Staple remover

Abstract

A staple removal device for removing a staple and wire arrangement from a fence post includes a main body having a first jaw and a second jaw spaced apart from each other. The first jaw and second jaw provide a first and second elongate channel respectively for receiving the wire. Both the first and second elongate channels comprise a closed end in which the wire may be received. A gripping portion is moveably connected to the main body and a lever causes movement of the gripping portion. Beneficially, a first and second block portion is configured at a surface of the main body wherein a side edge of the first and second block portion is substantially in alignment with the closed end of the first and second channel respectively so as to, in use, increase the surface area of the contact region between the staple removal device and the wire.

Claims

1. A staple removal device for removing a staple and wire arrangement from a fence post, comprising: a main body comprising a first jaw and a second jaw spaced apart from each other, the first jaw providing a first elongate channel for receiving the wire on one side of the staple and the second jaw for providing a second elongate channel for receiving the wire on a second side of the staple, both the first and second elongate channels having a closed end forming a contact region with the wire either side of the staple to be removed; at least one gripping member moveably connected to the main body and moveable relative to the first and second jaw; a lever configured in mechanical communication with the gripping member and for actuating movement of the gripping member to clamp the wire against the closed ends to cause removal of the staple and wire arrangement; and a block portion configured at a surface of the main body wherein a side edge of the block portion is substantially in alignment with the closed end of the first channel so as to, in use, increase the surface area of the contact region between the staple removal device and the wire.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a further block portion configured substantially in alignment with the closed end of the second channel.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises at least a first claw and a second claw for hooking onto the wire each side of the staple.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a leverage portion for abutting the front surface of the fence post.

5. The device of claim 4, when dependent on any of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the at least first and second claw are attached to an end of the leverage portion.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the jaws are formed of the claw and the leverage portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wire gripping means is rotatable about a pivot point between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the wire gripping means is remote from the wire to be gripped and wherein in the second position the wire gripping means is in contact with the wire to be gripped.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein when the wire gripping means is in the first position the lever has yet to be actuated and wherein when the wire gripping means in the second position the lever has been actuated.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a return mechanism remover further comprises a return mechanism for automatically returning the at least one wire gripping means to the first position, whenever the lever is not being actuated.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the return mechanism is a spring-loaded mechanism.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein in the second position, a contact edge of the at least one gripping member remains spaced apart from the surface of the claws so as not to crush the wire.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the wire gripping member comprises a pair of arms.

13. The device of claim 3, further comprising a support member arranged between the first claw and the second claw for providing increased strength to the device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the lever is directly connected to the gripping member.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein, in use, the lever extends from the gripping member at an acute angle with respect to the vertical axis of the fence on which it is to be used, wherein the end of the lever is at an initial vertical height and on actuation of the device the lever is moved in either a clockwise or anticlockwise motion by the user resulting in the end of the lever moving below or above the initial vertical height respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a known staple remover;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the staple remover according to the invention with the handle of the staple remover in a first orientation;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the staple remover according to the invention with the handle of the staple remover in a second orientation;

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear view of the staple remover;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the staple remover used in a second orientation; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of the staple remover in a closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 shows the staple remover 1 comprising a first claw 2a and a second claw 2b which are adapted to hook onto a wire either side of a staple.

(9) In use the claws 2a, 2b are positioned either side of the post such that the front of the post fits in the region located between the first and second claw 2a, 2b. Each claw includes a channel 3 in which the wire is located wherein each channel 3 has an open end past which the wire passes as the claws 2a, 2b are being hooked onto and over the wire, and a closed end where the wire is retained after the claws 2a, 2b have been hooked over the wire.

(10) FIG. 4 shows a support bar 4 positioned intermediate the first and second claw 2a, 2b such that it extends between the inner surface of the first claw 2a to the inner surface of the second claw 2b. The support bar 4 braces the first and second claw 2a, 2b apart so that they cannot be bent when applied to large staples.

(11) The staple remover 1 also includes a leverage portion 5 in the form of a leverage plate. The leverage plate extends from the claws and when the claws have been hooked over the wire, the leverage plate 5 extends downwardly from the claws and in contact with the post.

(12) A wire gripping means 6 in the form of a pair of arms 7a, 7b joined by a cross-member 8 is provided. The arms 7a, 7b are rotatable about a pivot point which is in the form of a bolt 9 which passes through each of the arms as well as the lower portions 10 of the claw. The lever 5 is connected at one end directly to the arms via the cross-member 8. The arms 7a, 7b are rotatable about the pivot point from a first position as indicated in FIG. 2 to a second position as indicated in FIG. 3.

(13) A block 11 is provided on the outer surface of the first and second claw 2a, 2b. The block 11 is substantially rectangular with a chamfered end 11a. The lower side edge of each block 11, 11 is aligned with the closed end 3a of the channel 3 of the respective claws 2a, 2b i.e. the terminating end of the channel 3. Therefore a point in the elongate edge of the block and the closed end of the claw channel 3 are flush. This prevents the closed end 3a of the hook channel 3 from cutting the wire which would prevent the staple from being pulled out as desired. By making the block 11 flush with the hook or claw edge, there is no gap between the edge of the block 11 and the closed end 3a of the claw 2 and therefore no cutting edge is provided. The blocks 11, 11 provide an increased surface area to the part of the device that comes into contact with the wire, therefore the force is applied to a greater surface area and not just to a small area located at the closed end 3a of the claw channel 3. This means that the z shaped bending of the wires is minimised and the wires at the first and second claw 2a, 2b are gripped tightly, but not over-bent at two points.

