Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present U.S. Non-Provisional patent application cross-references and claims priority and benefit as a continuation of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/254,444, filed Feb. 23, 2006, entitled “Non-Threaded Fastener Pulling Tool with Saw Wrench, Nail Pick, and Bottle Opener Combination,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to hand tools, and, more particularly, to construction tools, such as a pulling tool, or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Construction work typically requires the use of a plurality of tools, including hand tools and electric tools. Necessary hand tools usually include tools designed for joining particular materials together, as well as tools designed to assist in breaking apart construction materials, such as when improper installation or measurement error is detected. Electric tools, such as saws, drills, and the like, further frequently necessitate the utilization of additional tools, such as chucks, for adjustment, adaptation, and exchange of component parts during a project. Thus, each construction worker is often faced with a myriad of tools to transport. 
     Transport of such a collection of tools to a jobsite is a dubious task in and of itself, but maintaining mobility of such a number of tools and exchanging between tools while working is disadvantageously time and energy consuming. Further disadvantages can be realized directly by the workforce. That is, in addition to time and material costs, worker performance can be compromised by premature exhaustion as a result of repeatedly expending energy exchanging between a plurality of heavy tools, and necessarily transporting those tools about a work site. 
     Thus, it is clear that there is an unmet need for a construction tool that advantageously provides a plurality of on-board tools to assist in user accomplishment of a variety of tasks at a given job site, coincidentally maximizing workforce energy and efficiency. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, in an exemplary embodiment, the pulling tool of the present disclosure overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a tool by providing a non-threaded fastener pulling tool having a saw wrench, nail pick, and bottle opener. 
     More specifically, the exemplary pulling tool of the present disclosure includes a generally elongated handle portion with a lever pulling head at a first end of the handle portion, and a nail pick at a second end of the handle portion. The handle portion preferably includes generally broad, flat side-wall surfaces for stability and strength, wherein at least one of which is adapted to receive a plurality of on-board tools. The handle portion may further include generally narrow edge surfaces, at least one of which may be adapted with grip-enhancing features. Thus, the handle portion is generally formed as a sturdy bar, grippable for ease of use in a plurality of positions relative to the workpiece. The handle portion may also include a comfortable grip operable therewith to provide a comfortable gripping surface by which a user may grasp the tool, while maintaining strength of hold, wherein such a comfort grip may be provided in addition to or in lieu of the on-board grip-enhancing features. 
     The nail pick portion is generally a slightly angular extension of the handle and has a preferably broad front and rearward surface, corresponding to the broad, flat side-wall surfaces of the handle, to facilitate effective delivery of prying forces, such as to withdraw nails from a workpiece. The lever pulling head, or non-threaded fastener puller, similarly has a broad front and rearward surface, however, the broadened tine or claw of the pulling surfaces preferably extends dimensionally and angularly from the heel, which corresponds to the narrow edge surfaces of the handle. This facilitates effective delivery of lever action, such as to pull nails firmly embedded in a workpiece. For example, while removal of an improperly positioned nail may require a simple nail pick, some instances of fully seated nails may necessitate the use of a pulling lever claw for beneficial fulcrum action. 
     The generally broad, flat side-wall surface of the handle portion proximate the heel of the lever pulling head may preferably include additional useful tools, such as a saw wrench, a bottle opener, and an open wrench. The optional saw wrench is preferably disposed as a functional feature extending from the handle side-wall surface, with an outer edge angularly disposed relative to the plane of the handle side-wall. Such an orientation facilitates access to the recess wrench feature while also enabling a user to retain grippable positioning of the tool relative to the workpiece. That is, the configuration is preferred for use with a circular saw, wherein a blade fastener may be engaged by the saw wrench, with the handle of the tool extending away from the saw blade surface due to the angular outer edge of the saw wrench such that the user may grip the handle for application of force to loosen and remove the fastener without fear of inadvertent engagement with the saw blade. For example, the saw wrench may extend to an angle approximately equal to 60 degrees and preferably greater than 45 degrees. 
     The optional bottle opener may preferably be disposed proximate the saw wrench, on the handle side-wall, in order to facilitate insertion of a capped bottle according to the traditional functional configuration of a bottle opener, wherein pulling forces applied to the handle of the tool can easily and effectively remove a bottle cap. Preferably abutting the bottle opener, the optional open wrench may extend outwardly from the handle side-wall, preferably with a length of extension greater than that of the bottle opener or saw wrench relative to the side-wall. The wrench is preferably open such that a narrow article could be inserted therewithin via the open side. The outer edge of the open wrench is preferably generally flat, with the elongated nature of the preferred wrench socket facilitating loosening of even deep set bolts with application of the handle leverage. 
     Accordingly, one feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a strong handle portion having surfaces adapted to grip comfort and easy application of force during a plurality of tool uses. 
     Another feature and advantage of the tool of the present invention is its ability to provide grip-enhancing recesses that facilitate grasping of the edges of the device. 
     Another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a durable pulling tool capable of delivering leveraged forces while providing a beneficial weight distribution and balance for ease of use. 
     Yet another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a plurality of on-board tools to efficiently assist in the accomplishment of a plurality of construction-related tasks. 
