MULTI-FUNCTIONAL DEVICE FOR CLEANING FLOORS

Abstract

The device for cleaning floors includes a central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a handle on the proximal end, a scraper on the distal end, and a broom attachment mounted on the central shaft between the distal end and the proximal end. The central shaft is an ovoid tubular member so as to prevent rotation of the broom attachment around the central shaft. The broom attachment includes a bristle portion, a housing frame, and a sleeve portion. The bristle portion of the broom attachment aligns with the blade portion of the scraper on the ovoid tubular member of the central shaft. The sleeve portion circumscribes the central shaft. There is a first configuration with the bristle portion extending beyond the blade portion for sweeping. There is a second configuration with the blade portion extending beyond the bristle portion for scraping.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

See Application Data Sheet.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to device for cleaning floors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multifunctional device to scrape and sweep floors. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a scraper with a broom attachment.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

A floor surface can be gently cleaned with a broom. Soft bristles of the broom brush loose debris into a designated area of the floor surface so that the loose debris can be removed by a dustpan, a cloth, a vacuum, or other collection device. The loose debris can be discarded, once removed from the floor surface. When debris is adhered to the floor surface, the soft bristles of the broom are insufficient to remove this type of debris. Scrapers are known as devices to clean this type of debris from the floor surface. A hard edge flush to the floor surface dislodges adhered debris. This dislodged debris is not able to be swept by bristles of the broom for removal.

Several patents and patent publications have addressed the need to combine multiple floor cleaning functions in a single device.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,533,890, issued to Pannell on 17 Sep. 2013, discloses a sweeping system with a retractable scraper. UK Patent Publication GB2526155, published for Tairou on 18 Nov. 2016, also discloses a telescoping floor cleaning system. U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,369, issued to Hawkins on 9 Apr. 1963, shows another device to scrape and to sweep.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a scraper with a broom attachment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a scraper with a retractable broom attachment.

It is still another objection of the present invention to provide a scraper with a scraping member fixed on a shaft with the broom attachment moveable relative to the scraping member.

It is yet another objection of the present invention to provide a scraper with a scraping member fixed on a shaft so that direct pressure on the shaft to the scraping member removes adhered debris from a floor surface.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a broom attachment aligned with the scraping member.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a scraper with a shaft being an ovoid tubular member having a front length and a side length.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a scraper with an oval cross-section with a first axis of symmetry and a second axis of symmetry shorter than the first axis of symmetry.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a scraping member and broom attachment oriented on the first axis of symmetry.

These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention include a device for cleaning floors. The device includes a central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is mounted on the proximal end for gripping by the user. A scraper is mounted on the distal end so that the pressure exerted on the central shaft by the user is directly translated to the scraper. A broom attachment is slideably mounted on the central shaft between the distal end and the proximal end. The device has at least two tool implements, the scraper and the broom attachment, to clean floors. The position of the broom attachment is variable along the central shaft. Either the scraper extends beyond the broom attachment so as to allow for scraping action to clean the floor or the broom attachment extends beyond the scraper so as to allow for sweeping action to clean the floor.

In some embodiments, the central shaft is comprised of an ovoid tubular member having a front length and a side length. The side length is shorter than the front length so that the longer dimension of the ovoid tubular member determines the front and back of the device. The central shaft is not rotationally symmetrical. The broom attachment is set in an orientation for the alignment of the scraper and the broom attachment.

The scraper can include a blade portion and a connection portion with the blade portion aligned with the front length of the central shaft. The broom attachment can include a bristle portion, a housing frame, and a sleeve portion. The bristle portion aligns with both the front length and the blade portion. The bristle portion of the broom attachment and the blade portion of the scraper are locked on the longer dimension of the central shaft and cannot rotate around the central shaft. The blade portion remains lined up with the bristle portion, even as the broom attachment is positioned differently along the central shaft. The housing frame is also aligned with the bristle portion. The longer dimensions of the housing frame, bristle portion, and the blade portion remain aligned, even as the broom attachment is slideable along the central shaft. The housing frame is narrowed from the bristle portion to the sleeve portion and made integral with the sleeve portion. The housing frame narrows from the longer dimension adjacent the bristle portion to the sleeve portion fit to the ovoid tubular member of the central shaft.

