U.S. patent application number 10/943582 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for convertible dust pan.
This patent application is currently assigned to SIMTEC, CO.. Invention is credited to Donald V. Edwards.
Application Number | 20060059651 10/943582 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36072285 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060059651 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Edwards; Donald V. |
March 23, 2006 |
Convertible dust pan
Abstract
A dust pan apparatus for receiving sweepings therein and useable
as at least one of a hand held unit and as an attachment to an
elongated rod like member. The dust pan apparatus comprises a base
member. The base member has a first end for receiving sweepings. A
back member is engageable with a second end of the base member and
a pair of radially opposed side walls, each of the radially opposed
side walls are engageable adjacent a bottom surface with radially
opposed sides of the base member and each of the radially opposed
side walls further are engageable with radially opposed side edges
of the back member. There is, further, a means disposed on the dust
pan apparatus for removable engagement with such elongated rod like
member.
Inventors: |
Edwards; Donald V.;
(Harrison City, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JAMES RAY & ASSOCIATES
2640 PITCAIRN ROAD
MONROEVILLE
PA
15146
US
|
Assignee: |
SIMTEC, CO.
|
Family ID: |
36072285 |
Appl. No.: |
10/943582 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/257.7 ;
15/257.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/257.7 ;
015/257.8 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/52 20060101
A47L013/52 |
Claims
1. A dust pan apparatus for receiving sweepings therein and useable
as at least one of a hand held unit and as an attachment to an
elongated rod like member, said dust pan apparatus comprising: (a)
a base member, said base member having a first end for receiving
sweepings; (b) a back member engageable with a second end of said
base member; (c) a pair of radially opposed side walls, each of
said radially opposed side walls engageable adjacent a bottom
surface with radially opposed sides of said base member and each of
said radially opposed side walls further engageable with radially
opposed side edges of said back member; and (d) a means disposed on
said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement with such
elongated rod like member.
2. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dust
pan is used with an elongated rod like member, said elongated rod
like member includes: (a) a first means engageable with a first end
of said elongated rod like member for gripping said rod like member
during use; (c) a second means one of formed integrally with said
elongated rod like member as a single piece and engageable as a
separate piece at a first end thereof with a second end of said
elongated rod like member and extending outwardly therefrom.
3. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
elongated rod like member further includes a substantially
stationary third means engageable with and disposed closely
adjacent an intersection of said second end of said elongated rod
like member and said first end of said second means, said
substantially stationary third means being positioned for
supporting and pivoting said apparatus.
4. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base
member of said dust pan apparatus is slidingly engageable with an
underside of said second means.
5. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
means on said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement is
further engageable with at least one of said second means and said
stationary third means.
6. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
means on said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement is
engageable with each of said elongated rod member and said second
means.
7. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said dust
pan apparatus is engageable with each of said second means and said
substantially stationary third means.
8. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
means on said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement includes
a hinged bracket disposed on an upper surface of said radially
opposed side members closely adjacent said back member, said hinged
bracket being removably engageable with such elongated rod
member.
9. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said hinged
bracket disposed on an upper surface of said radially opposed side
members closely adjacent said back member is used as a handle
member for said dust pan apparatus when not engaged with such
elongated rod member.
10. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein an arm
of said hinged bracket snaps on to such elongated rod member.
11. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein a base member of
said dust pan apparatus is slidingly engageable with an underside
of said second means.
12. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said dust pan
apparatus further includes an arm disposed at a back end of said
dust pan.
13. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said arm has a
circular projection on a bottom portion of said arm for being
removable engagement with said substantially stationary third
means.
14. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
substantially stationary third means is positioned substantially
perpendicular to said second means on an underside of said second
means.
15. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
substantially stationary third means has plastic caps to cover each
end portion of said substantially stationary third means.
16. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means
at least includes a rubber grip.
17. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dust pan
apparatus further includes an arm disposed at a back end of said
dust pan.
18. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, wherein said arm
disposed at a back end of said dust pan apparatus is used as a
handle member for said dust pan apparatus when not engaged with
such elongated rod member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to an aid for
house cleaning, and, more particularly, the present invention
relates to a convertible dust pan that can be used as is or
attached to a vertical member in order to provide a dust pan that
does not require a person to bend to over to use the dust pan.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In normal house cleaning dust pans are probably one of the
most widely used items to assist the cleaning person to collect
sweepings from a floor. Normally dust pans have a handle that is
attached to the collecting portion of the pan and the user bends
over to hole the pan against the floor and sweep the particles into
the pan. The bending to perform a simple chore can be very
difficult for some elderly or partially infirm persons.
