US3211240A - Stake puller - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 12, 1965 H. A. SMITTER ETAL 3,211,240

STAKE PULLER Filed July 1, 1964 K "MINIMUM"!!-WIIMIIIIIII ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,211,240 STAKE FULLER Harry A. Smitter and John H. Smitter, both of 2501 East Beltline NE., Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed July 1, 1964, Ser. No. 379,585 8 Claims. (CL 1739tl) This invention relates to stake pullers. More particularly, this invention relatesto stake pullers of the type especially adapted to remove stakes from the ground which have been driven int-o the ground to anchor concrete forms in place.

Elongated forms such as those utilized to fabricate concrete structures such as curbs, sidewalks and the like are anchored and held in position by means of steel stakes driven into the ground adjacent thereto. Similarly, such stakes are used to hold many other types of forms in position. These stakes are pounded into the ground by means of a hammer and when their use on a particular job is finished, they are retrieved from the ground and reused. It has always been a problem as to just how such stakes can be effectively removed from the ground. All too often these stakes are simply pried loose by pounding them until they can be manually pulled upwardly from the ground. This is extremely difficult work, being both expensive and time consuming, materially adding to the labor costs involved in such types of construction work. Many attempts have been made to provide special types of stakes which are adapted to work with specialized types of mechanical lifts and jack-type devices. Such structures are excessively expensive and again time consuming in adjustment and operation. Although the difficult prying work is eliminated, the cost of such stakes and equipment has made them unpractical.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved stake puller which eliminates the extremely difiicult work normally associated with the removal of stakes of the type described from the ground.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a stake puller which is extremely simple in construction and consequently inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a stake puller which may be utilized with stakes of conventional constru'ction.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of such stake puller which accomplishes the removal of stakes very quickly.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of such a stake puller which is strong, durable and free of adjustment and maintenance requirements.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stake puller of this invention, positioned adjacent a stake driven into the ground;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the stake puller shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is aside view thereof; and- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane IV-IV of FIG. 3.

Briefly, this invention relates to a stake puller, comprising a base member, a slot in said base member and an elongated handle extending directly above the base member. The handle includes a hand grip lying generally above the terminus of the slot in the base.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates the stake puller of this invention. The stake puller 1 includes a base 2 and a handle 10. The base 2 is made of heavy gauge steel, preferably weighing approximately nine to thirteen pounds. The

3,211,240 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 ice base member is generally rectangular and preferably flat in configuration. The slot 3 extends into the configuration of the base member, the terminus 4 of the slot lying generally at the center of the base 2, the word center referring to generally the center of gravity thereof.

The handle 10 is of generally inverted U-shape and extends directly above the base member 2. The handle It) includes a pair of legs 11 and 12 and a bight portion 13. The ends of the legs 11 and 12 are secured to the base 2 by suitable means such as welding. The bight portion 13 of the handle 10 forms a hand grip, the handle 1t) secured to the base 2 such that the bight portion 13 lies generally above the terminus 4 of the slot 3 in the base member 2. It will be noted that the legs 11 and 12 of the handle 10 are elongated, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

In operation, the workman using the structure grasps the bight portion 13 of the handle 10 with one hand. Thus, the line of the users arm lies directly above the terminus 4 of the slot 3. The weighted base 2 is swung against the shank 21 of the stake 20, the slot 3 receiving the shank 21, abutting against the terminus 4 of the slot 3. Some stakes 20 have heads 22 formed thereon. Even those stakes which do not have heads preformed thereon, obtain heads 22 after being pounded in the ground since the steel is usually slightly malleable under the weight of the hammer. The weighted stake puller 1 is then lifted upwardly along the shank of the stake, the top of the base member 2 slamming against the head 22 of the stake 20. Due to the fact that maximum force is applied to the head 22 of the stake 20, it is removed from the ground with one such action, without the necessity of any preliminary prying action to loosen it. Maximum force is applied because the users arm in a standing position may extend in a straight line extending along the elongated legs 11 and 12 of the handle 10. Additionally, this line of force is applied directly to the head of the stake since the terminus of the slot is directly below the grip of the handle. Thus, as the workmans shoulders rise, all of the force is exerted in and htrough a straight line to the head of the stake, the weighted base member providing the impetus needed to remove the stake from the ground.

It will be seen that this invention has provided a stake puller which essentially eliminates the ditdcult work associated with the removal of stakes from the ground. No preliminary prying force need be exerted on the stake. A simple upward movement of the shoulders of the workman applies the force necessary to the head of the stake to cleanly remove it from the ground. No special type of stake is required. The stake puller itself is extremely simple in construction, thus requiring no upkeep or adjustment, and being inexpensive. A stake puller has been provided which has thus not added noticeably to the cost of construction, yet eliminating the difiicult labor, time and expense normally associated with removal of stakes from the ground.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it may be possible to practice the invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Such other embodiments are to be included as part of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

We claim:

1. A stake puller, comprising: a base member; a slot in said base member; an elongated handle extending directly above and attached to said base member; and said handle having a hand grip lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

2. A stake puller, comprising: a weighted base member; a slot in said base member, said slot terminating generally at the center of said base member; an elongated handle 6) extending directly above and attached to said base member; and said handle having a hand grip lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

*3. A stake puller, comprising: a base member; a slot in said base member; a generally inverted U-shaped handle extending directly above said base member; the ends of the legs of said handle secured to said base member; and the bight portion of said handle forming a hand grip and lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

4. A stake puller, comprising: a weighted base member; a slot in said base member; a generally inverted U-shaped handle extending directly above said base member; the ends of the legs of said handle secured to said base member; and the bight portion of said handle forming a hand grip and lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

5. A stake puller, com'pni-sing: a weighted base member; a slot in said base member, said slot terminating generally at the center of said base member; a generally inverted U-shaped handle extending directly above said base member; the ends of the legs of said handle secured to said base member; and the bight portion of said handle forming a hand grip and lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

6. A stake puller, comprising: a weighted base member; a slot in said base member; a generally inverted, elongated U-shaped handle extending directly above said base member; the ends of the legs of said handle secured to said base member; and the blight portion of said handle forming a hand grip and lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

7. A stake puller, comprising: a weighted, generally flat base member; a slot in said base member; an elongated generally inverted U-shaped handle extending directly above said base member; the ends of the legs of said handle secured to said base member; and the bight portion of said handle fiorming a hand grip and lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

8. A stake puller, comprising: a weighted generally flat base member; a slot in said base member, said slot terminating generally near the center of said base member; an elongated generally inverted U-shaped handle extending directly above said base member; the ends of the legs of said handle secured to said base member; and the bight portion of said handle forming a hand grip and lying generally above the terminus of said slot in said base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A STAKE PULLER, COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER; A SLOT IN SAID BASE MEMBER; AN ELONGATED HANDLE EXTENDING DIRECTLY ABOVE AND ATTACHED TO SAID BASE MEMBER; AND SAID HANDLE HAVING A HAND GRIP LYING GENERALLY ABOVE THE TERMINUS OF SAID SLOT IN SAID BASE.

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