Patent Publication Number: US-2018042374-A1

Title: Broom or Squeegee with Built-in Scraper

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/205,006, filed 2015 Aug. 14 by the present inventor. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS—FIGURES 
       FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C  show the first embodiment of this invention for a broom.  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the broom,  FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the scraper socket, and  FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the scraper. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show how the first embodiment of the broom of this invention is used for sweeping and scraping. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the second embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the scraper support plate, and  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the scraper. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the third embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the scraper support plate, and  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the scraper. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show an embodiment of this invention for a squeegee. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG.  1 A, FIG.  1 B AND FIG.  1 C—FIRST EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1A  shows a general view of the first embodiment. This embodiment comprises an elongated broom head  10  with implanted bristles  16 , broom handle  20  and scraper  14 . Threaded socket  18  centrally located on the upper side of broom head  10  receives threaded lower end of broom handle  20 . Upward-extending scraper socket  12  with the opening close to the lower surface of broom head  10  is centrally located on one of the long sides of broom head  10 . Rib  22  fills the gap between scraper socket  12  and handle socket  18 , providing additional support for socket  12  and adding stiffness to the structure. Sockets  12  and  18  and rib  22  are made one-piece with broom head  10 . The upper portion of scraper  14  is tightly inserted into scraper socket  12 , while the lower portion of scraper  14  with sharpened lower edge  15  extends along bristles  16 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows scraper socket  12  in more detail. As it can be seen, socket  12  is formed by rectangular scraper support plate  24  with inwardly bent lips  26   a,    26   b  and  26   c  on its upper, left and right edges. 
     As can be seen on  FIG. 1C , scraper  14  is an elongated rectangular flat sheet with slightly rounded corners and sharpened lower edge  15 . To insert scraper properly into socket  12  surface  28  should be adjacent to plate  24 . This way, sharpened edge  15  can be effectively used for scraping. To assure scraper  14  will not scratch parquet, tile and other finished floors, it is made of abrasive-resistant plastic or another material with similar properties. The dimensions of scraper  14  should be carefully chosen in the way that, on one hand, it can be inserted into socket  12  without using excessive force, and on the other hand it is inserted tightly enough to safely fix it in the desired position. 
     Operation—First Embodiment 
       FIG. 2A  shows the first embodiment of this broom used for sweeping, and  FIG. 2B —for scraping. 
     Description—Alternative Embodiments 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show an alternative way of attaching scraper  14 ′ to broom head  10 . In this embodiment scraper support plate  24 ′ has 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped grooves  32   a  and  32   b  with openings on the lower surface of broom head  10 , while scraper  14 ′ is provided with 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped ribs  34   a  and  34   b  on its upper portion. The dimensions of ribs  34   a  and  34   b  are carefully chosen in the way these ribs can be tightly inserted into grooves  32   a  and  32   b  correspondingly. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show another alternative way of attaching scraper  14 ″ to broom head  10 . In this embodiment 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped ribs  36   a  and  36   b  are located on scraper support plate  24 ″, while scraper  14 ″ has 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped grooves  38   a  and  38   b  with openings on the upper edge of the scraper. The dimensions of grooves  38   a  and  38   b  are carefully chosen in the way that ribs  36   a  and  36   b  can be tightly inserted into grooves  38   a  and  38   b  correspondingly. 
     The operation of the alternative embodiments is completely similar to this of the first embodiment and doesn&#39;t need additional description. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  showing the embodiment of this invention for a squeegee can be understood by themselves and do not require additional description. 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE 
     Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the broom with built-in scraper provides cheap, lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-use means for effective cleaning of parquet, tile, linoleum and other finished floors with stuck dirt found on them. 
     While several embodiments for this invention have been fully explained, many other variations and modifications are possible. For example:
         The grooves and ribs used to attach scraper  14 ′ to scraper support plate  24 ′ in the second embodiment can be T-shaped instead of trapezium-shaped, the same is correct for the third embodiment,   Instead of 2 parallel grooves and 2 ribs, one wider groove and one wider rib can be used,   T-shaped rail can be provided on scraper support plate  24 ″ of the third embodiment instead of ribs  36   a  and  36   b  and a slot cut along the central axis of scraper  14 ″ instead of grooves  38   a  and  38   b,  in the way this rail&#39;s center profile can be tightly inserted into this slot and T&#39;s “roof” embraces the scraper.       

     Accordingly, the scope of this invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.