EP2394798A1

EP2394798A1 - Device comprising an articulated handle with specific housing on broom or brush or other implememt with multi angular positioning about two orthogonal axes

Info

Publication number: EP2394798A1
Application number: EP11075134A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ferlicca Lorenzo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-09
Filing date: 2011-06-09
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-09
Also published as: EP2394798B1; IT1400530B1; ITRM20100313A1

Abstract

Improved articulated handle (2) for broom or brush or other implement with two fast lock and unlock devices, activating by a knob (21) on the handle (2) and by two buttons (11) on the hinge (1), providing the user to operate with a wide number of angular positions of the broom or other implement, which can be rapidly changed.

Description

Device comprising an articulated handle with specific housing on broom or brush or other implement with multi angular positioning about two orthogonal axes

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to a device of the type comprising a handle for the use of broom or brush or other implement, herein named broom, and more particularly to the handles providing the possibility to set the broom at different angular positions in relation to the handle.

Background of the invention

The prior art discloses articulated handles connected by different kind of hinges to a broom with the purpose to change the inclination of the broom and keep a good sweeping position in particular when sweeping under furniture. Most of them provide this skill by means of an hinged joint between the handle and the broom pivoting about only one axis with the possibility to lock the broom.
The state of the art also include some other devices combining two different rotations of the broom about two orthogonal axes with the possibility to lock the broom for the purpose to increase the said sweeping effect and the manoeuvrability of the device.
The devices disclosed by documents EP 0 430 846 A1 - 05-06-1991 , us 1 687 953 A - 16-10-1928 , US 4 893 370 A - 16-01-1990 , comprise an articulated handle for cleaning implements with a locking device of two different rotation of the implement on two axes.
Although the improvement disclosed in said prior art, however it is possible to note a limited number of angular positions of said implements or a not user friendly activation of the locking device or the presence of a not functional size in proximity of the hinge.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to solve said problems improving a manual working device, in particular a cleaning device, and more specifically a broom, having an higher possibility of articulation of the handle and the broom as to maximize the operational flexibility.
The present invention disclose an articulated handle connected by a hinge to a broom or brush or other implement, herein named brown, comprising a first spring locking and unlocking device inside the handle, activated by means of a knob or similar along the handle, which allows the rotation of the broom up to 180°, by gravity or by hand, around the axis of the pivotal connection between the handle and the hinge, and also allows the locking of the broom at multiple predefined angular positions.
Comprise a second spring locking and unlocking device inside the hinge, activated by means of two buttons on both lateral sides of the hinge, which allows the rotation of the broom up to 360°, by hand, around the central rotational axis of the connection between the hinge and a specific housing on the broom-back, and also allows the locking of the broom at different predefined angular positions.
Both said axes are orthogonal.
Furthermore said second spring locking and unlocking device inside the hinge allows the fastening and unfastening of the hinge on the broom-back, so that it is possible to use the handle with another kind of broom or implement having the same said housing.
Each angular position of the broom around one rotation axis can be combined with each angular position around the other axis.
It is the object of the invention to provide:

a more efficient cleaning effect: for example when sweeping under domestic or industrial furniture, where it is possible for the operator to choose the better sweeping inclination on the flpor and the better orientation of the handle in respect to his position;
more contexts of use: the wide possibility of articulation allows, for example, to sweep on walls, inclined surfaces, ceilings, shelves, cars, camper, equipments, shutters, tents and so on;
an effective flexibility: the rapidity of the activation of the locking devices which allows to change constantly the operational setting, it is for example another skill the rapid unfastening of the broom and its manual use;
a multi tasking device: it is possible to use different implements with one handle;
an easy transport device: unfastening the broom, for example, it is easier to put it on a car;
a less cumbersome device/a compact device: it is possible choosing the best inclination when putting back or unfastening the broom.

