FR3078645A1 - DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING A HOUSEHOLD SHOVEL TO A HANDLE, HOUSEHOLD SHOVEL, AND HANDLE EQUIPPED WITH THE DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly device (2) comprises: - first assembly means, intended to cooperate with second assembly means arranged on the shovel (50), - first guiding means for cooperating with second means guide means arranged on the shovel (50) to guide the assembly of the shovel (50) and the handle (100), - first fastening means for cooperating with second fastening means arranged on the handle (100). The shovel (50) and the handle (100) equipped with the connecting device (2) at one of its ends can be removably assembled. Application for domestic use for household waste scavenging.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of instruments for household cleaning. It relates more particularly to instruments for sweeping, such as brooms and household shovels.

A broom generally consists of a handle having one end capable of receiving a sweeping accessory such as a brush comprising more or less flexible bristles.

A classic household shovel consists of a container and a handle. The container has a substantially flat bottom and has a rim which rises from the bottom over part of its periphery. In contrast to the part of the periphery which has no rim, the shovel is provided with a handle, which is generally parallel to the plane of the bottom of the container, or slightly inclined with respect to this plane.

Anyone who has to carry out a household cleaning task consisting in sweeping up waste, for example dust or broken glass, then collecting it in a conventional household shovel, faces the constraint of having to bend down and then get up.

Indeed, the person must first bend down, to hold the handle of the shovel in one hand in order to hold the said shovel against the ground, while handling a broom or brush with the other hand, to push the waste in order to allow them to enter the shovel container through the part without a rim. Then the person must get up by holding the shovel by the handle, before pouring the contents into a collecting container, such as a trash can.

For people with back pain, or for the elderly, or for people with physical disabilities, stooping and getting up can be impossible or problematic.

In order to remedy this kind of difficulty, it has been proposed to provide household shovels with a handle, more elongated than the handle of a conventional shovel, making it possible to handle them without bending or lowering less than with the classic shovels.

Document GB2168599 discloses such a shovel provided with a handle which extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bottom of the shovel. Although the handle is foldable against the bottom of the shovel, its length significantly increases the overall size of the shovel compared to the size of a conventional shovel. Storing such a shovel with a handle is therefore more difficult than storing a conventional shovel with a simple handle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the problem of bending down and getting up when handling a broom and a shovel to collect waste.

The shovel is provided with immobilizing means which allow the sweeper to immobilize the shovel on the ground while pushing the waste therein, without having to bend down.

The shovel is removably assembled to a handle, by means of an assembly device. So the person sweeping can lift the shovel containing waste, using the handle assembled with the shovel. This lifting operation is carried out without the person having to stoop down, simply, efficiently and quickly.

The assembly is removable, that is to say that the shovel and the handle can be assembled and disassembled. This makes it possible to store the shovel independently of the handle, and not to have to provide a storage space different from that of a conventional shovel.

The assembly device is intended to be arranged at one end of a handle for assembling said handle with the shovel. He understands :

- first assembly means, intended to cooperate with second assembly means arranged on the shovel to produce said assembly,

- first guide means, intended to cooperate with second guide means arranged on the shovel to guide the assembly of the shovel and the handle,

The assembly device further comprises first fixing means for fixing it to one end of the handle, which cooperate with second fixing means provided on the handle.

The handle is preferably a broom handle adapted to receive at one of its ends a sweeping accessory such as a brush. Said second fixing means are preferably arranged at its other end.

The shovel includes:

- second assembly means, intended to cooperate with the first assembly means of the assembly device,

- Second guide means, intended to cooperate with the first guide means of the assembly device.

The second assembly means the second guide means are located on the handle of the shovel.

The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of a shovel according to the invention and a handle on which is fixed the assembly device, assembly in which the shovel and the handle can be assembled in a removable manner.

In other words, the person having to perform a sweeping task can use the shovel and the broom handle equipped with a brush separately from each other, as with a conventional shovel. He can also assemble them by means of the assembly device according to the invention, which is fixed to the end of the broom handle opposite the end carrying the brush, then lift the shovel by means of the handle to bring the latter at the level of his hands without having to bend down, in order to pour the waste contained in the shovel into an appropriate collecting container.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows of a particular embodiment, provided by way of illustration and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly device;

- Figure 2 is a front view of an assembly device;

- Figure 3 is a side view of an assembly device;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a shovel;

- Figure 5 is an enlarged top view of the handle of a shovel;

- Figure 6 is an enlarged bottom view of the handle of a shovel;

- Figure 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the handle of a shovel;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of a shovel and the end of a handle equipped with an assembly device, in the pre-assembly position;

- Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shovel and the end of a handle equipped with an assembly device, at the start of assembly;

- Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shovel and the end of a handle equipped with an assembly device, at the end of assembly;

- Figure 11 is a side view of the assembly of a shovel and a handle equipped with an assembly device.

Figures 1 to 3 show an assembly device 2 according to the invention, respectively in perspective, in front view and in side view.

The assembly device 2 comprises a base 4 arranged centrally between a first extension 6, a second extension 8, and an appendage 10.

The base 4 comprises a body 40, a first active portion 42 and a second active portion 44. The two active portions 42, 44 are arranged on either side of the body 40 along a first axis identified in the figures by the reference X.

The first active portion 42 has substantially the shape of a cylinder trunk which extends along a second axis identified in the figures by the reference Y. The two axes X, Y are perpendicular to each other and substantially intersect at the center of the first active portion 42.

The second active portion 44 is substantially in the form of a base connected on one side to the body 40 of the base 4 and having a plate 46 on the side opposite to said body 40. The plate 46 extends along a plane which is both perpendicular to the first X axis and parallel to the second Y axis.

The first extension 6 generally has a hook shape and extends substantially along the axis X from the first active portion 42 of the base 4. It comprises a body 60 which is extended by a bulge 62 which returns towards the first active portion 42, so that a groove 64 is defined between said bulge 62 and the body 60 of said first extension 6.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the direction of the groove 64 is substantially parallel to the axis Y of the first active portion 42.

The second extension 8 extends along the X axis from the second active portion 44 of the base 4. It is centered on the X axis and rests on the plate 46.

The second extension 8 comprises a core 80, constituted, in the example illustrated in the figures, by radial ribs extending over the entire length of said second extension 8, in the direction of the axis X.

In a first zone, close to the second active part 44 of the base 4, the core 80 supports a cage-like structure 82. In a second zone, close to the free end of said second extension 8, the core 80 supports radial fins 84 (two in number in the figures) which are substantially parallel to the plate 46.

The cage-like structure 82 and the fins 84 are generally in a cylinder. Their role will be explained later in the detailed description.

Appendix 10 extends in the extension of the body 40 of the base 4 along a third axis identified in the figures by the reference Z, which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis X and to the second axis Y. In the example illustrated in the figures , the appendix 10 has substantially the shape of a triangle having a side 12 parallel to the third axis Z and another side 14 which joins the first active portion 42 of the base 4.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a household shovel 50 according to the invention.

In the same way as a conventional shovel, the shovel 50 comprises a container 60 and a handle 70.

In known manner, the container 60 is provided with a substantially flat bottom 62 and a rim 64 rising from the bottom 62 on a part of the periphery of the container 60. Towards the part of the periphery devoid of rim, the bottom 62 is extended by an entry zone 66 through which the waste enters the container 60.

According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the entry area 66 is sloping. Its free edge 68 is substantially at the same level as the bottom 62, while it is raised on the side of its junction with the bottom 62. Such a geometry contributes to preventing the waste from escaping from the container 60 once they have been harvested.

Optionally, the free edge 68 of the entry zone can be provided with a strip (not shown in the figures) made of a material different from that of the rest of the shovel 50, for example rubber chosen for its anti-slip qualities. .

Optionally, the shovel 50 has teeth 72 arranged on the top of the rim 64. The role of the teeth 72 consists in separating the dust retained between the bristles of a broom brush, when said brush is rubbed against said teeth 72, so that this dust falls into container 60.

According to a first variant (not shown in the figures), the teeth 72 rise in the extension of the rim 64, parallel to said rim. According to a second, preferred variant, the teeth 72 extend from the rim 64, at an angle with said rim 64. In the example illustrated in the figures, the angle is substantially a right angle. With this second variant, the efficiency of dust collection is improved.

The shovel 50 also includes immobilizing means 74 which allow the person sweeping to immobilize the shovel 50 on the ground while pushing the waste into the container 60 by means of a sweeping accessory, such as a brush, without having to bend down.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the immobilization means 74 of the shovel 50 are constituted by two ears 74 projecting laterally from the container 60.

The ears 74 have a regular thickness so that their upper surface is substantially flat. For example, this thickness can be analogous to the thickness of the bottom 62.

In the example illustrated in the figures:

the ears 74 are located towards the free end 68 of the entry area 66,

the ears are separated from the entry area 66 by an extension 76 of the rim 64,

- The ears 74 have a substantially triangular shape with a rounded tip.

As with a conventional shovel, the handle 70 is arranged on the rim 64 of the container 60 of the shovel 50, opposite the entry zone 66.

