Patent Application
20050120831
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention generally relates to tools and, more particularly, to roof rippers or tools for removing roofing shingles, tar paper, nails and other like roofing materials.
Roofs of buildings are often covered by shingles. The shingles are generally planar and somewhat soft and flexible The shingles are installed in series one next to the other and overlying, in staggered fashion, a lower coarse of similar shingles. The shingles are typically installed over a layer of roofing felt, tar paper, or the like. The shingles are normally nailed to the roof with roofing nails that have wide, flat heads so that they can securely hold the soft shingle material. The nails of one coarse of shingles are covered by the next overlying coarse of shingles. The nails are unexposed to protect the nails from the elements.
When the roof needs re-shingled, a second layer of shingles can be placed of the first layer of shingles in some instances but it is usually not possible to add a third or more layer of shingles because the roof structure may not be able to support the added weight of the additional layers of shingles. Therefore, the old layer or layers of shingles must be removed and discarded prior to installing the new shingles. Shingle removal is a labor intensive process and numerous shingle removing tools have been devised for assisting a roofer to remove roofing materials.
Removing shingles is time-consuming and tedious task at least partly because the shingles cover the nails and it is not usually possible to merely raise the flap of one shingle to gain access to the nails. It is typically difficult and inconvenient to gain access to the nails. Shingle removal tools or pry bars of various designs have been proposed which have a blade which is slid between the shingles and the roof. The blade is often provided with slots or notches to engage the nails so that a nail or group of nails can be pried up from the roofing boards to remove the shingles. While such tools may assist in removing the shingles, the removal process remains a physically demanding operation. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved shingle removal tool which eases removal of the shingles from the roof and/or reduces fatigue of the user.
The present invention provides a shingle removal tool which overcomes at least some of the above-noted problems of the related art. According to the present invention, a shingle removal tool includes, in combination, a base and a blade forwardly extending from the base. The blade has a planar portion forming a leading edge. An elongate shaft rearwardly extends from the base. A pair of wheels are rotatably attached to the base rearward of the blade. The wheels are laterally spaced apart and have a common rotational axis.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a shingle removal tool includes, in combination, a base; a blade forwardly extending from the base, and an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base. At least one wheel is rotatably attached to the base rearward of the blade. The blade has a planar portion forming a leading edge. The shaft has an obtuse angle therein forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade between the planar portion of the blade and the at least one wheel and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade forward of the planar portion of the blade.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a shingle removal tool includes, in combination, a base, a blade forwardly extending from the base, and an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base. The blade forms a leading edge. A rear grip has a passage slidably receiving a rear end of the shaft therein such that the rear grip is axially moveable relative to the shaft. A body of resilient material is located between the rear grip and the shaft to absorb impacts as the rear grip axially moves forward relative to the shaft.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a shingle removal tool includes, in combination, a base, a blade forwardly extending from the base, and an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base. The blade forms a leading edge. A rear grip located at a rear end of the shaft and a fore grip is located along the shaft.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a shingle removal tool includes, in combination, a base, a blade forwardly extending from the base, and an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base. A pair of laterally spaced apart wheels are rotatable about a laterally extending axis of rotation located rearward of the blade. The blade has a planar portion forming a leading edge and the blade and the wheels are positioned such that a plane formed by the planar portion of the blade is substantially tangent to a radial peripheries of the wheels. The shaft has an obtuse angle forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade between the planar portion of the blade and the wheels and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade forward of the planar portion of the blade. A rear grip is located at a rear end of the shaft.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology of tools for removing roofing materials such as shingles. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, reliable, easily assembled and disassembled, low cost assembly with improved operational performance. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the shingle removal tool as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, and shapes of the various components will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the shingle removal tool illustrated in the drawings. In general, up or upward refers to an upward direction within the plane of the paper in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the improved tools disclosed herein. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with reference to a tool for removing shingles. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure.
