Abstract:
The present invention is to provide a scraper for a barbecue grill comprising a hollow handle and a substantially parallelepiped cleaning head at a forward end of the handle. The cleaning head is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the handle and includes a blade extended horizontally from a forward side of the cleaning head, wherein the blade has a cutting edge at a forward side thereof with a series of curved peaks and valleys conformed to open spaces of the barbecue grill for removing dirt left on side surfaces of metal bars of the barbecue grill.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to scrapers and more particularly to a scraper for a barbecue grill with improved characteristics.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A conventional scraper  7  for a barbecue grill is shown in  FIG. 1 . The scraper  7  comprises a cleaning head  72 , a handle  71  extended obliquely from a rear side of the cleaning head  72 , a blade  73  extended horizontally from a forward side of the cleaning head  72 , the blade  73  having a straight cutting edge  731  at a forward side thereof. Thus, a person can remove dirt left on metal bars of a barbecue grill by scraping by means of the cutting edge  731  of the blade  73  while using the scraper  7  for cleaning the barbecue grill.  
         [0003]     However, the straight cutting edge  731  of the blade  73  of the scraper  7  makes the cutting edge  731  of the blade  73  impossible of inserting portions thereof into open spaces of the barbecue grill. As a result, side surfaces of the metal bars of the barbecue grill are not rubbed by the cutting edge  731 . As such, a thorough cleaning of the barbecue grill is impossible by using the scraper  7  (i.e., dirt still remained on the barbecue grill).  
         [0004]     Thus, it is desirable among many scraper manufacturers to provide a novel scraper for a barbecue grill in order to overcome the above drawback of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a scraper for a barbecue grill. The scraper comprises a hollow handle, and a substantially parallelepiped cleaning head at a forward end of the handle, the cleaning head being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the handle, the cleaning head including a blade extended horizontally from a forward side of the cleaning head, the blade having a cutting edge at a forward side thereof, the cutting edge consisting of a series of curved peaks and valleys conformed to open spaces of the barbecue grill. In using the scraper to remove dirt left on the barbecue grill, place the blade on the barbecue grill with the peaks of the cutting edge inserted into the open spaces of the barbecue grill to contact side surfaces of metal bars of the barbecue grill and the valleys thereof contacted top surfaces of the metal bars respectively so that dirt remained on the barbecue grill can be removed by the blade. By utilizing the present invention, the above drawback of the prior art can be overcome. The drawbacks is that the straight cutting edge of the prior scraper makes it impossible of inserting portions thereof into the open spaces of the barbecue grill. Hence, side surfaces of the metal bars of the barbecue grill cannot be rubbed and cleaned by the cutting edge.  
         [0006]     One object of the present invention is to provide a scraper for a barbecue grill wherein the cleaning head further comprises a substantially parallelepiped cavity on its bottom surface, the cavity having two slots at front and rear sides thereof respectively, and a parallelepiped metal bristle carrier, the metal bristle carrier including two claws at front and rear sides thereof respectively, the claws being adapted to hook into the slots for fastening the metal bristle carrier in the cavity so that in using the scraper, dirt remained on joining points of the metal bars can be removed by using groups of metal bristles on the metal bristle carrier.  
         [0007]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a scraper for a barbecue grill wherein the handle comprises a hook at its rear end, the hook including a connecting member, a first transverse member, and a second transverse member. One end of the connecting member is coupled to the rear end of the handle and the other end thereof is extended arcuately, axially away from the handle, the connecting member includes a downward curved section extended from about center thereof to couple to the rear end of the handle, the first transverse member and the parallel second transverse member are across a rear portion of the connecting member, the first transverse member is spaced from the second transverse member, the first transverse member includes two symmetric upward bent sections at both ends thereof, and the second transverse member comprises two symmetric downward bent sections at both ends thereof so that the barbecue grill can be lifted from an open fire by placing the hook on the barbecue grill with the upward bent sections pressed on two parallel ones of the metal bars and the downward bent sections urged upward the parallel metal bars.  
