Abstract:
An articulating stand for brooms and similarly handled implements, the stand includes first and second clipping portions. The first clipping portion and second clipping portion hold an elongated handle of the implement under tension sufficient to prevent the handle from sliding. The first clipping portion is angled relative to the second clipping portion, such that it releases the handle when the second clipping portion engages the handle and vice versa. A panel for engaging a standing surface on which the articulating stand and an implement rests is provided below the second clipping portion and includes a wide bottom edge with opposing ends, forming a tripod with the implement. The panel is in substantially linear arrangement with the second clip, such that the panel is adjacent the handle with the second clipping portion engaging the handle, and not adjacent the handle when the first clipping portion engages the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to cleaning apparatus used in a standing position. More specifically, the present invention relates to an articulating stand for maintaining a broom or similar cleaning implement in an upright position when not in use. 
         [0003]    Related Art 
         [0004]    Household tools such as brooms, mops and related apparatus, and garden tools such as rakes and similar implements are characterized by long handles that extend from a working head. The extended handles allow users to operate features of the implements at ground level while maintaining an upright, or substantially upright posture. Although convenient during use, such implements must be leaned against a vertical surface or object when not in use to maintain them upright. Frequently such surfaces are not available, and consequently the implements are placed on the ground, thereby forcing a user to stoop to ground level to resume use. 
         [0005]    Various apparatus have been developed to preserve household and garden implements in an upright position when not held by a user. U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,772 to DiResta discloses a stand for push brooms and like implements featuring a leg mounted on the implement handle or head, and affixed thereto by a fastening mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,374 to Lombardo discloses a push broom stand including an elongated tubular body with a bent shape. The bent tubular body may be attached in various positions. Published application No. U.S. 2008/0083681 to Cella discloses a reconfigurable garden tool caddy device comprising a mounting assembly attached to a garden tool handle. A stand attached to the mounting assembly is movable from a first position next to the body to a second position away from the body for supporting the tool in an upright position. 
         [0006]    Although these apparatus can support a long handled implement in one form or another, they are disfavored due to the expense involved in producing them, having multiple parts that are relatively difficult to install, such as requiring mounting brackets (in the case of Cella) or tightening and loosening fasteners (in the case of DiResta), and because they are difficult to use. Therefore what is needed is an apparatus that maintains a long-handled household or garden implement in an upright position, avoids forcing users to stoop over to resume use, and which is inexpensive to make and easy to use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An articulating stand for brooms and similarly handled implements, the stand has a first clipping portion and a second clipping portion. The first clipping portion and the second clipping portion are configured to hold an elongated handle under a tension sufficient to prevent the handle from sliding through them. The first clipping portion is located at an angle relative to the second clipping portion, such that the first clipping portion is configured to release the handle when the second clipping portion engages the handle and vice versa. A panel for engaging a standing surface on which the articulating stand and an implement rests. 
         [0008]    The panel includes a wide, bottom portion with opposing ends, the opposing ends and handle thereby conferring tripod support to the stand and the implement. The panel is in substantially linear arrangement with the second clipping portion, such that the panel is adjacent the handle when the second clipping portion is in an engaging position on the handle, and the panel is not adjacent the handle when the first clipping portion is in an engaging position on the handle. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the first clipping portion and the second clipping portion hold the handle in a releasable pressure fit. The stand may also comprise an angled beam for coupling the first clipping portion to the second clipping portion. The angled portion is preferably configured to hold the first clipping portion and the second clipping portion at a predetermined angle relative to each other. The bottom edge preferably includes a non-slip and non-scratch material to avoid the implement falling, and to avoid the stand scratching the standing surface. 
         [0010]    In an alternative embodiment, the panel, the first clipping portion and the second clipping portion are formed of a unitary piece of material, such as plastic. The panel may include a cut-out portion above the bottom edge, and the bottom portion may include a recessed portion, thereby forming a raised area through which portions of an implement may extend, and also creating two opposing feet at the opposing ends of the bottom portion. The first clipping portion and the second clipping portion may also have a non-slip material. In one embodiment, the bottom portion also has a bottom edge turned outward from the handle. 
