GB2489943A - Scaffolding tool with striking surface and claw - Google Patents

Abstract

A device comprises first and second distal ends 1, 2 connected by an elongate bar 3, wherein the first end provides a striking surface (100, Fig 2) and claw 10. The second end 2 is angled away from the bar axis. Preferably the tool also features a lacuna to engage a nut. The device is used in scaffolding jobs or similar.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device, more particularly a device for use in scaffolding jobs or similar.

Backciround A podger is a tool used for scaffolding or similar tasks like scenery construction. It is in the form of a short bar usually tapered and often incorporating a wrench at one end which is used for erecting steel tube scaffolding and steel scenery with bolts as it provides a means to tighten and release nuts and bolts and align scaffolding and holes.

Preferably the pointed end of a podger will align bolt holes while the other end with a reversible ratchet socket will tighten nuts. Typically podgers fit two sizes and, as a clear hole runs right through the head, the spanner can be slid down studding or over long bolts without grounding.

Scaffolding lap boards can be quite tightly spaced meaning it is difficult to prise them up as they may be heavy and the boards may not be accessible at the ends.

Furthermore they often have nails embedded in them.

Prior Art

United States patent application US 4 482 132 (LAMANSKY) discloses a nail removing hammer having a head portion and a handle having an axis extending outwardly from a lower neck portion of the head, the head comprising a forwardly extending poll having a nail striking face, and a rearwardly extending nail-extracting claw, nail-removing means located at the upper surface of the head at a rear portion of the poll comprising a pair of opposing jaws defined by a rearwardly opening V-shaped slot, a transverse channel extending across the entire width of a rear portion of the poll recessed below the upper surface of the hammer, said jaws extending rearwardly over said channel, second nail-removing means located in a throat portion of the head immediately forward of the neck portion comprising a second pair of opposing jaws defined by a downwardly opening V-shaped slot.

Canadian patent application CA 2 280 368 (KARZNIA et al) discloses a combination construction tool, comprising: a hammerhead including of a claw and a striking head; a handle including a distal end, the handle attached to said hammerhead; and a jaw non-movably secured to said handle in opposition to said claw and spaced from said claw a finite distance, wherein a piece of lumber is removably positionable between said jaw and said claw.

Granted United States patent US 7 621 503 (WARREN et al) discloses a multipurpose hand tool comprising: a head comprising a nail-pulling section, a bridge section and a nail-striking section; and a handle coupled to the head; wherein the nail-pulling section defines a cavity accessible from the rear with an upper and lower slot leading thereto, the cavity for receiving a nail head therein with the upper and lower slots for receiving an elongate nail body therein.

Granted United States patent US 6 266 834 (WALSH et al) discloses a multipurpose hand-held tool, comprising: a handle including an upper handle portion, a middle handle portion, and a lower handle portion, said middle handle portion for being grasped by a hand; a head including a first head end, a middle head portion, and a second head end, said middle head portion connected to said upper handle portion, said first head end and said second head end having a respective top side and a bottom side; a first cutter connected to said first head end; a second cutter connected to said bottom of said first head end; third cutter connected to the top side of said first head end; a nail slot formed at the bottom side of said first head end; a plurality of gauge holes formed at the top side of said first head end; a hammer head connected to said second head end, and; a hammer claw connected to the top side of said second head end of said multipurpose tool.

United States patent application US 2006 021 474 (BURGESS) discloses a striking tool, comprising: a handle having an axis, a first head mounted to a first end of the handle, and a second head having substantially the same mass as the first head, opposedly mounted to a second end of the handle at a substantially right angle to the first head in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the handle.

Granted United States patent US 7 438 279 (EBY et al) discloses a pulling tool for pulling out embedded nails and other protruding objects, the pulling tool comprising: a. a handle; b. an anchor fixed with respect to the handle; a jaw having: a pivot about which the jaw pivots with respect to the anchor, a bearing surface extending from a jaw tip to a jaw tail, a cut out extending through the jaw from the bearing surface, the cut out being: situated between the jaw tip and the jaw tail, and bounded on one side by a jaw grasping face; wherein the jaw pivots between: a closed state wherein the anchor rests within the cut out of the jaw and closely adjacent the jaw grasping face, whereby a nail or other protrusion may be grasped between the anchor and the jaw grasping face; and an open state wherein the jaw grasping face is spaced from the anchor to define a mouth therebetween, whereby a nail or other protrusion may be inserted into or removed from the mouth.

