Patent Description:
Dustpans are used for transferring dust or (semi) solid waste off a surface. Dustpans have a receptacle portion into which the waste can be swept and a handle for holding the dustpan in position. Typically, a user will hold the dustpan by the handle, with an edge of a mouth of the receptacle in contact with the surface and will hold a brush in another hand. The user will use the brush to sweep the dust or (semi) solid waste into the receptacle of the dustpan.

For hazardous waste, it may be that the brush can be replaced by a scraper which is easier to clean, and/or intended for a limited number of uses, such as single-use. Similarly, the dustpan may be a disposable dustpan.

It is known to provide a foldable blank <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, formed from corrugated cardboard with fold-lines pre-formed (shown as broken lines in <FIG>). The blank <NUM> defines a receptacle region <NUM> and a handle region <NUM>. When the blank <NUM> is folded along the fold lines, the foldable blank <NUM> can be folded to form a dustpan, having a receptacle formed from the receptacle region <NUM> and a handle formed form the handle region <NUM>. Thus, by providing a single sheet of pre-scored, pre-cut corrugated cardboard, which is space-efficient, a dustpan can be formed which is suitable for a low number of uses, such as a single use. The dustpan is intended to be discarded after use. The known blank <NUM> also includes a scraper portion <NUM> which can be removed before assembly of the dustpan, for use with the dustpan when assembled.

<CIT> discloses a collapsed, pop-open and disposable debris collector formed of a semi-rigid blank the composition of which has a folded elastic memory, the collector forming interconnected rear abutment, side walls and a bottom.

<CIT> discloses disposable clean up utensils that can be incorporated into a box or other container, comprised of an apparatus, an incised and scored blank, from which clean up utensils may be formed by separating them from the apparatus.

It is in this context that the present inventions have been devised.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dustpan formed from sheet material. The dustpan comprises: a handle portion; a receptacle portion into which dust and/or waste can be swept; and a fold-line provided between the handle portion and the receptacle portion. The fold-line extends in a straight line across the sheet material forming the dustpan, such that, in an unassembled configuration, the handle portion can be folded to lie flat against the receptacle portion by folding along the fold-line. The handle portion comprises a plurality of handle fold-lines, whereby to form the handle portion. The handle portion is formed of at least four panels, separated by at least three handle fold-lines.

Thus, a fold-line extending completely across the sheet material forming the dustpan allows the sheet material forming the handle portion to be folded to lie flat against the sheet material forming the receptacle portion. In this way, the footprint of the dustpan, when in the unassembled configuration, can be reduced in comparison to dustpans having a non-straight fold-line across the sheet material between the handle portion and the receptacle portion. Reducing the footprint in this way is particularly helpful as it moves the aspect ratio of the unassembled configuration closer to one, making it easier to store the dustpan in the unassembled configuration. It will be understood that the handle portion is integrally formed with the receptacle portion.

The fold-line between the handle portion and the receptacle portion may run in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle portion. The longitudinal axis of the handle portion is the axis around which panels making up the handle portion are bent to form the handle portion.

The term "fold-line" will be understood to mean any part of the dust pan (either in the unassembled configuration, or an assembled configuration), where the sheet material has been crushed, creased, perforated or otherwise caused to have a low resistance to bending so as to promote bending of the sheet material along the fold-line in preference to bending of the sheet material in any other location not along the fold-line (or along another fold-line). The term "fold-line" in some examples may be applied to a living hinge and the like. Although the term "fold-line" is used, it will be understood that this does not necessarily require that two portions of sheet material on either side of the fold-line need be able to fold completely over to lie flat against each other. In this sense, a "fold-line" also includes partial folds, such as a bend in the sheet material of less than <NUM> degrees. In some examples, fold-lines can be formed by a die-cutting creasing machine. The die-cutting creasing machine may be configured to form a crease without perforation of the material. Alternatively, the die-cutting creasing machine may be configured to form a perforated cut to aid bending along the fold-line. In some examples, it may be that the die-cutting creasing machine is configured to form a perforated cut with a crease formed in portion of the fold-line which are not cut.

It will be understood that a dustpan is a well-known general class of object, for use in the clear-up of dust and waste material from surfaces. A dustpan has a handle to be held by the user, and a receptacle, connected to the handle, into or onto which the dust or waste material can be swept from the surface to be cleared.

In some examples, the dustpan may be provided in the unassembled configuration along with a package comprising a cleaning composition, all within an outer packaging. The package comprising the cleaning composition may be a square package. The cleaning composition may be an absorbent composition for absorbing spills. Thus, the dustpan may be conveniently provided with the cleaning composition with which it is to be used.

