Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21g8404
Title: FT-~YTRT~ NULTI-BLADE SCRAPPFR FOR HAIR
AND LINT RENOVAL
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a kind of brush or
scrapper for gathering lint, hair and the like from upholstery
surfaces. More particularly it relates to a multi-blade
scrapper having flexible scrapping blades that gather hair and
lint for ready disposal.
Background to the Invention
Scrappers with multiple blades are known as in
United States Patent 5,212,848 which shows dual parallel
"squeegee" blades for gathering water. The problem of
gathering animal hair from rugs, upholstery and the like has
also been addressed in United States Patent No. 4,042,995.
There is a need, however, for a brush-like scrapper
that will efficiently gather hair and lint from fabrics. This
is particularly so for residences having pets such as cats and
dogs that tend to shed hair. The present invention addresses
that need.
The invention in its general form will first be
described, and then its implementation in terms of specific
embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings
following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to
demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of
2198~04
its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more
specific forms will then be further described, and defined, in
each of the individual claims which conclude this
Specification.
Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the invention a scrapper
is provided with:
a) a body;
b) at least three scrapping blades mounted on said
body, such blades having co-planar scrapping edges
wherein said blades are made of a flexible, resilient material
that will conform to a surface being scrapped to consolidate
loose material on such surface for easy removal by hand.
Preferably the blades are made of rubber or a
rubber-like material that will provide friction when scrapped
over a fabric surface. Further, such blades are preferably
aligned in parallel to each other and curved in cross-section
to provide a concave face being tapered from root end to their
outer edge and may be mounted so that the scrapping edge of
each blade trails the location where the root is attached to
the body.
As an optional feature, an opening to couple to a
suction source may be provided through the handle, with
2198~04
suction passageways communicating between the opening being
formed by the inter-blade regions of the scrapper.
The foregoing summarizes the principal features of
the invention and some of its optional aspects. The invention
may be further understood by the description of the preferred
embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now
follow.
SummarY of the Figures
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a four-bladed scrapper
with a vacuum opening formed in the body of the handle;
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the scrapper of Figure l;
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of the
scrapper of the invention as it is used to gather a mass of
animal hair from a surface.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
In Figure 1 a body 1 provides a handle or means to
grasp the scrapper 2. Extending from the body 1 are multiple
scrapper blades 3 connected at their root portions 4 to the
body 1. The scrapping edges of the blades 5 are co-planar and
are oriented in a generally parallel alignment.
While four blades are depicted more may be employed.
The invention will also work with three blades, but not as
219~4~4
efficiently as with four or more blades. The use of four
blades 3 is a convenient compromise.
Each blade 3 has a concave forward face 6, a convex
rearward face 7 and has a narrowing taper from root 4 to
scrapping edge 5. The narrow scrapping edge 5 contacts the
hair 10 with the blade 3 being substantially vertical to the
surface being scrapped (not shown) at the point of contact.
The scrapping edge 5 of each blade is preferably,
though optionally positioned rearwardly of alignment with the
root 4 of the blade 3. This allows a flexing action to occur
that helps in gathering animal hair 10. The blades 3 are also
slightly angled away from the direction of pull to counteract
the tendency of the device to chatter or bounce when pulled
towards the operator. In use, the narrowness of the edge 5
allows the blade 3 to flex away from the direction of pull.
The inherent tendency of the blade 3 to unflex causes it to
exert greater downward and forward pressure on the hair 10
than would be likely if the blade 3 were not tapered. This
downward and forward pressure causes the hair lo to remain in
contact with the blade 3 as the "Hair Harvester" is pulled
towards the operator.
As the device is pulled in the direction 14 towards
the operator with the concave face 6 facing the operator, the
inherent curvature of the blade 3 tends to straighten. This
tendency to straighten is offset by the tendency to resume
2198~04
inherent curvature. The effect of this action adds an
additional downward and forward pressure on the hair 10.
In Figures 1 and 2 the body 1 is shown as having a
circular opening 8 passing therethrough to be fitted with the
nozzle of a vacuum cleaner hose (not shown). On the lower
side of the body 1, as shown in Figure 2, the opening 8
intersects the line of spaces 9 between the blades 3, that
serve as inter-blade regions providing pathways for lint and
hair to be sucked-up.
In Figure 3, the action of the scrapper 2 in use is
shown just before it encounters hair 10. As the hair 10 is
contacted by the first blade 11 it begins to roll into an
elongated tangle 10A as shown in Figure 4.
Further advancement of the scrapper 2 leads to
Figure 5 wherein the hair 10B is rolled past the second blade
12 into the space between the second blade 12 and third blade
13. The passage of hair 10 progressively beneath each blade
11, 12, 13 leads to it being rolled into a more dense bundle
10C as shown in Figure 6. The hair 10, by entangling within
itself, becomes gathered and easily removed by hand from the
surface being scrapped for disposal.
It is believed that this action arises from the
flexible, hair-engaging character of, particularly, an edge of
rubber material. It is unclear whether electro-static effects
are involved.
2~984o ~
The body 1 of the scrapper 2 is depicted as being
rectangular. Any convenient shape that supports the blades 5
and fits in a human hand will suffice.
The blades may be separately formed and attached to
the body 1 as be slotting rubber strips into grooves formed in
a wooden body. Or the blades 5 and body 1 may be integrally
formed, as by molding the entire unit from rubber.
The "feel" of the scrapper 2 as it passes over a
surface being cleaned is quite satisfying: there is a
moderate drag and a sense that an effective scrapping action
is being effected.
Conclusion
The foregoing has constituted a description of
specific embodiments showing how the invention may be applied
and put into use. These embodiments are only exemplary. The
invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects, is
further described and defined in the claims which now follow.
These claims, and the language used therein, are to
be understood in terms of the variants of the invention which
have been described. They are not to be restricted to such
variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of
the invention as is implicit within the invention and the
disclosure that has been provided herein.
