U.S. patent number 3,768,111 [Application Number 05/218,727] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-30 for curling broom and cover.
Invention is credited to Norman G. Lees.
United States Patent |
3,768,111 |
Lees |
October 30, 1973 |
CURLING BROOM AND COVER
Abstract
A curling broom is provided with a sock of knitted fibrous
material enclosing the parts of the broom bristles that would
ordinarily contact the ice, or alternatively covering such parts
except for the tips of the bristles at the lower end of the broom,
the sock providing a coarse surface for rubbing the ice while
holding the broom bristles together. Within the sock is a lining
having a surface that permits relative movement of the bristles
during sweeping without catching on the sock or the lining, the
sock and lining forming a cover having means for preventing undue
stretching or twisting of the sock relative to the bristles.
Inventors: |
Lees; Norman G. (Norwich,
Ontario, CA) |
Family
ID: |
22816266 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/218,727 |
Filed: |
January 18, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/210.1; 15/160;
15/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B
17/04 (20130101); A63B 67/148 (20130101); A46B
2200/308 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A46B
17/00 (20060101); A46B 17/04 (20060101); A46b
017/04 (); A63b 067/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/114,160,168-171,175,21R,247 ;273/128CS |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
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818,155 |
|
Jul 1969 |
|
CA |
|
885,578 |
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May 1943 |
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FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Blum; Daniel
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. A curling broom and cover comprising an elongated handle, a
plurality of individual bristles bundled to constitute a broom head
secured adjacent its upper end to the handle with its lower end
free to flex, and a flexible cover surrounding at least a major
portion of the head to hold the bristle together at the lower end
of the broom, said cover having its upper end secured to the broom
so as not be be dislodged by sweeping and being sufficiently
loose-fitting to permit movement of the individual bristles
relative to one another and to said cover, the cover comprising an
inner layer having an inner surface, with a low coefficient of
friction, along which the bristles can slide during sweeping
without snagging, an outer ice-contacting layer having a coarse
wear-resistant surface for rubbing the ice, and an intermediate
layer adapted to limit relative movement between said inner and
outer layers, all outer parts of the cover that contact the ice
during sweeping being soft so as not to damage a smooth ice surface
on striking it.
2. A curling broom and cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
bristles are vegetable fibre bristles slidable along said inner
surface which is smoother and harder than said outer surface.
3. A curling broom and cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
cover is closed at its lower end to enclose the lower end of said
head but provides sufficient room within the cover to permit
relative movement of said bristles during sweeping.
4. A curling broom and cover as claimed in claim 3, including outer
bristles shorter than inner bristles, the cover having an
additional flexible layer at its lower end adding to the weight
thereof.
5. A curling broom and cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
intermediate layer is fixed to the inner layer, the inner and
intermediate layers being substantially inextensible, the
intermediate layer having an outer fibrous surface that
frictionally engages the outer layer to restrain stretching and
twisting thereof.
6. A curling broom and cover comprising an elongated handle, a
plurality of individual bristles bundled to constitute a broom head
secured adjacent its upper end to the handle with its lower end
free to flex, and a flexible cover pervious to air and surrounding
at least a major portion of the head to hold the bristles together
at the lower end of the broom, said cover being closed at its lower
end to enclose the lower end of the broom and having its upper end
secured to the broom so as not to be dislodged by sweeping and
being sufficiently loose-fitting to permit movement of the
individual bristles relative to one another and to said cover, the
cover having an inner surface of air pervious plastic material
along which the bristles can slide during sweeping without snagging
and an outer air pervious coarse wear-resistant surface for rubbing
the ice, all parts of the cover that contact the ice during
sweeping being soft so as not to damage a smooth ice surface on
striking it.
7. A curling broom and cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
air pervious plastic material comprises a fabric lining of woven
plastic strips.
8. A curling broom and cover comprising an elongated handle, a
plurality of individual bristles bundled to constitute a broom head
secured adjacent its upper end to the handle with its lower end
free to flex, and a flexible cover surrounding at least a major
portion of the head to hold the bristles together at the lower end
of the broom, said cover being closed at its lower end to enclose
the lower end of the broom and having its upper end fixed to the
broom by an elastic connection which prevents the cover from being
dislodged by sweeping but permits relative longitudinal movement
between the cover and the broom during sweeping, the cover being
sufficiently loose-fitting to permit movement of the individual
bristles relative to one another and to said cover, the cover
having an inner surface along which the bristles can slide during
sweeping without snagging and an outer coarse wear-resistant
surface for rubbing the ice, all parts of the cover that contact
the ice during sweeping being soft so as not to damage a smooth ice
surface on striking it.
