Patent Publication Number: US-2005132520-A1

Title: Adjustable broom device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/515,471 filed Oct. 29, 2003. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      N/A  
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
      A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates generally to an extendable broom, and, more particularly to a broom having an extendable and retractable handle and a rotatable head.  
      2. Description of the Background Art  
      Brooms known in the art comprise a fixed handle and fixed head that make it difficult to sweep certain areas. Existing brooms include wide push brooms with handles fixed at an angle relative to the brush head and sweeping-type brooms having a narrow brush head aligned with the handle along the same plane. These brooms are specifically designed to perform different sweeping functions. Oftentimes it would be convenient to have a single broom that could be set to operate like a push broom or conventional sweeping broom and having a rotatably adjustable brush head for reaching difficult areas. Conventional brooms comprise a single style and do not adequately address the shortcomings in the prior art. If a broom device existed that could be converted between a push broom and sweeping broom and having an extendable, retractable and angularly adjustable handle and angularly adjustable broom head it would eliminate the need for multiple brooms and would be well received. The instant invention addresses this unfulfilled need in the prior art by providing an adjustable broom as disclosed herein.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a broom that could be converted to a push broom or sweeping broom.  
      It is another object of the instant invention to provide a broom having a rotatably adjustable brush head.  
      It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a broom having an extendable and retractable brush head.  
      It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a broom having a removable and interchangeable brush heads.  
      It is an additional object of the instant invention to provide a broom having an extendable and retractable handle.  
      It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a broom having pivotally adjustable handle.  
      In light of the foregoing, the instant invention provides a broom that can be converted into a push broom or sweeping broom having an adjustable handle and broom head. The adjustable broom comprises a pivotally adjustable handle having an extendable and retractable inner rod, lock system for locking the inner rod in place and a rotatably adjustable broom head having side sections that are extendable and retractable for adjusting the width of the broom head. The broom also comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of interchangeable brush cartridges of different sizes corresponding to the available widths of the broom head. The brush cartridges are removably mounted to the broom head by sliding them through tracks the bottom of the broom head. The adjustable broom of the instant invention allows the user to use a single broom to accomplish several tasks by simply extending or retracting the broom head side sections, rotating the head into a desired position and, or adjusting the length and, or angle of the handle. The invention is designed to make sweeping tasks easier and faster by allowing the user to perform several different sweeping operations with only one broom.  
      In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable broom device in accordance with the instant invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable broom device in a retracted position and an extended position in accordance with the instant invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable broom device illustrating the broom head in a rotated position in accordance with the instant invention.  
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the head of the adjustable broom device in accordance with the instant invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the broom head angular locking system of the adjustable broom device in accordance with the instant invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the broom head angular locking system of the adjustable broom device in accordance with the instant invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the broom head sections of the adjustable broom device in accordance with the instant invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the broom head sections, the track system and example of the brush cartridge of the adjustable broom device in accordance with the instant invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      With reference to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-8  depict the preferred embodiment of the instant invention which is generally referenced as an adjustable broom and, or by numeric character  10 . With reference to  FIGS. 1-8 , the adjustable broom  10  comprises a pivotally adjustable handle  12  having an outer sleeve  14  and an adjustable extension rod/handle  16  slidably disposed in the outer sleeve  14 , lock system  18  for locking the inner rod  16  in place and a broom head  20  having a static center section  20   a , left extendable and retractable section  20   b , right extendable and retractable section  20   c , left head lock  24 , right head lock  26 , swivel joint system  30  and swivel lock  28  joining the head  20  to the handle  12  for locking the handle  12  at a desired angle. The instant invention  10  also comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of interchangeable brush cartridges  22  of different sizes corresponding to the available widths of the broom head  20 , which are dictated by the broom head side sections&#39;  20   b  and  20   c  extended and retracted positions. The brush cartridges  22  are removably mounted to the broom head  20  by sliding them through tracks  21   a - c  on the bottom of the broom head sections  20   a - c . The inner handle  16  slides into and out of the outer sleeve  14  and may be locked at any desired height by the lock system  18 . The broom head  20  is connected to the outer sleeve  14  by a head lock system  28  that facilitates rotation of the head  20  and the locking of the head  20  in any desired position or angle and the handle  12  at any desired angle. The adjustable broom  10  allows the user to use a single broom to accomplish several tasks by simply extending or contracting the handle and rotating the head  20 . The invention  10  is designed to making cleaning easier and faster by allowing the user to perform several operations with only one broom  10 .  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the adjustable broom  10  has an angular adjustable, extendable and retractable handle  12 . The handle&#39;s  12  outer sleeve  14  comprises a hollow rod that contains an extension rod  16  slidably disposed in the sleeve  14 . The sleeve  14  includes a barrier for preventing the inner rod  16  from being pulled out of the sleeve  14 . The extension rod  16  is secured or locked in place by the locking mechanism  18 . The locking mechanism  18  comprises a spring-activated pin and, or button that is depressed and released to permit movement and lock the handle in place, respectively. The outer sleeve  14  includes an aperture that receives the locking mechanism&#39;s button  18  when it is released. It also provides access to the user for urging the button inward when the handle  16  is adjusted. The handle  12  is connected to the broom head  20  by a lockable joint  28  that allows angular adjustment of the handle  12  with reference to the broom head  20  and locks it into selected angles.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1-8 , the adjustable broom  10  has an extendable, retractable and rotatable brush head  20  that may be widened for a push broom or narrowed for a sweeping broom and rotated and locked in a desired position; and a plurality of interchangeable and replaceable brush cartridges corresponding to the adjustable widths of the brush head  20 . The broom head  20  comprises a middle section  20   a  and a left section  20   b  and right section  20   c  that are telescopically mounted to the middle section  20   a . The left and right sections  20   b - c  slide into the middle section  20   a  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The middle section  20   a  preferably has a width that equals, approximately matches or is substantially the same as the widths of the left and right sections  12   b - c  combined. The broom head side sections  12   b - c  may partially or fully retract into the middle section  12   a . With reference to  FIG. 8 , the broom head sections  12   a - c  each have cartridge tracks  21   a - c , respectively, for mounting the interchangeable brush cartridges  22 . The cartridge tracks  21   b - c  telescopically mate with the middle cartridge track  12   a  when the left and right broom head sections  12   b - c  are retracted and extended. The cartridge tracks  21   a - c  have edges that curve slightly inward to retain a selected brush cartridge  22  by slidably gripping the brush cartridge track  23 , which has a shape corresponding to the cartridge tracks  21   a - c  for facilitating a slidable, gripping engagement between the cartridge tracks  21   a - c  and  23 . The broom head  12  has left and right locks  24 ,  26  that lock the left and right broom head sections  12   b - c  in selected positions. The left and right locking mechanisms  24 ,  26  are also operated by a spring-activated button. The left and right locking mechanisms  24 ,  26  facilitate lateral adjustment of the broom head section  20   b - c.    
      With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the broom head  20  is mounted to the handle  12  with a swivel joint system  30  that may allow 180 degrees of rotation or zero to 360 degrees of rotation. The swivel joint system  30  includes a locking mechanism  28  having a spring-activated button, as described above with respect to the handle locking mechanism  18 , for locking and unlocking the head  20  in a selected angular position. The swivel joint system  30  comprises a first plate  32  slidably and rotatably engabed with a second plate  36  by a known spring loaded tension device  40 . One plate  32  or  36  has a lock tab  34  protruding outward while the other plate has a plurality of locking grooves or cavities  38  positioned and sized with reference to the lock tab  34  to facilitate a releasable lock when the lock tab  34  engages a cavity  38  in a selected position. The tab  34  may be spring-loaded or sized to allow it to release from a cavity  38  under sufficient, non-damaging force. The number of grooves  38  may vary to coincide with the number of preferred adjustment positions. With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the swivel joint system  30  shown is a semi-circular and thus provides up to 180 degrees of rotational adjustment. The swivel joint system  30  could provide up to 360 degrees of rotational adjustment by employing circular plates  32 ,  36 .  
      The interchangeable brush cartridges  22  are replaceable and comprise the track  23  and brushing material  25 , such as bristles of varying rigidity, cloth, cloth straps, yarn or similar materials. The brush cartridges  22  may be made in various extension lengths and widths to permit use in different applications. The handle  12  of the adjustable broom  10  may be manufactured from tubular steel or fiber reinforced plastic. The base of the broom heads may be manufactured from plastic or wood with the bristles made of nylon or polypropylene plastic fibers, cloth, paper or woven fiber. The locking mechanisms  18 ,  24 - 28  may be made from steel, aluminum, magnesium or fiber reinforced nylon or polypropylene plastic with steel the preferred material.  
      Accordingly, the invention  10  includes the following features. The adjustable broom  10  is a broom with a replaceable, expandable head that can swivel. The invention has a hollow handle that contains an extension length of handle. The invention&#39;s extension handle is secured into place by a locking mechanism. The invention&#39;s locking mechanism is operated by a spring-activated button. The invention has a removable, replaceable broom head mounted on a swivel. The invention&#39;s removable, replaceable broom head is secured by a locking mechanism. The invention&#39;s removable, replaceable broom head locking mechanism is operated by a spring-activated button. The invention&#39;s removable broom head is capable of swiveling at any angle with respect to the axis of the handle. The base of the invention&#39;s removable swiveling broom heads is fitted with a sliding section. The invention&#39;s removable swiveling broom heads fitted with a sliding section allows the head to be extended or contracted as desired. The invention&#39;s removable swiveling broom head expansion sections are also secured by a locking mechanism operated by a spring-activated button. The invention may be manufactured with either a swiveling head or a head that locks into a fixed position. The invention&#39;s replaceable heads may be made with bristle, cloth or similar material. The invention&#39;s replaceable heads may be made in various extension lengths and widths to permit use in different applications. The invention extends and contracts including the replacement heads.  
      The features of the invention  10  facilitate use as follows. The broom  10  is used in the normal manner. The handle  12  is extended when it is necessary to reach over furniture, onto walls and ceilings or far behind items. The broom heads  20  are extended or contracted when it is necessary to reach in inaccessible spaces near furniture, into walls and crevices or far behind items with reduced space. Also expands into open areas such as driveways, corridors, hallways, loading zone areas and walkways. The adjustable broom&#39;s  10  heads  20  and handle  12  may be compacted for easy storage and transport.  
      The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious structural and/or functional modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.