CA2623981A1

CA2623981A1 - Broom

Info

Publication number: CA2623981A1
Application number: CA 2623981
Authority: CA
Inventors: David Mitchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-11
Filing date: 2008-03-11
Publication date: 2009-09-11

Abstract

A broom and dustpan combination is provided wherein the broom has a handle and a brush head and a support yoke attaching the handle to the brush head. The support yoke has a generally triangular outline defining a dustpan seat and a dustpan has a tray portion and a handle adapted to be detachably retained in the dustpan seat.

Description

BROOM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority on US Provisional Patent Application files March 9, 2007, which is incorporated here by reference.
BACKGROt7ND OF INVENTION
[000211. Field of lnvention The present invention relates to brooms and more particularly to a broom having a dustpan integrrated with the broom for storftge.
1000312. Description of Related Art 100041 Most push brooms are T - shaped and are subject to forces that tend to break or otherwise damage the joint between the broom handle and the broom head or brush.
[0005]'fhere are push brooms that have metal arms extending from a location on the broom handle to spaced apart positions on the shoulders of the brush. However these reinforcement arms tend to double the price of the broom.
10006J More recently brooms are sold with a dustpan that can be clipped on to the broom handle. The handle of the dustpan is usually c-shaped, in cross section to allow the handle to be clasped onto the broom handle. However the broom is seldom used with the dustpan because the dustpan tends to flop around and separated from the broom.
Therefore the dustpan is most often removed from the broom handle before the broom is used, thus nullifying an advantage of the combined broom and dustpan.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[00071 It is an aim of the present invention to provide a reinforced push broom which is economical.
[0008] It is a 1'uriher aim of the present invention to provide a combined broom and dustpan that is more practical and where the dustpan wiff not be readily disengaged from the broom when the broom is utilized for sweeping.

