Dustpan with dust roller

Abstract

A dustpan for collecting dust from a floor or similar surface. The dustpan has a roller mounted to the rearwall of the dustpan. The roller has a sticky or tacky surface that is rolled over the surface to remove the line of dust left in front of the leading edge of the dustpan when dust is swept into the dustpan by a broom. The roller is rolled over the line of dust to remove it from the surface. The surface of the roller can be washed when it is coated with dust so that it can be reused. In an alternate embodiment the roller is made of a roll of sticky paper that can have the dirty portion removed leaving a new layer of clean, sticky paper.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to cleaning implements and more particularly to a new and unique dustpan. When using a broom and dustpan, the user generally pushes or sweeps the dirt and dust into a pile that is swept into a hand held dustpan. The problem with this method is that there is always a small line of dirt and dust that remains along the leading edge or lip of the dustpan when the dustpan is lifted up from the floor after sweeping. This is because the edge of the dustpan is slightly raised from the floor surface. This creates a small step that the dust and dirt rests against when the broom sweeps the dust into the dustpan.

[0002] Prior to this invention there was never a convenient means to eliminate the remaining line of dust. Generally the user merely swept the line of dust toward the leading edge of the dustpan and disregarded the remaining the dust line. This did not remedy the problem of picking up all of the dust.

[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a device that removes the line of dust remaining in front of the leading edge of a dustpan when dust is swept into a dustpan.

[0004] It is another object to provide a roller that has a sticky or tacky surface that is mounted to the dustpan and can be moved over the line of dust to remove the dust from the floor surface. It is a related object to provide a roller having a tacky surface that is easily cleaned so that it can be reused numerous times before it must be replaced. An advantage of the roller is that it is easy and convenient to use and can be added to a conventional dustpan at minimal cost.

[0005] These and other objects will be apparent when reading the Detailed Description of the Drawings and Description of the Preferred Embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] This invention is most clearly illustrated in the drawings in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the inventive dustpan illustrating the roller mounted to the rear wall of the dustpan.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of the dustpan with dust being swept into the dustpan by a broom.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view with portions removed taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of the dustpan and broom with the broom sweeping dust into the dustpan and a line of dust remaining at the leading edge of the dustpan.

[0010] FIG. 4 is rear perspective view of the dustpan as it is lifted off of the floor or surface showing the line of dust remaining after sweeping.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of the inventive dustpan being placed on the floor in a position to remove the line of remaining dust.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a side view with portions removed of the dustpan on the floor with the front of the dustpan pivoted upward and the roller contacting the floor to remove dust on the floor.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the dustpan with the roller picking up dust from the floor.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the dustpan illustrating the roller being cleaned by a stream of water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Turning first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a dustpan 10 having a bottom or base 12. The dustpan 10 has a leading tapered edge 14 extending at the forward or leading end of the bottom 12. There are opposite upstanding sidewalls 16, 18 extending upward from the base 12. The dustpan may optionally be provided with a cover that covers all or a portion of the dustpan. At the rear of the dustpan 10 is a rearwall 20.

[0016] Mounted to or integrally formed with the rearwall 20 is a protruding handle 22 adapted to be held by the user's hand. The handle 22 is preferably positioned toward the top of the rearwall 20 to make it easy for the user to grasp the handle 22. The handle 22 can be formed with a concave interior surface 23 that can receive a broom handle so that the handle 22 can be mounted onto the broom handle. Also mounted to or integrally formed with the rearwall 20 are a pair of roller supports 24 separated from each other by a predetermined distance. A roller 26 is mounted on a shaft 28 that is in turn mounted to the roller supports 24. The length of the roller 26 is such that it will fit between the supports 24.

[0017] The roller supports 24 are positioned above the bottom 12 so that the outside diameter of the roller 26 is slightly above a surface or floor 27 that is to be cleaned. In an alternate embodiment the diameter of the roller 26 may just contact the floor 27 and act as a stop means to assist in keeping the dustpan 10 from movement when the user sweeps dust into the dustpan 10. The term “dust” is meant to include all dirt, dust and debris swept into the dustpan 10.

[0018] The roller 26 has a tacky or sticky surface 29. The roller is preferably a rubber roller that has a permanent tacky surface 29 similar to lint removal rollers that are in common use. This type of roller can be washed off with water when the surface 29 is covered with dust. The roller 26 can be subsequently reused many times. Alternatively the surface 29 can be covered with a roll of tacky paper that can be torn off when covered with dust to expose a fresh surface of tacky paper. The alternative embodiment requires that the roll of tacky paper be periodically replaced whereas the roller 26 with the permanent rubberized tacky surface does not require replacement unless the roller 26 is damaged or worn out.

[0019] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the user sweeps the dust into the dustpan 10 by means of a broom 30 that sweeps in the direction of arrow “A”. The dust is swept over the leading edge 14 and onto the bottom 12. A thin line or strip of dust 13 remains between the leading edge 14 of the dustpan 10 and the floor 27. When the dustpan 10 is raised off the floor 27, in the direction of arrow “B” such as seen in FIG. 4, the line of dust 13 remains.

