Patent Application
20200085271
Scrapers for removing old paint, rust and other debris from a surface to be refinished are well known and have been the subject of numerous innovations. Differently designed scrapers are used for different purposes. For example, many carbide-blade scrapers have a dedicated handle designed to removably retain a single blade type. More specifically, one type is designed to retain a 2½″ wide carbide blade to scraper large planar surfaces, while another is designed to retain a 1″ triangular blade to reach into corners and other tight spaces. For the most part, painters and other surface refinishers are required to own and carry multiple scrapers each of which is designed for a specific purpose. Not only must a surface finisher carry multiple scraping tools, he/she is required to put one down and pick up another when scraping different types of surfaces related to the same project. This might require an inconvenient, and potentially dangerous, change of tools while up on a ladder, etc.
Accordingly, a need exists for a single scraper capable of allowing a user to conveniently and quickly change from one active blade type to another.
In each of various alternative embodiments, a dual-bladed scraper with a rotatable blade-retaining head includes an elongated handle having handle upper and lower surfaces extending along a longitudinal handle axis between longitudinally opposed proximal and distal handle ends. The proximal end includes a grip portion configured for gripping by a first hand of a user, while the distal end extends forwardly of the proximal end and the grip portion. Additionally, some versions include a knob configured for gripping by a second hand of a user; that is, the hand not being used to grasp the grip portion of the proximal end. An optimal location for the knob is suggested in association with specification illustrative embodiments discussed in the detailed description, but it is sufficient to observe presently that situating the knob in proximity to the distal end of the handle is often most advantageous.
The blade-retaining head is rotatably mounted to the distal end of the handle for pivotal movement, relative to the handle, about a head-rotation axis. The blade-retaining head has opposed first and second ends mutually situated on opposite sides of the head-rotation axis. The first and second ends of the blade-retaining head define, respectively, first-blade and second-blade mounts configured to removably retain, simultaneously and respectively, a first scraping blade with at least one first-blade scraping edge and a separate, second scraping blade with at least one second-blade scraping edge. Moreover, each of the first and second scraping blades is securable to the blade-retaining head independently of the other scraping blade.
In each of various embodiments, the first and second scraping blades are of disparate configurations. In this context, “configuration” includes at least one of (i) geometric shape and (ii) size, including, by way of non-limiting example, the length of the scraping edge. For instance, if the first scraping blade is an equilateral triangle, and the second scraping blade is a rectangle, these scraping blades are clearly of disparate configurations on the basis of geometric shape alone. However, “disparate configurations,” “disparately configured,” and similar terms, when referring to the scraping blades, is to be understood and interpreted more broadly. For instance, if the first scraping blade is an equilateral triangle with a side length (e.g., scraping edge) of 1 inch, and the second scraping blade is an equilateral triangle having a side length (e.g., scraping edge) of 1.5 inches, these are to be regarded as first and second scraping blades of disparate configuration or geometrical shape, notwithstanding that, by the strict terminology of the field of geometry, they are “similar triangles.” In other words, for purposes of interpreting the language of the specification and claims, first and second scraping blades are to be considered “disparately configured,” “of disparate configuration,” “disparately shaped,” and/or “of disparate geometric shape,” for example, by virtue of at least one of (i) geometric shape and (ii) size (dimensional scale), unless they are fabricated in accordance with mutually identical specifications in both shape and size/dimensional scale.
The blade-retaining head is pivotable about the head-rotation axis between first and second angular positions. When first and second scraping blades are mounted on respective first-blade and second-blade mounts, the first angular position is such that the first scraping blade is in a deployed attitude in which a first-blade scraping edge thereof can engage a work surface to be scraped while the second scraping blade is in a non-deployed attitude in which the at least one second-blade scraping edge is at least partially shrouded beneath the handle lower surface. Analogously, but conversely, the second angular position is such that the second scraping blade is in a deployed attitude in which a second-blade scraping edge thereof can engage a work surface to be scraped while the first scraping blade is in a non-deployed attitude in which the at least one first-blade scraping edge is at least partially shrouded beneath the handle lower surface. Although movement between the first and second angular positions is typically achieved by a 180-degree rotation of the blade-retaining head, embodiments wherein this change between positions is achieved by less than a 180-degree rotation are within the scope and contemplation of the invention. According to at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the distal end of the handle is laterally flared relative to the grip portion in order to define a blade shroud configured such that, when each of first and second scraping blades retained by, respectively, the first and second ends is alternatively in the non-deployed attitude, the at least one scraping edge of that non-deployed blade is entirely shrouded by the blade shroud as viewed from above the handle upper surface.
In each of several variants, the first-blade and second-blade mounts include, respectively, first and second blade-supporting surfaces that define, respectively, first and second blade planes that are mutually non-coplanar and non-parallel. In at least one such version, the first and second blade planes are pitched such that they mutually diverge downwardly away from the distal end of both the handle and the head rotation axis. In versions of the latter type, the blade-retaining head may be of generally arcuate configuration in order to facilitate and compliment the divergent blade pitch. More specifically, the underside of the blade-retaining head (i.e., side closest a work surface being scraped) is concave while the upper side of the head is convex.
