# Patent

## Title
Broom head with bristle structure

## Abstract

In respect of the problem of specifying a broom head which can readily sweep up differently sized particles and mixtures of the same, a broom head comprising a basic body (100), from which clusters (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13) of bristles project, characterized in that the clusters (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13) have a cross section which is neither round nor circular.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a U.S. National Phase Application based on International PCT/EP2012/003714 filed Sep. 5, 2012 and also claims priority to German Patent Application Serial No. DE 10 2011 122 106.2 filed Dec. 22, 2011, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a broom head according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
PRIOR ART
The prior art discloses broom heads, from which bristles which are combined into clusters project. The known broom heads have bristles with a substantially round cross section.
These broom heads cannot capture and sweep fine dust and coarse particles, which are mixed with one another, to a sufficiently good standard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a broom head with which particles of different size and mixtures of same can easily be swept.
The present invention achieves the abovementioned object by means of the features of patent claim 1.
According to the invention, a broom head comprises a main body from which clusters of bristles project, wherein the clusters have a cross section which differs from a round or circular shape. According to the invention, it has been recognized that clusters, the cross sections of which differ from a round shape, can capture and sweep mixtures of particles of differing size to a particularly good standard.
As a result, the object referred to at the beginning is achieved.
Elongate clusters with rounded corner regions could project from the main body. Said clusters collect fine dust and provide a barrier for the latter.
Clusters which are triangular in cross section could project from the main body. By this means, the clusters are stiffened and can better capture particles.
Clusters which are rectangular in cross section could project from the main body. These clusters also collect fine dust and provide a barrier for the latter.
Elongate clusters which are square in cross section could project from the main body. The cross section of said clusters describes an irregular square. Fine dust can be captured with clusters of this type.
Clusters which are kidney-shaped in cross section could project from the main body. This cross-sectional shape has proven particularly suitable for capturing dust particles.
Clusters which are oval in cross section could project from the main body. Said clusters supplemented by lamellas can capture dry and/or wet particles and hair to a particularly good standard.
Clusters which are V-shaped in cross section could project from the main body. Fine dust can be captured particularly readily with such clusters.
Combined clusters which have harder and/or stiffer bristles in the center thereof than in the peripheral region thereof could project from the main body. These clusters can detach tenacious dirt particularly readily.
At least one lamella could project from the main body. A wide wiping surface is provided by a lamella. Said wiping surface can remove films of moisture particularly readily. Lamellas are preferably manufactured from elastomer, in particular from rubber.
Against this background, at least one lamella could be configured as a rubber blade. Rubber is solvent-resistant and flexible.
At least one lamella could be curved. Hair, particles or moist dirt particles can be captured particularly readily.
At least one lamella could be wavy. By this means, the contact of the wiping surface of the lamella with the surface to be cleaned is improved.
At least one lamella could be configured in the manner of a comb. Hair can thus be picked up from a surface to be cleaned and removed from the lamella particularly readily.
At least one cluster could have bristles, the diameter of which is more than 0.3 mm, preferably 0.4 to 0.6 mm. These hard bristles are preferably arranged in peripheral regions of the broom head, since they are suitable for cleaning corners.
At least one cluster could have bristles, the diameter of which is less than 0.25 mm. These softer bristles serve for removing dust from cracks or joints.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawing
FIG. 1 shows a broom head with elongate clusters which are triangular in cross section,
FIG. 2 shows a broom head with elongate clusters which are triangular in cross section, wherein a rubber blade is additionally provided,
FIG. 3 shows a broom head with clusters which are triangular and rectangular in cross section, wherein curved rubber blades are additionally provided,
FIG. 4 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 shows a broom head with clusters which are triangular and rectangular in cross section, wherein curved rubber blades and, at the longitudinal ends of the broom head, elongate clusters which are square in cross section are additionally provided,
FIG. 6 shows a broom head with elongate clusters and clusters which are triangular in cross section, wherein curved rubber blades and, at the longitudinal ends of the broom head, elongate clusters which are square in cross section are additionally provided,
FIG. 7 shows a broom head with clusters which are kidney-shaped in cross section and clusters which are rectangular in cross section,
FIG. 8 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 7,
FIG. 9 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 7,
FIG. 10 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 7,
FIG. 11 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 7,
FIG. 12 shows a broom head with clusters which are rectangular in cross section, wherein curved rubber blades which, in each case in the concave side thereof, accommodate a cluster which is oval in cross section are additionally provided,
FIG. 13 shows a broom head with clusters which are rectangular and triangular in cross section, wherein a rubber blade is additionally provided,
FIG. 14 shows a broom head with clusters which are rectangular and triangular in cross section,
FIG. 15 shows a broom head with clusters which are V-shaped in cross section and with a rubber blade which is designed in the manner of a comb,
FIG. 16 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 15,
FIG. 17 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 15,
FIG. 18 shows a broom head with clusters which are kidney-shaped in cross section and clusters which are rectangular in cross section, wherein clusters which have stiffer bristles in the interior thereof than in the peripheral region thereof are provided,
FIG. 19 shows a broom head with elongate clusters and clusters which are triangular in cross section, wherein a wavy rubber blade is additionally provided,
FIG. 20 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 19, and
FIG. 21 shows a further view of the broom head according to FIG. 19.



