Patent Publication Number: US-2011073816-A1

Title: Pry tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/983,170 filed Oct. 27, 2007 and U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/190,240 filed Aug. 27, 2008, all of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention has been created without the sponsorship or funding of any federally sponsored research or development program. 
    
    
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention involves a pry bar for demolition, and especially for removing floorboards from joists, and especially deck boards. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is frequently necessary, in building demolition and/or remodeling, to remove floor boards from floor joists, and wall boards from wall studs. The tools that are used for this activity are awkward, too heavy, ineffective, insufficiently durable, or too complex to be manufactured efficiently and economically. 
     These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention. 
     It is, therefore, an outstanding object of some embodiments of the present invention to provide a pry tool that efficiently and effectively removes boards from joists or studs. 
     It is a further object of some embodiments of the invention to provide a pry tool that efficiently and effectively removes the first board in a floor or wall boards from joists or studs. 
     It is a still further object of some embodiments of the invention to provide a pry tool that is simple and easy to use, relatively light in weight, effective in use, durable, or capable of being manufactured efficiently and economically. 
     With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention involves a pry tool, designated generally by the number  10 , includes an elongated handle  11  having an axis, an upper end  12  and a lower end  13 , and a first side  14  and a second side  15 . It also includes a first claw  16  having a first end  17 , a second end  18 , and a central portion  19 , the first end  17  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  19  extending outward from the axis and beyond the first side  14  of the handle  11 , and the second end  18  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  20 . It also includes a second claw  21  having a first end  22 , a second end  23 , and a central portion  24 , the first end  22  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  24  extending outward from the axis of the handle  11 , and beyond the second side  15  of the handle  11 , and the second end  23  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  25 ; and it also includes a rocker  26 , having a first end  27  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , second end  28  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and a central portion  29  that curves around the lower end  13  of the handle  11  and between the first and second claws  16  and  21  to form a rocker surface  30  between the first and second claws  16  and  21 . 
     The invention also includes a method for removing a board that is attached to a joint from the joist, comprising the steps of positioning a pry tool comprising, an elongated handle  11  having an axis, an upper end  12  and a lower end  13 , and a first side  14  and a second side  15 ; a first claw  16  having a first end  17 , a second end  18 , and a central portion  19 , the first end  17  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  19  extending outward from the axis and beyond the first side  14  of the handle  11 , and the second end  18  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  20 ; a second claw  21  having a first end  22 , a second end  23 , and a central portion  24 , the first end  22  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  24  extending outward from the axis of the handle  11 , and beyond the second side  15  of the handle  11 , and the second end  23  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  25 ; and a rocker  26 , having a first end  27  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , second end  28  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and a central portion  29  that curves around the lower end  13  of the handle  11  and between the first and second claws  16  and  21  to form a rocker surface  30  between the first and second claws  16  and  21 ; with the claws on different sides of the joist and below the board and in contact with the lower surface of the board, with the rocker on the joist, and moving the handle away from the board and toward the joist, to cause the claws to push the board away from the joist. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The character of the invention, however, may best be understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of one of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view that shows the physical relationship between the various parts of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , indicating preferred weld locations; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the rocker element, prior to being bent, of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the rocker element shown in  FIG. 9 , after being bent, of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the right side claw used in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , and presenting some preferred dimensions of the claw, the left side claw would be the mirror image of the right side claw; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , in which one claw is being used to lift a floorboard when the adjacent floorboard has not yet been removed; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , in which both of the claws are being used to lift a floorboard when the adjacent floorboard has not yet been removed; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view, from above the floor, of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  being used to remove a floorboard from a joist; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view, from below the floor, of the embodiment of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  being used to remove a floorboard from a joist; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  being used to remove a fastener from a joist; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , wherein are best shown the general features of one embodiment of the invention, the pry tool, designated generally by the number  10 , includes an elongated handle  11  having an axis, an upper end  12  and a lower end  13 , and a first side  14  and a second side  15 . It also includes a first claw  16  having a first end  17 , a second end  18 , and a central portion  19 , the first end  17  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  19  extending outward from the axis and beyond the first side  14  of the handle  11 , and the second end  18  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  20 . It also includes a second claw  21  having a first end  22 , a second end  23 , and a central portion  24 , the first end  22  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  24  extending outward from the axis of the handle  11 , and beyond the second side  15  of the handle  11 , and the second end  23  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  25 ; and it also includes a rocker  26 , having a first end  27  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , second end  28  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and a central portion  29  that curves around the lower end  13  of the handle  11  and between the first and second claws  16  and  21  to form a rocker surface  30  between the first and second claws  16  and  21 . 