         [0008]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional scraper for barbecue grill;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of scraper for barbecue grill according to the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is the assembled view of the  FIG. 2  scraper;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view depicting the cleaning of a barbecue grill by the blade of the scraper according to the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view depicting the lifting of metal bars of the barbecue grill by the hook of the scraper according to the invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of scraper for barbecue grill according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a scraper  1  for barbecue grill in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The scraper  1  comprises a substantially parallelepiped cleaning head  12 , a hollow, ergonomic handle  11  extended obliquely from a rear side of the cleaning head  12 , a blade  13  extended horizontally from a forward side of the cleaning head  12 , the blade  13  having a cutting edge  131  at a forward side thereof. The cutting edge  131  consists of a series of curved peaks for inserting into open spaces of a barbecue grill  4  (as detailed later in  FIG. 4 ) and valleys.  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIG. 4  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , a person can place the blade  13  of the scraper  1  on the barbecue grill  4  prior to removing dirt left on the barbecue grill  4  by using the scraper  1 . As shown, the peaks of the cutting edge  131  of the blade  13  are inserted into open spaces of the barbecue grill  4  to contact side surfaces of metal bars  41  of the barbecue grill  4  and the valleys thereof contact top surfaces of the metal bars  41  of the barbecue grill  4  respectively. As a result, the blade  13  is able to scrape dirt remained on the surface of the barbecue grill  4  for carrying out a thorough cleaning.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 2  again, in the first preferred embodiment of the invention the cleaning head  12  of the scraper  1  comprises a substantially parallelepiped cavity  15  on a bottom surface. Two slots  151  are provided at front and rear sides of the cavity  15  respectively. A parallelepiped metal bristle carrier  21  is fitted in the cavity  15 . The metal bristle carrier  21  comprises two claws  22  at front and rear sides respectively, the claws  22  being adapted to hook into the slots  151  for fastening the metal bristle carrier  21  at the cavity  15  of the scraper  1 . The metal bristle carrier  21  further comprises groups of metal bristles  23  mounted thereon. In using the scraper  1 , dirt remained on joining points of the metal bars  41  of the barbecue grill  4  can be removed by using the metal bristles  23  on the metal bristle carrier  21  (see  FIG. 4 ). Moreover, in replacement of the metal bristle carrier  21  a person can insert a screw driver in one slot  151  to clear one claw  22  from the slot  151  prior to unfastening and removing the metal bristle carrier  21  and replacing it with a new one. It is seen that cost can be reduced since a damaged metal bristle carrier  21  can be replaced with a new one rather than buying a new scraper. Hence, the invention is cost effective.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 5  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , in the invention a hook  5  is formed at a rear end of the handle  11  of the scraper  1 . The hook  5  comprises a connecting member  51 , a first transverse member  53 , and a second transverse member  55 . One end of the connecting member  51  is coupled to the rear end of the handle  11  and the other end thereof is extended arcuately, axially away from the handle  11 . A downward curved section  511  is extended from about center of the connecting member  51  to couple to the rear end of the handle  11 . The first transverse member  53  and the parallel second transverse member  55  are across a rear portion of the connecting member  51 . Also, the first transverse member  53  is spaced from the second transverse member  55 . The first transverse member  53  comprises two symmetric upward bent sections  531  at both ends thereof. Also, the second transverse member  55  comprises two symmetric downward bent sections  551  at both ends thereof. In lifting the barbecue grill  4  from an open fire, first place the hook  5  on the barbecue grill  4  with the upward bent sections  531  of the hook  5  pressed on two parallel metal bars  41  and the downward bent sections  551  thereof urged upward the parallel metal bars  41  (see  FIG. 5 ). Thus, it is possible of lifting the barbecue grill  4  from the open fire.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5  again, in the invention the hook  5  is secured to the rear end of the handle  11  by a fastener (e.g., screw)  57 . As an end, the hook  5  is firmly coupled to the scraper  1 .  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3  again, in the invention the hook  5  is made of plastic material and is formed integrally with the rear end of the handle  11 . As an end, the hook  5  is firmly coupled to the scraper  1 .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the invention a plurality of rows of protuberances  111  for resisting slip are formed on a top surface of rear section of the handle  11 . As such, the protuberances  111  are adapted to exert a slip resistant force on the hand of a person who holds the handle  11 . Further, an elongated trough  113  is formed on a bottom surface of rear section of the handle  11 . A cap  16  having a non-slip surface is fitted on the trough  113  by snapping. As such, the cap  16  not only can preserve the handle&#39;s appearance but also can increase traction between the hand of the person and the handle  11  by further exerting a slip resistant force on the hand of the person.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  again, in the invention the blade  13  further comprises one or more through holes (two are shown)  133  each having a diameter slightly larger than that of any prong of a fork for spearing meat. Thus, in cleaning the fork a person can insert the prongs of the fork into the through holes  133  for removing dirt on the prongs of the fork by rubbing the prongs of the fork against edges of the through holes  133 . As a result, dirt on the fork is completely removed.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a second preferred embodiment of scraper for barbecue grill according to the invention is depicted. A substantially parallelepiped cavity  15  is formed on a bottom surface of the cleaning head  12  of the scraper  1 . Two slots  151  are provided at front and rear sides of the cavity  15  respectively. A parallelepiped sponge pad carrier  61  is fitted in the cavity  15 . The sponge pad carrier  61  comprises two claws  63  at front and rear sides respectively, the claws  63  being adapted to hook into the slots  151  for fastening the sponge pad carrier  61  at the cavity  15  of the scraper  1 . The sponge pad carrier  61  further comprises a sponge pad  65  mounted thereon. In using the scraper  1 , dirt remained on joining points of the metal bars  41  of the barbecue grill  4  can be removed by using the sponge pad  65  on the sponge pad carrier  61  (see  FIG. 4 ). Moreover, in replacement of the sponge pad carrier  61  a person can insert a screw driver in one slot  151  to clear one claw  63  from the slot  151  prior to unfastening and removing the sponge pad carrier  61  and replacing it with a new one. It is seen that cost can be reduced since a damaged sponge pad carrier  61  can be replaced with a new one rather than buying a new scraper. Hence, the invention is cost effective.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4  again, in the invention the cleaning head  12  of the scraper  1  comprises a substantially parallelepiped cavity  15  on a bottom surface. Two slots  151  are provided at front and rear sides of the cavity  15  respectively. A parallelepiped plastic bristle carrier (not shown) is fitted in the cavity  15 . The plastic bristle carrier comprises two claws at front and rear sides respectively, the claws being adapted to hook into the slots  151  for fastening the plastic bristle carrier at the cavity  15  of the scraper  1 . The plastic bristle carrier further comprises groups of plastic bristles mounted thereon. In using the scraper  1 , dirt remained on joining points of the metal bars  41  of the barbecue grill  4  can be removed by using the plastic bristles  23  on the plastic bristle carrier. Moreover, in replacement of the plastic bristle carrier a person can insert a screw driver in one slot  151  to clear one claw from the slot  151  prior to unfastening and removing the plastic bristle carrier and replacing it with a new one. It is seen that cost can be reduced since a damaged plastic bristle carrier can be replaced with a new one rather than buying a new scraper. Hence, the invention is cost effective.  
         [0025]     While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.