BRUSH AND BROOM BRISTLE
A broom having a head part to which a first and a second plurality of bristles are coupled. The second plurality of bristles preferably comprising a hooking member positioned at an end of the bristle opposite the head part, wherein the hooking member preferably forms a cap on the second end of the body. Alternatively, the hooking member forms one or more hooks at the second end of the body. In operation, as the plurality of bristles with hooking members sweep over the debris or material to be swept along a surface, the bristle with hooking members catch, hook or hold onto the debris being swept. The row of bristles with hooking members preferably form a hooking barrier that traps the material being swept making sweeping very easy and effective.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/532,434, filed Sep. 15, 2006, which application is incorporated by reference.
FIELDThe present invention relates generally to brushes and brooms, and more particularly to a bristle that facilitates more efficient brushing and sweeping.
BACKGROUNDAll brooms, large or small and of different shapes and designs, rely on the bristles to sweep materials. The bristles can be long or short and stiff or very flexible. Brooms with stiff bristles are better for sweeping large, hard objects, or very thin, light objects, like leaves, while the softer bristle brooms are best for sweeping up finer materials such as dirt, sand and dust. The type of ground or floor one is sweeping on also dictates the type of broom that is best for the material to be swept.
Another way to compensate for the bristles gliding over the material being swept is to use a broom with very stiff bristles. This has its drawbacks as brooms with stiff bristles have a hard time sweeping the finer/smaller material being swept up. The smaller/finer material necessitates the use of more concentrated finer bristles.
Attempts to improve the effectiveness of conventional brushes or brooms have included, as shown in
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a broom or brush with bristles that can effectively and efficiently sweep both large and fine materials at the same time while reducing the number of times one must sweep over the same material regardless of the type of ground or floor one is sweeping on.
SUMMARYAn improved broom or brush is provided that facilitates sweeping both large and fine materials at the same time while reducing the number of times one must sweep over the same material regardless of the type of ground or floor one is sweeping on. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the broom includes a head part to which a first plurality of bristles are coupled, and a second plurality of bristles, wherein each of the second plurality of bristles comprises a body having a first end coupled to the head part and a hooking member coupled to or formed at a second end of the body. The hooking member preferably forms a cap at the second end of the body and oriented at an angle to the body sufficient to hook or catch debris during a sweeping motion.
In alternative embodiments, the hooking member comprises one or more hooks at the second end of the body, a cap formed at the end of the body and a disk slidably received over the body, a cap formed at the end of the body and other hooks positioned along the body, or a square, rectangular, or disk shaped cap formed at the end of a flat body.
In another embodiment, a broom bristle device may be provided that preferably comprises a base member removably couplable to a head of a broom with bristles attached thereto. The broom bristle device preferably includes a plurality of bristles, wherein each of the plurality of bristles comprises a body having a first end coupled to the base member and a hooking member coupled to or formed at a second end of the body. Preferably, the broom bristle device is reversibly couplable to the head of a broom.
In operation, as the plurality of bristles with hooking members sweep over the debris or material to be swept along a surface, the bristle with a hooking member, like any conventional bristle, tends to lie down somewhat in the horizontal direction along the floor or surface from the pressure of the broom moving over the floor and debris. As the bristles lay down, the hooking member tends to be oriented at an angle sufficiently open to the debris to enable the hooking member to catch, hook or hold onto the debris being swept. The row of bristles with hooking members preferably form a hooking barrier that traps the material being swept making sweeping very easy and effective.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The details of the invention, including fabrication, structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like segments.
It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONEach of the additional features and teachings disclosed below can be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to provide an improved brush or broom that facilitates sweeping both large and fine materials at the same time while reducing the number of times one must sweep over the same material regardless of the type of ground or floor one is sweeping on. Representative examples of the present invention, which examples utilize many of these additional features and teachings both separately and in combination, will now be described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the following detail description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the present teachings.
Moreover, the various features of the representative examples and the dependent claims may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings. In addition, it is expressly noted that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter independent of the compositions of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is also expressly noted that all value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for the purpose of original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter.
An improved broom 110 is provided and described in regard to
The primary or aggressive bristles 120 preferably include an elongate body 122 extending beyond the length of the secondary bristles 116. The body 122 is attached at one end to the broom head 112 preferably using conventional methods. At the opposing end or sweeping end of the body 122, the bristle 120 preferably includes a hooking member in the form of a disc or cap 124 attached to the body 122. The cap 124 is preferably be oriented at any angle to the to the longitudinal axis of the body 122 of the bristle 120 that would facilitate the forming of a barrier to the material to be swept during the sweeping motion and, thus, facilitation, pulling, catching, hooking, or grabbing of the material to be swept. Preferably, the cap 124 is oriented generally perpendicular or at an angle Θ of about 90° to the longitudinal axis of the body 122 as illustrated in
The cap or disc 124 can have a rounded or arcuate edge, a straight or flat edge as depicted in
The differences between the primary or aggressive bristle 120 and the secondary or passive bristles include the length of the primary bristle 120, which is preferably, but not necessarily, longer than the secondary bristles, and the cap or hooking member 124 at the sweep end of the body 122, which 1) acts to hook or hold on to the material 119 being swept and 2) acts as a retainer when a larger, more aggressive or larger caps 124 are attached to the sweep end of the body 122 of the bristle 120.
