Demolition Ram For Glazing

Abstract

A demolition ram, for demolishing glazing, comprises a pusher and a handle connected at its distal end to the pusher. The pusher comprises a support plate, a rubber plating on the distal surface of the support plate, and a reinforcing flange and a boss on the proximal surface of the support plate. At least one handling aperture is through the pusher. The handle has a plate at its distal end. Fasteners removably connect the plate to the boss. A handle extension can be connected to the handle. The handle at its proximal end and the handle extension each comprises a generally textured surface. The demolishing comprises pushing a subpane out of the glazing with the demolition ram by exerting a force with the handle onto the subpane through the pusher. The subpane is then allowed to fall due to its weight, and is caught with a receptacle comprising a mat.

Claims

1-40. (canceled)

41. A demolition ram comprising: a pusher comprising a plate having a proximal surface, a distal surface, and a perimeter, a handle rigidly connected to said plate on said proximal surface spaced from said perimeter; and identical fasteners; wherein said fasteners connect said handle to said pusher; and wherein said handle has a slenderness ratio of at least twenty-five and not more than one hundred ten.

42. The demolition ram of claim 41, wherein said slenderness ratio is about seventy-five.

43. The demolition ram of claim 41, wherein: said plate comprises a boss on said proximal surface; said handle has a proximal end and a distal end; said handle comprises a plate at said distal end; and said fasteners connect said plate of said handle to said boss.

44. The demolition ram of claim 43, wherein said fasteners comprise: identical fixed fasteners on said boss; and identical removable fasteners removably mountable on said fixed fasteners for removably connecting said plate of said handle to said boss.

45. The demolition ram of claim 43, wherein said plate of said handle and said boss each has a geometry that generally corresponds with each other.

46. The demolition ram of claim 45, wherein said geometry of said plate of said handle is smaller in area than said geometry of said boss.

47. The demolition ram of claim 43, wherein said boss is centrally located on said proximal surface; wherein said handle has a cross section; and wherein said plate of said handle is centrally located with respect to said cross section.

48. The demolition ram of claim 43, wherein said handle and said plate of said handle are unitarily formed.

49. The demolition ram of claim 43, wherein said handle and said plate of said handle are made of fiberglass.

50. The demolition ram of claim 43, wherein said boss and said plate of said pusher are unitarily formed.

51. The demolition ram of claim 43, wherein said boss and said plate of said pusher are made of fiberglass.

52. The demolition ram of claim 41, further comprising: a handle extension; and an end cap; wherein said handle has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said handle extension is connectable to said proximal end; wherein said handle comprises a threaded socket at said proximal end; wherein said handle extension has a terminus; wherein said handle extension comprises a threaded pin at said terminus; wherein said pin and said socket are threadably connectable together; and wherein said end cap is removably mountable on said proximal end for covering said socket when said handle extension is not connected to said proximal end.

53. (canceled)

54. The demolition ram of claim 52, wherein said handle and said handle extension, when connected together, have as a unit a slenderness ratio of about one hundred eight.

55-57. (canceled)

58. The demolition ram of claim 52, wherein said handle extension comprises a generally textured surface.

59-60. (canceled)

61. The demolition ram of claim 41, wherein said handle has a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said proximal end comprises a generally textured surface; and wherein said distal end comprises a generally smooth surface.

62-64. (canceled)

65. A demolition ram comprising: a pusher; a handle connected to said pusher; and fasteners; wherein said pusher comprises: a support plate having a proximal surface and a distal surface; a boss on said proximal surface extending away from said proximal surface; and a plating on said distal surface; and wherein: said handle has a proximal end and a distal end; said handle comprises a plate at said distal end, said plate of said handle is parallel with said boss and with said support plate; said fasteners connect said plate of said handle to said boss; and said fasteners comprise identical fasteners on said boss.

66. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said identical fasteners comprise fixed and fasteners; and wherein said fasteners, that comprise said identical fasteners, further comprise removable fasteners removably mountable on said fixed fasteners for removably connecting said plate of said handle to said boss.

67. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said plate of said handle and said boss each has a geometry that generally corresponds with each other.

