GB2433045A

GB2433045A - Apparatus for catching dust

Info

Publication number: GB2433045A
Application number: GB0524868A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Stuart Hardy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-06
Filing date: 2005-12-06
Publication date: 2007-06-13
Also published as: GB0524868D0

Abstract

There is described an apparatus for catching dust produced by drilling at a drill site in a wall. The apparatus comprises a receptacle 32 having an aperture, means for maintaining said aperture in an open condition to catch drill dust ejected from the drill site during drilling, and means for releasably-mounting said apparatus on the wall adjacent the drill site. The means for releasably mounting the apparatus may comprise an adhesive strip 26. A further adhesive strip may also be provided so that a front panel 22 and a back panel 20 can be sealed after use of the apparatus. Preferably the apparatus is laminated with a plastics material, and can be statically charged to attract drill dust during use.

Description

1 2433045 Apparatus for catching dust The present invention relates to

the technical fields of building and carpentry.

In particular, it relates to drilling.

Building and carpentry, and DIY in general, involve a lot of mess, e.g. sawdust produced when sawing. Drilling in particular produces much unwanted waste from the hole that has been drilled.

Complex cup-like devices have been made which fit over a drill body at one end and engage a surface to be drilled at the other such that swarf is captured in the device (see e.g. US 5,653,561 and US 5,061,123). However, each device is specific to the drill. An alternative way of catching dust is to tape a plastic bag beneath the area to be drilled. However, this presents a problem when using electric drills in particular, since they blow the bag around so that it is unable to collect the dust and can even close it completely half way through drilling, especially as the drill gets nearer to it, with obvious consequences.

A further alternative solution to this problem is to tape an envelope under the drill site. However, an envelope's natural position is closed and constant creasing and bending becomes necessary to maintain it in an open position.

Also an envelope that has been opened out has an opening that tapers to its corners allowing dust to escape at the edges, and the outside edge tends to be low also allowing dust moving away from the drilling surface to be missed.

This is particularly important when starting a hole or removing a still turning drill bit from the hole as it tends to drag more dust out with it and flick it further than during the rest of the process when there is normally a relatively even flow of dust.

According to one aspect, there is provided an apparatus for catching dust produced by drilling at a drill site in a wall comprising a receptacle having an aperture, means for maintaining said aperture in an open condition to catch drill dust ejected from the drill site during drilling, and means for releasably-mounting said apparatus on the wall adjacent the drill site.

The means for maintaining the aperture in an open position advantageously produces a large and well defined catchment area for the dust, and the means for releasably-mounting allows the apparatus to be positioned close to the source of the dust. This may enable the collection of dust without the need for protection of surfaces on which dust may fall, and/or remove the need to clean said surfaces after drilling has been completed.

As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the apparatus is not limited for use in conjunction with walls, but may be used in conjunction with any surface being drilled, for example wooden or masonry surfaces. Providing an apparatus that is held in a defined, open configuration may alleviate the problem associated with prior art systems in which a bag is taped under the drill area that bags do not hold their shape well in this position. They tend to sag or distort under their own weight or due to creases or folds in their material making for an uneven and unpredictable opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for releasably-mounting the receptacle comprises at least one adhesive strip. Preferably, the adhesive is sufficiently strong to fix the apparatus securely to the surface but is also readily releasable from the surface by the user.

Preferably, the adhesive strip comprises a non-marking adhesive strip. Hence the apparatus may be applied to the surface being drilled, such as a painted wall, without marking the surface.

It is a further preferred feature of the invention to provide an apparatus wherein the at least one adhesive strip is covered with a protective strip which is removed before use.

Preferably, the apparatus is designed to help reduce air movement around the area of drilling.

Preferably, the apparatus is a disposable apparatus. Hence the receptacle may be used to catch the dust from a single drilling session or for a limited period of time and may then be thrown away with the drill dust collected. This may provide a convenient way for a user to collect and dispose of the drilling debris.

It is a further preferred feature of the invention to provide an apparatus which has pre-defined folds which allows the receptacle to be substantially flat-packed. These folds advantageously are able to maintain the aperture of the receptacle. The apparatus may be supplied to the user in a ready-made but flat pack format, or may require some self-assembly using predefined folding lines and pre-prepared adhesive areas.

It is a further preferred feature of the invention to provide an apparatus made from paper or a paper derivative. Alternatively, the apparatus may be manufactured from plastic.

