Double-Sided Push Broom

Abstract

A double-sided push broom with a broom handle and a broom head with first and second clearing faces having different orientations relative to the broom handle whereby first and second clearing faces can be used selectively in a single tool. A broom head block can have a triangular cross section with the first and second clearing faces disposed in a V-shape formed by first and second legs of the triangular cross section, and a handle-engaging face formed by the third leg of the triangular cross section. The faces can be separated by an angle a less than 180 degrees, and the handle can bisect the angle α to establish a pivot angle β between each clearing face and a support surface. The clearing faces can have brush surfaces with bristles of different brush characteristics, such as one for clearing rough surfaces and one for clearing smooth surfaces.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/907,730, filed Nov. 22, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hand tools. More particularly, disclosed and protected herein is a double-sided push broom with first and second, selectively operated broom surfaces that permit selective utilization of the broom surfaces and, where the broom surfaces have different brush characteristics, to facilitate a sweeping of multiple different materials and surfaces with a single hand tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It will be appreciated that clearing differing materials and sweeping different surfaces, whether indoors or outdoors, can be best done by use of different kinds of brooms. For instance, clearing gravel from a rough asphalt surface may be best done with a broom having heavy, stiff bristles of relatively significant diameter. On the other hand, sweeping dust and debris from a smooth surface, such as a hardwood floor, will be best carried out with a broom having relatively fine and flexible bristles.

However, it can be inconvenient or even impossible to attempt to carry around multiple brooms while cleaning. Furthermore, when not in use, the multiple brooms must be stored and can produce clutter and disorganization. As a result, users may attempt to clear surfaces with poorly suited broom bristles thereby leading to inefficiencies in effort and time and potentially less than satisfactory results where debris is left behind. Moreover, persons not possessed of a properly-suited clearing tool may simply not sweep as frequently as needed. In each instance, the result can be a surface, whether it be an indoor surface or an outdoor surface, that may appear sloppy and unprofessional. Moreover, poorly cleared walking surfaces create increased risks of slipping, falling, and resulting bodily harm.

While multi-purpose tools are known in the art, the present inventors have appreciated that there remains a need for a double-sided push broom with first and second, selectively operated broom surfaces with differing brush characteristics to facilitate a sweeping of multiple different materials and surfaces with a single hand tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is thus founded on the basic object of providing a double-sided push broom with at least first and second, selectively operated broom surfaces.

In certain embodiments of the double-sided push broom, a further object of the invention is to provide a broom with first and second broom surfaces of differing brush characteristics to facilitate effective and efficient sweeping of multiple different materials and surfaces with a single hand tool.

A related object of embodiments of the broom is to provide a push broom with first and second broom surfaces of differing brush characteristics that can be used for indoor and outdoor surface clearing applications effectively and efficiently thereby saving time and effort.

A further object of the invention is to enable a single push broom to accomplish the clearing functions of multiple individual brooms thereby eliminating the needs for transporting, storing, and switching between the multiple individual brooms.

A related object of embodiments of the double-sided push broom is to reduce the clutter deriving from the multiple individual hand tools, such as clutter in storage closets and the like.

An underlying object of the invention is to provide a double-sided push broom that renders sweeping of differing surfaces more convenient and effective thereby preventing the surfaces from being left in unkempt condition due to poor or infrequent sweeping practices.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious not only to one who reviews the present specification and drawings but also to those who have an opportunity to experience an embodiment of the double-sided push broom disclosed herein in use. However, it will be appreciated that, although the accomplishment of each of the foregoing objects in a single embodiment of the invention may be possible and indeed preferred, not all embodiments will seek or need to accomplish each and every potential advantage and function. Nonetheless, all such embodiments should be considered within the scope of the present invention.

In carrying forth these objects, one embodiment of the double-sided push broom for clearing a surface has an elongate broom handle with a proximal end and a distal end, and a broom head retained by the distal end of the elongate broom handle, such as by a threaded engagement therebetween. The broom head has at least a first clearing face and a second clearing face. The first clearing face has a first orientation relative to the broom handle, and the second clearing face has a second orientation relative to the broom handle different than the first orientation. Under this structure, the double-sided push broom can be selectively disposed with the first clearing face in a use orientation for clearing the surface or with the second clearing face in a use orientation for clearing the surface.