Embodiments of the device for cleaning floors has a first configuration of the broom attachment for sweeping action. In the first configuration, bristle portion extends away from the distal end and beyond the blade portion so that the bristle portion performs the sweeping action beyond the distal end of the central shaft. For example, the scraper can be adjacent an inner top of the housing frame. Alternatively, the scraper can be at least partially contained in the housing frame. The sleeve portion is positioned relative to the distal end of the central shaft by the position of the blade portion of the scraper.

Embodiments of the device for cleaning floors has a second configuration of the broom attachment for scraping action. In the second configuration, the blade portion extends away from the distal end and beyond the bristle portion so that the blade portion performs the scraping action beyond the distal end of the central shaft. The blade portion of the scraper extends beyond the bristle portion so that the blade portion contacts the floor before the bristle portion. In the second configuration, the broom attachment can be set along the central shaft between the distal end and the proximal end as long as the blade portion extends beyond the bristle portion. For example, the scraper partially extends out of the housing frame or is completely separated from the housing frame. The broom attachment is positioned closer towards the proximal end in the second configuration.

The device includes a means for locking the broom attachment to the central shaft in either the first configuration or the second configuration. In some embodiments, the sleeve portion of the broom attachment is fixed to the central shaft in a friction-fit, pin and slot, male-female connection, or a tensioned and bulged lever. Setting the means for locking determines whether the broom attachment is in the first configuration or the second configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the device for cleaning floors of the present invention with the broom attachment in the first configuration.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the device for cleaning floors of the present invention with the broom attachment in the first configuration.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the device for cleaning floors of the present invention with the broom attachment in the second configuration.

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the device for cleaning floors of the present invention with the broom attachment in the second configuration.

FIG. 5 is an isolated front elevation view of the central shaft and broom attachment with the broom attachment in the second configuration.

FIG. 6 is an isolated side elevation view of the central shaft and broom attachment with the broom attachment in the second configuration, according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the means for locking the broom attachment.

FIG. 8 is an end perspective view at the distal end of the device with the broom attachment in the second configuration.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the central shaft of the device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, the present invention includes a device 10 for cleaning floors. The device 10 has multiple tool implements to perform different cleaning actions on the floor. In particular, the device 10 includes a scraper 60 and a broom attachment 70. The scraper 60 and the broom attachment 70 are not interchangeable. The scraper 60 requires more force and pressure to perform the scraping action on the floor than the broom attachment 70 requires to perform the sweeping action the floor. The device 10 includes a central shaft 20 and relationships between the central shaft 20, scraper 60, and the broom attachment 70 to account for the different functional requirements of the scraper 60 and the broom attachment 70. The user is able to use the single central shaft 20 to effectively and efficiently perform both scraping actions and sweeping actions.

FIGS. 1-4 and 8-9 show the central shaft 20 having a proximal end 22 and a distal end 24. A handle 50 is mounted on the proximal end 22 for gripping by the user. The handle 50 is comprised a grip portion 52 and a mounting hole 54. The handle 50 is used to actuate the device 10 for both the scraping action by the scraper 60 and the sweeping action of the broom attachment 70. Force on the handle 50 and through the central shaft 20 can be less for the sweeping action and more for the scraping action. The scraper 60 is mounted on the distal end 24 so that the pressure exerted on the central shaft 20 by the user is directly translated to the scraper 60. The scraper is comprised of a blade portion 62 and a connection portion 64. The blade portion 62 contacts the floor for the scraping action, and the connection portion 64 fixes the blade portion 62 relative to the distal end 24 of the central shaft 20. The connection portion 64 is narrower than the blade portion 62 and corresponds to the size of the central shaft 20.

