Sweeper stand and guard system and method
A system for cleaning includes a handle, a head connected to the handle, and a stand incorporated with the head. The stand selectively supports the system in upright position with the head directed to the ground and the handle directed upward. The system also includes an implement, for example, bristles, connected to the head. The stand is retractable in conjunction with the head to selectively retain the stand from interference with the implement when the system is used for cleaning. The stand is extendable in conjunction with the head to extend the stand beyond the implement, such as bristles, and retain the system in upright freestanding position for storage and the like when not in use for cleaning.
The present invention generally relates to cleaning devices and storage and stand systems for such devices and, more particularly, relates to stands and guards for bristles of brooms and sweeper implements.
Conventionally, brooms and the like having bristles are retained when not in use either via a hook or hanging prong against a wall and raised from the floor or otherwise merely stood against a wall or corner with bristles against the floor supporting the device. It is inconvenient and also often damaging to have to fix a hook or hanging prong in a wall or other vertical surface for storage and retention of brooms and the like. On the other hand, if these brooms and the like are merely stored by leaning the handle against a surface with the bristles on the floor supporting the device, the bristles bend and become deformed with the passage of time.
Brooms and other bristle devices have not previously incorporated any mechanism or feature that permits stand-alone storage in an upright position. It would be convenient and advantageous to provide mechanisms for storage of the devices in a manner that permits up-right, stand-alone location and yet does not support via the bristles in a way that deforms or bends the bristles. Bristle life is limited if the bristles support the broom or device in upright position, such as when storage involves leaning the device against a wall or corner with bristles against the floor supporting the device. Fraying and bending of the bristles, as well as other deformity and damage, occurs. Hanging elements for broom devices mark and scar walls and also are inconvenient in retrieval and storage of the devices and in requirements for disposing and placing the hanging elements.
It would, therefore, be a significant improvement in the art and technology to improve cleaning implements, such as brooms and the like having bristles, to provide for upright, stand-alone storage without any further requirements of hanging prongs or without bristle deformation. It would also be a significant improvement in the art and technology to provide features directly to the cleaning implement, for permitting the upright, stand-alone storage and protection of bristles from damage or harms. The present invention provides numerous advantages and improvements, including improvements and nuances in the foregoing respects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn embodiment of the invention is a system for cleaning. The system includes a handle, a head connected to the handle, and a stand incorporated with the head, for selectively supporting the system in upright position.
Another embodiment of the invention is a broom. The broom includes a handle, a head connected to the handle, and bristles connected to the head. The broom also includes a support slidably engaged with the head. The the support is selectively extendable from the head beyond an extent of the bristles.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is an implement. The implement includes a handle and a feature connected to the handle. The implement also includes a stand for retaining the implement with the feature suspended.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method of storing a broom. The method includes fixing a stand to the broom head and locating the broom on the stand, with bristles of the broom suspended from providing any significant support.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a broom. The broom includes a handle, bristles connected to the handle, and a guard for shielding the bristles.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method of storing a broom. The method includes standing the broom on a guard that protrudes beyond the bristles of the broom and supports the broom in upright freestanding position without supporting force on the bristles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:
Referring to
The head 104 is formed with an opening 108. The opening 108 passes through the head 104, as will hereinafter be further explained.
Within the opening 108 is retained a stand 110. The stand 110 has at least three prongs or projections that can extend downward (in the Figure) to beyond the extent of the bristles 106. The stand 110 rests on an underlying planar surface (in the Figure), such as a floor, and allows the system 100 to freely stand upright, as shown in the Figure. In the upright, freestanding position of the system 100, the bristles 106 are raised above the underlying planar surface (or, otherwise, reside just on the surface without any significant weight of the system 100 being supported by the bristles 106). The stand 110 supports the system 100 in the upright, freestanding position.
The stand 110 is movable vertically (in the Figure) in the discretion of a user of the system 100, such that the stand 110 is either extended downward to support the system 100 or otherwise the stand 110 is retained vertically upward in the head 104 and permitting the bristles 106 to adequately touch a surface, such as a floor, during use in sweeping and the like. The stand 110, as retained in the head 104, provides an integral support for the system 100 for use in storing the system 100 in upright position, without the bristles 106 being employed to support the system 100. The bristles 106 are, thus, not deformed or damaged in storage.