In a preferred embodiment the paper apparatus may be laminated with plastic. This may provide a more durable apparatus.

It is a further preferred feature to provide an apparatus on which a static charge can be provided on the surface of the apparatus during use.

Advantageously, such a static charge may attract the dust particles, and particularly the smaller dust particles, to the receptacle, preventing them being carried away by any air disturbances produced by the drilling or natural environmental conditions.

It is a preferred feature of the invention to provide means for sealing the receptacle in a closed position. Preferably the apparatus comprises an adhesive strip on an inside surface of the receptacle which acts to seal the receptacle after use when an opposing surface is pressed onto it.

It is a further preferred feature of the invention to provide the receptacle with at least one indicium. The indicium may comprise a name or logo, for example the logo of the company that has manufactured or distributed the apparatus, or the logo of a third party company. Alternatively, the indicium may comprise a brand name for the apparatus itself and/or information relating to the use of the apparatus, such as instructions for its use.

Preferably the apparatus has an opening defined by the receptacle of at least about 3 cm in width, preferably at least about 6cm. In most embodiment, the width of the receptacle is most about 20 cm.

It is a further preferred feature of the invention to provide an apparatus wherein the receptacle measures at least about 4 cm in length, preferably at least about 7 cm in length. The receptacle preferably measures at most about 30 cm in length, preferably at most 20 cm in length.

It is a further preferred feature of the invention to provide an apparatus wherein the receptacle measures at least about 3 cm in depth, preferably at least about 5 cm in depth. The receptacle preferably measures at most about 20 cm in depth, preferably at most about 15 cm in depth.

The present invention preferably also provides for a kit comprising at least one apparatus according to the present invention and at least one drill bit.

The apparatus can be reusable or disposable, or reusable in the short term but ultimately disposable.

Preferably the weight of the material from which the apparatus is manufactured is sufficient to prevent the receptacle being blown around in the airstream produced by the drill. Preferably, an apparatus manufactured from paper uses a paper of weight at least 50 grams per square meter (gsm), preferably at least 8ogsm. In one embodiment, the apparatus may be manufactured from thick paper or cardboard.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a template for an apparatus according to one embodiment; Figure 2 shows an apparatus made using the template shown in Figure 1 according to one embodiment; Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus in use.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a receptacle 32 which may be defined by a back panel 20, which can lie against a wall or the like, a front panel 22 and at least two side panels 24. The aperture of the receptacle may be maintained by the side panels 24, which permit a separation between the back panel 20 and the front panel 22. The side panels may comprise at least one fold per panel which enables the receptacle to be flat-packed. Each side panel can be, independently, integral with either the back panel 20 or the front panel 22, and may further comprise a fixing section 28 which may be attachable to the back/front panel on which the side panel 24 is not integrated.

Side panels 24 folded along the outside edge pointing away from the surface to be drilled may add rigidity and help control air movement.

The fixing section 28 may comprise an adhesive strip on either side to enable fixing to the respective panel. The top edge of the side panels 24 is not required to be flush with either the leading edge of the back panel 20 or the front panel 22. However, it is preferable that the region where each side panel 24 meets the bottom part of the receptacle does not include a gap, to prevent dust falling from the receptacle. Preferably, there is no gap between each side panel 24 and the main fold 36 at the bottom of the receptacle 32.

The receptacle may be folded for flat storage but is designed to be able to fold out easily to provide the maximum catchment area for dust, whilst having enough inherent stiffness/rigidity when folded out to maintain its shape throughout the drilling process.

The back panel 20 may also comprise means for releasably mounting the receptacle 32 on the wall. This may be preferably in the form of an adhesive strip 26 which provides for temporary attachment of the receptacle 32 to a wall. The strip 26 may preferably be positioned so that the leading edge of the back panel 20 may lie flush against the wall 44. This is advantageous when drilling because the dust produced does not therefore have an opportunity to fall behind the back panel 20. The device will be most effective when the catcher is close up under the hole being drilled.

It is important that the type of adhesive used does not leave any marks on the wall, and that it may be preferably repeatedly used without losing its effective adhesiveness. In use, the receptacle 32 may be placed approximately underneath and near to the point of drilling 34 to maximise the amount of dust that can be caught.

The receptacle 32 may further comprise at least one adhesive strip which is located on the inside surface of back panel 20 and/or front panel 22. The adhesive strip may be placed away from the main fold 36 so that when the back and front panels 20, 22 are pressed together a seal is formed which may enclose enough of the bottom of the receptacle 32 to fully contain the dust within it.

