Patent Application
20190159647
This invention relates to the field of cleaning tools. More particularly this invention relates to apparatuses and methods for scraping a surface.
Objects often get stuck to floors and other surfaces with such force that they are difficult or impossible to remove with a typical cleaning tool, such as a broom or mop. For this reason, scraper devices have been used to aid in the cleaning of floors and other surfaces, and particularly to remove stuck objects. Most often, scrapers have been integrated in connection with push brooms or warehouse brooms near the cleaning head. Although scrapers have also been integrated into mid-sized brooms of the type typically found in homes and kitchens, these scrapers typically need to be extended or completely detached to be used.
Scrapers attached near the cleaning head can lead to poor performance of the cleaning tool due to added weight, undesirable interference of the scraper, and/or a complicated mechanism required to move the scraper or brush for use. Since scrapers are typically formed from metal or hard plastic with sharp corners, scrapers provided on the other end of the handle may pose a danger to people, cabinets, walls, appliances, pets, and the like. Indeed, the handle of long-handled cleaning tools such as brooms and mops are often leaned against walls, counters, and chairs. Falling from such a propped position may result in an attached scraper causing serious damage to anything in its way.
What are needed are apparatuses and methods for scraping a surface that are simple, effective, inexpensive, and safe. Also what are needed are apparatuses and methods that can be easily implemented in connection with domestic cleaning tools, and that do not interfere with the primary purpose of the associated cleaning tool. Ideally, such apparatuses and methods would be easily adapted to cleaning tools having various dimensions. Such apparatuses and methods are disclosed and claimed herein.
In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
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In some embodiments, the scraper element 202 may include a blade member 206 and one or more guard members 208. The blade member 206 may include a leading edge 210 and opposing sides or lateral edges 212. In one embodiment, the guard member 208 substantially covers the lateral edges 212 of the blade, leaving the leading edge 210 of the blade member 206 exposed. In some embodiments, the guard members 208 may also protect the distal ends 214a, 214b of the leading edge 210 from gouging into the floor or surface being scraped.
In some embodiments, the guard members 208 may be injection-molded plastic. The blade member 206 may be integrally molded with the guard member 208, or the guard member 208 may be overmolded onto a metal blade member 206 or other type of blade member 206 known to those in the art. In other embodiments, the blade member 206 may be formed separately from the guard member 208. In one embodiment, the guard member 208 may be fitted with a soft outer lining such as rubber, foam, thermoplastic elastomers (“TPE”) or the like, which may be overmolded onto the blade member 206.
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In some embodiments, the tubular member 204 may be substantially monolithic, while in other embodiments, as shown in
In any case, certain embodiments may allow the tubular member 204 to be placed over the end of the handle 104 when the bodies 400a, 400b are separated. When the two bodies 400a, 400b are brought together, they may clamp or otherwise fit onto the handle 104 to secure the scraper apparatus 100 to the handle 104. In some embodiments, the tubular member 204 may be further connected to the handle 104 using a set screw or any type of fastener known to those in the art. In one embodiment, the attachment element 200 may be fit or otherwise attached to the inside of a hollow portion of a handle 104. Of course, there are many ways that one of skill in the art may configure an attachment element 200 to attach to a cleaning tool 102 without departing from the scope of the invention.
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In some embodiments, the scraper element 202 may include a rounded contour and, in certain embodiments, rounded corners at its distal edges 600a, 600b, so that it is comfortable to hold when using the cleaning tool 102, and so that when it falls it does not cause damage or harm to people or property. In certain embodiments, the contour of the scraper element 202 and/or guard members 208 may facilitate retention of the blade member 206 with respect thereto such that the blade member 206 is maintained in a substantially fixed position relative to the scraper element 202. In one embodiment, as shown in
In certain embodiments, the scraper element 202 may further include a mounting element 602 such as a hole or other securing mechanism or device to enable hanging from a hook or otherwise securing the cleaning tool 102 with respect to a wall, door, or other surface or location. In one embodiment, the mounting element 602 may be integrated with or coupled to the scraper element 202, although such a mounting element 602 or other feature may be incorporated into or coupled to any portion of the attachment element 200, scraper element 202, or other part of the scraper apparatus 100 by any means known to those in the art.
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The scraper apparatus may include an attachment element to attach to the cleaning tool, and a scraper element coupled to the attachment element. The scraper element may include a blade member having a leading edge and at least one lateral edge. The leading edge of the blade member may be used to scrape a surface, while a guard member may be disposed along at least one of the lateral edges to protect surrounding structures, pets and people from inadvertent damage from the blade member if the scraper apparatus falls.
The method 800 may then query 806 whether the blade is dull. If yes, the blade may be removed 808 and replaced 810 with a new or sharper blade. The surface may then be scraped 812 with the scraper apparatus as desired. If no, the existing blade may be used to scrape 812 the surface.
In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific implementations in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Further, it should be noted that any or all of the aforementioned alternate implementations may be used in any combination desired to form additional hybrid implementations of the disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/591,268 filed on Nov. 28, 2017, entitled, “A Floor Scraper for Use with Brooms, Mops, and the Like.”
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62591268 | Nov 2017 | US |
