Patent Publication Number: US-7216567-B1

Title: Material removing apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to a material removing apparatus and, more particularly, to a material removing apparatus for removing fastened shingles from a support surface. 
   2. Prior Art 
   It is a common practice to use hand tools on the order of pry bars and shovels for the removal of shingles. It is noted that numerous patents disclose portable, reciprocating roof shingle removing structures. One example is a gasoline operated structure utilizing reciprocating blade members to be placed underneath the roofing shingles to be removed by utilizing an agitating and generally reciprocating type movement. This method, however, can result in damage caused to the underlying support surface of the shingles and the gasoline used to power it is not cost-effective. 
   Another patent discloses a rather elaborate structure utilized for a continuous shingle removing process which is rather bulky and complex compared to other devices of similar design, thus making it inconvenient for use at elevated positions. Yet another patent discloses an electrically operated shingle stripping apparatus with blades thereon to remove materials utilizing a reciprocating movement. Such an apparatus possesses the same problem as the reciprocating apparatus mentioned above and poses a new problem by having to cope with an electrical wire while working. 
   Accordingly, a need remains for a material removing apparatus in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing an apparatus that is relatively light weight, easy to use, structurally strong, results in time savings through its use and is reasonably priced. Such an apparatus advantageously allows both roofing contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners to remove shingles without the need of a flat shovel, as is the current tool of choice. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a material removing apparatus. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by an apparatus for removing fastened shingles from a support surface. 
   The apparatus includes a frame sized and shaped for being pushed along a selected surface. Such a frame includes a substantially planar base portion that has a substantially rectangular shape and is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal axis extending parallel to a direction of travel. The base section further has axially spaced front and rear portions disposed along a partial length of the apparatus. An elongated axle and a plurality of wheels are rotatably attached thereto wherein the wheels are oppositely positioned from the axis and equidistantly disposed therefrom. 
   A plurality of rigid brackets having opposed end portions are secured to the axle adjacent to the wheels. Such brackets extend forwardly therefrom along a selected plane situated substantially parallel to the axis. 
   A handle and an associated mounting bracket are included for securing the handle to the frame adjacent to the axle. Such a handle extends upwardly and rearwardly from the plate so that an operator can effectively control the direction of travel while standing rearwardly of the frame. The handle has a contoured rear portion for advantageously providing an area along which the operator can maintain an effective grip during operating conditions. 
   The apparatus further includes a lifting plate formed from hardened material extending forwardly from selected ones of the bracket end portions and spaced forwardly from the wheels. The lifting plate preferably includes a serrated edge provided with a plurality of teeth for advantageously engaging nails embedded through the shingles and the support surface. Such a plate is adjustably positionable medially of the shingles and the support surface for conveniently lifting the shingles upwardly and away from the support surface. 
   The plate includes an inner shaft having opposed end portions secured to the selected end portions of the axle and for defining a fulcrum axis therebetween. The inner shaft preferably extends substantially parallel to the axle and includes a plurality of bearings operably attached to the end portions thereof. Such an inner shaft is maintained at a substantially stationary position during operating conditions. 
   The plate further includes an outer shaft journaled about the inner shaft and rotatable about the fulcrum axis in clockwise and counter clockwise directions. The lifting plate has a substantially planar top surface for conveniently receiving and collecting the shingles thereon. 
   A mechanism is included for pivoting the plate about a selected arcuate path so that an operator can effectively position the plate between the support surface and the shingles during operating conditions. The pivoting mechanism preferably includes an elongated shaft that has a first end portion operably attached to a selected portion of the outer shaft and further has a second end portion extending rearwardly therefrom along a predetermined plane obliquely offset from the axis. The mechanism also includes a hydraulic cylinder including a piston adaptable between extended and retracted positions and operably connected to the second shaft end portion. Such a hydraulic cylinder further includes an air supply source externally connected thereto wherein the hydraulic cylinder cooperates with the shaft for causing the plate to pivot along the arcuate path as the piston is extended and retracted along a linear path. 
