U.S. patent application number 10/959338 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for broom with a flexible neck.
Invention is credited to Flavio DeRoma.
Application Number | 20060070198 10/959338 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36124086 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060070198 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeRoma; Flavio |
April 6, 2006 |
Broom with a flexible neck
Abstract
The present invention provides a broom with a flexible neck. The
flexible neck is preferably a hollow tube made from rubber. The
neck is positioned between the handle and the head of the broom, at
the base end of the handle to attach the broom handle to the broom
head.
Inventors: |
DeRoma; Flavio; (Blauvelt,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen E. Feldman, P.C.
12 East 41st Street
New York
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
36124086 |
Appl. No.: |
10/959338 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/144.1 ;
15/143.1; 15/144.2; 15/172 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 5/0095 20130101;
A46B 5/0062 20130101; A46B 2200/302 20130101; A46B 5/007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/144.1 ;
015/143.1; 015/144.2; 015/172 |
International
Class: |
A46B 5/00 20060101
A46B005/00 |
Claims
1. A broom with a flexible neck comprising: a handle having a base
end and a free end; a curved broom head having a flexible neck; a
plurality of bristles extending from the broom head at a
substantially right angle; wherein the broom head is substantially
perpendicular to the handle and the base end is attached to the
flexible neck.
2. The broom of claim 1 wherein the neck is made of rubber.
3. The broom of claim 1 wherein the neck is hollow.
4. The broom of claim 1 wherein the free end further comprises a
bore through the handle.
5. The broom of claim 1 wherein the base end further comprises a
threaded end.
6. The broom of claim 5 further comprising a sleeve with a threaded
interior.
7. The broom of claim 7 wherein the threaded end is screwed into
the threaded interior.
8. The broom of claim 7 wherein the broom head is plastic.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention deals with brooms and more
specifically, brooms with a flexible neck.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Traditional broom handles consist of a straight elongated
rod or pole having one end connected to a broom head. The handles
are usually made of solid wood or metal tubes. The handle is
therefore rigid and is generally connected in a rigid matter to the
broom head.
[0003] Push brooms generally have a wide head with bristles
extending downwardly from the head. The handle is generally
connected at an angle at the middle of the head and extends
backwards from the head. The broom can then be pushed forwardly and
in front of the user.
[0004] The rigid nature of such a broom can cause difficulties. A
primary example is where one end of the broom strikes a rigid
object. A considerable jolt can be felt by the user and substantial
twisting action can either be detrimental to the user or damage or
break the broom.
[0005] A real need has therefore been identified in the art for an
improvement to brooms. Attempts have been made to solve some of the
deficiencies or problems in the art. Some long-handled tools such
as rakes utilize some sort of a brace such as a spring connected
between the tines of the rake and the rake handle to give it some
resilience. Additionally, some brooms utilize rigid braces between
handle and head or braces such as a metal coil spring between the
handle and the head to allow the broom head some resilience and
flexibility.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 634,637 to A. S. Allen and U.S. Pat. No.
2,268,488 to Keeys purport to disclose brooms with flexible necks
at the base of the handle where the sweeping bristles attach. A
number of push brooms with a flexible neck exist as well, for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,941 to D. T. Price, U.S. Pat. No.
4,433,931 to Malish et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,345 to
O'Donnell.
[0007] These broom designs, however, have certain deficiencies.
First, a tightly coiled spring can pinch skin or grab clothing.
Metal springs are subject to corrosion. They also may degrade in
performance over time and can take a set if flexed too far. In
addition, none of the references above disclose a curved broom head
that allows the broom to act as both a push broom and a sweeping
broom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a broom with a flexible neck.
The flexible neck is preferably a hollow tube made from rubber. The
neck is positioned between the base end of the handle and the head
of the broom to attach the broom handle to the broom head.
[0009] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention and to provide further detail, the broom comprises a
handle having with a base end and a free end, a curved broom head
with a flexible neck, and a plurality of bristles extending from
the head at a substantially right angle. The broom head should be
positioned so that it is substantially perpendicular to the handle
with the base end attached to the flexible neck.
[0010] In accordance with further aspects of an embodiment of the
present invention, the flexible neck is made of rubber, the free
end further comprises a bore through the handle, the base end
further comprises a threaded end, and the broom further comprises a
sleeve with a threaded interior for receiving the threaded end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a broom with a flexible neck in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows the broom of FIG. 1 in use, sweeping a floor
with a flexion of the flexible neck.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the dirt collection action of a broom head in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a broom in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention being used as a push broom.
