GB2616471A

GB2616471A - Improvements in cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2616471A
Application number: GB2203389.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Thorn James
Original assignee: Oakthrift Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Oakthrift Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2022-03-11
Filing date: 2022-03-11
Publication date: 2023-09-13
Also published as: GB202203389D0

Abstract

A brush or broom head 8 comprises an elongate main body 2 with a front edge 2a, a rear edge2b, a first side edge 2c and a second side edge 2d, an upper side 2f and an underside 2e. The main body has on its underside at least one first side blade 5 adjacent the first side edge and at least one second side blade 6 adjacent the second side edge. The at least one first and second side blades are positioned at an angle to the front and rear edges of the main body such that outer edges of the blades are positioned more rearwardly than inner edges of the blades.

Description

Improvements in cleaning apparatus The present invention relates to improvements in cleaning apparatus. In particular the present invention relates to brush and broom heads.

Brushes and brooms have existed for many years and are routinely used for cleaning by sweeping dirt into piles or receptacles such as dustpans. Brush heads typically comprise a block to which bristles are affixed.

The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided a brush or broom head comprising: an elongate main body with a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, an upper side and an underside; wherein the main body has at least one first side blade adjacent the first side edge and at least one second side blade adjacent the second side edge; the at least one first and second side blades are positioned at an angle to the front and rear edges of the main body such that outer edges of the blades are positioned more rearwardly than inner edges of the blades.

Advantageously, by providing first and second side blades that are angled as described, matter being swept by the head is guided towards the central region of the head for more efficient cleaning.

Preferably the head comprises on its underside a plurality of bristles disposed between the first and second side blades.

In some embodiments the head comprises a plurality of first side blades adjacent the first side edge and a plurality of second side blades adjacent the second side edge.

In some embodiments the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades are angled to the front and rear edges by between 8 and 50 degrees, or by between 10 and 45 degrees, or by between 12 and 40 degrees, or by between 14 and 35 degrees, or by between 16 and 30 degrees, or by between 18 and 25 degrees, or by around 20 degrees.

In some embodiments the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades each extend across a distance of 5 to 15% of the width of the head, or across a distance of 8 to 12% of the width of the head, or across a distance of around 10% of the width of the head.

In some embodiments the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades extend at each side of the head to terminate beyond the first and side edges of the main body.

Beneficially, having blades that extend beyond the first and side edges of the main body a user may readily sweep matter from corners and at edges of floors without the main body of the head interfering with movement by contacting a wall.

In some embodiments the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades are substantially trapezoidal in shape.

In some embodiments the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades are substantially the shape of a scalene trapezoid, an isosceles trapezoid, a right trapezoid, obtuse trapezoid, an acute trapezoid, a parallelogram, or a rhombus.

In some embodiments the head comprises a front edge blade that extends substantially across the width of the head at the front edge.

Provision of a front edge blade allows a user to efficiently sweep matter in the form of liquid.

In some embodiments the head is a broom head and a broom handle extends from the upper side of the head.

In some embodiment the head is a brush head and a brush handle extends from a side of the head.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a broom having a head made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the broom of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a plan view of a rear side of the head of the broom of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of the underside of the head of the broom of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a plan view of the handle and upper side of the head of broom of Figure 1.

A broom 1 comprises a broom head 8 and a broom handle 3 in the form of a shaft.

Head 8 of broom 1 comprises main body 2 having a front edge 2a, a rear edge 2b, a first side edge 2c and a second side edge 2d.

Main body 2 has an underside 2e and an upper side 2f. From upper side 2f extends broom handle 3.

From underside 2e extends a plurality of bristles 4, a plurality of first side blades Sand a plurality of second side blades 6. Bristles 4 extend across around 80% of the underside 2e of main body 2 between first side blades Sand second side blades 6.

First side blades 5 are positioned at first side 2c of main body 2. First side blades 5 are each substantially in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, with the shorter of its parallel edges joined to main body 2 and its legs extending therefrom to terminate at the long base.

In the present embodiment six first side blades 5 are provided, each being affixed to the underside 2e of main body 2 such that they are in substantially parallel spaced-apart planes.

Each of blades 5 has an outer edge 5a and an inner edge 5b. Outer edge 5a and inner edge 5b correspond to the legs of the isosceles trapezoid.

