Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SHINGLE REMOVING TOOL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed toward shingle removing tools.
The invention is more particularly directed toward shingle
removing tools for removing shingles from a roof.
BACKGROUND ART
The usual tool for removing shingles from a roof is a hand
shovel which has a generally flat blade with a straight front
edge. While the shovel does an acceptable fob it does not have
a suitable construction for leveraging the shingles off the
roof since the blade is generally aligned with the handle.
Further, the shovel does not have any suitable means for
lifting and removing roofing nails that hold the shingles, and
that are often left on the roof when the shingles are removed.
Also the shovel has no means for cutting the shingles to aid in
their removal.
Special tools for removing shingles are known as shown in
US pat. 5,159,859 and in CA 2,120,878. However these known
tools, as in US pat. 5,159,859, are very complicated and thus
relatively expensive, or, as in CA 2,120,878 are not versatile
to both lift shingles and remove nails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide
several shingle removing tools that can be used to more easily
remove shingles and roofing nails from a roof. The tools are
1.
simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to make.
Several of the tools are versatile in being able to remove both
shingles and nails. One of the tools is particularly suited for
lifting nails, particularly those left in the roof when the
shingles have been removed, and can also be used for lifting
the shingles. Another of the tools is particularly suited for
easily lifting the shingles, and can also be used to lift nails
either in the shingles or left on the roof. Another tool is
particularly adapted to be able to simply and easily cut the
shingles to make them easier to handle when removing them. The
tools can be sold and used individually. However it is
preferred to have the tools sold together to provide a shingle
removing tool kit.
The invention is particularly directed toward a shingle
removing tool having a flat blade with a generally main
quadratic area, the blade having a front edge and a back edge
and parallel side edges joining the front and back edges. The
front edge has a plurality of spaced apart slots extending
inwardly from the front edge of the blade. The back edge also
has at least two spaced-apart slots extending inwardly from the
back edge of the blade. The slots are sized to readily receive
the shanks of roofing nails but will not pass the heads of the
nails. Handle receiving means are mounted on the blade near its
rear edge and centrally on the blade, the handle receiving
2.
means extending upwardly and rearwardly at a shallow angle. The
tool is used to lift up shingles and more particularly to lift
up roofing nails either in the shingles or on the roof.
The invention is also directed toward a shingle removing
tool having a flat blade with at least one slot in one of the
front or back edges of the blade. The slot is wide enough to
receive the shank of a roofing nail but narrower than the head
of a roofing nail. The sides of the blade defining the slot are
beveled in a manner to taper in thickness from a thin edge at
the front of the slot to a thick edge at the back of the slot
to form nail lifting surfaces on the sides of the slot.
The invention is further particularly directed toward a
tool for cutting the shingles. The tool has a narrow, flat
bottom blade that has a pointed front edge and a square rear
edge with parallel side edges joining the front and back edges.
A flange extends up from the center of the bottom blade. A top
blade is mounted on the flange over the bottom blade. The top
blade is parallel to the bottom blade and is spaced therefrom a
distance greater than the normal thickness of the shingle
layers on a roof. The front of the top blade can also be
pointed. Cutting means are provided on the front of the
vertical flange between the blades. The cutting means has a
forwardly directed cutting edge. The tool is pushed through the
shingles to have the cutting means cut them into manageable
sections for removal from the roof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS
3.
219~5~~
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one shingle removing tool;
Fig. 2 is a cross-section view taken along line 2-2 of
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the blade of the tool in
Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a cross-section view of a tooth taken along
line 4-4 in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another shingle removing
tool;
Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the blade of the tool in
Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another shingle removing
tool;
Fig. 9 is a side view of the tool shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is a front view of the tool shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 11 is an exploded, perspective view of another
embodiment of the tool shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of the tool shown in Fig.