[0015] FIG. 5 shows the constituent parts of a flexible neck broom
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 depicts the constituent parts of FIG. 5 in a fully
assembled configuration in accordance with further aspects of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
broom is provided with a flexible neck and a specially designed
head. The broom may be used as either a push broom or a sweeping
broom. In accordance with further alternative embodiments, the
broom head is curved to trap and collect swept up dirt and
debris.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a broom 10 in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention. A handle 12 has a free end 12.2 and a base
end 12.1. The handle 12 may be wood, metal, or some type of
plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the handle is made of plastic
and manufactured by ordinary plastics manufacturing methods, such
as injection molding.
[0019] The base end 12.1 is connected to a flexible neck 14 which
is preferably a hollow rubber tube. The flexible neck 14 connects
the handle 12 to the broom head 16. The broom head 16 has a number
of bristles 18 attached to its bottom surface, extending downwardly
at a substantially right angle.
[0020] The walls of the neck 14 should be thick enough to provide
the sufficient rigidity, resiliency and strength to maintain the
head 16 in a sweeping position when the broom 10 is used to clean a
floor (not shown). The rigidity of the neck 14 should be balanced
with the need for flexibility to allow for flexion of the neck 14
when the broom head 16 is applied to a floor.
[0021] In use, a user holds the handle with one hand 12 in the
proximal area of its free end 12.2 and another hand around the
mid-point of the handle 12. The user may, at this point, use the
broom 10 as a push broom or sweeping broom.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the broom 10 being used as a sweeping broom. As
the broom is pulled with downward force applied against and across
the floor 20, the flexible neck 14 yields and bends, imparting a
bias on the broom head 16 against the floor 20. In this way, the
flexible neck 14 ensures that sufficient and proper force is being
applied against and along the plane of the floor 20. At the same
time, sweeping the broom 10 across the floor 20 has a softer feel
compared with prior art designs that incorporate a rigid handle and
neck.
[0023] The broom head 16 is preferably curved with an inwardly
extending, or angled edge 16.1 on each side of the head 16. As the
user sweeps, dirt and debris coming into contact with the bristles
18 are directed towards the center of the broom head 16.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a top-down view of a broom head 16 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as it sweeps
across a floor (not shown). As the head 16 sweeps across a floor in
the direction of arrow 300, the bristles (not shown) attached to
the head 16 push dirt and debris 30 across the floor. The dirt and
debris 30 in front of the broom head 16 is pushed inwardly, towards
the center of the head 16, in the direction of arrows 302 and 304
by the bristles disposed on the inwardly-concave shape of the head
16. In this way, dirt is collected and trapped as opposed to just
being pushed across the floor according to prior art designs.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows the broom 10 being used as a push broom. In
use, one hand is positioned at the top of the handle 12 and another
at the mid section. The head 16 of the broom 10 is pushed in front
of the user in a lateral motion. The bristles 18 on the curved
broom head 16 collects dust and debris as the head 16 moves across
the floor.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows the constituent parts and construction of the
broom. The handle 12 has a threaded tip 12.3 on its base end 12.1.
An internally threaded sleeve 50 will securedly engage the threaded
tip 12.3 in construction. The outer diameter of the sleeve 50 is
roughly the same as the internal diameter of the elastic neck 14. A
number of engaging ribs 50.1 are disposed along the outer side of
the sleeve 50 for frictionally engaging the inner wall of the neck
14, which is preferably hollow.
[0027] Assembly may be accomplished in two ways. First, the sleeve
50 may be slid into position in the neck 14 and then the threaded
tip 12.3 screwed into the sleeve 50. The second way involves
reversing the steps. First, the threaded tip 12.3 is screwed into
the sleeve 50 first. Then the sleeve 50 and handle 12 assembly is
slid into the neck 14.
[0028] It should be noted that the broom head 46 in FIG. 4 is an
alternative embodiment that doesn't include the angled edges in
prior examples. The head 46 is, however, curved.
[0029] FIG. 6 shows the completed construction of the broom parts
in FIG. 5. The base end 12.1 of the handle is screwed onto the
sleeve 50. The sleeve is frictionally secured in the neck 14. The
neck 14 and broom head 16 are a single piece. The bristles 18 are
attached to the broom head according to well-known methods by which
bristles are normally attached to broom heads.
[0030] Bi-injection is the preferred method of construction for the
flexible neck and broom head according to an embodiment of the
present invention. With bi-injection, two materials are injected
into the same cavity within one cycle, in this case, plastic and
rubber. Rubber is injected a mold cavity to form the neck and
plastic to form the broom head.
[0031] In the preceding specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof.
It will however, be evident that various modifications and changes
may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The
specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an
illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.
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