The broom attachment 70 is slideably mounted on the central shaft 20 between the distal end 24 and the proximal end 22. The position of the broom attachment 70 is variable along the central shaft 20. The broom attachment 70 is comprised of a bristle portion 72, a housing frame 74, and a sleeve portion 76. The bristle portion 72 contacts the floor for the sweeping action. The bristle portion 72 is wider than the sleeve portion 76, which corresponds to the size of the central shaft 20. The housing frame 74 attaches the bristle portion 76 and narrows to engage or be made integral with the sleeve portion 76.

In the first configuration of the broom attachment 70 in FIGS. 1-2, the broom attachment 70 extends beyond the scraper 60 so as to allow for sweeping action to clean the floor. In particular, the bristle portion 72 of the broom attachment 70 extends beyond the blade portion 62 of the scraper 60. In the second configuration of the broom attachment 70 in FIGS. 3-4 and 8, the scraper 60 extends beyond the broom attachment 70 so as to allow for scraping action to clean the floor. In particular, the blade portion 62 of the scraper 60 extends beyond the bristle portion 72 of the broom attachment 70.

In one embodiment, the scraper 60 is contained in the housing frame 74, when the broom attachment 70 is in the first configuration, as in FIGS. 1-2. The inner top 75 of the housing frame 64 is positioned adjacent the connection portion 64 of the scraper 60. The sleeve portion 76 is attached to the bristle portion 72 by the housing frame 74, so the position of the sleeve portion 76 on the central shaft 20 is determined by the position of the bristle portion 72 relative to the blade portion 62.

In another embodiment, the scraper 60 is partially contained in the housing frame 74, when the broom attachment 70 is in the second configuration. If the scraper 60 is large enough, the blade portion 62 may extend beyond the bristle portion 72, even if the scraper 60 is not fully released or separate from the housing member. As long as the blade portion 62 is below the bristle portion 72, the broom attachment 70 is considered to be in the second configuration. Alternatively, the scraper 60 is separated from the housing frame 74 and not contained at all within the housing frame 74 in the second configuration of the broom attachment 70. The inner top 75 of the housing frame 64 is spaced away from and above the connection portion 64 of the scraper 60.

FIG. 8 also shows the relationships of the central shaft 20, the scraper 60, and the broom attachment 70 in terms of rotation around the central shaft 20. The device 10 of the present invention maintains alignment the scraper 60 and the broom attachment 70 around the central shaft 20, even as the broom attachment 70 moves axially along the central shaft 20 between the first configuration and the second configuration. The central shaft is comprised of an ovoid tubular member 26 having a front length 40 and a side length 42, and the side length is shorter than the front length. The lack of rotational symmetry prevents the broom attachment 70 from swiveling out of alignment with the blade portion 62 of the scraper 60. The ovoid tubular member 26 creates the rotationally locked relationship between the housing frame 74, the bristle portion 76, and the blade portion 62 in FIG. 8.

In particular, FIG. 9 shows the central shaft being comprised of an ovoid tubular member 26 with a front surface 28 and a back surface 30. The front surface is symmetrical to the back surface across a first line of symmetry 36. The ovoid tubular member 26 also defines a first side surface 32 and a second side surface 34. The first side surface is symmetrical to the second side surface across a second line of symmetry 38. The second line of symmetry 38 is orthogonal to the first line of symmetry. The front surface and the back surface extend a front length 40 along the first line of symmetry, and the first side surface and the second side surface extend a side length 42 along the second line of symmetry. The central shaft 20 sets the alignment of the blade portion 62, the housing frame 74, and the bristle portion 72 by the side length being shorter than the front length.

The central shaft 20 is not rotationally symmetrical. The broom attachment 70 is set in an orientation for the alignment of the scraper 60 and the broom attachment 70. FIG. 8 shows the blade portion 62 aligned with the front length 40 of the central shaft 20 and the bristle portion 72 aligned with both the front length 40 and the blade portion 62. The bristle portion of the broom attachment and the blade portion of the scraper are locked on the longer dimension of the central shaft 20 and cannot rotate around the central shaft 20. The blade portion 62 remains lined up with the bristle portion 72 along the axis of the central shaft 20, even as the broom attachment 70 is positioned differently along the central shaft 20 relative to the distal end 24 and proximal end 22. The housing frame 74 is also aligned with the bristle portion 76 because the housing frame 74 engages the bristle portion 76 at the widest part of the housing frame 74. Thus, the longer dimensions of the housing frame 76 at that widest part, bristle portion 76, and the blade portion 62 remain aligned, even as the broom attachment 70 is slideable along the central shaft 20.

