Broom apparatus with insert
A broom apparatus is described that includes a handle, an insert and a cleaning head. The proximal end portion is a tube defines an aperture that is approximately aligned with axis of the handle. The aperture extends a predetermined distance within the handle. The insert is stored in the proximal end portion of the handle. The insert includes a proximal handle and a distal cleaning head that has a cleaning pouch. The insert is removed for dusting from the proximal end portion of the handle and can be returned and stored in the proximal end portion of the handle thereafter.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application No. 11/108,973, hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. 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 INVENTIONA 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
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
Referring to
Referring to
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
As shown in
Referring to
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
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
Referring now to
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
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.
Claims
1. A broom apparatus that comprises:
- an elongate handle that 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;
- an insert that includes a proximal handle and a distal cleaning head, the cleaning head has a cleaning pouch positioned on a frame;
- a broom head that includes a neck and a base plate, the neck connects to the distal end portion of the handle, a plurality of bristles extends distally from the base plate;
- 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 for use as a separate dusting device.
2. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pouch is removable from the frame.
3. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle has a terminal end portion that has an annular rim that locks the insert in the first position.
4. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pouch is connected to the frame by a locking mechanism.
5. The broom apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism includes a slider and a key.
6. The broom apparatus of claim 5, wherein the slider locks the key in a proximal position on the frame to secure the pouch on the frame and unlocks the key in distal position to allow for the removal of the pouch from the frame.
7. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion of the handle includes a flange that is connected to a terminal end of the handle, the flange being rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the handle.
8. The broom apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flange defines a second aperture transverse to the longitudinal axis.
9. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insert is returned to the first position.
10. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame of the insert is a wire.
11. The broom apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wire forms two loops and the distal most loop provides structural support for the pouch.
12. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is flexible.
13. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is resilient.
14. The broom apparatus of claim 1, wherein an insert locking mechanism retains the insert in the first position independent of the angular position of the broom.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 29, 2007
Publication Date: May 31, 2007
Applicant:
Inventor: Andre Sampaio (Blauvelt, NY)
Application Number: 11/699,245
International Classification: A47L 13/12 (20060101);