Patent Publication Number: US-9839338-B2

Title: Multifunctional broom

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE UTILITY MODEL 
     The present invention present utility model belongs to the technical field of cleaning tools and particularly relates to a multifunctional broom. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE UTILITY MODEL 
     As a common cleaning tool in daily life, a broom generally includes a broom head, bristles provided on the broom head and a broom pole provided on the broom head. When in use, the broom pole is held to allow the bristles to clean a position to be cleaned. Although the existing brooms are gradually diversified in structural design, such brooms often function as brooms only. Furthermore, as the bristles are always exposed outside the broom head, it is very inconvenient to carry and store the brooms. 
     To solve the problems in the prior art, undergoing long-term exploration, people have proposed various solutions. For example, Chinese Patent No. 201320067398.1 has disclosed a retractable broom, including a handle and a broom head, wherein the handle is cylindrical and provided therein with a pull rod, and the lower end of the pull rod is connected to the broom head; the broom head consists of two portions of the same shape and size, bristles on the broom head are fixed on bases, spring hinges are provided on adjacent sides of the two bases, respectively; a shaft is provided on the bottom of the pull rod, connecting rods are provided at two ends of the shaft, respectively, and the bottoms of the two connecting rods are connected with the two ends of the spring hinges, respectively. Through this solution solves the problem that it is inconvenient to carry and store the existing broom to a certain extent, there still be a problem of a single function in this solution. 
     SUMMARY OF THE UTILITY MODEL 
     In view of the above problems, the present utility model provides a multifunctional broom with simple and rational structure and multi-purpose use. 
     To achieve the above object, the present utility model employs the following technical solutions: a multifunctional broom is provided, including a broom pole and a broom head disposed at one end of the broom pole, wherein a broom head housing axially movably disposed on the broom pole is provided in the periphery of the broom head, an opening for allowing the lower end of the broom head to extend from the broom head housing is formed at the lower end of the broom head housing, a contractible positioning mechanism for enabling the broom head housing to be positioned on the broom pole, when the length of the lower end of the broom head extending from the broom head housing is adjusted to a desired length, is provided between the broom pole and the broom head housing. Apparently, when the broom head housing is axially moved relative to the broom pole, by controlling the length of the broom head extending from the broom head housing by the contractible positioning mechanism and allowing the broom head to be fixed relative to the broom head housing, the extension length of the brush on the broom head may be realized, so that broom has various use states. 
     In the multifunctional broom, the broom head includes a base and bristles provided on the base, the base being fixedly connected to the broom pole, a lower end of the brush being able to axially move upward relative to the broom pole along with the broom head housing and thus extend from the opening, the length of the lower end of the brush extending from the opening being controlled by the contractible positioning mechanism. The base, the broom pole and the brush are fixedly connected to each other, and the length of the exposed brush is controlled by axially moving the broom head housing relative to the broom pole. 
     In the multifunctional broom, the contractible positioning mechanism is a gear-type positioning mechanism or an infinite-adjustment positioning mechanism. 
     In the multifunctional broom, the contractible positioning mechanism includes a plurality of gear positioning holes that are axially distributed along the broom pole at intervals and located on a same straight line, and a switching mechanism capable of being fitted with the gear positioning holes to realize the positioning of the broom head housing on the broom pole is provided on the broom head housing. By fitting the switching mechanism with the plurality of gear positioning holes, the positioning of the broom head housing on the broom pole is realized. 
     In the multifunctional broom, the switching mechanism includes a button plate, a switch mounting groove and a spring, the switch mounting groove being located on an outer side of the broom head housing, the middle portion of the button plate being rotatably connected with the broom head housing, a positioning column which can be inserted into the positioning holes being provided at one end of the button plate, the spring being provided between the other end of the button plate and the broom head housing, one end of the spring acting on the button plate while the other end thereof acting on the broom head housing. When in use, the button plate drives the positioning column to be inserted into a gear positioning hole under the action of the spring so as to realize the positioning of the broom head housing on the broom pole. When one end of the button plate is pressed down to overcome the acting force of the spring, the button plate swings, and the positioning column is disconnected from the gear positioning hole so as to release the positioning. 
     In the multifunctional broom, the middle portion of the base is connected with a connecting column which is connected to the broom pole, the upper end of the broom head housing has a tube communicated to the inside of the broom head housing, and the connecting column and the lower end of the broom pole are penetrated into the tube. Preferably, the connecting column is in threaded connection to the broom pole, and the tube may protect the connection of the connecting column and the broom pole. 
     In the multifunctional broom, there are three gear positioning holes all provided on the connecting column; when the uppermost gear positioning hole is fitted with the switching mechanism, the lower end of the bristles is located in the broom head housing; when the middle gear positioning hole is fitted with the switching mechanism, a portion of the lower end of the bristles exposed from the broom head housing serves as a brush; and when the lowermost gear positioning hole is fitted with the switching mechanism, a portion of the lower end of the bristles exposed from the broom head housing functions as cleaning. In other words, the broom has three gears, i.e., upper, middle and lower gears. When the uppermost gear positioning hole is fitted with the switching mechanism, the bristles are hidden in the broom head housing, and the outer side of the end portion of the broom head housing may scrape off dirt at a position to be cleaned; when the middle gear positioning hole is fitted with the switching mechanism, a portion of the bristles is exposed, and the exposed portion may serve as a brush due to short length and high hardness; and when the lowermost gear positioning hole is fitted with the switching mechanism, a portion of the lower end of the bristles exposed from the broom head housing functions as cleaning. 
     In the multifunctional broom, a connecting sleeve is provided in the opening of the broom head housing, and the bristles can pass through a grate provided in the connecting sleeve. Apparently, when the broom head housing is retracted, the grate may clean dirt such as hairs on the bristles. 
     In the multifunctional broom, at a side portion of the lower end of broom head housing, provided is any one or a combination of a first scraper extending along a direction of the length of the opening and a second scraper extending along a direction of the width of the opening. Thus, the use effect when the bristles are hidden in the broom head housing and the broom serves as a scraper is improved. 
     As another preferred solution, in the multifunctional broom, the multifunctional broom further includes a bucket, the bucket including a bucket body having a shape fitted with the broom head housing and a handle provided at the upper end of the bucket body, the handle having a slot which axially extends along the handle and is able to be buckled on the broom pole, two shoulders of the bucket being provided with toothed plates, respectively. The broom herein and the bucket are used cooperatively, and the toothed plates on the bucket may clean dirt on the bristles. 
     Compared with the prior art, the multifunctional broom is multiple-purpose and functions as a scraper, a brush and a broom by controlling the length of the broom head extending from the broom head housing by a contractible positioning mechanism; moreover, the dirt on the bristles is easy to clean, so the multifunctional broom is convenient to use and easy to carry and store. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structural diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present utility model; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of Embodiment 1 of the present utility model; 
         FIG. 3  is a structural diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present utility model, when an uppermost gear positioning hole is fitted with a switching mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is a structural diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present utility model, when a middle gear positioning hole is fitted with a switching mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  is a structural diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present utility model, when a lowermost gear positioning hole is fitted with a switching mechanism; and 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of Embodiment 2 of the present utility model; in which: 
         1 : broom pole; 
         2 : broom head; 
         21 : base; 
         22 : bristles; 
         3 : broom head housing; 
         31 : opening; 
         32 : first scraper; 
         33 : second scraper; 
         4 : contractible positioning mechanism; 
         41 : gear positioning holes; 
         42 : button plate; 
         43 : switch mounting groove; 
         44 : spring; 
         45 : positioning column; 
         5 : connecting column; 
         6 : tube; 
         7 : connecting sleeve; 
         8 : bucket; 
         81 : bucket body; 
         82 : handle; 
         83 : slot; and 
         84 : toothed plates. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL 
     The present utility model will be further described as below in details with reference to the drawings and specific implementations. 
