Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02957688 2017-02-10
HAND TOOL WITH SCRAPER BLADE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No.
62/293,655 filed on February 10, 2016, the entire contents of which are
incorporated by
reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a hand tool with a scraper blade.
The hand tool
includes an elongated handle for operation in a standing position. Typically,
a flat scraper blade
with a single scraping edge is disposed at a distal end of a long handle and
is specialized for a
single application, e.g., tile demolition, floor scraping, detail scraping,
etc., but not for different
applications. An operator must choose a different tool for each application.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one aspect, the invention provides a floor scraper hand tool
having an elongated
handle, a concave scraper blade, and a guard. The elongated handle is at least
two feet long
defining a longitudinal axis and having a first distal end in the longitudinal
direction and a
second distal end generally opposite the first distal end. The scraper blade
is coupled to the
elongated handle proximate the first distal end and includes a first scraping
edge and a second
scraping edge. The first scraping edge has a different form than the second
scraping edge. The
guard at least partially covers one of the first scraping edge or the second
scraping edge. The
concave scraper blade is coupleable to the elongated handle in a first
position in which the first
scraping edge is opposite the second distal end of the elongated handle and in
a second position
in which the second scraping edge is opposite the second distal end of the
elongated handle. The
guard at least partially covers the first scraping edge when the scraper blade
is in the second
position and at least partially covers the second scraping edge when the
scraper blade is in the
first position.
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[0004] In another aspect, the invention provides a floor scraper hand tool
having an
elongated handle and a scraper blade. The elongated handle defines a
longitudinal axis and has a
first distal end in the longitudinal direction and a second distal end
generally opposite the first
distal end. The scraper blade is coupled to the elongated handle proximate the
first distal end
and includes a first scraping edge and a second scraping edge. The first
scraping edge has a
different form than the second scraping edge. The scraper blade is coupleable
to the elongated
handle in a first position in which the first scraping edge is opposite the
second distal end of the
elongated handle and in a second position in which the second scraping edge is
opposite the
second distal end of the elongated handle.
[00051 In yet another aspect, the invention provides a floor scraper hand
tool having an
elongated handle, a scraper blade, and a guard. The elongated handle defines a
longitudinal axis
and has a first distal end in the longitudinal direction and a second distal
end generally opposite
the first distal end in the longitudinal direction. The scraper blade is
coupled to the elongated
handle proximate the first distal end and includes a first scraping edge and a
second scraping
edge different from the first scraping edge. The guard at least partially
covers one of the first or
second scraping edges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a scraper tool with a handle
according to one
construction of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the scraper tool
shown in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is side view of the scraper tool shown in FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of another construction of the scraper tool
shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a side view of another construction of the scraper tool
shown in FIG. I.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side view of yet another construction of the scraper
tool shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of yet another construction of
the scraper tool
shown in FIG. 1.
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[0013] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the construction of the scraper
tool shown in FIG.
7.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a side view of the construction of the scraper tool shown
in FIG. 7.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another construction of the handle
shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] Before any constructions of the invention are explained in detail,
it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of construction and the
arrangement of components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the following
drawings. The invention is capable of other constructions and of being
practiced or of being
carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology
used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] FIGS. 1-9 illustrate a scraper tool 10 having an elongated handle 12
with first and
second grips 14, 16 and a scraper blade 18 removably mounted to a first distal
end 28 of the
handle 12. The handle 12 is a long handle for use by a standing operator. For
example, the
handle 12 is at least 2 feet long. More specifically, the handle is between 2
feet and 6 feet long.
Even more specifically, the handle is between 3 feet and 5 feet long. The
handle 12 defines a
longitudinal axis A in a direction of elongation of the handle 12. The first
grip 14 is disposed
proximate a second distal end 30 of the handle 12, and the second grip 16 is
disposed between
the first and second distal ends 28, 30 of the handle 12 and spaced from the
scraper blade 18 and
the first grip 14. For example, the second grip 16 may be disposed at or near
a center of the
elongated handle 12 along the axis A. The first and second grips 14, 16 may be
generally
concentric around an outer surface of the handle 12 and formed from an elastic
material having
gripping properties, such as rubber or other suitable polymer.