         [0011]    The stand may also be characterized as an articulating stand for brooms and similarly handled implements, the stand with a first clip, a second clip, and a panel arranged in series along the stand, with the second clip disposed between the first clip and the panel. Preferably the first clip and the second clip are configured to alternately, at least partially, circumferentially surround an elongated handle under a tension sufficient to prevent the handle from sliding through the first clip or the second clip. The first clip is preferably disposed at an angle relative to the second clip and the panel, such that the first clip is configured to disengage from the handle when the second clip engages the handle, thereby bringing the panel adjacent the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an articulating stand for brooms and similarly handled implements; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the stand; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the stand decoupled from a broom; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of the stand decoupled from the broom; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the stand in a stowed position on the broom; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the stand in an operational position on the broom; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment articulating stand for brooms and similarly handled implements made of unitary construction; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the alternative embodiment articulating stand for brooms and similarly handled implements, including a cut-away view of the first clip, and a side view of the stand 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an articulating stand  10  is shown holding a broom  12  in an unattended, upright position. Although a broom  12  is shown in the illustrated embodiment, any similar indoor implement (such as a mop or floor duster) or outdoor implement (such as a rake, hoe, etc.) is contemplated for receiving support. The stand  10  clips to the handle  14  of the broom  12  in a releasable manner, allowing a user to clip or unclip, and slide the stand  10  up and down the handle  14 . 
         [0022]    The stand  10  comprises a first clip  16  and a second clip  18 . Although the first clip  16  and the second clip  18  are illustrated as substantially similar structures, they may be constructed in any variety of shapes and lengths as long as they are sized to grip the handle  14  under relatively similar tension. The first clip  16  and the second clip  18  are preferably set so that they grip the handle  14  in an interference fit sufficient to prevent them from sliding along the handle  14  when supporting the broom  12 , but can be relatively easily pried from the handle  12  by a user. 
         [0023]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first clip  16  and the second clip  18  are coupled together by a beam  20 . An angled portion  22  of the beam  20  holds the first clip  16  and second clip  18  slightly out of alignment. The angled portion  22  is preferably set so that when the first clip  16  is coupled or affixed to the handle  14 , the second clip  18  rests just beyond a point of engagement to the handle  14  and vice versa. In the illustrated embodiment, the angled portion  22  forms an angle of approximately twenty five degrees in the beam  20 . 
         [0024]    Also coupled to the beam  20  is a panel  24  for engaging a standing surface  26  on which the broom  12  is standing. The panel  24  preferably includes a bottom edge  28  which is sufficiently wide to prevent the broom  12  from tipping over laterally when resting on the stand  10 . Although the broom  12 , as is typically customary, may have bristles  30  of a uniform length, or that provide a linear bottom surface as illustrated, the wide bottom edge  28  of the stand  10  allows it to securely hold implements engaging the surface  26  in an uneven or narrow manner. The bottom edge  28  may also comprise a rubber, silicon or similar non-scratch material to avoid scratching delicate floor surfaces when the stand  10  is supporting the broom  12 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first clip  16  and the second clip  18  are preferably made of a resilient material and comprise a first channel  32  and a second channel  34 , respectively, into which the handle  14  seats. The first channel  32  and second channel  34  are sized to engage the handle  14  with just enough force to prevent them sliding along the handle  14  under its own weight, allowing them to be easily pried from the handle  14  when switching from the first clip  16  to the second clip  18  and vice versa, or when a user desires to remove the stand  10  from the broom  12 . To effectively support the panel  24 , the beam  20  preferably extends across the panel  24  toward the bottom edge  28 , but without reaching or interfering with the bottom edge  28 . 