     Embodiment 1 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , a multifunctional broom is provided, including a broom pole  1  and a broom head  2  disposed at one end of the broom pole  1 . A broom head housing  3  axially movably disposed on the broom pole  1  is provided in the periphery of the broom head  2 . An opening  31  for allowing the lower end of the broom head  2  to extend from the broom head housing  3  is formed at the lower end of the broom head housing  3 . A contractible positioning mechanism  4  for enabling the broom head housing  3  to be positioned on the broom pole  1 , when the length of the lower end of the broom head  2  extending from the broom head housing  3  is adjusted to a desired length, is provided between the broom pole  1  and the broom head housing  1 . When the broom head housing  3  is axially moved relative to the broom pole  1 , by controlling the length of the broom head  2  extending from the broom head housing  3  by the contractible positioning mechanism  4  and allowing the broom head  2  to be fixed relative to the broom head housing  3 , the extension length of the brush on the broom head  2  may be realized, so that broom has various use states. 
     Specifically, in this embodiment, the broom head  2  includes a base  21  and bristles  22  provided on the base  21 . The base  21  is fixedly connected to the broom pole  1 . A lower end of the bristles  22  is able to axially move upward relative to the broom pole  1  along with the broom head housing  2  and thus extend from the opening  31 , and the length of the lower end of the bristles  22  extending from the opening  31  is controlled by the contractible positioning mechanism  4 . Here, the base  21 , the broom pole  1  and the bristles  22  are fixedly connected to each other, and the length of the exposed bristles  22  is controlled by axially moving the broom head housing  3  relative to the broom pole  1 . The contractible positioning mechanism  4  is a gear-type positioning mechanism or an infinite-adjustment positioning mechanism. Of course, other contractible positioning mechanisms enabling the broom head housing  3  to be posited on the broom pole  1  are also suitable for this embodiment. 
     The contractible positioning mechanism specifically includes a plurality of gear positioning holes  41  that are axially distributed along the broom pole  1  at intervals and located on a same straight line, and a switching mechanism capable of being fitted with the gear positioning holes  41  to realize the positioning of the broom head housing  3  on the broom pole  1  is provided on the broom head housing  3 . By fitting the switching mechanism with the plurality of gear positioning holes  41 , the positioning of the broom head housing  3  on the broom pole  1  is realized. Preferably, in this embodiment, the switching mechanism includes a button plate  42 , a switch mounting groove  43  and a spring  44 . The switch mounting groove  43  is located on an outer side of the broom head housing  3 , and the middle portion of the button plate  43  is rotatably connected to the broom head housing  3 . A positioning column  45 , which can be inserted into the positioning holes  41 , is provided at one end of the button plate  42 . The spring  44  is provided between the other end of the button plate  42  and the broom head housing  3 . One end of the spring  44  acts on the button plate  42 , while the other end thereof acts on the broom head housing  3 . When in use, the button plate  42  drives the positioning column  45  to be inserted into a gear positioning hole  41  under the action of the spring  44  so as to realize the positioning of the broom head housing  3  on the broom pole  1 . When one end of the button plate  42  is pressed down to overcome the acting force of the spring  4 , the button plate  42  swings, and the positioning column  45  is disconnected from the gear positioning hole  41  so as to release the positioning. 
     Further, in this embodiment, the middle portion of the base  21  is connected with a connecting column  5  which is connected to the broom pole  1  for example in a thread manner. The upper end of the broom head housing  3  has a tube  6  communicated to the inside of the broom head housing  3 , and the connecting column  5  and the lower end of the broom pole  1  are penetrated into the tube  6 , so that the tube  6  may protect the connection of the connecting column  5  and the broom pole  1 . There are three gear positioning holes  41  all provided on the connecting column  5 . When the uppermost gear positioning hole  41  is fitted with the switching mechanism, the lower end of the bristles  22  is located in the broom head housing  3 ; when the middle gear positioning hole  41  is fitted with the switching mechanism, a portion of the lower end of the bristles  22  exposed from the broom head housing  3  serves as a brush; and when the lowermost gear positioning hole  41  is fitted with the switching mechanism, a portion of the lower end of the bristles  22  exposed from the broom head housing  3  functions as cleaning. In other words, the broom has three gears, i.e., upper, middle and lower gears. When the uppermost gear positioning hole  41  is fitted with the switching mechanism, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the bristles  22  may be hidden in the broom head housing  3 , and the outer side of the end portion of the broom head housing  3  may scrape off dirt at a position to be cleaned, wherein, at a side portion of the lower end of broom head housing  3 , provided is any one or a combination of a first scraper  32  extending along a length direction of the opening  31  and a second scraper  33  extending along a width direction of the opening  31 . Thus, the use effect when the bristles  22  are hidden in the broom head housing and the broom serves as a scraper is improved. When the middle gear positioning hole  41  is fitted with the switching mechanism, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a portion of the bristles  22  is exposed, and the exposed portion may serve as a brush due to short length and high hardness. When the lowermost gear positioning hole  41  is fitted with the switching mechanism, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a portion of the lower end of the bristles  22  exposed from the broom head housing  3  functions as cleaning. 
