Roof shingle and nail remover

Abstract

A hand tool for removing roofing shingles and nails. The tool has a head attached to an elongated handle. The head has a wedge-shaped cross profile. The head is comprised of a plurality of identical, parallel blades, having a relatively flat, pointed leading edge adapted to be removed. The blade leading edge rises in vertical height to a trailing edge. The trailing edge is connected to a handle. Spacers are attached between the blades to form spacing between blades sufficient to trap any roofing nails holding a shingle to an underlying roof sheath.

1 . A hand tool adapted for separating roofing shingles and nails from a roof surface in one continuous forward motion without a second prying motion, comprising: 
 an elongated handle:    a head assembly having a wedge-shaped cross profile, and having a front, leading edge, a rear, trailing edge, a top, a flat bottom, and two opposite, parallel sides, said front and rear defining a head assembly longitudinal axis, said head assembly trailing edge being attached to said elongated handle, said head assembly being comprised of,    a plurality of identical, parallel blades, having a pointed leading edge adapted to being inserted underneath an exposed edge of a roofing shingle to be removed, each said blade having a front leading edge rising in vertical height to a rear trailing edge, each said blade has said front leading edge, said rear trailing edge, a top, a bottom, and two opposing, flat, parallel sides, said front leading edge and rear trailing edge defining a blade longitudinal axis, each said blade having a narrow side-to-side width in relation to a front-to-rear length, each said blade having a flat bottom side profile.    a plurality of spacers interspersed between said blades; wherein open, elongated gullets are formed between each blade, and;    a two handle attachment pieces replacing two of the spacers, said attachment pieces adapted to provide attachment means for the handle, the side profile of the blade top has a forward section from the blade leading edge to a longitudinal designated point and a rearward section from the designated point to the blade rear trailing edge, said forward section having a curvilinear rising side profile from the flat, pointed leading edge to the longitudinal designated point, said rearward section from the designated point to the rear trailing edge being flat and parallel to the blade bottom.    
   
   
       2 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each said blade has two round side-to-side holes formed therein near to the blade rear, said holes being positioned one over another and at a vertical angle to each other.    
   
   
       3 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each spacer has a front, rear, top, bottom, and two opposing, parallel sides, each said spacer having a narrow side-to-side width, each said spacer having two round side-to-side holes formed therein, said holes being positioned one over another and at a vertical angle to each other, each spacer front and top forming a rearwardly and upwardly slanting surface.    
   
   
       4 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each handle attachment piece has a front section having a profile and thickness identical to that of a spacer, including two vertically angled, side-to-side holes, and an elongated rear section with two side-to-side holes formed therein along the rear section length.    
   
   
       5 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the head assembly blades, spacers and attachment pieces are aligned so that their holes are coincident.    
   
   
       6 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 two elongated bolts, each bolt having a head and an opposite threaded end, said bolts adapted to be inserted through the blade, spacer and attachment piece holes, said bolt heads each having a diameter greater than diameters of the blade holes, spacer holes, and attachment piece holes; a plurality of fasteners, each said fastener being threadingly attached to said bolt threaded ends, said bolts with engaged fasteners compressing the blades, spacers and attachment pieces together.    
   
   
       7 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said elongated handle is adapted to fit between the attachment piece rear sections and attached to said attachment piece rear sections by handle bolts inserted through the attachment piece rear section holes and through corresponding holes formed in the handle.    
   
   
       8 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the spacers between blades permits the head assembly leading edge to by-pass a nail shank and engage a nail head vertically on the blade tops.    
   
   
       9 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the forward motion of the head assembly and the rise of the blade tops are adapted to force nails upward and out of the underlying roof surface, wherein the flatness of the head assembly bottom is adapted to keeping the head assembly aligned against the underlying roof surface, wherein each spacer front and top slanting surface allows nails to pass out of the head assembly unhindered.    
   
   
       10 . A hand tool as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a channel in each blade rear trailing edge, spacer rear and handle attachment piece.    
   
   
       11 . A demolition tool adapted for separating fastener attached materials and fasteners from a surface comprising: 
 a head assembly having a plurality of substantially wedge shaped cross sectional profile blade members, the head assembly having a front leading edge, a rear, trailing edge, a top, a bottom and opposite sides, the sides having a profile of the blade top having a forward section from the blade leading edge to a longitudinal designated location and a rearward section from the designated point to the blade rear trailing edge, said front and rear defining a head assembly longitudinal axis, said head assembly trailing edge being adapted to attach to a mount, said head assembly being comprised of,    a plurality of identical, removable, substantially parallel blade members having a leading edge adapted to being inserted underneath an exposed edge of a panel to be removed, each said blade having a front leading edge rising in vertical height to a rear trailing edge;    a plurality of spacers interspaced between said blades wherein open elongated gullets are formed between each blade; and, each said blade has said front leading edge, said rear trailing edge, a top, a bottom, and two opposing sides, said front leading edge and rear trailing edge defining a blade longitudinal axis, each said blade having a narrow side-to-side width in relation to front-to-rear and a pointed front leading edge.    
   
   
       12 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 each of the blades comprises at least one opening therein, such that the a retaining member can be passed through the hole fixedly attaching a plurality of blades together.    
   
   
       13 . A demolition tool of  claim 12  wherein; 
 each spacer has a front, rear, top, bottom, and two opposing parallel sides, each spacer having a narrow side-to-side width, each spacer having a plurality of openings formed therein such that the openings align with the openings within the blades wherein the spacers and blade openings are coincident, mounting hardware can be passed through the openings within the blades and spacers such that the plurality of blades and spacers are fixedly attached together.    
   
