The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 18, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1995
Rodolfo Garcia, North Hollywood, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A pliers-like hand tool for removing headed plastic fasteners having a stem releasably anchored below a surface incorporates a pair of pivotably joined, wedge-shaped jaws and their associated handles. A spring positioned between the handles maintains the jaws open in readiness for insertion under the head of a fastener. A bend in the jaws provides a fulcrum for applying leverage against the underside of the head of the fastener. A series of graduated opposed elongated grooves formed in the edges of the jaws and oriented normal to the top surface of the jaws allow the user to apply controlled gripping force to the stem of the fastener in the region, adjacent the head, most prone to fracture by bending, thereby effectively immobilizing the stem with respect to the head of the fastener and minimizing bending of the stem in the sensitive region. In addition to thus greatly reducing the likelihood of fracture, by distributing the prying force over a relatively large area of the stem's surface, the orientation and shape of the grooves minimize damage to the surface of the stem which would otherwise render the fastener unusable.