US3018502A

US3018502A - Dust pan and combination thereof with a broom

Info

Publication number: US3018502A
Application number: US810634A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan R Lossius
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-05-04
Filing date: 1959-05-04
Publication date: 1962-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1979-01-30

Description

A. R. LOSSIUS 3,018,502 DUST PAN AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH A BROOM Jan. 30, 1962 Filed May 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .w 4 M m w: VL 1M a m m N 6 H u 7 Y I B my W llv A. R. LOSSIUS 3,018,502 DUST PAN AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH A BROOM Jan. 30, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1959 49 INVENTOR. ALLAN R. LOSS/US A 7' TOR/VEVS United States This invention relates to a dust pan, and also to such pan in combination with a broom or similar sweeping instrument, and this application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 453,088, filed August 30, 1954, now abandoned.

Various attempts have been made in the past to minimize the space required for storage of a broom and dust pan, but such attempts have usually been directed to changing the size and shape of the dust pan and broom. They have, however, still remained separate units, and after performing the sweeping operation with the broom or floor brush, the operator is still required to search for the dust pan.

Street sweeping implements, such as a broom or brush and a scoop or shovel have been combined, but where such combinations have been effected the sweeping implement and the scoop or shovel are not normally capable of simultaneously performing their intended functions. In such instances where they have been made separable they have employed structure that would preclude the practical use. of the broom or brush with the dust pan secured thereto.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a dust pan that is adapted to be releasably secured to a conventional broom in a position in which it neither interferes with the user or with the broom when the broom is used in the normal manner in a sweeping operation, and which dust pan is ready for use to receive dirt to be swept into the same by said broom when removed from its securement to said broom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dust pan having an elongated handle that is adapted to be quickly releasably secured to the handle of a broom or floor brush with the dust pan yieldably held against the broom or brush head in a position that will not interfere with the use of the broom or brush in a normal sweeping operation when the broom handle and the handle of the dust pan are secured together.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a dust pan and broom in combination in which the broom and pan have elongated handles, and in which means are provided for releasably and yieldably securing said pan to said broom in a position so that the pan will not interfere with the user of the broom or with the broom when the latter is used in a normal sweeping operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dust pan having a handle, and a broom in a combination and of a structure in which the dust pan will be snugly, but releasably, held against a side of the broom so as to accommodate itself to flexing of the broom in a sweeping operation without rattling or shaking about, and which pan is adapted to swing to a position substantially flat against the floor with the handle projecting upwardly therefrom when the dust pan is removed from the broom, and which pan is adapted to lie substantially fiat against a side of the broom when the broom handle and the pan handle are substantially parallel with each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of-a dust pan having opposed, lateral sides so pivotally connected to an elongated handle as to enable the pan to lie generally fiat against one of the lateral sides of a broom head, that also has an elongated handle, with the pan handle alongside and releasably secured to the handle on said broom head, and which pan will automatically swing atent O M Patented Jan. 30, 1962 about its pivotal connection with its handle to accommodate itself to the flexing of the broom head in a sweeping operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dust pair that is illustrative of the present invention in a position secured to a conventional broom.

FIG. 2 is a reduced size perspective view of the dust pan of FIG. 1 in operative position separate from the broom.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged side view of the pan of FIG. 2 and the lower part only of the handle of the pan.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the pan and handle when the pan is in approximately the same plane as the handle as seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a broom having a dust pan of slightly different structure than is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 releasably secured to the broom.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the broom and pan of FIG. 7 as seen at right angles to the representation in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the dust pan of FIG. 7 in a position as it would appear on the floor, with the upper end of the handle broken off in length to accommodate the view to the sheet.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the pan and handle of FIG. 9 as seen from the rear of the pan.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view at line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view substantially at line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a slightly modified pivot structure between the pan and its handle.

In the drawings a conventional broom, generally designated 1, is shown, and which broom comprises an elongated cylindrical handle 2, having a broom head 3 secured thereto. The bristles or straws of said broom head ex tend in a direction generally longitudinally of the handle 2, and are transversely held together by lines of stitching 4 extending transversely across said head at points nearer to the broom handle than to the outer free ends of the bristles or straws. These lines of stitching define the juncture between the outer portions of the bristles or straws that are remote from the handle 2, and which outer portions will flex in a normal sweeping operation and the rigid relatively inflexible portion of the head 3 to which the handle 2 is secured.

