Abstract:
A manually operated scraper tool includes a handle that seats a blade retaining component that freely and rotatably holds a substantially circular cutting blade thereto. An alternate attachment embodiment of the scraper tool includes a tool receiving body, rather than a handle, that may be received and driven by a power tool.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to a scraping tool and, more particularly, to a scraping tool that may be utilized, for example, to scrape cylinder heads and blocks of engines to remove gasket or contaminate material from a generally planar surface.  
         [0002]     When repairing an automobile engine, it is often necessary to replace the gaskets and seals, which are used at the interface of the component parts of an engine to effect a seal between the parts. For example, when the cylinder head is removed for access to the pistons for repair or other purposes, it is usually necessary to scrape the old gasket from the cylinder head as well as the block surface so that a new gasket may be positioned thereon. Generally, the surfaces to be scraped are flat, planar surfaces.  
         [0003]     Various types of scraping tools have been used in the past to scrape such materials. Known prior art tools typically comprise a rigid scraper blade fixedly attached to a rigid handle component. While such prior art devices are generally effective, the fixed blade configurations of known devices are susceptible to catching or “hanging up” during use. When such a rigid blade catches on either the gasket being removed or on the surface being cleaned, there is a risk that the surface being cleaned may be undesirably nicked, scratched or chipped. Such a damaged surface with scrapes or other imperfections may give rise to the undesirable situation where it is more difficult to achieve effective seals between components upon reassembly. There remains however a need for an improved gasket scraper tool. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a first embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a user removing a section of gasket material with a first embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a second embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a user removing a section of gasket material with a second embodiment of the scraping blade of the present invention.  
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Briefly, the present invention comprises a scraper tool  10  that includes a handle  12  that seats a blade retaining component  20 , such as a flat head screw, that freely and rotatably holds a substantially circular cutting blade  16 . The blade  16  is especially useful for removing gasket material or other contaminants from a work surface. The blade  16  may catch when an impediment is encountered so as to rotate about the impediment and thus minimize damage or gouging of the surface being cleaned.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     With reference to the Figures and as best shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 , the scraping tool  10  of the present invention generally includes a handle  12 , a blade retaining component  20 , and a rotatable blade  16 . As will be described in greater detail, the blade retaining component is adapted to rotatably retain the blade  16  on the handle  12 .  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the handle  12  is preferably attached substantially perpendicularly to and substantially at the center of the blade  16 . As shown in the figures, the handle  12  may include an ergonomically shaped gripping portion. The handle  12  may be comprised of wood, plastic, metal, and combinations of these or any other suitable conventional materials known in the art.  
         [0016]     The scraping tool  10  may include a reinforcing handle cover  14  that adds additional strength and rigidity to the scraping tool  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the optional reinforcing cover may cover a length of the handle  12  and may be comprised of any suitable strong and durable material. Preferably, the reinforcing cover portion  14  is metallic.  
         [0017]     As best shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the blade  16  is preferably substantially circular and rotatably held on the handle  12  by the blade retaining component  20 . Preferably the blade retaining component comprises a threaded head screw that is retained substantially coaxially in the handle  12 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the blade retaining component may include an opening  22  adapted to receive an allen wrench for tightening the head screw  20  in the handle  12 . Alternatively, the blade retaining component  20  may comprise a standard slotted or phillips head screw or any other suitable attachment device known in the art. The retaining component  20  preferably comprises any sufficient fastening device capable of being seated within the countersunk portion of the underside of the blade. It should be appreciated that the retaining component  20  depicted in the accompanying figures is only exemplary and it is within the scope of the invention to include other known fastening devices adaptable to fixedly or rotatably retain the blade  16  on the handle  12 . As mentioned previously, and as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the contact surface of the blade is preferably countersunk so as to accommodate the head of the blade retaining component  20  so that preferably only the blade  16  (and not the retaining component  20 ) contacts the surface being cleaned during usage of the scraping tool  10 .  
