US3328878A - Scraping device - Google Patents

Description

July 4, 1957 H. B. ENGINEER SGRAPING DEVI CE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1965 SCRAPING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor I H 5. Engineer United States Patent "ice SCRAPING DEVICE Homi Behram Engineer, 11 Lilford Road, London SE. 5, England Filed June 39, 1965, Ser. No. 468,389 Claims priority, application Great Britain, July 6, 1964,

Claims. (Cl. 30-172) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scraping device adapted to be held in the hand, comprising a plurality of blade-locating elements slidably and detachably mounted side-by-side on a backing member. The blade-locating elements, which are resiliently urged together, define therebetween a plurality of generally parallel slots, each intended to contain a blade positioned with its sharp edge projecting from its slot, and its rear edge in engagement with the backing member.

The present invention relates to a device for scraping woodwork, paint or other material, which removes the surface of the material being scraped as a fine powder, and can be used in place of the conventional sandpaper block.

The present invention consists in a scraping device comprising a block, adapted to be held in the hand, having projecting from one face thereof a plurality of blades which extend substantially parallel to one another and in spaced apart relation with the sharp edges of the blades projecting a short distance from the said face, in which the blades are mounted in slots extending across the said face and formed by a plurality of blade locating elements detachably mounted side-by-side on a backing member of resilient or flexible material against which the rear edges of the blades are supported when inserted in the slots.

The device is used by moving it back and forth with the projecting blades applied against the surface to be scraped. By lightly pressing on the device when the blades are in engagement with the surface to be scraped, the sharp edges of the blades will align themselves in a common plane.

By flexing the backing member, the slots can be opened to insert or remove the blades. Means may be provided for retaining the block in the unflexed position, for example an elastic band may extend around the blade locating elements.

In one embodiment of the invention, the backing member comprises a strip of resilient synthetic plastic material. The individual blade locating elements, which are also preferably moulded from a synthetic plastic material, may be provided with aligned passages extending therethrough, through which the backing member passes when the device is assembled. Preferably the passages in the two outermost elements are closed at their outer ends to keep the backing member in position.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from below, partly cut away, of one embodiment of the scraping device according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section on the line AA of FIG. 1, and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of adevice for breaking double-edged blades into two separate blades, for use with the device shown in FIGURES l and 2, and FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through a modified scraping device.

3,328,878 Patented July 4, 1967 Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the scraping device comprises a plurality of generally rectangular, hollow, blade locating elements 1, for example four elements, moulded from a synthetic plastic material. Each element 1 is formed with a transversely extending web 2 which divides the element 1 into upper and lower sections, the lower section being sub-divided into comparatively wide, longitudinal channels by a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced, webs or ribs 3, and the upper section constituting a passage 4 for receiving a backing member 5. The two outermost blade locating elements are each provided with an outer wall 6 which closes at least the upper section, and preferably both sections, whilst the opposed or facing edges of adjacent elements 1, and the webs or ribs 3, which define the sides of generally parallel vertical blade-receiving slots 1a are formed with semi-circular recesses 7.

The blade locating elements 1 are mounted side-byside on the backing member 5 and are a close sliding fit on the member 5. The member 5 comprises a strip or sheet of flexible and resilient synthetic plastic material, extending through the passages 4 in the elements 1 to a position adjacent each end wall 6 of the two outermost elements. The backing member 5 is provided with pairs of transversely extending recesses 8 in opposite surfaces thereof which extend across the junction between adjacent elements 1, reducing the mass or cross-section of the backing member and increasing its flexibility.

To retain the elements 1 assembled together on the member 5, the elements 1 are provided with a peripheral step 9 around the lower section within which is located an elastic band 10.

As shown in the drawings, a blade 11 is located in each slot 1a. The blades 11 are inserted into their respective slots by first flexing the device about the backing member 5, and in particular about the more flexible portions thereof having the recesses 8, to open the slots, and then placing a blade 11 in each slot with the inner or blunt edge thereof bearing against one of the recesses 8 in the backing member 5. The device is then released enabling it to restore to its unflexed position due to the resilience of the backing member 5 and the tension of the elastic band 10, thereby closing the slots and gripping the blades.

As will be seen from FIGURE 2, a clearance is provided between the ends of the backing member and the end walls 6 so that it is the blades not the backing member which are compressed between the elements 1 by the elastic band 10, even when the blade engaging edges of the elements 1 become worn, different thickness blades are used, or one or more blades are omitted. Moreover, the clearance permits sliding movement of the backing member 5 as will be described later.

