Patent Application
20160024807
The present invention is in the field of tools, specifically home building tools.
During home remodeling and/or repairs, it becomes necessary to remove the old drywall sheets from the walls. Currently, this is accomplished by breaking up the drywall sheet with a sledgehammer or other blunt object and removing the pieces. This process is cumbersome and results in a great deal of debris and dust, which complicates the cleanup process and creates a health hazard for the worker who invariably breathes in the dust. Other removal methods include the use of a crowbar the pry the drywall sheet off of the wall studs. However, a crowbar does not provide enough leverage, which results in a greater force needed to be exerted to remove the sheet, and in the worker tire out relatively quickly. In addition, a crowbar focuses the force being exerted on a single point, which results in the sheet breaking up easily.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a tool to be used to easily and efficiently remove drywall sheets.
Disclosed herein are drywall sheet removal tools, comprising: a handle; and a plurality of tines; wherein an angle between a line of the handle and a plane defined by the plurality of tines is between 45° and 90°. Also disclosed are methods of removing a drywall sheet from a wall, the method comprising: creating an opening along the width of the drywall sheet; inserting a plurality of tines of a drywall sheet removing tool of claim 1 into the opening, such that the plurality of tines straddle a stud; and moving a handle of the tool in a direction opposite to a direction the tines are pointing.
The device disclosed herein comprises a forked claw, having at least two tines, and a long handle. The angle between the plane of the claw and the handle is between 45° and 90°, such that an efficient fulcrum is created.
Referring to the drawings,
The width of the tines allows for the tines to straddle a wall stud, as discussed fully below. Thus, the width of about 2″ is used when the sheet rock is nailed to the 2″ side of a 2×4 stud, whereas the width of about 4″ is used when the sheet rock is nailed to the 4″ side of a 2×4 stud. In some embodiments, for example the one shown in
In some embodiments, the tines 106 and 108 are flat. In certain of these embodiments, the flat portion of the tines is in the generally distal section of the tines. In other embodiments, the entire length of each tie is flat. The flat tines are suitable for placing the tines behind the drywall sheet and provide a maximum contact area with the sheet for its removal.
In some embodiments, the tines 106 and 108 have sharp bladed edges 112 and 114, respectively. These sharp edges provide the means for a user to break through the drywall and create an opening into which the tines are inserted.
The handle 104 attaches to the claw portion 102 at the angle point 116. The angle of attachment at the angle point 116 is such that a fulcrum is created and the tool 100 provides a great degree of efficiency in its use. In some embodiments, the angle at the angle point 116, i.e., the angle between the line of the handle 104 and the plane of the claw portion 102, is between 45° and 90°. In certain embodiments, the angle at the angle point 116 is greater than 90°. In certain embodiments, the angle at the angle point 116 is less than 45°. In some embodiments, the angle at the angle point 116 is 90°.
In some embodiments, for example the one shown in
In some embodiments, a wedge 118 is provided on the cross bar 110. The wedge 118 is used to remove any nails from the studs.
The tines 106,108 are then inserted into the opening 208 with the tines 106,108 straddling a stud 206. To remove the lower portion 204B, the tines 106,108 are inserted pointing downward. Once the tines 106,108 are fully inserted and the stud 206 rests against the cross bar 110, the handle 104 is moved upward in the direction of the arrow A. The tool 100 rolls around the curvature of the angle point 116 against the sheet 204A, causing the tines 106,108 to exert pressure and move in the direction of the arrow
B. The pressure of the tines 106,108 against the sheet 204B causes the sheet 204B to separate from the stud 206.
In some embodiments, the handle 104 is at first rocked gently up and down to loosen the nails affixing sheet 204B to the stud 206. In certain embodiments, once the nails have somewhat loosened, the tool 100 is removed from the opening 208 and the nails are removed using the wedge 118.
To remove sheet 204B, the above process is repeated except for the tines 106,108 pointing upward. If sheet 204A has already been removed, then the angle point 116 is made to roll against the stud 206.
