The present invention relates to scrapers for scraping a material from a surface, for example an ice scraper for scraping ice from a vehicle window, e.g. a car windshield.

Scrapers are typically used for scraping material from a surface. For example, ice scrapers are used to scrape ice which forms on vehicle windows, e.g. windshields, in order to allow a user of the vehicle to see through the window. Typical prior art ice scrapers comprise a straight scraping edge which is attached to a handle. A user grips the handle, presses the scraping edge against the window, and pushes the scraping edge using the handle, so as to scrape any ice or frost away from the window. One of the problems with straight scrapers is that they may not be particularly well suited to scraping a curved surface, e.g. a concave or convex surface. When such scrapers are pressed against a curved surface, at least part of the scraping edge may not be in contact with the surface. This may reduce the efficiency of the ice scraper and thus increase the amount of work required by a user in order to scrape the window.

The present invention aims to address or at least mitigate at least one of the problems outlined above.

When viewed from a first aspect the present invention provides a scraper, for scraping material from a surface, comprising: a scraping portion arranged to contact and scrape material from a surface, in use; and a grip portion operatively coupled to the scraping portion such that a user can grip the scraper and move the scraping portion relative to the surface; wherein at least part of the scraping portion has a curved profile; and wherein the scraper is configured such that the scraping portion deforms when pressed against the surface.

A scraper having a scraping portion which has a curved profile and which is configured to deform when the scraping portion is pressed against the surface may increase the amount of the scraping portion which is in contact with the surface at least when the scraper is used to scrape an at least partially curved, e.g. convex or concave surface. In contrast, a traditional flat scraper which has a straight scraping edge, may only contact a limited portion of the curved surface. Increasing the amount of the scraping portion which is in contact with the surface may increase the amount of material which is scraped from the surface for a given movement of the scraper. This may thus increase the efficiency of the scraper. When the scraping portion deforms, the scraping portion may deform such that it conforms to the shape of the surface which it is in contact with. The scraping portion may, for example, deform outwards or inwards when it is pressed against the surface. In deforming, particularly when deforming outwards, this may be considered to be splaying of the scraping portion.

The curved profile is the part of the scraping portion which contacts the surface which is being scraped. The scraping portion may define a scraping edge which contacts the surface in order to scrape material therefrom. The scraping edge may thus have a curved profile.

The scraping portion may only deform when pressed against the surface with a sufficiently large force. For example, the scraping portion may only deform when a force in excess of a threshold force is applied to the scraper. The size of the threshold force may depend on the material from which the scraper is made, the specific form and the thickness of the various parts of the scraper.

The scraping portion and grip portion may be part of a main body of the scraper, i.e. the main body may comprise the scraping portion and the grip portion. The grip portion may be operatively coupled to the scraping portion in any suitable way such that movement of the grip portion results in movement of the scraping portion. For example, the grip portion may be formed as part of the same body, e.g. the main body, in which the scraping portion is formed. As such, the grip portion and scraping portion may be integrally linked to one another. A connecting portion, which may be integrally formed with the grip portion and scraping portion may extend therebetween so as to operatively couple their movement. In other embodiments, the grip portion may be attached to the scraping portion via any suitable connecting means, e.g. a detachable connecting means.

The scraper may be used to scrape any suitable material from any suitable surface. For example, the scraper may be used to scrape burnt food from the surface of a pan. Due to the ability for the scraper to deform when in contact with a surface, the scraper may be particularly well suited to scraping material from surfaces which are at least partially curved. In a set of embodiments, the scraper is an ice scraper, the material is ice, and the surface is a vehicle window. The vehicle window may, for example, comprise a car windshield. Vehicle windows, particularly windshields, are often slightly curved, e.g. having a convex outer surface. Straight ice scrapers, which are common in the art, only contact a limited portion of the windshield surface and thus the amount of ice they are able to scrape away from the windshield is limited. The ability for the scraper to deform and thus increase the amount of contact with the window may increase the amount of ice which is scraped away and thus increase the efficiency of the scraper.

The curved profile of the scraper may follow any profile. For example, the profile may be in the form of an open shape. For example, the scraping portion may have a curved profile which is arc-shaped. In other embodiments, the curved profile may comprise a closed shape. In a set of embodiments, the curved profile comprises a circular profile. A circular profile scraping portion, i.e. a circular scraping portion which may comprise a circular scraping edge, may increase the efficiency of the scraper in that a section of the scraping portion may be in contact with the surface irrespective of the direction in which the scraper is moved on the surface. This may advantageously mean that the scraper does not need to be removed from the surface when scraping as a user is able to move the scraper in any direction on the surface and achieve scraping. In other embodiments, the curved profile comprises an elliptical profile. Such an elliptical profile may be advantageous as a portion of the elliptical profile which runs in the general direction of the major axis may be used to scrape large areas on the surface, and a portion of the scraper which runs in the general direction of the minor axis, i.e. the focal points of the ellipse, may be used to scrape more intricate parts of the surface, e.g. the corners of windows where the windows meet the supporting pillars on a vehicle. Irrespective of the specific form of the curved profile, the curved profile may comprise a plurality of straight profiles which together form an overall curved profile. Importantly, the curved profile may permit deformation of scraping portion on the surface when it is contact therewith.

In being configured to deform when pressed against the surface, the material from which the scraper is made from, a shape of a body extending from the scraping portion, a thickness of the scraping portion, and/or the general structure of the scraper may be specifically configured such that it is possible to deform the scraping portion under the application of a force applied by a user’s hand when pressing the scraper against a surface. In a set of embodiments, the scraper further comprises a connecting portion which extends between the scraping portion and the grip portion, wherein the connecting portion is at least partially conical. The at least partially conical connecting portion may taper from the scraping portion towards the grip portion. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, when formed from suitable material, e.g. a deformable plastic material, the conical connecting portion may facilitate the deformation of the scraping portion when it is in contact with the surface. The conical portion itself may deform under the application of a force from a user. Through use of a conical connecting portion, it may be possible for a user to suitably control the amount of force applied through the scraper, and thus apply an appropriate amount of force to cause the scraper to deform, without applying excessive force through the scraper which may otherwise hinder movement of the scraper relative to the surface. The tapering of the connecting portion may follow any suitable profile. In a set of embodiments, the connecting portion tapers inwards and follows curved profile such that the rate of change in diameter of the conical portion reduces as the connecting portion progresses towards the grip portion. A taper which follows a curved profile may further improve the ability for deformation of the connecting portion and thus deformation of the scraping portion which is in contact with the surface.

When being used to scrape a material from a surface, material which is freed from the surface, i.e. loosened material, may collect against the scraping portion, and the connection portion where provided. When a sufficient amount of material builds up, the material may progress onto the grip portion and contact a user’s hand. In embodiments wherein the scraper is an ice scraper, this may result in the user’s hands being in contact the ice which may make a user’s hands cold and/or wet. In a set of embodiments, the scraper comprises a material deflecting portion which extends at least partially around the grip portion so as to direct material scraped from the surface, during use, away from the grip portion.

