Patent ID: 7231700

Claim:
A hand tool for removing push nuts from the end of a cylindrical shaft, where the push nut includes a cap for receiving the end of the axle rod, an annular flange extended around the cap and a tooth formed between the cap and the flange that restrictively engages the shaft end when pressed onto the shaft end, the tool comprising: an elongated handle; a socket head extending longitudinally from one end of the handle and having a tubular side wall defining an open mouth for receiving the cap of the push nut, the side walls extending longitudinally to form a cusp such that the cusp overlies the push nut tooth when the push nut cap is seated within the socket head mouth; and an extractor extending from the socket head side wall and terminating in a flat claw suspended between and spaced in front of the socket head cusp, such that the push nut flange is restrictively interposed between the extractor claw and the socket head cusp when the push nut cap is seated within the socket head mouth, the socket head cusp and extractor claw constitute means for deforming the push nut flange to disengage the push nut tooth from the shaft when the handle is rotated relative to the shaft, whereby the extractor claw forceably abuts the push nut flange to bend the push nut flange adjacent the push nut tooth about the socket head cusp.