(14) The block 11 is designed so that chamfered edge 11a permits rotation of the gripping member 6 and when the edge of the arm 7a of the gripping member 6 comes into contact with a portion of the block 11 the arm 7a is prohibited from coming into contact with the claw 2a thereby preventing it from crushing or cutting the wire, but allowing it to tightly squeeze the wire so as to enable the staple to be pulled out.

(15) In use the staple remover 1 is hooked onto and over the top of the wire, with the claws 2a, 2b being located on each side of the staple, and on each side of the post. Once the claws 2a, 2b have been hooked onto the wire, the wire is placed within the channel 3 and is positioned up against the closed end 3a of the channel 3 and in contact with the side edge of the block 11 preventing all the pressure on the wire being applied to the closed end 3a of the channel only.

(16) Therefore, the force applied by the user to remove the staple from the post is also applied to the part of the block 11 in which the wire comes into contact with thereby increasing the surface area on which the force is applied.

(17) The front of the post fits within the space formed by the claws 2a, 2b and the leverage plate 5.

(18) The handle 12 of the device is directly connected to the gripping member 6, e.g. is welded to the cross-member 8 and is arranged to extend from the gripping member 6 at an acute angle, for example 45 degrees with respect to the vertical axis of the fence to which it is applied. This means that the end of the handle 12 is at an initial vertical height. On actuation of the device 1, the handle 12 is moved in a downwardly direction towards the ground by the user resulting in the end of the handle 12 moving below the initial vertical height.

(19) The user applies a downward force to actuate the handle 12 so as to cause the arms 7a, 7b to rotate about the pivot point until the arms are brought into contact with the wire so as to clamp onto it. In this position as shown by the dotted line of FIG. 3, the arms 7a, 7b are in the second position.

(20) Once the arms 7a, 7b are gripping the wire, no further rotation of the arms is possible. Therefore a gap between the inner surface of the gripping member and the closed end of the chamber is maintained as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore further actuation of the handle 12 causes the staple remover to pivot about the leverage plate 5 whilst the wire remains firmly clamped or squeezed between the arms (but no over-squeezed). Therefore, the wire is squeezed between the combined surface of the aligned blocks 11 and closed end 3a of the channel 3 and the gripping member 6, which then pulls the staple out without cutting the wire.

(21) This results in the claws 2a, 2b pulling firmly against the wire and it is this action or pressure which forces the staple out of the front of the post. Therefore it is the pressure of the wire which results in the wire pulling the staple out of the post.

(22) The relative arrangement of the handle 12 and the gripping member enables the wire to be hooked on either direction of the wires i.e. from above or from below (as shown in FIG. 6) with ease allowing the user to hook a wire that is only 30 mm above ground level. However, in this application the handle 12 must be moved in an upwardly direction and on actuation of the handle 12 the end of the handle will be positioned above the initial vertical position, without closing the jaws against the blocks, letting you pull the handle 12 up towards the air and pull the staple out easily.

(23) The claws 2a, 2b and the pivot plate 5 are elongate so as increase the amount of leverage allowing longer staples to be pulled out easier and to pull the staple further away from the posts. The elongate plate 5 also ensures that the rotating action pulls the staple completely out of the post.

(24) Once the staple and the wire are removed from the post, the staple remover 1 may then be used for removing the next staple and wire from the front of the post. The leverage portion 5 effectively acts as a fulcrum, about which the staple remover 1, as a whole, pivotsupon secondary actuation of the lever.

(25) The staple remover 1 also includes a return mechanism in the form of a spring 13. The spring 13 is configured so that the arms are automatically returned to the first position, unless the handle 12 is being actuated.

(26) Once the staple remover 1 has been used to remove a staple and wire arrangement from the post, the spring 13 returns the arms 7a, 7b to the first position so that the staple remover 1 is automatically ready to remove the next staple and wire arrangement from the same or next post.

(27) The parts of the staple remover 1 may be made from light, yet, strong material such as aluminium or steel.

(28) The size of the staple remover 1 makes it easily transportable and stored, for example within a toolbox or leather fencing apron.

(29) The staple remover 1 can pull staples out of posts up to 50 mm long without damage to the staple remover or wire. This is enabled by the support bar and the strength and positioning of the blocks 11, 11.

(30) Therefore by modifying the way the blocks 11, 11 and gripping member 6 work together there is provided a staple remover 1 that is more versatile, efficient and reliable at hooking onto wires and removing staples, including long staples having barbed ends, from a broader range of fence posts. The inclusion of the support bar 4 also prevents bending of the claws 2a, 2b and as such provides a stronger staple remover 1.

(31) Various modifications to the principles described above would suggest themselves to the skilled person. For example, whilst the staple remover 1 has been described as being used to remove staples from posts, it is just as useful to be applied to square intermediate fence posts, or other types of fence posts made of other materials and that have different shapes and sizes.

(32) When the staple remover 1 is to be used on larger fence posts, the claws 2a, 2b are not able to be positioned each side of the front of the post, due to the width or diameter of the fence post being greater than the distance between the first claw and the second claw. Therefore in this instance there is an additional step of forcing the claws down over the wire on either side of the staple.

(33) Further where there are two staples in the same wire in the same post, there is no gap between the post, the user must make a gap by hitting the claws 2a, 2b between the wire and the post to be able to hook onto the wire. The elongate claws help this process. The claws 2a, 2b are configured to be longer in length compared to the claws 2a, 2b of the known staple remover in New Zealand.

(34) As mentioned above the device 1 may be hooked onto the wire from above as shown in FIG. 5 or below the wire depending on the distance of the staple and wire arrangement from the ground.

(35) A staple and wire arrangement means where a staple is provided to secure a wire to a fence post.