The material deflecting portion may therefore function to keep loosened material away from the grip portion, and thus a user’s hand. This may help, for example, to minimize how wet and/or cold a user’s hand gets during use of the scraper. The material deflecting portion may have any suitable shape and/or form so as to deflect loose material away from the grip portion. In a set of embodiments, the material deflecting portion comprises an at least partially curved wall at least part of which extends in a direction away from the grip portion. The curve of the material deflecting portion may be in an axial direction with respect to the scraper, i.e. an axis which runs perpendicular to the plane in which the scraping portion extends. In extending away from the grip portion the material deflecting portion may be capable of directing loosened material away from the grip portion. In embodiments comprising a connecting portion, at least part of the connecting portion may define part of the deflecting portion, e.g. the at least partially curved wall. The at least partially curved wall may comprise a straight portion and a curved portion.

In a set of embodiments, at least part of the material deflecting portion extends away from the grip portion such that it overhangs the scraping portion. In overhanging the scraping portion, the deflecting portion may function to deflect loosened material outwards and back into the path of the scraping portion. As the scraping portion has a curved profile, the curved profile of the scraping portion may then push the loosened material outwards, e.g. sideways, and away from the scraper itself. This may therefore minimize the amount of build-up on the scraper itself.

In a set of embodiments, the material deflecting portion extends from the scraping portion, and extends through an angle of at least 150 degrees, e.g. at least 160 degrees, e.g. at least 170 degrees, e.g. at least 180 degrees, relative to the scraping portion. By extending through at least 150 degrees, the material deflecting portion may substantially point away from the scraping portion and suitably direct material away from the grip portion. In extending through at least 150 degrees, the material deflecting portion may generally point away from the scraper, e.g. at least partially in a direction in which the scraper may be moved during use. This may cause the material deflecting portion to direct material away from the grip portion as the scraper is moved laterally on a surface. As the scraping portion follows a curved profile, the deflecting portion may also follow a curved profile, i.e. it may be curved in a plane/planes that are parallel to the plane in which the scraping portion extends. In following a curved profile, the deflecting portion may function to deflect loose material both forwards and sideward, and thus out of a forward direction of movement of the scraper. This may reduce the amount of loose material which is redirected into the path of the scraper, thereby reducing the buildup of loose material on the scraper, thus minimizing the chance of loose material progressing towards the grip portion.

In a set of embodiments, the material deflecting portion extends from the scraping portion, e.g. a scraping edge thereof. In a set of embodiments, the material deflecting portion extends at least 180 degrees, e.g. at least 210 degrees, e.g. at least 240 degrees, e.g. at least 270 degrees, around the grip portion. By extending at least 180 degrees around the grip portion, the material deflecting portion may be capable of suitably deflecting loosened material from a substantial region around the grip portion and thus prevent loosened material from reaching a user’s hand. In a set of embodiments, the material deflecting portion extends around the entire grip portion. In embodiments wherein the scraping portion follows a circular profile, the material deflecting portion may also follow a circular profile. In extending around the entire of the grip portion, the material deflecting portion may function to deflect material away from the grip portion irrespective of the direction in which the scraper is moved relative to the surface. Irrespective of the extent of the material deflecting portion around the grip portion, the shape and form of the material deflecting portion extending away from the grip portion may vary around the grip portion. For example, in embodiments wherein the material deflecting portion extends around the entire grip portion, a section of the material deflecting portion may have a larger extent and/or extend further away from the grip portion, e.g. by having a larger curve, than another section of the material deflecting portion. Both sections may nonetheless be capable of suitably deflecting material away from the grip portion.

The grip portion may have any suitable shape which allow a user to grip the scraper and move the scraping portion relative to a surface. In a set of embodiments, the scraper further comprises a finger receiving portion, extending at least partially around the grip portion, shaped to receive a user’s fingers when gripping the grip portion. The finger receiving portion may extend only partially around the grip portion. In such embodiments, it may only be possible to hold the scraper in a single orientation. In another set of embodiments, the finger receiving portion extends around the entire grip portion. As such, a user may be able to grip the scraper in any orientation. Coupled with the curved profile of the scraping portion, which may facilitate scraping in any direction (e.g. when the curved profile is circular), such a finger receiving portion may allow a user to grip, and functionally use the scraper, in any orientation. The finger receiving portion may have any suitable form. For example, in a set of embodiments, the finger receiving portion comprises an annular channel surrounding the grip portion. The grip portion may comprise a protruding, e.g. dome shaped, portion. The dome may have a flat upper surface. The grip portion may be shaped to receive a user’s palm and thus in some embodiments the grip portion may be palm-shaped. An upper surface of the grip portion may be substantially circular, e.g. circular.

In a set of embodiments comprising a material deflecting portion, the material deflecting portion extends around and at least partially defines the finger receiving portion. The material deflection portion may therefore function to deflect loose material away from the finger receiving portion of the scraper, i.e. the place where a user’s fingers are present during use of the scraper. In such embodiments, the material deflecting portion may thus minimize the amount of material which is able to reach the user’s fingers.

In a set of embodiments, the finger receiving portion comprises at least one drain hole extending therethrough to an underside of the scraper to allow material to pass from the finger receiving portion to the underside of the scraper. As the finger receiving portion may be susceptible to collecting loose material, e.g. ice, during use, the at least one drain hole may allow melted ice, i.e. water, to escape the finger receiving portion. This may minimize the amount of water which a user’s fingers are in contact with. In a further set of embodiments, the at least one drain hole comprises a plurality of holes extending through to an underside of the scraper. The curved profile of the scraping portion may improve the contact area of the scraping portion with the surface which is being scraped. However, the Applicant has recognized that it may not always be possible to reach all areas of the surface to be scraped with the curved portion, due to its shape. For example, when the curved profile is in the form of a closed circle, it may not be possible to scrape the corners of a surface, e.g. of a window, with the scraping portion. As such, in a set of embodiments, the scraper comprises a secondary scraping portion having a straight profile, e.g. a straight edge. The secondary scraping portion may be integrally formed in the same body of material as the scraping portion. The presence of a secondary scraping portion which has a straight profile may allow a user to scrape material from more intricate areas on surface, e.g. the corners of a windshield on a vehicle, e.g. a car. In embodiments comprising a secondary scraping portion, the scraping portion may be considered to be a primary scraping portion.

The secondary scraping portion may be arranged at any suitable position on the scraper. In some embodiments, the secondary scraping portion may be co-planar with the scraping portion. In other words, the scraping portion and secondary scraping portion lie in the same plane and may thus both contact a surface which is being scraped at the same time. For example, a forward portion of the scraper may comprise the scraping portion, and a rearward portion of the scraping portion may comprise the secondary scraping portion. However, this arrangement may not be possible when the scraper comprises a curved profile having a closed shape as the forward, rearward, and indeed all portions of the scraper in the plane of the scraping portion, may be curved. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the secondary scraping portion is displaced from the scraping portion. The secondary scraping portion may be displaced from the scraping portion such that the secondary scraping portion does not contact the surface when the scraping portion is in contact with the surface. As such, during use when the entire scraping portion is in contact with the surface, the secondary scraping portion is displaced from the surface and not in contact therewith. In other words, the scraping portion and the secondary scraping portion may be arranged in different planes of the scraper. The scraper may have an axis which extends perpendicular to a plane in which the scraping portion extends. In such embodiments, the secondary scraping portion may be axially displaced relative to the scraping portion. The secondary scraping portion may be arranged on the scraper such that a user can use both the scraping portion and the secondary scraping portion without changing their grip on the grip portion. For example, the secondary scraping portion may be arranged at a forward position, which is axially displaced relative to the scraping portion such that a user simply tilts their hand forward, thereby tilting the scraper, so that the secondary scraping portion is brought towards the surface to be scraped. Being able to use both the scraping portion and secondary scraping portion without changing the grip on the scraper may improve the ease and speed of use of the scraper.

Some material may be firmly stuck to a surface such that the scraping portion, or indeed the secondary scraping portion (where included), may not be capable of scraping the material from the surface. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the scraper comprises at least one material breaking element configured to break up the material when in contact therewith. The material breaking element may comprise any suitable structure which is capable of breaking up the material. In a set of embodiments, the at least one material breaking element comprises a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth may have any suitable shape and/or form. The presence of at least one material breaking element on the scraper may thus allow a user to break any particularly stubborn material using the material breaking element, before then proceeding to scrape the broken material using the scraping portion.

Any number of material breaking elements may be provided depending on the particular shape and configuration of the scraper. In a set of embodiments, the at least one material breaking element comprises a first material breaking element arranged to extend on a first side of the scraper and a second material breaking element arranged to extend on a second side of the scraper. In a further set of embodiments, the grip portion is arranged between each of the first and second material braking elements. The presence of first and second material braking elements with a grip portion arranged therebetween may facilitate use of at least one of the material breaking elements, irrespective of whether the grip portion is gripped by a user’s left or right hand. This may, therefore, make the scraper ambidextrous.

The at least one material breaking element may be arranged at any position on the scraper such that a user is able to cause the at least one material breaking element to contact the surface during use. In a set of embodiments, the at least one material breaking element is displaced from the scraping portion. As such, the at least one material breaking element may be arranged such that it does not contact the surface at when the scraping portion is in contact with the surface. The at least one material breaking element may be displaced from the scraping portion and extend sideward on the scraper. Such a displaced at least one material breaking element may allow a user to use both the scraping portion and the at least one material breaking element, without changing their grip on the grip portion. For example, they may simply tilt their hand to the side, in order to tilt the scraper, so as to cause the at least one material breaking element to contact the material on the surface. The at least one material breaking element may be axially displaced. The axis of the scraper may be as defined above. In embodiments comprising a secondary scraping portion, the at least one material breaking element and the secondary scraping portion may extend in the same plane.

In certain applications, for example, when scraping car windshields, in addition to the main surface, i.e. the window, which requires scraping, there may be further objects which may need to be scraped. For example, it may be necessary to scrape the wiper blades on the car, as these may have ice/frost attached thereto which may inhibit their ability to function properly. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the scraper further comprises at least one notch shaped to receive an object to be scraped. For example, the notch may be suitably dimensioned and/or shaped to receive a wiper blade. The scraper may comprise a plurality of notches. The notch(es) may be arranged at any suitable position on the scraper. In some embodiments, the notch(es) may extend axially on the scraper, e.g. in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the scraping portion extends. In a further set of embodiments, the at least one notch comprises a first notch and a second notch. Each of the first and second notches may be arranged either side of the grip portion. Each of the first and second notches may be axially extending. Multiple suitably placed notches may facilitate ambidextrous use of the scraper.

In another set of embodiments, the scraper comprises at least one laterally extending slot shaped to receive an object to be scraped. The laterally extending slot may extend parallel to a plane in which the scraping portion extends. Similarly to the notch described above, the laterally extending slot may be used to scrape an object, e.g. a wiper blade. Accordingly, the laterally extending slot may be dimensioned and/or shaped to receive a wiper blade. Extending laterally may improve the ease of use of the slot in scraping an object. In a set of embodiments, the laterally extending slot extends in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of scraper. The laterally extending slot may be elongate. For example, the laterally extending slot may be at least 10 mm, e.g. at least 20 mm, e.g. at least 30 mm, e.g. at least 40 mm long. A slot with an increased length may increase the amount of contact between the notch and the object, and thereby increase the rate at which material is scraped from the object. In embodiments comprising a secondary scraping portion, the secondary scraping portion may be defined by an edge of the laterally extending slot.

In a set of embodiments, the scraper comprises an object receiving portion, comprising an object scraping edge, arranged adjacent to the scraping portion. The object receiving portion, specifically the scraping edge thereof, may thus be used to scrape an object during use of the scraper. The object receiving portion may be at least partially defined by a protrusion extending outward from an outer surface of the scraper. In embodiments comprising a connecting portion extending between the scraping portion and the grip portion, the object receiving portion may be formed in an outward facing surface of the connecting portion. For example, when the connecting portion is conical, the object receiving portion may be formed in/on an outer surface of the conical connecting portion. When the object receiving portion is defined by a protrusion, the protrusion may protrude from the connecting portion, e.g. the conical connecting portion. An edge of the protrusion may define the object scraping edge. In embodiments comprising a connecting portion extending between the scraping portion and the grip portion, the object receiving portion may be formed in an outward facing surface of the connecting portion. For example, when the connecting portion is conical, the object receiving portion may be formed in/on an outer surface of the conical connecting portion. When the object receiving portion is defined by a protrusion, the protrusion may protrude from the connecting portion, e.g. the conical connecting portion. The object receiving portion could equally be formed as a recess or notch in an outermost wall of the scraper adjacent the scraping portion.