[0018] The scraper blade 18 includes a first scraping edge 20 at a first
end 32 of the scraper
blade 18 and a second scraping edge 22 at a second end 34 of the scraper blade
18 generally
opposite the first end 32. Thus, the scraping edges 20, 22 are disposed on
generally opposite
distal ends of the scraper blade 18. In the illustrated construction, the
scraper blade 18 is
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concave and generally forms a quadrilateral shape. The scraper blade 18
includes a concave
surface 86 and a convex surface 88 opposite the concave surface (FIG. 3). The
first and second
scraping edges 20, 22 are generally straight and substantially parallel and
may be disposed at
opposite sides of the quadrilateral shape. In other constructions, the first
and second scraping
edges 20, 22 may be non-parallel, the scraper blade 18 may have other shapes,
and the scraper
blade 18 may be flat or a combination of flat and concave, or curved.
[0019] The first and second scraping edges 20, 22 may have different forms
for different
scraping applications. For example, the first and second scraping edges 20, 22
may have any
combination of one or more of differing sharpness, bluntness, shape, bevel
angle, texture, grit,
etc. In the illustrated construction, the first scraping edge 20 is a blunt
edge and the second
scraping edge 22 is a razor edge. As such, the first and second scraping edges
20 have different
forms, e.g., different sharpness. In the illustrated construction, the first
scraping edge 20 has a
length Ll (FIG. 2) that is greater than a length L2 of the second scraping
edge 22. For example,
Li may be about 14 inches (e.g., about 11 to about 17 inches, or more
specifically about 13 to
about 15 inches). L2 may be about 8 inches (e.g., about 5 inches to about 11
inches, or more
specifically about 7 inches to about 9 inches). In other constructions, other
lengths may be
employed. In other constructions, the first and second scraping edges 20, 22
may have the same
form and/or the same length.
[0020] In the illustrated construction, the first and second scraping edges
20, 22 are scraping
edge members that are removably fastened to the first and second ends 32, 34
of the scraper
blade 18, respectively. For example, the first and second scraping edges 20,
22 are removably
fastened by one or more fasteners 36 such as screws, nuts and bolts, clamps,
clips, pins, etc. In
other constructions, the first and second scraping edges 20, 22 may be formed
at the first and
second ends 32, 34 of the scraper blade 28, e.g., from the same single piece
of material as the
scraper blade 18 or fixedly coupled thereto, e.g., by rivets or welding.
[0021] A connecting member 24 extends from the convex surface 88 of the
scraper blade 18
generally normal to the convex surface 88 of the scraper blade 18 and defines
an axis B (FIG. 3).
Thus, the axis B is generally normal to the scraper blade 18.
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[0022] In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the connecting member
24 includes two
generally planar, generally parallel mounting members 24a, 24b (such as lobes
or brackets)
projecting from the convex surface 88 of the scraper blade 18 and defining a
cavity 38
therebetween for receiving the handle 12. The connecting member 24 is fixed to
the scraper
blade 18 and is generally symmetrical about the axis B (FIG. 3) such that the
handle 12 can be
received in the cavity 38 from either side of the axis B, e.g., from the first
end 32 of the scraper
blade 18 or from the second end 34 of the scraper blade 18. The mounting
members 24a, 24b
each include an aperture 40. In the illustrated construction, the aperture 40
is a slot elongated
generally perpendicular to the axis B and configured to receive one or more
fasteners 42. In
other constructions, the aperture 40 may have other shapes, orientations, etc.
or may include two
or more discrete and separate apertures, one for each fastener 42. In the
illustrated construction,
the fasteners 42 are removable and include nuts and bolts, but may include
other types of
fasteners in other constructions, such as a screw, a pin, a clip, a clamp,
etc. The elongated handle
12 includes apertures or a corresponding slot therethrough (not shown)
proximate the first distal
end 28 of the handle 12 for receiving the fasteners 42.