[0003] Some dust pans have been made in which the pan is attached
to a vertical rod so that the cleaning person does not have to bend
over to hold the dust pan. In this manner the cleaning person can
be essentially erect to perform the sweeping chore. However, some
of these can become unwieldy in some operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a dust pan apparatus for
receiving sweepings therein and useable as at least one of a hand
held unit and as an attachment to an elongated rod like member. The
dust pan apparatus comprises a base member. The base member has a
first end for receiving sweepings. A back member is engageable with
a second end of the base member and a pair of radially opposed side
walls, each of the radially opposed side walls are engageable
adjacent a bottom surface with radially opposed sides of the base
member and each of the radially opposed side walls further are
engageable with radially opposed side edges of the back member.
There is, further, a means disposed on the dust pan apparatus for
removable engagement with such elongated rod like member.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present
invention to provide a dust pan apparatus that can be used with an
elongated rod like member.
[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan
apparatus that can be used as a separate unit.
[0007] Still another object of the invention is to provide a dust
pan apparatus that is removeably engageable with the elongated rod
member.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan
apparatus which is easy to use.
[0009] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan
apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan
apparatus which is relatively lightweight.
[0011] In addition to the numerous objects and advantages of the
present invention which have been described with some degree of
particularity above, it should be both noted and understood that a
number of other important objects and advantages of the invention
will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled
in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of
the invention, particularly, when such detailed description is
taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the dust pan apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top view of the dust pan apparatus as seen in
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of the dust pan as seen in FIG. 1 when
used as a separate unit.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the dust pan as seen in
FIG. 1 when used as a separate unit.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the dust pan apparatus
according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top view of the dust pan apparatus as seen in
FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of the dust pan as seen in FIG. 5 when
used as a separate unit.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the dust pan as seen in
FIG. 5 when used as a separate unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATE
EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0020] Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the
present invention, it should be noted that for the sake of clarity
in understanding the invention, identical components with identical
functions have been designated with identical reference numerals
throughout the drawing Figures.
[0021] Illustrated in the drawing Figures is a dust pan apparatus,
generally designated 10 for receiving sweepings therein and useable
as at least one of a hand held unit and as an attachment to an
elongated rod like member 22. Such dust pan apparatus 10 comprises
a base member 2. The base member 2 has a first end for receiving
sweepings. There is a back member 4 that is engageable with a
second end of the base member 2. There is, further, a pair of
radially opposed side walls 6,8. Each of these radially opposed
side walls 6,8 are engageable adjacent a bottom surface with
radially opposed sides of base member 2 and each of the radially
opposed side walls 6,8 are also engageable with radially opposed
side edges of the back member 4.
[0022] A means, generally designated 20, is disposed on the dust
pan apparatus 10 for removable engagement with such elongated rod
like member 22.
[0023] The elongated rod like member 22 includes a first means 24
engageable with a first end of the elongated rod like member 22 for
gripping the elongated rod like member 22 during use. There is a
second means 26 that is one of formed integrally with the elongated
rod like member 22 as a single piece or is engageable as a separate
piece at a first end thereof with a second end of the elongated rod
like member 22 and extending outwardly therefrom. A substantially
stationary third means 28 is engageable with and disposed closely
adjacent an intersection of the second end of the elongated rod
like member 22 and the first end of the second means 26. The
substantially stationary third means 28 being positioned for
supporting and pivoting the dust pan apparatus 10.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the invention such
substantially stationary third means 28 is positioned substantially
perpendicular to the second means 26 on an underside of the second
means 26. It is also presently preferred that such substantially
stationary third means 28 have plastic caps 52 to cover each end
portion of the substantially stationary third means 28. It is also
preferred that first means 24 include a rubber grip.
[0025] In such dust pan apparatus 10 the base member 2 is slidingly
engageable with an underside of the second means 26. According to
the embodiments of the invention the means 20 on the dust pan
apparatus 10 for removable engagement is further engageable with at
least one of the second means 26 and the stationary third means
28.
[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention such means 20
for removable engagement is engageable with each of the elongated
rod member 22 and the second means 26 as is evident in FIGS. 1 and
2. In an alternate embodiment of the invention as is illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6 such means 20 for removable engagement is engageable
with each of the second means 26 and the substantially stationary
third means 28.
[0027] Such means 20 for removable engagement includes a hinged
bracket 32 that is disposed on an upper surface of the radially
opposed side members 6,8 of the dust pan apparatus 10 closely
adjacent the back member 4. The hinged bracket 32 being removeably
engageable with such elongated rod member 22. The hinged bracket 32
is used as a handle member for the dust pan apparatus 10 when not
engaged with such elongated rod member 22 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.
When used in conjunction with the elongated rod like member 22, the
arm 34 of the hinged bracket 32 snaps on to the elongated rod
member 22.
[0028] In an alternate embodiment of the invention such means 20
for removable engagement includes an arm 42 is engageable with the
back member 4 of the dust pan apparatus 10. Such arm 42 has a
circular projection 44 on a bottom portion of the arm 42 for being
removable engagement with the substantially stationary third means
28 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8. Such arm 42 is used as a
handle member for the dust pan apparatus 10 when not engaged with
such elongated rod member 10.
[0029] While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate
embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail
above, it should be understood that various other adaptations
and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons
who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from
either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
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