Abstract:
Apparatus for communicating and motivating metaphorically about winning in a sports team or other team competition comprises a broom handle having a first group of figurines attached thereto by their heads, and extending outwardly, as do bristles of a brush. The first group wears uniforms of a first team. A dustpan contains a second group of figurines, reposed in disorderly fashion in a dustpan, as they may have been swept there by the broom assembly. The second group is dressed with uniforms of one or more competitors of the first group team. The invention communicates a “clean sweep” metaphor, i.e., the first team wins, by overcoming the one or more competitors in the dustpan.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to means and method for motivating persons with respect to competing in sports or other competitive activities. 
   BACKGROUND 
   In competitive team sports, particularly those where there is physical contact between the players during games, there has traditionally been a need to motivate players, so they play to in a way which overcomes the opponents and wins a sports competition, for instance a game or series of games. To do this, one of approach of managers and leaders is to create a sense of identity amongst the players of a team, and to contrast that identity with those of the opponent. One well-known approach is to have the players wear uniforms, that is, distinctive dress or clothing. Uniforms also fill the practical need to easily identify members on each team, particularly with sports such as football, basketball and hockey, where the players intersperse and move quickly during competition. For instance, the clothing of one team might comprise a green and white striped jersey, a green cap or helmet, and plain white pants, parts of which bear an emblem or symbol resembling a first animal, which is symbolic of the team name. The opponent team might be dressed in different patterns where the color red dominates, and have an emblem resembling a second animal, or an article, e.g. a horseshoe. 
   The common features of uniforms, especially the colors and emblems of such may be put to other use. For example, those things may be represented in other displays, for instance in flags and signs—to create a metaphor, that is, an understanding and experience of one thing (e.g., the uniform, color, or symbol of a player or team) in terms of another (e.g., achieving the goal of winning a game or trophy). It is the same kind of understanding and experience that a person may have when seeing a picture of an national flag on a product, where the flag reflects a sense of patriotism; and, thus the flag on a consumer product will be representative of the person&#39;s commitment to the nation&#39;s product manufacturer. In sports, certain colors and symbols are strongly identified with certain teams, and that identification is reinforced by media coverage. It is in the interest of the leaders or a team, in seeking to win a competition to reinforce such metaphors in the players and in the sports fans who attend competitions. 
   Sports players can obtain psychological and motivational encouragement from sports fans that attend competitive events. And, many team sports are played with a view to generating income for the teams, from paid attendance and from making sales of team-brand products. Thus, it is in the interest of a competitive sports team to have fans who have a psychological commitment to the team, and who are motivated to support the team in an exhortative and financial manner. The present invention seeks to serve that end. There are many other competitive endeavors, including in business and government affairs, and groups engaged in those have the same motivational needs as in sports. 
   SUMMARY 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a means for motivating team players engaged in sports and other endeavors, so they identify with one another, and to motivate them in thought and feelings as a team, so they make maximum effort toward winning against opposing teams in competitive events. A further object is to motivate sports fans in support of teams&#39; achievement of the same goals. A still further object of the invention is to elicit metaphors for winning. 
   In accord with the invention, apparatus and method for communicating and motivating metaphorically about winning in a sports team or other team competition comprises a broom assembly and a dustpan assembly. The broom assembly comprises a broom handle, with a first group of figurines connected to the handle by their heads or some other part. The figurines extend transversely to the length of the broom handle, as do bristles of a normal broom. When communicating about a sports competition, the first group wears uniforms of a first team. The dustpan assembly comprises a dustpan and a second group of figurines, which wear the uniforms of one or more other sports teams. The figures of the second group lie about, in disorderly fashion, in a dustpan, communicating that they have been swept there by the broom assembly. The invention communicates a “clean sweep” metaphor, that is, that the first team wins by overcoming the one or more competitors which have been swept into the dustpan. When a competition other than sports is being represented, for instance business or political competition, the first and second group figurines will have uniforms appropriate to that situation. 