     Still another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to perform as a balanced lever for transfer of forces. 
     Yet still another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a bottle opener for opening bottles. 
     Still yet another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to eliminate the need for the transport of a plurality of specialized tools to a work site. 
     Another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide for user performance of a variety of different work efforts, according to the nature of the job component needs. 
     Still another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a nail picking region to offer assistance with nail removal. 
     And yet still another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a non-threaded fastener puller that can leverage forces for maximum work. 
     Another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a saw wrench that can facilitate the quick removal and secure replacement of circular saw blades. 
     Still another feature and advantage of the tool of the present disclosure is its ability to provide am open wrench that can facilitate the loosening and/or tightening of even deeply recessed bolts. 
     These and other features and advantages of the tool of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Accordingly, the present disclosure will be understood best through consideration of, and with reference to, the following drawings, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description of the Invention referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various drawings designate like structure, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pulling tool of the present disclosure, according to a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the pulling tool of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the pulling tool of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the scope of the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In describing exemplary embodiments of the hammer of the present disclosure illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The claimed invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     In that form of the pulling tool of the present disclosure chosen for purposes of illustration,  FIGS. 1-3  show tool  100  including handle  101  and grip features  103 . Handle  101  is preferably formed from a suitable metal, composite, or synthetic material, or the like, defining nail pick tool  130  and levered pulling head  150 , and may include a comfort grip member (not shown) installed thereon. The comfort grip member may be formed from natural or synthetic rubber, plastic, composite, form, combinations, or the like, and may be resilient and/or sculptured or contoured to provide a comfortable and secure grasping surface. 
     Handle  101  is preferably configured to provide durability and/or strength while reducing a total mass thereof and while providing a beneficial balance or distribution of mass, preferably defining a bar shape, with broad sidewall surfaces  105   a ,  105   b  and narrow edge surfaces  107   a ,  107   b . Preferably, grip features  103  are defined in narrow edge surface  107   a , disposed in a balanced arrangement, and recessed relative to narrow edge surface  107   a . The preferred shape for grip features  103  is that of an elongate hexagonal shape, wherein the length of each recess facilitates reception of one or more fingertips of a user therein for grip enhancement. As noted, handle  101  may also include a comfortable grip operable therewith to provide a comfortable and secure gripping surface by which a user may grasp the tool. 
     Nail pick tool  130  is preferably included at a distal end  109  of handle  101 , and is preferably wedge-shaped, as best seen in  FIG. 2 , to facilitate effective delivery of prying forces. Pick surface  132   a  is preferably angularly related to sidewall surface  105   a , and pick surface  105   b  is preferably coplanar with sidewall surface  105   b . This configuration facilitates the pulling action of nail pick tool  130 . 
     The non-threaded fastener puller, or lever pulling head,  150  preferably has broad front and rearward surfaces  152   a ,  152   b . The broadened tine or claw  154  of pulling surfaces  152   a ,  152   b  preferably extends dimensionally and angularly from heel  156 , which may extend from narrow edge surface  107   a  of handle  101 . This facilitates effective delivery of lever action, such as to pull nails firmly embedded in a workpiece. Non-threaded fastener puller  150  may be thus adapted to pry articles, such as nails, via application of force to handle  101 . 
     Tool zone  170  of broad side-wall surface  105   a  of handle  101  is preferably provided proximate heel  156  of lever pulling head  150  and may include a variety of additional useful tools. In one preferred embodiment, tool zone  170  may include saw wrench  190 , bottle opener  210 , and open wrench  230 . Saw wrench  190  is preferably disposed as a functional feature extending from side-wall surface  105   a , with outer edge  192  angularly disposed relative to the plane of side-wall  105   a . Once again, this preferred angular outer edge  192  facilitates positioning of puller  100  in a default extension position, wherein second end  109  of handle  101  is outwardly and angularly extended relative to the saw work surface upon which saw wrench  190  is being utilized. In such manner, a user may be able to retain a safe grip at a distance removed from the blade edge during circular saw blade removal and installation. The preferred angular disposition is about 60 degrees, and preferably greater than 45 degrees. 
     Optional bottle opener  210  may be positioned proximate saw wrench  190 , on handle side-wall  105   a . The preferred traditional configuration of bottle opener  210  includes cap lip  212 , wherein outer edge  192  of saw wrench  190  performs as a fulcrum for bottle opener leverage. Preferably abutting bottle opener  210 , and opposingly positioned to saw wrench  190 , optional open wrench  230  may also extend outwardly from handle side-wall  105   a , preferably with a length of extension greater than that of bottle opener  210  or saw wrench  190  relative to side-wall  105   a . Preferably, opening  232  is defined in open wrench  230  in order that a nut may be selectively slidably inserted therethrough, rather than from outer end  234 . The open wrench is preferably approximately octagonal in shape wherein three sides of the octagon are missing, thereby providing two parallel sides of the octagon proximate the opening for gripping of bolts and the like. The extended socket of the open wrench may be generally narrowed in the top portion to provide a sharp edge along the top rim of the wrench. 
     Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.

Technology Category: 7