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 is a continuation-in-part application which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/804,498 filed on Jul. 21, 2015, which 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. Also, commercially available pry bars are not capable of providing a horizontal twisting action to posts or panels as part of construction or demolition efforts. 
         [0004]    The present invention addresses these issues 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 an perspective right side front view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an perspective left side rear view of the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective right side front view of the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1  illustrating the pry head; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective left side front view of the embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1  illustrating the pry head; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the present invention of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective left side front view of the pry head of the present invention of  FIG. 1  in use with a post. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective left side front view of the pry head of the present invention of  FIG. 1  in use with a panel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7 , 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, from slender members, such as joists (not shown). 
         [0014]    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. 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]    The handle  12  is elongated and generally straight, and, in one embodiment, is comprised of hex steel. In one embodiment of the invention, the handle  12  includes a wedge-shaped prying portion  38  at the top of handle  12 , which adds further function to pry bar  10  as a whole. 
         [0017]    The pair of generally L-shaped paw members  20  of the head  14  are formed by two sections oriented at an angle β (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) that can range between 60 degrees to 120 degrees therewith: attachment portion  28  and prying portion  30 . Attachment section  28  is elongated and generally straight, and, together with the prying portion  30 , forms a paw member  20  that is generally L-shaped. Prying portion  30  is flat and generally straight including distal end  24 . Each prying portion  30  has an inside exterior edge  34  and an outside exterior edge  36 . In a preferred embodiment, edges  34  and  36  are parallel to each other (although they can also be non-parallel), and the width (W) between the inside exterior edges  34  can range from 1.0 inches to 3.75 inches (on-center). In the event that pry bar  10  is intended for use, for example, with a 1½ inch wide joist/panel or post, width (W) would have to be greater than 1½ inch in order to allow inside exterior edges to clear around the joist/panel or post. For example, a width (W) of 2 inches would allow the inside exterior edges to clear around a 1 1/2  inch joist/panel or post as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 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 . Attachment portions  28  can be formed, for example, by hex steel. 
         [0018]    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. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , edges  36  and  34 , in one preferred embodiment, are perpendicular to the plane formed by handle  12  and fulcrum  16 . In all embodiments, edges  36 , along with distal ends  24 , do not extend outward. This assists the pry bar in fitting between posts or other structures, i.e., distal ends  24  do not create outward protrusions that would catch on posts or other structures. In this respect, the distance between outer edges  36  can be a predetermined distance. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , however, outside edges  36 , together with 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  and fulcrum  16 , as denoted by angle θ. In a preferred embodiment, angle θ ranges between 0 degrees and 45 degrees, although other angles are possible. As Angle θ varies, outer edges  36 , again, can have a predetermined distance. 
         [0021]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 4-7 , inside edges  34  are perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of handle  12  and fulcrum  16  in one embodiment and can also angle inward to each other as shown in  FIG. 5 , as shown by angle α. Angle a ranges between 0 degrees and 45 degrees, although other angles are possible. Inside edges  34  do not angle outward, with the orientation of inside edges  34  serving to aid the use of pry bar  10  as a twisting tool as shown in  FIG. 6 . More specifically, horizontal boards, vertical posts or other building members in various positions can be loosened or moved by placing paw-shaped members  20  around the board, post, joist or other member and then twisting or rocking pry bar  10  sideways. This expands the functional capabilities of the pry bar beyond standard pry bars. In this context, and in one preferred embodiment, angle α ranges between 5 and 10 degrees, with this inward angle a enhancing the ability of inside edges  34  to grip an intermediary member while pry bar  10  is twisted or rocked sideways. If inside edges are angled outward, however, the paw-shaped members  20  lose their ability to grip a board, post or member situated between members  20 . 
         [0022]    This twisting action capability of pry bar  10  is shown more specifically in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In  FIG. 7 , pry bar  10  is situated so that prying portions  30  and claws  32  lie on opposite sides of post  40  (with width (W) of sufficient distance to permit inside edges  34  to span post  40 ). In this configuration, a twisting of pry bar  10 , as shown by arrows  46 , causes inside edges  32  to contact opposite sides of post  40  and thereby twist post  40  about its longitudinal axis. This twisting motion can assist in positioning post  40  during construction or removing post  40  from attached members, rails or frames during demolition. As shown in  FIG. 7 , pry bar  10  can be used to interact in a similar manner with panel  50 , whereby movement of pry bar  10  as shown by arrows  46  causes panel  50  to rotate about nail  42  and, as shown by arrows  48 , position panel  50  on board  44 . In this context, nail  42  or other similar means can be used as a first attachment of panel  50  to board  44 , and the twisting movement of pry bar  10  helps adjust panel  50  before other attachments are made. In addition, although not shown, pry bar  10  can be used to straddle the longitudinal side edge of a joist (similar to what is shown in  FIG. 7 , albeit in a vertical orientation) that is connected at the opposite edge, and, by twisting and/or rocking the pry bar, cause the joist to become loosened and disconnected as part of demolition. In all of these examples, spacing can exist between the inside edges  34  and post  40  or panel  50  situated between claws  32 . In this context, it is, again, important that inside edges do not angle outward from each other, as this would diminish the ability of inside edges to hold against an intermediary post or panel while pry bar is twisted or rocked back and forth. 
         [0023]    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. 
         [0024]    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.