US3134129A - Broom having multiple removable and interchangeable broom head portions - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1964 s. ALLEN 3,134,129 BROOM HAVING MULTIPLE REMOVABLE AND INTERCHANGEIABLE BROOM HEAD PORTIONS Filed Nov. 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3 m

INVENTOR SAMUE L AL L EN May 26, 1964 s. ALLEN 3,134,129

BROOM HAVING MULTIPLE REMOVABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE BROOM HEAD PORTIONS Filed Nov. 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SAMUEL ALLEN United States Patent Ofiice 3,134,129 Patented May 26, 1964 BROOM HAVING MULTIPLE REMOVABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE BROOM HEAD PORTIONS Samuel Allen, 159 E. 82nd St., Los Angeles 3, Calm, assignor of one-fourth to The Gadget-of-tne-lt lonth Club, Inc., North Hollywood, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,514 14 Claims. (Cl. 15-544) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the broom art and, more particularly, to a broom of the so-called push broom type which comprises a broom head adapted to be provided with broom handle means for pushing the broom head along a fioor surface which is to be swept, and with said broom head comprising multiple removable and interchangeable broom head portions. This feature makes it possible to equalize wear on brush means carried by the different broom head portions so as to maximize the useful operating life and the efliciency of operation of the assembled broom head and, therefore, the complete broom.

Also, under certain conditions of use, it may be desirable to alter the effective over-all width of the broom head, and the above'rnentioned novel feature of the present invention makes it possible to do this very conveniently and easily so that the over-all width of the broom head can be adjusted to an optimum size for a particular usage.

In a preferred form of the present invention, the abovementioned broom head comprises a plurality of longitudinal broom head portions provided with controllably engageable and disengageable engagement means for rigidly and firmly fastening adjacent ends thereof together whereby to define a longitudinal, substantially laterally horizontally directed rear part of said complete broom head; said broom head further comprising two coupling portions, each being positioned at a different outer end of said laterally horizontally directed rear part of said broom head and each being provided angularly forwardly thereof with at least one additional broom head portion and with similar engagement means for rigidly firmly fastening them with respect to said rear part of said complete broom head whereby to define a rigid, effectively forwardly concave or substantially U-shaped complete broom head means wherein each of said coupling portions and each of said broom head portions positioned forwardly thereof effectively comprises a different one of a pair of side arm broom head portions coupled to said rear broom head portion of said complete broom head means. Of course, all of said broom head portions are provided with downwardly directed effective brush means for contact with an underlying floor or horizontal surface during a cleaning or sweeping operation.

It will be apparent that the structure described above will not only have the advantages flowing from the interchangeable broom head portions referred to hereinbefore, but it will additionally comprise a highly effective broom head means adapted to sweep debris along a floor surface and to retain the debris which has been swept up between the side arm broom head parts so that the debris which has already been swept up from the floor will not be lost during further floor sweeping operations in the undesirable manner of many prior art push brooms.

If desired, one preferred form of the present invention may also be provided with dispensing means for controllably dispensing, forward-1y of the rear broom head part and inwardly of the side arm broom head parts, onto a horizontal floor surface, a suitable material for facilitating cleaning and sweeping. This may be a dust settling and/ or absorbent material or may actually comprise ma terial having cleaning powers in addition to, and/or in lieu of, such dust settling and/ or absorbent characteristics. In other words, any type of material adapted to facilitate a floor cleaning and/ or sweeping operation, or even a floor scrubbing operation in the event that the broom is used for that purpose, may be controllably dispensed, preferably in the above-mentioned highly advantageous location, although not specifically so limited.

Also, it should be noted that in one specific form of the invention the broom means may be provided (usually by Way of the broom head means) with controllably operable illumination means for controllably directing light onto a floor area which is to be swept by the broom head means.

Additionally, it should be noted that, in one specific form of the invention the broom means may be provided (preferably by Way of the longitudinal broom handle means, although not specifically so limited) with warning signal means (usually audible warning signal means such as a horn, buzzer, bell, or the like, although not specifically so limited) for controllably producing a warning signal when an operator of the broom desires to warn nearby persons of the approach of the broom head means with respect to the ankles and/ or feet of said persons.