11;
Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of modified teeth in the
blade of the tool;
Fig. 14 is a cross-section view taken along line 14-14 in
Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a side view of a modified shingle cutting and
removing tool;
4.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
tool;
Fig. 17 is a detail top view of the tool shown in Fig. 16;
and
Fig. 18 is a cross-section view taken along line 18-18 in
Fig. 17
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The shingle removing tool 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a
flat, metal, blade 3 with a generally rectangular shape. The
blade 3 has a front edge 5, a back edge 7 and side edges 9. The
blade 3 has a plurality of spaced apart, parallel slots il
extending inwardly from the front edge 5 toward the back edge 7
for a short distance. The slots 11 form parallel fingers 13 in
the front of the blade. Each slot 11 is wide enough to receive
the shank "S" of a roofing nail "N" but narrow enough to
prevent the passage of the head "H" of the roofing nail as
shown in Fig. 3. The front 15 of each finger 13 is tapered in
width as shown at 17 in Fig. 3 thus widening the entrance 19 to
the slots 11. The fingers 13 also taper in thickness at their
front 15 and sides 21 to a thin edge as shown at 23 in Figs. 2
and 4.
A pair of slots 25 are also provided in the back edge 7 of
the blade 3, one slot 25 adjacent each side edge 9 of the
blade, the slots extending toward the front edge 5. These back
slots 25 are the same size as the front slots 11 and the fronts
of the slots are tapered to enlarge the entrance to the slots.
5.
2~.9~5~9
While only two slots 25 have been shown in the back edge 7 of
the blade 3, more slots could be provided in the back edge if
desired. More slots would make it easier to catch a nail in a
slot to remove it.
Handle attachment means 33 are provided on the blade 3.
The handle attachment means 33 can comprise a short, tubular
member 35 fastened to the blade 3 near its back edge 7 and
centrally located between its side edges 9 and extending
upwardly at a shallow angle B. The angle B is about 40° but can
range between 30° and 45°. The lower end of a handle 37 for the
tool is inserted into the tubular member 35 and fixed therein
by suitable means such as a bolt (not shown).
If desired, the tool 1 could be provided with caroming
plates 41 on the upper surface of the blade 3. Two caroming
plates 41 are provided, one adjacent each side edge 9 of the
blade 3 and parallel to the side edges 9 and each other. Each
caroming plate 41 is triangular in shape and has a caroming edge
43 that slopes upwardly at a shallow angle from just behind the
front slots 11 to close to the back slots 25.
The tool 1 is used to lift both shingles and the shingle
nails off a roof and also to separate the shingles. The angle
of the blade 3 relative to the handle 37 provides good leverage
in lifting shingles and nails and the caroming plates 41 help in
lifting the shingles when the tool is pushed under the
shingles. The tool is particularly suited for lifting nails.
The nails are caught in one of the slots 11 in the front edge
6.
when the tool is pushed forwardly under the shingles. The tool
can also be pushed forwardly or pulled rearwardly to catch, in
the slots 11, 25, nails left in the roof after the shingles
have been lifted off.
A modified shingle removing tool 101, as shown in Figs. 5
to 7, has a flat, metal blade 103 with a generally rectangular
shape having a front edge 105, a rear edge 107 and side edges
109. The blade has a pair of elongate, parallel fingers 111
projecting forwardly from the front edge 105. The outer sides
113 of the fingers 111 form extensions of the side edges 109 of
the blade 103 and are parallel to them. The edges of the outer
ends 115 of the fingers taper in thickness as shown at 117 in
Fig. 7. A plurality of spaced-apart, short, parallel slots 119
extend inwardly from the front edge 105, between the elongate
fingers 111, toward the back edge. The slots 119 are the same
as slots 11 and are wide enough to receive the shanks of
roofing nails but narrow enough to prevent the passage of the
heads of the nails. The slots form short, parallel fingers 121
in the front edge 105 of the blade between the elongate fingers
111. Each finger 121 is tapered in width as shown at 123 thus
widening the entrance to the slots 119. The fingers 121 also
taper in thickness at their front and sides to a thin edge as
shown at 125. A pair of slots 127 can also be provided in the
back edge 107 of the blade 103, one slot 127 adjacent each side
edge 109 of the blade, the slots extending toward the front
edge 105. These back slots 127 are generally the same size as
7.
