GB2499678A

GB2499678A - Brush with scraper

Info

Publication number: GB2499678A
Application number: GB1203399.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nathan William
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-27
Filing date: 2012-02-27
Publication date: 2013-08-28
Also published as: GB201203399D0

Abstract

A scraper comprises a rectangular rigid blade fixed to a mounting with a shoulder and a holed collar. In use the hole of the collar engages with the handle of a broom, the mounting being held in place relative to the broom, and thus holding the blade at an acute angle to the bristles of the broom. The mounting may be flexible or bendable, and the blade may be hinged, so that it may be folded out of the way of the bristles when the brush is in use.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

NATHAN WILLIAM FOR

A PLASTER SCRAPER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plaster scraper, more particularly a scraper for dislodging plaster or other detritus stuck to a surface.

Background

Increasing numbers of people prefer new build homes and businesses, and an increasing number of users are additionally or in the alternative replastering a variety of places, for example texturised ceilings, older lathe and plaster walls.

Plastering can be messy work, leading to many blobs of plaster being left on surfaces below, such as flooring.

Typically in older properties appropriate precautions are put in place, for example covering floors.

In new build properties however with no carpets laid, or those with wooden, linoleum or other solid flooring, such precautions may not be taken, although plaster will stick to wooden floors and accordingly causes problems in removal, for both workers and the flooring.

Typically a user will need to operate two different tools, namely a scraper for dislodging plaster, and a brush or broom for moving the dislodged plaster and/or other detritus.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following:

International patent application WO 9 633 648 (BROOKS) discloses a scraper for a cleaning tool for a floor or ground surface, the cleaning tool having a handle and a head supporting at least one cleaning element, and a handle support for use in connecting the handle to the head, wherein the scraper is capable of being carried by the tool either by means of a gripping action on the head, or by means of the handle support which is adapted to be fixed through the scraper to the head, or by being integral with the head.

Granted French patent FR 2 822 669 (CHANEY) discloses a scraper that has a blade attached to a handle by a mounting which allows an additional tool, e.g. a brush to be attached.

Granted United States patent US 6 481 041 (INGRAM) discloses a tool for removing snow and ice from a vehicle, the tool comprising: a handle having a central portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, and a long axis; a grip attached to the central portion of the handle and presenting a substantially slip-resistant surface; a brush having bristles of a length, density, size, and material suitable for removing the snow from the vehicle, wherein the bristles are all oriented substantially parallel to a plane; a pivot mechanism comprising a spring-loaded knob operable to pivotally couple the brush to the first end portion of the handle in such a manner as to allow the brush to be securely positioned by a plurality of detents at various angles relative to the handle by depressing, turning, and releasing the knob, wherein the various angles include - first position wherein the plane of the bristles is perpendicular to the long axis of the handle so as to facilitate pushing the snow from the vehicle, and - a second position wherein the plane of the bristles is parallel to the long axis of the handle; and an ice scraper secured to the second end portion of the handle and suitable for removing ice from the vehicle.

Granted United States patent US 6 442 784 (BILGER) discloses a combination foxtail brush and retractable razor blade scraper used in various types of flooring and wall construction, the combination comprising:a brush handle with a handle base, said handle base having a first end and a second end, the second end of said handle base enlarged for receiving a razor blade thereon, said razor blade having a width in a range of 1 to 21/2 inches; brush bristles attached to and extending outwardly from said handle base; a razor blade slide slidably received on top of and along a length of

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said handle base, said razor blade attached to one end of said razor blade slide, said slide having a push button mounted on and extending upwardly from an opposite end thereof; and a base cap, said base cap releasably attached to said handle base, said push button of said slide received through an opening in said base cap, said push button used for operating said razor blade slide.

Granted United States patent US 6 694 561 (HARRISON) discloses a sweeping device having an actuating means, the sweeping device including a surface contacting means, a handle connected to the surface contacting means and a friction reducing means, in which the friction reducing means is adapted to enable the lifting of the surface contacting means of the sweeping device from the surface being swept or scraped upon user actuation of the actuating means.

Granted European patent EP 0 494 020 (JOHNSON et al) discloses a handle of a broom that has a bent end mounted rotatably and immobilised in translation in a frame; a scraper is, moreover, mounted at the tip of the said bent end and extends close to the front face of the frame and parallel to this face so that, by rotation of the handle about its axis, either the brush or the scraper is placed in contact with the floor (ground) whereas the tilt of the said handle is unchanged.