Outer edge 5a is an edge located outermost on main body 2. Inner edge 5b is the innermost edge of a blade 5. Inner edge 5b is adjacent to the plurality of bristles 4.

Each of blades 5 is positioned at an angle to the front edge 2a and rear edge 2b of main body 2 such outer edges 5a of the blades 5 are positioned more rearwardly (i.e. closer to rear edge 2b) than inner edges 5b of the blades.

Second side blades 6 are positioned at second side 2d of main body 2. Second side blades 6 are each substantially in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, with the shorter of its parallel edges joined to main body 2 and its legs extending therefrom to terminate at the long base.

In the present embodiment six second side blades 6 are provided, each being affixed to the underside 2e of main body 2 such that they are in substantially parallel spaced-apart planes.

Each of blades 6 has an outer edge 6a and an inner edge 6b. Outer edge 6a and inner edge 6b correspond to the legs of the isosceles trapezoid.

Outer edge 6a is an edge located outermost on main body 2. Inner edge 6b is the innermost edge of a blade 6. Inner edge 6b is adjacent to the plurality of bristles 4.

Each of blades 6 is positioned at an angle to the front edge 2a and rear edge 2b of main body 2 such outer edges 6a of the blades 6 are positioned more rearwardly (i.e. closer to rear edge 2b) than inner edges 6b of the blades.

In the present embodiment blades 5, 6 are angled at approximately 20 degrees to the front and rear edges 2a, 2b of main body 2.

First and second side blades 5, 6 are further angled such they extend outwardly from first and second side edges 2d, 2e of main body 2 such that their outer edges 5a, 6a terminate beyond the first and side edges 2d, 2e of main body 2.

Thus, as may best be seen from Figure 5, outer edges 5a, 6a of blades 5, 6 define the outer edges and width of head 8.

Positioned at front edge 2a of main body 2 is front edge blade 7 that extends substantially across the width of main body 2 between side edges 2c, 2d from the underside 2e of main body 2 Front edge blade 7 is substantially in the shape of a wide, squat isosceles trapezoid and extends from main body 2 in front of blades 5, 6 and bristles 4.

In use a user may pull broom 1 towards themselves, with rear edge 2b of head 2 being the leading edge, to effect a sweeping action.

As blades 5, 6 contact matter it is guided to towards the central region of bristles 4 by virtue of blades 5, 6 being positioned at an angle to the front and rear edges 2a, 2b of main body 2.

Thus, matter is captured by bristles 4 of head 8 instead of being dispersed to either side of broom 1.

In this specification an apparatus/method/product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. A brush or broom head comprising: an elongate main body with a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, an upper side and an underside; wherein the main body has at least one first side blade adjacent the first side edge and at least one second side blade adjacent the second side edge; the at least one first and second side blades are positioned at an angle to the front and rear edges of the main body such that outer edges of the blades are positioned more rearwardly than inner edges of the blades.
2. The head of claim 1 comprising on its underside a plurality of bristles disposed between the first and second side blades.
3. The head of claim 1 or 2 comprising a plurality of first side blades adjacent the first side edge and a plurality of second side blades adjacent the second side edge.
4. The head of any preceding claim wherein the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades are angled to the front and rear edges by between 8 and 50 degrees, or by between 10 and 45 degrees, or by between 12 and 40 degrees, or by between 14 and 35 degrees, or by between 16 and 30 degrees, or by between 18 and 25 degrees, or by around 20 degrees.
5. The head of any preceding claim wherein the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades each extend across a distance of 5 to 15% of the width of the head, or across a distance of 8 to 12% of the width of the head, or across a distance of around 10% of the width of the head.
6. The head of any preceding claim wherein the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades extend at each side of the head to terminate beyond the first and side edges of the main body.
7. The head of any preceding claim wherein the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades are substantially trapezoidal in shape.
8. The head of any preceding claim wherein the at least one first side blades and at least one second side blades are substantially the shape of a scalene trapezoid, an isosceles trapezoid, a right trapezoid, obtuse trapezoid, an acute trapezoid, a parallelogram, or a rhombus.
9. The head of any preceding claim wherein the head comprises a front edge blade that extends substantially across the width of the head at the front edge.
10. The head of any preceding claim wherein the head is a broom head and a broom handle extends from the upper side of the head.
11. The head of any preceding claim wherein the head is a brush head and a brush handle extends from a side of the head.