In operation, as depicted in
The aggressive bristles 120 can be used in various densities in a broom along with regular broom bristles 116. The aggressive bristles can be located in a row, in a particular pattern, or in an array, or randomly located throughout the brush. As such, the aggressive bristles 120 can be implemented in any type of sweeping or brushing device.
In an another embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment, as depicted in
Referring to
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in
Alternative embodiments of the broom with the aggressive bristles 120 that work in the same manner as described above are depicted in
As shown if
Turning to
The cap 124 of the preferred embodiment tends not to fold over or depend on the strength of the body 122 of the bristle 120 to sweep the material being swept and, if in a rounded or oval shape, tends to align in the proper position to hook the material being swept.
Other advantages of the aggressive bristle 120 is that it can be combined within a broom to make it even more aggressive in terms of sweeping power by positioning the aggressive bristles in different bristle locations throughout the bristles.
Turning to
Turning to
Referring to
Another embodiment is provided in
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. For example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill may similarly be incorporated as desired. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A broom comprising
- a head part,
- a first plurality of bristles coupled to the head part, and
- a second plurality of bristles, wherein each of the second plurality of bristles comprises a body having a first end coupled to the head part and a hooking member coupled to a second end of the body, the second pluralities of bristles being longer than the first plurality of bristles and bendable under and held by the first plurality of bristles against a surface to be swept during as the first and second plurality of bristles are swept across the surface.
2. The broom of claim 1 wherein the hooking member forms a cap on the second end of the body.
3. The broom of claim 2 wherein the cap is positioned at about a 90 degree angle to the body.
4. The broom of claim 2 wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the cap is in a range of about 1.5 to about 5 times larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the body.
5. The broom of claim 2 wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the cap is greater than about 5 times larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the body.
6. The broom of claim 2 wherein the cap and body are integrally formed.
7. The broom of claim 2 wherein the cap is uniformly shaped.
8. The broom of claim 2 wherein the cap is circularly shaped.
9. The broom of claim 2 wherein the cap is oval shaped.
10. The broom of claim 2 wherein one or more of the second plurality of bristles includes a second hooking member.
11. The broom of claim 10 wherein the second hooking member comprises one or more barbs extending from the body.
12. The broom of claim 10 wherein the second hooking member comprises a disk member.
13. The broom of claim 12 wherein the disk member is star shaped.
14. The broom of claim 1 wherein the second plurality of bristles are positioned in a row across the head part.
15. The broom of claim 1 wherein the second plurality of bristles is positioned in a second row across the head part.
16. The broom of claim 1 wherein the second plurality of bristles is positioned interspersed among the first plurality of bristles.
17. A broom comprising
- a head part,
- a first plurality of bristles coupled to the head part, and
- a second plurality of bristles, wherein each of the second plurality of bristles comprises a body having a first end coupled to the head part and a cap coupled to a second end of the body, the cap being oriented at an angle to the body sufficient to form a sweeping barrier to debris on a surface to be swept as the first and second plurality of bristles are swept across the surface.
18. The broom of claim 17 wherein the cap is positioned at about a 90 degree angle to the body.
19. The broom of claim 17 wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the cap is in a range of about 1.5 to about 5 times larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the body.
20. The broom of claim 17 wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the cap is greater than about 5 times larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the body.
21. The broom of claim 17 wherein the cap and body are integrally formed.
22. The broom of claim 17 wherein the cap is uniformly shaped.
23. The broom of claim 17 wherein the cap is circularly shaped.
24. The broom of claim 17 wherein the cap is oval shaped.
25. The broom of claim 17 wherein one or more of the second plurality of bristles includes a hooking member.
26. The broom of claim 25 wherein the hooking member comprises one or more barbs extending from the body.
27. The broom of claim 25 wherein the hooking member comprises a disk member.
28. The broom of claim 27 wherein the disk member is star shaped.
29. The broom of claim 17 wherein the second plurality of bristles are positioned in one or more rows across the head part.
30. The broom of claim 17 wherein the second plurality of bristles is positioned interspersed among the first plurality of bristles.