   Preferably, the first group of figurines are made of semi-rigid or rigid plastic, and have similar posture and orientation; and, their the heads are adhered directly to the broom handle as by mechanical or adhesive attachment. Alternately, the figurines are connected to the handle by bristles. Preferably, the handle is like that of a common counter broom. In another embodiment, a whisk broom or other kind of broom is represented. 
   Preferably, the second group of figurines has the same shape and size as the first group, and they lie loosely in the dustpan. The broom assembly with cantilevered first figurines can be used to sweep the second group figurines into the dustpan. Alternately, the second group figurines are adhered or integral with the dustpan. 
   The invention may be provided in kit form. Figurines may optionally be provided with uniforms which are comprised of separate pieces, such as self-adhesive sheets or stickers. Thus, the identity of the individual figurines can be selected or changed by the user. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a counter broom, wherein identically aligned and dressed stylized figurines of sports players are attached to the broom by the figurine head in the place of bristles. 
       FIG. 2  shows a dustpan, for use in conjunction with the broom of  FIG. 1 , wherein arbitrarily un-aligned and diversely dressed figurines repose in the bed of the pan. 
       FIG. 3  shows one of the figurines of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows another broom, wherein a plurality of identically aligned and dressed figurines are attached to the bristles of a counter broom. 
       FIG. 5  is a semi-schematic view of a whisk broom with figurines attached to the bristles by their heads. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   An apparatus embodying the invention is comprised of two related components, a broom assembly  20  and a dustpan assembly  22 . Each component comprises associated figurines representing sports teams that are in actual or potential competition. In use, the two components are placed in visual-spatial relationship to one another and elicit in the minds of viewers a maxim familiar in sports, that of making a “clean sweep”, e.g., winning all of a series of competitive games. 
   A first group of figurines, symbolizing sports players of a first team, is adhered to the broom. They are dressed alike, with the uniform of a first team. A second group of figurines, symbolizing the players of one or more second teams, are contained within the dustpan. In one embodiment, each figurine is dressed differently, in the uniform of one of many different opponent teams. In another embodiment, all figurines are dressed the same, in the uniform of one opponent team. 
   More particularly, in an embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , the broom assembly  20  is comprised of broom body  24 , and a first group of figurines  30 A. Figurines  30 A are connected to the broom by their heads, and extend from the body  24  transverse to the length, as do the bristles in a conventional counter brush type broom, for contacting and moving objects. Broom body  24  has a portion which is a grasping handle  25 , for use when sweeping objects. Broom body may be made of wood or plastic or other material. 
   As shown by  FIG. 3 , each figurine is a stylized, somewhat abstract and doll-like representation of a human being member of a first sports team. Preferably, the figurines are made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as thermoplastic, in particular polyethylene. The term figurine refers to an animal form, representational or semi-abstract, having at least a head and body; and, arms and legs in more full embodiments. Figurines  30 A all have substantially identical dress or garb, commonly referred to as “sport uniform”, characteristic of those worn by players of a particular actual sports team. The term uniform as used here refers to a distinctive outfit, to identify those who wear it as members of a certain group. As is well known, certain features of a uniform within may vary within such substantially identical sports uniforms. For instance, the player&#39;s number or name may vary from one figurine to the next. 
   In the  FIG. 1  embodiment of the invention, figurines attached to the broom are representative only of a first sports team, by virtue of their uniforms. Preferably, figurines  30 A of the broom  20  have substantially identical size, posture and orientation as shown in the Figures, because such uniformity will non-verbally communicate strength, e.g., features of a “human wall”. Alternately, figurine posture or orientation may be varied within the group, for different effect. For instance, some figurines may be aggressively postured, others defensively 
   Within a uniformity of presentation, first group figurines may have somewhat different orientations and somewhat varying postures. And, within the generality of “uniformity” as used herein, and which communicates team identity, a group of figurines may have different simulated skin color, to represent different races, as suggested by  FIG. 1 . And, the figurines may have other features to represent different physical characteristics, such as features that suggest gender, height, hair type, facial features, or well known distinguishing features of a particular individual, and so forth. 
