U.S. patent application number 10/021841 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-19 for scraper with stowable file.
Invention is credited to Gringer, Donald.
Application Number | 20030110570 10/021841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21806446 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030110570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gringer, Donald |
June 19, 2003 |
SCRAPER WITH STOWABLE FILE
Abstract
A scraper has an arcuately contoured elastomeric molded over
plastic ergonomic handle. The scraper handle has a proximate end
slot and recess. A permanent rare earth magnet is fixedly disposed
at the bottom wall of the recess. A ferro-metallic file is slidably
disposed and seated in the recess with the file contactingly
engaging the magnet. The handle is formed with a vertically
disposed through hole so that the user can access the file and
forcibly slidably remove the file to sharpen the scraper blade
edge. The scraper has a 4-way blade, formed with two spoon shaped
blades for fine scraping and two flat folded edges for rough
scraping. All four edges are ground to the same large radius. The
scraper is a pull scraper.
Inventors: |
Gringer, Donald; (New York,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LACKENBACH SIEGEL
One Chase Road
Scarsdale
NY
10583
US
|
Family ID: |
21806446 |
Appl. No.: |
10/021841 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
7/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23D 71/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
7/100 |
International
Class: |
B25F 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A scraper comprising: an elongated handle, said handle having a
curved upper surface and a curved lower surface, and a distal end
and a proximate end; a blade; means for removably attaching said
blade to said handle distal end; said handle having a arcuate
longitudinal axis extending from the distal end to the proximate
end.
2. The scraper of claim 1, said handle having oppositely disposed
sides, said sides comprising oppositely disposed arcuate concave
surfaces being flared outwardly toward the distal end.
3. The scraper of claim 2, said handle comprising a hard
thermoplastic core and a molded around elastomeric cover.
4. The scraper of claim 1, said handle proximate end being formed
with a slotted recess, and further comprising a file slidably
disposed in said slotted recess.
5. The scraper of claim 4, further comprising a magnet, means for
mounting said magnet in said handle so as to magnetically hold the
file in the slotted recess.
6. The scraper of claim 5, said handle being formed with a
vertically disposed opening to expose a portion of said file when
disposed in said recess, whereby the user can engage the file
through the opening to slidably forcibly remove the file from the
recess.
7. The scraper of claim 6, wherein the magnet is a rare earth metal
magnet.
8. The scraper of claim 7, wherein the opening extends from the
handle upper surface to the handle lower surface.
9. The scraper of claim 8, wherein the file is formed with a
through hole which is disposed in said opening with the file
disposed in the recess.
10. A scraper comprising: an elongated handle, said handle having a
curved upper surface and a curved lower surface, and a distal end
and a proximate end; a blade; means for removably attaching said
blade to said handle distal end; said handle having an arcuate
longitudinal axis extending from the distal end to the proximate
end, said handle distal end being formed with an end slot and
distally extending recess, and further comprising a file slidably
disposed in said recess, and further comprising a magnet, means for
mounting said magnet in said recess to magnetically hold the
file.
11. The scraper of claim 10, wherein the file has oppositely
disposed ends, one end contactingly engaging the magnet and the
other end being disposed at the handle proximate end.
12. The scraper of claim 10, said handle being formed with an
opening to expose a portion of said file whereby the user can
engage the file through the opening to slidably forcibly remove the
file from the recess.
13. The scraper of claim 12, wherein the magnet is a rare earth
metal magnet.
14. A scraper comprising: an elongated handle, said handle having a
top and a bottom, and a distal end and a proximate end; a multiple
edged blade, said blade having a body and at least one first blade
being arcuate with respect to the body and having an arcuate ground
edge and having at least one second blade being angled with respect
to the body and having an arcuate ground edge; means for removably
attaching said blade to said handle distal end; said handle having
a longitudinal axis extending from the distal end to the proximate
end, said longitudinal axis being arcuate; said handle proximate
end comprising a grip for one hand; said handle having a upper
enlarged distal portion for receiving the palm of the other hand;
to provide a range of fine to coarse range of scraping
operations.
15. The scraper of claim 14, wherein the blade edges are disposed
in a 17 to 23 inch radius, and wherein said first set of edges are
spoon shaped and ground for fine scraping and said second set of
edges being straight and flat and ground to a 17 to 23 inch radius
to scrape aggressively.
16. The scraper of claim 14, said proximate end grip and said palm
receiving distal end portion comprising an elastomeric.