68. The demolition ram of claim 67, wherein said geometry of said plate of said handle is smaller in area than said geometry of said boss.

69. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein: said boss has a perimeter; said support plate further has a perimeter; said plating is beveled defining a perimeter of said plating; said plating has a larger base equal to said distal surface; said perimeter of said boss is less than said perimeter of said support plate; and said perimeter of said plating is not more than said perimeter of said support plate.

70. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said boss is centrally located on said proximal surface; wherein said handle further has a cross section; and wherein said plate of said handle is centrally located with respect to said cross section.

71. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said plating comprises a raised pattern.

72. The demolition ram of claim 71, wherein said raised pattern comprises an array of protrusions.

73. The demolition ram of claim 72, wherein said array is orthogonally arranged.

74. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said plating comprises a coating.

75. The demolition ram of claim 74, wherein said coating comprises a rubber coating.

76. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said plating comprises a working plate.

77. The demolition ram of claim 76, wherein said working plate is made of rubber.

78. The demolition ram of claim 65, further comprising at least one handling aperture through said pusher.

79. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein: said support plate further has corners; said plating has corners; said pusher has corners comprising said corners of said support plate and of said plating; and said corners of said pusher are clipped.

80. The demolition ram of claim 79, wherein said plating is beveled.

81. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said pusher further comprises a reinforcing flange on said proximal surface extending away from said proximal surface.

82. The demolition ram of claim 81, wherein said support plate and said reinforcing flange are unitarily formed.

83. The demolition ram of claim 81, wherein said support plate and said boss and said reinforcing flange are unitarily formed.

84. The demolition ram of claim 81, wherein said support plate and said reinforcing flange are made of fiberglass.

85. The demolition ram of claim 81, wherein said support plate and said boss and said reinforcing flange are made of fiberglass.

86. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said support plate and said boss are unitarily formed.

87. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said support plate and said boss are made of fiberglass.

88. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said handle and said plate of said handle are unitarily formed.

89. The demolition ram of claim 65, wherein said handle and said plate of said handle are made of fiberglass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention comprising a demolition ram comprising a pusher and a handle.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, of the proximal end of the handle toward the proximal surface of the pusher.

[0022] FIG. 3 is an end view of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, of the distal surface of the pusher.

[0023] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B together are a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 2, where:

[0024] FIG. 4A is a partial view that is the cross-sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 2, of the pusher and the distal end of the handle up to the same break line that is shown in FIG. 4B;

[0025] and

[0026] FIG. 4B is a partial view that is the cross-sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 2, of the proximal end of the handle up to the same break line that is shown in FIG. 4A.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view, of the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4A and 4B, of a handle extension that is connectable to the handle.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, showing assembling of the pusher and the handle together.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, showing connecting of the pusher and the handle with fasteners.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, showing removing of an end cap, when mounted on the handle, from the handle before connecting of the handle extension to the handle.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, showing the connecting of the handle extension to the handle.

[0032] FIG. 10 is an interior perspective view, partly broken, of the demolishing of glazing in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, showing pushing of a subpane out of glazing with the demolition ram comprising touching the subpane with the pusher and exerting a force about the proximal end of the handle to generate an impulsive force onto the subpane through the touching.

[0033] FIG. 11 is an exterior perspective view, partly broken, of the demolishing of glazing, as shown in FIG. 10, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, further comprising moving the subpane to a position where the subpane can fall due to its weight, and allowing the subpane to fall due to its weight.

[0034] FIG. 12 is an exterior perspective view, partly broken, of the demolishing of glazing, as shown in FIG. 11, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, further comprising catching the subpane as it falls with a receptacle comprising a mat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] One embodiment of the present invention for demolishing glazing is a demolition ram 1, as shown in FIG. 1. The demolition ram 1 comprises a pusher 2. The pusher 2 is generally rectangular, having sides of equal length or preferably, as shown especially in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, of unequal length.

