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A dustpan, the small version of which is also known as a "half brush and shovel", is a cleaning utensil. The dustpan is commonly used in combination with a broom or long brush. The small dustpan may appear to be a type of flat scoop. Though often hand-held for home use, industrial and commercial enterprises use a hinged variety on the end of a stick to allow the user to stand instead of stoop while using it. This latter improved dustpan design was patented by African-American inventor Lloyd Ray on August 9, 1897, while the first patented dustpan was by T.E. McNeill nearly 40 years prior.
Handheld dustpans may be used with either a full-size broom or with a smaller whisk broom or a brush sometimes called a duster or trash spatula. This second combination may be sold as one unit. A variant on the dustpan is the silent butler, a handheld, lidded dustpan.
Gallery
"Big Sweep", an installation art by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen (1999-2006) at the Denver Art Museum features a giant half-broom and shovel/dustpan.
Hard broom and plastic dustpan.
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