The dust pan of the combination seen in FIGS. 1 to 4 has an elongated handle 6 that is preferably curved in cross sectional contour at its upper end (FIG. 5) so that the handle 2 of the broom will fit within the concave side of the outer end of handle 6. This outer end preferably has a coating 7 of relatively soft material, such as rubber. This not only provides a comfortable hand grip for holding the handle of the dust pan during use of the pan separate from the broom, but it enables the handle of the broom and the handle of the dust pan to be gripped comfortably at the same time when the broom is being used with the dust pan secured thereto as seen in FIG. 1.

The remainder of handle 6 below the covering 7 may be of generally channel shape in cross sectional contour with its open side facing the broom handle and with the sides 8 (FIG. 6) of the channel rolled on themselves to provide added reinforcement for the handle. Thus a light weight but relatively rigid handle for the dust pan may be formed from relatively light sheet metal.

Secured to said handle 6 at a point intermediate its ends is a generally C-shaped spring clip having opposed sides 9 of spring material that are adapted to yieldably engage opposite sides of handle 2 therebetween. When the upper end of handle 6 is moved away from handle 2 the sides 9 of the clip will yieldably move apart to release the handle 6, and a reverse movement of the

handles

6, 2 relatively toward each other to the position shown in FIG. 1 will result in the handle of the broom entering the spring clip and being yieldably secured to the handle 6 of the dust pan, the pan being swung to about the position shown in FIG. 1 before the clip engages the handle.

Secured to the lower end of handle 6 are a pair of aligned oppositely extending arms 10 that extend generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of handle 6. These arms 10 have angularly directed, corresponding opposedly positioned extensions 11 that, in turn, have axially aligned terminating end portions 12 (FIG. 4). These end portions extend toward each other and into openings formed in the

opposite sides

13, 14 of the dust pan, which pan is generally designated 15, and which also has a bottom 16 extending between said

sides

13, 14.

The bottom 16 of the dust pan has a forward marginal portion 17 that extends slightly angularly relative to the remainder of said bottom so that the free forward edge 18 of said bottom will substantially engage the floor when the heel or rear end of said bottom also engages the floor (FIG. 3).

The

sides

13, 14 progressively increase in height from their forward ends toward their rear ends with the maximum height being adjacent to but slightly spaced forwardly of the rear edge of the bottom 16. The openings for the terminating ends 12 of the arms 11 are formed in the portions of maximum height of said side walls and at a point intermediate the top and bottom edges of said side walls (FIG. 3). The pan is adapted to pivot about said end portions 12 and between said extensions 11 from a position in which the bottom of the pan is approximately in line with the handle 6 (FIG. 1), to a position in which the plane of the bottom 15 is approximately at right angles to the handle 6 (FIG. 2) and vice versa.

A generally upwardly directed flange 19 (when the bottom is horizontal as seen in FIG. 3) is provided along the rear edge of the dust pan 15, which flange is preferably integral with said bottom. Secured to this flange 19 and to the

sides

13, 14 at the end portions of the latter adjacent to said flange, is a wall 20 of relatively flexible material such as rubber or leather or synthetic rubber or leather or similar material. This wall preferably extends over the rear marginal portion of bottom 16 as at 21 and cooperates with said bottom and side walls and flange to form a rear pocket for dirt that has been swept into said bottom. Wall 20 preferably extends over the outwardly facing sides of said side walls and flange and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner for providing a relatively dust tight juncture.

A helical spring 25 is connected at one of its ends with side 14 (or 13) at a point forwardly of the ends 12 of extensions 11 and the other end of said spring may be secured to the extension 11 that is adjacent to the side of the pan to which the spring is connected. This spring will constantly tend to swing pan 15 to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the pan is approximately at right angles to the handle 6, and a flexible strip or element 26 connecting flange 19 with handle 6 will prevent the pan from being swung past the position shown in FIG. 3. This latter position is the operative position of the pan when it is removed from the broom.

When the dust pan is in the operative position shown in FIG. 3 the handle 6 may be readily held by the hand of an upright person, and it can be swung to different angular positions against the tension of spring 25. Also the pan when on the floor will support the handle in the position shown in FIG. 3 without being held, should the person that is sweeping the floor desire to use his or her hands for other work. The pan is easily emptied by merely tilting the pan by bodily swinging the handle or if space does not permit it, by manually swinging the bottom relative to the handle. The strap 26 provides a convenient hand grip for swinging the pan or the pan itself may be grasped.