The term “unitary” is used herein and in the claims to mean a member made of a single continuous material such as, for example, a single cast or molded part. The term “integral” is used herein and in the claims to mean members that are secured together such as, for example, two members connected by welding or bolts. The term “acute angle” is used herein and in the claims to mean an angle which is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees. The term “obtuse angle” is used herein and in the claims to mean an angle which is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 4 show a shingle removal tool 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated shingle removal tool 10 includes a base 12, a blade, 14 a pair of wheels 16, a shaft or handle 18, a rear grip 20, and a fore grip 22.
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The illustrated shaft connector 26 is in the from of a tube having a central passage 44 sized for closely receiving a forward end of the shaft 18 as described in more detail hereinafter. The shaft connector 26 is rigidly secured to and extends from the upper surface of the frame central portion 32 with a central axis 46 extending at an acute angle D relative to horizontal such that it slopes upward in a rearward direction from a closed or forward end at the frame central portion 32 to a rearward or open end. The illustrated shaft connector 26 is disposed at an acute angle D of about 70 degrees relative to horizontal but other suitable angles can be utilized. The shaft connector 26 is formed of any suitable material such as, for example, a metal such as steel. The shaft connector 26 is rigidly secured to the frame 24 in any suitable manner such as, for example, welding. It is noted that while a preferred shaft connector 26 is described in detail herein, the shaft connector 26 can alternatively have other suitable sizes, structures, shapes, and materials within the scope of the present invention.
The illustrated axle 28 is a laterally extending rod or tube sized for rotatably attaching the wheels 16 to the frame 24 as described in more detail hereinafter. The axle 28 forms a horizontal and laterally extending rotational axis 48 for the wheels 16. The opposed ends of the axle 28 are each provided with an opening 50 sized and shaped to receive a fastener 52. See
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As best shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the illustrated pair wheels 16 are located on the opposed ends of the axle 28 and are rotatable about the rotational axis 48 formed by the longitudinal axis of the axle 28. The illustrated wheels 16 are retained on the axle 28 by removable cotter pins 52 extending through the openings 50 in the axle 28. It is noted that while the illustrated wheels 16 are removably retained to the axle 28 by the cotter pins 52, the wheels 16 can alternatively be retained by suitable non-removable means or retained by other suitable types of removable means within the scope of the present invention. The wheels 16 are preferably removably mounted so that they can be easily replaced when damaged or worn out. Mounted in this location the illustrated wheels 16 are laterally spaced apart and located rearward of the blade 14 and base frame 24 and above the lower surface 62 of the blade 14. The wheels 16 are preferably laterally spaced apart a distance adequate to provide some lateral stability but less than the lateral width of the blade leading edge 58. The wheels 16 are preferably positioned such that the lower surface 62 of the blade 14 is substantially tangent to the outer radial periphery or contacting surface 74 of the wheels 16. Positioned in this manner the lower surface 62 of the blade scraping portion 54 is generally parallel to the support surface when the wheels 16 are engaging the support surface and the support surface is planar or flat which allows the wheels 16 to roll along the support surface as the blade 14 slides or scrapes along the support surface. The wheels 16 are formed of any suitable material such as, for example, a metal such as steel or a polymer such as Urethane. The wheels 16 are preferably formed of a material which is softer than the material of the axle 28 so that the wheels 16 rather than the axle 28 wears upon rotation of the wheels 16 on the axle 28. It is noted that while preferred wheels 16 and wheel locations are described in detail herein, the wheels 16 can alternatively have other suitable sizes, locations, shapes, and materials within the scope of the present invention. It is also noted that more than two wheels 16 can be utilized, only one wheel 16 can be utilized, or the wheels 16 can be removed within the scope of the invention.
