Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Accessories – Debris receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-26
2001-05-01
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Accessories
Debris receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223386
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of hand-held cleaning appliances for manual collection of debris, having a handle attached to a scoop into which debris can be swept for disposal. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of stand-up dustpans for an upright user to sweep debris conveniently into the dustpan while holding an elongated handle in one hand and a broom in the other hand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, conventional hand-held dustpans characteristically have a short handle which is rigidly mounted and protrudes from the rear of the dustpan scoop substantially in the same plane as the scoop. The disadvantage with this prior art dustpan is that the user must bend over to grasp the handle and then incline the dustpan at an angle to the floor, to place the edge of the scoop on the floor to gather dust or other debris. In doing so, the user may injure his or her back while bending over to use the hand-held dustpans.
In particular, another prior art dustpan has an elongated handle that protrudes upwardly when the edge of the scoop is placed on the floor, such that the user positions the scoop wilt one hand, in opposition to a broom being manipulated with the other hand. Typically, the handle is rigidly affixed perpendicular to the plane of the scoop of the dustpan and the scoop is open across its top. The closed-rear form of the scoop may swing freely on the handle on a pivot axis near the front of the scoop, such that the rear of the container drops downwardly when the scoop is lifted, capturing the debris. The disadvantage with this prior art this dustpan is that the elongated upwardly extending handle does not come apart. Then the entire dustpan including the handle attached thereon is shipped to retailers. The disadvantage with this is that it is a very cumbersome and expensive way of shipping to the retailers. It would be much easier if the handle can be detached from the dustpan and have the pan-shaped base member with the elongated handle shipped to the retailers detached and then have the elongated handle attached at the site of the retailers.
It is desirable to provide an apparatus for converting a conventional hand-held dustpan into a stand-up dustpan having an elevated debris barrier to be used by a user while standing upright, thereby eliminating the need for a user to bend down to use the dustpan. It is also desirable to provide a stand-up dustpan with the capability of rapidly changing the stand-up dustpan back to a hand-held dustpan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a novel and unique apparatus for converting a conventional hand-held dustpan into a stand-up dustpan having an elevated debris barrier to be used by a person who is standing upright.
The apparatus comprises a conventional hand-held dustpan, an elongated upwardly extending handle and an elevated debris barrier. The dustpan has a pan-shaped base member having a rear wall, two sidewalls and an open front scoop or blade portion over which debris is scooped or swept. Preferably, the scoop is open at the top, and has a handle member which has two ends affixedly attached to the base member and extends out from the rear wall to form a U-shaped handle. A clamping member snaps onto the U-shaped handle with the upwardly extending handle threaded into a threaded bore that attaches the upwardly extending handle to the U-shaped handle provided on top of the clamping member. The debris barrier comprises three elevated walls which are respectively positioned parallel to the three walls of the pan-shaped base member of the dustpan. A pair of snapping members are provided on the rear wall and snap on top of the U-shaped handle of the dustpan to secure the debris barrier to the pan-shaped base member.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for converting a conventional hand-held dustpan into a stand-up dustpan having an elevated debris barrier to be used by a user standing in the upright position, such that a user does not need to bend down to use the dustpan.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for converting a conventional hand-held dustpan into a stand-up dustpan having an elevated debris barrier to be used by a standing user, thereby eliminating the need for a user to bend down to use the dustpan.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stand-up dustpan with the capability of rapidly changing the stand-up dustpan to a hand-held dustpan and vice versa.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for converting a conventional hand-held dustpan into a stand-up dustpan having an elevated debris barrier that is durable, inexpensive, and easy to merchandise, display, transport, store and use.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2782615 (1957-02-01), Johnson
patent: 290151 (1916-02-01), None
Chen Tony D.
Fong Jerry
Graham Gary K.
Rozsa Thomas I.
Worldwide Integrated Resources, Inc.
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