9. A curling broom and cover as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
cover comprises an inner layer having a low coefficient of
friction, an outer ice-contacting layer having said coarse surface,
and an intermediate layer adapted to limit relative movement
between said inner and outer layers.
10. A curling broom and cover comprising an elongated handle, a
plurality of individual bristles bundled to constitute a broom head
secured adjacent its upper end to the handle with its lower end
free to flex, and a flexible cover surrounding at least a major
portion of the head to hold the bristles together at the lower end
of the broom, said cover having its upper end secured to the broom
so as not be be dislodged by sweeping and being sufficiently
loosefitting to permit movement of the individual bristles relative
to one another and to said cover, the cover surrounding
substantially the entire flexible portion of the head but at least
the bulk of the individual bristles extending beyond the lower end
of the cover, the cover comprising a tubular lining having an inner
surface along which the bristles can slide during sweeping without
snagging and an outer tube having an outer wear-resistant surface,
less smooth than said inner surface, for rubbing the ice, the
lining being secured at its ends to the ends of the tube, all parts
of the cover that contact the ice during sweeping being soft so as
not to damage a smooth ice surface on striking it.
11. A curling broom and cover as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
outer surface is of coarse knitted fibrous material and the inner
surface is of harder plastic material and the bristles are
vegetable fibre bristles.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to curling brooms, in particular to brooms
having a head formed of elongated bristles bundled together, the
bristles preferably being corn bristles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The sweeping action of curlers may be vigorous, and it is desirable
to prevent the bristles of their brooms from splaying outwardly,
while allowing longitudinal flexing of the broom head.
During sweeping, bits of the vegetable fibre bristles of
conventional brooms may break off and fall into the path of the
curling stone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a flexible cover for the while or
for a major part of the flexible portion of the broom head. The
upper end of the cover is secured to the broom, and the cover does
not bind the bristles so tightly that they cannot slide relative to
one another and the cover. Thus, although the cover holds the
bristles together at the lower end of the broom, it is sufficiently
loose that the bristles can slide and the broom head can flex. The
cover preferably has an inner surface on which the bristles can
slide easily without snagging or catching on it. The outer surface
of the cover is wear-resistant and coarse, so as to provide a good
rubbing action on the surface of the ice, but is free of relatively
hard portions that would score or damage the ice. Thus the ice is
polished primarily by the cover rather than by the bristles, but
the broom can have the same flexibility and "feel" as a
conventional corn broom. The cover can enclose the ends of the
bristles so that if bits of bristles break off they are retained
within the cover and are not strewn on the ice. When the cover
encloses the ends of the bristles it provides room for relative
longitudinal movement of the bristles within the cover as the head
flexes, to minimize breakage.
Preferably the cover is pervious to air so that if moisture
penetrates to the bristles they can dry out.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in
the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of components of a curling broom
before assembly, parts being broken away;
FIG. 1a is an enlarged view of part of one of the fabrics used in
the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a stage in the assembly of
components illustrated in FIG 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower end of the curling broom
illustrated in FIG. 2 in a further stage of assembly;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of the
curling broom illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in its final assembled
condition;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the broom of FIG. 4 with its head flexed
as in sweeping;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another curling broom, of different
construction than the broom of FIG. 5, also with its head
flexed;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the broom
illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the cover of
the curling broom illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of alternative parts of a curling
broom cover;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing an
alternative manner of attaching parts of a cover to a broom;
and
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the broom of FIG. 10 with the
cover completely assembled on the broom.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
The curling broom of FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive has an elongated wooden
handle 10 and a sweeping head 11 (FIG. 1). The head 11 consists of
elongated broom corn bristles (sweeping straws) bundled together
and fastened to the handle with the aid of wires 12 and a metal cap
13. Well up the head 11 are a tight wire binding 14 and a tight
string binding 15. The broom head has a skirt 16 of bristles which
terminate short of the lower end of the bulk 17 of the bristles. As
so far described the broom is of conventional construction.