   Figurines  30 A may be arranged in two or more parallel rows in other embodiments. Figurines  30 A may be permanently attached, as by adhesive or integral molding, or may be detachable, as by a molded projection from a figurine being captured within a tight fitting socket on the broom handle. 
   As shown by  FIG. 2 , the dustpan assembly  22  is comprised of a pan  28  and a second group of figurines  30 B reposed on the bed  32  of the pan. Pan  28  has the shape of a conventional dustpan. Flared sidewalls  34  run around three sides of the bed  32 , to contain objects on the bed; and handle  36  extends from the rear of the bed, so the pan can be conveniently held. The dustpan may be made of plastic, metal, wood or other structural material. 
   Pan  28  is proportioned to the broom assembly  20 , to communicate to the viewer that the broom assembly can be used in conjunction with the dustpan. For example, the width of the bed of the pan may be approximately equal to or greater than the length of the row of figurines on the broom. Thus, a person looking at the two assemblies  20 ,  22  as they are displayed conjunctively in use, will appreciate that the particular broom  20  is suited for sweeping comparatively small objects, e.g., figurines  30 B, into the bed  32  of pan  28 , and imagine said figurines have been swept there by the broom assembly. In the generality of the invention, other configurations of dustpan, like those known in the art, may be employed in substitution of the common shape pan in  FIG. 2 . 
   The multiplicity of figurines  30 B, comprises a second group, representing human members of one or more other sports teams, which team(s) is different from the first sports team simulated by the figurines  30 A, which are attached to the broom. In one embodiment, each figurine  30 B is substantially alike, to identify a second team. Therefore, the second group would be dressed with the stylized uniform of an actual or potential rival team. In another embodiment, some or all of figurines  30 B are distinct in appearance from each other, as well as from the figurines of the first group. For example, each figurine  30 B may represent a player of another different competitor team of the team represented in the broom assembly. And, in one embodiment, the group of figurines  30 B will represent all the major competitors of the first team, which is represented by figurines  30 A of broom assembly  20 . 
   Figurines  30 B have proportions like those of the first group of figurines; preferably the figurines are identical in size. And, the proportions of all figurines are small with respect to the dimensions of bed  32  of pan  28 , so it can be conceived that the dustpan is suited for receiving figurines which may be swept into the dustpan. The second group of figurines  30 B are reposed in the bed of pan  28 ; they are in any position other than standing. For instance they may be lying or sitting, again to suggest defeat and disarray, and to reflect or to suggest, as the case may have been, that they have been swept away and into the pan. 
   When placed in proximity, the non-verbal and metaphor communication of the two components  20 ,  22  is that the team of the first group (broom assembly  20 ) has or will overcome and defeat the team or teams of the second group (dustpan assembly  22 ). This is because the first group/team is part of the active or forceful component, the broom, and is organized as a group. Whereas, the second group is part of the passive and receiving item, the dustpan; and, it is disorganized. The dustpan symbolizes a hierarchal lower state, as a container for something that is useless and suitable for discard. 
   Functionally, the figurine groups and components may physically interact. For instance, a person may grasp the broom assembly  20  at portion  25 , and use it as a broom, to sweep figurines  30 B from any surface upon which they have been previously placed, onto the bed  32  of pan  28 . The figurines  30 A will act in the same way as do ordinary bristles of a broom, in contacting and pushing the figurines  30 B into the pan. 
