GB2286791A

GB2286791A - Nail removing tool

Info

Publication number: GB2286791A
Application number: GB9403754A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald Wallett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-26
Filing date: 1994-02-26
Publication date: 1995-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-26
Also published as: GB2286791B; GB9403754D0

Abstract

A nail removing tool comprises a base portion 1 and a handle portion 2 which are pivotally connected about a pivot 3. The base portion is provided with slots 6, 7 which limit the extent to which the handle pivots about the base. A claw portion 5 is located on one side of the base portion and enables the shaft and head of a nail, screw, rivet or the like to be gripped. A lever force applied to the handle allows the nail to be removed (Fig 3) with a foot portion bearing against a surface of the material in which the nail is embedded. The base portion may function as the head of a spanner such as a box spanner used when working with scaffolding. <IMAGE>

Description

NAIL REMOVING TOOL The present invention relates to a tool for pulling out nails, screws, rivets or the like from a material in which they are embedded, and particularly, although not exclusively, to an improved scaffolding spanner.

A conventional tool for pulling out nails etc.

comprises a conventional claw hammer. The claw hammer comprises an elongate handle, to which is rigidly attached at one end a head having an elongate "V" shaped groove arranged along a direction transverse to a main length of the handle.

An object of the present invention may be to provide an alternative nail pulling device which can also be used for a variety of other like fixings, eg. rivets, screws etc., which may be easier to use than a claw hammer and be more versatile.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool for pulling out a nail or the like from a material in which the nail is embedded, the tool comprising a base portion and a handle portion, the base portion and handle portion pivotally connected together, the base being provided with a claw portion for engaging the nail or the like, and a foot portion for bearing against a surface of the material in which the nail is embedded, the claw portion being located between the foot portion and pivot.

The tool may comprise a wrench.

Preferably, the tool comprises a scaffolding spanner.

Preferably, the base may be dragged along a surface in which the nail is embedded, by pulling the base using the handle, such that the claw portion may be pulled towards the nail to engage the head of the nail, the arrangement of the base portion and the handle being nearer the second pivot stop position than the first pivot stop position, and then the handle may be pivoted with respect to the base portion so that the tool adopts the first pivot stop position, and in the first pivot stop position the tool may be levered about the foot portion in contact with the material in which the nail is embedded, such that the claw portion is caused to move upwardly and away from the material, to pull the head of the nail upwardly, and thereby withdraw the nail from the material.

Preferably, in the first pivot stop position, the handle bears on a side wall of the base, and the pivot point such that force applied to the handle is transmitted to the base portion, for movement thereof.

Preferably the base comprises a substantially tubular wall.

Preferably, the claw portion comprises a "V" shaped notch formed in a side wall of the base.

Preferably, the claw comprises first and second faces, angled towards each other and towards an interior of the base.

Preferably, the claw portion is spaced apart from a main axis of the pivot.

Preferably, a length of the handle is pivotable to a position substantially transverse to a main length axis of the base, in which position, the handle can be used to turn the base in a rotational movement about a main axis of the base, to release or tighten a nut or bolt. The axis of rotation of the handle may correspond with the axis of rotation of the base.

Preferably, a lower end of the base comprises a spanner portion adapted for fitting over a head of a nut or bolt.

The handle and base may pivot with respect to each other such that a main length of the handle and a main length of the base travel substantially in a first plane of movement, said claw portion also residing partially in said first plane of movement.

Preferably the claw portion resides at a position displaced from a main rotational axis of the base portion.

Preferably the handle and base portion are pivotable with respect to each other over a first range of movement between a first pivot stop position in which further movement of the handle and base in a first direction is limited, and a second pivot stop position, in which further movement between the handle and base in a second direction is prohibited.

The invention includes a scaffolding spanner having a notch for locating under the head of a nail, for removing the nail.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in general perspective view a wrench according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a base portion of the wrench of figure 1, shown in end view looking along a main length axis of the base; Figure 3 shows the wrench in use, in pulling out a nail from a material in which the nail is embedded, the base of the wrench being shown in cut away view; Figure 4 shows the wrench in front view; Figure 5 shows the wrench in side view; and Figure 6 shows the base portion of the wrench of figures 1 to 5, in cut away view.

