SCRAPERS

Abstract: A scraper (2, 20, 36) for use in removal of a material (such as ice) from a surface (such as a vehicle window). The scraper (2, 20, 36) comprising a hollow body defining an internal cavity, a heat transfer medium (10, 34) retained within the cavity and enclosed by the body, and a blade (4, 24) connected to (or arranged to be connected to) the body. The body can be placed in a microwave oven for heating of the heat transfer medium (10, 34) therein. This permits storage of thermal energy after removal of the body from the oven and transfer of thermal energy from the medium to the blade (4, 24).

Description: Scrapers This application relates to scrapers, and in particular to scrapers for hand held use . Hand held scrapers may be used in a variety of situations to scrape a material off a surface. One such situation is scraping ice off a surface. In certain circumstances, such as when scraping frost off a window (especially a vehicle window) , scraping ice out of the interior of a refrigerator or freezer or cleaning equipment (for example getting ice off winter sports equipment) the user's hand may get very cold whilst scraping. Gloves are frequently proposed as the solution to the user's cold hand, but this is not always satisfactory. Scrapers for use in scraping ice off surfaces are more effective, and the user's task hence easier, when they are sufficiently warmer than the ice to melt that ice. Such scrapers have been proposed previously; for example, US-A- 3935425 discloses an electrically heated windscreen cleaner whereby the cleaner includes a gripping portion which houses, amongst other things, an independent power source such as a battery and a blade portion that includes an electric heating coil. A similar device is disclosed in US-A-5357646. US-A-5287593 discloses a snow and ice remover having a scraper, and a device for passing a heated fluid along the scraper onto the ice. The heated fluid melts the ice or snow to facilitate removal thereof by the scraper. The fluid is heated by a heater connected to a power source (typically a battery) . According to the present invention there is provided a scraper, which scraper comprises: l) a hollow body defining an internal cavity; n) a heat transfer medium retained within the cavity and enclosed by the body; and in) a blade connected to or arranged to be connected to the body; wherein the body can be placed m a microwave oven for heating of the heat transfer medium therein so as to permit storage of thermal energy after removal of the body from the oven and transfer of thermal energy from the medium to the body. The thermal transfer is generally by way of conduction or convection. In use, the scraper is placed within a microwave oven, irradiated with microwave radiation for a pre-determmed period, and then used to scrape ice off a surface. Accordingly, there is further provided by the present invention, a method of removing material (such as ice) from a surface (such as a vehicle window) , which method comprises : l) providing a scraper according to the present invention; n) placing the body of the scraper m a microwave oven ; m) subjecting the body to microwave radiation so as to heat the heat transfer medium therein; IV) removing the body from the microwave oven; and v) using the blade connected to the body to remove said material . Preferably, the entire scraper may be placed in the microwave oven and subjected to microwave radiation in steps (ii) and (iii) above. It is particularly beneficial in the most preferred embodiment that the heat transfer medium, when heated, not only heats the body of the scraper but also heats the blade and/or transfers heat to the user's hand. The latter would inhibit the cooling of the user's hand or even permit warming of the user's hand. A heated blade would beneficially melt ice which is to be scraped off a surface by the blade, thus easing the scraping process. A particular advantage of heating the heat transfer medium in a microwave oven is that most common microwave ovens are powered by mains electricity. The thermal energy in the scraper of the present invention may be increased each time the scraper is required, or at intervals during the scraping process. The problem and inconvenience of an independent power source in the previously known scrapers, such as a battery being drained and having to be replaced or recharged, does not arise in the present invention. Another advantage of being able to heat the heat transfer medium in a microwave oven, is that it permits storage of thermal energy in the heat transfer medium after the body of the scraper has been removed from the microwave oven. This stored thermal energy can then be transferred to the body of the scraper, so that the scraper can be used to scrape ice off a surface which is remote from the microwave oven, for example a vehicle window. Therefore, the scraper advantageously does not need to be continuously connected to a power source as is the case with the prior art. Preferably, the body and/or blade are comprised of a plastics material, and most preferably of a plastics material that is substantially inert when exposed to microwave radiation. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention the body and the blade of the scraper are integral with each other. The heat transfer medium is a medium that can be heated by exposure to microwave radiation, and can store thermal energy for a period of time after heating. Examples of such media are described m, for example, WO93/11400. Particularly preferred heat transfer media are m fluid form so that the medium can flow substantially throughout the internal cavity of the scraper. The fluid medium may be a microwave heatable liquid or a multiplicity of flowable particles which are heatable by microwave radiation. When such particles are used they may be of material that is inherently responsive to microwaves (for example, of carbon black) . When such particles are used, however, they preferably comprise porous or hollow solid bodies of materials that are not in themselves heatable by microwave radiation, the bodies being impregnated or filled with microwave heatable liquid. Such bodies may be, for example, of material such as alumina or silica. The microwave responsive liquid should be one of low volatility and preferably chemically inert and stable at least up to the maximum intended operational temperature of the scraper. Liquids which are rich in either hydroxyl groups or ether groups have suitable microwave susceptibility; examples of suitable liquids include aqueous liquids (which may, for example, be in gel form) , ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and polymers thereof. A particularly preferred material is a polyethylene glycol . It is particularly preferred that the scraper of the present invention is dimensioned and configured to fit a user's hand. Most preferably, the scraper is dimensioned and configured so that it may be comfortably used in either of the user's hands. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body of the scraper is formed from a web portion and a grip portion. The grip portion is configured and dimensioned to be at least partially receivable in the palm of the user's hand. The grip portion is joined to a first edge of the web portion. The web portion is so dimensioned that at least the tips of the user's thumb and fingers may grip opposed sides of the web portion when the grip portion is received in the user's palm. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous because it allows the user a high degree of control of the location and orientation of the scraper, and a firm grip on the scraper. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the blade of the scraper is attached to a second edge of the web portion. It is particularly preferred in embodiments with a web portion as part of the body of the scraper, that the web portion is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the web, or in other words, there is a plane of symmetry inside the web. It is preferred that the web portion is substantially triangular or substantially segmental (triangular with an arcuate hypotenuse) when viewed from a position substantially perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the web. The grip portion is preferably joined to the hypotenuse, or the arc of the segment of the web. It is preferred that when forming the scraper of the present invention, the scraper is formed by moulding. Most preferably, the blade is created at the junction of two mould parts. By forming the blade at a junction of two mould parts a solid blade may be manufactured in a blow moulding or rotational moulding. This is particularly advantageous because blow moulding or rotational moulding is most suitable for making hollow mouldings such as the body of the scraper, but until the aforesaid method of making the blade was arrived at, said techniques were not suited to the manufacture of solid items such as a solid blade . It is particularly preferred, for the purposes of ease of manufacture, that the body and blade are each substantially symmetrical about a common plane, that is where there is a plane of symmetry that runs through both the body and blade of the scraper. In one embodiment of the present invention the scraper further includes a elongate recess or a bore that is dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of a key preferably permitting said key to be in thermal contact with the heat transfer medium. This is particularly advantageous where the scraper is to be used for scraping ice off, for example, a motor vehicle. The user of the scraper may heat the key to that vehicle. This is beneficial if the lock mechanism on the door of that vehicle is iced-up because the heated key will melt the ice to enable the lock mechanism to be activated. It is most preferred that the portion of the key that is received in the recess or bore is the portion that actually enters the barrel of the lock it fits. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material defining the recess or bore is resiliently deformable so that it, to an extent, will deform to snugly engage with the key. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the body of the scraper is substantially cylindrical with a first end tapering and flattening out to become an integrally formed blade. The end of the body remote from the blade is closed. Optionally, the closed end may include a nozzle through which a heat transfer medium susceptible to heating on irradiation by microwave radiation may be introduced or extracted. The materials of the body and the material heatable by microwave radiation may be as described in connection with the previous embodiments . The present invention will be further described and explained by way of example and with reference to the accompanying illustrations in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a first embodiment of a scraper according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a section on line AA 1 of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the scraper of Figure 1 when in use; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a