Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, a tool for inserting and removing rod-type steps includes a handle and a head. The head includes a first surface having a first hole and a second surface, parallel to the first surface, having a second hole. The first hole and the second hole define a centerline. The head also includes a tang having first and second scallops disposed on opposing edges. The tang is perpendicular to the first and second surfaces and offset from the centerline.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to tree steps and, more particularly, to a tool for the inserting and removing rod-type tree steps.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Various designs for removable steps used to climb trees, telephone poles, etc., are known in the art, as well as complimentary tools for inserting and removing them.  
         [0003]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,007 to Mahaffy discloses a device for insertion and removal of rod-type tree steps with vertically spaced apart horizontal sections. The device has a hollow portion that surrounds the vertical section of the step and a guide slot for threading a horizontal section of the tree step. The guide slot requires a bolt or another means of securing the device to the horizontal section. The device is secured onto the tree step by a bolt or screw, and the user cranks the tree step into (or out of) the tree using the leverage from the vertically disposed central section of the device.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,625 to Katz discloses a tree step tool using a telescopic applicator, the inner sleeve of which is attached to the tree step. The outer sleeve consists of a long handle that may extend telescopically and a pin to lock the handle in position. The user then grips and turns the handle to remove or install the tree step.  
         [0005]     Known tree step insertion and removal tools suffer from many disadvantages. Some tools are unnecessarily complicated in that they require additional mechanism(s) to secure the tree step to the tool itself before inserting or removing the step. Other tools include relatively-moving parts that may bind, slip out of alignment, etc. A tool is therefore needed that permits ease of step installation and removal without the drawbacks associated with known constructions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a tool for inserting and removing rod-type steps includes a handle and a head. The head includes a first surface having a first hole and a second surface, parallel to the first surface, having a second hole. The first hole and the second hole define a centerline. The head also includes a tang having first and second scallops disposed on opposing edges. The tang is perpendicular to the first and second surfaces and offset from the centerline. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The above and other advantages of this invention will become more apparent by the following description of invention and the accompanying drawings.  
         [0008]      FIGS. 1A, 1B ,  1 C and  1 D are top, side, front and isometric views of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C and  2 D are top, side, front and isometric views of further embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention depicting both the step and the attachment tool. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]      FIGS. 1A, 1B , IC and  1 D present top, side, front and isometric views of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]     An attachment tool  10  includes a handle  20  and a head  30 . Generally, attachment tool  10  engages a threaded, rod-type step to insert and remove the step from a suitable object, such as a tree, a telephone pole, etc. When attachment tool  10  is engaged with the step in an insertion orientation, a torque may be applied to the step, through handle  20 , to drive the step into the object. Similarly, when the attachment tool  10  is engaged with the step in a removal orientation, an opposite torque may be applied to the step, through handle  20 , to back the step out from the object. The direction of the step threads determine the insertion and removal orientations of attachment tool  10 , and a right-hand thread will be assumed for description purposes.  
         [0013]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, an exemplary rod-type step  200  has a circular cross-section and includes a threaded section  202 , a central section  204  and a step section  206  substantially parallel to threaded section  202 . Threaded section  202  and step section  206  extend away from central section  204  in opposite directions. Step  200  may include a knurled portion along step section  206  as well as an angled end portion  208 . Of course, other well-known variations of rod-type step  200  may be accommodated by attachment tool  10 .  
         [0014]     Head  30  is connected to handle  20  and includes a top surface  32  and a bottom surface  34  parallel to top surface  32 . In this embodiment, top and bottom surfaces  32 ,  34  are substantially parallel to handle  20 . Top surface  32  includes a top hole  52 , while bottom surface  34  includes a bottom hole  54  aligned with top hole  52 . Top and bottom holes  52 ,  54  accommodate rod-type steps having a diameter of, for example, approximately 0.375″ and are slightly over-sized to accommodate angled end portion  208 . Other step diameters may be accommodated simply by forming appropriately-sized holes. Centerline  45 , passing through the center of top hole  52  and the center of bottom hole  54 , is parallel to, and offset from, a tang  40 . Alternatively, top hole  52  and bottom hole  54  may be slightly offset from one another, so that centerline  45  is slightly skewed with respect to tang  40 .  