Although bristles of materials other than broom corn can be used,
broom corn bristles have the weight, flexibility and other
characteristics that are generally preferred to give the desired
sweeping action of a straw curling broom.
According to the present invention the head 11 or the flexible
portion of the head, i.e., the portion beginning below the tight
binding 15, or at least a major part of said flexible portion, is
provided with a flexible cover. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5
the cover is designated by reference numeral 20 and in the
embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 8 by reference numeral 20'. The cover fits
snugly around the broom head but is sufficiently loose-fitting that
it does not interfere substantially with the flexing of the head.
As the head flexes, the individual bristles of the head slide
longitudinally relative to one another, and the cover permits such
relative longitudinal movement, the cover being fastened to or
suspended from the broom adjacent its upper end only.
The cover 20 of FIGS. 1 to 5 has three principal layers. The inner
layer or lining 21 has a smooth inner surface with a low
coefficient of friction to permit the bristles within it to slide
without catching or snagging on the cover. The layer 21 can
suitably consist of a polyvinyl chloride sheet stitched or
otherwise fastened along a line 22 to form a tube, and this tube
surrounds the longer bristles 17 and extends upwardly for enough to
surround the lower ends of the shorter bristles 16 in any condition
of flexure that the head can assume.
The next or intermediate layer of the cover 20 consists of an inner
tubular part 23a and an outer soft fibrous covering 23b. The tube
23a is relatively inextensible (as is the inner layer 21), and, as
will be seen, it is the part of the cover which can be firmly
secured at its upper end to the broom. It consists preferably of a
sheet of woven synthetic plastic material, for example the
polyolefin film material sold by E.I. DuPont de Nemours under the
trade mark "Fabrene", stitched, glued, taped or stapled as at 22 to
form a tube. The lower end of the tube 23a is fastened to the inner
layer 21 by a double row of stitching 24 or other means. If, as in
the embodiment illustrated, the inner layer 21 does not completely
line the tube 23a, it is desirable that this tube 23a present to
the broom bristles a surface along which the bristles can easily
slide, and the "Fabrene" fabric, which is woven of thin flat
ribbons or strips (see FIG. 1a), presents a smooth surface with a
low coefficient of friction and serves the purpose well. It has the
advantage that (like the fibrous covering 23b and the outer layer
33 described below) it is pervious to air so that if the broom
becomes wet it can dry out with the cover in place on the broom
head. Being woven the tube 23a is flexible. The polyvinyl inner
layer 21 provides a superior surface for sliding of the bristles
without catching, but is not pervious to air and is somewhat
stiffer and that is why it is preferred to terminate this inner
layer short of the upper end of the cover 20 so that the cover is
particularly flexible above it, i.e., about midway along the length
of the head 11 where the greatest flexure is required. The inner
layer 21 provides some additional weight at the part of the broom
which strikes the ice.
At the lower end of the tube 23a is attached an adhesive tape 27
(adhesive on its inner surface only). The tape 27 forms a flap that
can be folded over as shown in FIG. 2 to close the lower ends of
the tubes 23a and 21, although other means of closing and sealing
the lower ends of the tubes can be employed. The broom head 11 is
inserted into the tubes 23a and 21 until the lower ends of the
bristles are about one to two inches above the closed ends of the
tubes, and the tube 23a is then firmly secured to the head of the
broom, one way of doing this being to wrap adhesive masking tape 28
around the layer 23a, 23b and then to apply a tight string binding
29 around the broom and sewn through the bristles. String ties 29a
can be provided between the binding 29 and the bindings 15 and 14
to ensure that the cover cannot slide downwardly off the broom.
Adhesive tape 30 can then be wound around the upper edges of the
tube 23a and covering 23b, this tape also covering the string
binding 15.
The tape 27, or other means of sealing the ends of the tubes 23a
and 21, reinforces the lower ends of the tubes against wear from
both the inside and outside. These lower ends are spaced
sufficiently below the ends of bristles 17 that when the broom end
if flexed in sweeping there is room for relative longitudinal
movement of the bristles towards the closed ends without undue
restraint on the ends of the broom corn fibres. If room is not
provided, the tips of the bristles can be bent or broken.
