Patent Application
20070209210
The invention generally pertains to the field of construction tools, and more particularly to scraper tools used in the scraping of surfaces.
Scraping tools are used to remove old paint or spattered drywall compound from structures as a preliminary step in the resurfacing operations, as well as to scrape other materials from surfaces such as adhesives. A problem exists, however, when scraping surfaces which are overhead, such as ceilings with conventional scrapers because the position of the handle makes them difficult to use for this purpose.
The present disclosure discloses a scraper tool which solves many of these problems that are associated with existing scraper tools. It will be appreciated that the disclosure may disclose more than one invention. The invention(s) is (are) pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof.
The invention(s) generally relate to scraper tools suited for scraping ceilings, as well as scraper tools having a pivoting blade assembly, and to mechanisms enabling the pivoting and locking of the blade assembly.
In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a scraper whose handle is positioned at such an angle so as to be ergonomically suited for scraping overhead surfaces.
A second embodiment of the tool comprises a pivoting blade assembly wherein the scraper blade assembly is rotatable between two alternate fixed positions—the standard position, and the overhead position wherein the scraper blade assembly is located at 180° to the standard position.
In a third embodiment, the rotating scraper blade is achieved through locking the blade assembly at any one of many predetermined locations.
In another embodiment, a multi-positioning apparatus locates a scraper blade at any precise user-defined angle and an optional locking device permits blade assembly locking at the user-defined angle.
One advantage of the present apparatus is to save the user valuable time in completing scraping operations on a variety of surfaces, thus allowing him or her to better compete in the workplace. In addition, time is saved by making the scraping of ceilings more efficient by positioning the scraper blade at an ideal angle for overhead scraping and by enabling the user to cover a larger surface area without moving a ladder.
Another advantage of one embodiment is that the scraper tool allows the scraping of ceilings without the user having to contort his or her arm to obtain the proper orientation of the scraper blade to the overhead surface, and allows for more efficient transfer of force through the scraper tool to the work surface. Consequently, the scraper tool saves the user the inconvenience of suffering strained arm, hand, and finger muscles and ligaments which readily occurs with standard scrapers while scraping ceilings.
Still another advantage of one embodiment is that the user may scrape any given ceiling from a less elevated position, thereby helping prevent dangerous falls by maintaining the user's center of gravity at a lower, more stable position.
Furthermore, embodiments which allow the user to choose from many scraper blade assembly angles provide the advantage of allowing the user specifically tailor the blade assembly angle in attacking any given scraping problem based on a variety of factors such as arm strength, level of fatigue, position of the user to the working surface, and angle of the working surface to the user.
The invention(s) is (are) pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals generally designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to
The scraper tool 20 includes a first handle portion 22 which has a first end 24, a second end 26. The first handle portion 22 has an area for gripping which has a downward projecting protuberance commonly known as a pistol grip 34 which is used to help the user apply force to the scraper tool 20. The handle has a first handle portion axis 28, which generally runs longitudinally along the portion of the handle which the user grips with his or her hand, and defines the direction of the first handle portion 22. The first end 24 of the first handle portion 22 may include an in-handle blade-storage compartment 94, accessible through a storage door 92. The second end 26 of the first handle portion 22 is connected to a blade assembly 40, which comprises a force-transmitting portion 42 whose main purpose is to transfer and distribute forces applied by a user to a blade member 50 located at an end which is located distally from the first handle member 22. The force-transmittal portion 42 also includes a second handle portion 46 located near the blade member 50 for applying additional force to the blade member 50 while scraping surfaces. The blade member 50 has an upper surface 52, a lower surface 54, a front edge 56, and a rear portion 58. The blade member 50 also has a blade direction 66 located perpendicularly to the front edge 56 and in a plane of the lower surface 54 of the blade member 50. The rear portion 58 of the blade member 50 engages the force-transmitting portion 42 so that force may be transmitted through the force-transmitting portion 42 to the blade member 50. Furthermore, the blade member 50 is held in place by a blade retainer 60 (not shown) which is held in place by a fastener, such as a threaded screw and nut (not shown). The angle Φ formed between the blade direction 66 and the first handle portion axis 28 is an obtuse angle. The angle Φ is preferably between 95° and 175°, and most preferably between 120° and 165°. This angle Φ allows the scraper to be effectively used in the scraping of overhead ceilings since the users hand and arm can be comfortably situated away from the ceiling surface and thus prevent muscle strain, scraped knuckles, and allows the user to maintain a lower center of gravity, therefore lowering the risk of suffering a dangerous fall. In this first embodiment, the first handle portion 22 and the force-transmitting portion 42 may be formed in one piece which may be a molded polymeric plastic material or a cast metallic alloy. Both the first handle portion 22 and the second handle portion 46 may be textured or provided with ribbing to facilitate secure gripping of the scraper tool 20.