         [0015]     Tang  40  is substantially perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces  32 ,  34  and depends below handle  20 . Alternatively, tang  40  may be inclined with respect to top and bottom surfaces  32 ,  34 . Tang  40  includes edges  42 ,  44 , each of which includes an indented section, or scallop, formed to engage the central portion  204  of step  200  during insertion or removal. Scallop  56 , disposed towards the bottom of edge  42 , engages an area  210  of central section  204  when attachment tool  10  is arranged for step insertion (assuming right handed threads). Similarly, scallop  58 , disposed towards the bottom of edge  44 , engages an area  212  of central section  204  when attachment tool  10  is arranged for step removal. Scallops  56 ,  58  may be circular in cross-section to comport with the shape of rod-type step  200 , as shown, for example, in Detail A of  FIG. 1C . In alternative embodiments, scallops  56 ,  58  may each be disposed, within their respective edges, near the center of tang  40  or near the top of tang  40 , and scallops  56 ,  58  may be formed in the shape of a “V”.  
         [0016]     In an embodiment, head  30  includes a main section  50  having a substantially rectangular cross-section consisting of top and bottom surfaces  32 ,  34 , a back surface  36  which is perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces  32 ,  34 , and a front surface  38  which is parallel to back surface  30 . Alternatively, main section  50  may have a trapezoidal cross-section, in which top and bottom surfaces  32 ,  34  are substantially parallel but form an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to front and back surfaces  38 ,  30 .  
         [0017]     In an embodiment, attachment tool  30  is formed from a single piece of steel strap, such as, for example, 10 gauge cold-rolled steel. The strap is bent into the proper shape and then welded at various locations.  FIG. 1B  indicates several exemplary weld locations using the letter “W” within a circle. Different strap thicknesses, widths and lengths may be employed, such as, for example, a strap thickness of 0.125″, a strap width of 1.250″ and a strap length of approximately 36″ to 40″. In this example, handle  20  is approximately 7″ in length, tang  40  is approximately 1.5″ in length, and main section  50  is approximately 2″ by 3″. In another embodiment, handle  20  and head  30  may be formed separately and then joined together using any number of well known techniques.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C and  2 D present other embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0019]     An attachment tool  100  includes a handle  120  and a head  130 . Top surface  132  includes a top hole  152 , while bottom surface  134  includes a bottom hole  154  aligned with top hole  152 . Centerline  145 , passing through the center of top hole  152  and the center of bottom hole  154 , is parallel to, and offset from, a tang  140 . Alternatively, top hole  152  and bottom hole  154  may be slightly offset from one another, so that centerline  145  is slightly skewed with respect to tang  140 .  
         [0020]     Tang  140  is substantially perpendicular to top and bottom surfaces  132 ,  134  and depends below handle  120 . Alternatively, tang  140  may be inclined with respect to top and bottom surfaces  132 ,  134 . Tang  140  includes edges  142 ,  144 , each of which includes an indented section, or scallop, formed to engage the central portion  204  of step  200  during insertion or removal. Scallop  156 , disposed towards the end portion of edge  142 , engages an area  210  of central section  204  when attachment tool  100  is arranged for step insertion (assuming right handed threads). Similarly, scallop  158 , disposed towards the end portion of edge  144 , engages an area  212  of central section  204  when attachment tool  100  is arranged for step removal. Scallops  156 ,  158  may be formed in the shape of a semi-circle, or, alternatively, scallops  156 ,  158  may be formed in the shape of a “V”.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, handle  120  is angled in an upward direction relative to baseline  147 , which is parallel to top and bottom surfaces  132 ,  134 . A slight upward angle, such as, for example, 5° to 10°, advantageously allows for additional clearance between handle  120  and the object when the user rotates attachment tool  100  and step  200 , thereby reducing the likelihood that the object will scrape the user&#39;s hand during the process.  
         [0022]     In another embodiment, head  130  includes a weldment or spike  160  for creating a small starter hole in which step  200  may be placed. In this embodiment, the user strikes the tree with tip of spike  160  to create the starter hole. Spike  160  may be formed, for example, from cold-rolled steel strap and welded to head  130 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention depicting both the step and the attachment tool.  
         [0024]     In order to engage attachment tool  10  with step  200 , the user first slides step section  206  through bottom hole  54  and then through top hole  52 , manipulating the attachment tool  10  as appropriate to accommodate the step&#39;s angled end portion  208  (if necessary). The user then adjusts attachment tool  10  relative to step  200  so that central section  204  falls within either scallop  56  or scallop  58 , depending upon whether step  200  is to be inserted or removed.  
         [0025]     Assuming a right-hand threaded step, engaging scallop  56  with step area  210  and then turning handle  20  in a clockwise direction (e.g., “Tighten”) will drive step  200  into the object. Similarly, engaging scallop  58  with step area  212  and then turning handle  20  counter-clockwise (e.g., “Loosen”) will remove step  200  from the object.  
         [0026]     While this invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth herein, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the true spirit and full scope of the invention as set forth herein.