Patent Abstract:
A multi-function tool is disclosed which provides prying as well as leverage-enhanced gripping capability. By combining the lever arm of a prying bar with the gripping capability of gripping pliers, this multi-function tool provides leverage-enhanced gripping and leveraged-forced movement of objects. The lever action of the prying bar can be applied via the gripping pliers, thereby allowing a user to exert more force via the gripping pliers than is possible by using gripping pliers alone. In some embodiments, the prying bar is a crowbar, and the gripping pliers are vice grips. In preferred embodiments, the prying bar and the gripping pliers are welded together.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention generally relates to tools, and more specifically to leverage-based tools. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Construction of living, work, and/or recreational space is an important part of modern society. Demolition of structures is equally important, for example when whole structures or portions of structures require renovation, replacement, or total elimination. While machines can be used in demolishing structures on a large scale, manual demolition tools are still important for more targeted demolition activities. 
         [0003]    Crowbars are useful manual demolition tools that use leverage to force and pry objects open, and generally break construction materials apart. However, as useful as crowbars are at demolition tasks due to the powerful leverage that they apply, there are functions they cannot perform. For example, while crowbars can provide lever action for prying objects apart, and can be used to remove nails, crowbars typically are not able to grip and pull some objects that are not shaped like nails so as to remove them from structures to be demolished. This limitation restricts the amount of leverage-based demolition work that can be easily accomplished manually. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A multi-function leverage-based tool is provided that can perform both prying functions of a prying bar, such as a crowbar, while also providing leverage-enhanced gripping capabilities. By combining the lever arm of a prying bar with the gripping capability of gripping pliers, this improved multi-function tool can provide leverage-enhanced gripping and leverage-based manipulation of objects. 
         [0005]    The multi-function tool includes a prying bar joined to gripping pliers, which can be used to manually grip and manipulate objects, thereby making this multi-function tool superior to known prying bars. Furthermore, the lever action offered by the prying bar can increase the force applied via the gripping pliers as compared with gripping pliers alone, thereby also making this multi-function tool superior to known gripping pliers. The synergistic combination of lever-action and gripping capabilities provides a versatility and a level of effectiveness that is not found in other manual demolition devices. 
         [0006]    A general aspect of the invention is a multi-function tool for prying and leverage-enhanced gripping. The multi-function tool includes: a prying bar, the prying bar having at least one fulcrum end; and gripping pliers attached to the prying bar in substantially parallel alignment, the gripping pliers having a pair of grippers for gripping an object, the grippers being located proximal to the fulcrum end, so as to enable a user to use the prying bar for applying leverage to the gripping pliers while the grippers grip an object, thereby providing leverage-enhanced gripping of the object. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the at least one fulcrum end is curved. In some embodiments, at least one end of the prying bar includes an angled bend. In some embodiments, at least one end of the prying bar includes a fissure capable of removing nails. In one embodiment, a shaft of the prying bar is shaped in a circular cross-section, a hexagonal cross-section, or an I-beam cross-section. In some embodiments, the prying bar is made from steel, iron, and titanium. In some embodiments, the prying bar is a crowbar. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, the gripping pliers are locking pliers. In some embodiments, the gripping pliers are a locking wrench. In some embodiments, the gripping pliers are vise grips. In some embodiments, the grippers are made substantially from steel. In some embodiments, the gripping pliers are attached directly to the prying bar. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the gripping pliers are attached via an intermediary attachment element. In some embodiments, the gripping pliers are welded to the prying bar. In some embodiments, the gripping pliers are screwed to the prying bar and/or bolted to the prying bar. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side-view of an embodiment of the multi-function tool; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side-view of an alternative embodiment of the multi-function tool; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a side-view of another embodiment of the multi-function tool being used to pull a nail out of a board with gripping pliers, using a prying bar for leverage; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a side-view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A  being used as a regular prying bar to remove the nail; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an oblique side-view of an embodiment of the multi-function tool being used to provide extra leverage for leverage-enhanced gripping of a skid plate; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an oblique view of an embodiment of the multi-function tool being used to provide leveraged gripping of a window extrusion; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart detailing steps for using an embodiment of the multi-function tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side-view illustration of an embodiment of the multi-function tool. The multi-function tool  100  includes a prying bar  102  and a pair of gripping pliers  104  attached to the prying bar  102 . The prying bar  102  can be a crowbar, or any other bar that uses leverage to pry apart objects. In the embodiment shown, the prying bar  102  is a crowbar which contains a fulcrum end  106 , the fulcrum end in this figure being in the shape of a goose-necked curved portion  106  and including a fissure  107 , and an opposite end  108  opposite the fulcrum end, the handle end  108  including an angled bend  108 . The fulcrum end  106  can be of any shape and size suitable for acting as a fulcrum, so as to provide extra leverage to a user of the multi-function tool  100 . In this figure, the fulcrum end  106  is curved, while in other embodiments the fulcrum end  106  may be angled, for example. 
         [0019]    The fissure  107  located at the fulcrum end  106  of the prying bar  102  can be of such dimensions so as to be capable of removing nails. In the embodiment shown, the prying bar  102  has a hexagonal cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-section can be cylindrical, or I-beam shaped. The prying bar  102  can be made of steel, titanium, or any other material of substantial weight and hardness to accomplish the prying functions required in the ordinary course of demolition and/or manipulation of physical objects in the course of construction or demolition work, or the like. 