[0023] The scraper blade 18 is removably and adjustably mounted to the
elongated handle 12
by an adjustable coupling 26. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the adjustable coupling
26 includes the
connecting member 24 (including the mounting members 24a, 24b), the apertures
40, and the
fasteners 42. The coupling 26 is adjustable by being capable of receiving the
handle 12 from the
first end 32 or from the second end 34 such that the scraper blade 18 can be
mounted with the
first scraping edge 20 in a working position 44 (which will be defined in
greater detail below) or
the second scraper edge 22 in the working position 44.
[0024] In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the adjustable
coupling 26 allows the
scraper blade 18 to be rotationally repositioned about the axis B. For
example, the scraper blade
18 is selectively repositionable about the axis B between a first position and
a second position by
uncoupling, rotating 180 degrees, and re-coupling. Or, the scraper blade 18 is
selectively
repositionable about the axis B between the first position and the second
position by removing
one of the two fasteners 42, swinging the scraper blade 18 around to face the
opposite direction
with the other of the two fasteners 42 still attached, and then reattaching
the second fastener 42
to secure the scraper blade 18 in the second position. In the first position
(as shown in FIGS. 1-
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3) the first scraping edge 20 is located in the working position 44 at a
distal end of the scraper
tool 10 generally opposite the second distal end 30 of the handle 12, and in
the second position
(e.g., as shown in phantom in FIG. 5) the second scraping edge 20 is located
in the working
position 44. In other constructions, the scraper blade 18 may include third,
fourth, or more
scraping edges and may be repositionable between additional (e.g., third,
fourth, etc.) positions
by rotation at other angles, such as 120 degrees, 90 degrees, etc., to place
the respective scraping
edge in the working position.
[0025] The scraper tool 10 also includes a guard 46 for covering one of the
first or second
scraping edges 20, 22 not in the working position 44 (i.e., in a non-working
or storage position
90). The guard 46 covers the first scraping edge 20 when the scraper blade 18
is in the second
position and covers the second scraping edge 22 when the scraper blade 18 is
in the first position.
[0026] The guard 46 includes a generally linear recess 48 (or channel)
formed therein for
receiving the one of the first or second scraping edges 20, 22 in the non-
working position 90.
The guard 46 substantially covers the edge 20, 22 in the non-working position
90. For example,
the guard 46 may be formed from a piece of sheet metal, or other material,
bent or formed to
define the recess 48.
[0027] The guard 46 is jointly coupled to the elongated handle 12 and the
connecting
member 24 of the scraper blade 18 by way of the fasteners 42. However, in
other constructions,
the guard 46 may be coupled to the scraper blade 18 or to the elongated handle
12 independently.
In the illustrated construction, the guard 46 includes a pair of mounting
brackets 50 spaced in a
generally parallel fashion to receive the first and second mounting members
24a, 24b and the
elongated handle 12 therebetween. The mounting brackets 50 include apertures
therethrough for
receiving one of the fasteners 42, which sandwiches the mounting brackets 50,
the mounting
members 24a, 24b, and the elongated handle 12 together. In other
constructions, the guard 46
may be mounted in other suitable ways.
[0028] The scraper tool 10 also includes stomps 52a, 52b. Each of the
stomps 52a, 52b
extends transverse to the axis A, e.g., substantially perpendicular to the
axis A as illustrated. The
stomps 52a, 52b are coupled to the handle 12 proximate the first distal end 28
and extend from
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opposite sides of the handle U. In other constructions, the stomps 52a, 52b
may be coupled to
the scraper blade 18 or to the guard 46. In the illustrated construction, each
stomp 52a, 52b is
formed from a bar fixedly coupled to the handle 12, e.g., by welding or the
like, which extends
transverse to the axis A. The bar may be straight or bent, as shown. In some
constructions, only
one stomp is employed.
