Abstract:
A molding remover system for efficiently removing door molding from a vehicle without requiring removal of the door glass. The molding remover system includes a handle and a shaft member extending from the handle. The shaft member has an engaging portion that extends toward the handle. The engaging portion is formed for engaging a retainer clip attaching a window molding to a door frame.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable to this application.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable to this application.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     The present invention relates generally to vehicle molding removers and more specifically it relates to a molding remover system for efficiently removing door molding from a vehicle without requiring removal of the door glass.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     Window molding for automobiles typically has clips that have a resilient jaw member. The jaw member has a lower hook that engages the lower edge of an extended member within the door frame.  FIGS. 4 through 9  illustrate an exemplary window molding attached within a door frame of an automobile. There is a need for an efficient system that allows for the removal of window molding without requiring removal of the door glass.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of molding removers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new molding remover system construction wherein the same can be utilized for efficiently removing door molding from a vehicle.  
         [0008]     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new molding remover system that has many of the advantages of the molding removers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new molding remover system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art molding removers, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
         [0009]     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a handle and a shaft member extending from the handle. The shaft member has an engaging portion that extends toward the handle. The engaging portion is formed for engaging a retainer clip attaching a window molding to a door frame.  
         [0010]     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
         [0011]     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0012]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a molding remover system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.  
         [0013]     A second object is to provide a molding remover system for efficiently removing door molding from a vehicle without requiring removal of the door glass.  
         [0014]     Another object is to provide a molding remover system that does not damage the molding or clip structure.  
         [0015]     An additional object is to provide a molding remover system that can be utilized upon various models of automobiles.  
         [0016]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0017]     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of the present invention in a first position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of the present invention in a second position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an upper perspective view of the present invention in a third position.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5   a  is a side view of the present invention being inserted between a window molding and the door glass.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the present invention being rotated thereby causing the hook member to be removed from the door frame.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5   c  is a side view of the present invention lifting the removed window molding from the door frame.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6   a  is an upper perspective view of the present invention being inserted between the door glass and the window molding.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6   b  is an upper perspective view of the present invention being lifted for removing the window molding.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6   c  is an upper perspective view of the present invention being slid between the door glass and the window molding.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is an upper perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the alternative embodiment.  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the alternative embodiment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0000]     A. Overview of Invention  
         [0032]     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 through 8  illustrate a molding remover system  10 , which comprises a handle  20  and a shaft member  30  extending from the handle  20 . The shaft member  30  has an engaging portion  36  that extends toward the handle  20 . The engaging portion  36  is formed for engaging a retainer clip  18  attaching a window molding to a door frame.  
         [0000]     B. Handle  
         [0033]      FIGS. 1 through 9  illustrate an exemplary handle  20  that may be utilized with the present invention. The handle  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6   c  is comprised of an elongate closed structure similar to that utilized with a screwdriver that the user grasps. The handle  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 7 through 9  is comprised of an open rectangular structure with a center opening for the user to extend their hand through. It can be appreciated that various other structures and designs may be utilized to construct the handle  20 .  
         [0000]     C. Shaft Member  
         [0034]     A shaft member  30  extends from the handle  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 9  of the drawings. The shaft member  30  includes a distal portion that is angled toward the handle  20  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  8  of the drawings. The distal portion of the shaft member  30  includes an engaging portion  36  for selectively engaging a retainer clip  18  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  and  7  of the drawings.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 1 through 6   c  illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention wherein the shaft member  30  is comprised of a first segment  31  extending from the handle  20 , a second segment  32  extending from the first segment  31  at a first angle, and a third segment  34  extending from the second segment  32  at a second angle. The engaging portion  36  extends from the third segment  34  at a third angle as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. The first angle and the second angle may be comprised of an angle greater than one hundred degrees. The third angle may be comprised of an angle less than ninety degrees as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. The engaging portion  36  may be substantially parallel to the first segment  31  and directed toward the handle  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. The engaging portion  36  may be flat and tapered with a broad structure as further shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 7 through 9  of the drawings illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment has an extended portion  31 ′ that extends outwardly from the handle  20  as best illustrated in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. In the alternative embodiment, the third segment  34  is approximately ninety degrees with respect to the second segment  32  as best shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. Also, the engaging portion  36  is approximately ninety degrees with respect to the second segment  32  as best shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. The engaging portion  36  extends towards the handle  20  at an angle with respect to the second segment  32  as shown in  FIG. 8  of the drawings.  
         [0000]     D. Operation of Invention—First Embodiment  
         [0037]     In use, the user inserts the engaging portion  36  between the molding belt  14  of the window molding and the door glass  12 . The user continues to insert the shaft member  30  downwardly within the door of the automobile as best illustrated in  FIG. 6   a  of the drawings. The user then lifts the engaging portion  36  upwardly to engage a retainer clip  18  attached to the window molding as shown in  FIG. 5   a  of the drawings. The user then rotates the handle  20  thereby causing the engaging portion  36  to apply an outward force to the retainer clip  18  thereby forcing the retainer clip  18  from the upper lip of the door as shown in  FIG. 5   b  of the drawings. The user then lifts upwardly upon the engaging portion  36  thereby causing the molding frame  16  to be lifted from the door frame. This process continues until the window molding is completely removed.  
         [0000]     E. Operation of Invention—Second Embodiment  
         [0038]     In use, the user inserts the engaging portion  36  between the molding belt  14  of the window molding and the door glass  12 . The user continues to insert the shaft member  30  downwardly within the door of the automobile similar to the first embodiment. The user then lifts the engaging portion  36  upwardly to engage a retainer clip  18  attached to the window molding. The user continues to lift upon the engaging portion  36  thereby causing the engaging portion  36  to apply an outward force to the retainer clip  18  thereby forcing the retainer clip  18  from the upper lip of the door. The user continues to lift upwardly upon the engaging portion  36  thereby causing the molding frame  16  to be lifted from the door frame. This process continues until the window molding is completely removed.  
         [0039]     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.  
         [0040]     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
         [0041]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.