Receptacle attachment

Abstract

Provided is an attachment for attaching to a receptacle, the attachment having a curved body, rails extending upward from sides of the curved body, and an attachment member extending from an underside of the curved body for engaging an outer lip of the receptacle. The attachment provides an ergonomically efficient way to sweep debris into the receptacle and is designed such that debris in the attachment will fall into the receptacle when the bucket is lifted up by its handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment for attaching to a receptacle, the attachment including:
 a curved body having a longitudinal axis, a material receiving edge at a front of the body and a material exiting edge at a rear of the body, the body configured to abut an inner surface of the receptacle and having a contour at the material exiting edge configured to match a contour of the inner surface of the receptacle along an entire width in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the curved body at the material exiting edge;   a first rail extending upward from a first side of the curved body;   a second rail extending upward from a second side of the curved body; and   an attachment member extending from an underside of the curved body proximate to and axially spaced from the material exiting edge and opening towards the material exiting edge, the attachment member being configured to engage an outer lip of the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved body slopes inward from the first and second sides towards a central portion of the curved body to direct debris towards the central portion. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved body includes a front portion having an incline from the material receiving edge toward the material exiting edge and a main portion separated from the front portion by a wall that blocks debris in the main portion from moving to the front portion. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the curved body at the material receiving edge is greater than the width of the curved body at the material exiting edge. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved body includes a pair of openings extending therethrough proximate the material exiting edge for receiving respective fasteners to secure the attachment to the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the material exiting edge defines a rearmost portion of the attachment. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment to member has a length in the direction transverse the longitudinal axis that is less than the width of the body at the material exiting edge. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment according to  claim 7 , wherein the attachment member is continuous and uniform along its length. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member extends substantially along the width of the body at the material exiting edge. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member is substantially J-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member includes a plurality of attachment members spaced along the width of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment according to  claim 1 , further including one or more standoffs for abutting a top of the receptacle, the one or more standoffs extending from the underside of the body into a space in the attachment member for the outer lip. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment according to  claim 1  in combination with the receptacle, wherein the width of the curved body at the material exiting edge covers less than half of a circumference of the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . An attachment for attaching to a receptacle, the attachment including:
 a body having a longitudinal axis, a material receiving edge at a front of the body, and a material exiting edge at a rear of the body, the body at the material exiting edge having a contour configured to match a contour of an inner to surface of the receptacle; and   an attachment member configured to engage an outer lip of the receptacle, the attachment member extending from an underside of the body proximate to and axially spaced from the material exiting edge.   
     
     
         15 . The attachment according to  claim 14 , wherein the body at the material exiting edge has a width in a direction transverse the longitudinal axis, and wherein the attachment member has a length in the direction transverse the longitudinal axis that is less than the width of the body at the material exiting edge. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment according to  claim 15 , wherein the attachment member is continuous and uniform along its length. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment according to  claim 14 , wherein the body at the material receiving edge has a first width and the body at the material exiting edge has a second width less than the first width. 
     
     
         18 . A dust pan assembly including:
 a receptacle; and   an attachment attached to the receptacle, the attachment including:
 a longitudinally extending body having a material receiving edge at a front of the body and a curved material exiting edge at a rear of the body, the body at the material exiting edge abutting an inner surface of the receptacle and having a contour that matches a contour of the inner surface of the receptacle; and 
 a curved attachment member engaging an outer lip of the receptacle, the attachment member extending from an underside of the body proximate to and axially spaced from the material exiting edge, 
   wherein a width of the body at the curved material exiting edge covers less than half of a circumference of the receptacle, and   wherein the curved attachment member has a length that is less than the width of the body at the material exiting edge.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the attachment member is continuous and uniform along its length. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the attachment member is substantially J-shaped in cross-section, and wherein an edge of the attachment member closest to the material exiting edge is axially spaced from the material exiting edge along a length of the curved body.