Patent Publication Number: US-9849371-B1

Title: Scratching device with integrated light

Description:
This patent application claims priority on and the benefit of provisional application 62/290,821 filed Feb. 3, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a scratching device and in particular to a scratching device having an integrated light. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Scratching devices are used in many situations. One such situation is when a coating is being removed from the surface of an object, such as a scratch off lottery ticket. 
     One such device is shown in US Publication Number 2009/0300921 by Strickman et al., and is titled Lottery Ticket Scratcher with Light. It shows a combination lottery ticket scratcher and light that can be in the shape of a icon, such as animals, mythological creatures, religious figures, symbols of luck, greed, sports teams, or other interest or affinities, etc. The lighted scratcher optionally has a key chain or other securing attachment and/or a brush, particularly for bearded characters or characters depicted as having many teeth. The light (e.g., one or more LEDs or light bulbs) projects light onto the end or work area of the lottery ticket scratcher. The light can represent a part of the character, such as the eyes, flame of a dragon, etc., can be colored to any color, have multiple colors or time varying colors, or project white or black light, or combinations thereof. The light can be activated by the user via a switch (e.g., push, squeeze, slide, etc.) or activated when the scratching tool is engaged with a surface during a scratching or scraping operation. The icon can symbolize good luck or good fortune, can be symbols of birth years, mascots, religious figures, mythical figures, or nearly an other character of interest to a potential user. The lighted lottery scratcher can be sold in combination with a gift pack of lottery tickets, for example. 
     While the device shown may work well for its intended purposes, it does not show the present invention. 
     Thus there exists a need for a scratching device with integrated light that solves these and other problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a scratching device and in particular to a scratching device having an integrated light. The scratching device is a tool having a first end and a second end. A stylus and a retractable writing element can be at the first end of the tool. A scraper is at the second end of the tool. The scraper has first and second sides that can converge to form an edge. The scraper has an interior that encases a light. The light is diffused through the scraper, wherein the edge is illuminated. The first side of the scraper can be concave, and the second side can be convex. 
     According to one advantage of the present invention, the tool can have four functions. The tool has two ends. On the first end are a stylus and a retractable writing element. On the second end is a scratcher through which a light can shine. 
     According to another advantage of the present invention, a LED, a bulb or another type of light emitting device can be housed within or behind a cover that forms the scraper. This advantageously protects the light. 
     According to a further advantage of the present invention, the light is diffused through the scraper. Hence, the scraper itself becomes illuminated as the light passes through it. 
     According to another advantages of the present invention, the scraper can have a first side and a second side that converge to form a scraping edge. The first edge can be concave, wherein debris has an area to accumulate as the edge scratched material from the surface. 
     Related, the light is useful to provide illumination at and through the edge. This allows for light to be directed at the exact location where the scraping action occurs. 
     According to a further advantage of the present invention, the scraping edge is selectably illuminated and provides light at the desired location regardless of the orientation of the tool relative to the workpiece. This is advantageous as it is accomplished without shadows regardless of the orientation of the tool. 
     According to a still further advantage of the present invention, the light can pass radially a full 360 degrees through the scraper. This advantageously allows light to be provided in all directions through the scraper to illuminate objects in the vicinity of the scraper. The light is accordingly useful independently from the scraper. 
     Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention and studying the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a reverse perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing the tool of the present invention in use as a scraper. 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing the tool of the present invention in use as a scraper with the light emitting device on. 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing the tool of the present invention in use as a light. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing the tool of the present invention in use as a stylus. 
         FIG. 11  is a view showing the tool of the present invention in use as a writing utensil. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention will be described in connection with one or more preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-6 , it is seen that a preferred embodiment of the tool  20  of the present invention is illustrated. 
     The tool  20  has a body  30  with a first end  31  and a second end  32 . A stylus  40  is at the first end  31  of the tool. The stylus can be formed of a suitable material useful for use with electronic devices. A pen  50  is also provided at the first end  31 . A pen control  51  is provided, and is useful for retracting the tip of the pen  50  into or extending the tip from the end  31  of the body  30 . It is appreciated that while a pen is described, that other writing elements (marker, pencil, etc.) may be alternatively provided without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. 
     A scraper  60  is at the second end  32  of the body. The scraper  60  has a first side  61  and a second side  62  that converge at an edge  63 . The first side  61  of the scraper is preferably generally concave. The second side  62  of the scraper is preferably generally convex. The concave side can be used to rake debris out of the way behind the edge  63  as the concavity allows an area for the scraped debris  13  to accumulate. The convex side can be used to push debris out of the way or to allow it to pass over the side. In this regard, the scraper  60  is useful in a wide variety of scraping environments. An interior  64  can be provided. The scraper  60  can be transparent or translucent. In one embodiment, the scraper  60  is made of plastic. The scraper  60  has a base that is received within the body  30  of the tool  20  at end  31 . 
     A light emitting device  70  (or simply, light), which is selectably turned on and off by a light control  71 , is provided at or near the second end  32  either behind or within the scraper  60 . One preferred type of light  70  is a LED. Yet, it is appreciated that other types of lights can be used without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. The light  70  shines through or is diffused through the scraper  60 . In this regard, the entire externally viewable surface of the scraper  60  is preferably illuminated (including the edge  63 ) as light passes there through. 
     Looking now at  FIG. 4-6 , it is seen that the light  70  is shown in relation to the scraper  60 . In the preferred embodiment, light  70  is housed within the interior  64  of the scraper  60  between sides  61  and  62  and is located near the edge  63 . The light can be powered by one or more batteries housed within the base of the scraper, which is received within the interior of the tool  20 . Electric leads are connected to the light emitting device and to the batteries to complete an electric circuit upon operation of the light control  71 . 
     Looking now at  FIG. 7 , the tool  20  is shown during one intended use wherein the scraper  60  is used to scrape a coating  12  from a surface  11  of an object  10 . Debris  13  can accumulate at the concave face of side  61  when side  61  is the leading side in front of the edge  63 . This advantageously allows the debris  13  room to accumulate as it is removed by the scraper  60 . 
     Looking now at  FIG. 8 , it is seen that the light  70  can be useful for illuminating the surface  11  of the object  10 . Given that the edge  63  of the scraper is illuminated, light can be directed at the exact spot where the edge  63  is being used. Light is also directed radially from the scraper  60  in 360 degrees, insuring that the areas immediately adjacent the scraping location are also illuminated. Still further, the illumination is provided regardless of the orientation of the tool  20  relative to the object  10 . Still further, it is appreciated that no shadows are created at or adjacent the scraper as light is emitted from the scraper sides  61  and  62 , and from the scraper edge  63 . 
     Looking now to  FIG. 9 , it is seen that the present invention is being used generally as a light source. In the illustrated example, the light emitting device causes light to project from the tool whereby a keyhole of a lock can be illuminated. It is appreciated that other uses are possible and the illustrated example is merely one possibility. 
     Looking now to  FIG. 10 , it is seen that use of the stylus  40  is illustrated. 
     Looking now to  FIG. 11 , it is seen that use of the writing element  50  is illustrated. 
     Hence, it is seen that four preferred functions of the present invention have been illustrated. 
     Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a scratching device with integrated light that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages as set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.