Scraper apparatus

Abstract

A scraper apparatus ( 20 ) includes a fixed length elongated hollow shaft ( 24 ) having a first end ( 26 ), a second end ( 28 ), and a reinforcement region ( 22 ) intermediate to the first and second ends ( 26, 28 ). A handle ( 30 ) is coupled to the first end ( 26 ) of the shaft ( 24 ) and one of a generally flat scraper blade ( 32 ) and a T-shaped scraper blade ( 56 ) is coupled to the second end ( 28 ) of the shaft ( 24 ). The reinforcement region ( 22 ) may include a double layer of material that resists bending, bowing, and breaking. Alternatively, a reinforcement region ( 56 ) may be a hollow stepped section ( 76 ) having a wall thickness ( 78 ) that is thicker than wall thicknesses ( 80 ) of corresponding adjoining shaft portions ( 68, 72 ) of a shaft ( 58 ).

1 . A scraper apparatus comprising: 
 a fixed length elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a reinforcement region intermediate to said first and second ends;    a handle coupled to said first end of said shaft and arranged to facilitate gripping thereof by a human hand; and    a working component coupled to said second end of said shaft.    
   
   
       2 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said elongated shaft is a hollow tubular member.  
   
   
       3 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said elongated shaft is a hollow metal member.  
   
   
       4 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said elongated shaft comprises: 
 a first shaft portion having said first end and a first intermediate end; and    a second shaft portion having said second end and a second intermediate end coupled to said first intermediate end to form said reinforcement region.    
   
   
       5 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said first and second intermediate ends are coupled by welding.  
   
   
       6 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein one of said first and second intermediate ends has a smaller diameter than the other of said first and second intermediate ends, and said smaller diameter of said one of said first and second intermediate ends is installed within said other of said first and second intermediate ends.  
   
   
       7 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said elongated shaft comprises: 
 a first hollow portion exhibiting a first diameter;    a second hollow portion exhibiting a second diameter that is smaller than said first diameter; and    a hollow stepped section joining said first and second portions together, said stepped section exhibiting a wall thickness that is greater than corresponding wall thicknesses of said first and second hollow portions to form said reinforcement region.    
   
   
       8 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an outer surface of said shaft includes a non-reflective surface.  
   
   
       9 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein an outer surface of said shaft is color-coded to signify a length of said shaft.  
   
   
       10 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said working component is a scraper blade.  
   
   
       11 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said scraper blade is one of a standard and a heavy duty blade.  
   
   
       12 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said scraper blade resides along an axis defined by said shaft.  
   
   
       13 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said scraper blade includes a scraper end that tilts away from said axis in a range of 2.5 to 7.5 degrees.  
   
   
       14 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said scraper blade comprises: 
 a first planar blade portion aligned with an axis defined by said shaft; and    a second planar blade portion coupled to said first planar blade portion and oriented transverse to said axis.    
   
   
       15 . A scraper apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated hollow metal shaft of a fixed length, said shaft including a first shaft portion having a first end and a first intermediate end, and a second shaft portion having a second end and a second intermediate end coupled to said first intermediate end to form a reinforcement region intermediate to said first and second ends;    a handle coupled to said first end of said shaft and arranged to facilitate gripping thereof by a human hand; and    a working component coupled to said second end of said shaft.    
   
   
       16 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein one of said first and second intermediate ends has a smaller diameter than the other of said first and second intermediate ends, and said smaller diameter of said one of said first and second intermediate ends is installed within said other of said first and second intermediate ends, and said first and second intermediate ends are coupled by welding.  
   
   
       17 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein: 
 said first shaft portion exhibits a first diameter;    said second shaft portion exhibits a second diameter that is smaller than said first diameter; and    said elongated shaft further includes a stepped section joining said first and second shaft portions together, said stepped section exhibiting a wall thickness that is greater than corresponding wall thicknesses of said first and second shaft portions to form said reinforcement region.    
   
   
       18 . A scraper apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated hollow metal shaft of a fixed length, said shaft having a first end, a second end, and a reinforcement region intermediate to said first and second ends;    a handle coupled to said first end of said shaft and arranged to facilitate gripping thereof by a human hand; and    a scraper blade coupled to said second end of said shaft.    
   
   
       19 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said scraper blade resides along an axis defined by said shaft, and said scraper blade includes a scraper end that tilts away from said axis in a range of 2.5 to 7.5 degrees.  
   
   
       20 . A scraper apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said scraper blade comprises: 
 a first planar blade portion aligned with an axis defined by said shaft; and    a second planar blade portion coupled to said first planar blade portion and oriented transverse to said axis.