It is a further, object of the present invention to provide a novel broom of the character referred to hereinbefore which includes controllably adjustable connection means for effectively coupling the broom head means (usually adjacent to the center thereof) with respect to a longitudinal normally upwardly angularly rearwardly directed handle means so that the angular relationship and orientation of the broom head means with respect to the handle means can be controllably adjusted and then firmly locked in a desired relationship.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character referred to hereinbefore which is of relatively simple, inexpensive, easy-to-assemble and disassemble, and easy-to-use construction and which greatly extends and expands the usefulness and effectiveness of a push broom whereby to be conducive to widespread usage of the device.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be construed as exemplary of the invention but not specifically limiting it), and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying two sheets of drawings.

FIG. 1 is a reduced-size perspective view illustrating one exemplary, and non-specifically limiting, embodiment of the invention in fully assembled operative relationship for floor cleaning use on a horizontal fioor surface.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the exemplary broom of FIG. 1 with a portion near the left end thereof broken away and shown in section to clarify the exemplary and non-specifically limiting engagement means illustrated in the drawings and adapted to controllably removably join the various broom head portions together in a manner sufiiciently rigid to provide a very effective fully assembled broom head means and yet to make it possible to controllably remove and/or interchange various of the broom head portions as desired. The remainder of said engagement means are hidden in FIG. 2, and, therefore, are shown by broken lines.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the multiple planes indicated by the arrows 33 of FIG. 4 and illustrates one typical one of the plurality of similar engagement means for joining the various broom head portions together in a rigid and yet readily removable and/ or interchangeable manner. This view also illustrates the socket means for connecting the elfective forward end of the longitudinal handle means with respect to the broom head means and also illustrates one exemplary form of mounting of the brush means with respect to each of the individual broom head portions.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 2 and with the side arm part of the broom head means at the left side of FIGS. 1 and 2 not shown for reasons of drawing simplification and clarity.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIG. 1 and illustrates a typical connection means or junction means of the multiple sections of the longitudinal handle means.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary and partly sectional view of any typical one of the engagement means adapted to fasten the various broom head portions together in a rigid and yet readily removable and interchangeable manner. This view also further illustrates the mounting of the brush means.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7 of FIG. 1, and clearly illustrates the structure of the particular dispensing means which is shown in the drawings for exemplary but non-specifically limiting purposes. This view also shows the corresponding broom head portion in cross-section and the right side arm part of the broom head means of FIG. 1 in elevation.

FIG. 8 is another perspective View very similar to FIG. 1 but illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the forward ends of the side arm parts of the broom head means are provided with controllably energizable illumination means for directing light onto floor areas which are to be swept by the broom head means. This view also illustrates the broom means as being provided with a controllably operable warning signal or alarm means, which is illustrated as comprising a sound producing horn means mounted on the longitudinal broom handle means, although the invention is not specifically so limited.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a further slight modification of the form of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein the illumination means for illuminating selected floor areas is carried by the handle means adjacent to the warning signal means and wherein they are adapted to be energized through an extension cord from a conventional source of electricity as is customarily available in buildings and structures adapted to be cleaned by push brooms. This view is a fragmentary partly broken away view for reasons of drawing simplification, clarity and in order to save space.

Generally speaking, the broom of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 21 and comprises broom head means, indicated generally at 22, which is adapted to be provided with longitudinal broom handle means, one exemplary form of which is indicated generally at 23. The invention is intended to be directed to both the combination of the broom head means 22 and the broom handle means 23, and to the broom head means 22, per se, which is adapted for cooperation with a longitudinal broom handle means.

In the specific exemplary form illustrated, the broom head means 22 comprises a plurality of longitudinal broom head portions 24R, provided with controllably engageable and disengageable engagement means, such as generally designated by the reference numeral 25 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, for fastening adjacent ends of each of the plurality of longitudinal broom head portions 24R together in rigid aligned relationship, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3, whereby to define longitudinal, substantially laterally horizontally directed, rear broom head part 26 as is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Said broom head means 22 also includes, at each end thereof, a coupling portion 27 including a rear element 27R which comprises an end element at each end of, and comprising a section of, said rear broom head part 26, and which is provided with engagement means of the type shown at 25 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, for corresponding engagement with the adjacent rear broom head portions 24R.

Each of said coupling portions 27 also includes an angularly forwardly directed element 27F also provided with engagement means of the exemplary type illustrated at 25 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, for controllable engagement and disengagement with respect to at least one additional broom head portion 24S whereby to effectively together define what may be termed side arm broom head parts 28. It should be clearly noted that said side arm broom head parts 28 need not be limited to the inclusion of only one broom head portion 248 therein, but may include more in certain forms of the invention. This is also true with respect to the rear broom head portions 24R, which may be varied in number.