17. A scraper comprising: an elongated handle, said handle having a
distal end and a proximate end; a blade; means for attaching said
blade to said handle; a file; said handle having a recess for
slidably receiving said file; and further comprising a magnet
operably disposed in said handle to magnetically hold said file in
said recess.
18. The scraper of claim 17, said file comprising a ferro-metallic
construction.
19. The scraper of claim 18, said handle proximate end being formed
with a slot sized to slidably receive said file.
20. The scraper of claim 19, said handle being formed with a
vertically disposed opening being sized so that a user's fingers
can engage the file disposed within the handle recess to remove the
file through the proximate end slot.
21. The scraper of claim 20, said file being elongate and being
formed with a through hole adjacent an end of the file, and wherein
the file through hole is visibly disposed in the handle opening
with the file magnetically held in the recess.
22. The scraper of claim 17, wherein the magnet comprises a rare
earth metal magnet.
23. The scraper of claim 22, said handle being formed with a
vertically disposed opening being sized so that a user's fingers
can engage the file seated within the handle recess to forcibly
remove the file through the slot.
24. The scraper of claim 23, said file being formed with a through
hole, and wherein the file through hole is visibly disposed in the
handle opening with the file magnetically held in the recess.
25. The scraper of claim 17, said handle having a longitudinal axis
extending from the distal end to the proximate end, said axis being
arcuate, and said handle having oppositely disposed sides, said
sides comprising oppositely disposed arcuate concave surfaces.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to scrapers. This invention in
another aspect relates to scrapers as combination tools. This
invention also relates to ergonomic scraper handles.
[0003] 2. Background and Discussion of the Prior Art
[0004] Prior art scrapers, and particularly wood scrapers, were
constructed with elongated rectangular wooden handles or generally
conical handles having a longitudinal axis which was in parallel
disposition with the workpiece surface. The prior art handles were
generally constructed of wood, metal, or hard plastic. Some prior
art scraper handles had a rubber or vinyl grip.
[0005] Such prior art scraper handles are disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,953,820, granted Sep. 21, 1999 to Vasudeva; U.S. Pat. No.
Design 396,910, granted Aug. 11, 1998 to Henke; U.S. Pat. No.
5,850,657, granted Dec. 22, 1998 to List et al; U.S. Pat. No.
5,829,082, granted Nov. 3, 1998 to Morerra; and U.S. Pat. No.
Design 394,534, granted May 19, 1998 to Coulter.
[0006] Scrapers with 4-way blades are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
2,783,537, U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,947 and U.S. Pat. No. Design 274,952
to Gringer, the applicant herein. Gringer '537 discloses 4-way
blades with opposed blade pairs. The blades were bent with the
blade edges being straight parallel to the bend line, with one pair
of edges being serrated for coarse scraping. Gringer '947 discloses
a scraper wherein the 4-way blade was mountable on opposite upper
and lower mounts at the scraper distal end. The Gringer '947 handle
was angled with respect to the distal mounting end to provide some
measure of clearance particularly in one mounting mode. The Gringer
'952 scraper had a mid handle raised flat planar metal grip
construction.
[0007] These prior art handles caused fatigue in use, particularly
with repetitive scraping. Further, where the user was operating
with the blade at a shallow or acute angle with the workpiece
surface, the user would often find that the knuckles would rub
against the workpiece. This latter impediment was somewhat
alleviated by the Gringer '952 handle.
[0008] Scrapers required frequent sharpening or filing of the
scraper blade edge. This necessitated ready access to a file. The
user would often have to cease work and locate a suitable file for
the blade in use.
[0009] The early patent U.S. Pat. No. 822,928, granted in 1906 to
Delano disclosed a file which was stored in the handle of the
scraper. The file was only accessible by removal of a plug at the
proximate end of the handle. A spring was disposed within the
handle so that with removal of the plug, the spring would force the
file out the proximate end. If the plug was lost or misplaced, the
stowable feature was inoperable as the file would be forced out of
the handle and fall out of the handle in use or in the vertical
disposition.
[0010] The Gringer '952 scraper used a four way blade. Each of the
blades was bent with respect to the central blade body. One pair of
opposed blades were ground on a curve to provide a somewhat fine
scraping action. The other pair of opposed blades were ground on
the flat to provide a coarse scraping action.
[0011] The art desired improvements in the prior scrapers
particularly as to improved comfort and reduced fatigue in
repetitive scraping operations. The art also desired a broader
range of scraping operations. The present invention provides these
solutions.
