An Improved Nail or Tack Extractor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
An Improved Nail or Tack Extractor.
1, WILLIAM ALEXANDER JACK of 38 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention which relates to a new or improved apparatus for extracting nails
or tacks has for its object to remove nails or tacks from boxes of merchandise, and is
generally applicable for removing nails or tacks with facility and rapidity from any
articles or place wherein they may be situated.
The appliance or apparatus constituting the invention consists of a lower part. or
body formed at one end with a foot which. rests upon the article or place from which
the nails or tacks are to be withdrawn. Opposite the foot there is, a hook-shaped
projection, so placed as to engage with the head of the nail or tack when forced
against it. Above this hook-shaped projection there is a striking head, which, when
the appliance is placed in position to extract nails or tacks, is struck by a hammer so
as to cause the hook-like projection to descend into the material, such for example as
wood containing the nails or tacks, and to engage with the head thereof. The part
of the apparatus hereinbefore described has also attached to it a lever or handle,
which is secured to the part hereinbefore described, by means of a bolt or pin passing
through holes in both of such parts in such wise that the two parts are capable of a
sufficient amount of motion around the said bolt; or instead of the said bolt the two
parts may be otherwise so linked together as to give the requisito amount of motion
to enable the catching jaws at the ends of both parts to lay hold of the shanks, and
that below the heads thereof. The aforesaid two parts are so related to each other that
when the hammer is applied to cause the first aforementioned part to descend into the
wood or other material containing the nails or tacks to be extracted, the second afore-
mentioned part simultaneously descends thereinto, and by applying the pressure of
the hand to the lever or handle of the second part, the two catching jaws are brought
firmly together on opposite sides of the shank of, and below the head of each such
nail or tack. By continuing the pressure of the hand upon the said lever the
apparatus is caused to turn upon the foot herein before mentioned, and as it so turns
thereon it lifts the jaw pieces, which, having a firm grip of the nails or tacks, extract
them per passU,
The aforesaid apparatus may also have a chisel or analogous projection attached to
it for the purpose of prizing open the lid of the box or its analogue.
The lever or handle of the apparatus may also be provided with a hammer which
may be rivetted or otherwise secured thereto; so that the apparatus may be used for
driving in nails or tacks when not required for extracting them.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended one explanatory sheet of drawings, in the several
figures of which, corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 1, is a front view of my apparatus without the hammer attached to the lever
or handle of the apparatus.
Figure 2, is an end view of the same.
Figure 3, is also a front view of part of my apparatus shewing the hammer attached
thereto.
In the said drawings a, is the lever or handle, which may be made of wood, steel, or
other suitable material. To the lower part of the said handle
а I secure, by the
rivets or bolts g, g, the book-shaped projection b, the lower end of which is formed or
tapered into a claw c. By a rivet d, is secured another claw e, and from this claw
extends a curved arm f, which forms a fulcrum for the apparatus in extracting a nail

page_text: or tack. This curved arm f, is so shaped as to serve the purpose of a chisel for
prizing open the lid of a box or its analogue. Above this hook-shaped projection b,
and in one piece with it, there is a striking head h, which is struck by a hammer so as
to cause the claws c, e, to descend into the wood or other material when the heads of
the nails are forced down into the wood.
When it is desired to use the apparatus it is held up over the head of the nail or
tack to be extracted, and the handle is then pulled in a downward direction on the
said fulcrum f, and the nail or tack is thereby extracted from the wood.
In cases where the heads of the nails or tacks cannot be reached without forcing
the claws c, e, into the wood, the striking head h, is struck by a hammer, when the
points of the claws are forced or driven down into the wood, under the head of the
nail or tack, which is extracted in the same way as before described.
By my apparatus the nails extracted not being bent or broken are fit for further
use, and the wood, or other material from which the nails or tacks are extracted, is
not in any way damaged.
When the apparatus is not required for extracting nails or tacks, it can be used for
driving in nails or tacks; the top end of the handle a, being provided with a
hammer (Figure 3).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for extracting nails or tacks constructed and operating as horein-
before described, and shewn on the accompanying drawings.
2. An apparatus for extracting nails or tacks, with the chisel and striking head,
substantially as hereinbefore described, and shewn on the accompanying drawings.
3. An apparatus for extracting nails or tacks, with hammer attached to the said
handle, as hereinbefore described, and shewn upon the annexed drawings.
Dated this 19th day of J 1000
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.