The handle portion comprises a plurality of handle fold-lines, whereby to form the handle portion. In other words, by bending the sheet material providing the handle portion along the plurality of handle fold-lines, the sheet material can form a 3D shape providing the handle portion. The handle portion is formed of at least four panels, separated by at least three handle fold-lines. The handle portion may comprise exactly five panels, separated by exactly four handle fold-lines. Each of the panels may have an identical size. In this way, the handle portion may have a square cross-section. It may be that a base panel arranged to form the base of the handle portion and one or more upper panels arranged to form an upper surface of the handle portion, opposite the base of the handle portion, may each have the same width. In this way, the two sides of the handle portion formed by two side panels, will be mutually parallel. Having parallel sides of the handle portion means that side walls of the receptacle will also be perpendicular to a base portion of the receptacle, resulting in a particularly strong and robust dustpan.

The receptacle portion may define a base and first and second side walls on respective first and second sides of the base, and wherein the receptable portion comprises a first wall fold-line between the base and the first side wall and a second wall fold-line between the base and the second side wall. The first and second sides of the base typically diverge away from the handle portion. In other words, the base of the receptacle is typically narrower at the handle portion than at an end of the base away from the handle portion. Thus, the first wall fold-line and the second wall fold-line diverge in the direction away from the handle portion. In this way, a wide-mouthed receptacle is provided, making a particularly effective dustpan.

The fold-line between the handle portion and the receptacle portion may comprise a first section between the first side wall of the receptacle portion and a first side wall of the handle portion, a second section between the base of the receptacle portion and a base of the handle portion, and a third section between the second side wall of the receptacle portion and a second side wall of the handle portion. Thus, all three sections extend along the same straight line when the sheet material from which the dustpan is formed is flat. The plane defined by the three sections of the fold-line when the dustpan is in the assembled configuration may be transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle. Importantly, because all three sections of the fold-line extend along a straight line, when the dustpan is in the unassembled configuration, the sheet material forming the handle portion can be folded to lie flat against the sheet material forming the receptacle portion, allowing the dustpan in the unassembled configuration to be particularly compact.

It may be that the dustpan can be reconfigured between the unassembled configuration and the assembled configuration. It will be understood that the assembled configuration is any configuration in which the dustpan is provided having a handle portion and a receptacle portion as described hereinbefore. The unassembled configuration may be a configuration in which the handle portion and the receptacle portion are not fully formed and are each flat. The unassembled configuration includes configurations in which the sheet material providing the handle portion is planar with and not overlying the sheet material providing the receptacle portion, as well as configurations in which the sheet material providing the handle portion is folded along the fold-line between the handle portion and the receptacle portion and is overlying the sheet material providing the receptacle portion.

Specifically, the dustpan may be reconfigured from the assembled configuration to the unassembled configuration. The dustpan may be reconfigured from the unassembled configuration to the assembled configuration.

To reconfigure the dustpan between the unassembled configuration and the assembled configuration typically involves bending and/or flattening the sheet material forming the receptacle portion and the handle portion along the fold-lines described hereinbefore.

The receptacle portion defines a receptacle inner surface on a base of the receptacle portion and with which material swept into the receptacle will be in contact. Similarly, side walls of the receptacle portion define wall inner surfaces having a surface normal component mutually facing when the dustpan is in the assembled configuration.

In the assembled configuration, it may be that the first section and the third section of the fold-line between the handle portion and the receptacle portion is bent to an angle of greater than <NUM> degrees in the mutually facing direction.

In the assembled configuration, it may be that the second section of the fold-line between the handle portion and the receptacle portion is bent to an angle of less than <NUM> degrees in the direction from the receptacle inner surface to the surface of the handle portion extending therefrom via the second section of the fold-line.

The sheet material may be recyclable. The sheet material may be plant-based. The sheet material may be a bioplastic material, such as polylactic acid. The sheet material may be substantially opaque. The sheet material may be formed from recycled material. The sheet material may comprise recycled material. The sheet material may comprise at least <NUM>% recycled material.

The sheet material may be a fibre-based material, such as a wood-based material. The sheet material may comprise paper. The sheet material may comprise card. The sheet material may comprise cardboard. The sheet material may comprise corrugated cardboard. The sheet material may be formed exclusively from any one or more of the materials described hereinbefore, or the materials may be used to form one or more layers of the sheet forming the dustpan. The sheet material may be coated. The coating may be a protective coating. The coating may be a plastics material. Thus, it will be understood that the sheet material need not be formed solely from a single material, but may be a mixture of different materials, and/or may be a laminate formed from multiple layers. The layers may be the same or at least one of the layers may be different from one or more other layers. The sheet material may comprise a plastics material. The sheet material may be a plastics material. The sheet material may be biodegradable in less than <NUM> years. The sheet material may be compostable. The sheet material may be industrially compostable. In other words, the sheet material may be configured to degrade in an anaerobic digestor.