     The invention also includes a method for removing a board that is attached to a joint from the joist, comprising the steps of positioning a pry tool comprising, an elongated handle  11  having an axis, an upper end  12  and a lower end  13 , and a first side  14  and a second side  15 ; a first claw  16  having a first end  17 , a second end  18 , and a central portion  19 , the first end  17  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  19  extending outward from the axis and beyond the first side  14  of the handle  11 , and the second end  18  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  20 ; a second claw  21  having a first end  22 , a second end  23 , and a central portion  24 , the first end  22  being attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , the central portion  24  extending outward from the axis of the handle  11 , and beyond the second side  15  of the handle  11 , and the second end  23  extending away from the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and including a v-groove  25 ; and a rocker  26 , having a first end  27  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , second end  28  attached to the lower end  13  of the handle  11 , and a central portion  29  that curves around the lower end  13  of the handle  11  and between the first and second claws  16  and  21  to form a rocker surface  30  between the first and second claws  16  and  21 ; with the claws on different sides of the joist and below the board and in contact with the lower surface of the board, with the rocker on the joist, and moving the handle away from the board and toward the joist, to cause the claws to push the board away from the joist. 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of one of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a right side elevation view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view that shows the physical relationship between the various parts of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , indicating preferred weld locations. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the rocker element, prior to being bent, of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the rocker element shown in  FIG. 9 , after being bent, of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the right side claw used in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , and presenting some preferred dimensions of the claw, the left side claw would be the mirror image of the right side claw. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , in which one claw is being used to lift a floorboard when the adjacent floorboard has not yet been removed. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , in which both of the claws are being used to lift a floorboard when the adjacent floorboard has not yet been removed. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view, from above the floor, of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  being used to remove a floorboard from a joist. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view, from below the floor, of the embodiment of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  being used to remove a floorboard from a joist. 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  being used to remove a fastener from a joist. 
     This invention is a pry tool that is a multipurpose wrecking bar designed to remove all types and sizes of deck floor boards such as 5/4 inch to 2 inch pressure treated-composite-hardwood and others. However, it is not limited only to the removal of deck floor boards. For example, it can also be used to remove hardwood flooring with ease. 
     This tool is designed to be multi purpose. It can start the initial removal of the first deck floor board by using one or both of the 90 degree claw ends as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     After the first board is removed, the tool can easily remove the next deck board without damaging the floor joist as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . In some embodiments, it can also be used on double joists, because the claws are spread sufficiently to strattle the double joist and the rocker is wide enough. The bar has enough depth at the claw end to extend approximately 3½ inches under the deck floor board to add additional leverage for removal. 
     The bar can easily remove all types of fasteners such as nails and screws that are commonly used to attach the floor boards to the floor joists, that may not come up with the floor board as seen in  FIG. 16 . It can also be used to remove fasteners against walls (right or left handed applications). 
     In one embodiment, the pry bar is made from schedule 40 steel approximately 46 inches in height and weighs approximately 8 pounds. It is powder coated and has a 1.219×6 inch foam grip handle. 
     Both claws have 90 degree ends with a V-groove to remove the fasteners and/or to start the removal procedure. There are no moving or replacement parts required. The bar also has 3/16 inch×1.5 inch×6 inch flat stock bent into a rocker and attached to the end, to eliminate damage to the floor joist. 
     All required parts to build the tool are welded together. 
     This tool eliminates the need for a single sleeve starter bar, nail removal bar, and will not damage joists. 
     In the preferred embodiment or second design, the crow bar ends are spread apart enough to that the will fit over a double joist with ease as well as achieve the same results as the first design. Also, the rocker is wide enough to contact both joists. 
     While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are calculated adequately to fulfill the object and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification, and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims. It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed. 
     The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: