Abstract:
A bracket assembly for use with cleaning implements such as push brooms has a handle connector for mounting a handle and a plate with a pair of depending flanges that are inserted into the broom head. The bracket assembly may be removably secured to the broom head with a fastener such as bolt and nut to provide an attachment mechanism having sufficient strength to withstand repeated sweeping motion. The removable bracket allows the arrangement of the handle and broom head to be reversed so that both faces of the broom head and bristles can be used interchangeably for sweeping. The removable bracket can be used with cleaning implements having heads of various dimensions and shapes.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/636,254, filed on Dec. 14, 2004, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The embodiments of the present invention relate to cleaning implements such as push brooms and the like. More particularly, the various embodiments relate to a bracket assembly for removably but securely connecting a handle to a head of a cleaning implement in one or more orientations.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Brooms sometimes are classified as either “push” brooms or “upright” brooms. Upright brooms are often wide and generally have relatively long bristles, typically extending from a shroud or broom head. An elongated handle having a central longitudinal axis aligned with the bristles may facilitate side-to-side sweeping of the upright broom. An end of the handle may be permanently secured within an opening in the broom head.  
         [0004]     Push brooms generally have relatively short bristles, which may be set in a wide block, or broom head. The broom head is generally rectangular. An elongated handle may extend upwardly from the broom head and be set at an angle to facilitate pushing the broom, with a long side of the broom head facing in the direction of sweeping. Push brooms often have detachable handles. A detachable handle facilitates shipping of the brooms. Additionally, depending on the configuration of the broom head, a detachable handle can permit the handle to be mounted on the broom head in the opposite direction, and thus allow sweeping in reverse direction to prolong the life of the bristles.  
         [0005]     Conventionally, detachable handles are connected to broom heads by screwing a threaded end of the handle into a threaded aperture in the broom head. For some time, it has been known that, with such brooms, the handle has a tendency to rotate and loosen during use. Various efforts have been made to avoid this and other problems.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,259 discloses an industrial push broom that includes an attachment means for connecting the handle to the back of the push broom. A first flange of the attachment means is fastened to the top face of the broom, and a second flange is fastened to the rear edge of the broom. The handle extends from the intersection of the rear edge and the top face. The positioning of the attachment means is fixed with respect to the back of the broom.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,564 discloses a brush block assembly with latching means for maintaining the handle in an interlocked position. One end of the handle extends into a hole in the broom block. The positioning of the brush block assembly is fixed with respect to the broom block.  
         [0008]     There remains a need for improved features for the mounting bracket assembly for a push broom to facilitate replacement of the handle and broom head and to allow changing of the positioning of the handle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     A push broom having a bracket assembly for securely attaching a handle to a broom head provides a strong and durable push broom with a handle that will not loosen with use. The bracket assembly allows the position of the handle to be reversed to extend first from the back face of the broom head then from the front face of the broom head. Reversing the position of the handle enables the back face of the broom head to be moved to the front and utilized for sweeping, particularly when the bristles along the front face of the broom head become worn or bent. The bracket assembly also is reuseable and allows replacement of the handle and broom head separate from one another when needed. Broom heads of different widths also can be used with the bracket assembly.  
         [0010]     The resulting push broom is simple to manufacture and easy to assemble, disassemble, and reassemble than previously-known brooms. Further advantages of the invention should be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawings comprised of the following figures:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a push broom in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view of the handle of the push broom of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the push broom of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the broom head of the push broom of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the broom head of the push broom of  FIG. 1  with the bristles removed;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the bracket assembly and portion of the broom head of the push broom of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of push broom assembly taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a push broom  10  is shown. The push broom  10  generally includes an elongated handle  12 , a broom head  14  and a bracket assembly  16  to connect the handle  12  to the broom head  14 . In  FIG. 1 , the broom head  14  is rectangular and has a front face  70  and a rear face  72 . Although the bracket assembly  16  is shown and described herein in connection with a push broom, the bracket assembly also could be used with other cleaning implements that are pushed forward and pulled back during use, including mops, dusters, sweepers and the like, and such use is contemplated as being within the scope of the invention.  
         [0020]     As depicted, the broom head  14  includes a plurality of bristles  18  for sweeping. The bristles  18  can be of any desired length and density and can be of a natural or man-made composition, including but not limited to natural hairs, natural fibers, polymeric or other synthetic fibers and metallic bristles. The bristles  18  can be mounted to the broom head  14  in any conventional, or other convenient, way. As illustrated, the bristles are grouped in tufts and mounted into holes (not shown) in the bottom surface  17  of the broom head.  
         [0021]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the handle  12  has a central axis  20 , a mounting end  21 , and a distal end  22 . The handle can be made of any conventional material (such as plastic, metal, or wood) and have any conventional or otherwise convenient length and configuration. Although the illustrated handle is straight, it could also have one or more bends or curves for added convenience or ease of use and have a different length and diameter. It could also have a shaped handgrip or hanger tip at the distal end  22 .  
         [0022]     As is commonly known, broom bristles can become bent or worn after repeated use in one direction. Thus, it is desirable to be able to periodically reverse the handle direction to allow sweeping with the opposite face of the broom head as the leading face during sweeping. The bracket assembly  16  for mounting the handle  12  to the broom head  14  is readily removable and rotatable to enable this to be done.  