scraper according to the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a sectional elevation of a scraper of Figure 4 along the line CC . Figure 6 shows a side elevation of a scraper similar to the scraper of Figure 1 with an elongate recess for receiving a portion of a key. Figure 7 shows the end view of the scraper of Figure 6 Figure 8 shows a side elevation of an alternative scraper similar to the scraper of Figure 6 with an elongate bore for receiving a portion of a key. Figure 9 shows the end view of the scraper of Figure 8. Referring to Figures 1 to 3 , a scraper (2) is comprised of a blade (4) and a body comprised of web (6) and grip portion (8) . The blade (4), web (6) and grip portion (8^ are all of plastics material. Web (6) is substantially parallel sided and, when viewed from one side, substantially segmental . Grip portion (8) is joined to web portion (6) along the edge of web portion (6) that is arcuate. Web portion (6) and grip portion (8) are hollow and the internal cavities of said portions are m communication with each other. This is best illustrated m figure 2. A heat transfer medium (10) is retained within the internal cavities of the web portion (6) and grip portion (8) . Transfer medium (10) substantially fills the whole of the internal cavities of web portion (6) and grip portion (8) . Heat transfer medium (10) is a polyethylene glycol. The scraper (2) is provided with a means (not shown) for filling and emptying the heat transfer medium (10) for initially filling the scraper (2) . Optionally, the filling/emptying means may be adapted to allow replenishment of the medium. In use, a user places scraper (2) within a microwave oven and subjects it to a predetermined period of microwave irradiation. In an alternative embodiment, just part of the scraper (namely the body containing heat transfer medium therein, but not including the blade) may be placed within a microwave oven and subjected to microwave radiation. The scraper (2) (or body) may then be removed from the oven, held in the user's hand (12) and the blade of the scraper (4) may be used to remove material (18) from a surface (19) . It is particularly preferred that the scraper be used for scraping ice off windows, fridges and the like. When the user's hand (12) is gripping the scraper (2), the web portion (8) is received in the user's palm (not shown) and the user's thumb and fingers (14, 16 respectively) grip on opposite sides of web (6) . The user may grip, especially with the thumb, either the grip portion (8) or the web portion (6) . As may be seen from Figure 2, blade (4) is in thermal contact with heat transfer material (10) and accordingly blade (4) is heated by heat transfer material (10) . To manufacture the scraper (2) , a blow moulding process is used. The mould is a two part mould and the joint between the moulds is along the line BB as shown on figure 2. As may be seen, the blade (4) is formed at, or on one side of, the junction of the two mould parts (generally known as the tool "part line" or "split line"), enabling the blade (4) to be made by blow moulding, a process not normally suitable for making solid elements such as blade (4) . After the scraper (2) has been formed by moulding, blade (4) may be trimmed to produce an appropriate edge on blade (4) if necessary. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a scraper (20) is comprised of a substantially cylindrical and hollow handle (22) and a blade (24) . Cylindrical handle (22) is integral with blade (24) via a pair of converging substantially flattened faces (26, 28) . The end (30) of handle (22) remote from blade (24) is closed m a substantially domed fashion. End (30) includes a nozzle (32) through which a filling of heat transfer medium (34) may be introduced or extracted. Heat transfer medium (34) is polyethylene glycol. In a variant of the ice scraper shown m Figures 4 and 5, the handle (22) may be moulded so as to include a surface configuration that will aid the gripping of the scraper by a user. The surface configuration may preferably be a number of finger grooves, the axes of the grooves running substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the scraper. The scraper (36) of Figures 6 and 7 is provided with an elongate recess (38) m the web portion (6) of the scraper (36) . A portion of a key (not shown) can be pushed into the recess (38) , such that the key portion would be m thermal contact with the heat transfer medium (10) . The portion of the key which fits m the recess, is the portion which would enter the barrel of the lock it fits. Figure 7 shows that the scraper (36) is provided with 2 recesses (38) , one on either side of the web portion (6) . In use the portion of the key pushed into the recess (38) would be heated through thermal contact with the microwave heated heat transfer medium (10) . This is particularly advantageous where the scraper (36) is to be used for scraping ice off a motor vehicle and the lock mechanism of that vehicle is iced up. The user of the scraper (36) may heat the key to the vehicle and insert it into the iced up lock mechanism. The heated key would melt the ice and enable the lock mechanism to be activated. Figures 8 and 9 show the scraper (36) of Figures 6 and 7 with an elongate bore (40) in the web portion of the scraper (38) instead of the recess (38) of Figures 6 and 7. A portion of a key (not shown) can be slotted into the bore (40) , such that the key would be in thermal contact with the heat transfer medium (10) . The heated key can be used as described above.