2I90549
the front slots 119 and the entrance to them is also enlarged.
A caroming plate 131 is provided on each elongate finger
111. The caroming plate 131 extends vertically up from the
finger 111 and is centrally located thereon parallel to its
sides. The caroming plate 131 extends onto the main area of the
blade 103. The caroming plate 131 is triangular in shape and
provides a caroming top edge 133 that slopes up at a shallow
angle ~ from near the front of the finger. The angle p5 is about
15° but can range between 10° and 20°.
Handle attachment means 137 are provided on the blade 103.
The handle attachment means 137 can comprise a short tubular
member 139 fastened to the blade 103 near its back edge 107 and
centrally located between its side edges 109 and extending
upwardly at a shallow angle B'. The angle B' is about 30° but
can range between 25° and 40°. The lower end of a handle 141
for the tool is inserted into the tubular member 139 and fixed
therein by suitable means such as a bolt (not shown). The tool
101 is used to lift both shingles and the roofing nails holding
the shingles. This tool, with the elongated fingers 111, can
more easily lift the shingles since the fingers easily slip
under the shingles and the caroming plates 131 will raise the
shingles as the tool is pushed under the shingles. The handle
141 can then be raised to more easily release the shingle from
the roof. The tool can be moved forwardly or rearwardly to
catch the roofing nails in the front 119 or rear 127 slots.
Another tool useful for removing shingles is a cutting
8.
tool 201 having, as shown in Figs. 8 to 10, a flat bottom plate
203 that is somewhat elongate and pointed at its front end 205.
The edges of the front end 205 can be tapered. The rear edge
207 is square and has two spaced-apart nail removing slots 209
extending inwardly therefrom toward the front. The slots 209
are parallel with the side edges 211 of the plate and are the
same as the slots 25. A vertical flange 213 extends upwardly
from the center of the bottom plate 203. The flange 213
supports a top plate 215 that is parallel to the bottom plate
203. The front edge 217 of the flange 213 is slopes rearwardly
in rising to the top plate 215. The top plate 215 is spaced
more than the normal thickness of the shingle layer on a roof
from the bottom plate 203. The front 219 of the top plate 215
is also pointed. Cutting means 221 are provided on the front of
the flange 213. The cutting means can comprise a cutting edge
223 formed on the front edge 217 of the flange. Handle
attachment means 237 are provided on the top plate 215. The
handle attachment means 237 can comprise a short tubular member
239 fastened to the top plate 215 near its back edge and
centrally located between its side edges and extending upwardly
at a shallow angle B". The angle B" is about 30° but can range
between 20° and 40°. The lower end of a handle (not shown) for
the tool is inserted into the tubular member 239 and fixed
therein by suitable means such as a bolt (not shown).
In use, the tool 201 is pushed forwardly by the handle
with the front end of the bottom plate 203 sliding under the
9.
219~~~~
shingles. The cutting edge 223 on the flange 213 cuts the
shingles held between the bottom and top plates 203, 215 as the
tool is pushed forward by the handle.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 the
cutting means 221' comprises a replaceable cutting blade 251
which can slide down a slot 253 in the top plate 215' just in
front of the flange 213'. The back of the blade 251 has a
groove 255 for receiving the front, unsharpened edge 217' of
the flange 213. A groove 257 is also located in the top surface
of the bottom plate 203' for receiving the bottom of the blade
251. A bolt 259, or other suitable means, locks the blade 251
in place when it rests in the groove 257. The bolt 259 passes
through a hole 261 in the blade 251 and into a block 263 on the
top plate 215' adjacent the slot 253. The front edge 265 of the
blade 251 is a cutting edge for cutting the shingles. When the
blade 251 gets dull, it is simply replaced.
