U.S. patent application number 11/333562 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-19 for dustpan with a latching mechanism.
Invention is credited to Andre Sampaio.
Application Number | 20070163069 11/333562 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38261731 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070163069 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sampaio; Andre |
July 19, 2007 |
Dustpan with a latching mechanism
Abstract
A dustpan has a dustpan receptacle, a handle and a novel
latching mechanism, which enables the dustpan receptacle to be
latched in a horizontal position for a waste pick up and unlatched
by hand or foot in a vertically extended position for a direct
waste disposal and easier storage. The novel latching mechanism has
two latching members interacting with each other and connecting the
dustpan receptacle to the handle. Compared to dustpans in the prior
art, the present dustpan is less fatiguing to use, and easier to
construct and repair.
Inventors: |
Sampaio; Andre; (Blauvelt,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen E. Feldman
12 East 41st Street
New York
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
38261731 |
Appl. No.: |
11/333562 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/257.7 ;
15/257.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/257.7 ;
015/257.2 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/52 20060101
A47L013/52 |
Claims
1. A dustpan comprising a dustpan receptacle; a handle; a latching
mechanism comprising an upper latching member having a first
latching interface and a lower latching member having a second
latching interface, said handle being connected to said dustpan
receptacle by said latching mechanism, said lower latching member
being pivotally connected to and adapted to hook to said dustpan
receptacle, and said first latching interface being connected to
said second latching interface.
2. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is
connected to said upper latching member and said lower latching
member.
3. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first latching
interface has a ramp, said second latching interface has a hook,
and said ramp is adapted to unlatch said hook.
4. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first latching
interface has two ramps and said second latching interface has two
hooks, said ramps being adapted to slide between and unlatch said
hooks.
5. The dustpan as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper latching
member further contains a hollow cylinder for accepting said
handle, said ramps being located on each side of said hollow
cylinder.
6. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first latching
interface includes two parallel protrusions, said protrusions being
adapted to fit into channels on said lower latching member.
7. The dustpan as claimed in claim 6, wherein said protrusions are
columns.
8. The dustpan as claimed in claim 7, wherein said columns have a
triangular cross section.
9. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper latching
member has a member for receiving one of user's foot, user's
fingers and a broom's handle.
10. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dustpan
receptacle is cable of having a latched horizontal position and
unlatched vertical position.
11. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dustpan
receptacle is capable of being unlatched by hand so that one can
easily discard the content of said dustpan receptacle directly into
a trashcan.
12. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dustpan
receptacle is capable of being unlatched by foot.
13. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring,
said spring being wrapped around said handle and located between
said upper latching member and said lower latching member.
15. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is one
of a short handle and a long handle.
16. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is a
hollow rod for accepting an additional cleaning tool.
17. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle has one
of a hook or slot for suspending said handle.
18. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle has an
indentation for accepting another cleaning member such as a
broom.
19. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dustpan
receptacle has a broom-cleaning edge.
20. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dustpan
receptacle has a front blade portion and a shoulder, said shoulder
being slightly raised so that received debris would not slide back
from the receptacle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to waste receptacles, and more
particularly to dustpans used for picking up debris.
[0002] The present invention relates to a dustpan of the type
having a latching mechanism enabling a dustpan receptacle to have
two positions: a latched horizontal position and an unlatched
vertical position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] Dustpans of the general type described herein and known in
the prior art have a receptacle portion pivotally mounted and
hooked to a handle. Dustpans in the prior art are usually unhooked
by exerting downward pressure on the handle. The main disadvantage
of those dustpans is that when the handle of the unhooked
receptacle is lifted, the receptacle rotates to a position of axial
alignment with the shaft preventing the waste from falling out and
thus necessitating the manual movement of the receptacle to dispose
the waste.
[0004] Some dustpans known in the prior art are capable of being
unhooked to assume a vertically extended position. However, such
dustpans require a mechanism located within the handle. As a
result, it is more difficult to make and repair them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention solves the problems in the prior art
by providing a novel latching mechanism comprising two latching
members interfacing each other and connecting the dustpan
receptacle to the handle, which enables the dustpan receptacle to
have two positions: a latched horizontal position for a waste pick
up and an unlatched vertical position for a direct waste disposal
into trashcans.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved dustpan with a simplified operational mode so that it is
less fatiguing to the user.
