Patent Application
20050167127
The present invention is directed to a cleaning tool and in particular, to a cleaning tool having two separate scoop portions. In a preferred embodiment, the tool is a measurement and cleaning tool.
Many different approaches for cleaning of eavestroughs or gutters have been proposed and these solutions have met with varying degrees of success. For example, it is common to provide a screen or shield across the top surface of the eavestrough gutter in an effort to prevent debris such as leaves from entering the gutter and clogging the same. Unfortunately, many of these shields and screens become clogged and require cleaning or the gutter fails to act in its intended manner.
In direct contradiction to the various approaches for providing a cover for an eavestrough, a number of systems have provided a specialized tool for removing of debris from the gutters. Examples of such hand tools include the gutter scoop shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,540 which includes flexible sidewalls which can conform to the shape of the gutter and assist in removing the debris from the gutters. More recently, a venting gutter scoop has been proposed in U.S. Published Application 2002/0014025. These gutter scoops include a large open “U” shaped scooper with a rearwardly extending handle. The user pushes the scoop along the gutter and leaves and other debris accumulate within the scoop for manual removal from the eavestrough and scoop.
There are also a number of proposals where the eavestrough can be cleaned from the ground level. These proposals include various types of scoop members provided on extension handles which are moved along the gutter and the leaves and other debris are removed. Other arrangements have included blowing of air into the gutter for removing of leaves as well as the blowing of water.
The attempts to mechanize and provide the ability to remove the leaves from the ground level result in the structure becoming quite complicated and not entirely satisfactory. In addition, the actual removal of the leaves from the gutter can cause an overflow of the debris and/or stagnant water on an exterior surface of the eavestrough and require cleaning. For many of these reasons and also for convenience, a hand tool where the user is adjacent the eavestrough on a ladder or on the roof in close proximity to the eavestrough remains the most common and accepted approach. The present invention provides an improved hand tool and a hand tool which can be used in other applications.
A cleaning tool according to the present invention comprises a handle extending rearwardly from a first “U” shaped scoop which opens upwardly. This first “U” shaped scoop has opposed sidewalls connected by a bottom and an end wall. The first “U” shaped scoop is closed by the end wall and open at a front edge opposite to the end wall. The handle extends rearwardly from the end wall adjacent the upper edge of the first “U” shaped scoop. The handle is shaped to define a second “U” shaped scoop which opens downwardly with this second “U” shaped scoop being closed adjacent the first “U” shaped scoop. The second “U” shaped scoop is open at a distal end of the handle. The second “U” shaped scoop includes sidewalls, an endwall, and a bottom and is of a capacity which is only a small portion of the capacity of the first “U” shaped scoop.
The cleaning tool according to the present invention has the first and second “U” shaped scoops where the first “U” shaped scoop can act in the traditional manner for removing of leaves and other debris from an eavestrough gutter. The second scoop which is of a much smaller capacity is defined by the handle and is used by turning the first scoop to an inverted position. The second scoop is elongate and relatively narrow and allows effective cleaning of restricted areas of the gutter. It is also of great assistance in cleaning or partially unplugging of a downspout where the first scoop is of a size such that it cannot be inserted downwardly through the port in such a downspout. As can be appreciated, the handle is also effective in cleaning of the discharge of an eavestrough downspout or other pipe associated with such eavestrough systems.
According to an aspect of the invention, the handle which has the second scoop defined in the lower surface thereof extends above the first “U” shaped scoop whereby the scoops are vertically offset.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, both the first scoop and the second scoop are of a similar shape.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the endwall of the first “U” shaped scoop merges with an endwall of the second “U” shaped scoop.
In yet a different aspect of the invention, the endwalls of the two scoops each includes a curved transition joining the respective endwall with the bottom of the respective scoop. This curved transition preferably includes thicker walls thereby strengthening the connection of the first scoop to the second scoop.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the sidewalls of the second scoop adjacent the endwalls overlaps with the endwall of the first “U” shaped scoop to reinforce the connection of the handle to the first “U” shaped scoop. Basically, this overlap and extension of the sidewalls relative to the endwalls of the first “U” shaped scoop provides a gusset like reinforcement of the second scoop to the first scoop.
In a different aspect of the invention, the sidewalls of the second scoop adjacent the endwall significantly increases in thickness and reinforces the connection of the handle to the first “U” shaped scoop.
In yet a different aspect of the invention, the second scoop includes a tab at the front edge part with a cord for hanging of the tool when not in use.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the sidewalls of each scoop are tapered towards the respective front edge and join with a rear portion of the respective scoop where the “U” shape is of a generally consistent height. Thus the sidewalls of each scoop taper downwardly towards the front edge of the respective scoop.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each scoop includes gradient markings thereon whereby each scoop can be used as a measurement tool.
In a different aspect of the invention, each scoop includes at least two sets of gradient lines where each set of gradient lines defines a particular volume.
In a different aspect of the invention, each set of gradient lines is disposed at an angle to the respective scoop bottom. This allows a larger portion of the scoop to be used as a leveling line.
In yet a different aspect of the invention, each set of gradient lines include a gradient line adjacent the front edge of the respective scoop and an associated gradient line at the end walls of the scoop on the endwall or the adjacent sidewalls.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:
The cleaning tool 2, shown in
The first “U” shaped scoop 4 is of varying height. There is a transition point 18 of the sidewalls 6 and 8 where the “U” shaped section between transition point 18 and the handle is generally of a constant height, whereas the portion of the scoop forwardly of transition point 18 progressively decreases in height towards the front edge 14. The endwall 12 includes a curved transition such that the endwall joins with the bottom 10. This curved transition is shown in the side view of the cleaning tool shown in
A bottom view of the handle 30 is shown in
The sidewalls 34 and 36 of the handle 30 also include a portion of generally consistent height of the “U” shaped section up to a transition point and then this height tapers downwardly to the front edge 42. As can be appreciated from a review of
The first “U” shaped scoop 4 and the second “U” shaped scoop 32 are shown in
The sectional view of
The top view of
A further aspect of the cleaning tool can be appreciated from a review of
A similar approach is used with respect to the second “U” shaped scoop 32. In this case, there is a first set of gradient lines 70 and 72 which define a one tablespoon level. A second set of gradient lines 74 and 76 define a two tablespoon level. Once again, these gradient lines are disposed at an angle to the bottom wall of the second scoop and provide increased accuracy.
As can be appreciated, different volumes can be set and the invention is not limited to the particular volumes disclosed.
The gradient lines can either be small raised surfaces in each of the respective scoops or can be slight indentations. The main point is there will be a line which is visible and associated with this line will be some indication of the particular volume which can be measured by using the particular gradient line.
The cleaning tool 2 has been described with respect to an eavestrough cleaning application, however, the tool is useful in many other applications, particularly where measurement is desired. For example, the scoop is useful in dispersing salt or sand on a walkway. Therefore, the scoop is useful for non eavestrough cleaning applications.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