     In addition, in this embodiment, the multifunctional broom further includes a bucket  8 . The bucket  8  includes a bucket body  81  having a shape fitted with the broom head housing  3  and a handle  82  provided at the upper end of the bucket body  81 . The handle  82  has a slot  83  which axially extends along the handle  82  and is able to be buckled on the broom pole  1 . Two shoulders of the bucket  81  are provided with toothed plates  84 , respectively. Here, the broom and the bucket are used cooperatively, the bucket may be used for gathering the rubbish cleaned by the broom, and the toothed plates on the bucket may clean dirt on the bristles. 
     The principle of this embodiment is as follows: when in use, the broom head housing  3  is pushed to axially move on the broom pole  1 , and the button plate  42  drives the positioning column  45  to be inserted into a gear positioning hole  41  under the action of the spring  44  so as to realize the positioning of the broom head housing  3  on the broom pole  1 . The broom has three gears, i.e., upper, middle and lower gears. When the positioning column  45  is inserted into the uppermost gear positioning hole  41 , the bristles  22  may be hidden in the broom head housing  3 , and the outer side of the end portion of the broom head housing  3  may scrape off dirt at a position to be cleaned; when the positioning column  45  is inserted into the middle gear positioning hole  41 , a portion of the bristles  22  is exposed, and the exposed portion may serve as a brush due to short length and high hardness; and when the positioning column  45  is inserted into the lowermost gear positioning hole  41 , a portion of the lower end of the bristles  22  exposed from the broom head housing  3  functions as cleaning. Furthermore, it is required to shift a gear, one end of the button plate  42  is pressed down to overcome the acting force of the spring  4 , then the button plate  42  swings, and the positioning column  45  is disconnected from the gear positioning hole  41  so as to release the positioning 
     Embodiment 2 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the structure and principle of this embodiment are basically the same as Embodiment 1, expect for a difference that a connecting sleeve  7  is provided in the opening  31  of the broom head housing  1 , and the bristles  22  may pass through a grate provided in the connecting sleeve  7 . Thus, when the broom head housing  3  is retracted, the grate may clean dirt such as hairs on the bristles  22 . 
     The specific embodiments described herein are merely for illustrating the spirit of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art to which the present utility model pertains may make various modifications or supplements or similar replacements to the specific implementations described herein without departing from the spirit of the present utility model or the scope determined by the appended claims. 
     Although the terms, such as the broom pole  1 , the broom head  2 , the base  21 , the bristles  22 , the broom head housing  3 , the opening  31 , the first scraper  32 , the second scraper  33 , the contractible positioning mechanism  4 , the gear positioning holes  41 , the button plate  42 , the switch mounting groove  43 , the spring  44 , the positioning column  45 , the connecting column  5 , the tube  6 , the connecting sleeve  7 , the bucket  8 , the bucket body  81 , the handle  82 , the slot  83  and the toothed plates  84 , are frequently used herein, the possibility of using other terms is not exclusive. The use of these terms is merely for the convenience of description and explanation of the essence of the present utility model, and the interpretation of the terms into any additional limitation shall conflict with the spirit of the present utility model.