Staple removal tool

Abstract

A staple removal tool includes an elongated handle mounting a U-shaped cover member supporting a U-shaped base member formed with a forwardly projecting staple lifter tongue. A crimping arm is pivoted on the base member for movement toward and away from the staple lifter tongue and is actuated by a hand lever located under the handle and pivotally secured at its forward end to the cover member. A spring loaded link member is attached at one end to the hand lever and at the opposite end to the crimping arm, whereby pivoting of the handle lever effects pivotal movement of the crimping arm. A crimping bar is secured to and spaced from the base member to receive the clamping arm between them. The staple lifter tongue engages under the bridge portion of a staple, such as a roofing staple, and leveraging of the handle pulls the staple from its wood anchor. If the staple breaks, or if only one leg pulls out of the wood, the upwardly projecting length of staples still anchored in wood is placed alongside the confronting sides of the tongue and crimping bar and the hand lever manipulated to pivot the clamping arm into the space between the tongue and crimping bar, whereby to bend the staple leg to U-shape around the clamping arm and secure it against release, allowing the handle to leverage the resistant leg out of the wood.