AU2003200996B2 - A scraper - Google Patents

Description

IP AUSTRALIA

RECEIVED

FIELD OF INVENTION 14 MAR 2003 This invention relates to a scraper CANBERRA-

FEP

BACKGROUND ART It is known to use scrapers to remove flaking paint or the like from walls, roofs, or other surfaces prior to painting. A problem with such scrapers is that they usually have a flat straight edged blade, which makes it inconvenient to use them with corrugated iron surfaces or the like. This is because the blade is only able to contact a relatively minor portion of the surface across the corrugations at any one time. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

The term "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising", if and when used in this document, should be interpreted non-exclusively, i.e. should be interpreted to mean "consisting of or including".

GENERAL DESCRIPTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a paint scraper, comprising support means supporting a blade portion, the blade portion having a scraping edge with undulations, the undulations being arranged to match corrugations of a sheet of corrugated iron; the scraper being formed such that when it is in use the blade portion can be arranged against the sheet of corrugated iron such that the blade portion extends from the sheet in a substantially perpendicular fashion with the undulations of the scraping edge aligned in complimentary fashion with undulations of the sheet, and wherein a substantial part of the scraping edge can then be scraped across the sheet to substantially effectively remove paint flakes or dirt from the sheet.

Preferably the blade portion is substantially planar.

Preferably the undulations of the scraping edge are substantially continuously curved from beginning to end.

Preferably the undulations of the scraping edge are of a substantially sine wave configuration.

Preferably the support means comprises a base from which the blade portion extends.

Preferably there is a second blade portion substantially the same as the first blade portion, each blade portion being supported by the support means in substantially parallel relationship Preferably the undulations corresponding to each blade portion are substantially aligned.

Preferably the support means incorporates a handle fitting to enable a handle to be fitted to the support means.

Preferably the handle fitting enables the handle to pivot.

Preferably the scraper incorporates the handle.

Preferably the handle comprises a pole.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of scraping paint flakes from a corrugated iron surface, comprising taking a scraper as set out above, arranging the scraper such that the undulations of the scraping edge, or of the scraping edges if there are two blade portions, are aligned against corrugations of the corrugated iron surface, and moving the scraper along the corrugated iron surface to scrape paint flakes therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paint scraper, Figure 2 is a side view of the scraper of figure 1, and Figure 3 is an end view of the scraper of figures 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The scraper 1 has a support means incorporating a rectangular plate 2. Planar blade portions 3 and 4 extend downwards at right angles from opposite sides of the plate 2, and each blade portion is of substantially the same size and shape. The blade portions 3 and 4 each have an undulating scraping edge 5 and 6 respectively, and the undulations correspond in shape to the transverse cross section of a sheet of corrugated roofing or fencing iron.

The scraper 1 has a fitting 7 on the plate 2 for receiving a pole 8. The fitting may or may not include a pivot connection 9 to enable the pole to pivot with respect to the plate 2. It is however desirable that the pole 8 be able to pivot so as to optimise the performance of the scraper 1.

When the scraper 1 is in use a worker may place it on a length of corrugated iron with the scraping edges 5 and 6 contacting the iron substantially at right angles. The arrangement is such that ridges 10 of the undulations substantially match and can ride along depressions in the corrugations of the iron, and depressions 11 of the undulations substantially match and can ride along ridges in the corrugations of the iron. The worker then grips the pole 8 and uses this to push or pull the scraper along the corrugated iron to clean it and to remove loose flakes of paint. The pivot connection 9 enables the scraping edges 5 and 6 to remain in contact with the iron 0io even if the angle of the pole 8 with respect to the iron is altered.

The scraping edges undulate to the extent that they can accommodate a plurality of corrugations in the iron, and thus with one stroke of the scraper a good number of the corrugations can be worked on simultaneously. Additionally, the use of two spaced scraping edges 5 and 6 means that with each stroke of the scraper the corrugations in the iron receive a double working. In some embodiments of the invention there may be more than two blade portions and scraping edges so that each stroke of the scraper gives the iron more than a double working.

In some embodiments of the invention the handle 8, and or the fitting 7, may be detachable from the plate 2. In such embodiments the arrangement may be such that a paint roller extension handle can be easily fitted to the plate 2 and subsequently detached.

In further embodiments of the invention there may be only one blade portion, and thus only one associated scraping edge. In such embodiments there may or may not be a wheel or other guides extending downwards from the plate 2 to keep the blade portion correctly aligned with respect to a corrugated surface when in use.

In further embodiments of the invention the undulations in the scraping edge or edges may be other than curved le for use with corrugated surfaces in which the corrugations are made up of straight edges.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that improvements and modifications can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims (11)

1. A paint scraper, comprising support means Supporting a blade portion, the O blade portion having a scraping edge with undulations, the undulations being arranged to match corrugations of a sheet of corrugated roofing iron; the scraper being formed Va \such that when it is in use the blade portion can be arranged against the sheet of Scorrugated roofing iron such that the blade portion extends from the sheet in a Ssubstantially perpendicular fashion with the undulations of the scraping edge aligned in O complimentary fashion with undulations of the sheet, and wherein a substantial part of !o the scraping edge can then be scraped across the sheet to substantially effectively remove paint flakes or dirt from the sheet: the scraper being such that there is a second blade portion substantially the same as the first blade portion, each blade portion being supported by the support means in substantially parallel relationship such that the undulations corresponding to each blade portion are substantially aligned.

2. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein each blade portion is substantially planar.

3. A scraper according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the undulations of the scraping edges are substantially continuously curved from beginning to end.

4. A scraper according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the undulations of the scraping edges are of a substantially sine wave configuration.

5. A scraper according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means comprises a base from which the blade portions extend.

COMS ID No: SBMI-07234899 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:38 Date 2007-05-03 03/05/2007 17:34 83/5/20717:4 445561028 AJ PIETRAS PG PAGE 013/08 7 Cl6. A scraper according to any one of the preceding claims, Wherein the support means incorporates a handle fitting to enable a handle to be fitted to the support means.

7. A scraper according to cl aim 6, wherein the handle fitting enables the handle to pivot. Mn a.

A scraper according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the scraper, incorporates the o handle.

9. A scraper according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the handle comprises a pole.

A scraper according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of scraping paint flakes from a corrugated iron surface, comprising taking a scraper according to any one of the preceding claims, arranging the scraper such that the undulations of the scraping edges are aligned against corrugations of the corrugated roofing iron, and moving the scraper along the corrugated roofing iron to scrape paint flakes therefrom. MURRAY GORDON WATKINS By His Agent COMS ID No: SBMI-07234899 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:38 Date 2007-05-03