[0036] The pusher 2 comprises a support plate 3. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and especially in FIG. 4A, the support plate 3 has a proximal surface 4 and a distal surface 5. The pusher 2 also comprises a nonslip plating 6 on the distal surface 5 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A. The nonslip plating 6 preferably is a rubber coating that is glued, or otherwise adhered, to the distal surface 5. The rubber coating can, in fact, be a working plate 7, made of rubber, that is glued, adhered, or otherwise attached to the distal surface 5. The nonslip plating 6 has a raised pattern 8 on its outer surface. The raised pattern 8 preferably is an array of protrusions. The array may be orthogonally arranged as shown in FIG. 3, or (not shown) offset arranged. The protrusions may be generally equal as shown in FIG. 3 or unequal (not shown) to each other. One embodiment of the protrusions comprises circularly shaped pads as shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] Corners 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the pusher 2, and thus particularly the support plate 3 and the nonslip plating 6, are clipped to remove these right-angled corners, reducing the possibility of the demolition ram 1 undesirably catching on or damaging adjacent objects or injuring nearby persons. The pusher 2 is thus more particularly octagonal. The nonslip plating 6, too, is beveled as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A, also reducing the possibility of the demolition ram 1 undesirably catching on or damaging adjacent objects or injuring nearby persons.

[0038] Handling apertures 13 and 14 go through the support plate 3 and the nonslip plating 6 of the pusher 2. The handling apertures 13 and 14 are located generally adjacent to but spaced from the shorter sides of the pusher 2. The handling apertures 13 and 14 are for easily handling the pusher 2, such as picking it up. While two handling apertures 13 and 14 are specifically shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4A, the present invention is contemplated to have any number of the handling apertures through the pusher 2, from at least one to as many as four or more adjacent to any of the sides of the pusher 2.

[0039] A reinforcing flange 15 is on the proximal surface 4 of the support plate 3 and extends generally perpendicularly away from the proximal surface 4. The reinforcing flange 15 is located at the perimeter of the support plate 3, and encompasses the entire perimeter. Alternatively, a pattern (not shown) of reinforcing flanges can be arrayed across any portion, or the entirety, of the proximal surface 4.

[0040] A boss 16 is also on the proximal surface 4 of the support plate 3 and extends generally outwardly away from the proximal surface 4. The boss 16 is centrally located on the proximal surface 4, and is generally rectangular, having sides of unequal length or preferably, as shown especially in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, of equal length. A plurality of fasteners 17, as bolts 18, 19, 20, and 21 which preferably are nonshear hardened bolts and most preferably have shear strength A325 being, for example, grade 8 bolts or grade 5 bolts, are fixed on the boss 16. The fixed fasteners 17 preferably are partially embedded within the boss 16, with at least some of their distal portions being within the boss 16 and their proximal portions extending exteriorly outwardly from the boss 16 generally in the same direction as the direction of from the distal surface 5 to the proximal surface 4 of the support plate 3.

[0041] The demolition ram 1 also comprises a handle 22. The handle 22 is an elongate, generally circularly cross-sectional shaft, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and also in FIGS. 4A, 4B. While the handle 22, and also the handle extension 33, is specifically shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 as circularly cross-sectional, the present invention is contemplated to encompass any cross-sectional geometry of either or both the handle 22 and the handle extension 33.

[0042] The handle 22 has a generally distal portion that has a distal end 23 of the handle 22 and a generally proximal portion that has a proximal end 24 of the handle 22. The handle 22 has a longitudinal axis generally concentric with the geometric cross section of the handle 22 and extending between the distal end 23 and the proximal end 24. The longitudinal axis is generally perpendicular to the proximal surface 4 of the support plate 3. The distal portion including the distal end 23 has a generally smooth surface 25, and the proximal portion including the proximal end 24 has a generally textured surface 26. The textured surface 26 is, generally, about half of the total surface, by either length or area, of the handle 22. Alternatively, the textured surface 26 may be more or less than half of the total surface, by either length or area, of the handle 22.