Also, it should be noted that each of said broom head portions can be controllably removed and/ or interchanged as desired. The interchangeable feature comprises a very effective way of equalizing brush wear and greatly lengthens the over-all effective life of the broom head means 22.

It should be noted that the rear broom head part 26 and the side broom head parts 248 elfectively together define what might be termed a forwardly concave or substantially U-shaped complete broom head means 22 wherein the angularly forwardly directed side arm broom head parts 248 will eifectively retain debris which is forwardly swept by the rear broom head part 26. Thus, debris which has already been swept up from the floor surface will not be lost around the ends of the broom in the undesirable manner of conventional prior art push brooms.

In the specific exemplary form of the invention illustrated, each of the engagement means 25 comprises two elements, a first one of which may be carried by either of the adjacent broom head portions and which is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, as comprising a resiliently engageable projection element 29 which as is best shown in FIG. 6, is of tubular construction and is provided with a pair of circularly opposedly spaced resiliently deflectable tongue means or elements 31 (defined by slots 32 formed in the tubular projection member 29), while the second one of said two elements of the engagement means 25 is adapted to be carried by the adjacent end of the adjacent next one of said broom head portions and, as is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, may comprise a resiliently engageab le receiving element 33.

In the example illustrated the receiving element 33 comprises a tubular member just large enough to forcibly receive the tubular projection 29 and provided with inwardly formed and projecting detent means 34 circularly opposedly spaced apart around the tubular receiving member 33 for resilient receiving and engaging cooperation with respect to the corresponding resilient tongue means 31 of the projection element 29.

Said first and second elements of a typical one of the plurality of engagement means 25 are shown in exploded relationship in FIG. 6 and are shown in fully engaged relationship in FIG. 3, thus fully clarifying the operation thereof and making it quite clear that, when engaged in the manner shown in 'FIG. 3, each of said engagement means 25 provides a very rigid and firm connection of the adjacent broom head portions 24R and/or 248 relative ot each other and/or to the coupling means 27 at the corners of the broom head means 22.

The interconnection of the various broom head portions will be rigid enough to allow the broom to be operated in a very effective manner as a push broom and with all of the advantages flowing from the fact that debris will be retained on the forward side of the broom by the side arm parts 28 in the manner referred to hereinbefore.

However, whenever an operator desires to remove and/or interchange any of the broom head portions all he has to do is to disengage the desired ones of the engagement means 25 and remove and/ or interchange any of said broom head portions, after which re-engagemen-t of the appropriate engagement means 25 is effected to produce a fully assembled rigid broom head means again, such as that shown at 22 in FIG. 1, although it may be of greater or lesser size as desired according to the number and placement of the broom head portions.

Of course, it should be noted that each of the broom head portions 24R and 248 is provided with downwardly directed brush bristle means, indicated generally at 35, and terminating at a common bottom floor contact plane.

In the exemplary form of the invention illustrated, each of said broom head portions 24R and 24S (and said coupling portions 27) mounts the brush means 35 in a novel and eifective manner wherein brush means 35 consists of two rows 36 and 37 of bristle tips extending upwardly .into corresponding parts of the annular channel portion 38 defined between an outer cylinder wall 39 and the inner cylinder wall 33 of the corresponding one of said broom head portions 24R, 2 48, on 27. The rear bristle parts of the bristle rows 36 and 37 are clamped in said annular regions 38 and effectively locked in place whereby to mount the projecting rows of bristle tufts 36 and 37 in a manner such as to effectively define the hereinbeforementioned brush means 35 carried in downwardly directed relationship by each of the broom head portions 24R and 24S and also by the coupling means 27 at the corners of the broom head means 22. The inner and outer cylindrical tubular members 33 and 39 are effectively spaced apart and joined together by the plurality of annular interconnecting rings '41 whereby to provide the rigid structure comprising each of the hereinbe-fore-mentioned broom head portions 24R or 245 and the coupling portions 27 at the corners of the broom head means 22.

In the specific example illustrated, the broom head means 22 is provided, at a substantial central location, with upwardly angularly rearwardly directed handle-engageable socket means 42 which, as is best shown in FIG. 3, may be interiorly threaded at 43 to receive the corresponding exteriorly threaded portion 44 of the forward end 45 of the handle means 23.