After the pan is emptied, it may be easily and quickly secured to the broom by moving the handle 6 against handle 2 of the broom when the leading edge of the pan is in engagement with a side of the broom head at about a line of stitching 4. The pan will automatically be caused to swing against the tension of spring 25 to a position substantially flat against a flat side of the broom head. The flexible wall 21 will engage the broom at about the junction between handle 2 and the broom head and will yield to enable the pan to move closer to the head than would be possible were the wall 21 to be rigid. Also, the strap 26 preferably is preformed to automatically bend inwardly as seen in FIG. 1 so as not to interfere with movement of the pan to the compact position against the broom head as seen in FIG. 1.

The spring 25 will exert sufficient force on the pan to maintain a snug engagement between the pan and the broom head, but this force is relatively small, even though the spring is at maximum tension, for the reason that the ends of the spring and pivots 12 are almost in the same plane when the pan is held against the broom head. Thus the pan will yieldably be held snugly against the broom head to prevent its shifting or rattling during a sweeping operation.

As seen in FIG. 2, the

sides

13, 14 of the pan preferably incline toward each other in a direction away from the forward edge 18 of the bottom so as to generally follow the direction of the lateral edges of the broom head. The rear edge of the pan will be at about the juncture between the broom head and handle 2 when the forward edge 18 of the pan is approximately at the lines of stitching 4, hence the pan will not interfere with the operator or with the broom during a normal sweeping operation, and when the operator is ready to use the pan it can be removed by merely pulling the coated end 7 of the handle 6 away from the handle 2 of the broom so as to release handle 2 from between sides 9 of the spring clip, and the pan will automatically swing to its desired angular position relative to the handle 6.

After the sweeping operation is concluded the pan and broom may be secured together, and the combination will take up no more room than the broom alone.

One of the desired features of the structure as hereinabove described is the fact that the pan 15 must be emptied before it is attached to the broom and stored. Heretofore some dust pans have been pivoted to handles for swinging to a position in which the dirt is carried in the pan at its rear end, with the result that the operator in many instances has hung the pan from a nail or hanger without emptying it creating an unsanitary condition. With the invention as above described this cannot occur since the pan will discharge dirt thereon when placed in the inoperative position shown in FIG. 1.

The fact that the stop member or strip 26 is formed to automatically fold inwardly has been mentioned, and one manner of so forming the strap is to make the lower end of the strap of double thickness as seen in FIG. 3. Then the strap will bend inwardly to the position indicated in FIG. 1 due to the added thickness of the lower end portion.

By slanting the

sides

13, 14 of the pan 15 so that they extend convergently rearwardly from the ends of the lip 17 to the ends of flange 19, the pan may be positioned at different heights against the broom head as seen in FIG. 1 so as to compensate for variations in the broom head. For example, some brooms bulge edgewise more than others above the stitching, and in such instances the pan may be higher on the broom than in instances where there is less bulging of the broom, or, as will later be described, the pan may be lower on the broom head.

The edge 18 of the lip of marginal portion 17 of the pan as well as the edges of the sides 13-, 14 may be covered or coated with rubber or the like to insure against possible injury to furniture or to the broom, although this is not usually necessary where the pan is well designed. In a properly designed pan, such as is illustrated, the marginal portion 17 lies fiat against the broom head when the pan is secured to the broom, and it engages the head below the stitching 4. Thus no injury is done to the straw or stitching of the broom head even where there is a slight relative movement between the head and the said portion 17.

The tension of the spring 25 when the pan is in the position shown in FIG. 1 and the fact that the pan can have a swinging movement relative to the handle, results in the pan reinforcing the straw of the broom head below the line of stitching 4. In stitching the straw together as at 4, some of the straws are split by the needle, and constant flexing of the straws at the lowest line of stitching causes many straws to break at said point. The pressure exerted against the head by the lip 17 of the pan, which is under the influence of spring 25, will greatly prolong the life of the broom head, and this structure also gives an added feeling of life to the broom.

