Abstract:
An improved dustpan having interlockable mating grooves and channels to facilitate stacking together at least two dustpans. The unique feature of the present invention is to form at least one groove in the sidewall of a dustpan, which groove has an interior chamber and an exteriorly projecting bulge so that when slid together, the exterior bulge of the upper dustpan slides into the chamber of the groove of the lower dustpan so that they are locked together. In a preferred embodiment, the upper interior wall of the interior chamber and the upper portion of the bulge start at the same downward angle from front to back to facilitate locking two dustpans together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of cleaning implements and more particularly, to dustpans into which dirt and debris are swept. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, dustpans have been in existence for many years. Most conventional dustpans have smooth sidewalls and smooth bottom surfaces. While the smooth surface provides effective receptacles for receiving dirt and debris, it is virtually impossible to lock adjoining dustpans so they can be locked together for carrying purposes and display purposes. The smooth lower surface and smooth sidewalls prohibit this interlocking and stacking ability. There is a significant need for an improved dustpan which provides these new and desirable features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improved dustpan having interlockable mating grooves and channels to facilitate stacking together at least two dustpans. The unique feature of the present invention is to form at least one groove in the sidewall of a dustpan, which groove has an interior chamber and an exteriorly projecting bulge so that when slid together, the exterior bulge of the upper dustpan slides into the chamber of the groove of the lower dustpan so that they are locked together. In a preferred embodiment, the upper interior wall of the interior chamber and the upper portion of the bulge start at the same downward angle from front to back to facilitate locking two dustpans together. 
     It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have the lower interior wall of the interior chamber of the lower portion of the bulge start at the same downward angle from front to back. 
     It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if at least one sidewall of a dustpan has formed into it an elongated groove having an interior chamber and having an exterior outwardly extending bulge whereby both the upper wall of the interior chamber and upper portion of the bulge have the same downwardly extending angle from front to back, then two dustpans can be locked together to cause the exterior bulge of the upper dustpan to be slid into the interior chamber of the groove of the lower dustpan. 
     It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the dustpan further have formed into its lower surface at least one channel having a depth extending into the lower surface and a bulge of a height extending below the lower surface, aligned channels in an upper or lower dustpan can further secure the locking arrangement. 
     It has additionally been discovered, according to the present invention, that a pair of oppositely disposed elongated grooves on opposite sidewalls will better enable the two dustpans to be locked together. 
     It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that a pair of parallel spaced apart channels formed into the lower surface would provide a more secure additional locking feature. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to form locking grooves and channels into a dustpan to enable at least two adjacent dustpans to be locked together so that they can be carried together and placed on display together. 
     It is additionally an object of the present invention to provide a means to lock a multiplicity of dustpans together to enable a multiplicity of dustpans to be locked together. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention dustpan having interlockable means; 
         FIG. 2  is an perspective view of a multiplicity of the present invention dustpans being locked together through their respective interlockable means; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of a multiplicity of the present invention dustpans being locked together through their respective interlockable means with the first dustpan removed to illustrate how the dustpans are locked together; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of two interlocked dustpans of the present invention, showing how they are locked together. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     One present invention dustpan  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The dustpan  10  has a body  12  comprising a lower surface  20 , a first sidewall  30 , a parallel oppositely disposed second sidewall  40 , a rear wall  50  which joins the lower surface  20  and first and second sidewalls  30  and  40 , and an upper surface  60 . Lower surface  20  has a first elongated channel  22  which extends from adjacent front lip  28  at the front of the lower surface  20  toward the rear wall  50 , and can extend from approximately one-half to three-quarters of the length L 1  of lower surface  20 . First elongated channel  22  also decreases in depth from the front lip  28  as it extends along the length of lower surface  20 . The depth adjacent the front lip  28  D 1  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . While the present invention will work with at least one elongated channel  22 , in the preferred embodiment there is a second elongated channel  24  which is spaced apart from and parallel to first elongated channel  22 . Second elongated channel  24  also extends from adjacent front lip  28  at the front of the lower surface  20  toward the rear wall  50 , and can extend from approximately one-half to three-quarters of the length L 1  of lower surface  20 . Second elongated