[0012] The art also desired a scraper which eliminated the
before-described Delano file stowage impediments.
[0013] It is therefore a principal object of the present invention
to provide a scraper with ready file stowage and access.
[0014] It is another principal object of the present invention to
provide a scraper with an ergonomic design handle for reduced
fatigue.
[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a scraper with improved blade angle control particularly for
improved fine scraping action, as well as for coarse scraping
action.
[0016] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide a scraper as aforesaid yet which is safe and practical in
design and use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The scraper has a handle with an arcuately curved elongated
proximate end hand grip portion, and an enlarged upper distal end
portion or surface. The handle proximate end is formed with a slot
and recess to slidably receive a ferro-metallic file. A permanent
high strength rare earth magnet is fixedly disposed in the handle
recess to magnetically hold and stow the file. The handle is formed
with an enlarged vertically disposed opening or through hole so
that the user can engage the stowed file through the handle hole to
slidably forcibly remove the file from the handle for sharpening
the scraper blade.
[0018] The user grips the arcuate grip portion with one hand and
presses the enlarged upper distal end portion with the palm of the
other hand so as to provide adjustable blade edge angular
disposition and pressure. The specifically arcuately contoured
handle permits controlled shallow or acute blade angle use without
the user's knuckles contacting the workpiece surface.
[0019] The handle is constructed of a hard plastic core and over
molded with a relatively soft elastomeric cover for a secure hand
grip portion and other hand distal end engagement portion, which
elastomeric cover complements the afore-described construction.
[0020] The scraper includes a four edged blade with improved fine
scraping and rough scraping constructions. One set of oppositely
disposed blades are bent with respect to the blade body with
arcuately contoured edges, whereas the other set of oppositely
disposed blades are bowed arcuately outwardly with respect to the
blade body with like arcuately contoured blade edges, for
respective coarse and fine scraping operations. The user, in
conjunction with the aforesaid blade construction, varies the blade
to workpiece angle for controlled fine and rough scraping
actions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the scraper
of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the scraper of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
2;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.
2;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the scraper blade;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
5;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.
5;
[0028] FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the blade edge of
FIG. 6;
[0029] FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the blade edge of
FIG. 7; and
[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the scraper in use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Referring to the FIGS., there is shown scraper 10 of the
present invention. Scraper 10, in general, includes handle 11,
four-way or four-edged blade 12, blade mounting screw 61, threaded
molded in insert 62, ferro-metallic file 13, and magnet 26. Handle
11 has an enlarged distal end portion 14 and an elongated proximate
end portion 15. Handle proximate end portion 15 has an upper
surface 16, lower surface 17 and oppositely disposed arcuate or
concave sides 18. Handle proximate end portion 15 has an elongated
arcuately curved longitudinal axis A, and a proximately disposed
arcuately curved convex or upper portion 19, which in conjunction
with concave sides 18 and proximately disposed lower surface 38
provides hand grip portion 25.
[0032] Handle proximate end portion 15 has distally disposed
outwardly flared surfaces 20 which are contiguous with distal end
portion 14. Handle portion 15 is formed with a transversely
disposed proximate distal end 21. Proximate end 21 is formed with
slot 22 which extends distally to form rectilinear recess 23 with
end wall 64. Recess 23 is sized to slidably receive file 13.
Permanent magnet 26 is fixedly secured within handle 11 as at 27,
so as to be transversely disposed to file 13. Magnet 26
magnetically holds file 13 within recess 23. Handle portion 15 is
also formed with an enlarged vertically disposed contoured opening
or through hole 28, whereby file 13, when disposed in recess 23 is
viewable by and accessible to the user. In this manner of
construction, the user's fingers engage file 13 through handle hole
28, and with a threshold minimum of force the user removes file 13
from recess 23 through distal end slot 22. Magnet 26 is preferably
a rare earth metal magnet and has an energy product of at least
about 6.0.times.10.sup.6 gauss-oersteds. Such rare earth metal
magnets are available from Hitachi Magnetics Corporation, Division
of Hitachi Metals International, Ltd. under the style designations
Hicorex 90A, 90B, 96A, 96B, 99A, and 99B. This high strength magnet
is able to provide sufficient force to hold the file securely in
the recess even with repetitive use of the scraper or with upward
vertical disposition of the scraper. Indeed, with any less than the
threshold removal force, the file can be only slightly moved in the
proximate direction whereat the magnet pulls the file back into its
recessed secured position. The user, to remove the file, must
assert a force greater than the threshold force.