WAY OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 to 21 each show a broom head comprising a main body 100 from which clusters 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 of bristles project. The clusters 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 have a cross section which differs from a round or circular shape.
FIG. 1 shows that elongate clusters 1 with rounded corner regions 2 project from the main body 100. Furthermore, clusters 3 which are triangular in cross section project from the main body 100. FIG. 1 shows a broom head with elongate clusters 1 with rounded corner regions 2. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. Clusters 3 which are substantially triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles.
FIG. 2 shows a broom head with elongate clusters 1 with rounded corner regions 2; Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. Clusters 3 which are substantially triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles. A rubber blade 4 for sweeping fine dust is accommodated in the interior of the bristle structure. The rubber blade 4 is surrounded on all sides by clusters.
FIG. 3 shows specifically that at least one lamella which is designed as a rubber blade 6 projects from the main body 100. The lamellas shown in FIG. 3 are curved. FIG. 3 shows a broom head with clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. The clusters 3 which are substantially triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles. A plurality of rubber blades 6 for sweeping fine dust are accommodated in the interior of the bristle structure. The rubber blades 6 are surrounded on all sides by clusters and are arranged in a row. Each rubber blade 6 has a curved surface. This optimizes the picking up of dust particles.
FIG. 4 shows the broom head according to FIG. 3 in a different view.
FIG. 5 shows that clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section project from the main body 100. FIG. 5 also shows that elongate clusters 7 which are square in cross section project from the main body 100. FIG. 5 shows a broom head with clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. The clusters 3 which are triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles. A plurality of rubber blades 6 for sweeping fine dust are accommodated in the interior of the bristle structure. The rubber blades 6 are surrounded on all sides by clusters and are arranged in a row. Each rubber blade 6 has a curved surface. This optimizes the picking up of dust particles. At the longitudinal ends of the broom head, elongate clusters 7 which are square in cross section are arranged on both sides.
FIG. 6 shows a broom head with elongate clusters 1 with rounded corner regions 2. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. The clusters 3 which are substantially triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles. A plurality of rubber blades 6 for sweeping fine dust are accommodated in the interior of the bristle structure. The rubber blades 6 are surrounded on all sides by clusters and are arranged in a row. Each rubber blade 6 has a curved surface. This optimizes the picking up of dust particles. At the longitudinal ends of the broom head, elongate clusters 7 which are square in cross section are arranged on both sides.
FIG. 7 shows that clusters 8 which are kidney-shaped in cross section project from the main body 100. FIG. 7 also shows a broom head with clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. The clusters 8 which are kidney-shaped in cross section bring about a better sweeping capacity.
FIGS. 8 to 11 show various views of the broom head according to FIG. 7.
FIG. 12 shows that clusters 9 which are oval in cross section project from the main body 100. FIG. 12 also shows a broom head with clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. The clusters 9 which are oval in cross section are arranged on a concave side of curved rubber blades 6. The rubber blades 6 which are substantially curved in a crescent-shaped manner can sweep and pick up dry and/or wet particles and hair particularly readily. The clusters 9 which are oval in cross section and the clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section are arranged on mutually opposite outer sides of the broom head.