channel  24  also decreases in depth from the front lip  28  as it extends along the length of lower surface  20 . The depth adjacent front lip  28  D 2  (see  FIG. 4 ) is the same as depth D 1 . In addition to extending into the lower surface,  20  the channels  22  and  24  extend below the lower surface by a height H 1  and H 2  respectively adjacent front lip  28 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The height also decreases from the front lip  28  and it extends along the length of the lower surface. In addition, the interior width W 1  of the channel adjacent the front lip  28  is approximately twice as wide as the width W 2  at the rearmost part of the channel. In this way, when two adjacent dustpans  10  are slid together, the bottom of channels  24  and  26  of the upper dustpan slide into the top of the respectively aligned channels  24  and  26  of the lower dustpan, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     First sidewall  30  has a first elongated groove  32  which extends from the front of the sidewall along the length L 1  of first sidewall  30  for a distance of approximately one-third of the length L 1 . The groove  32  has an interior chamber  34  which extends into first sidewall  30  and an exterior bulge  36  which protrudes laterally and outwardly from first sidewall  30 . The upper wall  38  of the interior grooves is slanted at a downward angle “A” to facilitate locking. While the present invention will work with at least one elongated groove  32 , in the preferred embodiment, there is a second elongated groove  42  which is formed into second sidewall  40 , which also extends from the front of the sidewall along the length L 1  of second sidewall  40  for a distance of approximately one-third of the length L 1 . The groove  42  has an interior chamber  44  which extends into second sidewall  40  with a slanted upper wall that has a downward slant at an angle “A”, and an exterior bulge  46  which protrudes laterally and outwardly from second sidewall  40 . In the preferred embodiment, first groove  32  and second groove  42  are parallel to each other. The upper wall of each exterior bulge also extends downwardly by the same angle “A”. Referring to  FIG. 4 , first groove  32  has a depth D 3  extending into first sidewall  30  and has a bulge H 3  extending outwardly from first sidewall  30 . Similarly, second groove  42  has a depth D 4  extending into second sidewall  40  and has a bulge H 4  extending outwardly from second sidewall  40 . The depths D 3  and D 4  remain approximately the same as the grooves  32  and  42  extend into the dustpan body  12 . Similarly, the lengths H 3  and H 4  remain approximately the same as the grooves  32  and  34  extend into the dustpan body  10 . However, the vertical height of the interior chamber of the groove decreases from the front to the rear of the groove. Vertical height H 5  at the location adjacent the front of the dustpan is approximately one and one-half the height H 6  at the location of the rear of the groove. Similarly, the vertical height of the exterior bulge decreases by the same amount from the front to the rear of the grooves. In this way, when two adjacent dustpans  10  are slid together, the exterior bulges  36  and  46  of the upper dustpan respectively slide into the respectively aligned interior chambers  34  and  44  of the lower dustpan, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . While it is preferred for the upper walls to slant downwardly at an angle “A”, it is also possible for the lower walls of the interior channels and bulges to slant downwardly by the angle “A”. 
     By having two sets of interlocking channels  22  and  24  and two sets of interlocking grooves  32  and  42 , a top of first dustpan  10  can be retained into the next adjacent or lower dustpan  10  and the two dustpans can be locked together for carrying and displaying purposes. The process by which a first dustpan  10  is slid into the next adjacent dustpan  10 A is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In fact, the interlocking feature is so strong that any multiplicity of dustpans can be locked together, such as eight dustpans  10 ,  10 A,  10 B,  10 C,  10 D,  10 E,  10 F and  10 G, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Two sets of interlocking features can accommodate any desired handle by which an individual dustpan is carried. One such handle  70  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The handle  70  includes a horizontal bar  72  having a first transverse member  74  which is rotatably connected to first sidewall  30 , a second transverse member  76  which is rotatably connected to second sidewall  40 , an elongated shaft  78  attached at one end to the horizontal bar  72  with a gripping portion  80  at the opposite end of shaft  78 . The front portion  62  of top  60  has an interior locking channel  64  which receives a transverse locking lip  73  located at the back of horizontal bar  72  so that the handle  70  can be locked into the top  60  to facilitate carrying a dustpan  10  and to facilitate holding the dustpan steady as dirt and debris are swept into the dustpan. The rotatable feature of the handle enables the handle to be tilted forward for various cleaning uses. In one option, the shaft  78  is also rotatably connected to horizontal bar  72  so that the handle  70  can be rotated to any orientation relative to the horizontal bar  72 . 
     The dustpan body including the lower surface  20  and its channels  22  and  24 , the sidewalls  30  and  40  and their respective grooves  32  and  42 , the rear wall  50 , the top  60  and its interlocking channel  64 , can all be molded in a single molding operation to efficiently produce the body  12 . The dustpan body can be formed of any suitable material such as plastic, rubber, polypropylene, etc. It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to have the dustpan body formed out of rubber, or any synthetic material. 