Referring to figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, a specific embodiment of the tool comprises a base portion 1 and an elongate handle 2, the base and handle being pivotally connected about a pivot 3 at an upper end of the base so that the handle and base may pivot with respect to each other over a range of movement between a first pivot stop position in which the length of the handle lies transverse to the length of the base, (as shown in figures 1 and 3) and a second pivot stop position in which the handle lies transverse to the base, on an opposite side of the base as for the first pivot stop position, the main axis of pivot being transverse to a main length of the handle and transverse to a main length of the base; the base comprising a substantially tubular member being provided with a foot portion 4 and a claw portion 5, the claw portion for gripping a shaft and head of a nail, screw, rivet or the like, and the claw portion being in the form of a "V" formed in the side wall of the tubular base member.

The base portion is provided with first and second slots 6,7 respectively at an upper end thereof, each extending in a direction parallel to a main length of the base, the slots providing clearance for passage of the handle 2. When in the first pivot stop position, the handle bears on a lower rim of the first slot, and the pivot, so as to lock rigidly with the base in a first direction of movement as shown as "C" in figure 3. When the wrench is in the second pivot stop position, the handle is swung approximately 180O about the pivot, to bear against a lower rim of the second slot. The claw portion comprises a "V" shaped notch formed at a lower end of the first slot 6.

Referring to figures 2,5 and 6, the "V" shaped notch comprises first and second notch faces 9,10 formed in the side wall of the base, the first and second faces angled towards each other in the shape of a "V", each face having an inner edge 11,12 respectively and an outer edge 13,14 respectively, the lengths of the inner edges, being longer than the lengths of the outer edges, such that the faces 9,10 face inwardly towards the centre of the base.The first and second outer edges comprise a first "V" having a point facing towards the foot of the base and an open end facing upwardly, and the first and second inner edges form a second "V" having a point which extends downwardly towards the foot of the base, and nearer to the foot of the base than the point of the first "V", the open upper end of the second "V" facing upwardly and terminating at substantially the same level as the upper end of the outer "V" .

The first and second notch faces, each being angled to face inwardly to the base, are also each angled to face towards the upper end of the base, at which is provided the pivot 3. Thus the first and second faces face inwardly and upwardly to the base.

A lower end of the base is provided with the foot portion 4, comprising a lower peripheral rim of the tubular member. The claw portion is positioned between the pivot and the foot of the base.

A lower portion of the base is formed in the shape of a socket, for fitment over a nut or bolt head, such that in a first mode of operation, when the handle is positioned in the first or second positions, and substantially parallel to a main plane occupied by the lower perimeter of the base, the base may be rotated about its main axis, for releasing or tightening the nut or bolt. The handle urges the base in rotational manner by pressing against upright portions 20,21 either side of the recesses 6,7. One end of the handle, such end being pivotally attached to the base, is formed in square or rectangular cross section, in order to provide upright bearing surfaces to bear against edges of the upright portions 20,21 of the base, and thereby distribute stress in the handle and base over a surface area of contact between the handle and base.

In a second mode of operation, the tool may be used to remove a nail, rivet, screw or the like from a material in which it is embedded as follows.

Referring to figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the head 30, and shaft 31 of a nail may be engaged with the "V" shaped notch, by sliding the notch under the head of the nail and towards the point of the "V" shaped notch, as shown in figure 3. To achieve this, the base may be dragged along a surface of a material in which the nail is embedded in a direction showed arrowed A in figure 3, by pulling the base with the upper end lifted relative to the foot portion, the foot portion dragging along the surface, and by dragging the base using the handle 2 as shown dotted in figure 3. The handle is dragged in a direction shown roughly as B in figure 3.

When the "V" shaped slot engages under the head, the handle may be swung backwardly 90 or more about the pivot point until the handle and base are in the position shown in solid lines in figure 3 in which the handle adopts the first pivot stop position with respect to the base, in which the handle and base are rigid when moved in a position as shown arrowed C in figure 3. In this position the foot portion 4 in contact with the surface in which the nail is embedded acts as a fulcrum for levering the nail in an upward direction, as the handle is pushed backwards in a direction pointing roughly in the same direction as from the head of the nail to the foot portion of the base.The handle 2 is locked to the base for movement in this direction as the lever forces the base to pivot around the foot portion 4 in rotational movement, a main length axis of the base being urged towards a more upright position as the handle 2 is pulled in a direction C, which may be substantially horizontal.

