US2126023A

US2126023A - Combination tool

Info

Publication number: US2126023A
Application number: US91502A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas F Mcgoldrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-07-20
Filing date: 1936-07-20
Publication date: 1938-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 1955-08-09

Description

Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNlTED SATES COMBINATION TOOL Thomas F. McGoldrick, Chicago, 111.

Application July 20,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in combination tools and more particularly the construction of a combined brush and shovel mounted on the same handle so that one does not tool of this character which is simple in construction and operation and which may be readily adapted for use as a brush or shovel by causing a slight change in the horizontal relation between the parts and then a reversal in their vertical relation to place the desired tool in operative position. It is a further object to so mount the two tools upon the samehandle to be movable in relation to each other and to the handle, yet to allow either to be used in its normal manner without changing the angular relation of the handle to the ground from that customarily employed in the operation of either tool. It is also an object of this invention to provide detachable means to secure rigidly the tools upon the handle in either position, and when detached to employ a rotative movement of the handle to assist the changing of the relation of the tools to each other. It is a still further object to provide a brush with detachable and interchangeable bristles so that they may be replaced when worn out orinterchanged when partially worn.

The advantages of such a tool are obvious, and its uses are many. While originally contemplated for the use of the men employed to keep the streets of a city clean, it may be used in the same manner in cleaning sidewalks, hallways and ofiices of buildings, gardens or other places where it is desired to brush surface dirt or debris into small piles, and then shovel the pile into a receptacle for removal. Therefore, this tool is also available for home use in the manner of a broom and dust pan. The combined tool is balanced on the handle so that each may be used in the usual way without inconvenience or causing an unnatural position of the operator, as well as being readily changed from one to the other with little effort on the part of the operator on account of the lever action of the handle in making a change. It has been found that the bristles in brushes customarily used for this purpose, and which are usually formed in parallel transverse rows, wear unevenly, that is, either the front or rear rows wear sooner than the intermediate rows according to the manner in which the operator holds the handle. Therefore, a brush which is provided with bristles formed in sections and detachably secured in the frame of the brush allows the interchange of partially worn bristles and 1936, Serial No. 91,502

increases the life of the brush at an expenditure only of the effort to make the exchange.

With these and other objects in view, reference is made to the accompanying sheet of drawing which illustrates a pre ferred form of this invention with the understanding that detail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof, and with the understanding that the brush with the interchangeable and replaceable bristles, while preferable, may be replaced by a brush of the fixed bristle type without departing from the scope of this invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of this improved tool illustrating the position of the respective parts when the tool is desired to be used as a brush or push broom.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of Figure l,with a portion of the brush broken away.

Figure 3 is a view' similar to Figure 1 illustrating the position of the respective parts when the tool is desired to be used as a shovel, with parts broken away and partly in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view in section taken on the line 44, Figure 2, with parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a viewin section on the line 55, Figure 1, looking in the directionof. the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, taken on the line 6-6, Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure 3 with the bristles of the brush removed and the handle ferrule broken away.

In the embodiment of this invention as illustrated, the brush I may be of the customary push broom type having a wooden base or back with the transverse rows of bristles embedded'therein, but it is constructed preferably of a metallic casing having a flat rectangular base or back 2 closed at the front and the two short sides for detachably mounting rows of bristles 3 arranged parallel to the long closed front, as hereinafter described.

A shovel 4, preferably of stamped metal, having out turned flanges 5 along the free edges of the sides is mounted upon the back 2 of the brush l with the flanges 5 engaging in guides 5 provided therefor and secured upon the back 2 so that the shovel may be retracted to position its front approximately in line with the front of the brush, as shown in Figure 1, when the tool is to be used as a push broom, the guides 6 being extended, preferably, at the rear of the back 2 to provide rigidity to the connection of the shovel 4 to the brush I in this position. The exterior surface of the back 2 is provided, preferably with an external rib 1 arranged adjacent and parallel to the long closed front between the sides of the shovel 4 to be engaged by the rear end of the shovel to limit its outward movement when the shovel is extended, as shown in Figure 3, when the tool is to be used as a shovel.