[0033] It is also noted that file 13 itself has a through hole 30
which is accessible with the file magnetically held and stowed
within the handle. In this manner of construction, scraper 10 can
be stored on a wall hook (not shown) with the hook engaging file
hole 30 and through handle hole 28. This hole 30 also makes it
easier for the user to remove file 13.
[0034] Handle distal end portion 14 has an enlarged generally
rectilinear upper or top surface 37. In this manner of
construction, the user grips hand grip portion 25 with one hand and
presses the palm of other hand against surface 37 to provide
leveraged controlled force contact of blade 12 against the wood
work piece surface B, as best shown in FIG. 10. This arrangement
and construction also permits improved control of the operating
angle between respective edges 53 or 55 of blade 12 and workpiece
surface B.
[0035] Referring specifically to FIGS. 6-9, there is shown the
details of four edged blade 12. Blade 12 has a square central body
48 with a centrally disposed circular mounting hole 49 and four
rectangular holes 51 (typical). Blade 12 is reversibly operably,
four way mounted to handle 11 by screw 61 in handle threaded insert
62. A pair of opposed first blades 52 having edges 53 and a pair of
opposed second blades 54 having edges 55 are formed on body 48.
Blades 52 and 54 are bent in opposite directions with respect to
body 48. Blades 54 are bent at 120 degrees with respect to body 48.
Blades 52 are formed in a spoon shape with respect to blade body
48. Blades 52, unlike blades 54, are arcuately formed, as best
illustrated by a comparison of the respective blade profiles in
FIGS. 8 and 9. Blades 52 and 54 have common corners or recessed
portions 60. Recessed portions 60 are, as viewed in FIG. 5, formed
of respect parallel edges 61 and 62 and common curved recess 63.
One pair of opposed blades 54 were folded flat before heat-treating
and ground to a large radius of 17 to 23 degrees for rough or
aggressive scraping. The other pair of opposed blades 52 were
formed to a shallow spoon surface and also ground to a large radius
of 17 to 23 degrees to offer fine scraping removal of one layer of
paint at a time. Blades 52 have extended edges 78 to reach into
corners. Blades 52 and 54 must be softer than Rockwell C 49
hardness to be filed with a file of Rockwell C 60 to 62
hardness.
[0036] It is important to note that proper paint scraping requires
a curved or camber ground blade, so that the center of the blade
attacks the wood more aggressively than the edges. This prevents
gouging or damaging of the wood due to corner grooves from
inexpensively ground flat blades. Blade edges 52 are formed to a
spoon shaped curve and ground to a 17 to 23 inch radius. This
achieves fine scraping as the rear handle 21 is lowered to the
work. The spoon shape forming of these edges causes the blade to
become flatter on the work as the tool is angled dow.. Scraping is
a pull action only. The scraper is never pushed.
[0037] Blade edges 54 are bent flat (not spoon shaped). They are
used to remove many layers of paint during each pull stoke. The
center of these blades are deeper than the center of the spoon
shaped blades 55 and change little as the handle angle is brought
down.
[0038] It is to be understood that the term "spoon shaped" or
"spoon formed" as used herein refers to a blade which has an
outwardly arcuate blade shape and a arcuate blade edge.
[0039] Handle 11 is formed from a hard thermoplastic core 70 and a
molded over elastomeric cover 71, by means well known in the
screwdriver and knife handle art. Cover 71 covers the proximately
disposed hand grip portion 72 and the distally disposed cover
portions 73, 74 and 75, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 10. This
elastomeric cover in combination with the afore-described handle
contoured construction contributes to the degree of comfort and
control in the fine and coarse scraping actions. It is important to
note that 70% of scraping requires downward force while 30%
requires pulling force.
[0040] Scraping is an art. Choosing the right edge for the type of
work to be done whether rough or fine, filling a sharp edge
properly by following the angle and radius of the blade, and by
varying the angle of scraping, all have an effect on the ease and
finish of the job.
[0041] A properly scraped wood floor will leave a patina far
superior and (less dusty) than a common drum sanded finish. A
herring bone or parquet floor will have every board scraped with
the grain instead of 1/2 the boards cross sanded and unaesthetic
and without character when a drum sander is used.
[0042] While the foregoing describes one embodiment of the present
invention, various modifications and changes are within the broad
contemplation and scope of the invention as defined by the adjoined
claims.
* * * * *