Patent Abstract:
A tool for the removal of magnetic debris from worksites. The tool comprises means for the collection and self-removal of magnetic debris from the tool. A magnetic portion resides within a non-magnetic portion and magnetic debris is collected on the exterior of the non-magnetic portion. Removal of the magnetic portion allows collected debris to be removed from the tool. One embodiment of the invention is a rake.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    During and after construction and other projects there is a need to clean up the surrounding environment. In new commercial and new residential construction, the surrounding real estate must be restored to a condition where landscaping can begin or the property can be used for its intended purpose, such as a residential yard. In construction projects performed on existing structures, such as repairing a roof, the miscellaneous materials and debris must be removed from the surrounding landscape after the project is done. Even in small projects, such as building a backyard shed, swing set, tree house, or fence, the yard must be cleaned and restored to its original condition to ensure that it may be safely used by others. 
         [0002]    The rake is a common tool used to clean the grounds of construction sites. In new construction, where the surrounding real estate is likely dirt and stone, the hard tines of a rake work well to break up the soil and remove some construction debris. On other construction sites, where there may be existing grass or mulch, the rake tines can be used to remove some debris without damaging the landscape. The rake, however, has its shortcomings. The rake&#39;s tines often miss small debris, requiring extra work to rake it up. Even worse, if the small debris goes unseen, it will be left there to become a hazard for future users of the property. 
         [0003]    Of particular concern is small metal debris (nails, screws, tacks, etc.) that are common to commercial and residential construction sites. Such debris can cause injury to the unwary in a multitude of ways. A person or pet could step on a hidden nail in the grass. Roofing tacks and other sharp metal objects can puncture automobile tires. Lawnmowers and other lawn equipment can eject loose nails or screws causing injury or damage to people, pets, and property. The desire to clean a construction site of hazardous metallic debris is obvious. However, the task of sorting through dirt or grass to find and remove every nail or tack is daunting and cumbersome. Some metal debris will inevitably be left behind. 
         [0004]    Various solutions to this problem have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,024 issued to Ottens on Dec. 30, 2003 teaches using a magnet to pick up metal debris. The Ottens patent discloses a hand-held sweeper magnet that is used for extracting magnetic debris from a pick-up surface. The Ottens invention may be effective in some situations, but it does not sufficiently solve the problems discussed above. The use of a magnet alone does not allow for effective clean up at a construction site for at least three reasons. First, though metal debris is centrally the problem, the magnet alone does not function to clean up nonmagnetic debris. It is preferred that most or all debris be removed to effectively clean a construction worksite. A user of the magnet tool as disclosed in Ottens would be required to use a second tool in order to move material and uncover and collect non-metallic debris, thereby having to exert additional effort to finish the job. Second, a magnet cannot pick up metallic debris that is buried beneath dirt, grass, gravel, or other nonmagnetic debris. A second tool is needed to adequately expose the metallic debris for the magnet to collect it. Third, the magnet tool has no means of removing the magnetic debris once it is collected. The user of the invention as taught by Ottens would be required to use an additional tool or their hands to physically remove the magnetic debris (i.e. nails or screws) from the magnet. This is inconvenient and could result in injury. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,818 issued to Damron on Apr. 25, 1995 resolves some of these issues, yet is still inadequate for the task at hand. The Damron patent discloses a magnet secured to a rake for the purpose of cleaning up metal debris. The invention taught by Damron combines the usefulness of a rake with the benefits of a magnet to collect and filter out magnetic debris. However, the Damron invention fails to teach or to provide a means to remove the metallic debris from the device once the debris is collected on the magnet portion of the Damron invention. The Damron patent requires that any metal debris that has adhered to the magnet be removed manually; “Once a certain amount of nails are collected to the working surface, the user removes them with a swiping motion.” U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,818, column 2 lines 49-51. Removing nails, screws and other metallic debris attached to a strong magnet in this manner is cumbersome and dangerous (i.e. can lead to injury). 