[0043] A plate 27 is at the distal end 23. The plate 27 is centrally located with respect to the cross section of the handle 22. The geometry of the plate 27 generally corresponds with that of the boss 16, and thus preferably is also generally rectangular having sides of equal length but is slightly smaller in area than that of the boss 16 as shown in especially FIG. 2. A plurality of apertures matching the plurality of fixed fasteners 17 extend through the plate 27. The exteriorly extending proximal portions of the fixed fasteners 17 extend through the apertures in the plate 27 beyond the plate 27, in the same direction as the direction of from the distal surface 5 to the proximal surface 4 of the support plate 3. A plurality of removable fasteners 28, as nuts 29, 30, 31, and 32 which preferably are wing nuts that can be tightened by hand, are removably mountable on the fixed fasteners 17 for removably connecting the plate 27 of the handle 22 to the boss 16 of the pusher 2.

[0044] A handle extension 33 for the demolition ram 1 is an elongate shaft, preferably generally circularly cross-sectional, as shown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the handle extension 33 matches the proximal end 24 of the handle 22. The surface of the handle extension 33, and preferably the entire circumferential surface as shown in FIG. 5, is a generally textured surface 34.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4B, the proximal end 24 has a socket 35, as a fastener, that is threaded. A pin 36, as a fastener, is on a terminus of the handle extension 33, and is also threaded. The handle extension 33 is connectable to the proximal end 24 of the handle 22 by the socket 35 and the pin 36 being threadably connectable together.

[0046] An end cap 37 is removably mountable on the proximal end 24. The end cap 37 may be rubber or plastic. The end cap 37 is friction-fitted onto the proximal end 24, and covers the socket 35 when the handle extension 33 is not on the handle 22.

[0047] The pusher 2 and the handle 22 of the demolition ram 1, as well as the handle extension 33, may be made of any suitable material. Preferably, each of the pusher 2, the handle 22, and the handle extension 33 is made of solid fiberglass. The lineal density of the fiberglass may be about 2.2 pounds per 32 inches (about 1 kilogram per 0.8 meters). The support plate 3, the reinforcing flange 15, and the boss 16 may be unitarily formed as a single piece of fiberglass. The nonslip plating 6 is therefore adhered, or otherwise attached, to this single fiberglass piece. Likewise, the handle 22 and the plate 27 at the distal end 23 may be unitarily formed as a single piece of fiberglass. The handle extension 33, with the pin 36, may also be unitarily formed as a single fiberglass piece. The textured surface 26 of the proximal end portion of the handle 22 may be unitarily formed of the material of the handle 22. Also, the textured surface 34 of the handle extension 33 may be unitarily formed of the material of the handle extension 33. Alternatively, the pusher 2, specifically the support plate 3, could be steel and the handle 22, and also the handle extension 33, could be aluminum. Moreover, instead, the pusher 2 could be a four-foot-by-eight-foot sheet (122 by 244 centimeters) of OSB (commonly known as chipboard) or plywood, and the handle 22 could be a ten-foot length (0.3 meters) of two-by-four (5 by 10 centimeters) studding lumber.

[0048] The pusher 2, the handle 22, and the handle extension 33 of the demolition ram 1 are sized for more safely demolishing glazing. Typically, one size, a common residential glazing size, for the demolition ram 1 is for common sizes of the glazing of residential windows such as 20 by 24 inches (51 by 61 centimeters); and a different size, a large-scale glazing size, for the demolition ram 1 is for large-scale glazing as may be exemplified by plate glass such as 84 by 108 inches (213 by 274 centimeters). The common residential glazing size would typically be on the order of about 16 by 16 inches (about 40 by 40 centimeters) or about 18 by 18 inches (about 46 by 46 centimeters) for the pusher 2. The large-scale glazing size would typically be on the order of about 24 by 36 inches (about 61 by 91 centimeters), although it could be anywhere from about 22 by 30 inches (about 56 to 76 centimeters) to about 48 by 48 inches (about 122 by 122 centimeters). For both the common residential glazing size and the large-scale glazing size, typically the support plate 3 would have a thickness on the order of about three fourths of an inch (about 19 millimeters), the boss also having a thickness on the order of about three fourths of an inch (about 19 millimeters) and a size on the order of about six by six inches (about 15 by 15 centimeters), and the plate 27 also having a thickness on the order of about three fourths of an inch (about 19 millimeters) but a size on the order of about five by five inches (about 13 by 13 centimeters). The reinforcing flange 15 typically would have a thickness on the order of about five sixteenths of an inch (about 8 millimeters) and a height of about one half of an inch (about 13 millimeters).

