IP Library Granted Patent US 11,771,293
Granted Patent B2
US 11,771,293 · App. 17/450,358 · Granted Oct 3, 2023

Scraper apparatus

Inventors: Andrew Hudson (Mukwonago, WI); Gary Dunn (Greendale, WI)
Assignee: CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
A47L13/08A47L13/022B08B1/005B25G3/04B25G3/10B25G3/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,771,293
App. No.
17/450,358
Granted
Oct 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A scraper apparatus, comprising a scraper blade; a scraper blade holder; wherein the scraper blade and the scraper blade holder are rotatable relative to one another about a pivot connection formable by the scraper blade and the scraper blade holder; wherein the scraper blade has at least one scraper blade fastener; wherein the scraper blade holder has at least one scraper blade holder fastener; and wherein the at least one scraper blade fastener is fastenable with the at least one scraper blade holder fastener via the scraper blade and/or the scraper blade holder being rotated about the pivot connection.

Claims (70)

1. A scraper apparatus, comprising:

a scraper blade;

a scraper blade holder;

wherein the scraper blade and the scraper blade holder are rotatable relative to one another about a pivot connection formable by the scraper blade and the scraper blade holder;

wherein the scraper blade has at least one scraper blade fastener;

wherein the scraper blade holder has at least one scraper blade holder fastener; wherein the at least one scraper blade fastener being located on an outer planar end surface of the scraper blade and operatively connectable to the at least one scraper blade holder fastener; and

wherein the at least one scraper blade fastener is fastenable with the at least one scraper blade holder fastener into a releasable positive mechanical engagement via the scraper blade and/or the scraper blade holder being rotated relative to one another about the pivot connection to provide the releasable positive mechanical engagement, wherein the releasable positive mechanical engagement locks rotation of the scraper blade relative to the scraper blade holder.

2. The scraper apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the scraper blade comprises a leading end and a trailing end; and

the pivot connection extends along a pivot axis which is transverse to the leading end and/or the trailing end.

3. The scraper apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the scraper blade or the scraper blade holder comprises a pivot pin;

the scraper blade or the scraper blade holder comprises a pivot pin receptacle; and

the pivot pin connection is formable by the pivot pin and the pivot pin receptacle.

4. The scraper apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:

the scraper blade comprises the pivot pin; and

the scraper blade holder comprises the pivot pin receptacle.

5. The scraper apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one scraper blade fastener comprises at least one scraper blade male fastener and/or a at least one scraper blade female fastener;

the at least one scraper blade holder fastener comprises at least one scraper blade holder male fastener and/or at least one scraper blade holder female fastener; and

the at least one scraper blade male fastener is fastenable with the at least one scraper blade holder female fastener and/or the at least one scraper blade holder male fastener is fastenable with the at least one scraper blade female fastener.

6. The scraper apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

the at least one scraper blade fastener comprises the at least one scraper blade male fastener;

the at least one scraper blade holder fastener comprises the at least one scraper blade holder female fastener; and

the at least one scraper blade male fastener is fastenable with the at least one scraper blade holder female fastener via the scraper blade and/or the scraper blade holder being rotated about the pivot connection.

7. The scraper apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:

the at least one scraper blade male fastener comprises at least one projection shaped as an annular ring; and

the at least one scraper blade holder female fastener surrounds the at least one projection and comprises at least one projection receptacle which receives the projection.

8. The scraper apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:

the annular ring is a split annular ring.

9. The scraper apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:

the at least one projection receptacle comprises at least engagement tab;

the projection comprises at least one engagement tab recess; and

the at least one engagement tab is fastenable with the at least one engagement tab recess.

10. The scraper apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:

the at least engagement tab comprises an elongated, semi-circular engagement tab; and

the at least one engagement tab recess comprises an elongated, semi-circular engagement tab recess.

11. The scraper apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:

the at least one engagement tab comprises at least two engagement tabs;

the at least one engagement tab recess comprises at least two engagement tab recesses; and

each one of the at least two engagement tabs is fastenable with each one of the at least two engagement tab recesses, respectively.

12. The scraper apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one scraper blade fastener is fastenable with the at least one scraper blade holder fastener with a mechanical interlock provided by the releasable positive mechanical engagement.

13. The scraper apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the scraper blade has rotational symmetry when rotated about the pivot connection.

14. The scraper apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one scraper blade fastener comprises at least two scraper blade fasteners;

the at least one scraper blade holder fastener comprises at least two scraper blade holder fasteners; and

each one of the at least two scraper blade fasteners is fastenable with each one of the at least two scraper blade holder fasteners, respectively, via the scraper blade and/or the scraper blade holder being rotated about the pivot connection.

15. The scraper apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the scraper blade has a top side and a bottom side; and

one of the at least two scraper blade fasteners is disposed on the top side, and one of the at least two scraper blade fasteners is disposed on the bottom side.

16. The scraper apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the scraper blade holder comprises a pedestal; and

the pedestal supports the pivot connection.

17. The scraper apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the scraper blade holder comprises at least one scraper blade mounting wall which extends transverse to the pedestal; and

the at least one scraper blade holder fastener is disposed with the at least one scraper blade mounting wall.

18. The scraper apparatus of claim 17 wherein:

the at least one scraper blade mounting wall comprises at least two scraper blade mounting walls; and

the at least two scraper blade mounting walls extend distally transverse to the pedestal and along a pivot axis of the pivot connection.

19. A method of providing a scraper apparatus, comprising:

obtaining a scraper blade, wherein the scraper blade has at least one scraper blade fastener;

obtaining a scraper blade holder, wherein the scraper blade holder has at least one scraper blade holder fastener;

wherein the scraper blade and the scraper blade holder are rotatable relative to one another about a pivot connection formable by the scraper blade and the scraper blade holder; wherein the at least one scraper blade fastener being located on an outer planar end surface of the scraper blade and operatively connectable to the at least one scraper blade holder fastener; and

wherein the at least one scraper blade fastener is fastenable with the at least one scraper blade holder fastener into a releasable positive mechanical engagement via the scraper blade and/or the scraper blade holder being rotated relative to one another about the pivot connection to provide the releasable positive mechanical engagement, wherein the releasable positive mechanical engagement locks rotation of the scraper blade relative to the scraper blade holder.

20. The method of providing a scraper apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising:

forming the pivot connection with the scraper blade and the scraper blade holder;

rotating the at least one of the scraper blade and/or the scraper blade holder about the pivot connection; and

fastening the at least one scraper blade fastener and the at least one scraper blade holder fastener to one another while rotating the at least one of the scraper blade and/or the scraper blade holder about the pivot connection.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2025
From: CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY; FOUR PAWS PRODUCTS, LTD.; IMS TRADING, LLC; K&H MANUFACTURING, LLC; NEXGEN PLANT SCIENCE CENTER, LLC; T.F.H. PUBLICATIONS, INC.; WELLMARK INTERNATIONAL
To: TRUIST BANK
Reel/Frame 073604/0698 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2021
From: ARDEN COMPANIES, LLC; CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY; FARNAM COMPANIES, INC.; FOUR PAWS PRODUCTS, LTD.; IMS TRADING, LLC; K&H MANUFACTURING, LLC; NEXGEN PLANT SCIENCE CENTER, LLC; T.F.H. PUBLICATIONS, INC.; WELLMARK INTERNATIONAL
To: TRUIST BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 058561/0940 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: HUDSON, ANDREW; DUNN, GARY
To: CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 057815/0256 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63089759 · Oct 9, 2020
Related Publication 20220111421A1 · Apr 14, 2022