Abstract:
A tool for exerting pulling forces for extracting a large headed stake which has been driven into the ground. The tool may have an elongated body bearing a handle at one end and two offset projections for abutting the large head of the stake at the other end. The projections are configured to present abutting surfaces when the tool is generally aligned parallel to the stake and also when the tool is aligned perpendicularly to the stake. The tool may be used in an impacting mode and alternatively in a prying mode. The handle can engage one end of a lever to develop increased pulling force.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention  
       [0001]    This application relates generally to the field of devices which are used for the removal of stakes, posts, rods, or the like which have been driven into or otherwise placed into the ground. More specifically, this application relates to a stake pulling tool. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the construction industry in particular, it is frequently necessary to drive stakes into the ground to support foundation members and ancillary structures such as forms for forming foundations members from poured concrete. The stakes and posts become very difficult to remove under most circumstances since they are generally directly pressing against the foundation members or the like, and thus when it is time to remove the stakes, it is very difficult to get convenient access to exert forces for pulling the stakes from their locations. 
         [0003]    In light of this difficulty, is has become commonplace to remove foundation stakes by either breaking them off, or by hitting them repeatedly with hammers to loosen the grip of surrounding ground, or by further driving them into the ground and leaving them to rot away over time. Such procedures increase construction costs due to additional time required, and further result in loss of the stakes, which if recovered could be utilized in subsequent construction. Therefore, this application discloses a tool that enables a user to economically and efficiently extract such stakes from the ground. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This application discloses a tool which facilitates extraction of a stake which has been driven into the ground. The disclosed tool is economical to produce, of uncomplicated construction, and capable of mass production. 
         [0005]    More particularly, this application discloses a stake pulling tool for pulling a stake in an upward direction relative from the ground. The tool may have at least two different and distinct engagement surfaces for engaging a large headed stake in order to impose pulling forces thereto. The disclosed tool can be operated in several ways, including in the manner of a manual slide hammer and as a manual prying tool. Even further, the several different and distinct engagement surfaces enable engagement of a driven stake in more than one position of the tool, thereby increasing tool versatility and convenience to personnel charged with removing large headed stakes. This versatility enables most stakes to be conveniently extracted without requiring specialized tools beyond that of the present application. 
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a manual stake pulling tool which can conveniently extract large headed stakes which have been driven into the ground at foundation sites. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a manual stake pulling tool which can operate either in the manner of a slide hammer or alternatively as a prying tool. 
         [0008]    A further object of the invention is to provide a manual stake pulling tool which affords at least two different orientations in engaging a large headed stake to be extracted from the ground. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0010]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more 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: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stake pulling tool according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the environment of the problem which is solved by the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an environmental perspective detail view showing engagement of a broad head of a stake by the tool of  FIG. 1 , shown with the tool spaced apart from the stake. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an environmental perspective detail view showing engagement of a broad head of a stake by the tool of  FIG. 1 , but illustrating a second orientation of the tool to the stake, shown with the tool spaced apart from the stake. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an environmental perspective view showing engagement of the tool of  FIG. 1  as it may be employed as a prying tool. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an environmental perspective view showing another arrangement for using the tool of  FIG. 1  as a prying tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  of the drawings shows a stake pulling tool  10  according to at least one aspect of the invention. The tool  10  is intended for pulling a large headed stake (see  FIG. 2 ) by the enlarged head thereof. As used herein, “stake” encompasses any like devices that can be driven into the ground, which have enlarged heads. 
         [0020]    The tool  10  may comprise an elongated body  12  having a handle end  14  and a working end  16 . A cylindrical handle  18  may be connected transversely to the elongated body  12  at the handle end  14  thereof. The handle  18  may be cylindrical along at least part of its length, whereby the handle is comfortably grasped by hand. The elongated body  12  may comprise two divergent members including a principal member  20  and a minor member  22 . The minor member  22  may be fixed to the principal member  20  at a joint  24 . The principal member  20  and the minor member  22  may each have respective free ends, the handle  18  spanning the free ends. The principal member  20 , the minor member  22 , and the handle  18  collectively form a peripherally closed passageway or opening  26 , the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. 
         [0021]    At the working end  16 , the tool  10  includes a first engagement member  28  and a second engagement member  30  fixed to the elongated body  12 . As will be further explained hereinafter, the first and second engagement members  28  and  30  engage the enlarged head of the stake being pulled from the ground. As clearly seen in  FIG. 1 , the first engagement member  28  is generally parallel to the second engagement member  30 . The first engagement member  28  may have a first contact surface  32  for engaging the stake and a second contact surface  34  for engaging the stake when positioned differently. Similarly, the second engagement member  30  may have a third contact surface  36  and a fourth contact surface  38 . It will be seen that the first contact surface  32  of the first engagement member  28  and the third contact surface  36  of the second engagement member  30  face the handle  18 . 
         [0022]    The elongated body  12 , the first engagement member  28 , and the second engagement member  30  may be fabricated from one or more suitable sturdy materials such as steel. The handle  18  may be fabricated from for example wood, plastic, or steel. 
         [0023]    Turning momentarily to  FIG. 2 , a large headed stake  2  is seen driven in close proximity to a foundation member  4 . The large headed stake  2  comprises a shaft  6  and an enlarged head  8 , and is driven into the ground G such that ready removal by hand is difficult if not impossible. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows one method of using the tool  10  (not shown in its entirety in  FIG. 3 ). With the elongated body  12  in a substantially vertical orientation, the tool  10  is moved in the direction of the arrow A until the respective contact surfaces  32  and  36  are below the elongated head  8 . 
         [0025]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as up and down, left and right, and others refer to the drawing as viewed by an observer. Terms such as vertical and horizontal are relative to the field of gravity. 
