Patent Publication Number: US-4222562-A

Title: Broom for broom ball game

Description:
This invention relates to a broom of the type adapted to play a broom ball game. The word &#34;broom&#34; is used here to identify the article of this invention, due to the broom-like planar configuration and function of this article and to be consistant with the terminology used to identify the corresponding accessory so far used to play the broom ball game. 
     The brooms of the above type which have been used and/or proposed so far have been made from a conventional broom, or in any case with a bundle of fibers very similar to the head of a conventional broom covered with a thin layer of latex. There thus resulted brooms which were not strictly conceived for their performance or attributes in relation with the broom ball game. For instance, the heretofore proposed brooms of the above type are found to vary in weight and shape from one broom to the other because they are hand-made and this makes it difficult for the player to adapt to a new broom. The known brooms are also relatively dangerous for the opponent which may be struck by the very hard bundle portion of the broom. The fibers of such brooms rapidly break into pieces which considerably reduces the life and alters the performance of the previous brooms. The user of a known broom has to check if it is in position to strike the ball since such broom has a tendency to rotate in the user&#39;s hands and this hinders achieving accurate shots on the ball. Besides, the brooms so far made offer substantial air resistance during a stroke and this hinders the distance of the shots. 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a broom of the above type which is conceived to minimize the above mentioned disadvantages. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a broom of the above type which is particularly adapted to provide relatively improved performances compared to the heretofore proposed brooms. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide brooms of the above type which are of uniform weight and shape. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a broom of the above type which is relatively more economical, long lasting, and safer compared to the brooms made with a bundle of fibers. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a broom of the above type which has a slight weight unbalance relative to its longitudinal axis whereby the broom is biased in the hands of a user toward self-stabilization in the proper angular position to strike the ball. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a broom of the above type which is adapted to offer relatively reduced air resistance during a stroke. 
    
    
     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a broom according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation of the broom of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the same broom as seen from the left in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the broom; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 5--5 in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 6--6 in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     The illustrated broom includes a slender stick 1 of round cross-section forming the handle of the broom and being conventionally made of wood. Stick 1 has a longitudinally tapered end portion 1 formed by two opposite flat faces converging towards the tip of the stick. The broom also comprises a one-piece ball striking body 2 molded in the shape of the conventional bundle portion of a broom from a non-filamentary and non-brittle moldable substance. More particularly, the ball striking body 2 is preferably made from a rubber composition. 
     The ball striking body 2 is elongated and has relatively flat opposite main faces progressively widening from and merging with a cylindrical neck portion 2&#39; from which stick 1 protrudes. Body 2 has a blind bore extending longitudinally, centrally of the body 2 and opening at neck 2&#39;. The blind bore is tapered and is complementary to end portion 1&#39; to receive the latter with a friction fit. The two converging flat faces 1&#34; of stick 1 prevent rotation of body 2 relative to stick 1. The ball striking body 2 longitudinally tapers from neck portion 2&#39; to lower edge 11 when seen in side view. Body 2 has no boss at its opposite main faces as found at the junction of the stick and fibres in the conventional fibre broom. Stick 1 preferably has longitudinal grooves 20 equally spaced around the upper end portion of the stick to help prevent rotation of the latter in the player&#39;s hands. Apertures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 extend through body 2 from one to the other of the flat faces on each side of the blind bore and of the stick portion 1&#39; . Apertures 3, 4 and 5 extend through lateral edge portion 9 of body 2 while apertures 6, 7 and 8 extend through lateral edge portion 10 of body 2. The sum of the areas of the apertures 3-5 in lateral edge portion 9 is smaller than the sum of the areas of apertures 6-8 in lateral edge portion 10. At least the portion of the ball striking body adjacent its lower edge 11 transversely tapers in the direction from lateral edge portion 9 to the lateral edge portion 10. The above defined transverse taper, together with the above-noted unequal sums of apertures areas cumulatively produce a lateral edge portion 9 which is heavier than the lateral edge portion 10 with a resulting weight unbalance of the body 2 about the longitudinal axis of body 2 as defined by the longitudinal axis of the stick 1. Consequently, when the user holds the broom with the stick in his hands, the weight unbalance angularly biases the broom toward self-stabilization thereof with the lateral edge portion 9 extending downwardly edgewise and underlying the lateral edge portion 10. In such stabilized position, the flat faces are approximately vertical in readiness to effectively strike the ball. 
     The ball striking body 2 is formed with a blunt lower straight edge 11 transversely extending between the lateral edge portions 9 and 10. The operatively inward corner portion at the junction between the lower edge 11 and the lateral edge portion 9 is provided with small ribs 12 defining selective cutting lines angularly extending at different angles respectively between and relative to the lateral edge portion 9 and the lower edge 11. These ribs 12 allow selective cutting of the inward corner portion at one of the angles defined by the lines, in relation with the stature of the user of the broom. Similar ribs 12&#39; can be added on the other side of body 2, arranged symmetrically to ribs 12 for use by players preferring a double bevelled broom. 
     The apertures 3-8 also provide for relatively fast and even heat curing of the body 2 upon molding thereof and finally serve to keep the weight of the broom within prescribed limits. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the main faces of body 2 have a rough surface, for instance provided by grooves, to further prevent relative slipping between the ball and body 2.