The broom head can have a broom head block. In certain embodiments, the first and second clearing faces can be disposed in a general V-shape with the first clearing face comprising a first leg of the V-shape and a second clearing face comprising a second leg of the V-shape. It is further contemplated that the broom head block can have a triangular cross section with a first leg of the triangular cross section that establishes the first surface clearing face and a second leg of the triangle that establishes the second surface clearing face. The triangular cross section can further have a third leg that establishes a handle-engaging face that engages the broom handle, such as in a threaded engagement.

Where the first and second clearing faces are disposed in a V-shape, they can be separated by an angle α. In certain embodiments, the angle a can be less than 180 degrees. A longitudinal of the handle could bisect the angle α such that the first and second clearing faces would be generally symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal of the broom handle. By way of example and not limitation, the angle a could be approximately 90 degrees. With that, a pivot angle β can be considered to be established between each of the first and second clearing faces and a support surface when the broom handle is disposed perpendicularly to the support surface. An adjustment of the double-sided push broom in a first lateral direction by the pivot angle β will cause the first surface clearing face to be generally parallel to the support surface and an adjustment of the double-sided push broom in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction by the pivot angle β will cause the second clearing surface to be generally parallel to the support surface. It will be understood that the push broom can be positioned and repositioned in any manner and that the concept of a pivot angle β is introduced merely to provide a clearer understanding of the structure and function of the push broom.

Each of the first and second clearing faces can have a brush surface that could be formed by bristles. The bristles of the first and second clearing faces can have different brush characteristics. For example, the first clearing surface could be calibrated for clearing rough surfaces and heavy debris, and the second clearing surface could be calibrated for clearing smooth surfaces. In such constructions, the bristles of the first clearing surface could, for example, be thicker and stiffer than the bristles of the second clearing surface.

It is further contemplated that a grip surface can be disposed over at least a portion of the broom handle. The grip surface could, for example, be a sleeve of high friction material. In certain embodiments, the sleeve of high friction material could be a sleeve of polymeric foam.

One will appreciate that the foregoing discussion broadly outlines the more important goals and features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the detailed description that follows and to instill a better appreciation of the inventors' contribution to the art. Before any particular embodiment or aspect thereof is explained in detail, it must be made clear that the following details of construction and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of the many possible manifestations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double-sided push broom according to the invention in a first orientation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the double-sided push broom of FIG. 1 in a second orientation;

FIG. 3 is an amplified perspective view of a head portion of the double-sided push broom;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the head portion of the double-sided push broom according to the invention in a first orientation;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the double-sided push broom taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 6A through 6D are perspective views of a plurality of differently-sized double-sided push brooms pursuant to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The double-sided push broom disclosed herein is subject to a wide variety of embodiments. However, to ensure that one skilled in the art will be able to understand and, in appropriate cases, practice the present invention, certain preferred embodiments of the broader invention revealed herein are described below and shown in the accompanying drawing figures.

Turning more particularly to the drawings, a double-sided push broom according to the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. There, one can see that the double-sided push broom 10 has a broom head 15. The broom head 15 can be manipulated by an elongate handle 12. The handle 12 has a first end that retains the broom head 15 and a body portion leading to a second end for being manipulated by a user. As would be obvious to a person skilled in the art after reviewing the present disclosure, the handle 12 can be engaged with the broom head 15 in any effective manner, including integral formation, mechanical fasteners, frictional engagement, or any other manner. In the depicted embodiment, as can be seen best in the cross sectional view of FIG. 5, the handle 12 can be engaged with the broom head 15 to enable a manipulation thereof by a threaded engagement between the first end of the handle 12, which can be threaded, and a threaded borehole 22 in the broom head 15. Under this construction, the handle 12 can be readily removed from the broom head 15, including for repair or replacement, storage, or for any other purpose.

The handle 12 can have a grip surface 20 disposed continuously or discontinuously along all or a portion of the handle 12 to render the manipulation of the double-sided push broom 10 more comfortable and effective. For instance, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, a grip surface 20 can be applied to a proximal portion of the handle 12. The grip surface 20 can be cushioned. The grip surface 20 can be of a high friction material. Additionally or alternatively, the grip surface 20 could be textured to facilitate a gripping thereof and of the push-broom 10 in general. In one non-limiting practice of the invention, for example, the grip surface 20 can be a polymeric foam sleeve disposed to encase or partially encase the proximal portion of the handle 12.

The broom head 15 can be considered to be founded on a broom head block 14. The block 14 is double-sided with a first surface clearing face 16 disposed to a first side of the block 14 and a second surface clearing face 18 disposed to a second side of the block 14. In this example, the block 14 has a triangular cross section. A first leg of the triangle establishes the first surface clearing face 16, a second leg of the triangle establishes the second surface clearing face 18, and a third leg of the triangle establishes a handle-engaging face in which the threaded borehole 22 is disposed. It will be understood that use of the term “face” herein should be construed in its broadest form and that it shall not necessarily connote a surface that is flat. The first and second surface clearing faces 16 and 18 are thus in a general V-shape.

The first and second clearing faces 16 and 18 are separated by an angle α, and a longitudinal of the handle 12 can bisect the angle α as shown, for instance, in FIG. 4. Accordingly, a pivot angle β can be considered to be established between each of the first and second clearing faces 16 and 18 and a support surface 100 when the broom handle 12 is disposed in a vertical configuration, again as shown in FIG. 4. With that and continuing to reference FIG. 4, a pivoting or other adjustment of the double-sided push broom 10 in a first lateral direction by the pivot angle β will cause the first surface clearing face 16 to be generally parallel to the support surface 100, and a pivoting or other adjustment of the double-sided push broom 10 in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction, again by the pivot angle β, will cause the second clearing face 18 to be generally parallel to the support surface 100. Of course, pivoting is mentioned herein only as a matter of convenience of reference and understanding. Positioning of the clearing faces 16 and 18 in orientations generally parallel to a support surface 100 could be achieved in any suitable manner.

In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the angle α can be 90 degrees such that the block 14 of the broom head 15 has a right-angle triangle cross section. Where the angle α is 90 degrees, each pivot angle β will be approximately 45 degrees. With the pivot angle β at approximately 45 degrees, the broom handle 12 will similarly tend to be disposed at approximately 45 degrees whether the downwardly-facing surface is the clearing face 16 or the clearing face 18. Accordingly, the double-sided push broom 10 can be readily operated with the first clearing face 16 in an operative position facing the support surface 100 to be cleared or with the second clearing face 18 in an operative position facing the support surface 100 to be cleared.

Each clearing face 16 and 18 has a brush surface. The brush surface can be of any type including but not limited to bristles. The bristles could, by way of example and not limitation, have proximal ends embedded in the respective clearing face 16 or 18. Alternatively, the bristles could be adhered to the clearing faces 16 and 18, retained on a base member that is itself attached to the broom head block 14, or retained in any other manner. While bristles may be commonly employed, other brush surfaces will be readily obvious to one of knowledge in the art.

Within the scope of the invention, except as it might be expressly limited by the claims, the first clearing face 16 and the second clearing face 18 can have the same or different brush characteristics. Where the first and second clearing faces 16 and 18 have different brush characteristics, the first clearing face 16 can be calibrated to clear a first range of surfaces or a given range of materials, and the second clearing face 18 can be calibrated to clear a second range of surfaces or another range of materials. In this non-limiting, illustrative example, the first clearing face 16 can be calibrated to be best suited for clearing rough surfaces and heavy debris, such as would be encountered in sweeping asphalt, concrete, and even unpaved surfaces. With that, the first clearing face 16 can incorporate heavy, stiff bristles, possibly of relatively significant diameter. The second clearing face 18 can be calibrated to be best applied to the clearing of relatively smooth surfaces, such as hardwood and tiled floors, and finer materials, including dust and small debris. The second clearing face 18 can thus incorporate relatively fine and flexible bristles.

One taking advantage of such an embodiment of the double-sided push broom 10 can thus selectively employ the first and second clearing faces 18 dependent on the surface and material to be cleared. As shown, for instance, in FIG. 1, a user faced with the task of clearing, for example, a relatively rough surface 100A, such as an asphalt, rough concrete, or stone surface, can orient the double-sided push broom 10 with the first clearing face 16 facing the surface 100A. With the clearing face 16 well-suited to the surface 100A to be cleared, the double-sided push broom 10 can be used to clear the surface 100A in an efficient and effective manner. On the other hand, a user faced with the task of clearing, for example, a relatively smooth surface 100B, such as a hardwood or tile floor, can orient the double-sided push broom 10 with the second clearing face 18 facing the surface 100B. Now with a clearing face 18 particularly adapted for clearing rough surfaces and larger debris, the double-sided push broom 10 can be used to clear the surface 100B effectively and efficiently.

It will be understood that the particular characteristics of the first and second clearing faces 16 and 18 and the push broom 10 in general could vary depending on, among other things, the goals of the user and the intended application. As shown in FIGS. 6A through 6D, for example, push brooms 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D could be created within the scope of the invention of varying widths to suit different applications and, additionally or alternatively, different users, user capabilities, or user goals.