In being arranged adjacent to the scraping portion, the object receiving portion and thus the scraping edge thereof, may only be a relatively small distance from the scraping portion. For example, the object receiving portion may be no more than 10 mm, e.g. no more than 7 mm, e.g. no more than 6 mm, e.g. no more than 5 mm, e.g. no more than 4 mm, from the scraping portion, e.g. an edge thereof. The distance may be defined between an edge of the scraping portion and the scraping edge of the object receiving portion. Positioning the object receiving portion in this manner may allow the object receiving portion, specifically the scraping edge thereof, to scrape an object without necessarily contacting other parts of the object. For example, it may be suitably positioned to scrape a wiper blade, without contacting the frame which supports the blade itself. The object scraping edge may be displaced, e.g. axially, from the scraping portion (and indeed any scraping edge provided thereon). In arranging an object receiving portion comprising an object scraping edge adjacent the scraping portion, it may be possible to scrape another object, e.g. a wiper blade arranged on a car window, without needing to separate the scraper from the window. The scraping portion of the scraper may be pushed against, partially or completely underneath the wiper blade such that the wiper blade rests in the object receiving portion. The scraper may then be moved along the window, scraping both the window itself by the scraping portion, and the wiper blade by the object scraping edge.

The object receiving portion may comprise a space, for receiving an object, which extends laterally relative the scraping portion. The space may be relatively short and may be defined, for example, by the extent of the protrusion, where included. The object receiving portion may define a ledge positioned to receive an object during use.

The Applicant has recognized that the scraper may be stored locally to the environment and/or application in which it is used. For example, in embodiments in which the scraper comprises an ice scraper, the scraper may be stored inside a car. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the scraper is dimensioned to fit in a car door pocket. In such embodiments, it may thus be possible to conveniently store the scraper in a car door pocket so that it can easily be accessed by a user when clearing ice from their car windows. In a set of embodiments, a width of the scraper is less than 20 cm, e.g. less than 15 cm, e.g. less than 10 cm. The width of the scraper may be defined as the width of the scraper in a direction which runs parallel to a plane in which the scraping portion extends. In some examples, the widest part of the scraper may correspond to the widest part of the scraping portion. Such dimensions as set out above, may be particularly well suited to enable the scraper to be fitted into a car door pocket.

In another set of embodiments, a height of the scraper is less than 10 cm, e.g. less than 8 cm, e.g. less than 5 cm. In a set of embodiments, the height of the scraper is the height from a lowermost part of the scraping portion to an uppermost surface of the scraper. The dimensions set out above may suitably allow the scraper to be stored in car door pocket. The uppermost surface may be the uppermost surface of the grip portion.

In a set of embodiments, the scraping portion comprises a sharpened edge arranged to contact a surface in use. A sharpened edge may improve the ability for the scraper to scrape material from a surface. A sharpened edge may improve force transfer onto the surface and thus improve scraping

In a set of embodiments, the grip portion and scraping portion are integrally formed together and form a main body. Any of the other parts of the scraper described above may also be integrally formed with the main body. In other embodiments, the scraping portion and grip portion, as well as any of the other parts described above, may be separate parts which are suitably attached together to form the main body.

In some situations, it may be necessary to scrape a surface wherein the space surrounding the surface is relatively restricted such that it is difficult to reach with a main body of the scraper. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the scraping portion and grip portion are formed as part of a main body of the scraper, and wherein the scraper further comprises a substantially planar body, removably attached to the main body so as to be separable therefrom. The substantially planar body may have a height which is significantly less than its maximum width. For example, the ratio of the maximum height of the substantially planar body to its maximum width may be at least 5:1, e.g. at least 6:1, e.g. at least 7:1, e.g. at least 8:1, e.g. at least 10:1. The substantially planar body may be relatively thin. For example, the substantially planar body may have a thickness, i.e. a maximum height, of no more than 15 mm, e.g. no more than 10 mm, e.g. no more than 9 mm, e.g. no more than 8 mm, e.g. no more than 7 mm, e.g. no more than 6 mm, e.g. no more than 5 mm. The substantially planar body may have a maximum width of at least 50 mm, e.g. at least 75 mm, e.g. at least 100 mm, e.g. at least 150 mm. In embodiments wherein the scraping portion has a circular profile, the rest of the main body may have a corresponding circular profile. As such, the substantially planar body may also generally have a circular profile. Such a substantially planar body may thus be considered to be a disc-shaped planar body. Such a substantially planar body may be well suited to reaching surfaces in which the access space is restricted.

The substantially planar body may be considered to be a disc-shaped scraper and may be capable of scraper material from a surface. The substantially planar body may, for example, be particularly well suited to scraping the inside of a windshield, particularly the space whereby the windshield meets the dashboard, where access space is restricted. The substantially planar body may be considered to be a planar body.

In a set of embodiments, the substantially planar body comprises a primary scraping edge which has a curved profile. The primary scraping edge may thus be used to scrape material from a surface, for example when the substantially planar body is separated from the main body. In a set of embodiments, the primary scraping edge is formed at a periphery of the substantially planar body. In a set of embodiments, the substantially planar body comprises a secondary scraping edge which has a curved profile and which is inwardly radially displaced from the primary scraping edge. The presence of first and second scraping edges may improve the scraping ability of the substantially planar body.

In a set of embodiments, the secondary scraping edge is displaced from the primary scraping edge such that when the substantially planar body rests on a surface the secondary scraping edge does not contact the surface when a force less than a threshold force is applied to the disc shaped scraper, and wherein at least a portion of the disc-shaped scraper extending between the primary scraping edge and the secondary scraping edge is deformable such that when a force of at least the threshold is applied, the secondary scraping edge can be pushed into a position whereby it is aligned with the primary scraping edge and thus contacts the surface. With the presence of a secondary scraping edge as set out above, a user may be able to choose whether or not they engage the secondary scraping edge. If they want to utilize the secondary scraping edge, they apply a force of at least the threshold force so as to deform the substantially planar body. If they do not wish to use the secondary scraping edge, e.g. when the primary scraping edge is achieving sufficient scraping, they simply do not apply too much force to the substantially planar body. The secondary scraping edge may be axially displaced along an axis which runs parallel to a plane in which the primary scraping edge extends.

In embodiments comprising a substantially planar body, the substantially planar body, e.g. the primary scraping edge, the secondary scraping edge, or indeed any other part thereof, may be deformable such that the primary scraping edge and/or the secondary scraping edge is able to conform to the shape of a surface in which it is in contact with, in a similar manner to the scraping portion of the main body described above. Similarly, this may improve the contact between the first and/or secondary scraping edge and any surface which it is in contact with and thus improve the scraping performed by the substantially planar body.

It may be desirable for a user to be able to use the scraper, specifically the scraping portion thereof, when the substantially planar body is attached to the main body. The substantially planar body may be attached to the main body via any suitable means. For example, the substantially planar body may be removably attached to the main body by a snap-fit connection. The substantially planar body may be attached to the main body in a position which covers the grip portion. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the substantially planar body comprises at least one finger hole extending therethrough. The at least one finger hole may comprise a plurality of finger holes, e.g. five finger holes. The at least one finger hole may allow a user to put their finger(s) through the finger hole(s) and thereby grip the scraper. In such embodiments, the at least one finger hole and an upper surface of the disc-shaped scraper may form a secondary grip portion which a user is able to grip when they are unable to grip the grip portion (which sits underneath the substantially planar body).