         [0026]    With the contact surfaces  32  and  36  straddling the shaft  6 , the tool  10  is then raised until the contact surfaces  32  and  36  abut the underside of the enlarged head  8 . If minor upward pressure cannot dislodge the stake  2  from the ground, then the tool  10  may be accelerated while raising to the point that an impact is imposed on the enlarged head  2  when contact between the tool  10  and the enlarged head  8  occurs. Alternatively stated, with the engagement members  28  and  30  straddling or forking the shaft  6  of the stake  2 , the tool  10  may be utilized in the manner of a slide hammer.  FIG. 4  shows engagement of the tool  10 , which is being moved upwardly in the direction of the arrow B, with the stake  2  at the moment of mutual abutment. One or more blows with the tool  10  may be required to break the stake  2  free of engagement with the ground G. 
         [0027]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , another method of using the tool  10  is shown. The tool  10 , again not shown in its entirety, straddles or forks the shaft  6  of the stake  2 . The tool  10  is moved in the direction of the arrow C into straddling or forked relation to the shaft  6 . In the orientation of  FIG. 5 , contact surfaces  34  and  38  of the respective engagement members  28  and  30  are used in place of the contact surfaces  32  and  36  which were employed in the mode of use depicted in  FIG. 4 . Although impacts may be applied as described in the alternative orientation above, if feasible, the mode of  FIG. 5  is also well suited to using the tool  10  as a pry tool. This is shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the tool  10  is positioned with the elongated body  12  lying on any suitable material which can serve as a fulcrum, such as a stack  9  of lumber. When the handle end  14  of the tool  10  is moved downwardly, as indicated by the arrow D, an upwardly acting force is exerted at the working head  16 . With the engagement members  28  and  30  contacting the enlarged head  8 , more specifically contact surfaces  34  and  38  respectively, of the stake  2 , the stake  2  is subjected to lifting forces which will extract the stake  2  from the ground G. 
         [0028]    It will be appreciated that the geometry which enables these different modes of use may include the following characteristics. Firstly, the elongated body  12  has a length, the first engagement member  28  has a length aligned with the length of the elongated body  12 , and the second engagement member  30  also has a length aligned with the length of the elongated body  12 . Secondly, the first contact surface  32  of the first engagement member  28  is generally perpendicular to the second contact surface  34  of the first engagement member  28 , and the third contact surface  36  of the second engagement member  30  is generally perpendicular to the fourth contact surface  38  of the second engagement member  30 . 
         [0029]    Thirdly, because the engagement members  28  and  30  may be parallel to one another, it follows that the first contact surface  32  and the third contact surface  36  may be coplanar with one another. Similarly, the second contact surface  34  and the fourth contact surface  38  may be coplanar with one another. The first contact surface  32  and the third contact surface  36  are not parallel to the second contact surface  34  and the fourth contact surface  38 . Rather, the first contact surface  32  and the third contact surface  36  may be perpendicular to the second contact surface  34  and the fourth contact surface  38 , as occurs with the tool  10 . These relationships assure that the enlarged head  8  of the stake  2 , where formed by a linear board, will be simultaneously and evenly contacted by the tool  10  during extraction. 
         [0030]    Again referring to  FIG. 1 , the principal member  20  of the elongated body  12  may have a planar first flat face  44  and an opposed planar second flat face  46 . Both the first contact surface  32  of the first engagement member  28  and the third contact surface  36  of the second engagement member  30  are perpendicular to the planar first flat face  44  of the elongated body  12 . It will be seen that a hypothetical plane may be considered to exist parallel to and between the faces  44  and  46 . This plane, which may be coincident with the first flat face  44  or with the second flat face  46  as well as being located between the these two flat faces  44  and  46 , may be regarded as a dividing plane which separates the two flat faces  44  and  46 . 
         [0031]    The handle  18  and the diverging minor member  22  may be located on one side of the hypothetical dividing plane, with the engagement members  28  and  30  located on the opposite side of the hypothetical dividing plane. This arrangement assures that the elongated body  12  will be left with a straight section available for sliding contact with the large headed stake  2  when the tool  10  is used in the manner described with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This enables the tool  10  to be accelerated along a straight line while sliding against the large headed stake  2  so that a significant impact may be generated upon contact of the first engagement member  28  and the second engagement member  30  with the large headed stake  2 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  depicts a further way of using the tool  10 . In cases wherein the stake  2  is contained within a well, trench, or other recess such that direct access is not possible, the tool  10  may be employed as shown. The tool  10  may be placed into engagement with the enlarged head  8  of the stake  2 , as was described with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A board  3  may be placed on the ground G such that a second board  5  may be placed as shown. The board  5  acts as a lever, using the board  3  as a fulcrum. The board  5  passes through the passageway  26  of the tool  10 . When a downward force (represented as an arrow E) is imposed on one end of the board  5 , an increased upwardly acting force on the other side of the axis F of pivot is imposed on the handle  18  of the tool  18 . This upward force is transmitted by the tool to the stake  2 , which is thereby extracted. 
         [0033]    Other ways of utilizing a tool such as the tool  10  exist. It would be possible for example to extract stakes (not shown) which lack an enlarged head such as the enlarged head  2 . Using a suitable apparatus such as a collar (not shown), which when placed over the stake and subjected to pulling forces grips the stake due to a sideward bias, may enable the tool  10  to impose pulling forces and impacts on a stake in the absence of an enlarged head. 
         [0034]    A tool according to other aspects of the invention may display variations of and modifications to the characteristics of the tool  10  as shown and described. For example, the elongated body  12  of the tool  10  may, instead of the flattened slab-like configuration shown, be tubular, square, formed from a stock channel configured as a “U”, or otherwise configured in cross section. The diverging minor member  22  may form a mirror image with the corresponding section of the principal member  20 . 
         [0035]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.