As shown in FIG. 3, an additional strip of tape 31 may be provided
to hold the flap 27 closed.
The outer layer 33 of the broom cover is a fabric consisting
preferably of a knitted tubular sock. One end of the sock is closed
by stitching 34. The sock 33 is pulled over the assembly shown in
FIG. 2 or 3, being turned inside out in the process so that the
fringe 35, beyond the stitching 34, is concealed within the cover.
The upper end of the sock overlaps the binding 29 and the tape 30,
which is adhesive on both sides and thus sticks to the sock. The
sock can be further held at its upper end by winding adhesive tape
36 around its upper end and up around the wire binding 14 (see FIG.
4). Alternatively, the sock can be secured at its upper end to the
broom head by inserting it under the wire binding 14 before
tightening the binding 14. A conventional ornamental band 37 can
then be slipped over the broom head to conceal the tape 36.
The sock 33, being knitted, provides a coarse outer surface for the
cover 20. A coarse surface is desired because it is this surface
which contacts the ice during sweeping, and the surface should be
rough to rub against the ice and dislodge any foreign matter, and
to polish the ice. Vigorously sweeping the ice with the broom can
produce a thin film of water like that obtained by sweeping with a
conventional curling broom. The outer surface of the cover is soft
and free of hard portions that might score the ice.
The sock 33 is preferably made of synthetic fibres, such as the
polyester nylon, having a fibrous surface. Such a knitted sock is
stretchable. However, as already noted, the intermediate tube 23a,
which is fixed at its upper end to the broom, is relatively
inextensible and has a fibrous covering 23b. This covering cannot
be displaced from the tube 23a, being attached to it by peripheral
stitching 24, 26, 29, by one or more rows of longitudinal stitching
22, and by the tapes 28, 30 and 36. The fibrous covering 23b is in
close contact with the sock 33 and holds the sock against
stretching and twisting relative to the rest of the broom. A
suitable fibrous covering 23b is provided by the polyethylene
terephthalate (polyester) fibre sold by CEL-CIL Fibres Limited
under the trade mark "Fortrel"; this is a fuzzy or hairy material
that clings to the sock and does an excellent job of holding the
sock in place. It also provides a cushion as the sides of the broom
strike the ice during vigorous sweeping.
Where the outer layer or sock 33 is made of nylon it has a long
life, but if the sock becomes worn it can easily be replaced by
removing the tape 36. If bits of broom corn break off, they collect
in the closed end of the tube 21 of cover 20 and are not strewn on
the ice, and they do not interfere with the use of the broom. The
sock 33 protects the bristles from wear, and a broom made as shown
in FIGS. 1 to 5 can outwear a conventional broom without having to
replace the sock, but the sock can be replaced, as noted above, if
it is torn or worn.
To ensure that the broom has about the same weight and "feel" as a
conventional broom, the number of bristles 17 at the lower end can
be reduced about 15 percent as compared to a conventional broom,
the resultant loss of weight being compensated for by the weight of
the cover. If it is desired to vary the flexibility or "flop" of
the broom, the stiffness of the cover can be increased by winding a
tape around its midportion.
FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate an alternative construction in which the
cover 20' does not provide as much protection for the broom corn,
and does not prevent broken bits from reaching the ice but which
nevertheless provides a broom with an excellent sweeping action,
the bristles below their tight bindings 14 and 15 being collected
by the cover. The cover 20' consists of only two layers, the inner
layer 41 being a tube made from a woven sheet of "Fabrene" similar
to the sheet from which tube 23a was made in the first embodiment.
The outer layer 43 is a softer tubular sock of knitted nylon.