100291 FIGS. 4-9 illustrate other constructions of the adjustable coupling
26. These alternate
constructions are denoted by the same reference numerals used above plus "100"
added for each
subsequent construction. Like parts are numbered the same as they are above.
The adjustable
couplings 26, 126, 226, 326 allow the scraper blade 18 to be adjusted relative
to the handle 12.
For example, the angle of the handle 12 with respect to the scraper blade 18
can be adjusted, the
angle of the scraper blade 18 can be adjusted with respect to the handle 12,
the scraper blade 18
can be rotationally repositioned about the axis B, and the scraper blade 18
can be removed and
re-attached in an opposite-facing orientation along the length of the axis B,
all of which will be
described in greater detail below.
100301 In the construction illustrated in FIG. 4, the adjustable coupling
126 includes a
connecting member 124 having mounting members 124a, 124b (not shown) having a
pivot
aperture 54 and a plurality of positional apertures 56. The handle 12 is
coupleable to the
mounting members 124a, 124b at various angles relative to the scraper 12 by
using fasteners (not
shown) through a combination of the pivot aperture 54 and one of the
positional apertures 56.
Fasteners, such as any of the fasteners described above, may be employed. The
handle 12 is
illustrated in a first position and a second position, which is shown in
phantom, in FIG. 4. In this
construction, it may be possible to select which of the scraping edges 20, 22
is placed in the
working position 44 by adjusting the handle 12 accordingly. For example, in
the second
position, the first scraping edge 20 is in the working position 44. In a third
position (not shown),
in which the handle position is substantially a mirror image of the second
position about an axis
defined by the first position, the second scraping edge 22 is in the working
position 44.
100311 In the construction illustrated in FIG. 5, the adjustable coupling
226 includes a collar
58, a removable pin 60, and a connecting member 224. The connecting member 224
is
constructed as a cylindrical projection. The collar 58 has a corresponding
shape and receives the
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connecting member 224. A removable pin 60 passes through apertures in the
collar 58 and the
connecting member 224, and a securing member 62 (e.g., such as a bent wire)
secures the
removable pin 60 to hold the connecting member 224 in place with respect to
the collar 58. The
securing member 62 and pin 60 cooperate to secure the scraper blade 18 and are
removable to
release the scraper blade 18. Thus, the scraper blade 18 is removably coupled
to the handle 12.
[0032] With further reference to FIG. 5, the collar 58 includes a hollow
cavity for receiving
the connecting member 24 therein and two axially opposite open ends 64, 66
(e.g., the cavity
passes through the collar 28 at both axial ends along axis B) that are
generally symmetrical about
the axis A such that the scraper blade 18 can be attached to either open end
64, 66 of the collar
58 (at either longitudinal end along axis B). A first position of the scraper
blade 18 is shown in
FIG. 5, and a second position is shown in phantom in FIG. 5. The second
position is opposite-
facing relative to the first position. In the illustrated construction, the
scraper blade 18 can also
be repositioned relative to the collar 58 by rotating the scraper blade 18
with respect to the collar
58 and re-securing the pin 60 and securing member 62. For example, the scraper
blade 18 can be
repositioned in two positions 180 degrees apart (rotationally about the axis
B) to place either the
first or the second scraping edge 20, 22 in the working position 44. In other
constructions, the
scraper blade 18 may include more than two scraping edges and, therefore, more
than two
positions about the axis B. Thus, the scraper blade 18 can be removed,
repositioned, and secured
to the handle 12 in a plurality of positions.
[0033] The adjustable coupling 226 also includes a pivot plate 68 disposed
between the
collar 58 and the handle 12. The scraper blade 18 is removably coupled to the
collar 58, which is
fixedly coupled to the pivot plate 68, and the handle 12 is pivotably coupled
to the pivot plate 68
by way of a pivot pin 70. A locking mechanism 72 allows the handle 12 to be
held in a plurality
of positions with respect to the scraper blade 18. Any suitable locking
mechanism may be
employed. For example, the locking mechanism 72 includes a locking pin 74, as
shown. In
other constructions, the locking mechanism 72 may include a biased protrusion
coupled to the
handle 12, a fastener such a nut and bolt, a screw, or any of the fasteners
described above, etc. In
the illustrated construction, a plurality of apertures 76 are disposed in the
pivot plate 68 for
receiving the locking pin 74. The locking pin 74 is selectively received in
any one of the
plurality of apertures 76, each corresponding to a different angle between the
handle 12 and the
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scraper blade 18. FIG. 5 illustrates the handle 12 in a first position and, in
phantom, a second
position. In other constructions, other angle adjustment mechanisms may be
employed, such as a
gimbal mechanism, a locking ball and socket joint, etc.