A pan and pan handle such as shown in FIG. 1 and in about the proportions shown in said figure, when made of light weight materials, such as aluminum or magnesium, will weigh about three ounces. It preferably should not weight more than six ounces. This low weight is not noticed in handling the broom.

The clip 9 readily adapts itself to handles of different diameters, and, as already mentioned, it enables the pan to be slipped along the broom head to the most desired position of the pan against said head.

In FIGS. 7, 8 the broom is the same as is shown in FIG. 1, having a head 30 and an elongated handle 31 and lines of stitching 32. Whether there are three, four or more lines of stitching is not material.

The dust pan is generally designated 33 and has a flat bottom 34, lateral opposed side walls 35, a rear wall 36, and a flexible wall 37 that is secured to the side walls 35 at their rear end portions, and to rear wall 36 in generally the same manner as wall 20 of FIGS. 3, 4 providing a portion that extends over the upper side of the rear portion of the bottom wall 34 the same as portion 21 in FIG. 4.

A pair of arms 38 similar to arms 11 may be inturned at one of their ends, as at 39' (FIG. to pivotally extend through aligned openings in side walls 35.

As seen in FIG. 9 these openings are preferably spaced forwardly relative to the rear wall of the pan substantially farther than is the case of ends 12 of the arms 11 in FIGS. 3, 4. Friction washers 40 of relatively hard rubber or similar material may be positioned outside the walls 35 and between arms 38 and the outer sides of said walls. These washers are preferably grooved to provide recesses 41 in which arms 38 are adapted to be received at approximately the junctures between said arms and the end portions 39.

The arms 38 are sufficiently long and are spaced from each other sufficiently to permit the portion of the pan that projects rearwardly from the ends 39 to swing to a position between the arms as seen in FIG. 7.

Continuations 42 of arms 38 extend convergently from said arms to the pan handle 44 and into the lower open end of the latter in substantially the same manner as in FIG. 4.

The handle 44 may be of metal in the form of a flattened tube thus providing an open lower end into which extensions of the continuations 42 of arms 38 may extend, and be secured in any suitable manner, such as by crimping the sides of the tube against said extensions, or by riveting, brazing, etc.

The handle 44 is elongated and may have slight reverse, spaced bends at

point

45, 46 intermediate its ends, as seen in FIG. 7 so that the upper portion of the arm will be adapted to lie parallel with and alongside the broom handle 31 when the pan 33 is flat against the broom head below the maximum bulge 47 of said head. The handle, however, is generally straight, since these bends are relatively slight.

An elongated, semi-rigid strip 48 is pivotally connected at one end, as at 49, to the rear side of the pan 33 and the opposite end is slidably connected with the rear side of handle 44. This slidable connection may take the form of a slot 50 (FIG. 10) formed in the rear side of said handle, extending longitudinally of the handle, and a head 51 on the upper end of strip 48 within said handle connected with the latter by a neck 52 that extends between the sides of the slot.

Also secured to handle 44 on its forward side is a generally U-shaped spring clip 53 similar to clip 9 of FIG. 6 that is adapt-ed to yieldably receive handle 31 of the broom therein and to yieldably hold the handle 44 to and along side the broom handle. The pan handle 44 may be readily pulled away from the broom handle, since the sides of the clip will spring apart when the upper end of the pan handle is pulled away from the broom handle, but the clip is adequate to hold the handle 44 against sliding of the latter longitudinally of the broom handle. Obviously the section 54 between the

bends

45, 46 would resist such movement in a direction toward the broom head by its engagement with the bulge 47 were the clip 53 to slide. However, the tension of the clip can readily be controlled by bending to force the sides toward each other, or apart, as desired.

If desired, washers 40' may be positioned at the inner sides of the pan on the end portions 39 of arms 38, and the ends of the portions 39 swaged over to provide the desired frictional resistance to swinging of the p an. The arms 38 including the continuations 42 and the extension of the U-bend that is within the handle, are preferably a continuous length of spring wire, or of wire sufficiently resilient to maintain a constant yieldable resistance against the washers 40.

' With the above structure, the pan 33 will be held at any desired angle relative to the handle by reason of the frictional resistance between the arms 38 and the pan 33 through the washers 40, 40'. The latter are desirable due to their economy, although any suitable frictional resistance between the arms 38 and the pan sides at or adjacent to the pivotal connections between the arms and the pan sides would work.

