US3218661A

US3218661A - Broom handle brace

Info

Publication number: US3218661A
Application number: US315014A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr William V Fielder
Original assignee: OX FIBRE BRUSH CO Inc
Current assignee: OX FIBRE BRUSH CO Inc
Priority date: 1963-10-09
Filing date: 1963-10-09
Publication date: 1965-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-23

Description

Nov. 23, 1965 w. v. FIELDER, JR 3,218,661

BROOM HANDLE BRACE Filed Oct. 9, 1963 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM V. FIELDER, JR.

WRNE Y;

United States Patent 3,218,661 BROOM HANDLE BRACE William V. Fielder, J12, Frederick, Md., assignor, by mesne assignments, to 0x Fibre Brush Company, Inc., Frederick, Md., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 315,014 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-145) This invention relates broadly to broom braces and more particularly to a brace for the handles of longhandled brooms of the type wherein the end of the handle is secured at one end in a block of a broom.

In long-handled brooms of the type having a longitudinally extending block in which the broom fibers are secured and an elongated handle secured in the block at substantially right angles thereto, and intermediate the ends of the block, by means of a screw threaded engagement or a tapered friction coupling, the broom handle has a tendency to break at its point of connection With the block when substantial pushing force is exerted on the broom, since this is normally the weakest point in a broom construction. This problem becomes even more acute with brooms having brush blocks of greater lengths since the length of the lever arm, of forces exerted on the end of a brush block by a load being pushed by the broom, is increased thus increasing the moment of force about the connection point of the broom handle with the block, thus making the handle more susceptible to breakage at this juncture.

In push brooms of this type the handle is usually threaded on its end and screwed into a threaded bore in the block, or the handle is tapered on the end and inserted into a tapered bore in the block. Whichever manner is used to connect the handle to the broom block the diameter of the handle is decreased at its point of connection to the block, thus rendering the handle less resistive and more susceptible to breakage at the vital con nection point. With push brooms having relatively long broom blocks there is a tendency for the end of the handle, which is gripped by the user, to move slightly back and forth longitudinally of the brush block due to the forces exerted on the block, as previously mentioned, and this has a tendency to crack and break the opposite end of the handle at its point of connection with the block.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a simple construction of broom handle brace to transfer the normal breaking point of the broom handle from a weaker to a stouter portion of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of broom handle brace which provides lateral support for the broom handle at the connection point with the block to thereby reduce handle breakage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a broom brace which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and which can be formed from a unitary piece of sheet material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of broom handle brace which functions very efiiciently in reinforcing the handle-to-block joint of a push broom.

Other and further objects of the invention reside in the manner in which the brace is easily connectible to a broom and the novel formation of the brace as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the broom handle brace of the invention secured in position on a broom;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the broom handle 3,218,661 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 brace and showing a fragmentary portion of the broom to which it is connected;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the brace applied to a broom and showing only a fragmentary portion of the broom handle; and

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view, looking in the direction of arrow A, in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, reference numeral 1 represents the elongated handle of a push-type broom which is threaded or tapered at one end in conventional manner, as indicated at 2, and secured into the usual thread or tapered socket 3 carried by the top surface of an elongated broom block 4 extending laterally outwardly, a substantial distance, on opposite sides of the broom handle 1, at its point of connection 2-3 with the block, such that the handle is disposed generally at right angles to the block in the usual manner.

The broom handle brace of the invention comprises a geometrical body portion formed from a unitary piece of sheet material, such as metal or the like, and in the preferred form of the invention comprises a curved body portion, adapted to be disposed in surrounding relation about the lower end of the handle 1, generally in the shape of a frustum of a semi-cone, having a top edge portion 5 adapted to engage the perimeter of the handle, and a bottom terminating edge, indicated generally at 6, engaging the block 4. The curved body portion includes opposed side wall sections 7 and 8 converging longitudinally toward each other and terminating in top edge portion 5. The opposite ends of side wall sections 7 and 8, which diverge outwardly from each other from top edge portion 5, form laterally spaced edge portions 9 and 10 on bottom terminating edge 6 for engaging the broom block 4, laterally outwardly, a substantial distance on respective opposite sides of the handle to block connection 2-3.