   In one mode of using the invention, figurines  30 B are manually arranged to repose within the pan, so that the different figurines are spaced apart and oriented in a way which suits the fancy of the user. In aspect of this mode, the figurines  30 B are loose within the pan. In another mode, figurines  30 B may be attached to the pan, for instance by adhesive or permanent means. Alternately, the figurines may be removably attached with a two-part hook and loop type fastener system, by magnets (when the pan is metal), adhesive, or other releasable means. In another display arrangement, for any mode, broom assembly  20  may be overlaid onto pan  28  and the figurines contained therein. 
     FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the invention, wherein the heads of figurines  30 A are connected to broom body  24 A by means of bristles  38 . The figurine heads or other parts may be glued or otherwise fastened to the bristles. In further embodiments, the figurines may be attached to the broom by simulated body parts other than the head, for instance by upwardly extended arms, or by legs or feet. In still other embodiments, different shape brooms may be used.  FIG. 5  shows whisk broom  20 B, having bristles  38 B, to which are attached the heads of figurines  30 B, so that the lengths of the figurines run parallel to the length of broom handle  24 B. In other embodiments, the broom simulated may be a floor broom, a common sweep broom, or another kind of broom. 
   Figurines  30 A,  30 B may be constructed in various ways, associated with making dolls and toy animals. For instance, they may be made of molded plastic, as described, as are figurines associated with popular toy systems, where small plastic blocks and other pieces “snap together” to form larger objects. The plastic of the figurines may be rigid or semi-rigid, plastic, for instance, epoxy, or polyethylene having a selected density or structure; or a rubber having a selected Durometer. Alternately, figurines may be made as soft sculpture, e.g., or cloth or other fabric stuffed with deformable material, including vegetation or man-made products. In another mode, figurines may be balloon-like, and filled with air or other gas. The uniform which any figurine wears will commonly be painted on, or integral with, the surface of the figurine. Alternately, pieces of sheet or fabric may be put on the figurine 
   While figurines will ordinarily have the features of human beings, since it is with human sports that the invention will be mostly used, in special instances, the figurines may have features resembling animals. For instance, if a team mascot is associated with a particular animal, e.g., cat, dog, wolf, bear, the features of that animal may be suggested in part in figurines, to strengthen the identify of the particular figurine(s) with the particular team. For instance, one or more of the figurines in the second group might have the visage of a wolf, or have a tail, etc., while still overall having a shape which communicates that the figurine is evocative of a human member or player of a particular team. 
   In one way of carrying out the invention, a kit is provided to a player or fan of sports, or customer. Figurines  30 A may have been previously attached to the broom  24 ,  24 A; or, they may be provided separately, for attachment by the purchaser. The user causes the figurines  30 B to be arrayed in disorder in the dustpan, and views the result, thus providing an internal satisfaction and stimulating and motivating the player or fan through metaphor. For a player, the result will be a strengthening of identity with his or her team and an enhancement of play or performance, during actual competition. If laid out, for viewing in a display place, the construct created continues to communicate in a non-verbal way group identification relative to the broom adhered group of figurines, and a competitive message for that group to win over the teams of the dustpan reposed figurines. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of attachments representing uniforms are provided, for instance self-adhesive printed-paper or plastic film pieces or plastic sleeves. This feature could lessen manufacturing and inventory factors, and enable changing of the meaning of the metaphor over time. Thus, portions of uniform, for some or all of either or both groups of figurines may be applied to the surfaces of the figurines. The portions might be applied by the manufacturer, or by the customer—who would be provided with an array to select from. Thus, the user could determine the uniformity or lack of uniformity amongst the figurines, and make changes over time. In an alternate and more costly embodiment, different selections of figurines having different permanently attached uniforms are provided in a kit. 
   While the preferred embodiment has been described in terms or sports team competition, the invention may be applied to other group activities, beyond the field of sports. For instance, it may be applied for use with groups competing within an commercial endeavor industry or political activity, wherein the uniform may be the colors and symbol of the employer, worker or tradesman organization, party, or other group, as applicable. 
   Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to one or more preferred embodiments, and by examples, such should not be considered as limiting the claims, since it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made, and that equivalents thereof may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.