The fact that the pivotal connections between the pan sides and the arms 38 are relatively close to the axis of balance of the pan between its leading and rear ends, reduces the need for much frictional resistance, between the arms and the pan.

If, as later described, the pan is free to swing by gravity to the position of FIG. 9, the strip 48 is necessary, but in FIGS. 7 to 10 it merely functions to prevent the rear end of the pan from accidentally swinging forwardly between arms 38 when the pan is removed from the broom, although the head 51 could have a friction fit with the pan handle to perform the function of the friction washers 40, 48'.

FIG. 13 shows a slightly modified structure in which the outer ends 57 of arms corresponding to arms 38 freely extend through openings in the sides 58 of the pan, and the inner ends of said arms 57 may be enlarged as at 59 by swaging, or any other suitable means may be provided to preclude accidental separation of the arms from the pan.

In this form of the invention, the pan is free to swing about the ends 57 and as the pivotal point between the arms and the pan is forwardly of the center of gravity of the pan, the rear end of the pan will automatically swing downwardly to the position of FIG. 9 upon the pan and handle being removed from the broom head. The stop strip 48 is essential in this case, and it should also be noted that in the structure shown the upper end portion of the handle 44 above the upper bend 46 will extend forwardly to maintain the handle 44 upright, by gravity, when the pan is on the floor and in a position such as seen in FIG. 9.

One of the important parts of the combination as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7 is the fact that the axis about which the pan 33 pivots is spaced between the front and rear ends of the pan so that the pan is adapted to accommodate itself to flexing of the broom head during a sweeping operation, and will remain snugly against the broom head during such operation, instead of swinging freely or of swinging away from the broom head and then staying away from the latter.

The yieldable clip 53 and the fact that the handle 44 is resilient contribute to the above results, but unless the axis of the pan handle is spaced between the front and rear ends of the broom, the desired action will not occur.

In FIG. 9 it is seen that the upper edge 60 of the rear wall of the pan handle is slightly elevated above the upper level of the sides 35 to insure a contact with the broom head along the said edge, should the broom head he of unusual width. Obviously the pan sides and rear wall must also be capable of swinging between the arms 38 to accomplish the desired result. It is a matter of proportion in the pan measurements whether the bulge 47 of the broom will fit within the pan as seen in FIG. 1, or whether a smaller or more shallow pan is positioned at a point lower on the broom, as seen in FIG. 7. The two point contact between the broom and the leading end of the pan and the upper edge of the rear wall of the pan will occur in all of the forms of the invention, which is quite important. Also in both forms of the invention, the forward edge of the pan preferably engages the side of the broom below the stitches; and neither the arms 38 nor their continuations engage the broom head or any part of the broom at any time.

It is emphasized that the positioning of the pivotal connections between the pan handle and the pan, in all forms of the invention, are between the rear and front ends of the pan, which front and rear ends are the contact points between the pan and the broom head. The upper portion of the broom head is relatively rigid with the broom handle while the lower portion of the broom head is flexible and flexes laterally in a sweeping operation. Since the rear end of the dust pan contacts the relatively rigid upper portion of the broom head and the front end of the pan contacts the lower flexible portion of the broom head, the pan will rock about the axis of the pivots that connect the pan handle with the pan while the pan handle is held alongside the broom handle.

In all forms of the invention, yieldable means are provided for yieldably holding the front and rear ends of the pan against the broom head in a sweeping operation, since the pan handle and yoke are resilient and the clip is a spring clip.

In all forms of the invention, the dust pan is swingable from a position generally flat against the side of the broom head when the handle of the pan is connected with the broom handle and alongside the latter, to a position in which the pan handle extends generally vertically over the pan with the axis of said pan handle intersecting the bottom of the pan at a point between its forward and rear ends and between its lateral edges, and in all forms of the invention means are provided for holding the pan in its last mentioned position relative to the pan handle, whether they are friction means, or spring 25, or the member 48.

