GB2495517A

GB2495517A - Scoop device for removing material from a container

Info

Publication number: GB2495517A
Application number: GB1117605.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Killick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-12
Filing date: 2011-10-12
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Also published as: GB201117605D0

Abstract

A scoop device 1 for removing wet or semi-wet material from a container, the device comprising a handle 2, a back wall 3 and a base 4 extending from the back wall, the base defining a recess region for containing material, the base comprising a curved front edge 5 for engagement against an inner surface of the container, and adjacent the front edge and at the front of the base, there is provided an opening to allow material to be urged onto the base. The handle may be attached to an upper region of the back wall. The curved front edge may be resiliently deflectable against the inner surface of the container.

Description

SCOOP DEVICE

Techiiical field

The present invention relates generally to scoop devices.

Background

Wet and semi-wet building materials such as plaster, are first prepared on site and then all or part of the prepared material is loaded into a container. The container is then carried to a location nearby where the material is required for use. We have realised that it can be an awkward operation for labourers to remove material from the container (which can then be applied to a surface). We have appreciated the need for an improved device to remove material to save time and effort.

Sum mary According to the invention there is provided a scoop device for removing wet or semi-wet material from a container comprising a handle, a back wall and a base extending from the back wall, the base defining a recess region for containing material, the base comprising a curved front edge for engagement against an inner surface of the container, and adjacent the front edge and at the front of the base, there is provided an opening to allow material to be urged onto the base.

The wet, or semi-wet, material may be of liquid, quasi-liquid, gel or flowable form.

The base preferably extends laterally from a lower margin of the back wall.

The base is preferably of curved shape so as to form the recess region.

The curvature of the front edge preferably extends forwardly of the base, and preferably forms a foremost margin of the base.

A region immediately above the recess region is open to allow material to be received in the recess region is open to allow material to be received in the recess region. The recess region is preferably open at both its front and upper regions to allow matcrial to be received into the recess region.

Preferably the handle is attached to the back wall.

Prcferably the handle is attached to an upper region of the back wall.

Preferably the curved front edge is resiliently deflectable against the inner surface of the container.

The curved front edge may comprise a resiliently deflectable lip or wiper.

Prcferably, the base extends away from the back wall at an angle of between zero degrees and ten degrees to a normal from the back wall.

The scoop device is preferably suitable for removing wet or semi-wet material from the container, such as plaster.

Preferably the longitudinal extent of the handle is lateral of, and most preferably is substantially orthogonal to, the extent of thc base.

The basc is preferably locatcd below the handle.

Brief description of the drawillgs

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure I is a perspective view of a scoop device, Figure 2 is a side view of the scoop device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the scoop device of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a plan view of the scoop device.

Detailed description

Reference is initially made to Figure 1 which shows a scoop device 1 for removing wet or semi-wet material from a container (not illustrated). The device 1 comprises a handle 2, a back wall 3 and a (solid) base 4.

The base 4 extends from a lowermost margin of the back wall 3. As can be seen from Figure 2, the base 4 extends substantially normally of the back wall 3. The base 3 defines a recess region 6, in which the material is held as it is removed from the container. As is best seen from Figures 1 and 3, the base 4 is of (downwardly) curved shape which forms the recess region 6. A foremost edge 5 of the basc 4 is of curved shape, and is curved forwardly (as is best seen in Figure 4). The edge 5 is resiliently deformable upwardly and downwardly of the base. The region immediately above the edge 5 provides an opening to the recess region. Moreover, the region immediately above the recess region 6 forms an opening to the recess region 6. Thus, an essentially open recess region is formed.

The handle 2 is of elongate form, and is attached to an upper margin of the back wall 3. The handle 2 allows a user to hold the device, to insert the scoop (formed by the back wall and the base 4) into a container of material, and withdraw the scoop from the container with material in the scoop.

In use, a quantity of wet or semi-wet material is first prepared, such as plaster for application to a wall or ceiling. All or part of the prepared material is then transferred into a container such as a round bucket. The container of material is then carried to a location at which the material is required for use. In order to usc the material, a portion of the material needs to removed from thc container and placed on a portable holding device, such as a hawk. A hawk comprises a flat plate with an underlying handle, and a portion of the material can be loaded onto the plate. The labourer can then remove a required amount from the hawk with a suitable tool, such as a float, and then apply the material.

The labourer first submerges the scoop into the material in the container. He urges the front part of the scoop towards an inner wall of the container, so collecting a quantity of the material in the recess region. The labourer then further urges the scoop towards the inner surface of the container such that foremost edge 5 engages against said inner surface. The inner surface of the container being curved, and being resiliently deflectable, the edge S becomes contiguous, or substantially so, with the inner surface, effectively forming a seal with inner surfacc. Whilst maintaining thc engagement between the edge 5 and the inner surface, the labourer then lifts the scoop. Because of the engagement between the front edge and the inner surface, no material contained with the recess region is lost back to the container, so maximising the amount of material that can be removed from the container in a single step. As the edge S rises above the surface of the material, it serves to wipe the inner surface, thus capturing any residual material on the inner wall. In this fashion, the inner surface of the container is cleaned with each scoop, and the amount of material wasted is reduced. This dual action of cleaning and maximising the amount removed with each scoop, advantageously means that no, or only minimal time, is required for cleaning the container of residual material prior to subsequent use.

Furthermore, because the quantity of material removed with each scoop remains substantially constant, the device serves as a metering device to allow the user to consistently remove the same quantity of material each time.

Once the filled scoop is lifted clear of the container, the material is deposited onto a hawk, or similar, for use by the labourer.

It will be appreciated both the back wall and the base may be made of resilient material, such as plastics or rubber based. Alternatively, the edge 5 may comprise a resilient wiper portion which extends for the length of the edge (whereas the remainder of the base and the back wall may be of substantially rigid material).

Although mention has been made of use for plaster, the device 1 finds application in relation to other wet and semi-wet materials such as mortar, render, fillers, sealants.

The scope of application of the device is not limited to use in the building industry, and many other areas of application will become apparent in relation removal of wet or semi-wet material from a container.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A scoop device for removing wet or semi-wet material from a container, the device comprising a handle, a back wall and a base extending from the back wall, the base defining a recess region for containing material, the base comprising a curved front edge for engagement against an inner surface of the container, and adjacent the front edge and at the front of the base, there is provided an opening to allow material to be urged onto the base.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A scoop device as claimed in claim I in which the wet, or semi-wet, material is of liquid, quasi-liquid, gel or flowable form.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A scoop device as clamed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the base extends laterally from a lower margin of the back wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which thc base is of r curved shape so as to form the recess region.</claim-text> <claim-text>0 5. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the curvature of the o 20 front edge extends forwardly of the base, and forms a foremost margin of the base. r</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which a region immediately above the recess region is open to allow material to be received in the recess region.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the recess region is open at both its front and upper regions to allow material to be received into the recess region.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the handle is attached to the back wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the handle is attached to an upper region of the back wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A SCOOP device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the curved front edge is resiliently deflectable against the inner surface of the container.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the curved front edge comprises a resiliently defleetable lip or wiper.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A scoop device as clamed in any preceding claim in which the base extends away from the back wall at an angle of between zero degrees and ten degrees to a normal from the back wall.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding in any preceding claim which is suitable for removing wet or semi-wet material from the container, such as plaster.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A scoop device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the longitudinal extent of the handle is substantially orthogonal to, the extent of the base.r 15. A scoop device darned in any preceding claim in which the base is located below the handle.o 20 16. A scoop device as substantially or herein described with reference to the 1-drawings.</claim-text>