Abstract:
An ash remover having an ash rake which cooperates with a bracket on the cover of the ash remover to hold the cover closed when transporting ashes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to implements for removing and transporting ashes from stoves, furnaces or fireplaces. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various implements have been used in the past for aiding in the removal of ashes and cinders. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,634 discloses an ash remover with a carrying handle which is attached through the main body to the cover of the ash remover to hold it closed for transportation of ashes. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 507,862 discloses an ash remover having a spring-loaded cover to hold it closed for transportation of ashes. In neither of these approaches is any provision made to enable the convenient operation of an ash rake to aid in filling of the ash remover. The spring-load cover disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 507,826 poses a fairly complex arrangement of parts to hold the cover closed. The ash remover disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,634 requires that the ash remover be suspended from the carrying handle when loaded, or else the contents could fall out. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Now, in accordance with the present invention, as ash remover is provided having a main body for carrying ashes and a cover movably connected to the main body. A bracket is secured to the cover. An ash rake is provided, comprising a handle which movably passes into the main body and a rake fastened at one end of the handle and capable of engaging the bracket on the cover for securing it. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an ash remover with a convenient ash rake for filling the ash remover. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an ash remover with a simple arrangement to hold the cover closed during transport of ashes. 
     Other objects of this invention will become apparent from reading the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment with a portion of the ash rake broken away, and a portion of the ash remover broken away. 
     FIG. 3 is partial perspective view of one end portion of the preferred embodiment showing the ash rake handle. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is herein described as shown in FIG. 1. The ash remover of FIG. 1 has cover 10 which revolves on rivets 11 and 12. Cover 10 measures approximately 10 cm in height and 23 cm in width. All remaining dimensions, unless otherwise noted, are proportionately based on these and are only exemplary. Attached by rivets securely to the inside of cover 10 is bracket 14. Bracket 14 is suitably fashioned from 3.175 mm thick bar stock steel. It is placed near the bottom of cover 10, and it defines approximately a &#34;U&#34;-shape when viewed from the side of the ash remover. Bracket 14 is arranged so that the opening of the &#34;U&#34; is a channel lying parallel with both cover 10 and rake 17 for receiving rake 17. 
     Movably disposed within main body 15 is rake 17. One end 25 of handle 18 is securely fastened to rake 17, for example by welding, using a gusset plate. Hand grip 23 is formed at other end 26 of handle 18 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Hand grip 23 may be formed merely by bending a metal rod used as handle 18 or it may be a separate material attached to or over handle 18. Handle 18 extends through end 16 of body 15 and through pivot brace 20 as depicted in FIG. 3. Pivot brace 20, mounted at end 16, alleviates stresses and strains on main body 15 by supporting handle 18 as it passes through the anterior wall of the ash remover. Pivot brace 20 is suitably made from 3.175 mm thick bar stock steel, and it is fastened to main body 15 with rivets. 
     Clamp 21 surrounds and slides on handle 18 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Set screw 22 is screwed into a threaded bore in clamp 21 which extends through to handle 18. This permits clamp 21 to be locked in position on handle 18 by tightening set screw 22. When clamp 21 is against stop 24 and set screw 22 is tightened against scraper rod 18, the combination of the handle 23 and 21 form a convenient handle for operating the ash remover. 
     Stop 24 is a metal ring affixed to handle 18 which limits the travel range of clamp 21 on handle 18, and consequently, limits the extent to which rake 17 can be protruded out the front of the ash remover. Rake 17, as depicted, is made of a flat metal plate 17c traversing body 15 and having wings 17a and 17b extending back on either side into body 15. Wings 17a and 17b keep rake 17 aligned with body 15. The length of handle 18 forward of stop 24, the length of clamp 21, the length of the ash remover, and the length of wings 17a and 17b of ash rake 17 are chosen so that a portion of wings 17a and 17b always remains within main body 15 of the ash remover. Otherwise a difficulty in reinserting rake 17 into main body 15 would exist. 
     The ash remover is conveniently carried by handle 28 which is riveted to upper surface 27 of main body 15. It is suitably fashioned from 3.175 mm thick bar stock steel. 
     To use the above-described ash remover, rake 17 would be unlatched from bracket 14 by loosening set screw 22 and sliding clamp 21 adjacent to stop 24, and the ash remover would be inserted into a collection area for ashes. Hand grip 23 of handle 18 is then manipulated to maneuver rake 17 in a raking fashion to draw ashes within main body 15. Upon substantially filling the ash remover, rake 17 is drawn within main body 15 and cover 10 is closed within the ash collection area if space permits. Rake pan 17 is then maneuvered by hand grip 24 to engage plate 17c into bracket 14. Hand grip 23 is then drawn away from main body 15 causing bracket 14 to tightly engage rake 17. Clamp 21 is slid adjacent to pivot bracket 20 and locked in place by tightening set screw 22. This locks cover 10 shut. 
     While the invention has been described in relation to a specific embodiment, modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, cover 10 could be designed to &#34;hug&#34; main body 15 as it was opened. One way of accomplishing this would be to create vertical slots on the side members of cover 10, which presently contact rivets 11 and 12. These rivets would be disposed within the slots to connect cover 10 to main body 15 and to guide the movement of cover 10 as it is being opened. 
     Another modification would be to replace clamp 21 and set screw 22 with a spring, which would surround handle 18 as clamp 21 presently does, and a cocking mechanism. The spring would be cocked in a constricted position when the ash remover was being loaded, and it would be uncocked to cause latch 14 to tightly engage rake pan 17. In other modifications handle 18 of rake 17 can enter body 15 through the top or some other point than end 16. Other ways of connecting cover 10 to main body 15, and other methods of securing handle 18 are available and are contemplated as within the scope of the invention. 
     These and other modifications which will occur to one skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit and scope of the appended claims except as expressly limited otherwise.