Referring to
The stand 110 has a cross piece 110a that passes through the opening 108, to each side of the head 104. The cross piece 110a connects with dual lateral arms 110b, 110c extending planarly to an underlying surface, such as a floor, and planarly consistent with the configuration of the bristles 106 (e.g., if the bristles are slanted or configured with a degradation with respect to the underling surface, the dual lateral arms 110b, 110c are similarly situated and formed to extend beyond the bristles when the stand 110 is actuated for storage of the system 200). At the extended ends of the dual lateral arms 110b, 110c, the arms 110b, 110c form prongs or projections. These prongs or projections can serve for touching an underlying surface during storage of the system 200, as hereinafter further described.
Although not shown in detail in
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Within the head 104 is retained the stand 110 with the cross piece 110a passing through the opening 108 of the head 104. As shown in the Figure, the stand 110 is extended because the cross piece 110a is located at the vertically downward-most extent of the elongation of the opening 108. In this extended state of the stand 110, the dual lateral arms 110b, 110c of the stand 110 extend beyond the vertically downward-most extent of the bristles 106. The prong or projection extensions of the stand 110 provide a four-point frame for locating and maintaining the system 300 in upward, freestanding position atop an underlying surface, such as the floor.
Because the system 300 rests on the prongs or projections formed by the dual lateral arms 110b, 110c, the bristles 106 do not bear the weight of the system 300 when standing in position shown in the Figure. This protects the bristles and prevents deformation and damage to the bristles when storing the system 300. Additionally, the stand 110 relieves any requirement of ancillary support or handing mechanisms for storage of the system 300.
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The shroud 410 is pushed downwardly from the state shown in
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In operation of the foregoing systems, the stands or supports of the systems are retracted when the broom is employed in cleaning operations. For example, the stand or support is retained upwardly within or in connection with the broom head, in order that the bristles are available for sweeping on a floor or other surface. In such upward retention, the stands or supports do not significantly interfere with operations and effects of the bristles in sweeping.
When sweeping operations are completed and the broom is to be stored, the stands or supports are extendably engaged in the head, such that the stands or supports extend beyond the extent of the bristles. Then, the stands or supports provide supporting surfaces on which to place the broom. Thus, when the broom is not in use, the stands or supports maintain the broom in an upright freestanding state, without any significant support or force on the bristles of the broom. But, when the broom is in use for cleaning operations, the stands or supports are retracted and do not interfere with or affect the typical cleaning usage.
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In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises, “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
Claims
1. A system for cleaning, comprising:
- a handle;
- a head connected to the handle; and
- a stand incorporated with the head, for selectively supporting the system in upright position.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:
- an implement connected to the head;
- whereas the stand is retractable in conjunction with the head to selectively retain the stand from interference with the implement.
3. A broom having a handle, a head connected to the handle, and bristles connected to the head, comprising:
- a support slidably engaged with the head;
- wherein the support is selectively extendable from the head beyond an extent of the bristles.
4. The broom of claim 3, wherein the broom is storable in upright freestanding position on the support.
5. The broom of claim 4, wherein the bristles do not bear any force in supporting the broom in upright freestanding position.
6. An implement comprising a handle and a feature connected to the handle, comprising:
- a stand for retaining the implement with the feature suspended.
7. The implement of claim 6, wherein the stand includes at least three points of contact with a planar surface.
8. The implement of claim 6, wherein the stand is incorporated with the implement, and can be retracted or extended to provide retention of the implement in upright freestanding position.
9. A method of storing a broom, comprising the steps of:
- fixing a stand to the broom head;
- locating the broom on the stand, with bristles of the broom suspended from providing any significant support.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of locating maintains the broom in an upright freestanding position.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
- retracting the stand when the broom is employed for cleaning; and
- extending the stand prior to the step of locating.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of retracting and extending are effected by slidable movement of the stand with respect to the head.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of locating includes placing the stand on a planar floor.
14. A broom comprising:
- a handle;
- bristles connected to the handle; and
- a guard for shielding the bristles.
15. The broom of claim 14, wherein the bristles are fixably connected to the handle and the guard is slidably engageable with respect to the handle and the bristles to shield or unshield the bristles.
16. The broom of claim 15, wherein the guard forms a stand for the broom when slidably shielding the bristles.
17. The broom of claim 16, wherein the guard prevents forceable contact of the bristles with a surface on which the guard is located as the stand.
18. The broom of claim 17, wherein the guard is a shroud substantially surrounding the bristles.
19. The broom of claim 17, wherein the guard is a projection that extends beyond the bristles when the guard is located as the stand.
20. A method of storing a broom, comprising the steps of:
- standing the broom on a guard that protrudes beyond the bristles of the broom and supports the broom in upright freestanding position without supporting force on the bristles.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 15, 2004
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Inventor: Terry Jones (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 10/824,814