It may be desirable to minimize the amount of packaging required during the sale/marketing and/or storage of the scraper. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the scraper, e.g. the main body thereof, and/or the substantially planar body comprises at least one integrally formed hanger hole suitable for hanging the scraper. In embodiments in which the main body and the substantially planar body comprise at least one integrally formed hanger hole, the integrally formed hanger holes may be arranged such that they are aligned when the substantially planar body is attached to the main body.

The Applicant has recognized that it may be particularly efficient to be able to stack multiple scrapers on top of one another, for example to minimize space required for storage and transportation. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, an upper surface of the scraper comprises at least one first stacking feature configured to receive another scraper when stacked thereon. The upper surface of the scraper may be defined by the substantially planar body and thus the substantially planar body may comprise the at least one first stacking feature. When a second scraper is stacked on top of a first scraper, the at least one first stacking feature of the first scraper may suitably receive the second scraper. This may result in a stack of scrapers which are more stable. The first stacking feature may comprise a circumferential rim shaped to receive a scraping portion of a scraper stacked therein. This may function to protect the scraping portion and minimize damage and/or wear thereto during storage and/or transport. In alternative embodiments, the at least one first stacking feature may be configured such that when the second scraper is stacked thereon, the scraping portion of the second scraper is held away from an upper surface of the first scraper such that there is a gap between the scraping portion and the upper surface of the scraper on which it is stacked. This may function to prevent, or at least minimize, damage and/or wear of the scraping portion.

In another set of embodiments, an underside of the scraper comprises a second stacking feature arranged to engage with the first stacking feature of a scraper on which it is stacked. The first and second stacking features may suitably hold the scrapers in the stacked configuration. The first and second stacking features may also be configured, e.g. dimensioned, shaped and positioned such that they hold the scraping portion of a stacked scraper such that it is not in contact with the scraper which it is stacked upon.

The first stacking feature may, for example, comprise an upstanding circumferential wall that comprises a plurality of vertically extending recesses therein. The second stacking feature may comprise a plurality of downwardly extending protrusions which are shaped to fit into the recesses. The recesses and protrusions may be positioned such that the scrapers can only stack on top of each other in a limited number of orientations, e.g. only two orientations.

As described above, a user may use the device by gripping the grip portion in their hand, pressing the scraper against a surface, and moving the scraper relative to the surface. However, this may only allow a user to scrape surface which are within reach of their arms. There may be situations where a user cannot reach an entire surface which they wish to scrape. For example, taking an example of a particularly tall car, certain users of the scraper may not be able to reach the center of the windscreen. Accordingly, in a set of embodiments, the scraper comprises a coupling feature for coupling a handle thereto. In a further set of embodiments, the scraper comprises an elongate handle coupled to the coupling feature. The presence of a coupling feature may thus allow a user to couple a handle, e.g. an elongate handle, to the scraper, thereby allowing the user to extend their reach with the scraper. The coupling feature may be positioned so as to transfer a force applied through the handle to the scraping portion, so as to press the scraping portion against the surface which is being scraped. The coupling feature may be arranged centrally on the scraper, so as to substantially evenly transfer force to the scraping portion. In other embodiments, the scraper may comprise an integrally formed elongate handle.

In embodiments comprises a laterally extending slot, the slot may at least partially form the coupling feature. For example, the recess may be shaped so as to receive and hold a suitably shaped part of a handle.

The scraper may be made from any suitable material. In some embodiments, the scraper may be made from plastic. For example, the plastic may comprise polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, or indeed any other suitable plastic. Being made from plastic may make the scraper relatively inexpensive to produce and relatively easy to mass produce. Additionally, in being made from plastic, the scraper may be resistant to corrosion, e.g. rusting, which may otherwise occur in certain applications, for example when the scraper is an ice scraper. Plastic may also facilitate deformation of the scraper during use. In some embodiments, all of the scraper is made from the same material. In other embodiments, different parts of the scraper may be made from different materials.

Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a scraper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the underside of the scraper shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a view of the top side of the scraper;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the scraper showing the finger receiving portion;

Fig. 5 shows a front-on view of the scraper; Fig. 6 shows a side-on view of the scraper;

Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view through the side of the scraper;

Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view focussing on the scraping portion of the scraper;

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the scraper being pressed against a convex surface;

Fig. 10 shows a front-on view of the scraper against the convex surface, but without any force being applied to the scraper;

Fig. 11 shows a front-on view of the scraper against the convex surface, when a force has been applied to the scraper so as to deform the scraping portion;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the scraper being pressed against a concave surface;

Fig. 13 shows a front-on view of the scraper against the convex surface, but without any force being applied to the scraper;

Fig. 14 shows a front-on view of the scraper against the concave surface, when a force has been applied to the scraper so as to deform the scraping portion;

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the scraper comprising a substantially planar body attached thereto;

Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of the substantially planar body in isolation;

Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of the underside of the substantially planar body;

Fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the substantially planar body;

Fig. 19 shows a cross-sectional view of the scraper comprising the substantially planar body;

Fig. 20 shows a perspective view of two scrapers, each comprising a substantially planar body, attached thereto, stacked on top of one another;

Fig. 21 shows a cross-sectional view through the stacked scrapers shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 shows a cross-sectional view of the stacked scrapers, focussing on the scraping portion of the uppermost scraper;

Fig. 23 shows a perspective view of two scrapers stacked on top of one another;

Fig. 24 shows a cross-sectional view of the two scrapers shown in Fig. 23 stacked on top of one another; and

Fig. 25 shows a cut-away cross-sectional view focussing on the scraping portion of the uppermost scraper.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a scraper 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The scraper 2 may be particularly well suited to scraping ice from a vehicle window, e.g. a windshield. As such, the scraper 2 may be considered to be an ice scraper. However, it will be appreciated that the scraper 2 may be used to scraper any other material from any other surface. For example, the scraper 2 may be used to scrape burnt food from a pan. The scraper 2 comprises a scraping portion 4. In some embodiments, as depicted, the scraping portion 4 has a circular profile, i.e. it is a circular scraping portion 4. However, it will be appreciated that any other curved profile may be utilised. The scraper 2 further comprises a grip portion 6. The scraping portion 4 and the grip portion 6 are operatively coupled together by a connecting portion 8. The connecting portion 8 is conical so as to facilitate deformation of the scraper 2, specifically the scraping portion 4 when in contact with a surface.