[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
improved dustpan with a simplified construction and repair
mode.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from reading the following detailed description of
the invention and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the dustpan in its
unlatched vertical position.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the dustpan in its
unlatched horizontal position.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the dustpan in its
unlatched horizontal position.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded, fragmentary, front elevational view
of the latching mechanism.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded, fragmentary, rear elevational view of
the latching mechanism.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the dustpan in its
latched position.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the dustpan
receptacle.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the handle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] With reference to the drawings, in particular to FIGS. 1-8
thereof, the present invention, a dustpan with a novel latching
mechanism, denoted by reference numeral 1 will be described. A
dustpan 1 is shown comprising a dustpan receptacle 2, a handle 3
and a latching mechanism 4 consisting of two members: an upper
latching member 5 and a lower latching member 6. The handle 3 is
connected to the upper latching member 5 and the lower latching
member 6. The dustpan receptacle 2 is connected to the lower
latching member 6 by a pivotal connection 7. The upper latching
member 5 and the lower latching member 6 are connected and
interface each other. The handle 3 has a lower end 8 and an upper
end 8a.
[0018] The upper latching member 5 has a first latching interface 9
(considered to be the front surface of the upper latching member 5)
and a back surface 10 and consists of a plate 11, and an open ended
hollow rod 12 for accepting a part of the handle 3. The plate 11
has a top edge 13, a bottom edge 14, and two spaced apart parallel
and equal side edges 15. The plate has a rectangular form where the
top edge 13 and the bottom edge 14 have equal lengths, which are
smaller than the length of the side edges 15. The plate 11 can have
a different geometric form.
[0019] The hollow rod 12 is attached to the first latching
interface 9 of the upper latching member 5) so that more than a
half of the hollow rod 12 raises above the top edge 13. There are
two pointed protrusions 16, one on each side of the hollow rod 12.
The pointed protrusions 16 can be in the form of ramps or right
angle triangles where the right angle is aligned with the angle
formed between the hollow rod 12 and the top edge 13 of the plate
11. The first latching interface 9 also contains two spaced apart
parallel protrusions 17, located equidistantly from the centerline
of the plate 11 and near the bottom edge 14 and the side edges 15.
The protrusions 16 are columnar and have a cross section in the
form of an equilateral triangle. One side of the equilateral
triangle is parallel to the top edge 13 and the bottom edge 14 of
the plate 11, the second side of the equilateral triangle is
parallel to the side edges 15 of the plate 11, and the third side
of the equilateral triangle forms an angle of approximately
45.degree. with a line parallel to the top edge 13 and the bottom
edge 14 of the plate 11. The protrusions can have a cross section
with other geometric forms. The back surface 10 has an indented
protrusion 18 for accepting the handle of another cleaning tool
such as a broom. Also the indented protrusion 18 is used to accept
one's fingers or foot to exert a downward pressure in order to
unlatch the dustpan 1.
[0020] The second latching member 6 has a second latching interface
19 (considered to be the back surface of the upper latching member
6) and a front surface 20 and consists of a main body 21 and two
spaced apart parallel channels 22 which become hooks 23 facing the
latching surface of the second latching member 6. Each hook 23 has
a lowest part 23a and a tip 23b. The main body has a top edge 24, a
bottom edge 25 and two spaced apart parallel and equal side edges
26. The length of top edge 24 is approximately equal to the length
of the bottom edge 25 but greater than the length of the side edges
26. The two channels 22 are located equidistantly from the
centerline of the main body 21 so that there is a space between the
channels 22 for a circular protrusion 27 adapted to accept the
handle 3. The circular protrusion 27 can be substituted with a
circular indentation.
[0021] Each of the two channels 22 has a top wall 28 and two spaced
apart parallel side walls 29. The inner of the two side walls 29
faces the handle 3 and starts at the top edge 24 of the main body
21. The outer of the two side walls 29 is longer allowing for its
upward and subsequent downward extensions and a termination in the
form of a hook 22 facing the second latching interface 19 of the
lower latching member 6. The main body 21 of the lower latching
member 6 is pivotally connected with the dustpan receptacle 2. The
pivotal connection 7 consists of two slots 30 located at the center
and near the bottom edge 25 of the main body 21, and pivotal
protrusions 31 located on the dustpan receptacle 2. The pivotal
connection can consists of other types of pivotal connection known
in the art. The latching surface of the lower latching member
further contains two arcuate protrusions 32 located near the bottom
edge 25 of the main body 21 of the lower latching member 6, and
equidistantly from the centerline of the main body 21.