It will thus be appreciated that the double-sided push broom 10 presents first and second, selectively operated broom faces 16 and 18 with differing brush characteristics thereby facilitating effective and efficient sweeping of multiple different materials and surfaces with a single hand tool. The double-sided push broom 10 can be used for indoor and outdoor surface clearing applications effectively and efficiently thereby saving time and effort. The disclosed double-sided push broom 10 is capable of performing the clearing functions of multiple individual brooms thereby eliminating the needs for transporting, storing, and switching between the multiple individual brooms. Consequently, clutter deriving from the need for storing multiple individual hand tools in closets and the like is eliminated. Through the present double-sided push broom 10, the sweeping of differing surfaces can be done more conveniently and effectively thereby preventing the surfaces from being left in unkempt condition due to poor or infrequent sweeping practices.

With certain details and embodiments of the present invention for a dual-sided push broom 10 disclosed, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that numerous changes and additions could be made thereto without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. This is particularly true when one bears in mind that the presently preferred embodiments merely exemplify the broader invention revealed herein. Accordingly, it will be clear that those with major features of the invention in mind could craft embodiments that incorporate those major features while not incorporating all of the features included in the preferred embodiments.

Therefore, the following claims shall define the scope of protection to be afforded to the inventors. Those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be further noted that a plurality of the following claims may express certain elements as means for performing a specific function, at times without the recital of structure or material. As the law demands, any such claims shall be construed to cover not only the corresponding structure and material expressly described in this specification but also all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A double-sided push broom for clearing a surface, the double-sided push broom comprising:

an elongate broom handle with a proximal end and a distal end;

a broom head retained by the distal end of the elongate broom handle;

wherein the broom head has at least a first clearing face and a second clearing face wherein the first clearing face has a first orientation relative to the broom handle and the second clearing face has a second orientation relative to the broom handle different than the first orientation whereby the double-sided push broom can be selectively disposed with the first clearing face in a use orientation for clearing the surface or with the second clearing face in a use orientation for clearing the surface.

2. The double-sided push broom of claim 1 wherein the broom head has a broom head block.

3. The double-sided push broom of claim 2 wherein the first and second clearing faces are disposed in a general V-shape with the first clearing face comprising a first leg of the V-shape and a second clearing face comprising a second leg of the V-shape.

4. The double-sided push broom of claim 3 wherein the broom head block has a triangular cross section with a first leg of the triangular cross section that establishes the first surface clearing face and a second leg of the triangle that establishes the second surface clearing face.

5. The double-sided push broom of claim 3 wherein the triangular cross section has a third leg that establishes a handle-engaging face that engages the broom handle.

6. The double-sided push broom of claim 3 wherein the first and second clearing faces are separated by an angle α.

7. The double-sided push broom of claim 6 wherein the angle a is less than 180 degrees whereby a pivot angle β is established between each of the first and second clearing faces and a support surface when the broom handle is disposed perpendicularly to the support surface and whereby an adjustment of the double-sided push broom in a first lateral direction by the pivot angle β will cause the first surface clearing face to be generally parallel to the support surface and an adjustment of the double-sided push broom in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction by the pivot angle β will cause the second clearing surface to be generally parallel to the support surface.

8. The double-sided push broom of claim 6 wherein the angle α is approximately 90 degrees.

9. The double-sided push broom of claim 6 wherein a longitudinal of the broom handle generally bisects the angle a whereby the first and second clearing faces are generally symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal of the broom handle.

10. The double-sided push broom of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second clearing faces has a brush surface.

11. The double-sided push broom of claim 10 wherein the brush surfaces of the first and second clearing faces comprise bristles.

12. The double-sided push broom of claim 11 wherein the bristles of the first and second clearing faces have different brush characteristics.

13. The double-sided push broom of claim 12 the first clearing surface is calibrated for clearing rough surfaces and heavy debris and the second clearing surface is calibrated for clearing smooth surfaces.

14. The double-sided push broom of claim 13 wherein the bristles of the first clearing surface are thicker and stiffer than the bristles of the second clearing surface.

15. The double-sided push broom of claim 1 wherein the broom head is retained by the distal end of the handle by a threaded engagement between the distal end of the broom handle and the broom head.

16. The double-sided push broom of claim 1 further comprising a grip surface disposed over at least a portion of the broom handle.

17. The double-sided push broom of claim 16 wherein the grip surface comprises a sleeve of high friction material.

18. The double-sided push broom of claim 17 wherein the sleeve of high friction material comprise a sleeve of polymeric foam.