Claims: Cl aims 1. A scraper comprising: (i) a hollow body defining an internal cavity; (ii) a heat transfer medium retained within the cavity and enclosed by the body; and (iii) a blade connected to or arranged to be connected to the body; wherein the body can be placed in a microwave oven for heating of the heat transfer medium therein so as to permit storage of thermal energy after removal of the body from the oven and transfer of thermal energy from the medium to the body. 2. A scraper according to claim 1, in which the body and the blade are: a) integral with each other; and/or b) comprised of a plastics material; and/or c) each substantially symmetrical about a common plane. 3. A scraper according to claim 1 or 2 , in which the heat transfer medium is a fluid (such as polyethylene glycol) or a plurality of flowable particles. A scraper according to any preceding claim, in which the body is dimensioned and configured to fit a user' s hand. 5. A scraper according to claim 4, m which the body comprises a web portion and a grip portion, the grip portion being configured and dimensioned to be at least partially receivable m the palm of a user's hand, the grip portion being joined to a first edge of the web portion, and the web portion being so dimensioned that at least the tips of the user's thumb and fingers may grip opposed sides of the web portion when the grip portion is received m the user's palm, the blade of the scraper being preferably connected to a second edge of the web portion. 6. A scraper according to claim 5, m which the web portion is substantially symmetrical about a plane passing through the web, the web being substantially triangular or substantially segmental m that plane, and the grip portion being joined to the edge of the web that is the hypotenuse of the triangle or the arc of the segment . 7. A scraper according to any preceding claim, m which the scraper is formed by moulding (preferably blow moulding or rotational moulding) , and the blade is formed where at least a first and a second part of the mould abut. 8. A scraper according to any preceding claim, m which the body further includes an elongate recess or bore dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of a key, permitting the key to be m thermal contact with the heat transfer medium. 9. A method of removing material from a surface, which method comprises : i) providing a scraper according to any preceding claim; ii) placing the body of the scraper in a microwave oven; iii) subjecting the body to microwave radiation so as to heat the heat transfer medium therein; iv) removing the body from the microwave oven; and v) using the blade connected to the body to remove said material . 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the entire scraper is placed in the microwave oven and subjected to microwave radiation in steps (ii) and (iii) ; and/or the material is ice; and/or the surface is a vehicle window. 11. A method of producing a scraper according to any of claims 1 to 8 , in which the scraper is moulded in a mould having at least two mould parts, and the blade of the scraper is formed at or adjacent to the junction of at least two of said mould parts. 12. A method of producing a scraper with a body and a blade by a moulding process, in which the mould used consists of at least two parts, and the blade is formed at or adjacent to a joint between two mould parts .

Inventors: SINCLAIR BERNARD, SINCLAIR, BERNARD
Applicants: SINCLAIR BERNARD, SINCLAIR, BERNARD
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47L1
IPC codes: A47L1