Embodiments of the device 10 of the present invention include a means 78 for locking the broom attachment 70 to the central shaft 20 in either the first configuration or the second configuration, according to FIGS. 5-7. The means 78 for locking is shown in FIG. 5 as a friction fit engagement between the sleeve portion 76 and the central shaft 20, and in particular on the front surface 28 of the central shaft 20. The means 78 for locking is set on the longer dimension of the ovoid tubular member 26. The friction-fit engagement shows a lever 79 to tighten the sleeve portion 76 around the central shaft 20. The lever can be spring loaded or tensioned. FIG. 6 shows a side view of FIG. 5 with the shorter dimension of the central shaft 20. More of the lever 79 engages the central shaft 20 with the means 78 for locking on the front surface. FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment with the lever 79 with a bulge or protrusion as a male connector and the central shaft 20 with a hole or slot as corresponding female connectors. The female connectors are on the front surface 28 on the longer dimension of the central shaft 20 and aligned with the front length 40.

FIGS. 5-7 and FIGS. 1-4 further show a locking ring 80 on the central shaft 20. FIGS. 1-4 show the broom attachment 70 mounted on the central shaft 20 between the locking ring 80 and the distal end 24. The locking ring 80 can set the upper limit for the second configuration of the broom attachment 70. The broom attachment 70 can only separate from the scraper 60 as far was the sleeve portion 76 contacting the locking ring 80. The locking ring 80 sets the furthest distance between the broom attachment 70 and the scraper 60 in the second configuration, in contrast to the closest distance (adjacent the inner top 75 of the housing frame 74) of the first configuration.

The present invention to provides device for cleaning floors with multiple tool implements, including a scraper with a retractable broom attachment. Because more force is needed to perform the scraping action, the scraper is fixed on the central shaft so that the user directly transfers force through the central shaft to the scraper. The broom attachment performs sweeping, so less force is required on the bristle portion to perform the sweeping action. Thus, the present invention includes the broom attachment being moveable relative to the scraper on the central shaft. The scraper and the broom attachment are not treated as equal tool implements. The connections to the central shaft are different and prioritized differently. The scraper fixed on the central shaft directs pressure on the central shaft to the scraper removes adhered debris from a floor surface.

The present invention further aligns the broom attachment with the scraper along the front length of the ovoid tubular member of the central shaft. The central shaft is not rotationally symmetrical so that the broom attachment cannot rotate around the central shaft. The dimensions of the scraper and the bristle portion of the broom attachment can remain aligned without additional components. The longer and shorter dimension and the two lines of symmetry across the central shaft orient the scraper and the broom attachment for the proper alignment and relationships between the bristle portion and the blade portion.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated structures, construction and method can be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning floors, comprising:

a central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,

wherein said central shaft is comprised of an ovoid tubular member with a front surface and a back surface, said front surface being symmetrical to said back surface across a first line of symmetry,

wherein said ovoid tubular member has a first side surface and a second side surface, said first side surface being symmetrical to said second side surface across a second line of symmetry,

wherein said second line of symmetry is orthogonal to said first line of symmetry,

wherein said front surface and said back surface extend a front length along said first line of symmetry,

wherein said first side surface and said second side surface extend a side length along said second line of symmetry, said side length being shorter than said front length;

a handle on said proximal end, said handle being comprised a grip portion and a mounting hole,

a scraper on said distal end, said scraper being comprised of a blade portion and a connection portion, said connection portion being fixed on said central shaft relative to said distal end, said blade portion being fixed relative to said distal end by said connection portion,

wherein said blade portion aligns with said front length; and

a broom attachment mounted on said central shaft between said distal end and said proximal end, said broom attachment being comprised of a bristle portion, a housing frame, and a sleeve portion, said broom attachment being slideable along said central shaft,

wherein said bristle portion is wider than said sleeve portion, said sleeve portion having a size corresponding to a size of said central shaft,

wherein said housing frame attaches the bristle portion and narrows to engage with said sleeve portion,

wherein said bristle portion aligns with said front length and said blade portion, said housing frame being aligned with said bristle portion,

wherein said broom attachment has a first configuration corresponding to said broom attachment extending away from said distal end and beyond said scraper, and

wherein said broom attachment has a second configuration corresponding to said scraper extending away from said distal end and beyond said broom attachment.

2. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1,

wherein said mounting hole aligns with said front length on said front surface

3. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1,

wherein said housing frame attaches the bristle portion and narrows to be made integral with said sleeve portion.

4. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1,

wherein said bristle portion extends away from said distal end and beyond said blade portion in said first configuration, and

wherein said blade portion extends away from said distal end and beyond said bristle portion in said second configuration.

5. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1, said scraper being contained in said housing frame in said first configuration, said sleeve portion being positioned relative to said distal end of said central shaft by said blade portion.

6. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 5, said connection portion being adjacent an inner top of said housing frame in said first configuration

7. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1, said scraper being at least partially contained in said housing frame in said second configuration, said sleeve portion being positioned relative to said distal end of said central shaft by said blade portion.

8. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1, said scraper being separate from said housing frame in said second configuration, said sleeve portion being positioned relative to said distal end of said central shaft by said blade portion.

9. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1,

wherein said sleeve portion is comprised of a means for locking said broom attachment to said central shaft.

10. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 9,

wherein said means for locking is comprised of means for locking said sleeve portion on said front surface of said central shaft.

11. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a locking ring mounted on said shaft, said broom attachment being mounted on said central shaft between said locking ring and said distal end.

12. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 11,

wherein said sleeve portion is adjacent said locking ring, said sleeve portion being locked in said second configuration.

13. A device for cleaning floors, comprising:

a central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end,

wherein said central shaft is comprised of an ovoid tubular member having a front length and a side length, said side length being shorter than said front length;

a handle on said proximal end, said handle being comprised a grip portion and a mounting hole,

a scraper on said distal end, said scraper being comprised of a blade portion and a connection portion, said connection portion being fixed on said central shaft relative to said distal end, said blade portion being fixed relative to said distal end by said connection portion,

wherein said blade portion aligns with said front length; and

a broom attachment mounted on said central shaft between said distal end and said proximal end, said broom attachment being comprised of a bristle portion, a housing frame, and a sleeve portion, said broom attachment being slideable along said central shaft,

wherein said bristle portion is wider than said sleeve portion, said sleeve portion having a size corresponding to a size of said central shaft,

wherein said housing frame attaches the bristle portion and narrows to engage with said sleeve portion,

wherein said bristle portion aligns with said front length and said blade portion, said housing frame being aligned with said bristle portion,

wherein said broom attachment has a first configuration corresponding to said broom attachment extending away from said distal end and beyond said scraper, and

wherein said broom attachment has a second configuration corresponding to said scraper extending away from said distal end and beyond said broom attachment.

14. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 13,

wherein said bristle portion extends away from said distal end and beyond said blade portion in said first configuration, and

wherein said blade portion extends away from said distal end and beyond said bristle portion in said second configuration.

15. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 13, said scraper being contained in said housing frame in said first configuration, said sleeve portion being positioned relative to said distal end of said central shaft by said blade portion.

16. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 15, said connection portion being adjacent an inner top of said housing frame in said first configuration.

17. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 13,

wherein said sleeve portion is comprised of a means for locking said broom attachment to said central shaft.

18. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 17,

wherein said means for locking is comprised of means for locking said sleeve portion on said front surface of said central shaft

19. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 13, further comprising:

a locking ring mounted on said shaft, said broom attachment being mounted on said central shaft between said locking ring and said distal end.

20. The device for cleaning floors, according to claim 19,

wherein said sleeve portion is adjacent said locking ring, said sleeve portion being locked in said second configuration.