It will be seen that the thickness of the blades is slightly greater than the depth of the slots 10 so that the shapened cutting edges of the former project slightly beyond the fiat lower face of the device. The blades 11 may each comprise one half of a conventional double-edged safety razor blade, or, for example, of a blade forming the subject of applicants British Registered Design No. 908,980, the double-edged blade being simply snapped along the slot or aperture therein which extends parallel to the cutting edges of the blade to produce the blades 11.

When the device is in use, and the blades are in compression, the resilience of the recessed portions of the backing member 5 against which the inner edges of the blades 11 bear, enables a degree of self-alignment of the cutting edges. Since the inner edges of the blades 11 locate in the recesses 8, the distance of the lower face of the device from the backing member 5, and therefore the upper face of the device, may be reduced for a particular thickness of blade, thereby enabling the mass of the device, and therefore the elements 1 to be reduced.

Since the backing member is more resilient than the material being scraped, the blades tend to retract into the device under pressure during use, resulting in the removal of the surface of the material as a powder rather than as scraps or chips. Material removed during scraping is free to accumulate in the channels between the ribs 3, and the tendency of the device to become clogged by buildup of such waste material is thereby reduced.

Due to the fact that the backing member 5 is separate from and slidable with respect to all of the elements 1, the elements are capable of being urged apart against the resilience of the elastic band by the blades, so that the blades are permitted to deflect during use, out of their plane perpendicular to the surface of the device from which they project, so as not to stick into the material being scraped. This deflection, in addition to permitting self alignment of the blades, also reduces the tendency of the blades to blunting. During this deflecting motion, the backing member is capable of sliding back and forth in the passages 4 with the inner edges of the blades, so that little or no sliding movement, and therefore wear occurs between the said inner edges and backing member. The blades are also permitted to flex in the perpendicular plane due to the provision of the recesses 7, due to which the blades are supported along two spaced lines.

Although the slots 1a are shown at approximately 90 to the lower face of he device, to the side edges of the device, and are parallel to one another, the slots in may be disposed at an angle with respect to the side edges of the device, and also may be inclined relative to the lower face thereof.

By moulding the blade locating elements 1 separately from the backing member 5, instead of permanently bonding these components together, the assembly costs may be reduced, and the device may be easily dismantled for cleaning or replacements of damaged parts.

In order to simplify snapping of the blades, a device as shown in FIGURE 3 may be employed. This device may comprise two generally rectangular plates 12a, 12b moulded from a synthetic plastic material which are provided with interengaging projections 13 and recesses 14. In use, the blade 11 is sandwiched between the two plates 12a and 12b, with the projections 13 extending through the slot 11a in the blade to locate the blade in such a position that only the positions 11b at opposite ends of the slot 11a project from between the plates. These portions 11b are then pressed in turn against a table or other immovable surface whilst the plates are held together in the hand, to snap off projecting portions 11b and divide the blade where it projects from the blade into two halves.

Although the backing member 5 may be resilient, this is not essential, since alignment of the blades may be effected solely by their deflection as previously described. In fact, the backing member may be rigid, i.e. nonflexible as well as nonresilient, widening of the slots for insertion or removal of the blades being simply effected by pulling the elements apart on the backing member against the action of the elastic band 10, instead of by flexing the backing member.

Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous when only three blade-locating elements and two blades are employed, as shown in FIGURE 4, since no vertical alignment of the blades is required. From this figure, it will be seen that the device is basically similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the exception that the backing member 5 is non-resilient, for example comprises a spring steel strip, recessed at 8 in one surface only. In addition, the transverse web 2 of each element is relieved in the region of the slot, and a supplemental passage 4' is provided between the web 2 and a second transverse web carrying the ribs 3, to afford clearance for the thickened inner end 11 of a blade engaging in the recess 8. This clearance ensures that the blade is clamped only between the ribs 3.

If it is desired to employ blades having a reduced vertical thickness, for example, the blades shown in FIGURE 2, these may be accommodated without reducing the distance by which the blades project from the device, by turning over the member 5 so that the surface of the member having the recesses 8 faces upwardl and the blades bear against the un-recessed surface of the member 5.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the hacking member of the device shown in FIGURES l and 2 may be non-resilient, and/ or non-flexible. The blade locating elements and/ or the backing member may be made from the same or different synthetic plastics materials or may be made from materials other than plastics. In this respect, the backing member may be formed from a natural rubber.

