Debris containment apparatus
OwnerKaty Soper, Kelly Poarchinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for collecting debris displaced from a surface is provided. The apparatus comprises an elongate trough having a first cross-sectional shape of an open channel. The elongate trough comprises a first end of the elongate trough and a first endcap associated with the first end of the elongate trough. The elongate trough comprises a second end of the elongate trough that is distal to the first end of the elongate trough, and a second endcap associated with the second end of the elongate trough. The apparatus further comprises a set of mounting assemblies. The set of mounting assemblies comprises a first mounting assembly associated with the first end of the elongate trough, and a second mounting assembly associated with the second end of the elongate trough.
Claims11
An apparatus for collecting debris displaced from a surface, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate trough having a first cross-sectional shape of an open channel, the elongate trough comprising:
- a first end of the elongate trough;
- a first endcap associated with the first end of the elongate trough;
- a second end of the elongate trough that is distal to the first end of the elongate trough;
- and
- a second endcap associated with the second end of the elongate trough;
- a set of recesses in an outer surface of the elongate trough;
- and
- a set of mounting assemblies comprising:
- a first mounting assembly associated with the first end of the elongate trough;
- and
- a second mounting assembly associated with the second end of the elongate trough;
- wherein the set of mounting assemblies are snap-fit into the set of recesses in the outer surface of the elongate trough;
- wherein each mounting assembly of the set of mounting assemblies further comprises:
- a clamp body comprising:
- a first end of the clamp body comprising:
- a static jaw;
- and
- a guide hole;
- a second end of the clamp body that is distal to the first end of the clamp body, wherein the second end of the clamp body comprises:
- a retention bore that is axially aligned with the guide hole;
- a drive screw positioned in the guide hole and the retention bore, wherein the drive screw is freely rotatable;
- and
- a sliding jaw that is threadably coupled with the drive screw.
A method of collecting debris, the method comprising:
- positioning an elongate trough along an edge of a surface, wherein the elongate trough has a first cross-sectional shape of an open channel and comprises a first mounting assembly associated with a first end of the elongate trough, and a second mounting assembly associated with a second end of the elongate trough;
- a set of recesses in an outer surface of the elongate trough, wherein the first mounting assembly and the second mounting assembly are snap-fit into the set of recesses;
- for each mounting assembly, rotatably adjusting a head of a drive screw to secure the surface between jaws of the mounting assembly, wherein rotation of the head actuates a linear motion of a sliding jaw that is threadably coupled with the drive screw;
- and
- collecting debris that displaced from the surface within the elongate trough.
A method of manufacturing a debris collection apparatus, comprising:
- molding an elongate trough having a first cross-sectional shape of an open channel, the elongate trough comprising:
- an outer surface having a set of recesses molded therein;
- a first end of the elongate trough;
- a first endcap associated with the first end of the elongate trough;
- a second end of the elongate trough that is distal to the first end of the elongate trough;
- and
- a second endcap associated with the second end of the elongate trough;
- molding a set of mounting assemblies comprising:
- a first mounting assembly associated with the first end of the elongate trough;
- and
- a second mounting assembly associated with the second end of the elongate trough;
- wherein each mounting assembly of the set of mounting assemblies further comprises:
- a clamp body comprising:
- a first end of the clamp body comprising:
- a static jaw;
- and
- a guide hole;
- a second end of the clamp body that is distal to the first end of the clamp body, wherein the second end of the clamp body comprises:
- a retention bore that is axially aligned with the guide hole;
- a drive screw positioned in the guide hole and the retention bore, wherein the drive screw is freely rotatable;
- and
- a sliding jaw that is threadably coupled with the drive screw;
- and
- snap-fitting into the set of mounting assemblies into the set of recesses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.