It is to be understood that the claims appended hereto are intended to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a broom having a head of elongated bristles substantially inflexibly secured together in side by side relation at one of their corresponding end portions to provide a relatively rigid body of said end portions and the remainders of said bristles being substantially free for flexing and terminating in free floor engageable outer ends; an elongated broom handle secured to said body; a dust pan, an elongated pan handle, means connecting one end of said pan handle with said pan for movement of said pan from an operative position extending angularly relative to said pan handle to an inoperative position generally in alignment with the axis of said pan handle, and means including a spring for yieldably urging said pan from said inoperative position to said operative position, means for restricting said pan against movement past said operative position upon movement of said pan thereto from said inoperative position, means for releasably securing said pan handle to said broom handle in substantially parallel side by side relation with the latter with said pan held by said body in said inoperative position and against the tension of said spring tending to move said pan to said operative position whereby said pan will automatically move under the tension of said spring to said operative position when said pan handle is released from said broom handle and the pan is moved away from said body.

2. In combination with a broom having a head of elongated bristles substantially inflexibly secured together in side by side relation at one of their corresponding end portions to provide a relatively rigid body of said end portions and the remainders of said bristles being substantially free for flexing and terminating in free floor engageable outer ends; an elongated broom handle secured to said body; a dust pan, an elongated pan handle, means connecting one end of said pan handle with said pan for movement of said pan from an operative position extending angularly relative to said pan handle to an inoperative position generally in alignment with the axis of said pan handle, said means including a spring for yieldably urging said pan from said inoperative position to said operative position, means for restricting said pan against movement past said operative position, upon movement of said pan thereto from said inoperative position, means for releasably securing said pan handle to said broom handle in substantially parallel side by side relation with the latter with said pan held by said body in said inoperative position and against the tension of said spring tending to move said pan to said operative position whereby said pan will automatically move under the tension of said spring to said operative position when said pan handle is released from said broom handle and the pan is moved away from said body, said pan terminating at substantially'the juncture between said inflexible body of said bristles and the said remainders of said bristles whereby the broom can be used for sweeping with said pan and its handle secured to said broom.

3. In combination with a broom having a head of elongated bristles substantially inflexibly secured together in side by side relation at one of their corresponding end portions to provide a relatively rigid body of said end portions and the remainders of said bristles being substantially free for flexing and terminating in free floor engageable outer ends; an elongated broom handle secured to said body; a dust pan, an elongated pan handle, means connecting one end of said pan handle with said pan for movement of said pan from an operative position extending angularly relative to said pan handle to an inoperative position generally in alignment with the axis of said pan handle, said means including a spring for yieldably urging said pan from said inoperative position to said operative position, means for restricting said pan against movement past said operative position upon movement of said pan thereto from said inoperative position, means for releasably securing said pan handle to said broom han- 9 dle in substantially parallel side by side relation with the latter with said pan held by said body in said inoperative position and against the tension of said spring tending to move said pan to said operative position whereby said pan will automatically move under the tension of said spring to said operative position when said pan handle is released from said broom handle and the pan is moved away from said body, the end of the handle on said pan that is remote from the pan being curved to extend partially around the handle of said broom with the latter handle in the concave side of the handle for said pan to enable an operator to grasp the said end of the handle of said pan and the handle of said broom at the same time and without discomfort during a sweeping operation.

4. In combination with a broom having a head of elongated bristles substantially inflexibly secured together in side by side relation at one of their corresponding end portions to provide a relatively rigid body of said end portions and the remainders of said bristles being substantially free for flexing and terminating in free floor engageable outer ends; an elongated broom handle secured to said body; a dust pan, an elongated pan handle, means connecting one end of said pan handle with said pan for movement of said pan from an operative position extending angularly relative to said pan handle to an inoperative position generally in alignment with the axis of said pan handle, said means including a spring for yieldably urging said pan from said inoperative position to said operative position, means for restricting said pan against movement past said operative position upon movement of said pan thereto from said inoperative position, means for releasably securing said pan handle to said broom handle in substantially parallel side by side relation with the latter with said pan held by said body in said inoperative position and held against the tension of said spring tending to move said pan to said operative position whereby said pan will automatically move under the tension of said spring to said operative position when said pan handle is released from said broom handle and the pan is moved away from said body, said pan handle being secured to said pan adjacent to one of its edges and the edge of the pan opposite thereto being substantially straight for sweeping material thereover and onto said pan, a flexible wall secured to said pan along said one of its edges extending angularly therefrom to hold said material on the pan when said pan is used in an operative position and to yieldably engage said broom when the pan is secured to said broom in said inoperative position.

