In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification purposes only.
Moreover, although the present invention was primarily designed for scraping materials, such as wallpaper for example, as well as carrying out other functions related thereto (e.g. facilitating the apposing of new wallpaper on a given surface, facilitating the carrying out of a seam between two adjacent sheets of wallpaper, etc.), it may be used with other types of materials and objects (posters, friezes, paint, hardened glue, thin plaster, cement layers, etc.) and in other fields (such as for scraping ice off windshields and the like, for example), as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as “scraper”, “wall”, “paper”, “removing”, etc., as used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention and includes all other kinds of materials and/or purposes with which the present invention could be used and may be useful. Indeed, although the scraper 1 according to the present invention is preferably used in the renovating industry, it is to be understood by a person skilled in the art that it could be used for any other kind of layer requiring to be partially or entirely removed, as well as for facilitating the affixing of a new layer onto a given surface, for example, as will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow.
Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the expressions “scraper”, “tool”, “device”, “unit”, “apparatus”, and any other equivalent expression known in the art will be used interchangeably. Furthermore, the same applies for any other mutually equivalent expressions, such as “wallpaper”, “carpet”, “varnish” and “paint”, “scraping” and “removing”, as well as “layer” and “material” for example, as well as “connected” and “mounted”, or even “tool” and “blade”, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.
In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises various components and although the preferred embodiment of the scraper 1 as shown consists of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperations thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the scraper 1 and corresponding parts according to the present invention, as briefly explained and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.
Broadly described, the scraper 1 according to the present invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, is a device which, in its preferred intended use, is a wallpaper scraper 1 which is mainly used for removing wallpaper, having been humidified preferably beforehand, as can be easily by a person skilled in the art.
Indeed, according to a preferred embodiment of use of the present wallpaper scraper 1, old wallpaper to be removed, is preferably wetted in a convenient manner such as is known in the art. Following a suitable penetration of the water under the surface to be removed, such as the wallpaper for example, said wallpaper is preferably punched with a series of holes so as to facilitate and improve the penetration of the water into and/or under the wallpaper to be removed. Thus, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the punching of such holes can be carried out with a portion of the blade 3 of the scraper 1 as shown in the accompanying drawings, or with another suitable component thereof which could be provided on the wallpaper scraper 1 and intended specifically to that effect, or even with another component being primarily used for one function, but which could also be used alternatively for another function, as will be explained in greater detail when referring to the roller assembly 17. Preferably also, the surface to be removed is wetted once again, and subsequently, after an appropriate time delay, the wallpaper scraper 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is preferably used by resting the blade 3 of the wallpaper scraper 1 onto a surface to be treated, and preferably between a surface provided with the wallpaper to be removed, and said wallpaper to be removed, such that when advancing the wallpaper scraper 1 or the blade 3 thereof about the surface and into the wallpaper to be removed, said wallpaper will be removed by virtue of the blade 3 of the present wallpaper scraper 1, as can be easily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings.
Indeed, as can be easily understood when referring to
As can be easily understood from the accompanying drawings, and depending on the particular applications for which the present scraper 1 is intended for, the handle 5 thereof is preferably made of a substantially rigid material, such as plastic, and the like, in order to be able to properly sustain corresponding loads subjected thereto by users or other corresponding tools to be used with the scraper 1. Preferably also, so as to enable a more ergonomic and more comfortable and secure grip of the scraper 1, the handle 5 thereof is provided with a corresponding covering 15 intended to that effect. Preferably also, said covering 15 is made of an elastomeric material, such as rubber and the like, for allowing a soft grip ergonomic handling of the scraper 1, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art.
As better shown in
Referring now to the front portion 7 of the scraper 1, and as better illustrated in
As may also be better appreciated when referring to
As may now be better appreciated, the roller assembly 17 of the present scraper 1 does not only enable the scraper 1 to be conveniently and easily displaced about a given surface having a layer to be removed, as can be easily understood from
Indeed, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present scraper 1 could be used for the above-mentioned functions, and thus, the roller assembly 17 could be securely connected to the rear portion 9 of the scraper 1, as illustrated in
As may now be better appreciated in reference to the accompanying drawings, the blade 3 of the scraper 1 according to the present invention is preferably at a given angle so as to facilitate an optimal carrying out of scraping applications and the like. Indeed, the given angle of the blade 3, as better shown in
Preferably also, the blade 3 of the scraper 1 according to the present invention is preferably treated metallurgically by means of a suitable treating process so as to resist to wear when used against different types of material and surfaces.
Preferably also, and as can be easily understood when referring to
It can be easily understood also from the accompanying drawings that according to the present invention, the present scraper 1 allows the palm of the hand of a given user to be conveniently rested at the extremity of the handle 5 so as to allow for a greater force and leverage with the scraper. Furthermore, as can be easily understood therefrom, the hand of a user is free from the wall during the use of the present scraper 1.
Preferably also, and as better shown in
Preferably also, the covering 15 of the handle 5 or of other portions of the present scraper 1, and the rest thereof, are preferably selected so as to be of different colors, and different contrasting colors, so as to provide for a very attractive design of the scraper 1, and so as to enable to commercialize the present scraper 1 under the colors of the corresponding manufacturers, for example. Furthermore, the handle 5 or other corresponding portions of the scraper 1 may be provided with suitable continuous or discontinuous strands of numbers, letters, and/or other symbols conveying information, so as to transmit to the user corresponding information regarding the scraper 1, its distributor, and/or its manufacturer, via a corresponding logo for example, or other suitable display of information. For example, a logo could be provided on the present scraper 1 according to a double-molding process such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,868 having been obtained by the Assignee of the present application, the content of this US patent being incorporated herein by reference.