[0022] The dustpan receptacle 2 consists of a top wall 33, a bottom
wall 34, back wall 35 and a pair of spaced apart parallel side
walls 36. The back wall 35 has an opening 37, which is located
centrally and has a width equal to the distance between the tips of
the hooks 22 of the upper latching member 5. The opening 37 starts
at said bottom wall 34 at a place for a pivotal connection 7, and
continues through said back wall 35 and said top wall 33. The back
wall 35 has two parallel slots 38 each of them located on each side
of the opening 37. The top wall 33 has two parallel protruding
edges 39 on each side of the opening 37 and facing the bottom wall
34. The bottom wall 34 can have a blade portion 40 for the easier
pick up of the waste and a shoulder 41 for preventing the waste
from slipping out of the dustpan receptacle 2 once it has been
swept in. The shoulder 41 is located near the blade portion 40 and
consists of a part of the bottom wall 34, which is raised above the
remaining part of the bottom wall 34. The top wall 33 of the
dustpan receptacle terminates with a broom cleaning edge 42.
[0023] The dustpan 1 contains a spring 43 wrapped around the lower
end 8 of the handle 3 and located between said hollow rod 12 of the
upper latching member 5 and the accepting circular protrusion 27 of
the lower latching member 6.
[0024] The handle 3 can have an opening 44 or a hook for suspending
the dustpan 1, an ergonomically shaped handle 45 making the use
easier and less fatiguing and an indented protrusion 46 for
accepting another cleaning tool such as a broom. The handle 3 can
be elongated for cleaning floors without the necessity to bend
over, or shortened for cleaning raised surfaces such as tables,
desks and others. The handle 3 can be hollow as to accept other
cleaning tools such as brooms, dusters and others.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows the dustpan 1 in its unlatched vertical
position, which is utilized to comfortably discharge the waste
directly into trashcans, to attach an additional cleaning tool such
as a broom and to easily store it. FIG. 1 shows that the upper
latching member 5 is connected to the lower latching member 6
through an interaction between the latching interface 9 of the
upper latching member 5 and the latching interface 19 of the lower
latching member 6. The protrusions 17 of the upper latching member
5 fit into the channels 22 of the lower latching member 6.
[0026] In order to use the dustpan 1 for a waste pickup, one has to
latch the hooks 23 of the lower latching member 6 onto the two
parallel protruding edges 39 of the top wall 33 of the dustpan
receptacle 2 as shown on FIG. 2 depicting the dustpan 1 in its
latched horizontal position. The distance between the lowest parts
23a of the hooks 23 is slightly smaller than the width of the
opening 37 on the top wall 33 of the dustpan receptacle 2. The
distance between the tips 23b of the hooks 23 is slightly greater
that width of the opening 37 on the top wall 33 of the dustpan
receptacle 2. These distance differences allow the hooks 23 to
slide into the opening 37 and to hook onto the protruding edges 39
of the top wall 33. Furthermore, the two arcuate protrusions 32 on
the second latching interface 19 of the lower latching member 6 fit
into the slots 38 of the dustpan receptacle 2 preventing the
movement of the latching mechanism and resulting in a more stable
latched dustpan. The dustpan receptacle 2 is moved about its
pivotal connection 7 so that the dustpan receptacle 2 is
perpendicular to the handle. The latching of the dustpan 2 does not
require any pressure but only the movement of the dustpan
receptacle to its horizontal position.
[0027] To unlatch the dustpan 1, one has to exert downward pressure
on the upper latching member 5 so that the spring 43 is being
pressed downward and reduced in length. As a result, each of the
protrusions 17 slides into each of the channels 22 of the lower
latching member 6 in a downward direction, each of the pointed
protrusions 16 of the upper latching member 5 fit between each of
the channels 22 of the lower latching member 6 and the handle 3
resulting in flexing the channels 22 and hooks 23 away from the
protruding edges 39 and disengaging and unlatching the hooks 23. As
a result of this disengagement, the weight of the dustpan
receptacle 2 causes a pivotal traverse and provides for its
discharge and achieving a storage position. The subsequent release
of the upper latching member 5 causes the return of the upper
latching member 5 to its original position under spring
urgency.
[0028] From the above description, it should be readily appreciated
that the dustpan substantially simplifies the dustpan's
operational, construction and repair mode. A latitude of
modifications and substitutions is intended. As a result, the
appended claims should be construed broadly in a manner consistent
with the scope of the invention.
* * * * *