[0049] The handle 22 is sized to space far apart a worker using the demolition ram 1 to demolish glazing and the glazing itself; and preferably also sized so as to fit, either along the length or else diagonally, within a conventional pickup truck bed. Further, the handle 22, and also the handle extension 33, is sized so as to be easily grasped by hand and especially when those handling the demolition ram 1 are wearing gloves. The handle 22 for the common residential glazing size typically would be on the order of about nine feet (about 274 centimeters) in length by about four and one-half inches (about eleven and one-half centimeters) in circumference. The handle 22 for the large-scale glazing size would typically be on the order of about nine feet to ten feet (about 274 to 305 centimeters) by about four and one-half inches (about eleven and one-half centimeters) in circumference. The handle extension 33 would more likely be used for the large-scale glazing size, and would typically be on the order of about four feet to three feet (about 122 to 91 centimeters) in length by about four and one-half inches (about eleven and one-half centimeters) in circumference; thus, the connected-together handle 22 and handle extension 33 would be about thirteen feet (about 396 centimeters) in length. The end cap 37 for the proximal end 24 of the handle 22 typically would have a length on the order of about six inches (about 15 centimeters).

[0050] Thus, in sizing the handle 22 and the handle extension 33 to space far apart a worker using the demolition ram 1 to demolish glazing and the glazing itself, the handle 22 has a slenderness ratio defined as the ratio of the overall length of the handle 22 to the maximum transverse dimension, as a diameter when the cross section of the handle 22 is circular as shown, of the handle 22. Specifically, the overall length of the handle 22 is the length of the handle 22 between the terminus, where the plate 27 is, of the distal end 23 and the terminus, where the opening for the socket 35 is, of the proximal end 24. Preferably, the slenderness ratio of the handle 22 is about seventy-five; but the slenderness ratio of the handle 22 may be in the range of at least twenty-five and not more than one hundred ten. Further, the connected-together handle 22 and handle extension 33 as a unit preferably has a slenderness ratio of about one hundred eight, but may have a slenderness ratio of at least one hundred five and not more than one hundred fifteen.

[0051] The demolishing of the glazing begins first with an evaluation of the glazing. The glazing may comprise exactly one original pane, or may comprise a plurality of original panes, irrespective of the assembly or structure of the glazing, for example singular framing or multiple framing, whether external or internal, and also irrespective of the number of any layering of panes between the ultimately inner surface and the ultimately outer surface of that pane, whether that pane is exactly one original pane or one of a plurality of original panes, although such inner and outer with respect to such surfaces may not necessarily be with respect to any inside and outside.

[0052] The glazing may be essentially completely undamaged, and the glazing is to be demolished for reasons other than damage to that glazing such as replacement, by, for example, new glazing, or to have the opening for it in the wall for it to be closed up or sealed off.

[0053] Alternatively, the glazing to be demolished may be damaged, but any apparent damage, as a crack or a hole, in the material, for example glass, in the glazing does not fully divide any original pane into individual subpanes. Specifically, every original pane has its own perimeter edge, that may comprise any number of rectilinear or curved edges including exactly one edge, that define the perimeter of its pane and encompass the volume and the opposite surfaces, that are the ultimately inner surface and the ultimately outer surface, of that pane; and, furthermore, due to the necessarily three dimensionality of that pane, its perimeter edge might even be identified as an extensive surface, but is nonetheless the perimeter edge of that pane because it does encompass the volume and the opposite surfaces of that pane. Thus, damage, for example a crack, may not fully divide any original pane into individual subpanes by extending from one point on the perimeter edge of that pane to a different point on the perimeter edge, irrespective of the number of any layering of panes between the ultimately inner surface and the ultimately outer surface of that pane.

[0054] In either case, any such original pane of that glazing is its own subpane; in other words, the subpane is one hundred percent of the original pane of that glazing to be demolished, irrespective of the total number of original panes of that glazing.