Preferably, the front panel is provided with a catching lip 42 having a flap 40 extending therefrom to catch dust with falls just outside of the mouth of the receptacle. The flap 40 may add further rigidity to the device.

The receptacle 32 of the present invention may also be used for advertising purposes. The outward facing side of the front panel 22 may be preferably used for this means.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention can be made from a template 18. The template 18 can further comprise guidance lines or scores 30 to indicate where folds are to be made in order to form the receptacle 32. This is particularly useful if the receptacle is to be sold in template form, where the user has to make the receptacle up prior to use.

The apparatus of present invention may be distributed as part of a kit, wherein the kit may comprise at least one template 18 or receptacle 32 and at least one drill bit.

The apparatus of the present invention may be manufactured from any suitable material, including paper, card or plastic, preferably paper or plastic.

Where the apparatus is manufactured from plastic, the plastic may be preferably laminated. If the receptacle 32 is made of plastic, and in particular laminated plastic, a static charge may be place on the apparatus 32 which can attract small dust particles onto the surfaces of the receptacle 32. This static charge may be produced by any well-known means, including e.g. rubbing the plastic with a piece of cloth.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled person that there are many shapes and sizes that may be appropriate to achieve the same purpose of the present apparatus. There are at least three dimensions to consider: the width of the opening (i.e. the opening defined by the aperture which is the distance on a substantially horizontal axis from the wall/back panel to the front panel), the length of the receptacle (i.e. the length from one side panel to the other), and the depth of the receptacle (i.e. the depth from the opening to the bottom fold). The dimensions of the apparatus may depend on the job that it is to be used for. Preferably the apparatus may be provided in a number of different sizes to allow the user to select an appropriate size for the proposed task.

It has been found that the area over which drill dust is distributed depends on factors such as the size of the hole being drilled, the rpm of the drill bit and the material into which the hole is being drilled. However, it has been found that, for most purposes, a significant proportion of the drill dust produced by the drill is captured by a receptacle having an opening width of at least around 5cm and a length of at least around 10cm. The depth of the receptacle should be sufficient to trap dust which falls into it and should preferably be at least around 5cm. It has been found that a receptacle having a triangular crosssection may be particularly effective in trapping dust which falls into it during the drilling process.

Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of the apparatus in use. The back panel 26 of the receptacle 32 is attached flush to a wall 46 at a point just below the drill 48 is drilling a hole in the wall 46 to catch dust produced by the drilling.

It will be clear to one skilled in the art that variations to the apparatus described above may be provided. In particular, the size and shape of the apparatus may vary as appropriate to the task being performed.

Claims

Claims: 1. An apparatus for catching dust produced by drilling at a

drill site in a wall comprising a receptacle having an aperture, means for maintaining said aperture in an open condition to catch drill dust ejected from the drill site during drilling, and means for releasably-mounting said apparatus on the wall adjacent the drill site.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the means for releasably-mounting the receptacle comprises at least one adhesive strip.

3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein the adhesive strip comprises a non-marking adhesive.

4. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is a disposable apparatus.

5. The apparatus of preceding claim which has pre-defined folds which allows the receptacle to be substantially flat-packed.

6. The apparatus of preceding claim wherein said receptacle is made from paper or a paper derivative.

7. The apparatus of Claim 6 wherein the paper is laminated with plastic.

8. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is charged with a static charge to attract the drill dust during use.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claim further comprising means for sealing the receptacle in a closed position.

10. The apparatus Claim 9 wherein the means for sealing the receptacle in a closed position comprises an adhesive strip on an inside surface of the receptacle which acts to seal the receptacle after use when an opposing surface is pressed onto it.

11. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the receptacle further comprises at least one indicium.

12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the opening defined by the receptacle is at least about 3 cm in width, preferably at least about 7cm.

13. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the opening defined by the receptacle is at most about 20 cm in width.

14. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims which measures at least about 3 cm in length, preferably at least about 6 cm in length.

15. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims which measures at least about 3 cm in depth, preferably at least about 5 cm in depth.

16. The apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus is manufactured from paper having a weight of at least 5ogsm, preferably at least 8Ogsm.

17. A kit comprising at least one apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and at least one drill bit.

18. Apparatus substantially as any one herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.