As also better shown in
As previously explained, and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scraper 1 comprises at least one elongated flat blade 3 adapted for scraping a surface and mounted on a rigid front portion 7, a handle 5 connected to the front portion 7 and at least one roller 17 mounted on a rear portion 9 connected with the handle 5.
Preferably also, the handle 5 is rigidly connected to the front and rear portions 7,9, but alternatively, the handle 5 could also be removably connected to said portions 7,9.
Preferably also, the handle 5 is substantially rigid and preferably has the shape of a substantially hollow cylinder partially covered with an anti-skid rubber.
Preferably also, each of the rigid front and rear portions 7,9 forms respectively with the handle 5 an appropriate angle so to provide a room for a user's hand, as better shown in
According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method for using the scraper 1 for removing wallpaper.
As previously explained, the at least one elongated flat blade 3 is adapted for scraping a surface and mounted on a rigid front portion 7. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided one blade 3 with an angle preset to optimize the performance of the wallpaper scraper 1. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that in another embodiment of the invention, more than one blade 3 is preferably used and that there is preferably provided embodiments wherein the blade's angle is adjustable and wherein the blade 3 is interchangeable. For a longer lasting of the blade 3, the blade 3 is preferably quenched or plated, as aforementioned. Thus, the blade 3 stands up to wear and corrosion. Preferably, the edges of the blade 3 are rounded to prevent unwanted damaging of the wallpaper.
Preferably, and as also previously explained, the handle 5 of the scraper 1 is rigid and has the shape of a substantially hollow cylinder. As the handle 5 is substantially empty, it is lighter and requires less effort from a user. Preferably, the hand palm of the user leans on the handle 5 for more strength. For the convenience of the user, the handle 5 is designed to be a soft grip ergonomic handle 5 and overlaid with a rubber. Preferably, the handle 5 is partially covered with an anti-skid elastomeric covering 15, as better shown in
As also previously explained, the wallpaper scraper 1 also comprises at least one roller 17 mounted on a rigid rear portion 9 connected to the handle 5. Preferably also, only one roller 17 is mounted on the apparatus. Advantageously, the roller 17 limits the friction of the tool with the supporting surface and thus directly helps increasing the effectiveness of the effort of a user. The roller 17 serves as a guiding roller 17. The roller 17 stabilizes the apparatus and prevents from gouging the wall. The roller 17 is preferably elongated and has a smooth surface so not to damage the surface.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as best shown in
As it is more convenient for workers to dispose of multitasking tools, various embodiments for the present invention are preferably provided, for example, wherein the handle 5 is detachable from the rigid front and rear portions 7,9. Thus, the user is capable of detaching the assembly to use the scraper 1 without the roller 17, or the roller 17 without the scraper 1, to reach specific areas or to exert specific pressures. Thus, the handle 5 is preferably kept or removed as an extension for the scraper 1 or the roller 17. Thus, when posing a new wallpaper, the roller 17 can be detached and be used such as a conventional roller as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art, so as to press the wallpaper against a surface, or facilitate seam formations thereof.
It can also be easily understood that the design of a wallpaper scraper according to the present invention is preferably improved for more attractiveness of the product on the shelves of the providers. Features, such as colour or logo, could also be chosen according to different brand names or advertisements, as aforementioned.
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for using the wallpaper scraper 1 to remove old wallpaper. The method preferably comprises the steps of a) wetting the surface carrying the wallpaper to be removed with water or any suitable liquid facilitating the unsticking of the wallpaper; b) using a wallpaper perforator, drill or puncher, or the scraper 1 itself, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art in light of the aforementioned, for perforating the wet wallpaper for a better penetration of the water into and/or under the wallpaper; c) preferably, wetting the surface again; d) using the wallpaper scraper, holding the handle 5 firmly, pressing towards the blade's side for penetrating the blade 3 between the wallpaper and wall; e) sliding the wallpaper scraper 1 forth to scrap and detach the wallpaper; and f) bringing the wallpaper scraper 1 from back to forth and restarting from step d). This method of use will of course be adapted depending on the above described embodiments and the convenience of the user. The initial angle of the blade 3 at step b) and the guiding roller 17 preferably prevent the apparatus from damaging the wall.
It is worth mentioning also that several modifications could be made to the present scraper without departing from the scope of the present invention, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example, in one particular embodiment, corresponding means could be provided so as to selectively adjust the tilt angle of the front and rear portions 7,9 of the scraper 1 with respect to the handle 5 thereof, as well as to selectively adjust other components thereof with respect to other adjacent components, such as the blade 3 with respect to the front portion 7, or the roller assembly 17 with respect to the rear portion 9 thereof.
Furthermore, and as can be easily understood from
Finally, and according to the present invention, the scraper 1 and corresponding parts are preferably made of substantially rigid materials, such as metallic materials (stainless steel, etc.—particularly for the blade 3), hardened polymers, composite materials, and/or the like, whereas other components thereof (e.g. covering 15 of the handle 5, etc.) according to the present invention, in order to achieve the resulting advantages briefly discussed herein, are preferably made of a suitably malleable and resilient material, such as a polymeric material (plastic, rubber, etc.), and/or the like, depending on the particular applications for which the scraper 1 and resulting tool assembly are intended for and the different parameters in cause (load applied to the blade 3 and handle 5, required grip of the handle 5, etc.), as apparent to a person skilled in the art.
Furthermore, the present invention is a substantial improvement over the prior art in that, by virtue of its design and components, the scraper 1 is simple and easy to use, as well as is simple and easy to manufacture and/or assemble, without compromising the reliability of its functions. Hence, it may now be appreciated that the present invention represents important advantages over other scrapers known in the prior art, as briefly explained hereinabove.
Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
The present application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/836,363 dated Aug. 9, 2006, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60836363 | Aug 2006 | US |