Patent Publication Number: US-2007119008-A1

Title: Broom apparatus with insert

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application No. 11/108,973, hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to brooms, and in particular with brooms that have an insert as a secondary cleaning device.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Brooms typically have an elongate handle and a cleaning head that with a plurality of bristles that are specialized for cleaning floor surfaces such as concrete, tile or wood. Furniture and fixtures, however, require a different cleaning device. This creates an awkward situation in which different cleaning implements are used for different cleaning tasks.  
      The process of cleaning furniture, fixtures and floors of a home or business is frequently done in a routine sequence. Dusting, for example, is often done initially and the sweeping of the floor is one of the last steps. Flexibility is needed in this cleaning routine, however, because problems commonly occur during the cleaning process. For example, if a dusty spot is noticed during sweeping that was omitted during dusting, the broom has to be set aside and the duster retrieved for dusting. This break in the cleaning routine is inconvenient, interrupts the sweeping process and increases the time and effort for cleaning as different dust spots are observed that require additional cleaning attention.  
      A broom apparatus is needed that includes a secondary cleaning implement that can advantageously clean alternate surfaces in addition to normal sweeping operations of the broom apparatus.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A broom apparatus is disclosed that comprises an elongate handle, an insert and a broom head. The elongate handle includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion that define a central longitudinal axis. The proximal end portion defines an aperture aligned with the longitudinal axis. The insert includes a proximal handle and a distal cleaning head that has a cleaning pouch positioned on a frame. The broom head includes a neck and a base plate. The neck connects to the distal end portion of the handle. A plurality of bristles extend distally from the base plate. The broom apparatus has a first position in which the insert is positioned in the aperture and a second position in which the insert is removed from the aperture.  
      The pouch is removable from and positionable on the frame. The handle has a terminal end portion that has an annular rim that locks the insert in the first position. The pouch is connected to the frame by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a slider and a key. The slider locks the key in a proximal position on the frame to secure the pouch for operational use and unlocks the key in distal position to allow for the removal of the pouch from the frame. The proximal end portion of the handle includes a flange that is connected to a terminal end of the handle and the flange is rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the handle. The flange defines a second aperture transverse to the longitudinal axis.  
      The insert is returnable to the first position. The frame of the insert is a wire. The wire forms two loops and the distal most loop provides structural support for the pouch. The frame is flexible. The frame is resilient. The insert is retained in the first position by an insert locking mechanism independent of the angular position of the broom. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a broom apparatus with insert, the broom apparatus constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a proximal end portion of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of a head of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the insert of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1  that includes a frame and a cleaning pouch;  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the insert of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the insert of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1  in a second position with the cleaning pouch separated from the frame;  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a proximal end portion of the insert of  FIG. 5  that shows steps involved in locking a key with a slider;  
       FIG. 9  is a front view of the proximal end portion of the insert of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1  that shows the key in a locked position;  
       FIG. 10  is a front view of the insert of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1  that shows one method of removing the frame from and inserting the frame into the cleaning pouch of the insert of  FIG. 5 ;  
       FIG. 11  is a right side view of the proximal end portion of the broom apparatus of  FIG. 1  that show the insert aligned with an axis for storing in the handle; and  
       FIG. 12  shows one method for positioning the insert of  FIG. 11  into the proximal end portion of the handle. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION  
      Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to a particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.  
      A broom apparatus  10  in accordance with the present disclosure is described herein below with reference to the drawings and initially in particular to  FIG. 1 . The preferred embodiment of the broom apparatus  10  includes a handle  12 , an insert  14  and a cleaning head  16 . Apparatus  10  is shown in a first position with insert  14  stored in a proximal end portion  18  of handle  12 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the handle  12  in this one preferred embodiment, is made of a steel alloy and has an elongate cylindrical shape that is approximately 1400 mm long. It is understood, however, that length, shape and materials of construction of handle  12  can vary with the intended application. Broom handle  12  defines an axis  22 . When broom  10  is in a plane XY, handle  12  is preferably inclined at an angle of approximately 10° from a vertical axis YY. Distal end portion  20  of handle  12  is preferably coupled with broom head  16  by a threaded arrangement.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , proximal end portion  18  includes a terminal end  24  and a flange  26 . Proximal end portion  18  of handle  12  is a tube that defines an aperture  28  that is approximately aligned with axis  22  of the handle  12 . Aperture  28  extends a predetermined distance distally from terminal end  24  within handle  12 .  
      Flange  26  extends in the distal direction beyond the terminal end  24  of handle  12  and defines a through hole  30 . The terminal end  24  of handle  12  has an annular rim or projection  32  that is preferably approximately normal to axis  22 . Terminal end  24  also defines an opposed pair of grooves  34  that are approximately aligned with axis  22 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the broom head  16  includes a neck  36  that defines an aperture. Interior wall of the tubular neck  36  is removably coupled with distal end portion  20  of the broom handle  12  by standard threads  38 . Head  16  is preferably constructed such that attachment of the distal end portion  20  with the head  16  is offset from the centre of the head  16 . The head  16  can be made of moldable thermoplastic such as polystyrene, polythene, polypropylene, polycarbonate or other suitable material. A plurality of bristles  40  are retained by a base plate  42  of the head  16 . Bristles  40  extend distally and preferably flare out at their ends.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , insert  14  is in a second position separated from handle  12 . Insert  14  includes a proximal handle  44  and a distal cleaning head  46 . The proximal handle  44  preferably includes a circular indentation or channel  48 . The proximal handle  44  of insert  14  also has a through hole  50 . Insert  14  can be grasped by curling fingers around handle  44  in a traditional manner or by grasping the terminal end of handle  44  through hole  50 . The cleaning head has a cleaning pouch  52  positioned on an elongate frame  54 . The pouch  52  is preferably made of smooth and dense micro-fibers having approximately 5 mm length. Frame  54  can be constructed for repeated washing and reuse or as a consumable component of insert  14 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , frame  54  is separable from pouch  52 . Frame  54  is a structure that provides a desired shape for pouch  52 . In this one preferred embodiment, frame  54  is a flexible wire that includes a first loop  56  and a second loop  58  in a single plane. Frame  54  is preferably resilient and biased to the first position as shown. Frame  54  can be made of metal, polymer, composite, cellulose or other materials depending upon the desired characteristics for cleaning. Cleaning pouch  52  is preferably removed from frame  54  by the sliding of pouch  52  relative to loop  58 .  