The scraper 2 comprises a material deflecting portion 10 which is shaped so as to direct loosened material away from the grip portion 6, during use of the scraper 2. The material deflecting portion 10 is directed away from the grip portion 6 so as to deflect material away therefrom. The material deflecting portion 10 is arranged around a finger receiving portion 12 which surrounds the grip portion 6. The finger receiving portion 12 is in the form of an annular channel which surrounds the grip portion 6. The finger receiving portion 12 is shaped and dimensioned to receive a user’s fingers when they grip the grip portion 6, during use of the scraper 2.

The finger receiving portion 12 is defined between the material deflecting portion 10 and the grip portion 6. As depicted, in some embodiments, the grip portion 6 may be dome shaped, so that a user can grip the grip portion 6 and wrap their fingers around the grip portion 6 so as to achieve a good grip on the scraper 2. In some embodiments, as depicted, the grip portion 6 may comprise a flat upper surface 7. The flat upper surface 7 is shaped and dimensioned so as to receive the palm of a user’s hand.

The scraper 2 further comprises a first material breaking element 14 and a second material breaking element 16. Whilst the embodiment depicted comprises two material breaking elements 14, 16, it will be appreciated that any number of material breaking elements may be provided. The first and second material breaking elements 14, 16 each comprise a plurality of teeth which are shaped to break up a material, e.g. ice or frost, when in contact therewith. In some embodiments, as illustrated, the first and second material breaking elements 14, 16 are displaced from the scraping portion 4 so that the material breaking elements 14, 16 and the scraping portion 4 do not contact a surface at the same time during typical use.

The first and second material breaking elements 14, 16 are arranged to extend from opposite sides of the scraper 2 relative to the grip portion 6. This advantageously means that the scraper 2 may be used ambidextrously whilst maintaining the ability for a user to use both the scraping portion and at least one of the first or second material breaking element 14, 16 without having to change their grip on the grip portion 6. The first and second material breaking elements 14, 16 are axially displaced along the axis A-A with respect to the scraping portion 4.

The scraper 2 also comprises a first notch 18 and a second notch 20. The first and second notches 18, 20 are shaped to receive an object to be scraped. The scraper 2 may be particularly well suited to scraping ice from a vehicle window, and the first and second notches 18, 20 may be dimensioned to receive a wiper blade, and thus scrape material from the wiper blade. In other uses, the notches may be well suited to scaping material from a kitchen utensil, for example. The first and second notches 18, 20 extend axially with respect to an axis indicated by dashed line A-A.

In some embodiments, the scraper 2 comprises a secondary scraping portion 22 which has a straight profile, e.g. a straight edge. As described previously, the straight profile of the secondary scraping portion 22 may allow the scraper 2 to be used in scraping intricate areas. As depicted, the secondary scraping portion 22 may be displaced from the scraping portion 4, such that both scraping portions do not contact a surface at the same time, during normal use. The secondary scraping portion 22 may be axially displaced from the scraping portion 4 along the axis A-A.

In some embodiments, the scraper 2 comprises a laterally extending slot 24. In the embodiment depicted, the laterally extending slot 24 also defines the secondary scraping portion 22. The laterally extending slot 24 may be used to scrape an object when received therein. For example, the laterally extending slot 24 may be particularly well suited to scraping a wiper blade.

The laterally extending slot 24 may also function as a coupling feature, allowing a handle, or indeed any other suitable attachment, to be attached to the scraper. In some embodiments, as depicted, the laterally extending slot 24, the secondary scraping portion 22, the material breaking elements 14, 16 and the notches 18, 22, may all be substantially co-planar, i.e. all extending generally in the same plane in the scraper 2, as shown in Figure 1.

The scraper 2 may comprise at least one drain hole 26 arranged in the finger receiving portion 12. Whilst not visible in Figure 1 , the at least one drain hole 26 may comprise a plurality of drain holes arranged around the finger receiving portion 12. A first slot 28 and a second slot 30 may extend through the upper surface 7 of the grip portion 6. These slots may be engaged by corresponding protrusions on an attachment to the scraper 2, as set out in more detail further below.

The scraper 2 may comprise a hanger hole integrally formed therein. In the example depicted, the scraper 2 comprises a first circular hanger hole 32 and a second elongate hanger hole 34. The first and second hanger holes 32 may be used to store the scraper 2.

An object receiving portion 38 is arranged adjacent the scraping portion 4. In the embodiment depicted, the object receiving portion 38 is formed by a protrusion 36 which extends from the connecting portion 8 of the scraper 8. The protrusion 36 is suitably shaped to define the object receiving portion 38. The protrusion 36, e.g. an outer surface thereof, defines a scraping edge which contacts an object when received in the object receiving portion 38. However, it will be appreciated that the object receiving portion 38 may be formed in any suitable manner on the scraper 2.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the underside of the scraper 2. As visible in this Figure, the scraping portion 4 may comprise a sharpened edge 40 which contacts the surface, in use, and scrapes material therefrom. The view shown in Figure 2 also more clearly shows the plurality of drain holes 26 which extend through the scraper 2 so as to allow any liquid material to drain through the finger receiving portion 12.

In some embodiments, at least one (in this case a plurality) of second stacking features 42 are arranged on the underside 43 of the scraper 2. The second stacking features 42 are dimensioned to sit in first stacking features (not shown on this Figure) on a scraper 2 which the scraper 2 is stacked upon.

As shown more clearly in this Figure, the material deflecting portion 10 may extend through at least 150 degrees, in this case approximately 180 degrees relative to the scraping portion 4. As a result, the material deflecting portion 10 may function to suitably deflect material away from the grip portion 6 during use of the scraper 2.

Figure 3 shows a view from above the scraper 2 and Figure 4 shows an angled perspective view of the scraper 2 from above. With reference to both Figures 3 and 4, the plurality of drain holes 26 may extend around the entire finger receiving portion 12. The drain holes 26 may be equally spaced around the finger receiving portion. Arranging the drain holes around the entire finger receiving portion 12 may advantageously allow material to drain out of the finger receiving portion 12 at substantially all, e.g. all, positions therein. This may therefore help to minimise the amount of material which is able to build up in the finger receiving portion 12.

Figure 5 shows a front-on view of the scraper 2. As visible in this Figure, in some embodiments, the scraper 2 may comprise two objecting receiving portions 38, each of which are adjacent the scraping portion 4 and each defined by a respective protrusion 36. The object receiving portions 28 are adjacent the scraping edge 40 of the scraping portion 4. The scraper 2 may be used to scrape ice from a vehicle windshield. A user may press the scraper 2 against the windshield and push the scraper 2 against a windshield wiper arranged thereon. The scraping edge 40 may progress under the wiper blade of the wiper, which is typically resiliently biased into contact with the windshield. The wiper blade may then sit in the object receiving portion 38. A user may then move the scraper 2 along the wiper blade, scraping any ice therefrom by the object receiving portion 38, specifically an edge thereof. As described previously, the outer surface of the protrusion 36 may define the scraping edge of the object receiving portion. In such embodiments, it may thus be possible to scrape a wiper blade without having to remove the scraper 2 from the normal scraping position on the windshield, and also without the user having to grab the wiper blade and separate it from the windshield.