FIG. 13 shows a broom head with clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. Clusters 3 which are substantially triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles. A rubber blade 4 for sweeping fine dust is accommodated in the interior of the bristle structure. The rubber blade 4 is surrounded on all sides by clusters. The rubber blade 4 is a continuous, flat rubber blade 4.
FIG. 14 shows a broom head with clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. Clusters 3 which are substantially triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles.
FIGS. 15 to 17 show a broom head which has clusters 10 which are V-shaped in cross section and are arranged on an outer side of the broom head. The clusters 10 which are V-shaped in cross section serve as a barrier for fine dust. A rubber blade 11 which is configured in the manner of a comb is arranged on the outer side opposite the first outer side. Said rubber blade 11 which is configured in the manner of a comb can pick up hair particularly readily. Hair can be removed particularly readily between the comb strips 12.
FIG. 17 shows that clusters 10 which are V-shaped in cross section project from the main body 100. FIG. 17 also shows that at least one lamella is configured in the manner of a comb.
FIG. 18 shows that combined clusters 13 which have harder and/or stiffer bristles in the center 14 thereof than in the peripheral region 15 thereof project from the main body 100. FIG. 18 also shows a broom head with clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dust. Clusters 8 which are kidney-shaped in cross section bring about a better sweeping capacity. Combined clusters 13 which have harder and/or stiffer bristles in the center 14 thereof than in the peripheral region 15 thereof are arranged between the clusters 8 which are kidney-shaped in cross section and the clusters 5 which are rectangular in cross section. The peripheral region 15 surrounds the center 14 in the manner of a shell. The bristles in the center 14 can detach tenacious dirt.
FIG. 19 shows that at least one lamella which is configured as a wavy rubber blade 16 projects from the main body 100.
FIGS. 19 to 21 in each case show a broom head with elongate clusters 1 with rounded corner regions 2. Said clusters serve as a barrier for fine dirt. Clusters 3 which are substantially triangular in cross section provide the bristle structure with improved rigidity for sweeping particles. A wavy rubber blade 16 for sweeping fine dust is accommodated in the interior of the bristle structure. The wavy rubber blade 16 is surrounded on all sides by clusters. The waviness of the wavy rubber blade 16 brings about better contact with the floor.
The lamellas shown in the respective figures can be manufactured from thermoplastic elastomers. The bristles of the clusters 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 can be manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate. The respective bristles can have different thicknesses.
The main body 100 shown in the figures has a receptacle 200 for a broom handle. The receptacle 200 can have a thread.

## Claims

1. A broom head, comprising:
a main body having a width greater than a length;
a plurality of clusters of bristles projecting from the main body and spaced along the width and the length of the main body, each cluster including a plurality of bristles, wherein at least a portion of the clusters of bristles have a non-circular cross sectional shape, and wherein the clusters of bristles have at least two of an elongate cross sectional shape with rounded corner regions, a triangular cross sectional shape, a rectangular cross sectional shape, a square cross sectional shape, a kidney-shaped cross sectional shape, an oval cross sectional shape, and a V-shaped cross sectional shape;
a plurality of lamella projecting from the main body in a same direction as the clusters of bristles and disposed between a portion of the clusters of bristles, each lamella directly adjacent another lamella and arranged in a row, the plurality of lamella surrounded on all sides by the clusters of bristles; and
a receptacle on the main body configured to receive a broom handle substantially perpendicular to the width of the main body.

2. The broom head as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the clusters of bristles have at least one of harder bristles and stiffer bristles in a center of the clusters of bristles than in a peripheral region of the clusters of bristles.

3. The broom head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bristles have a diameter of between 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm.