Abstract:
A disclosed pin removal tool includes an elongate shank with a lift member extending orthogonally from a shank first end and a cylindrical shaft extending orthogonally from a shank second end, and also orthogonal to the lift member. The lift member has a blunt end fork with a pair of tongs forming a channel therebetween opening at a lift member distal end away from the shank.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to tools for the removal of hinge pins, and more specifically to a tool that safely removes a hinge pin removal tool without damage to woodwork or hardware. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Difficulty experienced in removing door hinge pins is well known. A door may need to be removed so the homeowner or workman must remove the pins from the door hinges. The installed pin is in the hinge with only the bulbous head exposed except that the pin end opposite the head is accessible from below the hinge though it does not extend from the hinge. Access to the pin is at least limited. The difficulty in removing the pin may be worsened if the pin has not been removed for an extended period of time. 
     There are a number of tools known in the art designed to remove the pin in view of the difficulties. Some tools are designed to attempt to wedge the tool under the pin head by hammering the tool at the pin head to force the tool under the pin head and in doing so pry the pin head up from the hinge. This approach will almost always mar the hinge or the pin or both. Hammering against the pin also transmits the hammer blow to the hinge and then also to screws between the hinge and the door and door frame, which may damage the screws and the door and door frame. These screws and door and door frame were not designed to absorb lateral blows. And as force is applied in the wedging process, it is common for the tool to slip and mar nearby woodwork. Some form of pliers may also be employed, but again, the result is damage to the hinge and pin. 
     It is also known to drive a screwdriver or punch into the pin end from the bottom of the hinge and up through the hinging members through which the pin passes. This procedure will likely loosen the pin from the hinge, raising the head a small distance above the hinge at the top of the hinge but a tool is still needed to further and fully remove the pin from hinging members. Use of multiple tools are also inconvenient. 
     Tools have been proposed that employ a fork on one end to wedge or fit between the pin head and the hinge and on the other end a cylindrical shaft sized to fit into the bottom of the hinge. These tools may be generally effective but they risk scarring nearby woodwork or injuring the workman. For example, as one end is being used, the other end is aimed at the workman. Typically, the tool also requires the workman to hammer the shaft into the bottom of the shaft at a position opposite the shaft, which again is very close to the nearby woodwork, which is likely to damage the woodwork if the hammer should slip, or the like. Even if such mishaps should be unusual, even a single incidence is too many. 
     SUMMARY 
     The pin removal tool disclosed herein eliminates or at least greatly reduces such occurrences as described above. Damage to costly hardware and costly woodwork is avoided. 
     The disclosed pin removal tool includes an elongate shank with a lift member extending orthogonally from a shank first end and a cylindrical shaft extending orthogonally from a shank second end, and also orthogonal to the lift member. Thus when the shaft is vertical for insertion up through the hinge bottom, the lift member is parallel to a closed door attached to the hinge and therefore not aimed either at the door or the workman. Similarly, when the lift member engages the pin at the hinge top the shaft is parallel to the closed door to avoid marring the door or injuring the workman. 
     Unlike some combination tools, the lift member of the present invention is not of wedge shape but rather the lift member top and bottom are parallel, rather than tapered, for tool strength to sustain repeated hammer blows to the tool transmitted through the lift member to the hinge pin. The lift member has a blunt end fork with a pair of tongs forming a channel therebetween opening at a lift member distal end away from the shank. In use then the shaft, extending from the shank, is inserted into the bottom of the hinge and against the hinge pin bottom. A hammer then strikes the shank between shank ends and specifically away from the shank end and therefore away from the shaft and nearby woodwork to minimize the hammer striking the woodwork while driving the pin or striking the woodwork should the hammer slip from the tool while striking it. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the combination tool of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tool of  FIG. 1  shown in position to insert its shaft into the hinge from the hinge bottom. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tool of  FIG. 1  shown in position in alignment for insertion about the hinge pin with the tool lift member between the hinge and the raised hinge pin head. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The combination hinge pin removal tool  10  of the present invention comprises an elongate shank  12  with first and second ends  14 ,  16  and a tool shaft  18  extending from the shank first end  14  generally orthogonal thereto. A lift member  20  extends from the second shank end  16  generally orthogonal thereto. The lift member  20  is also orthogonal to the tool shaft  18 , the shank  12 , the lift member  20  and the shaft  18  then extending in three mutually orthogonal directions. 
     The lift member  20  further comprises a forked end  22  having a pair of tongs  24  generally orthogonal to the shank  12  and also orthogonal to the tool shaft  18 . The tongs  24  are spaced apart to form a channel  26  therebetween opening away from the shank  12  to receive a hinge pin  28  therein such that when the hinge pin  28  is vertical in the channel  26  the shank  12  is also generally vertical and parallel to the hinge pin  28 . The channel  26  is of width W greater than a hinge pin width P but less than a hinge pin head  30  such that with the pin  28  in the channel  26  a hammer blow to an impact area at the longitudinal end  32  of the shank  12  at shank first end  14  longitudinal with the shank  12  moves tongs  24  of the lift member  20  against the pin head  30  and urges the pin  28  out of hinge  34 . 
     The lift member  20  does not wedge between the pin head  30  and the hinge  34 . Rather the pin  28  is urged up a distance D out of the hinge  34  by the tool shaft  18  being placed in the hinge  34  against the pin end  36  at the hinge bottom  38 . In practice, said distance D is greater than the thickness of the lift member tongs which allows the tongs  24  to slip alongside the pin  28  under the head  30  with the pin  28  in the channel  26 . Because the tongs  24  are not required to wedge between the pin head  30  and the hinge  34 , marring to the pin and pin head is prevented. Also, because the tongs  24  are not required to wedge between the pin head and the hinge, a lift member top  37  is parallel to a lift member bottom  39  at the lift member forked end  22  for strength of the tongs  24 . With the lift member  20  orthogonal to the shank  12  at the forked end  22 , the shank  12  is vertical and parallel to the hinge  34  and hinge pin  28  for stability of the tool  10  as it receives the hammer blow. 
     The shank side  40  opposite the tool shaft  18  is a continuously flat surface between shank ends  14 ,  16 , or at least a substantial distance from the shank first end, adapted to receive a hammer blow anywhere along said shank side  40 . A hammer blow on the flat surface of said shank side  40  typically away from the shank first end  14  urges the pin  28  upward said distance D out of the hinge  34  while maintaining the hammer away from woodwork  100  to which the hinge  34  attaches to prevent damage to the woodwork  100  should the hammer slip or miss aim. The shank  12  is longer than the hinge  34  such that it extends below the hinge  34  when the pin  28  is in the lift member channel  26  such that the hammer blow is also below the hinge bottom  38  and not alongside the hinge  34  to prevent damage to the hinge  34 . With the lift member  20  oriented orthogonal to the woodwork  100  to which the hinge  34  is attached with the hinge pin  28  in the channel  26 , the shaft  18  is parallel to that woodwork  100 , also to prevent damage to the woodwork  100 . 
     Also to prevent damage to the woodwork  100 , the tool shaft  18  is close to the shank first end  14  such that the shank  12  does not extend substantially beyond the shaft  18 , maintaining the tool  10  a maximum distance from the woodwork  100 . The shank first end  14  is semi-circular with its diameter that of the shank width S and with the tool shaft at its center C to allow the shaft  18  to access the hinge pin  28  at the hinge bottom  38  at an angle not necessarily orthogonal to the woodwork  100  without exposing a tool edge to the woodwork  100 .