Figure 6 shows a side-on view of the scraper 2. The height Y of the scraper 2 may be approximately 45 mm. The width X of the scraper may be approximately 140 mm. However, it will be appreciated that a scraper 2 having any other suitable dimensions may be utilised. As depicted in this Figure, the scraper 2 may have an axis A-A which extends perpendicularly to a plane in which the scraping portion 4 extends. In some embodiments, as seen most clearly in this Figure, the first material braking element 14 (and the second material breaking element 16 - not visible in this Figure), the secondary scraping portion 22, the laterally extending slot 24, the first and second notches 18, 20, may all be displaced axially from the scraping portion 2. All of these elements may, as depicted, be arranged in substantially the same plane. During use of the scraper 2, when the scraping portion 4 is in contact with a surface and being used to scrape material therefrom, the first and second material breaking elements 14, 16, the secondary scraping portion 22, the lateral recess 24, and the first and second notches 18, 20 will not be in contact with the surface or any material thereon. In order to use any of these elements, a user may simply tilt the scraper 2, whilst maintaining their grip on the grip portion 6, so as to bring the respective element into contact with the surface or other object to be scraped. In the embodiment depicted, the material deflecting portion 10 extends around the entire grip portion 6. However, as evident in this Figure, the rearward section 10A of the material deflecting portion 10 extends away from the grip portion 6 to a lesser extent than the forward and sideward sections 10B. As such, the shape and form of the material deflecting portion 10, in the embodiment depicted, varies around the grip portion. The forward and sideward sections 10B are also labelled in Figure 1 and Figure 5, as well as the rearward section 10A in Figure 1. Despite extending to a lesser extent, the rearward section 10A is nonetheless able to deflect material away from the grip portion 6. In other embodiments, the material deflecting portion may only extend around part of the grip portion.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view through the scraper 2. This Figure shows the conical form of the connecting portion 8 which extends from the scraping portion 8 to the grip portion 6. Also, as illustrated, the material deflecting portion 10 is depicted and extends in a direction away from the finger receiving portion 12. As will be appreciated, during use, the material deflecting portion 10 will direct any material which is freed from the surface, by the scraping portion 4, away from the finger receiving portion 12 and thus away from a user’s fingers and hand. The deflection portion 10 may be at least partially defined by the connecting portion 8. The conical form of the connecting portion 8 may facilitate deformation thereof and thus deformation of the scraping portion 4 to which it is connected.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view focussing on the scraping portion 4 of the scraper 2. As seen clearly in this Figure, the scraping portion 4 may comprise a sharpened edge 40. The sharpened edge 40 may more effectively loosen material from a surface which is being scraped. Also, the proximity of the object receiving portion 38, which is defined by the protrusion 36, to the scraping portion 4, e.g. the sharpened edge 40 thereof, is visible in this Figure. The object receiving portion 38 may, for example, be no more than 5 mm from the scraping edge 40. This distance may be defined by the distance between the scraping edge 40 and a first part 39 of the scraping edge 37 defined by the outer surface of the protrusion 36. Of course any other suitable spacing may be employed. The object receiving portion 38 is immediately adjacent the scraping portion 4 so that it is capable of receiving an object, e.g. a wiper blade, whilst the scraping portion 4 remains in contact with the windshield. In some embodiments, as depicted in Figure 8, the second stacking elements 42, which are arranged on the underside 43 of the scraper 2, have a curved receiving surface 44. The remainder of the underside 43 extending around the circumference thereof also has a corresponding curved receiving surface 46. The curved receiving surfaces 44 are shaped to rest on an upstanding wall (not visible in this Figure) of a scraper 2 on which the scraper 2 is stacked. Figure 9 shows the scraper 2 being used to scrape a convex surface 48. In use, a user grips the grip portion 6 and presses the scraper 2, specifically the scraping portion 4 thereof, against the surface 48. The force applied by a user is illustrated by arrows 50. When sufficient force is applied, the scraping portion 4 deforms outwards as indicated by arrow 52. This deformation helps the scraping portion 4 conform to the convex shape of the convex surface 48. This is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 10 shows a front-on view of the scraper 2 when it is first pressed against the convex surface 48, but without sufficient force applied thereto in order to deform the scraper 2. As illustrated, at this stage, at least part of the scraping portion 4 is held away from the convex surface 48 and a gap 54 is formed therebetween. Such a gap 54 would be present if a typical flat edged scraper were used. Figure 11 shows a front-on view of the scraper 2 when sufficient force is applied thereto so as to cause deformation of at least the scraping portion 4. As depicted in Figure 11, when sufficient force is applied to cause deformation of the scraping portion 4, the scraping portion 4 deforms and conforms to the shape of the convex surface 48. As a result, the gaps 54 shown in Figure 10 are removed or at least substantially reduced. This therefore increases the amount of contact between the scraping portion 4 and the convex surface 48 thereby increasing the efficiency of the scraper 2.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the scraper 2 being used to scrape a concave surface 56. As depicted, when a user applies a force, indicated by arrows 50, by pressing the scraper 2 using the grip portion 6 against the concave surface 56, the scraping portion 4 deforms outwards, i.e. splays, so as to better conform to the shape of the concave surface 56. Figure 13 shows the scraper 2 when first applied to the concave surface 56, but absent sufficient force to cause deformation of the scraping portion 4. As illustrated, at this stage, a gap 54 is present between the scraping portion 4 and the concave surface 56. When a user presses down on the scraper 2 with sufficient force the scraping portion 4 deforms to the shape of the concave surface 56, so that the gap 54 is no longer present. This is illustrated in Figure 14.

In some embodiments, as depicted in Figure 15, the scraper 2 may comprise a substantially planar body, in the form of a disc-shaped body 58 which is removably attached to a main body 60 of the scraper 2. The main body 60 of the scraper 2 may comprise the scraping portion 4 and grip portion 6 (not visible in this Figure) along with the other related features described above. All of these features may be integrally formed to define the main body 60. The disc-shaped body 58 is shown in isolation (i.e. removed from the main body) in Figure 16. As illustrated, the disc-shaped body 58 may comprise a plurality of finger holes 62. The discshaped body 58 comprises a palm receiving portion 64. With reference back to Figure 15, a user may use the scraper 2 with the disc-shaped body 58 attached to the main body 60. In this instance, a user may place their palm on the palm receiving portion 64, and pass their fingers through the finger holes 62 in order to grip the scraper 2. Returning to Figure 16, the discshaped body 58 further comprises upstanding walls 66 which comprises first stacking features 68 arranged therein. The first stacking features 68 are in the form of recesses in the upstanding walls 66. Interaction between the first stacking features 68 and the second stacking features on the main body 60 will be described in more detail below in relation to later Figures. The discshaped body 58 may have a height of approximately 11mm (including the upstanding wall discussed further below) and approximately 5 mm in the region where the upstanding wall is not present. The width of the widest part of the disc-shaped body 58 may be approximately 160 mm. Of course disc-shaped body 58 having any other suitable dimensions may be utilised.