The backing member, instead of being entirely separate from the blade locating elements may be moulded integrally with, or secured to, one of them.

The scraping devices illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, and FIGURE 3 accommodate three and two blades respectively, but it will be understood that by the provision of more or less locating elements and a longer or shorter backing member respectively, the device may accommodate a larger or smaller number of blades respectively.

I claim:

1. A scraping device comprising a block, adapted to be held in the hand, having projecting from one face thereof a plurality of blades which extend substantially parallel to one another and in spaced apart relation with the sharp edges of the blades projecting a short distance from the said face, in which the blades are mounted in slots extending across the said face and formed by a plurality of blade locating elements detachably mounted side-by-side on a backing member against which the rear edges of the blades are supported when inserted in the slots, the backing member comprising a strip-like member which extends through, and is slidable within, aligned passages in the blade-locating elements, the passages in the two outermost elements being closed at their outer ends.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein transversely extending recesses are formed in at least one surface of the backing member, which recesses extend across the junctions between adjacent elements.

3. A device according to claim I wherein the backing member comprises a strip of resilient synthetic plastic material.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the backing member comprises a strip of non-resilient material.

5. A scraping device comprising a plurality of separate blade locating elements, moulded from a synthetic plastic material, all slidably and detachably mounted in side-byside relationship on a backing member, said backing member comprising a separate strip of resilient synthetic plastic material extending through and closely surrounded by aligned passages in said elements, and having transverse recesses at spaced intervals therealong coinciding with the junctions between adjacent elements, means for normally resiliently urging said elements towards each other, so that the opposed side faces of each pair of adjacent elements define a slot for receiving and retaining a blade, and a plurality of blades located one in each slot with its sharp edge projecting a short distance beyond one face of the device and its rear edge engaging in that recess in the backing member which is coincident with that slot and being supported by the backing member.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which the blade locating elements are provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced, ribs, whereby blades disposed within the slots are supported by the edges of said ribs at spaced points along their length.

'7. A device according to claim 6, in which the side faces of the blade locating elements which define the slots are formed with part circular recesses which extend in a direction substantially parallel to the slots and to the plane of the backing member.

8. A sanding device comprising a plurality of separate blade locating elements, moulded from a synthetic plastic material, all slidably and detachably mounted in side-byside relationship on a backing member, said backing member comprising a separate strip of flexible, substantially non-resilient material extending through and closely surrounded by aligned passages in said elements, and having transverse recesses at spaced intervals therealong coinciding with the junctions between adjacent elements, means for normally resiliently urging said elements towards each other, so that the opposed side faces of each pair of adjacent elements define a slot for receiving and retaining a blade, and a plurality of blades located one in each slot with its sharp edge projecting a short distance beyond one face of the device and its rear edge engaging in that recess in the backing member which is coincident with that slot and being supported by the backing member.

9. A device according to claim 8, in which the blade 2 locating elements are provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced ribs, whereby blades disposed within the slots are supported by the edges of said ribs at spaced points along their length.

10. A device according to claim 9, including two-end blade locating elements, the passage in each of which is closed at its outer end, a single intermediate blade-locating element disposed between the two end elements, and aligned intermediate passages in said elements disposed between said first mentioned passages and said ribs.

FOREIGN PATENTS 151,183 10/1937 Austria. 598,503 6/1934 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SCRAPING DEVICE COMPRISING A BLOCK, ADAPTED TO BE HELD IN THE HAND, HAVING PROJECTING FROM ONE FACE THEREOF A PLURALITY OF BLADES WHICH EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER AND IN SPACED APART RELATION WITH THE SHARP EDGES OF THE BLADES PROJECTING A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE SAID FACE, IN WHICH THE BLADES ARE MOUNTED IN SLOTS EXTENDING ACROSS THE SAID FACE AND FORMED BY A PLURALITY OF BLADE LOCATING ELEMENTS DETACHABLY MOUNTED SIDE-BY-SIDE ON A BACKING MEMBER AGAINST WHICH THE REAR EDGES OF THE BLADES ARE SUPPORTED WHEN INSERTED IN THE SLOTS, THE BACKING MEMBER COMPRISING A STRIP-LIKE MEMBER WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH, AND IS SLIDABLE WITHIN, ALIGNED PASSAGES IN THE BLADE-LOCATING ELEMENTS, THE PASSAGES IN THE TWO OUTERMOST ELEMENTS BEING CLOSED AT THEIR OUTER ENDS.

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