Canadian patent application CA 2 133 060 (JUBINVILLE) discloses a scraper device for attachment to a broom of the type having a head and a handle, the handle having a lower end for mounting to the head and an upper end, the scraper device comprising: (a) a handle mounting member for connecting the scraper device to the handle, the handle mounting member defining an aperture which is sized to permit the handle to be accepted therein; (b) a blade carrying member depending from the handle mounting member so that when the handle is mounted to the head and the upper end of the handle is passed through the aperture and the handle mounting member is positioned adjacent the lower end of the handle, the blade carrying

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member extends downwards and forwards over the head; (c) means for anchoring the scraper device when it is attached to the broom so that upward movement of the scraper device relative to the handle is restricted; and (d) a scraper blade located along the edge of the blade carrying member opposite the handle mounting member, so that debris may be scraped from a surface by the scraper device when the orientation of the broom is reversed from that normally used for sweeping.

In contrast the present invention provides a means to provide a dual purpose tool, adapted for two independent uses.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a plaster scraper comprising of: a rectangular rigid blade, on a mounting with a shoulder and a holed collar, said mounting holding the blade at an acute angle to a brush in use.

In this way or through further enhancements the blade is best enabled to dislodge or scrape underneath any stuck plaster, and given the scraper's acute angle mounting in relation to the handle, is further enabled to approach the plaster at an angle closer to and closer to being contiguous to the floor, by more natural positioning of the handle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the holed collar is included in the shoulder and is pierced in use by a broom handle and is in the addition or the alternative held in place in relation to a broom head by said handle.

The shoulder typically therefore carries the blade and lays or connects to the broom or brush head.

In further embodiments the brush may be smaller, such as for paint or varnish removal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention the handle will hold the collar and/or shoulder to the broom when in use, wherein the collar may fit between the handle and broom head.

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Other embodiments may include adhesive materials, clamping, or installation of the scraper at manufacture.

In preferred embodiments the mounting is provided with a flexible or elastic nature or portion, wherein the mounting allows a user to chip or scrape at stuck plaster on a floor, and face no risk of damage to the blade, broom or floor.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention in some embodiments the blade is curvilinear, curved or scooped in order that the blade may be less likely to cause damage to a floor when used to scrape along it.

In preferred embodiments the blade's edge is tapered in a manner that improves said properties, for example being flat on a lower face and tapered to the upper face, in order that the upper face slides below plaster or other detritus stuck to a floor.

Alternatively or in addition the blade or mounting may be flexible or bendable, in order that vertical pressure may be exerted onto the blade and it may deform towards an angle closer to parallel to the floor, and consequently may be better disposed to be slid under plaster stuck to the floor.

A flexible blade or blade part may further enable the blade to seek optimal position under the plaster.

This may allow for example that the user may lean on the broom handle and push forward simultaneously, forcing the blade below the plaster.

In some embodiments there may be included an extension or member, upon which the user may pivot and lift the blade and plaster.

This member may extend behind the mounting, and may be hinged, for example being hinged from the shoulder to be used when required.

In addition the angle of the scraper is well disposed for exerting pressure on the floor without excessive force from the user, being at an angle to the floor that closer corresponds to horizontal, and may in some embodiments be made more appropriate to a particular user.

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For example, in some embodiments the angle of the scraper to the broom may be alterable by the user to accommodate the user's height, for example wherein the shoulder contains a ratchet hinge and/or lock.

In this way the handle does not need to be disposed at a difficult angle to the floor in order to use the scraper.

This ensures that a user is not required to bend low or be overly exerted in scraping the floor.

This in turn minimises chances of damage to the floor. In some embodiments instead of the blade being scooped the mounting may scoop the blade or more particularly may be formed with a handle end and blade, wherein the mounting's form provide the blade end at an angle divergent from the handle end.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a sketch of a scraper in use on a broom;

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Figure 2 shows a second sketch of a scraper in use on a broom;

Figure 3 shows a sketch of a scraper;

Figure4 shows a sketch of a scraper;

Figure 5 shows a sketch of a scraper;

And

Figure 6 shows a sketch of a scraper in use on a broom.

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Claims

1. A plaster scraper comprising of: a rectangular rigid blade, on a mounting with a shoulder and a holed collar, said mounting holding the blade at an acute angle to a brush in use.

2. A scraper according to claim 1 wherein the holed collar is included in the shoulder and is pierced in use by a broom handle and is in the addition or the alternative held in place in relation to a broom head by said handle.

3. A scraper according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the handle will hold the collar and/or shoulder to the broom.

4. A scraper according to the preceding claims wherein the shoulder holds the blade.

5. A scraper according to claim 4 wherein the shoulder angle with respect to the collar may be user defined.

6. A scraper according to a preceding claim wherein the mounting includes flexible parts.

7. A broom incorporating a scraper according to any preceding claim.

8. A brush incorporating a scraper according to any of preceding claims 1 to 5.

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