United States patent application US 7 185 879 (LEJUEZ) disclose a pry bar, comprising: a body including a straight segment having side edges and a surface and a functional end segment having a pry edge; a pair of side notches provided in said pry edge of said functional end segment; a generally diamond-shaped nail removal opening provided in said functional end segment adjacent to said pair of side notches; and a curved segment extending from said straight segment opposite said functional end segment.

However in contrast the present invention provides a solution to the above problem by providing an easily stowable, multifunction tool capable of dealing with a variety of necessary tasks related to scaffolding in particular.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device having first and second distal ends connected by an elongate bar, having an axis wherein the first end provides a striking surface and claw; and a second end is angled away from the axis.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the second end is tapered towards a point.

According to a third aspect of the present invention the device is formed in a unitary piece, such as of tempered steel.

In any event preferably the bar is formed with sufficient strength to allow a user to pry up boards, but the point is sufficiently strong to avoid breakage.

In some embodiments the first end may additionally provide a lacuna such as to engage with standard sizes nuts or bolts. This lacuna is envisaged to be centrally located to accommodate engagement along the axis.

Typically the lacuna is hexagonal, and inserts may be provided to change the size or shape of the lacuna as required. Furthermore the device may be provided in a variety of sizes as appropriate for the user's needs.

In use therefore a user would insert the point into a crack between boards and using the angle to increase leverage would pry up apart the boards as required. To enable or facilitate this, the first end may be shaped to fit in a user's hand.

The first end may be used to remove nails, with the user placing the claw about a nail head and ideally using the shape of the claw and its positioning on the first end, to lever up the nail as required. Ideally the first end is used generally to knock off weakened, rusted or bent nails or staples.

Ideally any nails that are too difficult to remove may be hammered into the boards using the striking surface. Ideally therefore the striking surface provides a relatively large and flat surface. Preferably the device is weighted towards this surface.

Alternatively the second end may be used to knock off, dislodge or pry up nails, screws or staples. To enable or facilitate this, the first end is preferably shaped to fit in a user's hand.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the device; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment; Figure 3 shows a side view of the embodiment; And Figure 4 shows a front view of the embodiment.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured embodiment therefore shows a scaffolder's podger that can be used to remove nails from and pry up lap boards.

The pictured embodiment is formed of a single piece of tempered steel with high tensile strength.

The claw (10) at the first end I is formed by a v-shaped groove (11) and a bottom edge 12 of the first end 1, allowing a range of nails (not shown) to be removed from a board (not shown) in a simple and swift motion.

Other embodiments may be envisaged of the claw. Such claws where the v-shape extends significantly beyond the axis of the bar 3 allow for greater leverage.

The narrow edge or point (20) of the second end (2) can be inserted in use between boards then angled upwards using the angle (21) off the main axis of the bar 3 to gain access and remove each board from the scaffolding.

Further use of the claw 10 may include removal of staples. To this end the claw (10) is provided with a curved face and chamfered bottom edge (12) which both facilitate a user to engage staples close to a board, and rock the device about the staple to lever it up.

The point 20 of the second end is also provided with a bevelled or chamfered edge (22) in order to engage staples.

A flat side to the first end (1) forms the striking surface (100) and can be used to hammer in nails.

The diameter of the hammering surface is 39mm in the pictured embodiment. The first end has a depth (hammering surface to claw end) of 44mm and the device has a length of 260mm.

The slope of the claw (10) aids in removal of nails. The v-groove will typically allow the removal of I -4 inch nails.

The claw 10 has a v-shaped (11) profile with a final width of 6mm, whilst the sloped slot 13 is 4mm deep.

Some embodiments may have a rubber sleeving about the central section of the bar (3), in order that a user may use this as a comfortable grip.

Further embodiments may have a centrally placed lacuna on the first or hammer head (1), such as to engage with nuts and bolts.

Such lacunae are typically hexagonal and relatively shallow, such as to allow the user to hold a nut and prevent it from turning. This may allow the user to turn the opposite end of the bolt and release or attach a nut. Further embodiments may include a sufficient depth to the lacuna or a part of it to accommodate a bolt end passing through the nut being held or turned.

Claims (6)

1. claims 1. A device having first and second distal ends connected by an elongate bar, having an axis wherein the first end provides a striking surface and claw; and a second end is angled away from the axis.
2. 2. A device according to claim I formed of a unitary piece of metal.
3. 3. A device according to any preceding claim having a first end shaped to fit in a user's hand.
4. 4. A device according to the preceding claim wherein the first end may be wholly contained within an ovoid shape.
5. 5. A device according to the preceding claim wherein the claw is formed by a slot and v-shaped groove in the first end.
6. 6. A device according to any preceding claim having a lacuna for engagement of a nut.