Printed circuit board removal tool

Claim 1

A circuit board removal tool comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped outer frame structure having a first support plate with opposite side edge portions, a pair of outer side plates secured to and depending from said opposite side edge portions and having lower side edge portions, and a first pair of elongated parallel pressure plates secured to said lower side edge portions in a parallel relationship therewith, said first pair of pressure plates having side edge portions projecting inwardly beyond facing side surfaces of said outer side plates; a generally inverted U-shaped inner frame structure having a second support plate with opposite side edge portions, a pair of inner side plates secured to and depending from said opposite side edge portions of said second support plate and having a second pair of elongated parallel pressure plates secured to said lower side edge portions of said inner side plates in a parallel relationship therewith, said second pair of pressure plates having side edge portions projecting inwardly beyond facing side surfaces of said inner side plates, said inner frame structure being received within said outer frame structure and being movable relative thereto between a lowered position in which said second support plate is spaced downwardly apart from said first support plate and said second pair of pressure plates downwardly engage said first pair of pressure plates in a parallel relationship therewith, and a raised position in which said second pair of pressure plates are spaced upwardly apart from said first pair of pressure plates; spring means for resiliently biasing said inner frame structure toward said lowered position thereof; and force exerting means associated with said inner and outer frame structures and manually operable to releasably move said inner frame structure from said lowered position thereof to said lifted position thereof, said force exerting means including: an elongated lower handle member having an inner end portion fixedly secured to said first support plate, a vertically movable actuating rod slidably extending through said first support plate, said actuating rod having a lower end fixedly secured to said second support plate, and an upper end disposed above said first support plate, an elongated upper handle member disposed above said lower handle member and having an inner end portion pivotally secured to said upper end of said actuating rod, a support bracket secured to the underside of said upper handle member, and a roller member rotationally carried by said support bracket and rollingly engaging a top side portion of said lower handle member.