Patent Publication Number: US-10781593-B1

Title: Metal locking and unlocking tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to locking and unlocking tools and more particularly pertains to a new metal locking and unlocking tool for conveniently locking and also unlocking, in particular sheets of metal such as shingles. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of locking and unlocking tools is known in the prior art. More specifically, locking and unlocking tools heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     The prior art includes a rectangular blade with slots and teeth on its front and back edges. This shingle popper has a special blade structure having elongated protrusions on its bottom side. The protrusions provide a front and back pivoting points so that the popper can be properly levered for easy removal of shingles and nails. Another prior art includes a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a base connected to the shaft. A length of the shaft is adjustable. The base includes a blade portion that is configured to separate one or more shingles from a support structure to which the shingles are affixed. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new metal locking and unlocking tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new metal locking and unlocking tool which has many of the advantages of the locking and unlocking tools mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new metal locking and unlocking tool which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art locking and unlocking tools, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a rigid sheet of material having a handle and a working end portion for engaging, locking and unlocking an object such as a sheet of metal. None of the prior art includes the combination of the elements of the present invention. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the metal locking and unlocking tool in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new metal locking and unlocking tool which has many of the advantages of the locking and unlocking tools mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new metal locking and unlocking tool which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art locking and unlocking tools, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new metal locking and unlocking tool for conveniently locking and also unlocking in particular sheets of metal such as shingles. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new metal locking and unlocking tool that serves conveniently as a dual-purpose tool 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new metal locking and unlocking tool that saves many manhours for replacing sections of metal shingles or sidings 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a new metal locking and unlocking tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the present invention in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 3  thereof, a new metal locking and unlocking tool embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the metal locking and unlocking tool  10  generally a rigid sheet of material  11  having a handle  17  and a working end portion  21  for engaging, locking and unlocking an object  30  such as a sheet of metal. The sheet of material  11  further includes a planar main portion  12  having a back end  16  and a front end  15  with the working end portion  21  integrally connected to the front end  15 . The handle  17  includes an opening  18  disposed through the main portion  12  proximate to the back end  16  thereof and also has a rubberized covering  37 . The main portion  12  has a top side  13  and a bottom side  14  and the opening  18  has a back edge  19 . The handle  17  further includes a rigid strip of material  20  integrally connected to the sheet of material  11  along the back edge  19  of the opening  18 . The strip of material  20  is angled outwardly relative to the bottom side  14  and extending towards the back end  16  of the main portion  12  for a user to easily grasp and manipulate the sheet of material  11 . The working end portion  21  extends a width of the main portion  12  and is angled outwardly relative to the top side  13  of the main portion  12 . The working end portion  21  includes a planar inner portion  22  which is integrally connected to the main portion  12  and also includes an outer portion  24  integrally connected to the inner portion  22  for engaging, pivoting, pushing, locking and unlocking the object  30 . The outer portion  24  is curved back upon and spaced from and disposed parallel to the inner portion  22  and extends a width of the working end portion  21  and forms a narrow channel  25  between the inner portion  22  and the outer portion  24  for receiving an edge of the object  30  to unlock and remove the object  30 . The outer portion  24  is curved back upon a partial section  23  of the inner portion  22  and forming a hook  27  for receiving and engaging the edge of the object  30  and also forming a butt end  26  for engaging and pushing the edge of the object  30 . The outer portion  24  has a rounded outer edge  34  and rounded corners  35 ,  36  to facilitate receiving the edge of the object  30  in the narrow channel  25 . 
     In use, the user engages the working end portion  21  with the edge of the object  30  by receiving the edge of the object  30  into the channel  25  and the user then pivots the working end portion  21  to flip the edge of the object  30  away from a structure  31  to unlock and remove the object  30  from the structure  31  and from one or more other objects  32 ,  33 . To lock the object  30  in place with the other one more objects  32 ,  33  upon the structure  31 , the user uses the working end portion  21  and urges the edge of the object  30  upon the structure  31  to lock the object  30  with the one or more other objects  32 ,  33 . The user uses the butt end  26  of the sheet of material  11  to engage, move and lock the edge of the object  30  with the one or more other objects  32 ,  33  upon the structure  31 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the metal locking and unlocking tool. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.