[0055] However, it is more frequently the case that the demolition is the demolishing of glazing that comprises, not merely at least one subpane due to the original pane being its own subpane, but at least two subpanes due to at least one of the original panes of that glazing having at least one crack that extends from one point on the perimeter edge of that original pane to a different point on the perimeter edge of that original pane.

[0056] Furthermore, though, if there is at least one such crack that has fully divided any original pane into individual subpanes, it may be that one or more of those subpanes have already fallen or are otherwise removed from the glazing. In which case, there may be indeed at least one subpane, and perhaps only one subpane remaining, in the glazing that is less than one hundred percent of the original pane of that glazing to be demolished.

[0057] Continuing the demolition, a receptacle is located to easily and safely catch the glazing as it is being demolished. Many times, though, a common waste gondola is too tall to locate immediately in front of and below the glazing for especially large-scale glazing. Therefore, the present invention contemplates a mat for the receptacle, such as an industrial quilt or a fire blanket for example, especially in such a case.

[0058] FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 show the demolishing of glazing 100 that has at least one subpane, and specifically two subpanes 101 and 102 due to a crack 103 in the original pane of the glazing 100 dividing the original pane into the two subpanes 101 and 102 by extending between one point 105 on the perimeter edge 104 of the original pane to a different point 106 on the perimeter edge 104. The demolishing of the glazing 100 includes removing the subpanes 101 and 102 from the glazing 100. Preferably, the direction of removal is toward the exterior of the glazing 100, although removal toward the interior may also be done. Preliminary to the removing of the subpanes 101 and 102, any supporting trim, mould, seal, or caulk may be removed. As the demolishing shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 is toward the exterior of the glazing 100, this would be done on only the ultimately outer surface of the original pane, and on only the next subpane to be removed.

[0059] A mat 107, as a receptacle, is placed to catch the subpanes, and in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the subpanes 101 and 102, as they are removed from the glazing 100.

[0060] Next, the instability of each subpane is evaluated. The factors of instability include how loose that subpane is, how it responds to a light touch toward inclining it slightly out of the glazing, whether the framing is lessened in maintaining that subpane in the glazing, etc. Thus, the instability of each subpane is identified, and the subpanes have amongst themselves a range of instability, respectively from the least to the greatest. Therefore, one of the subpanes has the greatest instability. However, sometimes the instabilities are approximately equal; and may even be a null result, that is, approximately zero instability. Then in this case the subpane with the greatest instability is that subpane the removal of which would affect the other subpanes the least.

[0061] Further, the pusher 2 of the demolition ram 1 is selected for its size, either the residential glazing size or the large-scale glazing size. This is typically based upon the specific subpane to be removed. Therefore, at times the residential glazing size may be selected for the demolition of large-scale glazing, or the large-scale glazing size may be selected for the demolition of residential glazing, so as to better match the specific subpane that is next to be removed.

[0062] Then the handle 22 is selected for its size. More typically, the residential glazing size is almost always selected for demolishing common residential glazing, and the large-scale glazing size is almost always selected for demolishing large-scale glazing, although it may be vice versa as need be for the specific demolition.

[0063] Also, the pusher 2 or the handle 22, or both, of the demolition ram 1 for the size selected may be disassembled from the demolition ram 1 and a different size of the pusher 2 or the handle 22, or both, selected for reassembly of the demolition ram 1, or also connecting or disconnecting of the handle extension 33 to or from the handle 22, during the same demolition of the same glazing, so as to better match the specific subpane that is next to be removed.

[0064] Upon selecting the pusher 2 and the handle 22, the demolition ram 1 is assembled by aligning the apertures in the plate 27 with the fixed fasteners 17 on the boss 16. Assembling the handle 22 and the pusher 2 together is shown in FIG. 6, and is by moving 38 the handle 22 toward the pusher 2 until the plate 27 is adjacent to the boss 16. The removable fasteners 28 are then removably mounted onto the fixed fasteners 17, as by rotating 39 them as shown in FIG. 7, removably connecting the plate 27 of the handle 22 to the boss 22 of the pusher 2.

