Roof ripper

Abstract

A shingle removal tool includes a base, a forwardly extending blade, and a rearwardly extending shaft. A pair wheels are rotatable about a laterally extending axis located rearward of the blade. The blade has a planar portion forming a leading edge. The shaft has an obtuse angle forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion between the planar portion and the wheels and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion forward of the planar portion. A rear grip can be mounted to the shaft either rigidly or for impact absorption and a fore grip can be adjustable along the shaft.

1 . A shingle removal tool comprising, in combination: 
 a base;    a blade forwardly extending from the base;    wherein the blade has a planar portion forming a leading edge an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base;    a pair of wheels rotatably attached to the base rearward of the blade; and    wherein the wheels are laterally spaced apart and have a common rotational axis.    
   
   
       2 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade removably mounted to the base.  
   
   
       3 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade and the wheels are positioned such that a plane formed by the planar portion of the blade is substantially tangent to a radial periphery of at least one of the wheels.  
   
   
       4 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft extends from the base at a location forward of the wheels.  
   
   
       5 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has an obtuse angle therein forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade between the planar portion of the blade and the wheels and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade forward of the planar portion of the blade.  
   
   
       6 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 5 , further comprising a rear grip having a passage slidably receiving a rear end of the rearward portion of shaft therein such that the rear grip is axially moveable relative to the shaft and a body of resilient material located between the rear grip and the shaft to absorb impacts as the rear grip axially moves forward relative to the shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 5 , further comprising a rear grip rigidly secured to the rearward portion of the shaft and forming an acute angle with a central axis of the rearward portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       8 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the wheels are rotatable about a laterally extending axle rigidly secured to the base.  
   
   
       9 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rear grip located at a rearward end of the shaft and a fore grip located along the shaft.  
   
   
       10 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rear grip having a passage slidably receiving a rear end of the shaft therein such that the rear grip is axially moveable relative to the shaft and a body of resilient material located between the rear grip and the shaft to absorb impacts as the rear grip axially moves forward relative to the shaft.  
   
   
       11 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fore grip located along the shaft and axially adjustable along the length of the shaft.  
   
   
       12 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 11 , wherein the position of the fore grip is axially adjustable along the length of the shaft to a plurality of predetermined positions.  
   
   
       13 . A shingle removal tool comprising, in combination: 
 a base;    a blade forwardly extending from the base;    an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base;    at least one wheel rotatably attached to the base rearward of the blade;    wherein the blade has a planar portion forming a leading edge; and    wherein the shaft has an obtuse angle therein forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade between the planar portion of the blade and the at least one wheel and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade forward of the planar portion of the blade.    
   
   
       14 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 13 , further comprising a rear grip having a passage slidably receiving a rear end of the rearward portion of shaft therein such that the rear grip is axially moveable relative to the shaft and a body of resilient material located between the rear grip and the shaft to absorb impacts as the rear grip axially moves forward relative to the shaft.  
   
   
       15 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 13 , further comprising a rear grip rigidly secured to the rearward portion of the shaft and forming an acute angle with a central axis of the rearward portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       16 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 13 , wherein the shaft is a tube.  
   
   
       17 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 13 , further comprising a fore grip located along the rearward portion of the shaft and a rear grip located at a rear end of the rearward portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       18 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 13 , further comprising a fore grip located along rearward portion of the shaft and axially adjustable along the length of the rearward portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       19 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 18 , wherein the position of the fore grip is axially adjustable along the length of the shaft to a plurality of predetermined positions.  
   
   
       20 . A shingle removal tool comprising, in combination: 
 a base;    a blade forwardly extending from the base;    an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base;    wherein the blade forms a leading edge;    a rear grip having a passage slidably receiving a rear end of the shaft therein such that the rear grip is axially moveable relative to the shaft; and    a body of resilient material located between the rear grip and the shaft to absorb impacts as the rear grip axially moves forward relative to the shaft.    
   
   
       21 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 20 , wherein the body comprises plastic.  
   
   
       22 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 21 , wherein the body comprises polyurethane foam.  
   
   
       23 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 20 , further comprising at least one wheel rotatably attached to the base rearward of the blade.  
   
   
       24 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 20 , wherein the blade has a planar portion forming the leading edge and the shaft has an obtuse angle therein forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade between the planar portion of the blade and the at least one wheel and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade forward of the planar portion of the blade.  
   
   
       25 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 20 , further comprising a fore grip located along the shaft.  
   
   
       26 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 20 , further comprising a fore grip located along the shaft and axially adjustable along the length of the shaft.  
   
   
       27 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 26 , wherein the position of the fore grip is axially adjustable along the length of the shaft to a plurality of predetermined positions.  
   
   
       28 . A shingle removal tool comprising, in combination: 
 a base;    a blade forwardly extending from the base;    an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base;    wherein the blade forms a leading edge;    a rear grip located at a rear end of the shaft; and    a fore grip located along the shaft.    
   
   
       29 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 28 , wherein the fore grip is axially adjustable along the length of the shaft.  
   
   
       30 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 29 , wherein the position of the fore grip is axially adjustable along the length of the shaft to a plurality of predetermined positions.  
   
   
       31 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 28 , wherein the shaft is provided with a plurality of axially spaced apart openings for receiving a fastener to secure the fore grip at a plurality of alternative positions.  
   
   
       32 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 28 , further comprising at least one wheel rotatably attached to the base rearward of the blade.  
   
   
       33 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 32 , wherein the blade has a planar portion which forms the leading edge and the shaft has an obtuse angle therein forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade between the planar portion of the blade and the at least one wheel and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade forward of the planar portion of the blade.  
   
   
       34 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 28 , wherein the rear grip has a passage slidably receiving a rear end of the shaft therein such that the rear grip is axially moveable relative to the shaft and a body of resilient material is located between the rear grip and the shaft to absorb impacts as the rear grip axially moves forward relative to the shaft.  
   
   
       35 . A shingle removal tool comprising, in combination: 
 a base;    a blade forwardly extending from the base;    an elongate shaft rearwardly extending from the base;    a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels rotatably about a laterally extending axis of rotation located rearward of the blade;    wherein the blade has a planar portion forming a leading edge;    wherein the shaft has an obtuse angle therein forming a forward portion having a central axis which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade between the planar portion of the blade and the wheels and a rearward portion which intersects the plane formed by the planar portion of the blade forward of the planar portion of the blade; and    a rear grip located at a rear end of the shaft.    
   
   
       36 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 35 , wherein the rear grip has a passage slidably receiving a rear end of the rearward portion of shaft therein such that the rear grip is axially moveable relative to the shaft and a body of resilient material is located between the rear grip and the shaft to absorb impacts as the rear grip axially moves forward relative to the shaft.  
   
   
       37 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 35 , wherein the rear grip is rigidly secured to the rearward portion of the shaft and forms an acute angle with a central axis of the rearward portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       38 . The shingle removal tool according to  claim 35 , further comprising a fore grip located along the shaft and axially adjustable along the length of the shaft.