Before the tube 41 is put onto the broom head the lower ends of the
tube 41 and sock 43 are fastened together by sewing, glue, tape,
staples or other means, as at 44. Then the cover is pulled over the
handle 10 and down the broom to the position shown in FIG. 7, where
a tight binding 45 is stitched around the upper end of the tube 41
and through the broom head and is connected by ties 45a to the
bindings 15 and 14. Tape 46, adhesive on both sides, is wound
around the upper end of the tube 41 and then the upper end of the
sock 43 is pressed onto this tape 46 and sticks to the tape, or
alternatively the upper end of the sock can be fastened under the
metal binding 14. A further layer of tape (not shown) similar to
the tape 36 of FIG. 4, and adhesive on its inner surface only, is
then wound around the upper part of the sock and over the bindings
15 and 14, and an ornamental band 37 is slipped over this. Because,
in this embodiment, both ends of the sock 43 are attached to the
corresponding ends of the relatively inextensible tube 41, no
intermediate layer is required to hold the sock against being
stretched out of shape, although the sock between its ends can
stretch and oscillate relative to the tube 41 during sweeping as
the sock is brought into contact with and drawn over the ice
surface. In the construction of FIGS. 1 to 5, where the cover
extends around the lower end of the broom, the sock (save at its
upper end) is preferably free of tight attachment to the other
parts of the broom, particularly at its lower end, but the
frictional grip of the intermediate layer 23b permits limited
oscillation of the sock relative to the tube 23a while restraining
the sock from being pulled out of shape.
In the broom of FIGS. 6 to 8 the tips of the bristles 17 contact
the ice, and these tips are held in a compact bundle by the cover
20' which is sufficiently loose-fitting and sufficiently smooth on
its innermost surface that it does not impede relative sliding of
the bristles. During vigorous sweeping the sock 43 also contacts
the ice, and its coarse outer surface does an effective sweeping
job.
In FIG. 9 is shown another arrangement of inner and intermediate
layers of a curling broom cover, for use instead of the assembly
21, 23a and 23b shown in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the
inner layer 51 is a polyvinyl chloride sheet similar to the layer
or lining 21, but the intermediate layer consists of a tube 53a of
closely woven and durable cloth of, for example, nylon, or the
material sold by E.I. DuPont de Nemours under the trade mark
"Dacron". To the outside of tube 53a is adhered a soft fibrous
covering 53b of "Fortrel" or the like. In the embodiment shown, the
inner and intermediate layers 5l, 53a, 53b are formed into a tube
by a line of stitching 52, and inside the tube, opposite the
stitching 52, is inserted a strip 54 of woven "Fabrene" material,
the strip 54 being approximately as wide as the head of the broom.
This strip 54 provides smooth reinforcement for the tube opposite
the reinforcement provided by the stitching 52, in an area where
the tube is likely to wear. The lower part of the strip 54 can be
stitched to the layers 51, 53a, 53b, and its upper end is bent
over, as at 54a, and stitched with the rest of the tube to the head
of the broom in the same way as the tube 23a of FIG. 1. The lower
end of the tube of FIG. 9 can be taped shut, as at 55, and of
course the tube is then enclosed by a flexible, coarse, but soft
covering, as for example by a knitted sock similar to the sock 33
heretofore described.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the preferred way of fastening the broom
cover to the broom head. The cover illustrated consists of an
inner, relatively inextensible, flexible tube 58a (which could be
the same as the tube 23a of FIGS. 1 to 5, or as the tube 53a of
FIG. 9), closed at its lower end (not shown) and an outer knitted
sock 60. Instead of being stitched to the broom head 11 the tube
58a is suspended by a pair of identical elastic bands 62 (only one
band 62 is visible in FIG. 10, the other being at the opposite side
of the broom). The bands 62 may consist of elastic webbing secured
to the tube 58a by stapling, stitching or other means, and pass at
their upper ends through buckles 63 hooked to a stiff wire loop 61
which fits loosely around the end of the head 11 close to the wire
binding 12. The longitudinal position of the tube 58a on the head
11 and the tension in the bands 62 can be adjusted by adjustment of
the bands 62 relative to the buckles 63. When the head 11 is flexed
the bands 62 stretch, the tube 58a moving downwardly as the
bristles of the head slide relative to one another. When the head
11 ceases to be flexed the bands 62 restore the tube 58a to its
position before flexure. The outer sock 60 is sufficiently long
that it can be clasped around the top of the head 11 by an elastic
band or web 64 secured by a dome fastener 65. The longitudinal
tension in the sock 60 can be adjusted by stretching the sock to
the desired extent before wrapping the band 64 around it. The
securement of the cover to the broom by means of the bands 62, 64
makes it possible to adjust the inner and outer parts of the cover
independently and also makes it easy to remove the parts for
replacement if necessary. To prevent undue stretching of the sock
60 the tube 58a should have a fibrous covering (not shown) similar
to the covering 23b of FIG. 1.
* * * * *