the elongated rod member, or, in progressively increasing amounts commencing from the poker end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to fireplace tools and, more 
particularly, to a poker tool combining poker and claw features. 
Fires in fireplaces usually consist of burning wood or logs. When a piece 
of wood or a log burns, the outside surface thereof chars, leaving a 
charred outside layer. The outer surface of the piece of wood or log thus 
becomes a relatively cooler charred surface. However, just beneath the 
surface, the wood or logs continues to burn relatively hotly. 
In order to maintain a hot burning fire, or to revive smoldering embers, it 
is necessary to knock the charred surface loose so as to expose the more 
hotly burning inner surface. Therefore, it is necessary to employ a tool 
that is capable of chipping away at the surface of the wood or logs so as 
to remove the charred surface therefrom. 
Additionally, in many fires, in order to adjust the burning of the pieces 
of wood or logs, it is necessary to move the burning wood or logs. 
Therefore, a tool is employed to push or tug at the burning wood pieces or 
logs to thereby adjust the position or positions thereof. 
Tools for accomplishing the foregoing include the standard poker having an 
elongated rod having a handle at one end and a pointed end at the other 
and a curved hook portion near the poker end. Another type of poker 
includes an elongated rod having a handle at one end and simply a pointed 
end having a tetrahedral shape, each face of which has a substantially 
triangular shape. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a device that includes members for poker 
actions, chipping or chiseling actions, and clawing actions. To this end, 
the invention provides a tool for a fireplace or stove that includes an 
elongated rod member having a poker end and chisel action members 
extending perpendicularly to the elongated rod and positioned near the 
poker end. A grip attached at the other end of the rod provides a point at 
which a user can grasp the tool. The chisel members include four-sided 
chisels having pointed ends and having teeth formed along the edges 
defined by the sides. 
In one embodiment, the chisel members protrude from the rod in equal 
lengths. In another embodiment, the chisel members protrude from the rod 
in progressive amounts commencing the poke ends.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a fireplace tool 10 embodying prinicples of the 
invention. As illustrated, the tool 10 includes an elongated rod or bar 
member 12. At a handle end of the elongated bar or rod member 12 is 
attached a grip member 14. The grip member 14 is used by a user to grasp 
the tool 10. At the other end of the elongated rod 12, there are located a 
plurality of chisel members 16 that enable manipulation of the logs 18 on 
the grate 20. 
The fireplace tool 10 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2-5. Therein, 
it can be seen that each chisel member 16 includes a body portion 22 and a 
head portion 24. The body portion 22 has an elongated shape along the axis 
of which are formed a plurality of faces 26. The intersection of these 
faces 26 form knife edges 30. The head portion 24 is located on one end of 
the body portion 22, while the opposite end of the body portion is formed 
so as to have a pointed shape. 
Along the edges 30 are formed a plurality of cut-outs or notches 32. As 
illustrated, each of the notches 32 is formed so as to have an upper 
planar face 34 and a lower planar face 36. As illustrated most clearly in 
FIG. 3, in profile, the planes defined by the faces 34 and 36 form an 
acute angle. The cut-outs 32 thus form a plurality of teeth or serrations 
along the edges 30 that are especially adapted for chipping away the 
charred surface around a log or piece of wood. 
The edges 30 of the chisel members are roughly square but the edges 30 are 
smoothed somewhat so as to not be sharp to minimize sticking to the logs 
or wood when used. This reduces dangers that might arise when the chisel 
members inadvertently stick to a burning log or piece of wood. 
As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 4, the elongated rod portion includes a 
front portion 40 for receiving the chisel members 16. The front portion 40 
includes a reduced diameter portion 42 wherein a portion of the front 
portion 40 of the elongated rod member 12 has been removed. By removing 
this portion, a flat surface 44 is formed on the front portion 40 for 
receiving the head portions 24 of the chisel members 16. The depth of the 
removed portion is roughly equal to the height of the head portions 24 of 
the chisel members 16. 
As further illustrated, the front portion 40 of the elongated rod member 12 
includes a pointed tip 50. This pointed tip provides the traditional poker 
function for the tool 10. 
Additionally illustrated, the grip member 14 is attached at the handle end 
of the elongated rod. The grip member 14 may be of any standard type 
suitable for the purpose. In the illustrated embodiment, the grip member 
14 is of the forced fit type wherein the grip member 14 is secured on the 
elongated bar member 12 by shear force fitting of the grip member 14 onto 
one end of the rod member. 
The chisel members 16 are inserted through openings 48, illustrated in FIG. 
7, in the front portion 40 of the elongated rod member 12 that are spaced 
appooximately one-half inch apart. In the illustrated embodiment, the 
chisel members 16 are arranged in a straight line and are six in number. 
Further, the chisel members 16 protrude approximately one-half inch to 
five-eighths inch through the elongated rod member 12. These protrusions 
and spacings of the chisel members 16 are especially adapted for 
convenient chipping and manipulation of the logs 18. Further, the spacing 
of the chisel members is designed to facilitate the movement of 
common-sized wood pieces or logs used in residential fireplaces and 
stoves. 
In FIG. 6, there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of the invention, 
wherein the elongated rod member 12 includes chisel members 60, 62, 64, 66 
that do not all protrude through the elongated rod member by the same 
amount. As illustrated, the three chisel members 66 furthest removed from 
the pointed end 50 of the elongated rod member 12 protrude by the same 
amount. The remaining chisel members 60, 62, 64 protrude by progressively 
decreasing amounts toward the pointed end 50 of the elongated rod member 
12. 
In the preferred embodiment, the fireplace tool is approximately 22 inches 
in length from the pointed end 50 to an end of the grip member 14. The 
length accommodates most residential fireboxes. The elongated rod member 
12 is preferably made of steel and is seven-sixteenths of an inch in 
diameter. 
It can be appreciated that the fireplace tool 10 can be utilized in a 
variety of ways. First, the pointed end of the chisel members 16 can be 
used to dig into the surfaces of pieces of wood or logs so that the tool 
10 can be used to push or pull the logs or pieces of wood to thereby 
adjust the positions thereof. Thus, the tool serves as a claw of sorts. 
Second, the edges 30 of the chisel members 16 can be used to chip away the 
outside surfaces of burning logs or pieces of wood, as described above, to 
remove the charred surfaces thereof to thereby expose the burning surfaces 
thereunder. Thus, the tool 10 serves as a scrapper of sorts. 
Third, the pointed tip 50 of the tool 10 can be used to push or poke 
burning logs or pieces of wood. Thus, the tool 10 serves as a poker as 
well. Additionally, when the embodiment wherein the chisel members 
protrude in varying amounts through the elongated rod is utilized, the 
tool is especially adapted for pushing burning substances due to the 
contoured profile of the chisel members. It can be appreciated that the 
contoured profile prevents sticking of the chisel members to the burning 
wood and permits more than one pointed end of the chisel members to 
contact the wood for improved pushing action. 
Fourth, the right angle formed by the pointed tip 50 and the first chisel 
member 16 from the tip can be utilized for pushing logs or pieces of wood. 
The pointed tip 50 and chisel member 16 provide two elements that are 
positionable on different portions of a log or piece of wood and thus, 
provide great stability during the pushing action. 
While a preferred embodiment has been shown, modifications and changes may 
become apparent to those skilled in the art which shall fall within the 
spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that such modifications 
and changes be covered by the attached claims.