The shingle removing tool shown in Fig. 1 can be modified
to make it easier to lift the shingles. The modified tool,
shown in Figs. 13 and 14, has the portions of the blade
adjacent the sides 21' of the fingers 13', defining the slots
11', beveled in a manner to taper in height from a thin edge
269 at the front edge 5' of the blade to a thick edge 271 at
the base of the slot 11'. This provides the slots 11' with
upward sloping, tapering, nail lifting surfaces 273 on their
sides. Blades with these lifting surfaces 273 will partially
lift roofing nails as the tool, flat on the roof, is pushed
10.
forward under the shingles. The partial prelifting of the nails
makes it much easier to lift the shingles off the roof when the
tool is then tilted to be used as a lifting lever, either
before or after the shingles have been further lifted by the
caroming plates. The nail lifting surfaces also minimize shock
forces normally encountered in jamming the tool under the
shingle. With ordinary shovels, the front edge of the blade
hits a nail and often shears it off, but there is resistance
encountered in hitting the nail producing shock in the worker's
arms. This is very tiring. With the present tool, when the nail
is guided into the slots, the tool slows down as it pushed
forwardly while the nail is being caromed up by the lifting
surfaces and little shock is encountered in using the tool. The
portion of the blade adjacent the slots 25 on the tool shown in
Fig. 1 and adjacent both the front and rear slots 119, 127 of
the tool shown in Fig. 5 can be similarly modified to have
lifting surfaces 273 adjacent these slots.
The cutting tool, shown in Figs. 8 to 10 can be modified
to have the front cutting edge 217" of the flange 213" slope
forwardly, as shown in Fig. 15, instead of rearwardly. The
forward slope of the cutting edge 223" on the edge 217" forces
the shingles to the junction 275 of the flange 213" and the
bottom plate 203" to provide good cutting action. The tool with
the forward slope on the front edge of the flange, can be used
with a replacement blade, of the type shown in Figs. il and 12,
as well.
11.
The shingle removing tool 299, in another embodiment as
shown in Figs. 16 to 18, has a flat metal blade 301 that is
formed to have two adjacent front teeth 303, 305. The teeth
303, 305 are preferably slightly longer than their width and
occupy roughly the front half of the blade. Each tooth 303, 305
is the same shape and has inner and outer sides 307, 309 angled
toward each other to meet at a front point 311. the sides of
the teeth are beveled, as shown at 313, to a thin edge.
A slot 315 extends rearwardly from between the teeth 303,
305 where their inner sides 307 converge. The slot 315 is wider
than the shank of a roofing nail but narrower than the head of
a roofing nail. The portion of the blade adjacent the sides
317, 319 of the slot 315 are beveled in a manner to taper in
height from a thin edge 321 at the front of the slot 315 to a
thick edge 323 at the base of the slot 315. This provides
upward sloping, tapering, nail lifting surfaces 327, 329
adjacent the slot 315.
The tool can have triangular camming plates 331 on the top
surface of the blade 301, one plate generally aligned with the
point of each tooth 303, 305 and located just behind the slot
315. A pair of slots 333 similar to slots 25 on tool 1 or slots
127 on tool 101 could also be provided in the back edge of the
blade 301. These slots could also be provided with upward
sloping, tapering, nail lifting surfaces. The tool also
includes a short tubular member 335 on the center of the blade
301 that extends upwardly and rearwardly for receiving a handle
12.
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(not shown).
This tool 299 is very useful in removing one shingle at a
time. The row of nails holding a shingle can be easily lifted
one at a time using the lifting surfaces 327, 329 adjacent the
slot which receives the nails. The beveled fingers slide easily
under the shingle and the taper of the fingers guide the nails
into the slot one at a time. The lifting surfaces partially
lift the nails, and the camming plates complete the lifting of
the nails. With the pointed teeth 303, 305 no nails are hit
dead on and the shock factor is eliminated making it much
easier for the worker.
The tools 1, 101, 201 and 299 preferably are sold in kit
form for use in removing shingles. The tools each have
specialized jobs to do and complement each other in removing
shingles.
13.