         [0006]    The inadequacies of the prior art have led to the demand for the present invention. The present invention is a tool that allows for metallic debris to be collected at the same time that a site is cleaned or manipulated utilizing a rake or other implement. It effectively collects and retains hazardous metallic debris from dirt, grass, gravel, sand or any other like substance, in combination with a traditional rake or other tool. It can be used to break up and filter through dirt, grass, gravel, sand or other like substances to find and extract hazardous metallic debris. The present invention also provides safe removal of the metallic debris from the tool and, therefore, safe disposal of the hazardous metallic debris. 
         [0007]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention as disclosed below is merely illustrative and that there are other embodiments that are not described herein that still fall within the scope and intent of the present invention. In particular, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that, although the invention as disclosed herein is combined with a rake, there are a multitude of other tools and implements that may incorporate the present invention and not deviate from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention may be utilized in combination with a shovel, hoe, pitchfork, trowel, or other implements. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that, while the present invention uses particular examples of the type of debris that is removed from a work site by the present invention, there is no limit to the manner of debris that the present invention may be utilized to collect, so long as the debris or other material is or may be magnetically attracted to the collection surface. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0008]    In a first embodiment of the present invention, the invention comprises of a nonmagnetic tube that may be attached to a tool. For example,  FIG. 4  of the drawings shows a nonmagnetic tube attached to a hard-tined rake. It will be understood that the present invention may utilize other attachment means and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention, but the embodiment disclosed herein teaches a means of attachment comprising of two studs molded to the body of a nonmagnetic tube. The shape of the tube as disclosed herein should be understood to be illustrative; the tube may comprise an oval, square, triangular, or other shape and still achieve the same purpose. The studs are positioned through the tines of the rake and attached to the tines using fasteners such as wing nuts and sufficiently large washers. A magnet is designed to fit inside the nonmagnetic tube during use. The magnet may comprise a single magnetic body, but smaller magnets configured together may also be utilized and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. The magnet is secured inside the nonmagnetic tube with a mechanism that will allow for easy removal. The mechanism shown in the embodiment is a spring clip that is physically attached to one end of the magnet as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . The spring clip secures the magnet inside the nonmagnetic tube during use while also allowing for easy removal of the magnet. While the tool is in use, the magnet will preferentially create sufficient magnetic force to draw and hold magnetic debris to the nonmagnetic tube. Once debris has been collected by the device, the tool can be carried to an appropriate disposal site (i.e. trash can) once the magnet has attracted a sufficient amount of magnetic debris to the nonmagnetic tube. At the disposal site, the magnet is removed from the nonmagnetic tube, allowing the debris to safely fall away from the nonmagnetic tube. The preferred embodiment for this alternative also discloses a partition along one end of the nonmagnetic tube that will block magnetic debris from following the magnet while the magnetic portion is being removed from the nonmagnetic tube. With the magnetic debris released, the magnet can be reinserted and use of the tool can resume. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a tool that comprises of a handle attached to a plurality of hard tines. A nonmagnetic tube is attached to the tines. Again, variations to the means of attachment is understood to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, but in this embodiment the nonmagnetic tube is attached to the tines of the tool with two threaded studs that are molded to the body of the nonmagnetic tube. The studs are positioned through the tines of the rake and attached to the tines using Easterners such as wing nuts and sufficiently large washers. The nonmagnetic tube is designed to house a magnet. The magnet may be removed and inserted using a lever. The lever runs along the handle of the tool and can be controlled by the user with a lever handle. The lever handle pivots around a pivot pin that is attached to the tool handle at the end opposite the hard tines. The lever is also attached to one end of the magnet. By pushing on the lever handle (or pulling, depending on the location of the lever handle) the magnet will rotate out of the nonmagnetic tube. The nonmagnetic tube and the magnet are designed with consistent curvature so that the magnet will be able to rotate out of the nonmagnetic tube. The curvature of the nonmagnetic tube and the magnet will depend on the length of the lever arm (i.e. the radius of the circle of motion). The normal operating position is when the magnet is inserted in the nonmagnetic tube. The lever arm is secured in the normal operating position by a clipping mechanism. In this position, the nonmagnetic tube will collect magnetic debris since the magnet is inserted within it. The hard tines will function to manipulate dirt, grass, gravel, sand or other such substances while collecting and retaining metallic debris onto the nonmagnetic tube. The metallic debris can easily be disposed by simply pushing the lever handle, which will remove the magnet and demagnetize the nonmagnetic tube. The preferred embodiment for this alternative also discloses a partition along one end of the nonmagnetic tube that will block magnetic debris from following the magnet when it is being removed. Using the lever handle, the magnet can be reinserted after disposal of the metallic debris and use of the tool can resume. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention is a tool that comprises a plurality of hollow tines attached to a handle. The tines in this embodiment function, in part, as the tines of a standard rake. The hollow tines are molded to house a magnet that may be inserted and removed from the tines. The insertion and removal of the magnet is controlled by a lever that is operated along the handle of the tool. When the magnet is inserted inside the tines, which is the normal operating position, and while the tool is being utilized, the magnetic force of the magnet will attract magnetic material to the tines. The tool can be used to manipulate or collect all types of material and debris while at the same time filtering out magnetic debris. The hollow tines are made of a nonmagnetic material, such as a hard plastic or aluminum. The tines can be used to break up and expose magnetic material hidden within dirt, grass, gravel, sand or other such substances while collecting magnetic materials. The tool can then be carried to an appropriate disposal site (i.e. trash can), where the lever can be activated causing the magnetic debris to fall safely away from the tines. The user can then reposition the magnetic assembly within the tines and continue work. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a top view, side view, and end view of a nonmagnetic tube with a magnet inserted and secured by a spring clip. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a detailed view of the nonmagnetic tube in  FIG. 1  with the magnet partially inserted. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows the nonmagnetic tube and the magnet as separate parts. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a magnetic clean up device attached to a hard-tined rake. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of a magnetic clean up tool with the magnet removed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the magnetic clean up tool from  FIG. 5  with the magnet inserted. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of another embodiment of a magnetic clean up tool with a magnet inserted in a nonmagnetic tube 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the magnetic clean up tool from  FIG. 7   
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the magnetic clean up device comprises a nonmagnetic tube  101  that has at least two threaded studs  105  attached to and projecting outward from the nonmagnetic tube  101 . The studs are made to accept corresponding nuts  104  and washers  106 . The nonmagnetic tube  101  is designed to house a magnet  102 . The magnet has a spring clip  103  attached to one end which allows the magnet to be held in position within the nonmagnetic tube  101  and also be removed with ease from the nonmagnetic tube  101 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the nonmagnetic tube  101  is made with a depression  201  that corresponds to and accepts the spring clip  103  when the magnet  102  is fully inserted into the nonmagnetic tube  101 . The nonmagnetic tube  101  is also made with a nonmagnetic partition  202  on the exterior of the nonmagnetic tube  101  where the nonmagnetic partition  202  is of sufficient length to prevent the metal debris that is collected during use from sliding to the end of the nonmagnetic tube  101  and onto the magnet  102  as the magnet  102  is removed from the nonmagnetic tube  101 . This configuration allows a user to safely remove and dispose metal debris by simply removing the magnet  102 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the nonmagnetic tube  101  is a separate part from the magnet  102  and spring clip  103 . The spring clip  103  is attached securely to the magnet  102 . The spring clip  103  holds the magnet  102  securely in place within the nonmagnetic tube  101  when the magnet  102  is fully inserted into the nonmagnetic tube  101 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the nonmagnetic tube  101  is attached to the tines  401  of a rake using the nuts  104 , the washers  106  and the studs  105 . The magnet  102  is shown inserted in the nonmagnetic tube  101  and is secured by the spring clip  103 . The rake can now be used in its intended manner while at the same time filtering and collecting hazardous metal debris (i.e. nails, screws, tacks, etc.) that will attach to the surface of the nonmagnetic tube  101 . The metal debris can then be safely carried to a trash can or other place of disposal where it can be dropped by simply detaching the spring clip  103  and removing the magnet  102 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a plurality of nonmagnetic, hollow tines  501  of a magnetic clean up tool. The handle  502  is attached to the tines  501  to allow for the tines to be used to collect all types of debris. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the magnetic clean up tool in the operating position. The magnet  601  is inserted within the hollow tines  501 . In this position, the magnetic force of the magnet  601  will cause magnetic debris to attach to the nonmagnetic tines  501 . The magnet  601  can be controlled by the lever mechanism  602 , which comprises two lever portions  603  and  604  which are hingedly attached to the tool handle  502 . The lever portion  603  is hingedly attached to the lever portion  605 , and extends in a grasping handle  607  beyond the hinge that connects lever portions  603  and  605 . Lever portion  604  hingedly connects to lever portions  605  and  606  at the end of lever portion  604  distal to the tool handle  502 . Lever portion  606  is attached to the magnet  601 . To operate the tool, a user pulls the lever handle  607  in a direction away from the tines of the tool, causing the magnet  601  to retract out of the hollow tines  501 . By so doing, the user can temporarily remove the magnetic forces from the tines  501 , allowing the collected magnetic debris to fall from the surface of the tines  501 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of a lever-controlled magnetic clean up tool. The tool has a handle  707  that is attached to a plurality of hard tines  706 . A nonmagnetic tube  701  is attached to the tines  706  running two threaded studs  105  through the tines  706  of the tool. The studs  105  are secured to the tines  706  using wing nuts  104  and washers  106 . The nonmagnetic tube  701  is designed to house a magnet  702 .  FIG. 7  shows the magnet  702  secured within the nonmagnetic tube  701 . The magnet  702  is permanently attached to the lever arm  703 . The lever arm  703  is attached to the tool handle  707  using a pivot pin  704 . The pivot pin  704  is also attached to the lever handle  705 . By pushing down on the lever handle  705 , the user of the tool causes the magnet  702  to rotate out of the nonmagnetic tube  701 . The nonmagnetic tube  701  and the magnet  702  are designed with a curvature that allows the magnet  702  to be inserted and removed from the nonmagnetic tube  701  with the lever arm  703 . The curvature of the design corresponds with the length of the lever arm  703  (i.e. the radius of the circle of motion). When the magnet  702  is removed from the nonmagnetic tube  701  the magnetic debris collected on the nonmagnetic tube will fall away from the nonmagnetic tube  701 . The nonmagnetic tube  701  is designed with a partition  202  that will act as a shield to prevent magnetic debris from following the magnet  702  when it is removed. In the normal operating position, the magnet  702  will be secured in the nonmagnetic tube  701  and the tines  706  will be used to manipulate dirt, soil, gravel, sand or like substances while collecting magnetic debris onto the nonmagnetic tube  701 . The lever arm  703  is held in the operating position by a clipping mechanism  708  which in turn holds the magnet  702  in the operating position. The magnetic debris can be disposed by simply detaching the lever arm  703  from the clipping mechanism  708  and pushing on the lever handle  705  which will remove the magnet  702  from the nonmagnetic tube  701 . Once the magnetic debris is disposed of, the lever handle  705  and lever arm  703  can be used to re-insert the magnet  702  back into the nonmagnetic tube  701  and the user can resume use of the tool. 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the magnetic tool in operating position as depicted in  FIG. 7 . The tines  706  of the tool are connected to the handle  707 . The nonmagnetic tube  701  is connected to the tines  706  by running threaded studs  105  through the tines and securing with wing nuts  104  and washers  106 . The magnet  702  is shown inserted within the nonmagnetic tube  701 . The magnet  702  is permanently connected to the lever arm  703  which is controlled by the lever handle  705  (see  FIG. 7 ) and allows the user of the tool to insert and remove the magnet  702  from the nonmagnetic tube  701 . 
         [0027]    The invention herein has been described in a manner that is illustrative only, and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that there are modifications and alterations to the present invention that will not deviate from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed herein. 
         [0028]    It will be also understood by those skilled in the art that those magnetic materials collected and retained by the present invention are of the class of materials generally defined as materials exhibiting ferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism. However, any material that responds to a magnetic field may be collected and retained utilizing the current invention without deviating from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0029]    It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that, although the invention as described herein relies upon a magnetic field created by those magnets commonly described as “permanent” or “hard” magnets; i.e., materials which retain magnetic fields for long periods of time, it is also contemplated that the magnetic field utilized by the present invention may be created by utilizing electromagnetism; i.e., creating a magnetic field through commonly understood electrical current means. And, those various available means of creating or providing a magnetic field may be utilized individually or in combination and still be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7