[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates yet another construction of the adjustable
coupling 326 having a
connecting member 324 in which the collar 58 is fixedly coupled to the handle
12, and the
scraper blade 18 is pivotable relative to the collar 58 to adjust an angle C
between the scraper
blade 18 and an axis (such as axis B) perpendicular to the axis A of the
handle 12. Axis B,
which is perpendicular to the axis A of the handle 12, is used as a reference
in FIG. 6. For
example, the scraper blade 18 may be adjustable by way of a locking gimbal
mechanism, a
locking ball and socket joint, a pivot pin with locking mechanism (as shown
and described
above), etc. The angle C may be adjustable between an angle of greater than 0
degrees and less
than 180 degrees. More specifically, the angle C may be adjustable between an
angle of greater
than 30 degrees and less than 150 degrees. More specifically, the angle C may
be adjustable
between an angle of greater than 60 degrees and less than 120 degrees. In this
construction, the
scraper blade 18 may also be rotationally adjustable about the axis B as
described above.
[0035] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate yet another construction of the adjustable
coupling 426, the
connecting member 424, the guard 446, and the stomp 452.
[0036] The adjustable coupling 426 includes the connecting member 424. The
connecting
member 424 includes a tube 478 defining an elongated cavity 438 extending
generally
perpendicular to the axis B for receiving the handle 12. In the illustrated
construction, the tube
478 is generally cylindrical; however, in other constructions the tube 478 may
have any extruded
shape, or any other shape defining an elongated cavity for receiving the
handle 12. The tube 478
is fixedly coupled to the scraper blade 18. The tube 478 may be coupled to or
formed as one
piece with first and second mounting members 424a, 424b extending fixedly from
the scraper
blade 18. In some constructions, the tube 478 may be directly coupled to the
scraper blade 18, or
other mounting members may be employed. The tube 478 has in inner diameter
sized to receive
the handle 12 therein. A fastener (not shown) such as any of the fasteners
described above (e.g.,
the removable pin 60 with the securing member 62 described above and shown in
FIGS. 5-6)
may be passed through an aperture 440 in the tube 478 and the handle 12 to
removably couple
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the scraper blade 18 and the handle 12. The aperture 440 also passes through
the first and
second mounting members 424a, 242b when the mounting members are employed for
receiving
the fastener therethrough.
[0037] The adjustable coupling 426 is generally symmetrical about the axis
B for receiving
the handle 12 in the cavity 438 from either side of the axis B. In a first
position, the handle 12 is
received from the second end 34 of the scraper blade 18 such that the first
scraping edge 20 is in
the working position 44 opposite the second distal end 30 of the handle 12. In
a second position
(e.g., refer to the phantom lines in FIG. 5 above), the handle 12 is received
from the first end 32
of the scraper blade 18 such that the second scraping edge 22 is in the
working position 44
opposite the second distal end 30 of the handle 12. Furthermore, in the first
position the second
scraping edge 22 is disposed between the first scraping edge 20 and the second
distal end 30 of
the elongated handle 12 in the longitudinal direction A, and in the second
position the first
scraping edge 20 is disposed between the second scraping edge 22 and the
second distal end 30
of the elongated handle 12 in the longitudinal direction A.
[0038] The guard 446 includes a stomp member 452 having a stomp surface 480
generally
facing the second distal end 30 of the handle 12 and disposed proximate the
first distal end 28 of
the handle 12. The stomp surface 480 may be disposed generally perpendicular
to the axis A,
e.g., such that the axis A is normal to, or varies slightly from normal to,
the stomp surface 480.