The fold-line provided between the handle portion and the receptacle portion may be a continuous crease-line. In other words, the fold-line between the handle portion and the receptacle portion may not involve any breaks in the sheet material, such as perforations. Thus, a relatively strong fold-line is provided, ensuring the joint between the handle portion and the receptacle portion of the dustpan is strong enough to withstand expected usage.

The handle portion may have a rectangular cross-section. The rectangular cross-section may be a square cross-section. Thus, this is a particularly structurally robust shape, enhancing the robustness of the dustpan.

The handle portion may have a length less than a length of the base of the receptacle portion. Thus, when the handle portion is folded over to lie on the receptacle portion, abound the fold-line between the handle portion and the receptacle portion, the handle portion will not extend to the end of the receptacle portion, in the direction away from the fold-line. Advantageously, this means a further component may be provided connected to the handle portion without increasing the footprint of the dustpan in the unassembled configuration. The further component may be a scraper. The further component may be connected to the handle portion via a frangible connection. The further component may be a scraper. The scraper can be used to sweep or scrape waste material into or on to the receptacle portion of the dustpan.

The dustpan may further comprise securing means to secure the handle portion flat against the receptacle portion in the unassembled configuration. Thus, the chances of the handle portion inadvertently moving away from the unassembled configuration are reduced. The securing means may comprise a frangible connection to a first connection component and adhesive to connect the first connection component to one of the receptacle portion and the handle portion. Thus, by breaking the frangible connection, the handle portion can be freed to move away from the receptacle portion to move towards the assembled configuration. It may be that the first connection component is part of the handle portion in the unassembled configuration.

At least one of the fold-lines described hereinbefore may have perforations defined thereon. At least one of the fold-lines other than the fold-line between the receptacle portion and the handle portion may have perforations defined thereon. It may be that each of the fold-lines other than the fold-line between the receptacle portion and the handle portion may have perforations defined thereon. Thus, some of the fold-lines exhibit less resistance to bending as a result of the perforations which significantly improve the ease with which the sheet material can be bent about the fold-line.

The present disclosure extends to a blank for forming the dustpan described hereinbefore. The blank comprises: a handle region for forming the handle portion; a receptacle region for forming the receptacle portion; and the fold-line provided between the handle region and the receptacle region. The fold-line extends in a straight line across the blank, such that the handle region is folded or foldable along the fold-line to lie flat against the receptacle region. The handle region comprises a plurality of handle fold-lines, whereby to form the handle portion. The handle region is formed of at least four panels, separated by at least three handle fold-lines.

Thus, the blank can be assembled to provide the dustpan described hereinbefore. It will be understood that a blank is a term used to describe a sheet material prior to being fully bent into the assembled configuration. In this example, the blank may be completely unfolded, or may be partially folded (such as folded along the fold-line between the handle region and the receptacle region such that the handle region lies flat against the receptacle region).

The blank may further comprise a scraper region. A frangible connection may be provided between the scraper region and the handle region.

In some examples, the handle region of the blank is folded along the fold-line to lie flat against the receptacle region.

The present disclosure extends to a cleaning pack comprising an outer packaging within which is provided: a cleaning product; and the folded blank as described hereinbefore. Thus, the cleaning pack can include both components necessary for clearing a spillage.

The folded blank may be secured to the outer packaging by securing means. The securing means may be a frangible connection. The blank may provide both the outer packaging and the blank to form the dustpan described hereinbefore from the same integrally formed portion of sheet material. Thus, the dustpan and the outer packaging can be formed as a single piece.

The securing means may be a releasable securing means. The securing means may be a temporary securing means. The securing means may comprise adhesive.

The outer packaging may be a box. The box may be formed from sheet material. The sheet material may be the same sheet material as the folded blank. The sheet material may comprise card. The sheet material may be card. The sheet material may comprise a bioplastic. The sheet material may be a bioplastic.

When the outer packaging is a box and is provided with the folded blank secured thereto, the box may be provided initially in a flat-packed configuration, in which the box is unassembled. The outer packaging may be provided in a multi-pack of a plurality of unassembled boxes (e.g. flat-packed). Thus, a factory, retailer or high-volume usage consumer can be provided with flat-packed boxes, which can be later assembled into separate packs for distribution and use. The present disclosure extends to a method of providing a plurality of cleaning packs. The method comprises: providing a multi-pack of flat-packed boxes; opening the multi-pack; assembling a plurality of the flat-packed boxes into a plurality of the boxes described hereinbefore, each assembled box having the folded blank provided therein; inserted the cleaning product into each assembled box; closing each box to provide the plurality of cleaning packs. The folded blank may be secured to the flat-packed box prior to assembly.