      A connector securely attaches pouch  52  to frame  54 . In this one preferred embodiment the connector includes a thread  60 , a key  62  and a slider  64 . It is understood that this is just one example of a mechanical connector that can include for example a snap fitting, clasp, cotter pin as well as hook and eye. The connector retains the pouch  52  on the frame  54  against cleaning forces and other possible forces from all sides. The slider  64  is moved proximally and distally along the loop  58  to lock key  62  in a proximal position and unlock key  62  in a distal position.  
      Now referring to  FIG. 8 , in this preferred embodiment, one end of the thread  60  is connected to opening of the pouch  52  and the opposing end of the thread  60  is connected to the key  62 . Initially slider  64  is in a distal position and key  62  is free along with thread  60 . To lock the pouch  52  on the frame  54 , key  62  is passed through the gap between two parallel wires of the first loop  56  from a first side to an opposite side of the loop  56  as indicated by the steps numbered  1  to  4 . Steps  1  and  4  are the initial and final positions, respectively, of the connector. The arrows show one preferred path of motion of the key  62  from the first side to the other side. The upward arrows show a direction of movement of slider  64  to the proximal position to lock the key  62 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , slider  64  is pushed up to the proximal position to lock the key  62  in position. Key  62  retains pouch  52  in position on loop  56 . Pouch  52  is removed from loop  56  pushing the slider  64  to the distal position. The key  62  can then pass through the wires of the first loop  56 . Key  62  is made of a material such as a polymer, metal, ceramic or composite that has sufficient strength to securely retain its position when connected to loop  56 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , one preferred method for the removal and insertion of frame  54  with pouch  52  is shown. In order to separate the pouch  52  from the frame  54 , slider  64  on loop  56  is pushed to the distal position. The key  62  on other side of the loop  56  is taken out through the two approximately parallel wires of the loop  56 . Then the key  62  is detached from loop  56  to make the pouch  52  free to slide distally. Now the frame  54  is movable relative to cleaning pouch  52 . An upward arrow shows direction of removal of the frame  54  from the pouch  52  and a downward arrow shows the direction of insertion of the frame  54  inside the pouch  52 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 11 , proximal end portion  18  of handle  12  and insert  14  are approximately aligned with axis  22  for positioning insert  14  inside proximal end portion  18 . In this one preferred embodiment, insert  14  is about one-third the length of handle  12 . Aperture  28  has a diameter and depth for receiving insert  14 . Arrow shows the direction of insertion of insert  14  into handle  12 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 12 , one method for positioning insert  14  into proximal end portion  18  of handle  12  is shown. The insert  14  is pushed into the aperture  28  of proximal end portion  18  through flange  26  along axis  22  in a direction as shown by a downward arrow. In this one preferred embodiment, as insert  14  is inserted into proximal end portion  18 , indentation  48  slidingly crosses the annular projection  32  of the terminal end  24  with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is preferably a snap fit arrangement that retains insert  14  in position in handle  12  independent of the position of broom apparatus  10 .  
      The flange  26  can be used to advantageously guide insert  14  inside the proximal end portion  18 . When insert  14  is securely positioned in aperture  28  along the axis  22  of handle  12 , hole  30  in the flange  26  is approximately aligned with the through hole  50  in the insert  14 . The insert  14  can be removed from the handle  12  by reversing the above method.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-12 , the broom apparatus  10  in operation is advantageously used for cleaning floors and for specialized cleaning, such as dusting, using the insert  14 . The aperture  28  in the handle  12  conveniently stores the insert  14 . Flange  26  acts as a guide while storing the insert  14  in the proximal end portion  18  of the handle  12 . Annular projection  32  locks insert  14  in the first position and retains insert  14  in position independent of the angular position of broom  10 . Grooves  32  advantageously allow the expansion and contraction of the terminal end  24  to position and remove insert  14  in the proximal end portion  18  of the handle  12 . The provision of insert  14  in the broom apparatus  10 , offers a user two separate but integrated devices for cleaning floor surfaces as well as dusting and/or cleaning items such as blinds and furniture.  
      The novel advantage of the broom apparatus  10  is that a user may employ the broom head  16  for cleaning and selectively use insert  14  for dusting. For example, a user who is involved in sweeping floor comes to a window of an adjoining wall. Instead of bringing another cleaning device to clean the window blinds the user can remove the duster insert  14  and clean up the blinds during the sweeping of the floor without retrieving another cleaning implement. After dusting window blinds, the insert  14  is returned to aperture  28  of handle  12  and the user can continue with cleaning of the floor without any significant interruption.  
      Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above-described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of present invention extends to all such modifications and/or additions and that the scope of present invention is limited by the claims set forth below.