     Defined in detail, the present invention is a dustpan comprising: (a) a body having a front, a lower surface having a front lip at its front, a first sidewall, a parallel oppositely disposed second sidewall, a rear wall and an upper member; (b) the lower surface having a first elongated channel extending from adjacent the front lip toward the rear wall, the first elongated channel extending for a given depth into the lower surface and extending for a given height below the lower surface, and a second elongated channel extending from adjacent the front lip toward the rear wall, the second elongated channel extending for a given depth into the lower surface and extending for a given height below the lower surface, the first and second elongated channels being spaced apart and parallel to each other; (c) the first sidewall having a first elongated groove which extends from the front of the sidewall toward the rear wall, and having an upper wall which slants at a downward angle from front to back, the first elongated groove having an interior chamber having a given depth and a bulge which extends laterally and outwardly from the first sidewall by a given height, the vertical height of the interior chamber decreasing from a location adjacent the front to the rear of the interior chamber, the vertical height of the exterior bulge also decreases from the front to the rear by the same amount and extending at the same downward angle as the upper wall of the interior chamber; (d) the second sidewall having a second elongated groove which extends from the front of the sidewall toward the rear wall and having an upper wall which slants at a downward angle from front to back, the second elongated groove having an interior chamber having a given depth and a bulge which extends laterally and outwardly from the second sidewall by a given height, the vertical height of the interior chamber decreasing from a location adjacent the front to the rear of the interior chamber, the vertical height of the exterior bulge also decreasing from the front to the rear by the same amount and slanting at the same downward angle as the upper wall of the interior chamber; and (e) means for holding and carrying the dustpan; (f) whereby, when two dustpans are slid together so that one is above the other, the first and second elongated channels of the upper dustpan interlock with the respectively aligned first and second channels of the lower dustpan by having the portion of the elongated channel below the lower surface of the upper dustpan interlocking with the portion of the elongated channel above the upper surface of the lower dustpan, and the first and second grooves of the upper dustpan interlock with the respectively aligned first and second grooves of the lower dustpan where the bulge of each elongated groove of the upper dustpan interlocks with the respective interior chamber of the elongated grooves of the lower dustpan. 
     Defined broadly, the present invention is a dustpan comprising: (a) a body having a front, a lower surface, a first sidewall, a parallel oppositely disposed second sidewall, a rear wall and an upper member; (b) the lower surface having at least one elongated channel extending for a given depth into the lower surface and extending for a given height below the lower surface; (c) at least one elongated groove formed into either the first sidewall or the second sidewall and extending from the front, the at least one elongated groove having an interior chamber having a given depth and an upper wall which extends at a downward angle from front to back, and a bulge which extends laterally and outwardly from the sidewall into which the groove is formed by a given height, the vertical height of the interior chamber decreasing from a location adjacent the front to the rear of the chamber, the vertical height of the bulge also decreasing from the front to the rear by the same amount with the upper portion extending at the same downward angle as the upper wall of the chamber; and (d) means for holding and carrying the dustpan; (e) whereby when two dustpans are slid together so that their respective at least one elongated channel and at least one elongated grooves are aligned, the portion of the elongated channel below the lower surface of the upper dustpan interlocks with the portion of the elongated channel above the upper surface of the lower dustpan and the bulge of the elongated groove of the upper dustpan interlocks with the interior chamber of the elongated groove of the lower dustpan. 
     Defined more broadly, the present invention is a dustpan comprising: (a) a body having a front, a lower surface, a first sidewall, a parallel oppositely disposed second sidewall, a rear wall and an upper member; (b) the lower surface having at least one elongated channel extending for a given depth into the lower surface and extending for a given height below the lower surface; (c) at least one elongated groove formed into either the first sidewall or the second sidewall and extending from the front, the at least one elongated groove having an interior chamber having a given depth, and a bulge which extends laterally and outwardly from the sidewall into which the groove is formed by a given height; and (d) means for holding and carrying the dustpan; (e) whereby when two dustpans are slid together so that their respective at least one elongated channel and at least one elongated grooves are aligned, the portion of the elongated channel below the lower surface of the upper dustpan interlocks with the portion of the elongated channel above the upper surface of the lower dustpan and the bulge of the elongated groove of the upper dustpan interlocks with the interior chamber of the elongated groove of the lower dustpan. 
     Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a dustpan comprising: (a) a body having a front, a lower surface, a first sidewall, a parallel oppositely disposed second sidewall, a rear wall and an upper member; (b) at least one elongated groove formed into either the first sidewall or the second sidewall and extending from the front, the at least one elongated groove having an interior chamber having a given depth and an upper wall which extends at a downward angle from front to back, and a bulge which extends laterally and outwardly from the sidewall into which the groove is formed by a given height, the vertical height of the interior chamber decreasing from a location adjacent the front to the rear of the chamber, the vertical height of the bulge also decreasing from the front to the rear by the same amount with the upper portion extending at the same downward angle as the upper wall of the chamber; and (c) means for holding and carrying the dustpan; (d) whereby when two dustpans are slid together so that their respective at least one elongated channel and at least one elongated grooves are aligned, the portion of the elongated channel below the lower surface of the upper dustpan interlocks with the portion of the elongated channel above the upper surface of the lower dustpan and the bulge of the elongated groove of the upper dustpan interlocks with the interior chamber of the elongated groove of the lower dustpan. 
     Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a dustpan comprising: (a) a body having a front and at least one sidewall; and (b) at least one elongated groove formed into the at least one sidewall and extending from the front, the at least one elongated groove having an interior chamber having a given depth with a bulge which extends laterally and outwardly from the sidewall into which the groove is formed by a given height; (c) whereby when two dustpans are slid together so that their respective at least one elongated grooves are aligned, the bulge of the elongated groove of the upper dustpan interlock with the interior chamber of the elongated groove of the lower dustpan. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated. 
     The present invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing full public disclosure of at least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the present invention, or the scope of the patent to be granted. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.