The dustpan, the blank or the folded blank may further comprise instructions provided on the dustpan, the blank or the folded blank respectively. The instructions may be for reconfiguring the dustpan between the unassembled configuration and the assembled configuration, such as from the unassembled configuration to the assembled configuration. Thus, instructions are provided as part of the dustpan, the blank or the folded blank.

The present disclosure extends to a method of clearing up waste. The method comprises: providing the folded blank; unfolding the handle region from lying flat against the receptacle region by unfolding along the fold-line therebetween; bending the handle region and the receptacle region together to form the handle portion and the receptacle portion respectively of the dustpan described hereinbefore; and sweeping waste into the receptacle portion of the dustpan.

The present disclosure also extends to a method comprising: providing the dustpan described hereinbefore; sweeping waste into the receptacle portion of the dustpan; disposing of the waste from the receptacle portion of the dustpan, unbending the handle portion and the receptacle portion along the fold-lines thereon, to form the handle region and the receptacle region of the blank described herein; and folding the handle region along the fold-line between the handle region and the receptacle region to lie flat against the receptacle region to provide the folded blank.

Where the folded blank comprises a scraper component, the methods may further comprise detaching the scraper component from the handle region of the blank. Sweeping waste into the receptacle portion of the dustpan may be performed using the scraper component.

An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which:.

<FIG> shows an example of a foldable blank according to an embodiment of the present invention. The foldable blank <NUM> is formed from recyclable card in this example, and is precut and pre-creased so as to be foldable to form a dustpan as shown in <FIG>, as well as being foldable into a compressed configuration in which portions of the foldable blank <NUM> can be folded to lie on top of each other such that the dustpan in an unassembled configuration has a reduced size footprint compared with the dustpan in another unassembled configuration where the portions of the foldable blank <NUM> are all unfolded as shown in <FIG>.

Specifically, the foldable blank comprises a receptacle region <NUM>, a handle region <NUM> and a scraper region <NUM>. The receptacle region <NUM> comprises a receptacle base region <NUM>, a receptacle first side wall region <NUM> and the receptacle second side wall region <NUM>. A first wall fold line <NUM> separates the receptacle first side wall region <NUM> and the receptacle base region <NUM>. A second wall fold line <NUM> separates the receptacle second side wall region <NUM> and the receptacle base region <NUM>. The receptacle region <NUM> is foldable about the fold lines <NUM>, <NUM> to form the receptacle portion 210a described further with reference to <FIG> hereinafter.

The handle region <NUM> is separated from the receptacle region <NUM> by the fold-line <NUM>. The handle region <NUM> comprises a handle base region <NUM> extending away from the receptacle base region <NUM> over the fold-line <NUM>. The handle region <NUM> further comprises a handle first side wall region <NUM> extending away from the receptacle first side wall region <NUM> over the fold-line <NUM>, and extending from the handle base region <NUM> via the handle first fold-line <NUM>. The handle region <NUM> further comprises a handle second side wall region <NUM> extending away from the receptacle second side wall region <NUM> over the fold-line <NUM>, and extending from the handle base region <NUM> via the handle second fold-line <NUM>. The handle region <NUM> further comprises a handle first upper surface region <NUM> extending from the handle first side wall region <NUM> and a handle second upper surface region <NUM> extending from the handle second side wall region <NUM>, via the handle third fold-line <NUM> and the handle fourth fold-line <NUM> respectively. Each of the handle side wall regions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are of the same width, and each of the handle fold-lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are parallel and of the same length. The handle base region <NUM> further comprises a connection region <NUM> on which is provided an adhesive <NUM>. The connection region <NUM> is connected to the rest of the handle base region <NUM> via a frangible connection <NUM>.

The scraper region <NUM> extends from the handle region <NUM> in a direction opposite the receptacle region <NUM>, via a frangible connection <NUM>. The scraper region <NUM> extends to the same width as the handle region <NUM> of the foldable blank <NUM>, and extends away from the handle region <NUM> by the same distance as the handle region <NUM> extends away from the receptacle region <NUM>. Furthermore, the receptacle region <NUM> extends away from the fold-line <NUM> by the same distance as the handle region <NUM> and the scraper region <NUM> together extend from the fold-line <NUM>.