In one specific exemplary form of the invention, said handle means 23 may be provided with controllably adjustable pivotal connection means and locking means therefor for adjusting the angular relationship of the remote or upper end of the handle means 23 with respect to the plane of a horizontal floor surface adapted to be swept by the brush means 35 of the broom head means 22. In certain cases said pivotal connection means may be arranged for lateral angular adjustment of the handle means 23 with respect to the broom head means 22.

In the exemplary form illustrated, as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, said controllably adjustable pivotal connection means is indicated generally by the reference numeral 46, while the above-mentioned locking means therefor is indicated generally at '47.

Said exemplary pivotal connection means 46 comprises a threaded and headed bolt 48 adapted to extend through the apertures 49, indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2, carried in two flat relatively rotatively adjustable disc-shaped members 51, which are carried by the adjacent and pivotally interconnected portions of the handle means 23 so as to allow relative pivotal adjusting movement thereof.

The looking means 4 7 comprises a threaded nut 52, which may be a wing nut or the like, although not specifically so limited, which is threaded on the other end of the headed threaded bolt 48 and which can be threadedly advanced therealong so as to effectively clamp and lock the two apertured rotary disc members 51 in a variety of different rotary angular relationships as determined by the engagement of the serrated tooth means 53, best shown in FIG. 2.

Since this type of pivotal connection means and this type of locking means are Well known in the art, it is not thought necessary to illustrate them in any greater detail than shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or to describe them in any greater detail than in the brief description set forth above.

One preferred form of the invention may include controllably operable dispensing means, such as that indicated generally at 54, for controllably dispensing any desired cleaning and/or sweeping agent or material into a proper region of a floor surface which is to be cleaned or swept.

In the form of the invention illustrated, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, said dispensing means 54 comprises a hollow casing 55 having discharge means 56 adjacent to a forward end thereof and having controllably operable and conveniently positioned operating means 57 at the upper end thereof. In said exemplary form illustrated in said figures, the dispensing means 56 comprises a conical valve member 58 carried by a valve stem 59 and longitudinally reciprocatable between an upper closed relationship with respect to a valve seat 61, comprising the open forward end of the casing 55, and a lower unseated position with respect thereto. Said upper seated position is clearly shown in solid lines in FIG. 7 and comprises the closed relationship of said parts, while said lower unseated position is shown in broken lines in FIG. 7 and comprises the eifective open position of said discharge means 56 for effectively discharging any desired type of cleaning and/ or sweeping agent, such as the particulate material shown at 62 and carried within the hollow casing 55.

In the example illustrated, said operating means 57 comprises an operating button 63 (positioned for either foot operation or hand operation) and carried by the upper end of the valve stem 59 at a position exterior of the casing 55. A biasing spring 64 is carried within an apertured spring-mounting structure 65 positioned within the casing 55 which abuts the forward end of said biasing spring 64. The rear end of said biasing spring 64 abuts a washer or collar 66 which is fixed to said valve stem 59; the arrangement being such as to normally bias the conical valve member 58 into the closed, upwardly positioned relationship shown in solid lines in FIG. 7. However, it can be easily opened by applying either foot or hand pressure to the button 63 to allow any desired amount of the cleaning or sweeping agent 62 to be dis pensed onto the floor surface 67 shown in FIG. 7.

In the example illustrated, the longitudinal handle means 23 is made up of a plurality of handle sections 68 joined together by suitable fastening junction means such as the exemplary form illustrated in detail in FIG. 5 and indicated by the reference numeral 69, wherein said fastening junction means is shown as comprising threaded male and female connector elements 71 and 72 carried by adjacent end portions of the handle section 68. This makes it possible to remove and/ or interchange various of the handle portions 68 as desired.

FIG. 8 illustrates a slight modification of the invention including illumination means, indicated generally at 73, and warning signal means indicated generally at 74. Otherwise, the remaining elements of the invention are identical to those illustrated in the preceding views and described in detail hereinbefore. Therefore, similar parts are indicated by similar reference numerals, primed, however, and a description of said similar parts is thought to be unnecessary and will not be included because of the obvious redundancy thereof.

Each of the broom head portions 248 at the front of the broom head means 22 may be provided with illumination means such as that shown at 73 which includes lamp means 75 and control switch means 76 adapted to control the electrical energization of the lamp means 75.

Each of the lamp means 75 is so positioned as to illuminate a desired portion of a floor surface which is to be swept and, in certain forms of the invention, may be controllably positionally adjustable to further enhance this feature.

Also, in certain forms of the invention, the switch means 76 may be positioned elsewhere, such as on the handle means 23 if desired.

The lamp means 75 may be adapted to be electrically energized by any suitable source of electrical power. This may include outside power supply means connected thereto by appropriate extension cord means, or may include controllably removable, replaceable, and/or in certain cases, rechargeable battery means or the like, carried at any desired appropriate location or plurality of such 10- cations. This is also true of the warning signal means 74, which is shown as comprising a warning horn 77 adapted to be controllably energized by control button means 78 whereby to warn persons that the broom head means 22 is approaching and may possibly strike their ankles or feet. Indeed, FIG. 9 illustrates a very slight modification of FIG. 8 wherein the illumination means 73 of FIG. 8 is repositioned on the handle means 23" and is elfectively combined into a single illumination means designated generally by the reference numeral 73 rather than the twin illumination means 73 of FIG. 8. In this modification both the warning signals means 74" and the illumination means 73" are adapted to be energized from a suitable external source by way of the extension cord means 79, which is shown partly broken away for space conservation reasons.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in the application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A broom having multiple removable and interchangeable broom head elements, comprising: substantially laterally horizontally directed broom head means adapted to be provided with broom handle means, said broom head means comprising a plurality of longitudinal broom head portions provided with controllably engageable and disengageable means for rigidly and firmly fastening adjacent ends thereof together whereby to define an elongated substantially laterally horizontally directed rear broom head part of said complete broom head means, and further comprising a coupling portion positioned at each of the opposite outer ends of said rear broom head part and each including a rear element aligned with said rear broom head part at the corresponding outer end thereof and a forwardly directed element provided forwardly thereof with at least one additional forwardly directed broom head portion, adjacent ends of said rear broom head part and said coupling portions and adjacent ends of said forwardly directed additional broom head portions and said coupling portions being provided with said controllably engageable and disengageable means for rigidly firmly fastening them with respect to said rear broom head part of said complete broom head means whereby to define a rigid, forwardly open, substantially U-shaped complete broom head means wherein said forwardly positioned elements of said coupling portions and said additional broom head portions fastening forwardly thereof and positioned at each of said opposite outer ends of said rear broom head part are laterally displaced from each other and comprise effective side arm broom head parts coupled to said rear broom head part of said complete broom head means at opposite side ends thereof.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said broom head portions are provided with downwardly directed floor-engageable cleaning means.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said broom head portions, including said coupling portions, are pro- 8 vided with downwradly directed floor-engageable brush means comprising a plurality of downwardly directed brush bristles terminating at substantially the same contact cleaning plane.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said engagement means comprises two elements, a first one of which is carried by one end of two adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of said plurality of broom head portions, and a second one of which is carried by the adjacent end of the other adjacent one of said plurality of broom head portions, said first element comprising a resiliently engageable projection element and said second element comprising a resiliently engageable receiving element cooperable to resiliently receive and engage said first element therein in a rigid fastening relationship capable of being forcibly manually disengaged for controllable removal and interchanging of any of said broom head portions.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said engagement means comprises two elements, a first one of which is carried by one end of two adjacent ones of said plurality of broom head portions, and a second one of which is carried by the adjacent end of the other adjacent one of said plurality of broom head portions, said first element comprising a resiliently engageable projection element and said second element comprising a resiliently engageable receiving element cooperable to resiliently receive and engage said first element therein in a rigid fastening relationship capable of being forcibly manually disengaged for controllable removal and interchanging of any of said broom head portions, said first element of each of said engagement means being provided with at least one resiliently inwardly deflectable tongue means, and said second element of each of said engagement means being provided with an inwardly projecting detent means effectively resiliently cooperable with the corresponding tongue means of the received first projection element of said engagement means.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said engagement means comprises two elements, a first one of which is carried by one end of two adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of said plurality of broom head portions, and a second one of which is carried by the adjacent end of the other adjacent one of said plurality of broom head portions, said first element comprising a resiliently engageable projection element and said second element comprising a resiliently engageable receiving element cooperable to resiliently receive and engage said first element therein in a rigid fastening relationship capable of being forcibly manually disengaged for controllable removal and interchanging of any of said broom head portions, said first element of each of said engagement means being provided with a pair of circularly opposedly spaced resiliently defiectable tongue means, and said second element of each of said engagement means being provided with a pair of circularly opposedly spaced inwardly projecting detent means effectively resiliently cooperable with the corresponding tongue means of the received first projection element of said engagement means.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said broom head portions, including said coupling portions, are provided with downwardly directed floor-engageable brush means comprising a plurality of downwardly directed brush bristles terminating at substantially the same contact cleaning plane, each of said broom head portions being of substantially cylindrical tubular construction including an outer cylindrical tubular wall and an inner cylindrical tubular wall defining therebetween an annular channel portion firmly mounting upper portions of said downwardly directed brush means, said inner cylindrical tubular wall at one end thereof comprising one element of one of said engagement means adapted to retainingly receive a second element of said engagement means therein.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said broom head means is provided, at a central part thereof, with upwardly angularly rearwardly directed handle-engageable socket means provided with, and effectively fastened with respect to, a longitudinal broom handle means.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said broom head means is provided, at a central part thereof, with upwardly angularly rearwardly directed handle-engageable socket means provided with, and effectively fastened with respect to, a longitudinal broom handle means, said longitudinal broom handle means having a rear manually graspable portion and a forward portion fastened with respect to said handle-engageable socket means and including controllably adjustable pivotal connection means and locking means therefor effectively connected between said rear manually graspable portion and said forward portion of said handle means for adjusting the angular relationship of said rear portion of said handle means with respect to said broom head means.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said broom head means is provided, at a central part thereof, with upwardly angularly rearwardly directed handle-engageable socket means provided with, and effectively fastened with respect to, a longitudinal broom handle means, said broom handle means comprising a plurality of longitudinal sections having controllably connectable and disconnectable fastening junction means therealong to provide for controllable removal and interchanging of any of said longitudinal handle sections as desired.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, including controllably operable dispensing means carried by said broom handle means and having conveniently positioned operating means adjacent to an upper end thereof and having discharge means adjacent to a forward lower end thereof positioned forwardly of said rear broom head part and inwardly of said side arm broom head parts and adapted to controllably discharge, onto a horizontal floor surface in front of the broom head means, a suitable cleaning agent.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, including illumination means carried by said broom head means for controllably directing light onto a floor area which is to be swept by the broom head means.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, including audible warning signal means carried by said broom handle means for controllable operation for producing an audible warning signal to warn nearby persons of the approach of the broom head means with respect to ankles and feet of said persons.