The brace member also includes a curved front wall section 11 extending laterally between side wall sections 7 and 8, and a pair of

back wall sections

12 and 13, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 2-4, connected to side wall sections 7 and 8 relatively in opposed relation to curved front wall section 11.

Back wall sections

12 and 13 converge upwardly with front wall section 11, in the same direction of convergence as side wall sections 7 and 8, to top edge portion 5, but are spaced apart substantially throughout their lengths a lesser distance than side wall sections 7 and 8, such that the portion of bottom edge 6, bounding front wall section 11, engages the top surface of block 4 somewhat outwardly of the handle to block connection 23, but the distance being substantially less than the distance from this connection that the edge portions 9 and 10 engage the block surface.

The lower edges of

back well sections

12 and 13 are relatively fiat in contour and are provided with extended portions forming gripping edges 14, extending inwardly at acute angles to the back wall sections and engageable beneath the lower edge 15 of the block 4. The

back wall sections

12 and 13 are longitudinally divided and laterally spaced from each other as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 with the

portions

16 and 17 of

back wall sections

12 and 13 adjacent the longitudinal division extending inwardly of the brace structure and forming longitudinally extending bracing edges 18 for engaging a longitudinal length of the periphery of the handle 1 extending substantially centrally through the brace, when the brace, is in place. A pair of lug portions 19 extend laterally rearwardly in spaced relation from the bracing edges 18 and are connected together with a screw and wing nut assembly 20 to form a clamping device whereby upon tightening the wing nut the lug portions 19 are drawn together, drawing the top edge portion 5 into firm gripping engagement with the perimeter of broom handle 1 extending through the brace. At the same time the gripping edges 14 are drawn into abutment with the lower edge 15 of the block and the bottom terminating edge 6, including the laterally spaced edge portions 9 and 10, which is contoured generally to the top surface of the block, is drawn into abutment with the top surface of block 4.

The top edge portion 5 of the brace is generally circular in cross-section while the bottom terminating edge 6 is generally semi-elliptical in cross-section, with the sheet material body portion of the brace extending substantially straight between the two edges. The laterally spaced edge portions 9 and 10 are the important sections of the bearing contact between the bottom terminating edge 6 and the broom block, as these edge portions provide stability to the handle from sidewise movement. That portion of bottom edge 6 beneath front wall section 11, in cooperation with the gripping edges 14,

stabilizes the handle from frontward and backward movement relative to the block. However, it has been found that the majority of handle breakage at the connection 23 is caused by sidewise movement of the handle and the brace will perform efiiciently as long as the laterally spaced edge portions 9 and 10 are in abutment with the block surface, even if the front portion of the bottom edge 6 is not :in abutment with the block surface, due to the contour of the block. It is, however, preferred that the entire bottom edge 6 be in contact with the block. When secured on a broom the bottom edge of the brace thus contacts the block in spaced relation to the connection 23 and laterally outwardly a substantial distance on opposite sides of the handle 1, and the top edge encircles the perimeter of the handle in gripping engagement to thus transfer the breaking point from the threaded portion 2 of handle 1 to the stouter part of the handle where it engages the top edge 5 of the brace.

While the invention has been described in a certain preferred embodiment it is to be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, particularly with regard to the specific shape of the brace. That is, the brace can be generally frusto-semi-pyramidal in shape, rather than generally frusto-semi-conical in shape, as shown, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the surface can be other shapes as long as one edge tightly grips the handle in spaced relation to the block and the other edge grips the block laterally outwardly of the handle connection with the block with a tapering surface extending between the edges. It is therefore to be understood that no limitations upon the invention are intended other than those imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A broom handle brace of the character described comprising a unitary semi-frusto conical body portion including a top edge, a bottom terminating edge, and four acutely sloping side walls connecting the top and bottom terminating edges and diverging downwardly from the top edge, an arcuate edge formed by the bottom terminating edge of three adjacent side walls of said four side walls adapted to engage the top of a broom block by friction only at acute angles a substantial distance outwardly of and about the point of connection of a handle to the broom block, clamp means carried by said unitary body portion adjacent the top edge for drawing the top edge into surrounding gripping engagement with a broom handle, and end extensions on the fourth side wall adjacent the three forming the arcuate edge and extending downwardly in angular relation thereto for engaging the bottom edge of a broom block, whereby said arcuate edge is maintained in tight abutment with the top of a broom block by only said end extensions and said clamp means. J