The frangible connections <NUM> and <NUM> are perforated lines which can be broken to separate the region on one side of the connection from the region on the other side of the connection.

To package the foldable blank <NUM> into a collapsed configuration, the scraper region <NUM> and the handle region <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, are folded over about the fold-line <NUM> to lie flat against the receptacle region <NUM>. In particular, the adhesive <NUM> on the connection region <NUM> will press against and adhere to the facing surface of the receptacle base region <NUM>. In this configuration, the folded blank has a substantially square footprint and can be provided in a compact package.

<FIG> shows a dustpan formed from the foldable blank on <FIG>. To form the dustpan 200a shown in <FIG>, the folded blank described hereinbefore is first unfolded by lifting the handle region <NUM> away from the receptacle region <NUM>, by perforating the frangible connection <NUM> along the connecting region <NUM>, to leave the connecting region 236a shown in the receptacle portion 210a of <FIG>. The scraper region <NUM> is removed from the rest of the object by tearing along the frangible connection <NUM>. The scraper region <NUM> can then function as a scraper to sweep waste into the receptacle portion 210a of <FIG>. The handle region <NUM> is formed into the handle portion 220a in unison with the receptacle region being formed into the receptacle portion 210a by bending along the fold-lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to form the dustpan 200a as shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the handle portion 220a is connected to the receptacle portion 210a via the fold-line 240a. The handle portion 220a comprises the handle second upper surface panel 228a and the handle second side wall panel 226a as shown in <FIG>. Similarly, the receptacle portion 210a comprises the receptacle base panel 212a, as well as receptacle first and second side walls 214a, 216a.

<FIG> shows a packaging box according to another example of the present invention. The packaging box <NUM> is provided with the foldable blank <NUM> therein, typically as the folded blank described hereinbefore, connected to a wall of the packaging box via a frangible connection <NUM>. The packaging box <NUM> also comprises a cleaning product, such as a cleaning composition, provided alongside the folded blank, all within the same packaging box <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method according to an example of the present invention. The method <NUM> is a method of reconfiguring a dustpan between an unassembled configuration and an assembled configuration. <FIG> specifically shows a method <NUM> of reconfiguring a dustpan from an unassembled configuration to an assembled configuration and attendant use of the assembled dustpan.

The method <NUM> comprises providing <NUM> the folded blank as described hereinbefore. The method <NUM> further comprises unfolding <NUM> the handle region of the folded blank from lying flat against the receptacle region of the folded blank by unfolding along the fold-line therebetween. The unfolding <NUM> further comprises breaking the frangible connection of the connection region adhered therebetween. The method <NUM> further comprises forming <NUM> the handle portion and the receptacle portion of the dustpan by bending the handle region and the receptacle region together of the dustpan blank. To use the formed dustpan, the method <NUM> typically further comprises sweeping <NUM> waste into the receptacle portion of the dustpan. The sweeping <NUM> may be performed using the scraper described hereinbefore.

It will be understood that the method can also be a method of reconfiguring an assembled dustpan into the unassembled configuration, including folding the handle region and the receptacle region of the dustpan blank along the fold-line therebetween to provide a compact arrangement.

The dustpan blank illustrated in <FIG>, and shown in an assembled configuration in <FIG> is typically formed from card, but other materials will be apparent to the skilled person. Similarly, the packaging box <NUM> shown in <FIG> is also formed from card, though other material options will be apparent to the skilled person.

In summary, there is provided a dustpan (200a) formed from sheet material. The dustpan (200a) comprises a handle portion (220a), a receptacle portion (210a) into which dust and/or waste can be swept, and a fold-line (240a) provided between the handle portion (220a) and the receptacle portion (210a). The fold-line (240a) extends in a straight line across the sheet material forming the dustpan (200a). In an unassembled configuration, the handle portion (220a) can be folded to lie flat against the receptacle portion (210a) by folding along the fold-line (240a).

Claim 1:
A dustpan (200a) formed from sheet material, the dustpan (200a) having:
a handle portion (220a);
a receptacle portion (210a) into which dust and/or waste can be swept; and
a fold-line (240a) provided between the handle portion (220a) and the receptacle portion (210a),
wherein the fold-line (240a) extends in a straight line across the sheet material forming the dustpan (200a), such that, in an unassembled configuration, the handle portion (220a) can be folded to lie flat against the receptacle portion (210a) by folding along the fold-line (240a),
wherein the handle portion (220a) comprises a plurality of handle fold-lines (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), whereby to form the handle portion (220a), and
characterized in that the handle portion (220a) is formed of at least four panels (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), separated by at least three handle fold-lines (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).