         [0018]     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the scraping tool  10  of the present invention is especially adapted and useful for removing gasket material or for removing contaminants or other materials cleanly from a relatively planar work surface. The scraping blade of the present invention advantageously yields a clean surface without the excessive nicks and cuts experienced with the use of prior art scraping blades. The blade  16  may be reground or easily replaced when worn. As described previously, when the blade  16  of the present invention catches or “hangs up” on an obstruction, the blade  16  of the scraping tool  10  is free to rotate about the imperfection instead of digging into the imperfection or work surface. Accordingly, a surface cleaned with the scraping tool  10  of the present invention exhibits fewer scratches and imperfections which could result in seal failure or leakage which have often been attributable to the use of prior art scraping blades.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 6-9  depict an alternate embodiment of the scraping blade tool  100  of the present invention. The embodiment  100  shown in  FIGS. 6-9  lacks the handle  12  of the previously described embodiment, but instead includes a tool receiving body  112  adapted to be received in a socket and driven by a tool such as a powered screwdriver or air-ratchet (see  FIG. 9 ). The body  112  may include an internal threaded portion  134  adapted to receive the blade retaining means  120 . Ring  132  may be included to provide for a more effective seal between the attachment  100  and the tool  136 .  
         [0020]     As best shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , and just as with the previously described embodiment, the blade  116  is preferably substantially circular and rotatably held on the tool receiving body  112  by the blade retaining component  120 . Preferably the blade retaining component comprises a threaded head screw that is retained substantially coaxially in the tool receiving body  112 . As best shown in  FIG. 7 , the blade retaining component  120  may include an opening  222  adapted to receive an allen wrench for tightening the head screw  120  in the tool receiving body  112 . Alternatively, the blade retaining component  120  may comprise a standard slotted or phillips head screw or any other suitable attachment device known in the art. The retaining component  120  preferably comprises any sufficient fastening device capable of being seated within the countersunk portion of the underside of the blade. It should be appreciated that the retaining component  120  depicted in the accompanying figures is only exemplary and it is within the scope of the invention to include other known fastening devices adaptable to fixedly or rotatably retain the blade  116  on the tool receiving body  112 . As mentioned previously, and as shown in  FIG. 8 , the contact surface of the blade is preferably countersunk so as to accommodate the head of the blade retaining component  120  so that preferably only the blade  116  (and not the retaining component  120 ) contacts the surface being cleaned during usage of the scraping tool attachment  100 .  
         [0021]     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the scraping tool attachment  100  of the present invention is especially adapted and useful for removing gasket material in conjunction with a power tool such as a power screwdriver or air-ratchet. Similar to the first described embodiment, the scraping tool attachment  100  may be used for removing contaminants or other materials cleanly from a relatively planar work surface. The scraping tool attachment  100  of the present invention also advantageously yields a clean surface without the excessive nicks and cuts experienced with the use of prior art scraping blades. The blade  116  may be reground or easily replaced when worn. As described previously, when the blade  116  of the present invention catches or “hangs up” on an obstruction, the tool attachment may continue to rotate in the tool but the blade  116  of the scraping tool  10  is free to rotate about the imperfection instead of digging into the imperfection or work surface. Accordingly, a surface cleaned with the scraping tool attachment  100  of the present invention exhibits fewer scratches and imperfections which could result in seal failure or leakage which have often been attributable to the use of prior art scraping blade attachments.  
         [0022]     The embodiments depicted and described in the present application are for exemplary purposes only and several variations are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the handle  12  may be attached in an offset fashion from the center of the blade  16 . The handle  12  may also be disposed at an angle to the blade  16  to facilitate scraping blade use in hard to reach places. In addition, a blade component may be adapted to be used as an accessory with known manual tool handles having interchangeable attachments such as screw driver blades or chisel blades. Also, although it is preferred that the blade is rotatable about the point of connection with the handle, the blade also may be selectively fixably attached to the handle.