The handle 70 is shown on a larger scale, respectively in top view, in bottom view and in longitudinal section, in FIGS. 5 to 7.

The handle 70 has a substantially elongated shape along a handle axis identified in the figures by the reference W (see Figures 5 and 6). It can be handled in the same way as a conventional shovel handle by a person in charge of a sweeping task.

In the example illustrated in the figures, without limitation, the handle 70 is arranged so as to ensure continuity of its profile with the profile of the rim 64 of the container 60 (see FIG. 7).

According to the invention, the handle 70 is substantially hollow and open upwards when the shovel 50 is placed on the ground in the service position.

The handle 70 comprises two successive sections: a first section 72 close to the rim 64 of the container 60 and a second section 74 remote from said rim 64.

The first section 72 is presented as a bowl having substantially the hollow shape of a cylinder trunk. More specifically, the internal shape of the first section 72 is generally complementary to the shape of the first active portion 42 of the base 4 of the assembly device 2.

In a direction perpendicular to the axis W, the first section 72 is limited by side walls 73. In the example illustrated, these walls 73 have the overall shape of a half-disc.

The first section 72 is also provided with an opening 76 which crosses its bottom (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6). The presence of the opening 76 has the consequence that the bottom of the first section 72 consists of two lateral strips 77, each located between said opening 76 and one of the lateral walls 73.

The connection of the first section 72 with the rim 64 of the container 60 is carried out by means of two supports 78 which are projected onto said rim 64 from the first section 72. Each support 78 is presented as a solid wall of substantially triangular shape, one of which side is secured to the rim 64 and of which another side is secured to the outer face of the first section 72.

The two supports 78 are arranged on either side of the opening 76. In the example illustrated, the opening 76 has a substantially rectangular section, and the two supports 78 are in the extension of the two lateral sides of the opening 76, that is to say its two sides which are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction W of the handle 70.

A pan 90 extends between the two supports 78, along a plane perpendicular to the planes of the supports 78. The pan 90 is inclined relative to the rim 64 of the container 60. In the example illustrated in the figures, the pan 90 and the rim 64 of the container 60 constitute two substantially flat surfaces which meet at an angle A (FIG. 7). The angle A is linked to the inclination of the rim 64 of the container 60 of the shovel 50.

The pan 90 extends downwards when the shovel 50 is placed on the ground in the service position. It runs along the opening 76 and exceeds it.

The two supports 78, the pan 90 and the rim 64 of the container 60 delimit a housing 92 open downwards when the shovel 50 is placed on the ground in the service position. The volume of the housing 92 depends on the angle A, which is preferably between 20 and 40 degrees. In the example illustrated in the figures, the angle A is substantially 30 degrees.

The second section 74 is presented as an elongated basin, narrower than the first section 72. It has on its inner face, that is to say at the bottom of the basin, a longitudinal projection 94 and two transverse projections 96.

The longitudinal projection 94 extends in the direction of the axis W over a part of the second section 74 from the edge of the opening 76 of the first section 72, without going to the end of the second section 74.

The transverse projections 96 extend between the two side walls of the second section 74 in the form of a basin, in planes substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the axis W. They overlap the longitudinal projection 94. They do not exceed above the edges of the second section 74.

The presence of the longitudinal projection 94 and the transverse projections 96 has the effect of reinforcing the resistance to deformation of the second section 74 of the handle 70 of the shovel 50. Their role will be detailed below.

At the end of the second section 74, the handle can optionally be provided with a hole 98. As with a conventional shovel, this hole 98 can be useful for storing the shovel 50 by allowing it to be hooked to a nail , or equivalent accessory, provided on a wall or on the wall of a closet.

The assembly device 2 and the shovel 50 are preferably made of plastic, for example polyamide, and in particular polyamide loaded with glass fibers. They can be obtained by an injection molding process.

We will now describe, in relation to FIGS. 8 to 10, how the different characteristics of the shovel 50 and of the assembly device 2 cooperate in order to assemble the shovel 50 and a handle 100 on which the assembly device 2.

The handle 100 can be a conventional handle available commercially. Preferably, it is a metal handle, the metal preferably being anodized aluminum.

The attachment of the assembly device 2 to one end of the handle 100 is a final, non-removable attachment. This attachment is visible in Figures 9 and 10 which are sectional views.

The cage-like structure 82 and the fins 84 of the first extension 8 of the assembly device 2 constitute first fixing means.

The second fixing means consist of the terminal segment 102 of the end of the handle 100, the inner wall of which is hollow, cylindrical and smooth, and the inner diameter of which is adapted so that the second extension 8 of the assembly device 2 either forced entry into said terminal segment 102. The fixing is maintained by friction between the cage-shaped structure 82 and the interior wall of the terminal segment 102, the fins 84 acting to prevent the extension 8 from being withdrawn.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration of pre-assembly of the shovel 2 and the handle 100. The end of the handle 100 which carries the assembly device 2 is approached to the handle 70 of the shovel 50. The handle 100 is oriented in such a way so that the first extension 6 of the assembly device 2 is located opposite the first section 72 of the handle 70, while the appendix 10 of the assembly device 2 is located opposite the second section 74 of the handle 70.

Then the handle 100 is lowered, so that the assembly device 2 enters the first section 72, as illustrated in the figure

9. To this end, the handle 100 is tilted slightly forward, that is to say on the side of the container 60 of the shovel 50, as indicated by the arrow F1.

The lowering of the handle 100 is interrupted when the assembly device 2 comes into abutment against the first section 72. More specifically, the first extension 6 crosses the opening 76 of the first section 72, while the cylinder trunk formed by the first active portion 42 is housed in the bowl formed by said first section 72. The dimensions of said first active portion 42 and of said first section 72 are provided so that said first portion 42 follows the bottom of said first section 72.

Then, the handle 100 is slightly inclined backwards, that is to say on the side of the handle 70 of the shovel 50, as indicated by the arrow F2 in FIG. 10, by a rotational movement around the axis Y. The bulge 62 of the first extension 6 is placed in the housing 92 of the first section 72.

The inclination towards the rear of the handle 100 is guided by the sliding in rotation of the first portion 42 of the assembly device 2 on the lateral strips 77 of the bottom of the first section 72 of the handle 70.

The tilt back of the handle 100 is interrupted when the appendix 10 of the assembly device 2 abuts against the second section 74 of the handle 70 of the shovel 50. More specifically, the appendix 10 comes to rest on the projections 94, 96 of the second section 74.

The bulge 62 of the first extension 6 is then introduced into the housing 92 of the first section 72 of the handle 70, with the face 90 of the first section 72 which is in abutment against the groove 64 of the first extension

6. The assembly is carried out.

The shapes and dimensions of the projections 94, 96 are provided so that the appendix 10 is guided and stabilized, that is to say to prevent it from moving in the direction perpendicular to the axis W of the handle 70 In the example illustrated in the figures, the longitudinal projection 94 materializes a raising of the bottom of the second section 74, while the transverse projections 96 materialize a bringing together of the side walls of the second section 74 of the handle 70.

The projection 94 achieves a height stop for the appendix 10.

The projections 96 provide lateral stops for the appendix 10.

The guidance of the assembly device by means of the appendix 10 and the projections 94, 96 has the induced effect of guiding the introduction of the bulge 62 into the housing 92, between the two supports 78. The presence of said supports 78 allows that the bulge 62 of the hook-shaped extension 6 remains in the housing 92.

In addition to the stiffening function of the second section 74 which has been described above, the projecting elements 94, 96 make it possible to reduce the dimensions of the space in which the appendage 10 of the assembly device 2 comes to rest, without modifying the dimensions of the handle 70. This therefore makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of said appendage 10, and therefore to reduce the overall size of the assembly device 2.

Thanks to the arrangement of the shapes of the assembly device 2 and the handle 70 of the shovel 50, as and when the end of the handle 100 fitted with the tip 2 is approached to the handle 70 of the shovel 50 (Figure 8), the bulge 62 of the first extension 6 of the assembly device 2 is guided in translation against the pan 90. This bulge enters the opening 76 while being guided against the pan 90. If the person who performs the loose assembly then the handle 100 equipped with the assembly device 2, the bulge 62 exceeds the end of the pan 90. Then the handle 100 equipped with the assembly device 2 is automatically tilted as indicated by the arrow F2, and the bulge 62 is introduced into the housing 92, while the appendix 10 is positioned on the projections 94, 96. The assembly is therefore very easy to perform.

In summary :

- The assembly of the handle 100 fitted with the assembly device 2 and the shovel 50 is carried out by means of first assembly means 6, 62, 64 present on the assembly device 2 which cooperate with second means of assembly 72, 73, 76, 78, 92 present on the handle 70 of the shovel 50,

- The assembly of the handle 100 equipped with the assembly device 2 and the shovel 50 is facilitated by first guide means 42, 62, 10 present on the assembly device 2 which cooperate with second guide means 77 , 90, 94, 96 present on the handle 70 of the shovel 50.