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As best shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the illustrated shaft 18, is rigidly secured to the base 12. The forward end of the shaft 18 is located within the base shaft connector 26. Positioned in this manner, the forward portion 78 of the shaft 18 forms an obtuse angle G relative to the scraping portion 54 of the blade 14. The illustrated obtuse angle G is about 110 degrees but other suitable angles can be utilized. The rearward portion 80 of the shaft 18 also forms an obtuse angle H relative to the scraping portion 54 of the blade 14. The illustrated obtuse angle H is about 145 degrees but other suitable angles can be utilized. Thus the central axis of the forward portion 78 of the shaft 18 intersects the plane formed by the blade scraping portion 54 at a point to the rear of the blade 14 and forward of the wheels 16 while the rearward portion 80 of the shaft 18 is at a larger obtuse angle such that the central axis of the rearward portion 80 of the shaft 18 intersects the intersects the plane formed by the blade scraping portion 54 at a point forward of the blade 14. The illustrated shaft 18 is secured to the base 12 by welding. It is noted that while the illustrated shaft 18 is non-removably attached to the base frame 24 by welding, the shaft 18 can alternatively be unitary with the base frame 24, attached by suitable removable means, or attached by other suitable types of non-removable means within the scope of the present invention.
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As best shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the illustrated rear grip 20 is attached to the shaft 18 in an axially slidable manner. The rearward end of the shaft 18 is slidably received in the passage 90 of the connecting portion 86 such that the rear grip 20 can axially move relative to the shaft 18. Axial movement of the rear grip 20 is limited by a pin or fastener 96 engaging ends of the slots 92. The illustrated fastener 96 is a cotter pin secured by a washer and retaining ring but any other suitable fastener or pin 96 can be utilized within the scope of the present invention. The illustrated fastener 96 extends through the opening 82 in the shaft and through the slots 92 in the rear grip 20. The fastener 96 stays in a fixed position relative to the shaft 18 and engages ends of the slots 92 to limit axial movement as the rear grip 20 slides relative to the shaft 18 and fastener 96. It is noted that while a preferred attachment arrangement is described in detail herein, the rear grip 20 can alternatively be slidably attached in other suitable manners and/or have other suitable means for limiting axial movement of the rear grip 20 within the scope of the present invention.
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During operation of the tool 10, the operator places one hand on the fore grip 22 and their other hand on the rear grip 20. The fore grip 22 is adjusted to an axial position along the shaft 18 which is the most comfortable and/or provides the best leverage for the user to prevent the user's hand from slipping off of the shaft 18 during use. Both the lower surface 62 of the blade scraping portion 54 and the wheels 16 contact and support the tool 10 on the roof. The laterally spaced-apart wheels 16 provide lateral stability of the tool 10 and reduce friction so that the user has improved control of the tool 10. The bent shaft 18 enables the user to sit on a sloping roof with the shaft 18 located above their legs. The operator provides a forward force to the grips 20, 22 so that the blade scraping portion 54 slides under a shingle or shingles. The wheels 16 and the ergonomically shaped shaft 18 reduce the force required to produce the forward motion of the tool 10. When the leading edge of the blade 14 contacts a nail or nails, the rear grip 20 axially slides forward relative to the shaft 18 as the body 98 compresses and at least partially absorbs the impact. It is noted that the shape of the shaft 18 and rear grip 20 also lessons any impact on the user. The nails are received in the slots 60 in the blade 14 and the operator provides a downward force on the rear grip 20 to pivot the tool about a fulcrum 112 formed by the wheels to raise the blade 14 and pry out the nails. The shingle is then loose from the roof and can be discarded. The process is continued until all of the shingles have been removed from the roof.
FIGS. 15 to 17 show a shingle removal tool 200 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shingle removal tool 200 is substantially the same as the shingle removal tool 10 described in detail hereinabove except that the fore grip 22 is eliminated and a rear grip 202 is rigidly mounted and integral with the shaft 18. It is noted that like reference numbers are utilized to identify like structure between the embodiments. It is also noted that the fore grip 22 can be included if desired.
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It is apparent from the foregoing disclosure that the tools 10, 200 according of the present invention not only ease removal of the shingles from the roof, but also reduces fatigue to the user.
It is noted that each of the features of the various embodiments of the present invention can be used in any combination. For example, the fixed handle of the second embodiment can be alternatively used the first embodiment and the adjustable fore grip of the first embodiment can alternatively be used with the second embodiment.
From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