[0020] To remove the line of dust 13, the user places the dustpan 10 back onto the floor 27 with the roller 26 behind the line of dust as illustrated in FIG. 6. The user then pushes the dustpan 10 forward in the direction of arrow “C” and the tacky surface 29 rolls over line of dust 13 and the dust adheres to the tacky surface 29. In this manner the line of dust 13 is easily removed from the floor 27. It may require several passes to remove the entire line of dust as the length of the roller 26 is less than the length of the front edge 14.

[0021] Alternatively the user may not lift the dustpan when he or she completes sweeping dust into the dustpan 10. In this case the user merely pushes down on the handle 22 in the direction of arrow “D”. This causes the dustpan 10 to pivot about the roller 26 and raises the leading edge 14 off from the floor 27 in the direction of arrow “E”. This is shown in FIG. 6. This places the tacky surface 29 of the roller 26 in contact with the floor 27. The user then pushes the dustpan forward in the direction of arrow “C”. The surface 29 of the roller 26 picks up the dust left behind that formed at the leading edge 14 of the dustpan 10. The pick up and removal of the line of dust is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 7. Of course the roller 26 can be moved both forward and in reverse to make multiple passes over the dust on the floor to completely remove the dust.

[0022] When the tacky surface 29 of the roller 26 is covered with dust, it is washed off and ready for reuse. This is seen in FIG. 8 wherein the roller 26 is placed under a stream of water discharged from a hose 34. Soap may also be used to assist in removing the accumulated dust. Once the tacky surface 29 dries, the roller 26 is ready to be reused.

[0023] Alternatively, if the surface 29 is formed from a roll of sticky paper, the used paper covered with dust, is torn off exposing a clean, new sticky surface. When the entire roll is consumed, it is replaced with a new roll.

[0024] Thus there has been provided a dust pan with dust roller that fully satisfies the objects set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, 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 scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dustpan for collecting dust from a surface comprising:

a bottom portion having a front, a back, and opposite sides,

a leading edge on the front of the bottom portion,

a handle operatively connected to the back, the handle adapted for grasping by the user, and

roller means connected to the back, the roller means having a tacky outer surface for removing dust from the surface when the roller means is placed in contact with the surface and rolled over the surface, whereby the dust adheres to the tacky outer surface.

2. The dustpan of claim 1 and further comprising mounting brackets connected to the back for attaching the roller means to the back.

3. The dustpan of claim 2 wherein the mounting brackets are mounted above a horizontal plane passing through the bottom portion whereby the tacky outer surface is disposed above the surface, and the tacky outer surface contacts the surface when the handle is pushed down toward the surface.

4. The dustpan of claim 3 wherein the roller defines a pivot point between the handle and the bottom portion, the bottom portion being raised when the handle is pushed down and the bottom portion being lowered when the handle is raised, whereby the bottom portion or the roller is selectively placed in contact with the surface.

5. The dustpan of claim 2 wherein the mounting brackets are mounted above a horizontal plane passing through the bottom portion whereby the tacky outer surface contacts the surface when the bottom portion is placed on the surface, and the tacky outer surface remains in contact with the surface when the handle is pushed forward toward the front edge or in the opposite direction.

6. The dustpan of claim 1 wherein the handle is semi-circular in cross section and has a concave interior surface adapted to be received by a cylindrical member.

7. The dustpan of claim 5 wherein the concave interior is dimensioned to receive in frictional engagement the cylindrical member to retain the handle on the cylindrical member until a releasing force is applied to the handle to overcome the frictional engagement thereby releasing the handle.

8. A dustpan for collecting dust from a surface comprising:

a bottom portion having a front, back and opposite sides,

a leading edge along the front,

an upstanding back wall connected to along the back,

a handle connected to the upstanding back wall adapted for grasping by a user,

a roller mounted to the back wall, the roller having a tacky outer surface, the dust adhering to the tacky outer surface when the roller is rolled over the dust on the surface.

9. The dustpan of claim 8 and further comprising mounting brackets connected to the back wall, the mounting brackets supporting shaft means for rotatably mounting the roller thereon.

10. The dustpan of claim 8 wherein the bottom portion lies in a horizontal plane and the tacky outer surface is disposed above the surface when the bottom portion is placed flush on the surface, the roller acting as a pivot point causing the bottom portion to raise when the handle is pushed down and the bottom portion being lowered when the handle is raised, whereby the bottom portion or the roller is selectively placed in contact with the surface.

11. The dustpan of claim 9 wherein the mounting brackets are mounted above a horizontal plane passing through the bottom portion whereby the tacky outer surface contacts the surface when the bottom portion is placed on the surface, and the tacky outer surface remains in contact with the surface when the handle is pushed forward toward the front edge or in the opposite direction.

12. The dustpan of claim 8 wherein the handle is semi-circular in cross section and has a concave interior surface adapted to be received by a cylindrical member.

13. The dustpan of claim 12 wherein the concave interior is dimensioned to receive in frictional engagement the cylindrical member to retain the handle on the cylindrical member until a releasing force is applied to the handle to overcome the frictional engagement thereby releasing the handle.