Abstract:
Pry bars that will not slip off a lower support structure (such as joints) when prying attachment devices (such as nails or screws) from architectural members (such as deck boards) because the two paws or distal ends of the hook members are fully engaged with one or more lower support structures throughout the prying operation. The pry bar has a handle and a head, with the head having a fulcrum and two hook or paw members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This nonprovisional patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/027,530, titled PRY BAR, filed Jul. 22, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to a pry bar. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Commercially available pry bars slip off a lower support structure (such as joints) when prying attachment devices (such as nails or screws) from architectural members (such as deck boards) because the two paws or distal ends of the hook members are not fully engaged with a lower support structure throughout the prying operation. 
         [0004]    The present invention addresses the issue through use of a modified pry bar that includes a pair of L-shaped paw members that can be angled to address the slippage issue. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings for the purpose of illustrating the embodiments, and not for purposes of limiting the invention, wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of a partial isometric view of the present invention of  FIG. 1  illustrating the pry head; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of a partial isometric view of the present invention of  FIG. 1  illustrating the pry head; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the pry head of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , in which like numerals indicate like parts, the pry bar of the present invention is shown generally at  10  for facilitating prying a flat member, such as a deck board (not shown), from slender members, such as joists (not shown). 
         [0012]    The pry bar  10  comprises a handle  12  and a head  14 . The head  14  extends perpendicularly from the handle  12  at the midpoint M of the head  14 . The head  14  is used for engaging under the flat member and functions as a fulcrum  16  by engaging the slender members and thereby causing the head  14  to pry the flat member from the slender members when the handle  12  is pushed away from the head  14  in a direction of arrow  18  ( FIG. 2 ) by the fulcrum  16  pivoting on the slender member. 
         [0013]    The head  14  comprises a fulcrum  16  and a pair of L-shaped paw members  20 . The pair of L-shaped members  20  each have proximal ends  22 , respectively, and distal ends  24 , respectively. 
         [0014]    The handle  12  is elongated and generally straight, for example hex steel. 
         [0015]    The pair of generally L-shaped paw members  20  of the head  14  are formed by two sections oriented at an angle β that can range between 60 degrees to 120 degrees therewith: attachment portion  28  and prying portion  30 . The width (W) between paw members  20  can range from 1.0 inches to 3.75 inches (on-center). Attachment section  28  is elongated and generally straight, for example hex steel, and together with the prying portion  30  form a paw member  20  that is generally L-shaped. Prying portion  30  is flat and generally straight including distal end  24 . The distal ends  24  of the pair of L-shaped paw members  20  of the head  14  are formed into claws  32 , respectively, for facilitating nail pulling and the like. Attachment portions  28  extend at proximal ends  22  perpendicular from ends  26  of fulcrum  16  and in parallel orientation with the longitudinal plane of handle  12 . 
         [0016]    The fulcrum  16  is elongated and generally straight and round, for example hex steel. The roundness in lateral cross section facilitates pivoting on the slender member. The fulcrum  16  ties the pair of L-shaped paw members  20  of the head  14  to each other, while keeping the pair of L-shaped paw members  20  of the head  14  properly spaced-apart from each other. 
         [0017]    The distal ends  24  of the pair of prying portions  30  can be oriented towards (inward) each other, thereby forming a non-perpendicular orientation with the longitudinal plane of handle  12  denoted by angle θ. In a preferred embodiment, angle θ ranges between 0 degrees and 10 degrees, although other angles are possible. Angle θ, in one embodiment, corresponds to the orientation of the outside inner edge of claw  32 , such that the outside inner edge has a perpendicular orientation to the plane of handle  12 . This inward orientation of the distal ends  24  of the pair of prying portions assists the pry bar in fitting between posts or other structures (the outer edges of the prying portions  30  of the distal ends  24  do not protrude to expand the width between the outer edges). In this respect, the outer edges of the prying portions  30  of the distal ends  24  can have a predetermined distance. 
         [0018]    The materials for the above mentioned features can be any materials suitable to withstand the operational forces, such as steel, aluminum, titanium, cast iron, brass, composites, or combinations thereof. For example, one embodiment of the present invention can be hex steel for the entire invention with machining fabrication to create certain features, such as the flat prying portion  30  with claws  32 . The features can be fabricated separately as sub-components and welded together to form a monolithic structure or be extruded to form a starting structure that is monolithic. 
         [0019]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a pry bar for prying a flat member from a slender member, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.