         [0026]    In an exemplary embodiment, a typical first clip  16  and second clip  18  may have a length of approximately four inches to easily engage a user&#39;s hand, a three quarter inch inside diameter, slightly smaller than the average handle  14  (although any size appropriate for gripping smaller or larger handles is contemplated), and a wall diameter of an eighth of an inch, sufficient for resiliently gripping the handle  14 . For added strength, each clip  16 / 18  may have a base thickness of three eighths of an inch to prevent them from bending laterally. In similar contemplated embodiments, the beam  20  may be substantially one inch in width, and eighteen inches in length. To accommodate the most common broom  12  sizes, the panel  24  may be approximately seven and a half inches tall and eight and a half inches wide, and triangular in plan view, with the stand  10  having a span of nine inches from the bottom edge  28  to the second clip  18 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the beam  20  is affixed to the first clip  16  and the second clip  18  opposite the handle  14  to avoid interference. The panel  24  is preferably affixed to the beam  20  opposite the first clip  16  and the second clip  18  to present a uniform surface opposite the bristles  30 . Although these structures are illustrated as discrete individual components, one primary embodiment of the invention contemplates a unitary, molded stand  10 , formed as a single piece of plastic or similar material. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the stand  10  is shown in a stowed position on the broom  12 . When the second clip  18  is coupled or affixed to the handle  14 , the panel  24  and the beam  20  below the angled portion  22  are held next to the bristles  30  and handle  14 , respectively. Only the first clip  16  extends from the handle  14 , and because the beam  20  above the angled portion  22  is much shorter, the first clip  16  only extends a short distance from the broom  12 . The stowed position is achieved by simply pressing the second clip  18  against the handle  14  until it snaps into place in an interference fit. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the stand  10  is shown in an operational position on the broom  12 . In order to change the stand  10  to the operational position, a user simply grasps around the handle  14  and first clip  16  and squeezes the first clip  16  onto the handle  14 . As the first clip  16  engages the handle  14 , the second clip  18  cantilevers on the angled portion  22  of the beam  20  and disengages the handle  14  at the same time. As the second clip  18  cantilevers away from the handle  14 , the panel  24  moves away from the broom  12  allowing the bristles  30  to bend as a user sweeps the surface  26 . 
         [0030]    Once a sweeping task is completed, the user may grasp around the handle  14  and second clip  18  and squeeze the second clip  18  onto the handle  14  which, in a corresponding action, causes the first clip  16  to cantilever on the angled portion  22  and disengage the handle  14 . As the second clip  18  engages the handle  14 , the panel  24  is brought against the bristles  30 . The broom  12 , with the stand  10  attached and stowed, can then be put away in storage for future use. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of the stand  100  is shown wherein the stand  100  is made of a single unitary piece of material such as plastic, with the first clip  116  and the second clip  118  and the panel  124  formed thereon. The angled portion  122  is also formed directly into the stand  100  between the first clip  116  and the second clip  118 . The panel  124  in such an embodiment may include a cut-out portion  126  to reduce the material used to form the stand  100 . Additionally, the panel  124  may have a notch  128  to allow a portion of the operational portion (not shown) of the implement to extend through it when the stand  100  is holding the implement. The notch  128  creates two feet  130 , which may be turned out relative to the implement for additional holding power. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , another alternative embodiment of the stand  200  is shown, including a cut-away view of the first clip  216 , and a side view of the stand  200 . Like the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the stand  200  is made of a single unitary piece of material such as plastic, with the first clip  216  and the second clip  218  and the panel  224  formed thereon. The angled portion  222  is also formed directly into the stand  200  between the first clip  216  and the second clip  218 . The panel  224  in this embodiment may include a cut-out portion  226  extending all the way to the bottom of the panel  224 , in lieu of a notch  128  ( FIG. 7 ), thereby both reducing the material used to form the stand  200 , and allowing a larger portion of the operational portion (not shown) of the implement to extend through it when the stand  200  is holding the implement. The cut-out portion  226  also creates two feet  230 , which may be turned out relative to the implement for additional holding power. The two feet  230 , also preferably include a rubber (or similar non-slip material) strip to help keep the stand  200  from slipping 
         [0033]    The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.