Brief description of the drawings

The drawings show an embodiment of the device in which the implement is a broom, for example purposes only:

Fig. 1 shows a frontal side view of the device;
Fig. 2 shows a frontal side view of the hinge (1), the handle (2), the housing (3), the broom-back (4), the anular knob (21) and the buttons (11);
Fig. 3 and 4 shows lateral side views of the device representing five angular positions predefined around the rotation axis up to 180° of the pivotal connection between the handle and the hinge;
Fig. 5 shows a up side view of the device representing four angular positions predefined around the rotation axis up to 360° of the connection between the hinge and the broom;
Fig. from 6 to 14 shows perspective views of the device representing the possible combinations between the angular positions predefined on both rotation axes;
Fig. 15 shows a frontal side view of the hinge (1);
Fig. 16 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the hinge representing five notches (6) corresponding to the angular positions predefined around the rotation axis up to 180° around the geometrical axis x;
Fig. 17 shows a perspective up side view of the supports (5);
Fig. 18 shows a perspective down side view of the base (9) of the hinge;
Fig. 19 shows a perspective sectional view of the hinge representing one of the locking device;
Fig. 20 shows a frontal side view of the pivotal pin (16) having a terminal ring (17);
Fig. 21 shows a perspective longitudinal sectional view of the handle (2), the pin (16) and the hinge (1) representing one of the locking device;
Fig. 22 shows a perspective view of the housing (3) and the hinge (1);
Fig. 23 shows an up side view of the housing (3) representing four angular positions predefined around the rotation axis up to 360° around the geometrical axis y;
Fig. 24 shows a frontal side view of the hinge (1) representing the buttons (11) and the screws (13) compressed by the spring (12) inside the tubular axis (7);
Fig. 25 shows a perspective view of the housing (3) and the hinge (1) representing the buttons (11) and the screws (13) when compressed by hand;
Fig. 26 shows a down side view of the base (9) of the hinge fastened in the housing (3) representing the locking and unlocking positions of the screws (13) and the clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the base (9) of the hinge or of the housing (4) on the broom-back and the locking on a different angular position.

Detailed description of a preferential embodiment

With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the device comprise a hinge (1), a handle (2), a housing (3) on the broom-back (4)
With reference to Fig. 15, 16, 17,: 18 and 19, the hinge has two semicircular lateral support (5); a sequence of notches (6) are placed along the internal edges of both supports (5) at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135° and 180°; a tubular axis (7) is fixed in two holes (8) on both supports (5); the hinge has a circular base (9); two slots (10) extent from the tubular axis (7) until the bottom of the base (9); two cylindrical buttons (11) are fitted inside the tubular axis (7) partially coming out from external ends of both supports (5); a compression spring (12) is inside the tubular axis (7) between the two buttons (11); two screws (13) are fixed in the segment of the buttons (11) resting inside the tubular axis (7), so that its upturned heads and a segment of its stems vertically come out from the bottom of the base (9) of the hinge through the slots (10).
With reference to Fig. 20 and 21 the pin (16) joining the handle and the hinge (1) is fixed in the end of the handle having a ring termination (17) pivoting on the tubular axis (7) of the hinge (1) between the two supports (5) its adjacent; a spring (18) inside the pin compress the plate (19) toward the hinge (1); the plate (19) is rectangular and substancially as wide as the internal diameter of the handle and as thick and strong material made as to guarantee a strong locking engagement; the plate (19) is in a constraining guide of the pin (16) as to slide keeping its main sides substancially on the same plane of the geometric rotation axis x of the hinge (1); both lower corners (20) of the plate, under pressure of the spring (18), come out from the end of the handle on both sides of the termination ring (17) engaging two of the notches (6) along both internal edges of both supports (5).
With reference to Fig. 22 and 23, the housing (3) on the broom-back (4) has a circular cavity (14) having on its internal circular edge a sequence of vertical grooves (15) specifically fitted as to allow the engagement of the screws (13); the grooves (15) are placed as specular couples around the geometrical rotation axis y at '0° and 180°, 45° and 225°, 90° and 270, 135° and 315°, where the first couple, 0° and 180°, lies parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the broom.
In operation:

With reference to Fig. 20 and 21, lifting up the anular knob (21) along the handle the plate (19) disengage the notches (6) allowing the rotation of the broom up to 180° around axis x, by gravity or by hand; releasing the anular knob (21) the plate (19) engage another couple of notches at a new degree.

