Abstract:
A vacuum assisted scraper draws air from both in front of and behind the scraper blade to collect dust and debris as the scraper is used. The scraper keeps the work area clean and prevents dust buildup from hindering the use of the scraper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. The Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a hand held scraper which utilizes suction from a vacuum to remove dust and debris generated while scraping. 
         [0003]    2. State of the Art 
         [0004]    Hand-held scrapers are often used for removal of material from a surface. For example, scrapers may be used to remove material to shape a surface, to remove glue or foreign substances from a surface, to clean a surface, etc. Scrapers typically have a handle and a metal blade which is held roughly perpendicular or at an angle to the surface for use, and which scrapes material from the surface as the scraper is moved back and forth across the surface. 
         [0005]    One drawback of using a scraper is that the material removed while scraping (dust, chips, shavings, etc.) typically remains on the surface or falls to the floor, bench, etc. Material which remains on the surface makes it difficult for the operator to see the item being scraped, and is often thrown about by subsequent scraping. The material then often ends up on the work bench, floor, etc. where it must be later removed. Often, the material removed while scraping falls on carpet or in crevices where it is difficult to remove. In many situations, such as cleaing a wall or fireplace in a finished house, it is particularly desirable to remove all of the dust and material generated while scraping without the material falling on carpet or other finished surfaces. 
         [0006]    An attempt has been made to collect the material removed while scraping by combining a vacuum suction handle with a scraper blade, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,292. While an improvement, the device only removes the dust, etc. from one side of the scraper blade. Scrapers are commonly used in both directions, creating dust on both sides of the blade. Dust and the like which is not removed from one side of the blade will typically be pushed about by that side of the blade and create a mess. 
         [0007]    There is thus a need for a scraper which overcomes the limitations of available scrapers. Specifically, there is a need for a vacuum assisted scraper which removes the dust and debris generated while scraping from both sides of the blade. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vacuum assisted scraper. 
         [0009]    According to one aspect of the invention, a scraper is provided with a vacuum hood which extends to both sides of the blade, and which provides airflow to remove debris from both sides of the blade. The vacuum shroud may be formed to have the blade mount formed on the inside of the shroud, and may have air passages formed to direct air flow from both sides of the blade and into a vacuum port. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a vacuum assisted scraper as shown and described in the following figure and related description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in reference to the numbered drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the scraper of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the scraper of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the scraper of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the scraper of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the scraper of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The invention and accompanying drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals provided therein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the present invention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of various aspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0019]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a scraper of the present invention is shown. The scraper  10  includes a handle  14  which may be formed with ridges  18 , contours, or other structures to promote a firm and comfortable grip of the scraper  10 . The handle  14  is connected to a scraper head  22  which is used to mount the blade  26 . The scraper head  22  is generally flat and is shown as generally rectangular, but can be made in various shapes. The scraper head  22  both provides a mounting surface for the blade  26 , and generally defines the area cleaned by the vacuum as the scraper is used. 
         [0020]    The blade  26  is shown as a length of angle shaped steel. The angle shaped blade  26  provides two lateral scraping surfaces. A fastener  28 , such as a bolt or screw, is used to hold the blade to the scraper head  22  and allows the blade to be changed. The blade  26  may be held such that one side of the blade is generally parallel to the scraper head  22  and the other side (used for scraping) is held generally perpendicular to the scraper head. The scraper head  22  includes a vacuum shroud  30  which is present both in front of and behind the blade  26 . 
         [0021]    The handle  14  is hollow, and the conduit therethrough is connected to the area enclosed by the vacuum shroud  30  via opening  34 . A front airflow passage  38  is provided between the front of the blade  26  and the front of the vacuum shroud  30 . The passage  38  allows air to flow upwardly between the blade  26  and the front portion of the vacuum shroud  30  and then above the blade  26  (between the blade  26  and shroud  30 ) towards the back portion of the vacuum shroud and towards the opening  34 . Thus, airflow is provided from in front of and behind the blade, through opening  34  into the handle, and into a vacuum. The vacuum shroud  30  directs the vacuum generated air flow around both sides of the blade so as to aid in collecting dust and debris from both sides of the blade while using the scraper  10 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the scraper  10  and illustrates how openings  42  may be made in the sides of the vacuum shroud  30  to increase the airflow past the back side of the blade (towards the handle). In some situations, more dust, or larger particles of dust, is generated at the back of the blade  26  while scraping. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the scraper  10 . The opening  34  between the air passage in the handle  14  and the vacuum shroud  30  can be seen. Additionally, it can be seen how airflow passage  38  may extend across nearly the entire front of the blade  26 , promoting good collection of the dust and debris created in front of the blade. The scraper head  22  typically has a mount  46  used to attach the scraper blade  26 . The mount  46  may be used to elevate the blade  26  from the surface of the head  22 . The mount  46  may have a ridge  48  or other structure thereon (also visible in  FIG. 4 ) to aid in preventing rotation of the blade  26  during use. The ridge  48  may also be used to cover the blade  26  adjacent the opening  34  to protect a user from cutting their finger when clearing debris from the opening  34 . The front portion of the vacuum shroud  30  may also be used to maintain the desired alignment of the blade  26 . 
         [0024]    The portion of the mount  46  beneath the blade  26  (indicated by dashed lines) does not extend to the sides of the scraper head  22 , extending the airflow passage  38  around the sides of the mount  46 , between the blade  26  and the head  22 . Thus, a vacuum will draw air between the blade  26  and airflow shroud  30  in front of the blade through airflow passage  38 , the air passing around the sides of the mount  46 , through opening  34 , and through the handle to the vacuum. Dust and debris are thus removed from in front of the blade. Air is also drawn around the back portion of the vacuum shroud  30  and in openings  42 , through the opening  34  and through the handle  14  to the vacuum, removing dust and debris from the back side of the blade. Thus, dust and debris are removed from both sides of the blade  26  as the scraper  10  is used. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the scraper  10  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . The air conduit  50  through the handle  14  is clearly seen. The air conduit  50  may be formed with a socket  54 , or enlarged portion, adjacent the end of the handle  14  which receives a vacuum hose, and which is typically sized to receive an ordinary 1.25 inch vacuum hose. Opening  34  is seen as the area where the conduit  50  opens into the area enclosed by the vacuum shroud  30 . The mount  46  can be seen as a raised central portion of the head  22 , and can be seen how it elevates the blade  26 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a partial cross-sectional view of the scraper  10  taken along line B-B of  FIG. 3 . The cross-sectional view of the scraper  10  does not pass through the mount, but runs along side thereof. It can be seen how the how the airflow passage  38  extends between the blade  26  and the head  22 , extending the airflow passage around the mount (not seen) so as to allow air flow through airflow passage  3   8 , around the sides of the mount, through opening  34  and into conduit  50  through the handle  14 , where it passes into the vacuum. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 2  both illustrate how the scraper head  22  may be mounted at a slight angle to the handle  14  so as to make the scraper easier to use. As shown, the head  22  is mounted at an angle of about 20-25 degrees from being parallel to the handle, positioning the blade  26  at a corresponding angle from being perpendicular to the handle. 
         [0028]    The present invention thus provides a scraper  10  which is connected to a vacuum and which draws air from both in front of the behind the blade  26  to remove dust and debris from both sides of the blade. The scraper is advantageous as it keeps the area clean while the scraper is being used, promoting easier use of the scraper. 
         [0029]    There is thus disclosed an improved vacuum assisted scraper. It will be appreciated that numerous changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the claims.