In use, the user positions himself or herself near a ceiling structure, grips the scraper tool 20 by the first handle portion 22 and situates the blade member 50 at an acute angle with the ceiling surface, while applying a force through the force-transmitting portion 42 to the blade member 50 while translating the scraper tool 20 back and forth along the surface to be scraped.
Referring now to
The scraper tool 20′ includes a first handle portion 22′ which has a first end 24′, a second end 26′, and a pistol grip 34′. The handle has a first handle portion axis 28′ (shown in
Turning now to
The blade assembly 40′, comprises a force-transmitting portion 42′ whose main purpose is to transfer and distribute forces applied by a user to a blade member 50′ located at the end which is located distally from the first handle member 22′. The force-transmittal portion 42′ also includes a second handle portion 46′ located near the blade member 50′ for applying additional force to the blade member 50′ while scraping surfaces. The blade member 50′ has an upper surface 52′, a lower surface 54′, a front edge 56′, and a rear portion 58′. The blade member 50′ also has a blade direction 66′ located perpendicularly to the front edge 56′ and in a plane of the lower surface 54′ of the blade member 50′. An acute angle Ψ, shown in
The rear portion 58′ of the blade member 50′ engages the force-transmitting portion 42′ so that force may be transmitted through the force-transmitting portion 42′ to the blade member 50′. Furthermore, the blade member 50′ is held in place by a blade retainer 60′ which is held in place by a fastener, such as a threaded screw 62 and a nut 64.
In this second embodiment, the first handle portion 22′ and the force-transmitting portion 42′ may each be formed of a one-piece construction from molded polymeric plastic material or a cast metallic alloy. In this embodiment, the second handle portion 46′ is integrally molded with the force-transmittal portion 42′. In addition, both the first handle portion 28′ and the second handle portion 46′ may be textured or provided with ribbing to facilitate secure gripping of the scraper tool 20′. Alternately, embodiments may include first handle portions 28′ and the second handle portions 46′ which include soft materials, such as rubber or thermoplastic rubber compounds, closed-cell foams, and the like connected to them, or preferably over-molded in place, to provide enhanced gripping and impact dampening in use.
In the use of the second embodiment, the user positions himself or herself near the surface to be scraped and pivots the blade assembly 40′ to either of the two positions depicted in
In the use of the third embodiment, the user positions himself or herself near the surface to be scraped and pivots the blade assembly 40″ to a position best suited for the particular scraping task. To change the pivotal angle of the blade assembly 40″, the user grasps the scraper tool 20″ by the first handle portion with the thumb situated to depress the button 78′ towards the pivotal axis 70′, thereby releasing the pivot-mechanism locking assembly 76′ for rotation. Then, while depressing the button 78′, the user rotates the blade assembly 40″ to the desired position, where the user then releases the button 78′, thereby allowing the blade assembly to become locked in place. Next, the user grips the scraper tool 20″ by the first handle portion 22″ and situates the blade member 50″ at an acute angle with the surface to be scraped, while applying a force towards the surface to be scraped through the force-transmitting portion 42″ to the blade member 50″ while translating the scraper tool 20″ back and forth along the surface to be scraped.
It should be understood that even though these numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principals of the invention(s) claimed in the appended claims to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
