Patent Abstract:
A panel removal tool includes a plastic handle, a forked portion at a first end of said plastic handle, wherein said forked portion further comprises a fulcrum, and a blade portion at a second end of said plastic handle, said second end being opposite said first end.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   The present disclosure relates generally to hand tools, and more particularly, to the operation and use of a hand tool configured to remove interior vehicle panels. 
   2. Background 
   The art of removing interior vehicle panels has been mostly subject to brute force removal or tools that are not particularly useful beyond their restricted use to a particular make or model vehicle. Indeed, the absence of a panel removal tool that minimizes damage to fragile and delicate vehicle interiors has been prevalent in the industry. At present, one of ordinary skill in the art must either attempt to remove a vehicle&#39;s panel by using a tool that serves a different purpose, e.g., a flat-head screwdriver, a metal pry tool, etc., all of which are unsuitable for the efficient and safe removal of panels. 
   The use of these unsuitable tools creates a problem wherein the person of ordinary skill may inadvertently and accidentally damage a vehicle&#39;s interior panel and/or may render the clips not reusable. In addition, the unsuitable tools may not always be suitable for use in troublesome areas that are not large enough for the use of anything other than a small, compact, easily manipulated hand tool. Thus, there is a need for a small tool that will not damage a vehicle&#39;s panels or clips. 
   SUMMARY 
   One aspect of a panel removal tool is disclosed. A panel removal tool includes a plastic handle, a forked portion at a first end of said plastic handle, wherein said forked portion further comprises a fulcrum, and a blade portion at a second end of said plastic handle, said second end being opposite said first end. 
   Another aspect of a panel removal tool is disclosed. A panel removal tool includes a plastic handle, a two-pronged portion at a first end of said plastic handle, wherein said two-pronged portion further comprises a clip engaging element, and a first blade portion at a second end of said plastic handle, said second end being opposite said first end. 
   One aspect of a method of removing car trim and panels is also disclosed. The method includes acquiring a panel removal tool, wherein said panel removal tool comprises a plastic handle; a forked portion at a first end of said plastic handle, wherein said forked portion further comprises a fulcrum; and a blade portion at a second end of said plastic handle, said second end being opposite said first end, inserting said forked portion of said panel removal tool between a vehicle&#39;s panel and a vehicle&#39;s supporting structure, and applying downward force on said blade portion end of said panel removal tool so as to remove a clip holding said vehicle&#39;s panel onto said vehicle&#39;s supporting structure. 
   Another aspect of a method of removing car trim and panels is also disclosed. The method includes acquiring a panel removal tool, wherein said panel removal tool comprises: a plastic handle; a forked portion at a first end of said plastic handle, wherein said forked portion further comprises a fulcrum; and a blade portion at a second end of said plastic handle, said second end being opposite said first end; inserting said blade portion of said panel removal tool between a vehicle&#39;s panel and a vehicle&#39;s supporting structure; and applying twisting motion on said plastic handle so as to remove a clip holding said vehicle&#39;s panel onto said vehicle&#39;s supporting structure. 
   These, as well as other objects, features and benefits will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a panel removal tool; 
       FIG. 2  is a top elevational view of a panel removal tool; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom elevational view of a panel removal tool; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a panel removal tool; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the conventional use of a panel removal tool when used to pry a vehicle&#39;s panel; and 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a panel removal tool, showing the directions of the prying force as well as the force applied by the hand of the user. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings are intended as a description of various embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a panel removal tool. The panel removal tool  100  includes a forked portion  102  and a blade portion  106  at the opposite end of a handle  104 . So that the panel removal tool  100  does not damage, scratch or otherwise mar a panel, the panel removal tool may be manufactured from a plastic or other polyurethane material. The gentle characteristics of plastic, as opposed to any metal, may allow one of ordinary skill in the art to use the panel removal tool  100  without fear of irreversibly tainting a vehicle&#39;s fragile interior. Also, it may be appropriate, and indeed beneficial, to manufacture the panel removal tool  100  from one single mold so as to create one component that provides various functions. 
   The panel removal tool  100  may have two ends; both having utility in the effective removal of panels. The forked portion  102  may be used to remove large clips  502  that have traditionally been used to hold large panels or dashboards to the underlying structural support material. (See  FIGS. 5-6 ). The blade portion  106  may be used to remove small retaining clips that have traditionally been used to hold small interior portions to the underlying larger panel or, in some cases, the structural support material. 
   The forked portion  102  joins the handle  104  at a junction  108 . The junction  108  acts as a fulcrum or pivot point so that when a downward force is applied to handle  104  or the blade portion  106 , the forked portion  102  is forced in an upward direction. The upward motion of the forked portion  102  provides the force that is applied to an engaged large clip  502  so as to disengage and remove a panel. 
     FIG. 2  is a top elevational view of a panel removal tool. The panel removal tool  100  may have a clip receiving portion  202  at the forked portion  102 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 , the clip receiving portion  202  has an internal blade edge so as to engage a large clip  502  that a user may wish to remove. Thus, the clip receiving portion  202  does more than merely receive the clip  502  but further engages the clip  502  by raising and drawing in the clip  502  fully into the clip receiving portion  202 . Once the clip  502  is fully engaged in the clip receiving portion  202  of the panel removal tool  100 , a downward force may be applied to the handle  104  or blade portion  106  in order to remove the clip  502 . 
   Returning to  FIG. 2 , the panel removal tool  100  may also have a substantially flat round end  204  at the tip of the blade portion  106 . The round end  204  may be used to remove small retaining clips that would be more difficult to access than with the forked portion  102 . A user may insert the round end  204  in between a panel and underlying structure and twist the handle  104  so as to force the creation of a space between the panel and the underlying structure. Once a release threshold has been reached, the retaining clip will disengage and the user will be able to remove the panel. 
     FIG. 3  is a bottom elevational view of a panel removal tool. In accordance with one aspect of the panel removal tool, a cavity  302 , or a hollow portion, may be formed in the handle  104  by removing substantially all the manufacturing material from the underside of the handle  104 . By removing the material (or likewise, by manufacturing with an underside cavity  302 ), the handle  104  will be more flexible, weigh less, and capable of being manipulated with ease. In at least one configuration of the handle  104 , structural reinforcement walls  304  may be formed within the cavity  302  to increase its structural integrity. In this fashion, one may avail themselves of the benefits of having a cavity  302  on the underside of the handle  104  but still enjoy the stability and rigidness that a solid handle  104  may present. 
     FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a panel removal tool. This illustration shows the blade formations at the blade portion  106  and another blade portion  404  at the end of the forked portion  102 . The blade portion  404  may assist the user in inserting the forked portion  102  in between a panel and underlying structure. The gradual widening of the forked portion  102 , towards the junction  108 , further allows the clip engaging portion  202  (See  FIG. 2 ) to raise a large clip  502  (See  FIGS. 5-6 ) as a user attempts to a panel. Generally, the angle  402  between the forked portion  102  and the handle  104  is selected to be anywhere between 95° and 175°. This range will vary depending on the space and use of the panel removal tool  100 . Thus, although the illustration depicts an angle  402  of approximately 135°, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that any angle  402  within the range above is appropriate so long as the junction  108  still has the ability to provide a fulcrum point. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the conventional use of a panel removal tool when used to pry a vehicle&#39;s panel. As illustrated, a panel removal tool  100  may be inserted in between a vehicle&#39;s removable panel  504  and the underlying structural support  506 . As the panel removal tool  100  is inserted, the removable panel  504  and the support  506  begin to separate due to the blade portion  404  and taper of the forked portion  102 . Once the panel removal tool  100  is fully inserted, and the clip receiving portion  202  has engaged the clip  502 , a user applies a downward force so as to separate the engaged clip  502  from the support  506 . Once a threshold level of force is applied, the clip  502  disengages and the user is able to freely remove the clip  502  and the removable panel  504  away from the support  506 . 
     FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a panel removal tool, showing the directions of the prying force as well as the force applied by the hand of the user. As illustrated, a downward force  602  is manually applied to the panel removal tool  100 . The downward force  602  is transferred about a fulcrum to apply an upward force  606  at the forked portion  102  end of the panel removal tool  100 . Having previously engaged the clip  502 , the upward force  606  forces the clip  502  up and out  606  from the support  506 . At threshold, the clip  502  disengages and the user is able to freely remove the clip  502  and the removable panel  504  away from the support  506 . 
   The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”

Technology Classification (CPC): 1