         [0020]    The gripping pliers  104  can be rigidly attached to the prying bar  102  by being welded to the prying bar  102 . Alternatively, the gripping pliers  104  can be attached to the prying bar  102  in any other suitable manner readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as being screwed and/or bolted to the prying bar  102 , for example. In the embodiment shown, the gripping pliers  104  are welded directly to the prying bar  102 . In alternative embodiments, the gripping pliers  104  can be attached to the prying bar  102  via an intermediate attachment element (as shown in subsequent figures). In this embodiment, the gripping pliers  104  are attached to the prying bar  102  via a single attachment region, while in other embodiments the gripping pliers  104  can be attached to the prying bar  102  via a plurality of connecting regions. 
         [0021]    The gripping pliers  104  can be locking pliers and/or a locking wrench, and in certain embodiments the gripping pliers  104  can be vise grips. In the embodiment shown, the gripping pliers  104  include grippers  110  capable of providing strong gripping action. In some embodiments, the grippers  110  are made substantially from steel. Alternatively, such grippers  110  can be made of any other hard substance capable of providing strong gripping action. 
         [0022]    In the embodiment shown, grippers  110  are positioned near the fulcrum end  106  of the prying bar  102 . Different configurations including different positions of the gripping pliers  104  relative to the prying bar  102  can provide for different advantages in the demolition process. As shown in the current figure, the gripping pliers  104  are aligned substantially parallel to the prying bar  102 , and are positioned so as to enable a user to use the prying bar  102  as a lever for applying additional force to an object being gripped by the gripping pliers  104 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side-view illustration of an alternative embodiment of the multi-function tool. In this embodiment of the multi-function tool  200 , gripping pliers  104  are attached to a prying bar  102  with a smaller shaft than the prying bar  102  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . Different size embodiments may be appropriate for different kinds of construction and/or demolition, or the like. For example, a multi-function tool with a shorter prying bar  102 , such as the embodiment shown in this figure, can be more useful than an embodiment with a longer prying bar  102 , if the multi-function tool must be operated in a smaller, more confined space than is typical for a longer prying bar. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, in  FIG. 2 , the gripping pliers  104  are attached to the prying bar  102  via two attachment regions, one of the attachment regions  202  being an intermediate attachment element. Such intermediate attachment element  202  can be made of metal, for example, so as to provide structural support. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3A  is a side-view illustration of another embodiment of the multi-function tool  300  being used to pull a nail out of a board with gripping pliers, using a prying bar for leverage. The embodiment shown includes two intermediate attachment elements  202 ,  305 , by which the gripping pliers  104  are attached to the prying bar  102 . 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 3A , the prying bar  102  is used strictly to provide enhanced leverage for the gripping pliers  104 . The grippers  110  of the gripping pliers  104  are used to grip the nail  301 . The prying bar  102  is positioned vertically on a support block  304 , which enables the multi-function tool  100  to be positioned properly for gripping the nail  301 . The fulcrum end  106  of the prying bar is placed on the support block  304 , and the opposite, angled handle end  108  of the prying bar  102  is pulled so as to enable the prying bar  102  to act as a lever, thereby providing the force required for the gripping pliers  104  to remove the nail  301  from the board  302  in which the nail  301  is embedded. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3B  is a side-view illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 3A  being used as a regular prying bar to remove the nail  301 . A user can still use the prying bar  102  function in the same manner that prying bars are typically used, for prying, removing nails, and other typical functions of prying bars. In the embodiment shown, the prying bar  102  is being used to remove a nail  301  from a board  302 . The nail  301  is wedged within the fissure  107  of the prying bar  102 , and the angled end  108  of the prying bar  102  is pulled so as enable the prying bar  102  to act as a lever, thereby facilitating removal of the nail  301  by the prying bar  102  as the nail is wedged  301  within the fissure  107 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is an oblique side-view illustration of an embodiment of the multi-function tool being used to provide extra leverage for enhanced gripping of a skid plate. In this embodiment  400 , the prying bar  102  is used to provide leverage so as to provide enhanced gripping of the gripping pliers  104 . The grippers  110  of the gripping pliers  104  are shown gripping a skid plate  402  so as to pull it away from a brake disc  404  and return the skid plate  402  to its proper position. The fulcrum end  106  of the prying bar  102  is pressed against a platform such as a truck bed platform  406 , and a handle end  108  of the prying bar that lies opposite the grippers is pulled downwards so as to provide enhanced leverage to the gripping action of the grippers  110 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an embodiment of the multi-function tool being used to provide extra leverage for enhanced gripping of a window extrusion. In this embodiment  500 , the prying bar  102  is used to provide leverage so as to provide enhanced gripping of the gripping pliers  104 . The grippers  110  of the gripping pliers  104  are shown gripping a protruded portion  503  of the window extrusion  502  currently positioned in a channel  504 . The window extrusion  502  can be manipulated for purposes of repositioning in the channel  504  or removal from the channel  504 , for example. The fulcrum end  106  of the prying bar  102  is pressed against a wooden block  506  in the embodiment shown. The angled end  108  of the prying bar that lies opposite the grippers  108  is pulled leftwards, so as to provide enhanced leverage to the gripping action of the grippers  110 . In the manner described, the window extrusion  502  can be manipulated and pulled out of the channel  504 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart detailing the steps of use of an embodiment of the multi-function tool. In the flowchart as shown  600 , the specific usage of the tool in a given instance is to be determined  602 . If the tool is to be used for prying  602 , the prying bar is used for prying  604 , as a prying bar would typically be used  606 . If the tool is to be used for gripping  610 , the user should determine whether extra leverage is required  612 . If so, the user can apply extra leverage with the prying bar, while performing gripping with the gripping pliers  618 . If no extra leverage is required  612 , the gripping pliers can be used for gripping in the same manner as gripping pliers would typically be used  614 . 
         [0031]    Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1