Electrical box knock-out tool

Abstract

The invention disclosed is a tool for the removal of knock-outs from electrical boxes. The tool may include a handle connected to an elongate member such as a rod, the elongate member having a bend between the handle and a terminal end that is bent back or forms a hook. The terminal end may include a flattened end and a slot opened at the end to allow the user to engage the edge of a knock-out. The tool may also include a groove in the radius or bend of the hook, also to allow the user to engage the edge of a knock-out. The tool also includes notches on the elongate member to allow the user to engage the edge of a an electrical box to manipulate or rotate the tool about the engagement to dislodge or displace the knock-out from the electrical box with the tip of the terminal end.

1 . A tool for removing knock-outs from electrical boxes, the tool including an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate member having an angle between the proximal end and the distal end, the elongate member further having a hook between the angle and the distal end, the elongate member further having at least one notch between the hook and the bend, the notch being open to the hook. 
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , further including at least a second notch between the at least one notch and the hook. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the notch includes a first wall perpendicular to an axis of the elongate member, and a second wall placed at an angle to the first wall. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 3 , wherein the first wall and the second wall meet at a vertex, the vertex being perpendicular to an axis of the elongate member. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one notch and the at least second notch are of the same size. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 2  wherein the at least one notch and the at least second notch are of different sizes. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the hook includes an outside angle and a groove on the outside angle of the hook. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the groove is oriented lengthwise along the elongate member. 
     
     
         9 . A tool including an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a hook portion, the elongate member having a bend between the hook and the proximal end, the elongate member having a first notch between the bend and the hook, the first notch having a first wall perpendicular to an axis of the elongate member and a second wall set at an angle to the first wall, the notch being open to the hook. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 9 , the tool including a second notch between the hook and the first notch. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the second notch is positioned so that it is adjacent to the tip of the second end of the elongate member. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 9  wherein the inside angle of the hook is angled at 50 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the distal end includes a slot. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13 , wherein the slot includes tapered walls. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the tool includes a groove in an outside radius of the hook. 
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 9 , wherein the tool includes a groove in a bend of the hook, the groove having tapered walls. 
     
     
         17 . A tool for removing knock-outs from electrical boxes, the tool including an elongate member having a first end and a second end, the elongate member being angled at a point between the first end and the second end, a hook portion positioned adjacent the second end, the hook portion including a slot at the second end and a groove at a bend of the hook, a first notch located on the elongate member, the notch open to the hook. 
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the elongate member includes a second notch, at least one of the notches positioned below a level of a tip of the second end when a portion of the elongate member on which the notch is present is vertically positioned. 
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the interior angle of the hook is 50 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 17 , where the angle of the elongate member at the point between the first end and the second end is 30 degrees.