         [0023]     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the bracket assembly  16  includes a plate  30  having a first edge  33  and a second edge  35 . A first flange  32  extends downwardly from the first edge  33  and a second flange  34  extends downwardly from the second edge  35 . In an embodiment, the first flange  32  and the second flange  34  may extend generally perpendicularly to the plate  30  and generally parallel to each other. The plate  30  is of a shape and size that correspond with a receiving portion  50  in the top surface  15  of the broom head  14  so that plate  30  nestably engages receiving portion  50 . The first and second flanges  32  and  34  are of a width and thickness to fit within open slots  52  and  54 , respectively, in the receiving portion  50 . The flanges  32  and  34  may be of any suitable length. In an embodiment, the length of the flanges  32 ,  34  may be configured so that they extend a substantial depth into the slots  52  and  54  for engaging the broom head. This arrangement securely engages the bracket assembly  16  with the broom head  14  ( FIG. 7 ) and provides improved stability of the bracket assembly  16  against the forces associated with sweeping. Bracket assembly  16  can be fabricated of metal, molded polymeric material or other strong, durable material. In addition, the bracket may include more or fewer flanges in similar or different arrangements than depicted. Flanges may also be disposed at angles other than the substantially perpendicular angle illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0024]     As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the receiving portion  50  also includes an opening  56  through the entire thickness between a top surface  15  and a bottom surface  17  of the broom head  14 . The opening  56  is shown as rectangular in shape but also can be any other shape. In an embodiment, the opening  56  is an elongated opening to accommodate variations in the configuration of the bracket assembly, including positioning of the opening  38  and the bolt  62  relative to the broom head  14 . In an alternative embodiment, the fastener  62  may be formed as a part of or with the broom head  14  so that it extends upward from the top surface  14  of the broom head. In another alternative embodiment, the opening  56  may be threaded or otherwise shaped so as to correspond with the fastener configured to extend through the broom head  14 . As can be appreciated, numerous variations exist in how the bracket assembly  16  and broom head  14  are connected together.  
         [0025]     Referring also to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the bracket assembly  16  includes a handle connector  13 , such as a mounting sleeve  36 , which extends from the bracket assembly. It should be noted that although the handle connector  13  is depicted here as a mounting sleeve  36 , the handle connector  13  may be of any other suitable configuration to allow the handle  12  generally to be mounted to the broom  10 . By way of example, an end of the handle  12  may fit about the handle connector  13 . The handle connector may be joined to the plate through a known fastening method such as bonding or welding or riveting. In certain embodiments, the handle connector  13  may include a tab  44  extending from the proximal end  42  of the mounting sleeve  36 . The tab  44  and the plate  30  can be joined together by any suitable means, including bonding, welding, rivets and the like. In other embodiments, the handle connector  13  and the plate  30  may be a single piece construction and may be formed by casting or molding or machining.  
         [0026]     In certain embodiments in which handle connector  13  includes a mounting sleeve  36 , the mounting sleeve  36  has an opening  39  at its distal end  40 . The mounting end  21  of the handle  12  is sized to fit within and extends into the opening  39  of the mounting sleeve  36 . A pin, screw or other fastener (not shown) may be inserted through an opening  37  near the distal end  40  and into the handle  12  to removably secure the handle  12  in the mounting sleeve  36  and hold the handle  12  in place.  
         [0027]     As also shown in  FIG. 7 , bolt  62  extends through the opening  56  and through the opening  38  of the plate  30 . A nut  60 , which may be, but is not limited to, a winged nut, on the end of the bolt  62  holds the bracket assembly  16  to the broom head  14 . In an embodiment, the nut can be eliminated and opening  38  in the plate may be configured to mate with a fastener, such as a screw. As can be appreciated, however, other fasteners may also be used to connect the bracket assembly  16  and the broom head  14 , such as, but not limited to, clips, screws and the like, and depending on the type of fastener the opening  38  may be omitted. Numerous methods are known to those of skill in the art for removably connecting a bracket to another object with a fastener and are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention.  
         [0028]     As illustrated, mounting sleeve  36  (an embodiment of the handle connector  13 - FIG. 3 ) and handle  12  extend outwardly from the broom head  14 . The mounting sleeve  36  and handle  12  extend upwardly from the broom head  14  at an acute angle, indicated by θ, relative to the top surface  15 . The angle can be any angle that will allow the longitudinal axis  20  of the handle  12  to be positioned at an angle so that the push broom  10  is easily and comfortably pushed. The angle θ can be less than about 90°, preferably in a range of between about 10° 0  to about 80°, and more preferably in a range between about 20° to about 50°.  
         [0029]     In an embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 3  and  7 , to remove the bracket assembly  16  from the broom head  14  for replacement or rotation, the bolt  62  and nut  60  are loosened and the bracket assembly  16  removed from the receiving portion  50 . The bracket assembly  16  is rotated 180° and the first and second flanges  32  and  34  inserted into the slots  54  and  52 , respectively. The bolt  62  is re-inserted upwardly through the opening  56 , and the nut  60  is tightened on the bolt  62  to securely connect the bracket assembly  16  and the broom head  14 . As a result of the 180° rotation of the bracket assembly  16 , the handle  12  extends in the opposite direction relative to the broom head  14 . The rear face  72  of the broom head  14  thus becomes the leading face of the broom during sweeping and the front face  70  is rotated to the back of the broom.  
         [0030]     In general, therefore, the bracket assembly  16  is configured to be releasably fastened to the broom head  14  in a first position. After unfastening the bracket assembly  16 , it may be rotated around and again releasably fastened to the broom head  14 . In this manner, different faces on the head of the cleaning implement can be set to face forward. In another aspect, cleaning implements having heads with differing widths or shapes can be used interchangeably with the bracket assembly  16 . By generally standardizing the size and shape of the receiving portion  50  on the heads, the same bracket assembly  16  can be used with a variety of cleaning implement heads.  
         [0031]     The present invention has been described in terms of preferred and exemplary embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure.