SHINGLE REMOVING DEVICE

Abstract

A device for removing shingles having a fork tool and a handle adapted to fit into an air-powered hammer. The fork tool features teeth and has two ends that are joined at an angle. Each tooth has a square-shaped head and a body that extends away from the head of the tooth at an angle. The teeth extend up and away from the fork tool at an angle. The fork tool is removably attached to the handle. In operation, the power tool forces the tool forward under the shingles and the angle of the teeth lifts the shingles slightly off the surface of the roof and the leading edge and the trailing edge of the fork tool forces the shingle upward. The device features a back plate also attached to the handle that has a ridge along its lateral surface that can be used as a fulcrum.

Claims

1. A device for removing shingles comprising a handle that is configured to be inserted into an air-powered hammer.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a fork tool having a plurality of teeth.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein a first part of the fork tool extends away from a second part of the fork tool at an angle.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the angle between the first part of the fork tool and the second part of the fork tool is 22 degrees.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the teeth extend away from the fork tool at an angle to a plane of the fork tool.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the angle at which the teeth of the fork tool extend away from the plane of the fork tool is between 11 and 12 degrees.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of teeth have a body with two side walls and a square-shaped head.

8. The device of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of teeth have a body with two side walls and a square-shaped head.

9. The device of claim 4 wherein each of the plurality of teeth have a body with two side walls and a square-shaped head.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of teeth are separated by a trough and the angle between the trough and the side walls of the adjacent teeth is between 23 and 24 degrees.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of teeth are separated by a trough and the angle between the trough and the side walls of the adjacent teeth is between 23 and 24 degrees.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of teeth are separated by a trough and the angle between the trough and the side walls of the adjacent teeth is between 23 and 24 degrees.

13. The device of claim 2 further comprising a back plate featuring a ridge extending from one side edge of the back plate to the other side edge of the back plate.

14. The device of claim 4 further comprising a back plate featuring a ridge extending from one side edge of the back plate to the other side edge of the back plate.

15. The device of claim 6 further comprising a back plate featuring a ridge extending from one side edge of the back plate to the other side edge of the back plate.

16. A device comprising: a handle configured to be inserted into an air-hammer; a fork tool attached to the handle, wherein the fork tool features a plurality of cutouts that form teeth separated by troughs; and a back plate with a ridge extending from one side of the back plate to the opposing side of the back plate.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the fork tool has a leading edge and a trailing edge that are joined at an angle of approximately 22 degrees.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the teeth extend away from the fork tool at an angle of 11.85 degrees to a plane of the fork tool

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the teeth extend away from the fork tool at an angle of 11.85 degrees to a plane of the fork tool

20. The device of claim 16 wherein the ridge extends away from the back plate at an acute angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the roofing tool;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the fork tool;

[0020] FIG. 2a is a plan view of a portion of the fork tool shown in FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 2b is a side plan view of one of the teeth of the fork tool shown in FIG. 2;

[0022] FIG. 3a is an elevated plan view of the back plate; and

[0023] FIG. 3b is a side view of the same back plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the roofing tool 10 that demonstrates all of the features previously discussed. A skilled artisan will realize upon reading this disclosure that the roofing tool 10 has a number of features that are optional, but tend to be preferred by the inventor. In its most basic form, the roofing tool 10 includes a handle 11 that is adapted to be inserted into a power tool (not shown), such as an automatic hammer, and a fork tool 12. The embodiment described in the figures is a preferred embodiment with additional features that reflect the best mode of the device that the inventor has devised.

[0025] The embodiment of the roofing tool 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3b includes a fork tool 12, a tool handle plate 13, a back plate 14 and a handle 11. As previously discussed, in the anticipated best mode of this device, the tool handle plate 13 is permanently fixed to the handle 11 via conventional means, either through fasteners or by welding one part to the other. The tool handle plate has attachment means 15 to allow for the attachment of the fork tool 12 and the back plate 14, as desired.

[0026] The details of the fork tool 12 are more easily explained with reference to FIG. 2 which shows the fork tool 12 in isolation and a close up of the teeth 16 of the fork tool 12, respectively. This version of the fork tool 12 includes a plurality of teeth 16, separated by spaces referred to as troughs 16d. Preferred embodiments of the teeth 16 include a square-shaped head 16a and sides 16b that extend outward away from the head 16a at an angle. The sides 16b of the teeth 16 come together to form the trough 16d separating the teeth 16. FIG. 2A shows the sides 16b and trough 16d form an angle 17 of 23.78 degrees with each other. Ideally, the trough 16d is approximately 0.04 inches wide. In this disclosure, an approximate distance is within 10% of the stated distance. For example, approximately 0.04 inches means within 0.004 inches of 0.04 inches. Furthermore, the width of the head of the teeth 16 is approximately 0.21 inches and the teeth 16 are approximately 0.36 inches apart at their apex 16c. The fork tool has a leading edge 12a and a trailing edge 12b. The leading edge 12a is the end of the fork tool 12 that is first inserted underneath shingles that need to be removed. The trailing edge 12b of the fork tool is the portion of the fork tool 12 that contains attachment means 15 for attaching the fork tool 12 to other portions of the roofing tool 10. As discussed above, the leading edge 12a of the fork tool 12 extends away from the trailing edge 12b at an angle 18 (best seen in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the angle is approximately 22 degrees. This angled shape allows the user to insert the fork tool 12 under a shingle and then pry the shingle loose from the roof simply by pushing the roofing tool 10 forward, i.e. without applying a prying motion or force to the device to dislodge the shingle from the roof.

[0027] FIG. 2B shows a close up of the teeth 16 of the fork tool 12 shown in profile. In this version of the fork tool 12, the teeth 16 taper or become thinner as seen in profile as they extend away from the rest of the fork tool 12. This tapering means that there is an angle 19 formed between the plane in which the leading edge of the fork tool 12 is positioned (or the roof) and the bottom surface 16e of each tooth 16. Angle 19 is approximately 11.85 degrees. The space formed between the bottom of the fork tool 12 and the surface along which it is slid or moved helps to ensure that the fork tool 12 contacts the underside of the shingle more than it contacts the roof surface itself.

[0028] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the back plate 14 in isolation and more detail. The back plate 14 is a purely optional feature of the roofing tool 10 that provides additional strength and structural support to the roofing tool 10. This embodiment of the back plate 14 features a ridge 20 extending along a surface of the back plate 14the surface that is opposite the surface that attaches to the rest of the roofing tool 10. The ridge 20 extends horizontally (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle) from one side of the back plate 14 to the other. Alternately, the back plate 14 could feature a ridge 20 that does not extend across the entire lateral width of the back plate 14, but rather extends across a portion of the surface of the back plate 14. The ridge 20 extends out and away from the plane in which the rest of the back plate 14 is located. The ridge 20 runs along the entire lateral length of one surface of the back plate from one side edge of the back plate to an opposing side edge. This ridge 20 can be used as a fulcrum to help apply a prying pressure to the fork tool if needed. The operator simply pulls or pushes downward on the end of the handle 11 that is opposite the fork tool (or the power tool to which it is attached) while the ridge is resting against a surface, such as the roof, and thereby forces the fork tool 12 up and away from the same surface. FIG. 3B also shows the back plate 14 in profile. Note in some embodiments, the angle 21 between the ridge 20 and the back plate 14 is a right angle, but in this embodiment, the angle 21 is approximate 86 degrees rather than 90 degrees.

[0029] To explain the assembly of the device, reference will be made to FIG. 1. In preferred embodiments, the tool handle plate 13 is permanently attached to the handle 11 via welding. However, a skilled artisan would readily appreciate any attachment means, permanent or temporary, could be used to attach the tool handle plate 13 to the handle 11. The tool handle plate 13 includes attachment means to allow the fork tool 12 and the back plate 14 to be attached to the tool handle plate 13. In alternate embodiments, the fork tool 12 can be attached directly to, or made as an integrated unit with the handle 11. In preferred embodiments, square-shaped, dimpled recess holes ## are featured in the surfaces of the fork tool 12, back plate 14 and/or tool handle plate 13 to allow for the insertion of a 5/16-18 carriage bolt having a square-shaped shoulder and a rounded head.

[0030] Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0031] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0032] It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

[0033] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.