14-. A device as claimed in claim 1, including illumination means carried by said broom handle means for controllably directing light onto a floor area which is to be swept by the broom head means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,490,078 Nelf Apr. 8, 1924 2,296,994 Grant Sept. 29, 1942 2,635,272 Johnson Apr. 21, 1953 2,778,043 Arf Jan. 22, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 237,077 Great Britain July 23, 1925

Claims (1)

1. A BROOM HAVING MULTIPLE REMOVABLE AND INTERCHANGEABLE BROOM HEAD ELEMENTS, COMPRISING: SUBSTANTIALLY LATERALLY HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED BROOM HEAD MEANS ADAPTED TO BE PROVIDED WITH BROOM HANDLE MEANS, SAID BROOM HEAD PORTIONS PROVIDED WITH CONTROLLABLY ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE MEANS FOR RIGIDLY AND FIRMLY FASTENING ADJACENT ENDS THEREOF TOGETHER WHEREBY TO DEFINE AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY LATERALLY HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED REAR BROOM HEAD PART OF SAID COMPLETE BROOM HEAD MEANS, AND FURTHER COMPRISING A COUPLING PORTION POSITIONED AT EACH OF THE OPPOSITE OUTER ENDS OF SAID REAR BROOM HEAD PART AND EACH INCLUDING A REAR ELEMENT ALIGNED WITH SAID REAR BROOM HEAD PART AT THE CORRESPONDING OUTER END THEREOF AND A FORWARDLY DIRECTED ELEMENT PROVIDED FORWARDLY THEREOF WITH AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL FORWARDLY DIRECTED BROOM HEAD PORTION, ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID REAR BROOM HEAD PART AND SAID COUPLING PORTIONS AND ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID FORWARDLY DIRECTED ADDITIONAL BROOM HEAD PORTIONS AND SAID COUPLING PORTIONS BEING PROVIDED WITH SAID CONTROLLABLY ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE MEANS FOR RIGIDLY

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