5. In combination with a broom having a head of elongated bristles substantially inflexibly secured together in side by side relation at one of their corresponding end portions to provide a relatively rigid body of said end portions and the remainders of said bristles being substantially free for flexing and terminating in free floor engageable outer ends; an elongated broom handle secured to said body; a dust pan, an elongated pan handle, means connecting one end of said pan handle with said pan for movement of said pan from an operative position extending angularly relative to said pan handle to an inoperative position generally in alignment with the axis of said pan handle, said means including a spring for yieldably urging said pan from said inoperative position to said operative position, means for releasably securing said pan handle to said broom handle in substantially parallel side by side relation with the latter with said pan held by said body in said inoperative position and against the tension of said spring tending to move said pan to said operative position whereby said pan will automatically move under the tension of said spring to said operative position when said pan handle is released from said broom handle and the pan is moved away from said body stop means connecting said pan and the handle of said pan for limiting the movement of said pan to a predetermined angularly extending position relative to the pan handle when said pan is in said operative position.

6. A dust pan adapted to be secured to a broom, a relatively straight handle secured at one end to said pan, means connecting said handle and said pan together for movement of said pan from a position disposed approximately at right angles to said handle to a position with said pan about in alignment with said handle, said means including a spring for yieldably urging said pan to said position at approximately right angles to said handle, means on said handle for releasably securing said handle to the handle of a broom at any desired point along said latter handle with said pan in said substantial alignment with the handle of said pan and held in yieldable engagement with the head of such broom by the tension of said spring, and means connected With said pan handle for holding said pan in said position at right angles to said pan handle under the tension of said spring.

7. In combination with a broom having an elongated broom handle and a head of bristles secured to one end thereof and projecting away from said handle, a dust pan having a bottom wall that is substantially flat against head provided with an outer marginal portion terminating in a free edge directed generally toward the outer end of said head relative to said broom handle, said marginal portion being at an angle to the remainder of said bottom wall and in fiat engagement with said bristles whereby said bristles will be free from being chafed by said edge in relative movement between said bristles and said pan in a sweeping operation, said bottom Wall being relatively rigid, and a rear wall that is highly flexible relative to said bottom wall connected with the pan along the edge that is opposite to said free edge in engagement with said broom, a pan handle pivotally connected at one end thereof to said pan and extending alongside said broom handle, means detachably securing said pan handle to said broom handle, and means connecting said pan and said pan handle and yieldably urging said marginal portion of said pan against said head, and yieldably urging said bottom wall to a position extending angularly relative to said pan handle when said pan and pan handle is removed from said broom handle and with said rear wall-extending generally upwardly to prevent material on said bottom wall from moving past said rear wall, and means connected with said pan handle for holding said pan in said position at right angles to said pan handle under the tension of said spring.

8. In combination with a broom having an elongated vertically extending broom handle and a sweeping broom head secured to the lower end of said broom handle and which broom head has a flexible lower end portion adapted to flex laterally during a sweeping operation; a dust pan having a substantially fiat bottom wall provided with a front end portion at one of its two opposite edges in engagement with the lower end portion of said broom head, a vertically elongated pan handle alongside said broom handle having a spring yoke at its lower end provided with arms between which said rear portion of said dust pan is positioned, said pan having opposed vertically extending lateral side Walls on said bottom wall extending toward said broom head, coaxial horizontal pivots on the lower ends of said arms pivotally connected with said side walls at points spaced between said front end portion of said dust pan and the portion of the latter along the edge of said pan opposite to said front end portion, and means releasably holding said pan handle to said broom handle in a position alongside the latter and holding said dust pan against said broom in a position with said front end portion of said pan against said lower end portion of said broom whereby said pan will rock about said pivots during flexing of said lower portion during a sweeping operation, said coaxial pivots being positioned between the center of gravity of said pan and the front end of saidpan whereby the rear end of said pan will tend to automatically swing downwardly under the infiuence of gravity when said dust pan and dust pan handle are removed from connection with said broom, said rear portion of said dustpan including a flexible Wall adapted to engage said broom and to yieldably collapse against the latter when said dustpan is secured to said broom with said rear portion between said yoke arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McCay July 25, 1893 Percy Dec. 1, 1896 Bates June 5, 1900 Niver Sept. 15, 1908 Lund et a1. Aug. 10, 1920