Eraser Crumb Catcher

Draftsmen, designers, engineers and the like notoriously generate a considerable amount of eraser crumbs during the course of a session at the drafting table. Generally, draftsmen keep a brush handy to sweep such crumbs from the paper and being preoccupied with their work, often do so without particular concern for waste baskets or the like. As a result, the floor around the drafting table, and often even the clothing of persons nearby become messy with the eraser crumbs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a convenient device for collecting eraser crumbs brushed from a drafting table.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for collecting eraser crumbs which does not require the draftsman to divert his attention from the drafting board.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description to follow, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In carrying out this invention I provide an elongated trough having a vertical front wall from the lower edge of which the back wall and deflector curves up and first out and then back, in generally semi-cylindrical configuration to terminate above the level of the upper edge of the front wall. A bracket is secured along the edge of the drafting table, preferably the top edge across from the draftman's normal position, and interengaging means are provided on the bracket and trough with which to suspend the trough from the drafting board edge. A horizontal ledge on either the bracket or the upper edge of the trough front wall forms a continuation of the table's upper surface when the trough is in place. Removable caps may be secured to the ends of the trough to form a container. With the back wall curving back and above the edge of drafting table, eraser crumbs may simply be swept off the table edge to be deflected into the trough.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a drafting table with the crumb catcher of this invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective taken through a section of a drafting table and eraser crumb catcher;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the eraser crumb catcher; and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective taken through a section of the drafting table and another embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings with greater particularity there is shown a conventional drafting table 10 having a top working surface 11, side edges 12 and 14, the front edge 16 behind which the draftsman customarily sits or stands and the top edge 18. The eraser crumb catcher 20 of this invention is secured to one of the table edges, and preferably to the top edge 18 to present minimum interference with movements of the draftsman, his paper and tools.

As shown in FIG. 2 the crumb catcher is of trough-like configuration having a generally vertical front wall 22 and a rear wall 24 which curves out and up and then back in a generally semi-cylindrical configuration to terminate in an upper edge 26 which is above and approximately in the same plane as the upper edge 28 of the front wall, forming a slot 30 through which eraser crumbs may be readily received and a deflecting surface 31 which directs the crumbs downward into the trough.

Secured to the edge 18 of the drafting table 10, as by means of screws 32 is a mounting bracket 34 which extends along a substantial portion of the table edge 18. Complementary, inter-engaging members 36 and 38 on the trough 20 and mounting bracket 34, respectively, engage to suspend the trough 24 from the edge 18 of the table with the upper edge 28 in substantially the plane of the table top 11. Preferably a horizontal ledge 40 extending from the upper edge 28 of the front wall forms a continuation of the table top 11. Finally, end caps may be secured to close the end of the trough as by means of a self-threading metal screw 44 engaging in a hole 46 provided therefor on the trough, preferably at the center of curvature of the cylindrical surface 24.

In operation, the trough is suspended from the edge 28 of the table with the surface 40 forming a continuation of the table top 11 and with the back wall and shield 24 extending above the level of the table top. Hence, as eraser crumbs gather on the table top 11 they may be swept casually off the front edge of the table and, with the extended length of the trough 20, no particular aim is required. From time to time as the eraser crumbs accumulate, the trough 20 may simply be lifted from the mounting bracket 34, and with an end cap 42 swiveled on the screw 44 out of closed position, the contents are dumped into the waste backet.

As an alternative embodiment, the mounting bracket 50 may be provided with a forwardly extending ledge 52 and a depending retainer member 54. The trough 56 and mounting brackets 50 have engaging members 58 and 60 respectively and the retaining member 54 covers and retains the upper edge 62 of the top front wall. A slot 64 is provided to receive the end cap screw 44, as in FIG. 3. Hence, in this embodiment, the mounting bracket 50 has an horizontal wall 52 to form a continuation of the surface 11 and the depending member 54 ensures that all crumbs drop within the trough.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that other modifications and changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto.