Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-10
2003-08-19
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Combined
C015S106000, C015S114000, C015S169000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06606756
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to floor cleaning devices, and more particularly to a hand held broom having a device capable of varying the stiffness of the bristles, of cleaning of the bristles of the broom, and of placing a secondary cleaning implement in place beyond said bristles for more effective cleaning action.
Brooms of different configurations are well-known. Generally, they are designed with a plurality of bristles, with one end of the bristles attaching to an end of a handle and another end of the bristles free and acting as the sweeping or cleaning media. There are many kinds of natural and synthetic materials used as bristles for the broom, and the size of the bristles varies from one type of design to another. It is obvious that for different floor surfaces to be cleaned, cleaning can be more effective when bristles of the right stiffness are used. For instance, brooms with stiffer bristles will be more efficient for the cleaning of carpeted floor while those brooms with softer bristles will be more suitable for the sweeping of polished floor. Consequently, unless there are some means of varying the stiffness of the bristles of a broom, the users either have to use brooms of different bristle stiffness for different types of floors, or they have to tolerate the ineffectiveness of using brooms that have inadequate bristle stiffness.
Cleaning the bristles of a broom is also an unpleasant task for users. Dirt and dust trapped between the bristles often have to be pulled out by the user's bare hands, if they cannot be shaken off easily. Not only is this way of cleaning the broom unsanitary, but it can also be unsafe as sharp objects such as broken glass, staples or nails can be entrapped between the bristles.
The present invention also provides for the effective cleaning of the bristles, as well as providing for the adjustment of the stiffness of the bristles of the broom. Still further, the present invention provides a secondary cleaning implement, in addition to broom bristles, that can be arranged in an effective cleaning position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The broom in accordance with the present invention preferably includes a handle having a longitudinal axis, a broom head having a substrate and a plurality of bristles with ends attached to said substrate and free ends for cleaning, a bristle plate having openings through which the bristles can extend, and a bristle plate actuator disposed for movement with respect to said handle so that movement of said actuator causes the bristle plate to move downward along the bristles from the attached ends to the free ends, and a lock associated with the handle so that the downward movement of the bristle plate is limited at a point intermediate the attached ends and the free ends of the bristles.
In another aspect of the present invention, the actuator may be locked so that the bristle plate is at a fully retracted position at which the bristle plate is adjacent the attached ends of the bristles, and also may be locked at an intermediate position, at which the bristle plate is intermediate the attached ends and free ends of the bristles, and also may be locked at a fully extended position, at which the bristle plate is adjacent or past the free ends of the bristles. More than one locked position intermediate the attached ends and free ends of the bristles may be provided.
Preferably, the locking may occur by reason of a stop associated with the handle, the stop riding within a longitudinal slot in a sleeve of a bristle plate actuator, the sleeve also carrying locking openings coextensive with the longitudinal slot in order to provide various locking positions, the sleeve being rotatable at least to the extent that the stop associated with the handle can be situated within a locking opening upon slight rotation of the sleeve.
The openings in the bristle plate can be defined by slots, and preferably, the slots are formed by a plurality of tines extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the handle. Preferably, the tines are provided from two housing parts, and once the tines of the two parts are meshed to define the slots, the bristle plate is defined thereby. The bristle plate, whether in two parts or not, may completely bound the bristles within the slots or other openings, and may be provided in this arrangement around the bristles upon connection of the housing and actuator to the broom handle and head. In other words, the bristles may always extend through the openings of the bristle plate and are completely bounded thereby. The bristle plate could also be normally in an arrangement by which the bristles extend through the openings or by which the bristles are not only extending through the openings but are also bounded by a portion of the bristle plate. This avoids the need to engage the bristles with a bristle plate in order to effect the stiffening or cleaning action, and also avoids the bristles being open on one side or any sides, instead being bounded by the bristle plate.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the present invention may include a secondary cleaning implement in addition to the bristles. The secondary cleaning implement may be associated with the lower portion of the handle in various locations, but is preferably associated with an actuator so that the secondary cleaning implement can be moved downward below the free ends of the bristles for a more effective cleaning action. It is to be understood that the phrase “below the free ends” of the bristles may be construed herein as meaning below or substantially at the same level as the free ends of the bristles, the ultimate goal being to provide an effective cleaning action by the secondary cleaning implement, or to fully clean the bristles.
In another aspect of the present invention, the secondary cleaning implement may be a scraper for scraping dirt or may be an abrasive pad for scrubbing dirt. Other conventional secondary cleaning implements are also contemplated herein.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the broom in accordance with the present invention preferably includes a handle, a broom head at the lower portion of the handle, a plurality of bristles attached to the broom head, a bristle plate normally disposed adjacent the substrate, there being openings in the bristle plate through which the plurality of bristles normally extend, and a bristle plate actuator disposed for movement with respect to the handle, such that movement of the bristle plate actuator causes the bristle plate to move downward along the bristles from the attached ends to the free ends of the bristles in order to clean the bristles. In another aspect of the present invention, the above broom may be constructed so that the bristles are bounded by the bristle plate, by the openings, which may in a preferred embodiment be slots, as well as by a peripheral member, which may be described as a wall or rim.
In still a further aspect of the present invention, a broom may include a handle, a broom head having bristles attached to a substrate thereof, a secondary cleaning implement provided in addition to the bristles, an actuator disposed for movement with respect to the handle, the actuator being associated with the secondary cleaning implement such that movement of the actuator with respect to the handle causes the secondary cleaning implement to move downward past the free ends of the plurality of bristles. Of course, the secondary cleaning implement may be any suitable secondary cleaning implement, such as a scraper, abrasive pad or other material or structure.
In still a further aspect of the present invention, the invention is directed to a method of cleaning, including holding a broom having a handle, a broom head with bristles, a bristle plate having openings through which bristles extend, and a bristle plate actuator disposed for movement with respect to the handle. The method could include the actuation of the bristle plate actuator by moving the actuator with respect to the handle of the broom, so that t
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Products of Tomorrow, Inc.
Spisich Mark
LandOfFree
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