Representative embodiments are more completely described and depicted in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The following description of variously embodied dual-bladed scrapers is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or its application of uses. Accordingly, the various implementations, aspects, versions and embodiments described in the summary and detailed description are in the nature of non-limiting examples falling within the scope of the appended claims and do not serve to define the maximum scope of the claims.
Referring initially to the left-side perspective view of
With continued reference to
Referring still to
In various embodiments, such as the illustrative embodiment of
Returning to the detail/exploded view of
As indicated in the background section of the present specification, it is frequently desirable to have at least two different types of scraping blades at one's disposal on a job site, and this is, in fact, one of the advantages of various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, in the version depicted in the drawings, the first and second scraping blades 100 and 200 of dual-bladed scraper 10 are of disparate configurations. It is to be understood that “configuration” in this context expressly includes “geometry” or “shape” and/or size. With reference to any of
The second scraping blade 200 of the illustrative embodiment depicted is of generally triangular configuration and also includes at least one second-blade scraping edge 210. In some versions, the second scraping blade 200 is generally configured as an equilateral triangular and includes a second-blade scraping edge 210 along each of its three sides. In a manner similar to that associated with the first scraping blade 100, the inclusion of—in this case—three second-blade scraping edges 210 facilitates reseating of a second scraping blade 200 when one of its second-blade scraping edges 210 wears so that another of its second-blade scraping edges 210 is designated as the “active” edge.
As discussed previously, including in the summary, the first and second scraping blades 100 and 200 in each of various versions are of disparate configurations. As explained in the summary, for purposes of interpreting the language of the specification and claims, first and second scraping blades 100 and 200 are to be regarded as having disparate configurations if they differ in geometrical shape and/or size.
When each of the first and second scraping blades 100 and 200 is alternatively in a deployed attitude, the “active” scraping edge thereof (i.e., first-blade or second-blade scraping edge 110 or 210) is in a transverse orientation relative to handle axis AH. The broader first-blade scraping edge 110 is conducive to the scraping of relatively large planar work surfaces, while the narrower configuration of the second-blade scraping edge 210 is conducive to finer detail scraping within openings and crevices on a work surface, for example.
Although the particular manner in which the first and second scraping blades 100 and 200 are removably secured to the blade-retaining head 50 is of no particular relevance to the novel aspects of various embodiments, in the embodiment of
Additionally, while the manner in which the blade-retaining head 50 is secured to the distal end 28 of the handle 20 is of, at most, secondary relevance, in the embodiment(s) depicted, the blade-retaining head 50 has defined therethrough a head aperture 58 through which a threaded head fastener 59 is fed for threadable securement within a threaded distal-end aperture 29 defined in the distal end 28 of the handle. It will be appreciated that the blade-retaining head 50 can be rotated about the head-rotation axis AHR by loosening the head fastener 59 and, conversely, set in either of the first and second angular positions previously described by tightening the head fastener 59. It will also be readily appreciated that in embodiments of the general type depicted, at least one of the head fastener 59 and the distal-end aperture 29 defines the head-rotation axis AHR.
While grasping of the grip portion 27 by a user's first hand facilitates the application of a scraping force FSA primarily along a work surface (not shown) being scraped, effective scraping typically also requires the application of a scraping force into (i.e., perpendicular or “normal” to) the work surface. The application of adequate forces along and perpendicular to the work surface can be difficult to achieve with one hand, a challenge that is exacerbated proportionally with increased distance/length between the grip portion 27 and the deployed first or second scraping blade 100 or 200. Accordingly, in order to facilitate the application of a normal scraping force FSN to a work surface being scraped, various embodiments include a knob 90 configured for gripping by a user's second hand (i.e., the hand not gripping grip portion 27). As shown in
The foregoing is considered to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since modifications and changes to various aspects and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing does not limit the invention as expressed in the appended claims to the exact constructions, implementations and versions shown and described.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/826,494 filed Aug. 14, 2015 under the title “DUAL-BLADED SCRAPER WITH A ROTATABLE BLADE-RETAINING HEAD,” and for which an Issue Notification was issued on Jul. 31, 2019 indicating that application Ser. No. 14/826,494 will grant on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,383,500. Application Ser. No. 14/826,494 was co-pending with the present application on the date the present application was filed. Previously filed Non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/826,494 was based on, and claimed the benefit of the filing date of, Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/046,983 filed Sep. 7, 2014 under the title “DUAL-BLADED SCRAPER WITH A ROTATABLE BLADE-RETAINING HEAD.” The present application also claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application No. 62/046,983 through Non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/826,494. Moreover, the entireties of the disclosures of the previous non-provisional and provisional applications, including the drawings, are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth fully in the present application. Although the present application was identified at filing as a “continuation-in-part” application, this identification does not constitute an admission that the present application contains “new matter” not fairly supported in parent application Ser. No. 14/826,494. In other words, all aspects of the present application may in fact find adequate antecedent basis in application Ser. No. 14/826,494, with the present application serving to clarify certain terminology in application Ser. No. 14/826,494, and provide some of alternatively worded claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62046983 | Sep 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14826494 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 16543519 | US |