The characteristics present on the assembly device 2 and on the shovel 50 make it possible to carry out assembly and disassembly operations easily and quickly, without any particular effort. It suffices to approach the end of the handle 100 of the handle of the shovel 50. The presence of the guide means makes it possible to successfully assemble effectively, without it being necessary to aim and adjust the position precisely.

Thus the person who has to accomplish the domestic sweeping task begins by sweeping the waste and gathering it into a pile, with a broom having a handle of which one end carries a sweeping accessory such as a brush and of which the other end is equipped. of an assembly device 2 according to the invention. Then it pushes the waste into a shovel 50 according to the invention by means of the sweeping accessory. During this operation, said shovel 50 is placed on the ground and kept immobile between the feet of the person by immobilization means 74. In the example illustrated in the figures, the immobilization means are the ears 74 on each of which the nobody sets foot. Once the waste is pushed into the shovel 50 by means of the sweeping accessory, the person assembles the handle 100 and the shovel 50 as explained above. It can thus lift the shovel 50 containing the waste to a height sufficient to take the shovel 50 with the hands and empty it into a suitable container. The person can then easily disassemble the handle 100 and the shovel 50 by tilting the handle 100 as indicated by the arrow F1 in FIG. 9.

According to a particular embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 11, the handle 100 is the handle of the brush with which the person responsible for the sweeping operation performs this operation. One end of the handle 100 is equipped with the assembly device 2, as described above in accordance with the invention. The other end of the handle 100 is provided with a sweeping accessory (not shown), which is removably or non-removably attached to said end in a conventional manner, for example by means of a threaded end, identified by the reference 104 in Figure 11.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has been described and illustrated. In particular, the shapes and dimensions of the characteristics of the assembly device 2 and of the shovel 50 can be the subject of variant embodiments, without their function being modified. In particular :

the cylinder trunk of the first active portion 42 of the base 4 of the assembly device could be full instead of being hollow,

- The shape and dimensions of the contour of the ears 74 of the shovel 50 are adapted to the function of said ears 74, which is to allow the immobilization of the shovel 50 when the user places a foot on each of the two ears 74 ,

the ears 74 could be moved away from the free edge 68 and brought closer to the handle 70 without changing their function,

the arrangement of the handle 70 of the shovel 50 on the edge 64 of the container 60 could be such that the profile continuity is not ensured between said handle 70 and said edge 64,

the shape and dimensions of the projections 94, 96 could be different, while remaining adapted to the shape and dimensions of a variant of appendix 10.

Claims (14)

1. Assembly device (2), intended to be fixed to one end of a handle (100) for assembling said handle (100) with a shovel (50), characterized in that it comprises: - first assembly means (6, 62, 64), intended to cooperate with second assembly means arranged on the shovel (50) to produce said assembly, - First guide means (42, 64, 10), intended to cooperate with second guide means arranged on the shovel (50) to guide the assembly of the shovel (50) and the handle (100). 2. An assembly device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first assembly means comprise an extension (6) in the form of a hook. 3. An assembly device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first guide means comprise a cylindrical body (42). 4. An assembly device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first guide means comprise an appendage (10). 5. An assembly device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises first fixing means (8, 82, 84) for fixing it to one end of the handle (100). 6. Joystick (100), having a first end adapted to receive a sweeping accessory and a second end opposite to said first end, characterized in that it comprises second fixing means (102) arranged at said second end , which cooperate with the first fixing means (8, 82, 84) of an assembly device (2) according to claim 5. 7. Shovel handle (70), characterized in that it comprises: - second assembly means (72, 73, 76, 78, 92), intended to cooperate with first assembly means arranged on an assembly device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, - second guide means (77, 90, 94, 96), intended to cooperate with first guide means arranged on an assembly device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 8. Shovel handle (70) according to claim 7, characterized in that the second shovel assembly means comprise a through opening (76). 9. shovel handle (70) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second assembly means comprise a housing (92). 10. shovel handle (70) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the second guide means comprise sliding strips (77). 11. shovel handle (70) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, carcatized in that the second guide means comprise a panel (90). 12. shovel handle (70) according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the second guide means comprise stops (94, 96). 13. Household shovel (50), characterized in that it comprises a handle (70) according to any one of claims 7 to 12. 14. Shovel and handle assembly, characterized in that said shovel is a shovel (50) having a handle (70) according to any one of claims 7 to 12 and in that said handle (100) is equipped with a device assembly (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first assembly means (6, 62, 64) and the first guide means (42, 62, 10) of the assembly device (2) cooperate, respectively, with the second assembly means (72, 73, 76, 78, 92) and the second guide means (77, 90, 94, 96) of the shovel (50), so that said shovel (50) and said handle (100) can be removably assembled.