   
       14 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 an elongated handle is adapted to fit with the attachment member rear section fixedly attaching the mount member to the head assembly.    
   
   
       15 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 the leading edge having a point, a first top surface, a second top surface and a bottom surface, the first and second surface angle from the point back to the top of the blade, the bottom surface angles upward from the bottom surface to the point.    
   
   
       16 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 each of the blades comprises a curvilinear bottom.    
   
   
       17 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 each of the blades is replaceable.    
   
   
       18 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 the blade forward section includes a curvilinear raising side profile from the, pointed leading edge to the longitudinal designated location.    
   
   
       19 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 said attachment member adapted to provide attachment such that the head assembly is adapted to mount to a machine.    
   
   
       20 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 the blade members leading edge is pointed.    
   
   
       21 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 each of the blades comprises a plurality of attachment points therein, such that a plurality of blade members can be fixedly attached together.    
   
   
       22 . A demolition tool of  claim 21 , wherein; 
 attachment points include openings in the blade such that a bolt can pass through the opening thereby affixing a plurality of blade members together.    
   
   
       23 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 the blade is constructed from a heat treated metal.    
   
   
       24 . A demolition tool of  claim 11 , wherein; 
 the assembly head includes a mount attachment member, said mount attachment member adapted to provide attachment for keeping members such as a handle.    
   
   
       25 . A demolition tool adapted for separating fastener attached materials and fasteners from a surface comprising: 
 a head assembly having a plurality of substantially wedge shaped cross sectional profile blade members, the plurality of blades, each said blade has said front leading edge, said rear trailing edge, a top, a bottom, and two opposing sides, said front leading edge and rear trailing edge defining a blade longitudinal axis, each said blade having a narrow side-to-side width in relation to front-to-rear and a pointed front leading edge, the head assembly having a front leading edge, a rear, trailing edge, a top, a bottom and opposite sides, the sides having a profile of the blade top having a forward section from the blade leading edge to a longitudinal designated location and a rearward section from the designated location to the blade rear trailing edge, said front and rear defining a head assembly longitudinal axis, said head assembly trailing edge being adapted to attach to a mount, said head assembly being comprised of,    a plurality of identical, blade members having a leading edge adapted to being inserted underneath an exposed edge of a panel to be removed, each said blade having a front leading edge rising in vertical height to a rear trailing edge, each blade member having a variable cross sectional thickness varying the gullet distance between the blade members, and;    a plurality of spacers interspaced between said blades wherein open elongated gullets are formed between each blade.    
   
   
       26 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 each of the blades comprises a at least one opening therein, such that the a retaining member can be passed through the hole fixedly attaching a plurality of blades together.    
   
   
       27 . A demolition tool of  claim 26  wherein; 
 each spacer has a front, rear, top, bottom, and two opposing parallel sides, each spacer having a narrow side-to-side width, each spacer having a plurality of openings formed therein such that the openings align with the openings within the blades wherein the spacers and blade openings are coincident, mounting hardware can be passed through the openings within the blades and spacers such that the plurality of blades and spacers are fixedly attached together.    
   
   
       28 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 an elongated handle is adapted to fit with the attachment member rear section fixedly attaching the mount member to the head assembly.    
   
   
       29 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 the leading edge having a point, a first top surface, a second top surface and a bottom surface, the first and second surface angle from the point back to the top of the blade, the bottom surface angles upward from the bottom surface to the point.    
   
   
       30 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 each of the blades comprises a curvilinear bottom.    
   
   
       31 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 each of the blades is replaceable.    
   
   
       32 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 the blade forward section includes a curvilinear raising side profile from the, pointed leading edge to the longitudinal designated point.    
   
   
       33 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 said attachment member adapted to provide attachment such that the head assembly is adapted to mount to a machine.    
   
   
       34 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 the blade members leading edge is pointed.    
   
   
       35 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 each of the blades comprises a plurality of attachment points therein, such that a plurality of blade members can be fixedly attached together.    
   
   
       36 . A demolition tool of  claim 35 , wherein; 
 attachment points include openings in the blade such that a bolt can pass through the opening thereby affixing a plurality of blade members together.    
   
   
       37 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 the blade member having a variable cross sectional thickness having comprised of a first side surface, a second side surface, a third side surface and a fourth side surface, the first side surface edge starting along the bottom angling outward from the blades centerline meeting the second surface, the second surface then angling inward toward the blade centerline meeting the top surface, the third side surface edge starting along the bottom angling outward from the blades centerline meeting the fourth surface, the fourth surface then angling inward toward the blade centerline meeting the top surface.    
   
   
       38 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein; 
 the assembly head includes a mount attachment member, said attachment member adapted to provide attachment means for a handle.    
   
   
       39 . A demolition tool of  claim 25 , wherein 
 the blade members are removable.    
   
   
       40 . A method of using a self guiding demolition tool having a plurality of substantially pointed wedge shaped blade members adapted for separating fastener attached material and fasteners from a surface comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the wedge shaped blade members of the tool on a surface,    inserting the wedge shaped blade members underneath an exposed edge of the panel to me removed, the panel being fastened in place with at least fasteners, pushing the wedge shaped blade members of the tool along the surface wedging the wedge shaped blade members under the exposed edge of the panel, the plurality of pointed wedge shaped blade members having a predetermined flexing characteristic wherein pushing the wedge shaped blade members contacting a fastener resulting in a flexing of the blade member wherein the flexing of the blade member encouraging the fastener shank to guide the tool such the forward motion of the tool is not stopped, the fastener moving between the blade members into a space between the blade members working its way up the tool blade member thereby prying up the fastener, and; prying up the panel.