2. A unitary broom handle brace comprising, a generally upwardly converging conical body portion adapted to be disposed about the handle of a broom terminating in a top edge portion for engaging the broom handle, a bottom edge portion on said body portion for engaging the broom block surface a substantial distance on opposite sides of the connection of a handle to a broom block, angulated end portions connected to one side of said bottom edge portion for engaging the bottom edge of the broom block, and a portion of said body portion extending longitudinally of the broom handle intermediate said top and bottom edge portions extending inwardly of the converging conical body portion and adapted to engage the broom handle along a portion of the length thereof whereby said bottom edge portion is held in tight abutment with the broom block surface by only said angulated end portions and said top edge portion.

3. A broom handle brace comprising a unitary stiff sheet material body portion, said body portion being divided longitudinally on one side thereof, clamp means on the body portion for drawing the same into gripping engagement with a broom handle, said body portion having opposed side wall sections which converge in one longitudinal direction and other side wall portions which converge in the same longitudinal direction, said opposed side wall sections spaced apart substantially throughout the lengths thereof a greater distance than said other side wall portions, said opposed side wall sections carrying laterally spaced edge portions for engaging a broom block laterally outwardly a substantial distance from its connection with the handle to stabilize the broom handle, and end extensions on one end of one of said other side wall portions and disposed in angular relation thereto for engaging the bottom edge of a broom block.

4. A broom handle brace as set forth in claim 3 in which said body portion adjacent the longitudinal division extends laterally inwardly for longitudinally engaging and supporting the side of a broom handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,273 3/1927 Read 30626 FOREIGN PATENTS 100,673 3/ 1937 Australia. 603,752 1/ 1926 France. 790,234 9/1935 France.

22,169 1901 Great Britain. 137,946 1/1920 Great Britain. 212,140 3/ 1924 Great Britain. 622,659 5/ 1949 Great Britain. 784,813 10/1957 Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Examiner.

Claims

1. A BOTTOM HANDLE BRACE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A UNITARY SEMI-FRUSTO CONICAL BODY PORTION INCLUDING A TOP EDGE, A BOTTOM TERMIANTING EDGE, AND FOUR ACUTELY SLOPING SIDE WALLS CONNECTING THE TOP AND BOTTOM TERMINATING EDGES AND DIVERGING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP EDGE, AN ARCUATE EDGE FORMED BY THE BOTTOM TERMINATING EDGE OF THREE ADJACENT SIDE WALLS OF SAID FOUR SIDE WALLS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE TOP OF A BROOM BLOCK BY FRICTION ONLY AT ACUTE ANGLES A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE OUTWARDLY OF AND ABOUT THE POINT OF CONNECTION OF A HANDLE TO THE BROOM BLOCK, CLAMP MEANS CARRIED BY SAID UNITARY BODY PORTION ADJACENT THE TOP EDGE FOR DRAWING THE TOP EDGE INTO SURROUNDING GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH A BROOM HANDLE, AND END EXTENSIONS ON THE FOURTH SIDE WALL ADJACENT THE THREE FORMING THE ARCUATE EDGE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY IN ANGULAR RELATION THERETO FOR ENGAGING THE BOTTOM EDGE OF A BROOM BLOCK, WHEREBY SAID ARCUATE EDGE IS MAINTAINED IN TIGHT ABUTMENT WITH THE TOP OF A BROOM BLOCK BY ONLY SAID END EXTENSIONS AND SAID CLAMP MEANS.