The stomp surface 480 provides a surface for the operator's foot to stand or
stomp on the scraper
tool 10. The stomp surface 480 also acts as a guard over the scraper blade 18.
As illustrated in
FIG. 9, the first and second scraping edges 20, 22 cooperate to define a plane
D. The stomp
surface 480, or guard 446, is intersected by the plane D proximate the edge
20, 22 closest to the
stomp 452 such that the guard 446 at least partially covers the closer of the
edges 20, 22. When
the scraper blade 18 is in the first position, the guard 446 covers the second
scraping edge 22,
and when the scraper blade 18 is in the second position, the guard 446 covers
the first scraping
edge 20. In the illustrated construction, the handle 12 passes through the
stomp surface 480. In
other constructions, the stomp surface 480 may be coupled to one or more sides
of the handle 12.
[0039] The guard 446 includes a support, such as first and second support
members 482a,
482b, supporting the stomp member 452. The support members 482a, 482b extend
from, and are
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coupled to, the handle 12. The support members 482a, 482b may include bars,
tubes, wires, etc.
or another suitable framework. The handle 12 may include an enlarged diameter
portion 484
acting as an axial stop against the tube 478 and providing a mounting location
for the support
members 482a, 482b. The enlarged diameter portion 484 may be separate from the
handle 12
such that the handle 12 is received therethrough, or may be fixed to the
handle 12.
[0040] FIG. 10 illustrates another construction of the handle 512 having a
bent second distal
end 530 such that the first grip 514 is disposed at an angle with respect to
the axis A, such as 90
degrees. In other constructions, the second distal end 530 may have other
angles with respect to
the axis A. In the illustrated construction, the axis A intersects the first
grip 514 and the second
grip 516 is aligned coaxially with the axis A. The handle 512 may be employed
with any of the
constructions of the scraper tool 10 described herein and, thus, may be
adjustable as described
above.
[0041] The alternate constructions of the features described herein may be
employed in any
combination. For example, any of the stomps or guards may be used in any
combination with
each other and in any combination with the adjustable couplings described
herein.
[0042] In operation, an operator may move the scraper blade 18 from the
first position to the
second position to selectively secure one of the scraping edges 20, 22 in the
working position 44.
The scraper blade 18 may be rotated about the axis B, e.g., by 180 degrees,
between the first
position and the second position (FIGS. 1-3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIGS. 7-9).
The scraper blade
18 may be rotated within a rotatable coupling (FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) or removed,
repositioned, and
re-coupled to the handle 12 from the first position to the second position
(FIGS. 1-3). The
scraper blade 18 may alternatively be pivoted about a pivot between the first
position and the
second position (FIGS. 1-3, and FIG. 4).
[0043] The operator may also change the scraper blade 18 from one side of
axis A of the
handle 12 to an opposite-facing side of the axis A of the handle 12 (FIGS. 1-
3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6).
The operator may also adjust the angle of the handle 12 relative to the
scraper blade 18 such that
the handle 12 may be secured in a plurality of positions (FIG. 4, FIG. 5). The
operator may also
adjust the scraper blade 18 angle C relative to the handle 12 (FIG. 6).
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[0044] The scraper tool 10 may be used for scraping a surface, such as a
floor, a ceiling, a
wall, etc. Different positions of the scraper blade 18 provide different
scraping edges 20, 22
having different forms, such as a blunt edge for certain applications and a
razor edge for other
types of applications. The scraping edges 20, 22 also differ in length Ll, L2
to provide different
functionality in one tool.
[0045] For added power during use, the operator may apply force on the
stomps 52a, 52b,
452, e.g., by way of one's foot.
[0046] Thus, the invention provides a scraper tool 10 with an adjustable
scraper blade 18
having a guard.
[0047] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference
to certain preferred
constructions, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit
of one or more
independent aspects of the invention as described.
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