   Preferably, an elongated support member having a threaded outer surface is adjustably securable to the rear frame portion. Such a support member has opposed end portions aligned along a substantially vertical axis and is engageable with a ground surface and the frame respectively so that a spatial relationship therebetween can be manually adjusted by the operator. The support member further includes an end cap attached to one of the end portions thereof for advantageously assisting the plate to pivot about the fulcrum axis during operating conditions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an apparatus for removing roof material, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the pivotal movement of the plate; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the bolt shown in  FIG. 3 , taken along line  5 — 5 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 , taken along line  6 — 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
   The apparatus of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1–6  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to provide a material removing apparatus. It should be understood that the apparatus  10  may be used to remove many different types of material and should not be limited to removing only roof shingles. 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  includes a frame  20  sized and shaped for being pushed along a selected surface. Such a frame  20  includes a substantially planar base portion  21  that has a substantially rectangular shape and is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal axis extending parallel to a direction of travel. The base section  21  further has axially spaced front  22  and rear  23  portions disposed along a partial length of the apparatus  10 . An elongated axle  24  and a plurality of wheels  25  are rotatably attached thereto wherein the wheels  25  are oppositely positioned from the axis and equidistantly disposed therefrom. Such wheels  25  advantageously allow the apparatus  10  to be pushed along the support surface with much less effort than would be necessary in the absence of the wheels  25 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , a plurality of rigid brackets  30  having opposed end portions  31  are secured to the axle  24  adjacent to the wheels  25 . Such brackets  30  extend forwardly therefrom along a selected plane situated substantially parallel to the axis. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , a handle  26  and an associated mounting bracket  27  are included for securing the handle  26  to the frame  20  adjacent to the axle  24 . Such a handle  26  extends upwardly and rearwardly from the plate  40  (described herein below) so that an operator can effectively control the direction of travel while standing rearwardly of the frame  20 . The handle  26  has a contoured rear portion  28  for advantageously providing an area along which the operator can maintain an effective grip during operating conditions, thus allowing the operator to easily manipulate the apparatus  10  as they wish. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the apparatus  10  further includes a lifting plate  40  formed from hardened material extending forwardly from selected ones of the bracket end portions  31   a  and spaced forwardly from the wheels  25 . The lifting plate  40  includes a serrated edge  41  provided with a plurality of teeth  42  for advantageously engaging nails embedded through the shingles and the support surface, thus eliminating the task of having to remove each nail manually after the shingles have been removed. This feature saves the user a considerable amount of time and energy that can be used for more productive tasks. Such a plate  40  is adjustably positionable medially of the shingles and the support surface for conveniently lifting the shingles upwardly and away from the support surface. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the plate  40  includes an inner shaft  43  having opposed end portions  44  secured to the selected end portions of the axle  24  and for defining a fulcrum axis therebetween. The inner shaft  43  extends substantially parallel to the axle  24  and includes a plurality of bearings  45  operably attached to the end portions  44  thereof. Such an inner shaft  43  is maintained at a substantially stationary position during operating conditions. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 6 , the plate  40  further includes an outer shaft  46  journaled about the inner shaft  43  and rotatable about the fulcrum axis in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The lifting plate  40  has a substantially planar top surface  47  for conveniently receiving and directing shingles thereon so that the shingles can be rolled away depending on the roof pitch. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , a mechanism  50  is included for pivoting the plate  40  about a selected arcuate path so that an operator can effectively position the plate  40  between the support surface and the shingles during operating conditions. The pivoting mechanism  50  includes an elongated shaft  51  that has a first end portion  52   a  operably attached to a selected portion of the outer shaft  46  and further has a second end portion  52   b  extending rearwardly therefrom along a predetermined plane obliquely offset from the axis. The mechanism  50  also includes a hydraulic cylinder  53  including a piston  54  adaptable between extended and retracted positions and operably connected to the second shaft end portion  52   b . Such a hydraulic cylinder  53  further includes an air supply source  60  externally connected thereto wherein the hydraulic cylinder  53  cooperates with the shaft  51  for causing the plate  40  to pivot along the arcuate path as the piston  54  is extended and retracted along a linear path. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , an elongated support member  70  having a threaded outer surface  71  is adjustably securable to the rear frame portion  23 . Such a support member  70  has opposed end portions  72  aligned along a substantially vertical axis and is engageable with a ground surface and the frame  20  respectively such that a spatial relationship therebetween can be manually adjusted by the operator as the needs for a particular support surface may require. The support member  70  further includes an end cap  73  attached to one of the end portions  72   a  thereof for advantageously assisting the plate  40  to pivot about the fulcrum axis during operating conditions by providing a counter force to the force applied by the pivot mechanism  50  onto the plate  40 . 
   While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.