Inventor’s Corner: Air-powered retractor pulls out nails almost instantly.
Appears in Print As: Air-powered retractor pulls out nails almost instantly
Consider the air-powered nail retractor. The idea comes from Jake Kittell, owner of Happiness LLC, Morrisville, Vt., a small engineering firm that manufactures hand tools and does contract precision machine design. As envisioned, users will put the device up against a nail embedded in a board, line it up in the right spot over the nail head, pull the trigger, and out pops the nail, almost instantly.
The retractor works by using compressed air to drive a precise pair of sharp jaws into the board, gripping the shank of the nail securely just below the head, says Kittell. “The compressed air is then used to draw the nail straight out. The process happens in about 1 second, with only small indents in the board where the jaws enter. The tool works something like a nail gun.”
“At home, we have an old barn that I wanted to move onto a new foundation,” says Kittell. “I looked for a tool that would let me easily and quickly pull out the nails to take the building apart to move it. Even after hours of searching, I couldn’t find anything suitable. So I invented and designed the retractor over this past winter and spring.”
The tool currently exists as a 3D SolidWorks model, but it is headed to the local machine shop to have a prototype built, says Kittell. “The retractor will be made primarily of tool steel for working components and cast aluminum or plastic for the housing parts.”
According to Kittell, the speed of the tool and the minimal damage it inflicts to building material will allow the reasonable and quick deconstruction of entire buildings.
The working name of the tool is the Anti-Nail Gun. Other possibilities include the Retractor and Shank Yanker. Kittell says he is looking for suggestions. Anyone with an inspired name is encouraged to submit it on http://happinesstech.biz/NailPuller.html. “Should we use the name, the entrant will get one of the first production units free as a prize,” he says.
Kittell hopes to have first commercial tools ready for sale by next spring. He is currently seeking commercial or investment partners.
Happiness Tech LLC, www.happinesstech.biz
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© 2012 Penton Media Inc.
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.
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Comments
Already exists
An old tool nail puller that uses similar concept without air and makes only a little mark already exists. It's called a Cresent Impact Nail Puller. Other than using air to pull out the nail it functions in same manner, so other than adding pneumatics to it I don't know if this is going to pass patent office as original. - Jim
never nail
never nail is a good name for the nail puller
Nail Puller name
NAILOUT ........ NAIL-OUT ??
Nail Puller
I worked in the modular home business and there were many occasions when we had to add temporary constructions to maintain the stiffness of the modules for shipping. A nail-puller would be handy when it came time to remove the temporary stuff.
Also, as things were being built, unforseen problems, or customer design changes, sometimes required tearing out construction. I'm sure this happens in stick-built construction too.
Nail Puller
Nail puller would be great for Joe homeowner, realy wouldnt expect to see it on a build. Might want to market it in an area were deck demo/building is common. I think it would sale great. It would sale were the people can afford it. So you dont realy need to worry about marketing it to the guy in new construction.
The nail biter take the bite out of nails
not that I make mistakes, but I could use one!
Nail Biter
I'd name it the "Nail Biter."
Good luck Jake!
you shoul never make nail
you shoul never make nail pulling easy. its like saying you can make as many mistakes as you like its easy to fix.
Anit-Nail Gun
I love your concept! One of those ideas you bop yourself on the head for and say "why didn't I think of that?! I'd love to get involved any way possible. Perhaps in national marketing.
Best of Luck!!!
name of the tool to remove nails NAILPULLER !
if they can get the price down to about as much as the nail gun
it will be a hot item . why not call it something that everybody
understands like the nail puller ,don't try to make it a brain
twister ,simple and to the point
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