31. A broom comprising
- a head part,
- a first plurality of bristles coupled to the head part, and
- a second plurality of bristles, wherein each of the second plurality of bristles comprises a body having a first end coupled to the head part, a stop at a second end of the body, and a hooking member slidably received over the body.
32. The broom of claim 31 wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the hooking member is in a range of about 1.5 to about 5 times larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the body.
33. The broom of claim 31 wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension of the hooking member is greater than about 5 times larger than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the body.
34. The broom of claim 31 wherein the hooking member is uniformly shaped.
35. The broom of claim 34 wherein the hooking member is circularly shaped.
36. The broom of claim 34 wherein the hooking member is oval shaped.
37. The broom of claim 34 wherein the hooking member comprises a disk member.
38. The broom of claim 34 wherein the hooking member is star shaped.
39. The broom of claim 31 wherein the second plurality of bristles are positioned in one or more rows across the head part.
40. The broom of claim 31 wherein the second plurality of bristles is positioned interspersed among the first plurality of bristles.
41. A broom comprising
- a head part,
- a plurality of bristles coupled to the head part, and
- one or more hooking bristles, wherein each of the one or more bristles comprises a flat body having a first end coupled to the head part and a cap coupled to a second end of the body, the cap forming a sweeping barrier to debris on a surface to be swept as the first plurality of bristles and the one or more hooking bristles are swept across the surface.
42. The broom of claim 41 wherein the cap is positioned at about a 90 degree angle to the body.
43. The broom of claim 41 wherein the cap and body are integrally formed.
44. The broom of claim 41 wherein the cap is square or rectangularly shaped.
45. The broom of claim 41 wherein the cap is uniformly shaped.
46. The broom of claim 41 wherein the cap is oval or circularly shaped.
47. The broom of claim 41 wherein the one or more hooking bristles are positioned in one or more rows across the head part.
48. The broom of claim 41 wherein the one or more hooking bristles are positioned interspersed among the first plurality of bristles.
49. A carpet sweeper brush comprising
- a cylindrical brush body,
- a plurality of bristles coupled to the brush body, and
- one or more hooking bristles coupled to the brush body, wherein each of the one or more hooking bristles comprises a bristle body having a first end coupled to the brush body and a cap coupled to a second end of the bristle body, the cap forming a sweeping barrier to debris on a surface to be swept as the first plurality of bristles and the one or more hooking bristles are swept across the surface.
50. The brush of claim 49 wherein the cap is positioned at about a 90 degree angle to the body.
51. The brush of claim 49 wherein the cap and body are integrally formed.
52. The brush of claim 49 wherein the cap is square or rectangularly shaped.
53. The brush of claim 49 wherein the cap is uniformly shaped.
54. The brush of claim 49 wherein the cap is oval or circularly shaped.
55. The brush of claim 49 wherein the one or more hooking bristles are positioned in one or more rows across the head part.
56. The brush of claim 49 wherein the one or more hooking bristles are positioned interspersed among the first plurality of bristles.
57. A broom bristle device comprising
- a base member couplable to a head of a broom, the head of the broom having bristles attached thereto, and
- a plurality of bristles, wherein each of the plurality of bristles comprises a body having a first end coupled to the base member and a hooking member coupled to a second end of the body, the cap forming a sweeping barrier to debris on a surface to be swept as the plurality of bristles and the bristles of the broom are swept across the surface.
58. The broom bristle device of claim 57 wherein the hooking member forms a cap on the second end of the body.
59. The broom bristle device of claim 58 wherein the cap is positioned at about a 90 degree angle to the body.
60. The broom bristle device of claim 58 wherein the cap and body are integrally formed.
61. The broom bristle device of claim 58 wherein the cap is oval or circularly shaped.
62. The broom bristle device of claim 57 wherein one or more of the plurality of bristles includes a second hooking member.
63. The broom bristle device of claim 60 wherein the second hooking member comprises one or more barbs extending from the body.
64. The broom bristle device of claim 60 wherein the second hooking member comprises a disk member.
65. The broom bristle device of claim 57 wherein the plurality of bristles is longer than the bristles of the broom the broom bristle device is attached to.
66. The broom bristle device of claim 57, wherein the base member is reversibly couplable to a head of a broom.
67. The broom bristle device of claim 57, wherein the base member comprises a collar extending therefrom, the collar being slidably receivable over a head part of a broom.
68. The broom bristle device of claim 57, further comprising an attachment adapter couplable to a head part of a broom, the adapter receives and holds the base member.
69. The broom bristle device of claim 68, wherein the adapter removably receives and holds the base member.
70. The broom bristle device of claim 69, wherein the adapter removably and reversibly receives and holds the base member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 15, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2008
Inventor: Edward J. Noble (Corona Del Mar, CA)
Application Number: 11/764,025
International Classification: A47L 13/00 (20060101); A46B 15/00 (20060101);