The brush I mounting the slidable shovel 4 upon its back is attached to a handle 8, which may be of wood or whatever material desired, by providing a metallic sleeve or ferrule 9 to receive the end of the handle 8 which may be attached thereto in any desired manner. The handle ferrule 9 is pivotally attached to the back 2 of the brush I by a frame or bail ID, the free ends of which are preferably out-turned and received in bearing II therefor secured to the back 2 and the center portion attached to the ferrule 9, as shown.

To secure the handle 8 in proper relation to the tool when used either as a push broom or as a shovel and to assist in changing the movable relation between the shovel and brush, a connecting link I4 is provided which is mounted to slide within a guide I5 mounted longitudinally upon the ferrule 9. The link I4 is preferably circular in cross-section with one end having a sliding connection I6 with the back of the shovel 4 and the opposite end provided with an operating pin or handle I! adapted to travel in a longitudinal slot I8 provided therefor in the guide l5 which slot is provided at each end with an off set portion I9 to receive the handle I! and hold it at each end of travel.

In the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tool is adjusted for use as a push broom with the shovel 4 retracted and the link I4 withdrawn Within its casing I5 and the handle I1 held in locked position in the off set slot I9 furthest from the shovel 4. When it is desired to change the tool to a shovel, the handle 8 is depressed and rotated about the bearings I I which will initiate the extension of the shovel 4 in its guides 6 through the locked link I4. The handle I! of the link I4 is then rotated out of its locked position and is manually advanced in its slot I8 until the rib I is engaged with the back of the shovel 4. The tool is then in position to be used as a shovel and is turned with the bristle side of the brush I upward, as shown in Figures 3 and '7. The securing of the link handle I! in the off set I9 nearest the shovel 4 locks the tool with the brush and shovel in proper relation.

As heretofore stated, it is preferable to employ the particular construction of brush here illustrated which is disclosed and claimed in the applicants Patent No. 2,112,297, granted March 29, 1938, upon an application filed in accordance with a requirement for division made in this application. In this type of brush, the bristles are formed in narrow rectangular sections with the upper ends held together by glue or embedded in cement or other similar medium. The sections are of such length as to be receivable between the side closures depending from the flat back 2. The front section of bristles 3 is held in position against the front closure 2| depending from the flat back 2.

As many partitions 22 are provided parallel to the front closure 2| as there are sections of bristles to be employed. These partitions 22 are equally spaced apart from each other and the front closure 2| and their ends are secured in any desired manner to the depending side closure 20. The embedded ends of the section of bristles 2 are inserted to rest against the front closure 2i and each of the partitions 22 and secured thereto in that position by a series of adjustable follower plates 23 preferably mounted upon guides 24 passing freely through the partitions 22 and secured to each follower plate 23, as shown in detail in Figure l. When the brush sections are in place, the embedded ends are secured against the respective partitions 22 and front closure 21 by exerting pressure upon the guides 24, as by screws 25 freely mounted upon the outer follower plate threaded into the next adjacent fixed partition 22, or by any other desired means, so that the bristles 2 are rigidly held in position and yet may be detached and removed for reversal or interchange with another section.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment for a flat backed brush or the like having a handle pivoted thereto, including an inverted scoop shaped shovel mounted on the back of said brush, means engaging and guiding the open side edges of the shovel to slide upon the back of the brush, and a connecting link attached to the back of the shovel mounted to slide lengthwise upon the said handle to extend and retract the shovel over the back of the brush, and means to secure the link to the handle at the respective ends of its travel.

2. The structure of claim I wherein the end of the handle is provided with means mounting a sleeve for slidably receiving one end of the connecting link, the other end of the connecting link having a sliding connection with the back of the shovel, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein with offsets at each end thereof, and an operating handle mounted upon the received end of the link passing through the slot in the sleeve and adapted to secure the shovel at the opposite ends of travel of the link by engaging said link handle in a transverse offset.

THOMAS F. MCGOLDRICK.