The disc-shaped body 58 comprises circular hanger holes 70. The circular hanger holes may be arranged so as to align with the circular hanger hole 32 and the elongate hanger hole 34 which may be provided on the main body 60, as discussed above. The disc-shaped body 58 may further comprise an elongate hanger hole 72. The circular hanger holes 70 and elongate hanger hole 72 may be used to hang the disc-shaped body 58, which may be attached to the main body 60, so as to hang the scraper 2, e.g. during storage thereof.

The disc-shaped body 58 further comprises a series of slots 74 shaped to receive a scraping portion 4 of a scraper 2 which may be stacked on top of the disc-shaped body 58. The slots may thus be considered to be a form of stacking feature.

Figure 17 shows an underside perspective view of the disc-shaped body 58 when viewed from underneath. As shown in this Figure, the disc-shaped body 58 may comprise a primary scraping edge 76. The primary scraping edge 76 may be circular and extend around the periphery of the disc-shaped body 58. In some embodiments, as depicted, the disc-shaped body comprises a secondary scraping edge 78 which is inwardly radially displaced from the primary scraping edge 76. The secondary scraping edge 78 may also be circular, as depicted. The underside 80 of the disc-shaped body 58 may also comprise two elongate protrusions 82. The elongate protrusions 82 may be positioned and dimensioned to fit into the first and second slots 28, 30 shown in Figure 1. Engagement of the elongate protrusions 82 in the first and second slots 28, 30 may prevent rotation of the disc-shaped body 58, relative to the main body 60, when it is attached thereto. Accordingly, when the scraper 2 is used with the disc-shaped body 58 attached to the main body 60, this may help to ensure that a user’s force is suitably transferred to the main body 60, and hence the scraping portion 4, rather than instead causing relative movement between the disc-shaped body 58 and the main body 60.

The disc-shaped body 58 may be separated from the main body 60 and be used to scrape areas where there is limited access space. For example, the disc-shaped body 58 may be particularly well suited to scraping the inside of a windscreen proximal to a dashboard, where there is limited space. The planar structure of the disc-shaped body 58 may allow it to easily access these areas.

As illustrated in Figure 18, the secondary scraping edge 78 may be axially displaced from the primary scraping edge by a distance Z. As a result, during use, the primary scraping edge 78 will first contact a surface which the disc-shaped body 58 is in contact with. If additional scraping is required, e.g. because of particularly stubborn material on the surface, a user may apply additional force to the disc-shaped body 58, causing deformation thereof, and bring the secondary scraping edge 78 into alignment with the primary scraping edge 76, and thereby scraping the surface with both the primary and secondary scraping edges 76, 78.

Figure 19 shows a cross-sectional view of the scraper 2 with the disc-shaped body 50 attached to the main body 60. The disc-shaped body 50 engages the main body 60 with a snap fit connection 84. The grip portion 6 comprises a circumferentially extending protrusion 88 extending around an outer surface 87 thereof, and the secondary scraping edge 78 comprises a circumferentially extending recess 86 extending around an inner surface thereof 85. When the disc-shaped body 50 is pressed against the main body 50, the circumferentially extending protrusion 88 presses into the circumferentially extending recess 86 and the disc-shaped body 50 is held against the main body 60. Whilst specific form of snap-fit connection 84 is depicted and described, it will be appreciated that the disc-shaped body 58 and main body 60 may be coupled together by any suitable connection means.

As depicted in Figure 20, two scrapers 2, each with an attached disc-shaped body 58, may be stacked on top of one another. The scrapers 2 may be stacked on top of one another for storage and/or transportation purposes. Of course, any number of scrapers 2 may be stacked on top of one another depending on particular storage constraints. Figure 21 shows a cross- sectional view of two scrapers 2 stacked on top of one another. As shown in this Figure, the second stacking features 42 of the uppermost scraper 2 are received in the first stacking features 68 in the upstanding walls 66 on the disc-shaped body 58 of the lowermost scraper 2. The stacking features 42, 68 are configured such that when engaged, the scraping portion 4 of the uppermost scraper 2 is held away from the upper surface 90 of the disc-shaped body 58 of the lowermost scraper 2. This is shown more clearly in Figure 22. As shown in this Figure, the scraping edge 40 of the scraping portion 4 is held away from the upper surface 90 and a small gap 92 is formed therebetween. Preventing the scraping portion 4, specifically the scraping edge 40 thereof, from contacting the upper surface 90 may prevent, or at least minimise, wear on the scraping edge 40 during storage and/or transport of the scraper 2. This may therefore help to ensure that the scraping edge 40 is as sharp as possible ensuring that it is fit for purpose. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the size of the gap 92 may ultimately be defined by the height of the upstanding wall 66 and the relative dimensions of the stacking features 42, 68.

In some embodiments, it may also be possible to stack multiple scrapers 2 which do not comprise a disc-shaped body 58 on top of one another. Such stacking is depicted in Figure 23. Figure 24 shows a sectional view through the stacked scrapers 2. When there is no discshaped body 58 on top of the lowermost scraper 2, the scraping portion 4, specifically the scraping edge 40 of the uppermost scraper 2 may rest against a circumferential rim 94 extending around an upper surface 96 on the lowermost scraper 2. This is shown in more detail in Figure 25. In resting against the circumferential rim 94, movement of the upper scraper 2 relative to the lower scraper 2 may be restricted and the upper scraper 2 may be held in a fixed position relative to the lower scraper 2. This may, therefore, prevent movement of the scraping edge 40 relative to the upper surface 96 of the lowermost scraper 2 which may therefore minimise wear on the scraping edge 40. The circumferential rim 94 may extend around all, or only part of the circumference of the upper surface 96 of the scraper 2. As the circumferential rim 94 facilitates stacking of the scraper 2, it may be considered to be a form of first stacking feature.

While the various embodiments described above comprise a scraping portion which has a circular profile, and thus the rest of the scraper is generally circular, it will be appreciated that a scraper having any other suitable shape may be utilised. For example, a scraping portion which has an open profile, e.g. an arc-shaped scraping portion, may be used and this may mean that that the remainder of the scraper is less circular than in the embodiment depicted. Similarly, whilst a grip portion in the form of a dome shaped part with an annular channel extending therearound is depicted, the grip portion may have any other suitable form. For example, the grip portion may comprise an elongate handle extending away from a body which comprises the grip portion.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.