Outdoor broom

Abstract

An aluminum outdoor broom that is rust-proof and may be left outdoors. The broom has a long aluminum pole with a curved piece of aluminum, known as the aluminum profile, permanently attached to one end. A bristle head consisting of a bristle base and bristles may be slid out of or into the aluminum profile. This makes exchange or replacement of the bristle head simple, and extends the life of the broom. Two plastic lids attach to either end of the aluminum profile once the bristle head is in place, and prevent the bristle head from sliding out of the aluminum profile.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to brooms. In particular, the invention concerns a rust-proof aluminum outdoor broom with a wide, non-swiveling, and removable bristle head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Brooms have long been accepted as a standard and necessary cleaning tool in almost every culture. Over the decades, brooms have evolved from simple bundles of twigs or dried grass lashed together with rope, to highly-evolved tools with a variety of components. Brooms are now made for various uses, both indoor and outdoor, and are made with movable or removable parts in high-tech materials.

Perhaps the greatest innovation in the history of the broom was the addition of a long pole to be used as a handle. Such a handle prevents the user from having to stoop when sweeping. The handle must be attached securely to the broom head in a way that does not impede the motion of the broom head and bristles, and which allows for maximum flexibility. Several patents address the problem of the broom handle mount.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,210 to McLean shows a push broom defined by a handle and a brush block having a central mounting portion. One end of the cylindrical broom handle is threaded in the manner of a screw. The hole in the top of the brush block is also threaded so that the broom handle may be screwed into and secured in the brush block. U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,378 to Drumm discloses a push broom head made of a pair of bristle strips connected together at their curved ends by connecting clips. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,319,822 and 5,471,699 to Shaw show two different broom head holders for attaching to a broom head. In both, a broom head holder comprises a C-shaped member which engages to the top, a first side surface and a first bottom lip of the broom head. A second holder member engages an opposite side of the broom head. Threaded fasteners connect the C-shaped members to the second holding member to secure the second holding member against the opposite edge.

Other broom systems have focused on a removable bristle head which may be secured into an applicator that is permanently mounted on a handle. U.S. Pat. No. 2,538,654 to Peterson describes an application for any element used for maintenance of the floor. The applicator is composed of a transversely bent resilient sheet material, a handle, and gripping elements.

Plastic lids have also been contemplated in order to keep a bristled head of the type that is slid onto a mount from sliding off. U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,581 to Samuelsson shows a squeegee with end caps at the opposite ends formed with relatively soft bumpers.

None of the prior art, however, provides a total system for a broom such as the one at hand. The unique aluminum construction makes the contemplated broom both light, which assists in the ease with which a user may manipulate the broom, and rust-proof, so that the broom may be left outdoors in any weather. Additionally, the removable bristle head may be slid on and off, and secured by plastic lids when attached to the handle and mount. This makes replacement of the bristle head or exchange with another cleaning element (such as a mop) simple.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a rust-proof aluminum outdoor broom with a wide, non-swiveling, bristle head. This type of broom is frequently referred to as a “push broom,” because the user generally pushes the broom directly ahead of him/her in a forward motion, as opposed to sweeping the broom back and forth or from side to side.

The broom's handle, an aluminum pole, features a strip of curved aluminum, known as the aluminum profile, which is permanently attached to one end of the aluminum pole handle. The bristle base may be easily slid out of or into the aluminum profile in order to remove or replace the bristle head. Once in place, two plastic lids are used to secure the bristle head, with one lid placed at each end of the aluminum profile. When worn out, the bristle head may be replaced by a new set of bristles, or the bristle head may be exchanged as necessary with some other cleaning element modified by the inventor to fit the aluminum profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the separate broom components.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate perspective views of the separate broom components in the different assembly stages.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of the assembled broom.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the entire broom.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the entire broom.

FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of the entire broom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a view of the separate broom components before assembly. An aluminum pole 2 serves as the broom handle, and is permanently affixed to the aluminum profile 1 at base 7. The aluminum profile 1 consists of a curved piece of aluminum with upper and lower lips between which bristle base 3 may be slid. This aluminum profile 1 is attached to aluminum pole 2 at the top center of the profile 1, with the aluminum pole 2 rising at an approximately 45 degree angle from the aluminum profile 1. The aluminum profile 1 essentially takes the place of what, in most brooms, would be the bristle base. Instead of attaching a handle directly to a bristle base, the aluminum profile allows a variety bases to be removed and replaced with ease.

Bristle base 3 is a flat piece of aluminum to which bristles 4 are affixed in order to create the bristle head 5. Once bristle base 3 has been slid into the aluminum profile 1, plastic lids 6 may be attached at either end of the aluminum profile 1. This will keep the bristle head 5 from sliding out of aluminum profile 1 when the broom is pushed using handle 2 or at any other time.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the same broom components as in FIG. 1, at different stages of the assembly process. In FIG. 2, the bristle base 3 is halfway slid into the aluminum profile 1. The plastic lids 6 have not yet been affixed and the bristle head 5 has not yet been slid into its final position. In FIG. 3, the bristle base 3 has been fully slid into the aluminum profile 1, and the bristle head 5 is in place. However, only one of the plastic lids 6 has been affixed (at the far end of aluminum profile 1 in this view).

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the assembled broom components. In this view, bristle base 3 is no longer visible, as it has been fully slid into aluminum profile 1. Plastic lids 6 have been affixed to each end of aluminum profile 1, thus securing the bristle head 5. Bristles 4 extend from the bristle base 3 (not here visible) in the ready position for sweeping. Aluminum pole 2 is, as always, permanently connected at base 7 to aluminum profile 1.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective of the entire broom in its assembled state. Here the full aluminum pole 2 which serves as a broom handle is clearly visible. The end of the pole 2 not secured to the aluminum profile 1 may be covered in a rubber protector 10. The protector 10 offers a non-slip grip and also prevents the pole 2 from unintentionally poking or injuring a person with an unprotected aluminum piece. The protector 10 may have a gripping piece 8 which wraps around the top of the pole 2, as well as an attached loop 9 to facilitate hanging of the entire broom in a manner such as by a hook attached to a wall.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the entire broom in its assembled state. In this view one of the plastic lids 6 is visible, as are the bristles 4 of the bristle head 5. Also visible is the aluminum pole 2 handle and the handle protector 10 consisting of gripping piece 8 and loop 9.

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the broom in its assembled state. In this view, the base 7 of the aluminum pole 2 is clearly visible, as are the aluminum profile 1 and bristles 4. The handle protector 10 consisting of gripping piece 8 and loop 9 is also visible.

Once the broom is assembled, the user may grip handle 2 or rubber grip 10, and push the broom in front of him/her in a sweeping motion. Should the user wish to replace the bristles 4, s/he need only flip the broom upside down, rest the broom on the tip of rubber grip 10 if desired, and remove plastic lids 6 from either end of the aluminum profile 1. Once the plastic lids 6 are removed, the bristle base 3 attached to bristles 4 will slide easily out of the aluminum profile 1. The bristles base 3 and bristles 4 may then be clean and replaced into the aluminum profile 1, or may be exchanged for another cleaning implement or a new set of bristles 4. When the user has finished using the broom, it may be hung from its handle 2 in a cleaning tool holder, or may be hung on a hook from the loop 9 that protrudes from the tip of gripping handle 10.

Additional variations of the broom are also possible and contemplated that will fall within the spirit and scope of this invention as further defined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An outdoor broom comprising:

a. a pole to which a curved profile is permanently attached at one end;

b. said profile being designed so that a wide, non-swiveling, bristle head may be inserted into the profile;

c. said bristle head being secured into said profile by means of two plastic lids affixed to either end of said profile.

2. An outdoor broom as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aluminum is rust-proof.

3. An outdoor broom as claimed in claim 1 wherein another cleaning element may be substituted for said bristle head.

4. An outdoor broom as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bristle head consists of bristles affixed by any means to an aluminum bristle base

5. An outdoor broom as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aluminum pole handle is covered at its free end by a rubber gripping handle.

a. said gripping handle having a rubber loop attached for hanging.