As the "V" shaped claw and the head and upper shaft portion of the nail are situated between the pivot point 3 and foot portion 4, the rotational movement of the base and handle cause the claw to rise with respect to the upper surface of the material of which the nail is embedded and to be drawn backwardly towards the pivot point where the foot portion 4 contacts the surface.

Such movement results in quick and easy pulling out of the nail.

It will be appreciated that a tool according to the specific embodiment of the first invention may have advantages with respect to a conventional claw hammer, in that the dragging operation of the base portion for connection with the head of the nail may be ergonomically easier than engaging the claw of a conventional rigid claw hammer, as the handle of the present specific embodiment may enjoy a much wider range of movement than with a conventional claw hammer to perform an equivalent engagement operation with a head of a nail.

Further, as the handle and base adopt a first locked position, when the main length of the base is transverse to the main length of the handle, mechanical advantage by additional leverage may be provided by selecting appropriate ratios between the distance between the foot portion 4 and the point of the "V" notch, the distance between the foot portion 4 and the pivot portion 3, and the length of the handle 2.

Further, the tool according to the present specific embodiment has a dual purpose of doubling up to act in a similar fashion to a conventional box spanner, for undoing nuts or bolts thus the present tool as well as giving mechanical advantages in the removal of nails or the like also has an advantage of being a dual purpose tool.

The embodiment may find particular advantage in erecting or dismantling scaffolding. When removing scaffolding, the spanner part of the tool is used to undo or tighten bolts. Where nails protrude from the wooden runways of the scaffolding, the "V" shaped notch can be used to remove such nails.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A tool for pulling out a nail or the like from a material in which the nail is embedded, the tool comprising a base portion (1) and a handle portion (2), the base portion and handle portion pivotally connected together to allow the handle and base to pivot with respect to each other, the base being provided with a claw portion (5) for engaging the nail or the like, and a foot portion (4) for bearing against a surface of the material in which the nail is embedded, the claw portion being located between the foot portion and the pivot (3).

2. A tool according to claim 1, in which the handle and base portion are pivotable with respect to each other over a first range of movement between a first pivot stop position in which further movement of the handle and base in a first direction is limited, and a second pivot position, in which further movement between the handle and base in a second direction is prohibited.

3. A tool according to claim 2, which, in use, operates such that the base may be dragged along a surface in which the nail is embedded, by pulling the handle, such that the claw portion may be pulled towards the nail to engage the head of the nail, the juxtaposition between the base portion and the handle being nearer the second position than the first, and then the handle may be swung with respect to the base portion so that the tool adopts the first position, and in the first position the tool may be levered about the foot portion in contact with the surface in which the nail is embedded, such that the claw portion is caused to move upwardly and away from the surface, to draw the head of the nail upwardly, and thereby withdraw the nail from the surface.

4. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, in the first position, a length of the handle locks at a position transverse to a length of the base, the handle bearing on a side wall of the base, and the pivot point.

5. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the base comprises a substantially tubular wall.

6. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims in which the claw portion comprises a "v" shaped notch formed in the base.

7. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said claw portion comprises first and second faces angled towards each other and towards an interior of the base.

8. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the claw portion is spaced apart from a main axis of the pivot.

9. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the length of the handle is pivotable to a position substantially transverse to a length of the base, in which position, the handle can be used to turn the base in a rotational movement about a main axis of the base, to release or tighten a nut or bolt.

10. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a lower end of the base comprises a spanner part adapted for fitting over a head of a nut or bolt.

11. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the handle and base pivot with respect to each other such that a main length of the handle and a main length of the base travel substantially in a first plane of movement, said claw portion also residing partially in said first plane of movement.

12. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims in which the claw portion resides at a position displaced from a main rotational axis of the base portion.

13. A tool according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a scaffolding spanner.

14. A scaffolding spanner fitted with a notch for locating under the head of a nail.

15. A scaffolding spanner having a claw portion for pulling nails.