With reference to Fig. 24, 25 and 26, the screws (13), following the centripetal and centrifugal movement of the buttons (11) provided by hand pressure and by the opposite pressure of the spring (12), slide keeping their vertical orientation in slots (10) which are fitted as to serve as a limit and a guide of the sliding; released the buttons (11) the heads of the screws (13) engages one couple of opposite grooves (15) in the housing on the broom-back (4), providing at the same time the fastening the base of the hinge (9) on the broom and its angular positioning; pushing the buttons (11) the broom can be unfastened or rotated, clockwise or anticlockwise, until a different angular position.

According to the described preferred embodiment, each angular position of the broom around each rotation axis can be combined with each angular position around the other orthogonal axis, as shown in drawings, from Fig. 3 to Fig. 14.

Claims

Device of the type comprising an articulated handle connected by different kind of hinges to a broom of bruoh or other implement herein named broom, which provides the possibility to set the broom at different angular positions in relation to the handle, characterized in that :
- a first spring locking and unlocking device inside the handle activated by means of a knob or similar along the handle allows a rotation of the broom up to 180° by gravity or by hand around the axis of the pivotal connection between the handle and the hinge, and allows the locking of the broom at multiple predefined angular positions;

- a second spring locking and unlocking device inside the hinge activated by means of two buttons on both lateral sides of the hinge allows a rotation of the broom up to 360° by hand around the central rotational axis of the connection between said base of the hinge and said housing on the broom, and allows the locking of the broom at different predefined angular positions;

- both said axes are orthogonal;

- said second spring locking and unlocking device inside the hinge also allows the fastening and unfastening of the broom with the possibility to change the implement having the same said housing;

- each angular position of the broom around each rotation axis can be combined with each angular position around the other orthogonal axis.
Device as in claim 1 wherein said first spring locking and unlocking device is characterized in that:
- a rectangular plate made of the appropriate material and thickness as to guarantee a strong locking engagement and substancially as wide as the internal diameter of the handle slides inside the handle in a constraining guide as to keep its main sides substancially on the same plane of said 180° rotation axis;

- said sliding of said plate is provided by the compression of an internal spring toward the hinge and by the lifting up of said knob along the handle its linked by an internal rod or wire or similar;

- said sliding make said plate to engage and disengage with its lower corners, coming out from the end of the handle on both sides of the ring termination of the handle, a couple of fitting notches placed at different degrees along the internal semicircular hedges of two supports of the hinge adjacent to said ring termination of the handle pivoting between them.
Device as in claim 1 wherein said second spring locking and unlocking device is characterized in that:
- said two buttons on both lateral sides of the hinge slides inside a rigid tube which serve as rotation axis of said pivotal connection between the handle and the hinge;

- a compression spring is inside said tube between said buttons as to keep both said buttons under a centrifugal pressure;

- said sliding of said buttons its centripetal under the manual compression oh the buttons;

- two screws or other element likewise shaped are fixed in the segment of both said buttons resting inside the tubular axis so that its upturned heads and a segment of its stems vertically come out from the base of the hinge through slots extended all along the thickness of said base of the hinge following the same said centripetal and centrifugal sliding of said buttons;

- said slots are fitted as to serve as a limit and a guide of said sliding of said screws;

- said housing on the broom has a circular cavity having on its internal circular edge a sequence of vertical grooves specifically fitted as to allow the engagement of said screws;

- said grooves are made in a sequence of specular couples disposed at different degrees around said 360° rotation axis, each couple corresponding to one angular position of the broom;

- said sliding of said screwe allows its engaging and disengaging said grooved of said housing on the broom providing at the same time the locking of the broom at one of the different angular position and the fastening and unfastening of said base of the hinge on the broom.
Device as in claims 1 characterized in that said multiple predefined angular positions of the broom around said 180° rotation axis are predefined at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135° and 180°.
Device as in claims 1 characterized in that said multiple predefined angular positions of the broom around said 360° rotation axis are predefined at 0°, 45°, 90° and 135° where the angular position at 0° or 180° lies parallel with the longitudinal axis of the broom.