[0065] Optionally, and especially for the demolition of large-scale glazing, the handle extension 33 may be connected as shown in FIG. 8 to the handle 22 for greater distancing of those demolishing the glazing. The end cap 37 that is mounted on the proximal end 24 of the handle 22 is removed 40 from the handle 22. Then, the handle extension 33 is moved 41 toward the proximal end 24 of the handle 22. The pin 36 is inserted into the socket 35 for threadably connecting to each other, rotatably connecting 42 the handle extension 33 to the handle 22 as shown in FIG. 9.

[0066] Upon assembly of the demolition ram 1 and deployment, and for the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 10 within the interior with respect to the glazing 100, of the demolition ram 1, the demolishing commences. In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 10, the subpane 101 has been identified as having the greatest instability, and thus is first to be removed from the glazing 100 by pushing the subpane 101 out of the glazing 100 with the demolition ram 1. The worker or workers demolishing the glazing 100 manipulate by hand the demolition ram 1 by handling the handle 22. Specifically, the textured surface 26 of the proximal end portion of the handle 22, and also the textured surface 34 of the handle extension 33 if the handle extension 33 is connected to the handle 22, provides a nonslip grip for firmly manipulating the handle 22 by hand. By manipulating the demolition ram 1 at the proximal end 24 or the handle extension 33, the worker or workers are spaced distantly far from the glazing, reducing the risk of serious or fatal injury during the demolition of the glazing 100.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 10, the demolition ram 1 is moved by the worker or workers so that the nonslip plating 6 of the pusher 2 is touching the subpane 101 at the ultimately inner surface of the subpane 101. The pushing of the subpane 101 out of the glazing 100 is by exerting 43 a force about the proximal end 24 of the handle 22, and also the handle extension 33 if the handle extension 33 is connected to the handle 22. The exerting 43 of that force generates an impulsive force 44 onto the subpane 101 through the touching of the subpane 101 with the nonslip plating 6 of the pusher 2. The impulsive force 44 is generally coaxial with the exerting 43 of the force about the proximal end 24 in that both the impulsive force 44 and the exerting 43 of the force about the proximal end 24 are generally aligned with and centered about the longitudinal axis of the handle 22. The impulsive force 44 is moderate, on the order of about 40 pounds (about 180 newtons of force), resulting in moving the subpane 101 to a position where the subpane 101 can fall due to its own weight.

[0068] Once moved to that position, as shown in FIG. 11, the subpane 101 continues to move both due to the inertia from the pushing and also due to the force of gravity. Allowing the subpane 101 to fall due to its weight, the subpane 101 collapses downward. FIG. 12 shows catching the falling subpane 101 with the mat 107. The subpane 101 is less likely to break upon impact with the mat 107; but even if the falling subpane 101 upon catching with the mat 107 does break, the newly broken subpanes of the subpane 101 are more likely to still be retained by the mat 107.

[0069] Once caught in the mat 107, the subpane 101 is broken up on the mat 107. The mat 107, with all of the fragments of the subpane 101, is then emptied (not shown), and preferably into a waste gondola, for safe disposal. Alternatively, another subpane or piece of the glazing can also be demolished by pushing it out of the glazing so that it can fall and be caught by the mat 107 before emptying the mat 107. The mat 107 is then replaced to continue to catch more of the glazing 100 that is being demolished.

[0070] Subsequently, each next subpane, and in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, the subpane 102, sequentially is also likewise removed from the glazing 100 by pushing that next subpane out of the glazing 100 with the demolition ram 1 until all or substantially all of the subpanes have been removed from the glazing. Nonetheless, any small fragments remaining in the glazing, for example still within any framing at the perimeter edge of the original pane, may be more easily and still safely removed conventionally.

[0071] After the mat 107 is no longer needed for the demolition of the glazing, the mat 107 can be put away for cleaning and storage for later reuse. The demolition ram 1 can also be disassembled for storage for later reuse.

[0072] Thus, the demolition ram 1 and the demolishing of glazing with the demolition ram 1 of the present invention can quickly demolish glazing yet reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury during that demolition of the glazing.