IP Library Granted Patent US 10,344,488
Granted Patent B2
US 10,344,488 · App. 15/306,875 · Granted Jul 9, 2019

Demolition tool

Inventor: Tobias McKay Bridges (Holly Springs, NC)
Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
E04G23/006B25B27/04B25C11/00B25G3/38B66F15/00E04G23/08B25B23/0028E04G2023/085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,344,488
App. No.
15/306,875
Granted
Jul 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A demolition tool particularly adapted to aid in board removal. The tool includes a handle and a head. The head has outer forwardly extending arms and a central fastener puller. The central fastener puller is aligned with the handle so that undesired lateral torques are minimized on the handle during fastener removal. The central fastener puller may be formed on a central boss disposed between the two outer arms. The central boss advantageously includes a convexly curved lower surface that provides a central pry surface for the tool. The head may be selectively positionable relative to the handle, such as via a push-button locking pivot connection.

Claims (58)

1. A demolition tool, comprising:

a handle having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a head mounted to the distal portion of the handle, the head comprising:

first and second distally extending arms that are laterally spaced from each other;

a central boss disposed between the first and second arms, and disposed in lateral alignment with the handle; the central boss having a convexly curved underside surface that extends below the first and second arms, the curved underside providing a prying surface;

a first forward fastener puller disposed at the central boss; the first forward fastener puller having an entry slot that opens distally and is closed proximally;

wherein the first and second arms include laterally extending sections that extend toward the central boss;

wherein the central boss is configured to extend distally such that an uppermost surface of the central boss proximate the entry slot does not extend above the first and second arms such that the uppermost surface of the central boss proximate the entry slot is not visible in side view;

wherein the first forward fastener puller is laterally aligned with the handle; and

wherein the central boss is fixed relative to the first and second arms.

2. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein the central boss is configured such that the entirety of the uppermost surface of the central boss, from a forwardmost tip proximate the entry slot to a juncture with the laterally extending sections of the first and second arms, is not visible in side view.

3. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein the underside surface of the central boss is continuously curved, when viewed in side view, from distal to the laterally extending sections to proximal to the laterally extending sections.

4. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms extend distally farther than the central boss.

5. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein:

the first forward fastener puller comprises an upwardly open cavity disposed proximally relative to the entry slot and accessible by a fastener via the entry slot;

the entry slot has upwardly divergent sides.

6. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms both include elongate recesses on their lower outboard sides.

7. The demolition tool of claim 1 :

wherein the first arm has a second fastener puller on its distal tip;

wherein the second arm has a third fastener puller on its distal tip.

8. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein the underside of the first and second arms are both convexly curved.

9. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms both include a textured section for increased gripping on an upper surface thereof.

10. The demolition tool of claim 1 :

wherein the first forward fastener puller comprises an upwardly open cavity, and wherein the entry slot has upwardly divergent sides;

wherein the first and second arms include laterally extending sections that extend toward the central boss, and the first and second arms extend distally farther than the central boss;

wherein the underside surface of the central boss is continuously curved, when viewed in side view, from distal to the laterally extending sections to proximal to the laterally extending sections;

wherein the head is movably mounted to the distal portion of the handle by a pivot connection that is operative to lockably position the head at a desired angular position relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle;

wherein the first and second arms both include a textured section for increased gripping on an upper surface thereof.

11. The demolition tool of claim 1 , wherein the central boss and first and second arms are integrally formed as a unitary body such that the central boss is fixed relative to the first and second arms.

12. A demolition tool, comprising:

a handle having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a head mounted to the distal portion of the handle, the head comprising:

first and second distally extending arms that are laterally spaced from each other;

a central boss disposed between the first and second arms, and disposed in lateral alignment with the handle; the central boss having a convexly curved underside surface that extends below the first and second arms, the curved underside providing a prying surface;

a first forward fastener puller disposed at the central boss; the first forward fastener puller having an entry slot that opens distally and is closed proximally;

wherein the first and second arms include laterally extending sections that extend toward the central boss;

wherein the central boss is configured to extend distally such that an uppermost surface of the central boss proximate the entry slot does not extend above the first and second arms such that the uppermost surface of the central boss proximate the entry slot is not visible in side view;

wherein the first forward fastener puller is laterally aligned with the handle; and

wherein the central boss further comprises a secondary rearward nail puller on an underside thereof.

13. A demolition tool, comprising:

a handle having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a head mounted to the distal portion of the handle, the head comprising:

first and second distally extending arms that are laterally spaced from each other;

a central boss disposed between the first and second arms, and disposed in lateral alignment with the handle; the central boss having a convexly curved underside surface that extends below the first and second arms, the curved underside providing a prying surface;

a first forward fastener puller disposed at the central boss; the first forward fastener puller having an entry slot that opens distally and is closed proximally;

wherein the first and second arms include laterally extending sections that extend toward the central boss;

wherein the central boss is configured to extend distally such that an uppermost surface of the central boss proximate the entry slot does not extend above the first and second arms such that the uppermost surface of the central boss proximate the entry slot is not visible in side view;

wherein the first forward fastener puller is laterally aligned with the handle; and

wherein the head is movably mounted to the distal portion of the handle by a pivot connection that is operative to lockably position the head at a desired angular position relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle.

14. The demolition tool of claim 13 , wherein the pivot connection includes a push button actuator.

15. The demolition tool of claim 13 , wherein the central boss is configured such that the entirety of the uppermost surface of the central boss, from a forwardmost tip proximate the entry slot to a juncture with the laterally extending sections of the first and second arms, is not visible in side view.

16. The demolition tool of claim 13 , wherein the underside surface of the central boss is continuously convexly curved, when viewed in side view, from distal to the laterally extending sections to proximal to the laterally extending sections.

17. The demolition tool of claim 13 , wherein the first and second arms extend distally farther than the central boss.

18. The demolition tool of claim 13 , wherein the first and second arms both include elongate recesses on their lower outboard sides.

19. The demolition tool of claim 13 :

wherein the first arm has a second fastener puller on its distal tip;

wherein the second arm has a third fastener puller on its distal tip.

20. The demolition tool of claim 13 , wherein the first and second arms both include a textured section for increased gripping on an upper surface thereof.

Assignments (15)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075612/0935 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2026
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 075613/0150 →
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NO. 11203070 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 58991 FRAME 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0327 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073077/0584 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 556. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068769/0309 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 58991 FRAME: 442. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068753/0687 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0442 →
FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058991/0556 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2016
From: BRIDGES, TOBIAS MCKAY
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040141/0826 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61986416 · Apr 30, 2014
Related Publication 20170051521A1 · Feb 23, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,577,797