100091 Tn one aspect of the present invention there is provided a broom having a handle and a brush head having laterally extending shoulders, the handle attached to the brush :
head by a support yoke having at least two arms extending from the haztdle to the laterally extending shoulders whereby the brush head and handle are securely attached.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention a broom and dustpan combination are provided whcrein the brooni has a handle and a brush head and a support yoke attaching the handle to the brush head; the support yoke having a generalfy triangular outline defming a dustpan seat and a dustpan having a tray portion and a handle adapted to be detachably retained in the dustpan seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TfIE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a broom taken from the prior art;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the broom in accordance with Fig. 1;
[0013] FIG, 3 is a perspective view showing another example of a push broom found in the prior art;
[0014[ FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a push broom according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the of the push broom according to Fig.
4;
[00161 FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly exploded, showing a second embodiment of the present invention in which a dustpan is combined with the push broom', [00171 FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the broom and dustpan, according to the embodiment in Fig. 6, are assembled;
(0018] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-section showing the broom and dustpan in a disassembled position;
100191 FIG. 9 is a longitudina.l cross-section as shown in Fig. 8 wherein the dustpan is in a position of being assembled or disassembled from the broom head;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-section similar to Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the dustpan and broom are shown fully assembled;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a transverse cross-section taken along lines 11-11 of Fig.
8;
(0022] FIG. 12 is a transverse cross-section taken along line 12-12 of Fig.
10;
[0023] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the broom including a dustpan;
[0024] FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-section ofthe embodiment shown in Fig.
13;
[0025] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the broom including a dustpan;
[0026] FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross-section of the embodiment shown in Fig.
15;
[0027] FIG. 17 is a longitudinal cross-section similar to Fig. 16 with the dustpan in a position being removed or inserted;
[0028] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the push broom in accordance with Fig. 4;
[0029] FIG. 19 is a still further embodiment of the push broom according to the present invention; and [0030] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the push broom.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a push broom 5 having a handle 7 and a brush 8. The brush 8 extends laterally from the juncture with handle 7. This is considered a weak point for such a broom as the levcrage created at the brush extremities can damage the juncture with the handle. However Fig. 3 shows the same broom 5 with metal braces 1]
extending from the handle 7 to the shoulders 9 o1'the bcush S.
[0032] Tlte push broom 12 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 includes a broom handlc 14 joined to a triangular support yoke 15 which mounts the brush head 16. The support yoke 15 includes arms 18 and 20. Each arm 18 or 20, preferably moulded firom plastics material such as polypropylene or polyethylene, includes an inwardly extending longituclinal rib 22, 24 respectively and transverse ribs 26. The arms 18 and 20 could be fabricated from other materials such as suitable metals and other plastics.
[00331 Thc brush head 16 includes a brush base 29 with shoulders 30 and 32 as well as bristles 34. The support arms 18, 20 are connected to the extremities ot'the base 29 as will be described further. The handle 14 is tightly fitted into a socket 54 formed at the apex of the support yoke 15. Reinforcement webs 28 are provided on each side of the socket 54 as shown.
[0034] Referring now to Fig. 6, a dustpan 36 is shown adapted to be combined with the push broom 12. The dustpan includes a tray 38 having a lip 39, side walls 40, 41 and rear wall 43. A handle 42 is formed in the body of the dustpan 36 as shown:
including openings 44 and 46 defined by peripheral walls 48, 50 and the handle 42. This configurativn, including wall 48, 50 provides protection to a person's hand when the dustpan 36 is being utilized. The handle 42 is C-shaped with the opening towards the rear of the dustpan 36.
[0035] The dustpan 36 is moulded in one piece from suitable plastics material and is designed to 1=it within, the seat formed by the support yoke 15. The tzuverse ribs 26 will ensure that the dustpan 36 will be guided to ensure correct positioning witlun the seat.
The angle of entry of the ribs 26 as well as the walls 40, 41 are provided to ensure smooth entrance for the dustpan into the seat. The front edges of ribs 26 act as stoppers for the dustpan 36 when it is inserted in the scat. The walls 40, 41 and 48, 50 are provided with a continuous flange 49. This flange could also act as a stopper.
[00361 The unique handle 42 forcned integrally within the contours of the dustpan 36 including t[ie walls 48, 50 act as a shield for the user's hand when utilising the dustpan 36. Furthez'more the rear wall 43 shields the user's hand against debris in the tray 38.
100371 The rib 58 on the interior of the handle 42, as shown in Figs. 8 through 12, is meant to clip onto an extension 56 of the socket 54. A ledge 52 is provided on the front edge of brush base 29. The ledge 52 is meant to engage the lip 39 on the brush base 29.
Thus the lip 39 and ledge 52 as wcll as rib 58 and extension 56 will retain the dustpan 36 in the seat Potmed by the support yoke 15.
[0038] The configuration of the support yoke 15 and the dustpan 36: including the unique handle 42, will ensure the stability of the dustpan seated on the push broom 12 when the push broom 12 is being used.
[0039]Figs. 13 to 17 illustrate an embodiment that may be used as a straight broom or everyday household broom. The broom 112 shown in Figs, 13 and 14 is shown having a more simplified support yoke 115 adapted to receive the dustpn.n 36. The broom shown in Figs. 15 to 17 is shown with a dustpan 136. Dustpan 136 has a more conventional construction with handle 142 projecting upwardly and parallel to the handle 114 of the broom 112, T},e tray 138 and side wails 140, 141 of the dustpan 136, fit snugly within the opening defined by the support yoke 115 of the broom 112 while the C-shaped handle 142 including rib 158 can clip on the broom handle 114. In the embodi-uent of the broom 112, it is noted that the dustpan 36 or 136 can be stored on the broom 112 frorr, either side.
[0040) Figs 18 and 19 show variants of the support yoke 115. In the variant shown in Fig.
18 the arms 18 and 20 are shown as separate members (for ease of moulding).
Fig. 19 illustrates a pair of support arms adapted to be clipped on to a replaceable brush head 16.
Studs 62 may be provide on the brush base 29 while matching openings are provided on the ends of the arms 18 and 20.
(0041JOther means of fastening the arms to the brush head may be cotitemplated. It is also contexnplated to mould the brush base 29 as one piece with the support yoke 15.
f00421 Fig. 20 illustrates a push brush 212 with a support yoke 215 provided with a wall 219. The dustpan, not shown would fit within the tray formed by the walls 218, 220 and 219.

Claims

1. A broom having a handle and a brush head having laterally extending shoulders, the handle attached to the brush head by a support yoke having at least two arms extending from the handle to the laterally extending shoulders whereby the brush head and handle are securely attached.

2. A broom and dustpan combination wherein the broom has a handle and a brush head and a support yoke attaching the handle to the brush head; the support yoke having a generally triangular outline defining a dustpan seat and a dustpan having a tray portion and a handle adapted to be detachably retained in the dustpan seat.

3. A broom and dustpan as defined in claim 2 wherein the support yoke includes a pair of arms defining the dustpan seat and the dustpan has sidewalls adapted to be guided by the pair of arms to fit within the seat when the dustpan is not in use.

4. The broom and dustpan combination as defined in claim 3 wherein a forward ledge is formed on the brush head to engage a lip of the dustpan and a clasp is formed between the handle of the dustpan and the support yoke near the broom handle whereby the dustpan is securely retained within the seat formed by the support yoke.

5. A broom as defined in Claim 1 wherein the two arms each extend from the handle to the broom where the broom has laterally extending shoulders and the dustpan and wherein the arms form with the broom head a reinforced triangular structure.

6. A broom as defined in Claim 3 wherein the two arms each extend from the handle to the broom where the broom has laterally extending shoulders and the dustpan and wherein the arms form with the broom head a reinforced triangular structure.

7. An implement for sweeping including a handle and a sweeping head that has laterally extending shoulders and a support yoke between the sweeping head and the handle wherein the support yoke forms a triangular structure for reinforcing the attachment of the handle to the sweeping head.