Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Accessories – Debris receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-06-05
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Accessories
Debris receptacle
C015S257100, CD32S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240594
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an implement comprising a broom, a refuse can and a dustpan. The refuse can and dustpan are fixed to the handle of the broom, so as to connect these three elements together into one sole implement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For centuries, floors have been swept with the aid of a broom constituted by a handle and a brush, a dustpan and a refuse can. The function of the broom is to collect together the dust intended to be picked up in the dustpan, so the dust can be thrown in the refuse can. These three elements: the broom, dustpan and refuse can, are independent implements, which are gathered together in order for sweeping to be effective. It is therefore necessary for the operator to effect two manipulations—(1) to gather together the broom, the dustpan and the refuse can, and (2) to take them to the place to be swept. The obvious consequence is a loss of time and efficiency, as these implements are generally not kept in the same place. Furthermore, when sweeping stairs, the presence of a refuse can or of a dustpan placed on the floor might cause the operator to trip.
It should be emphasized that the operator often works in places which are poorly illuminated, such as cellars, underground car parks, tradesmen's staircases and that his/her safety, and that of possible passers-by, particularly elderly people, are jeopardized by the dustpans and refuse cans placed on the floor. Moreover, the refuse cans and the dustpans can be easily knocked over, which may require additional sweeping. These drawbacks are such that certain operators are obliged to carry out their cleaning chores by fixing a refuse bag on their belt, which is particularly unhygienic and dangerous.
Furthermore, the operator needs to move the dustpan and refuse can constantly, which requires of him/her efforts of which the accomplishment procures no noteworthy improvement in the quality or efficiency of the sweeping.
Two types of devices are known which tend, on the one hand, to reduce these efforts and displacements of the operator to recover and bring the refuse can to the place where he/she has collected together the refuse thanks to the broom in order precisely to transfer it into the refuse can, and, on the other hand, to avoid the risks of someone tripping over the dustpan and refuse can placed on the floor during the sweeping operation:
DE 9112801 discloses a broom comprising a handle and a brush combined with a bucket fixed on the handle of the broom and a removable dustpan likewise attached to this handle whose bottom partially covers the bucket. The principal object of DE 9112801 is to avoid unnecessary displacements for the sweeper by fixing the bucket acting as recipient in a non-removable manner on the handle of the broom so that it rests on the upper part of the brush. Thus, even if the sweeper is negligent or absent-minded, he can never forget the bucket at a place different from the one where he is and where he will have piled up the refuse. To prevent the operator from separating the bucket from the broom, the handle of the broom passes through one of the walls of the bucket, which makes it necessary to have a second small brush to pick up the refuse and transfer it to the bucket. This hinders the sweeper in his movements.
FR 731 374 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,481 disclose boxes adapted to contain the sweepings picked up by a broom. These boxes comprise either an opening door, or an articulation to render them pivoting or both. Each box is fixed at the end of a handle in order to avoid bending down during refuse collection. The broom is hooked on said handle and/or fitted in the box once tipped back into vertical position for transport. These devices reduce the efforts of the operator who no longer needs to bend down, but he must separate the box from the handle of the broom during the sweeping operation, which either immobilizes one of the operator's hands if the operator does not want to put it down, which limits sweeping efficiency, or necessitates placing said box at a spot distinct from the place of sweeping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, in order in particular to overcome the drawbacks of these known implements, and to satisfy inter alia the same purpose, namely to provide an implement combining all the elements necessary for sweeping wherein the elements remain assembled during the sweeping, the implement according to the invention, comprises a removable dustpan and a refuse can fixed on a broom handle. The refuse can is provided with reversible fixing means, which allows the refuse can to be removed from the handle and also to lock said refuse can at any determined height above the brush of the broom to be used with said dustpan.
Once the sweeping operation is finished and the refuse has been collected with the aid of the broom, the operator, while remaining in the same spot, then removes the dustpan from the broom handle and places it on the floor in order to push the refuse therein with the same broom. The operator then just has to tip said dustpan into the box acting as refuse can which is fixed on the broom handle. The refuse can may then be emptied by any means as described hereinafter or dismantled form the handle since it is fixed thereto by any reversible fixing means.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the fixing means with which the refuse can and/or the dustpan are provided, are clips. According to other embodiments of the invention, the means are collars or rings or any device with screws associated therewith.
Advantageously, the refuse can has a capacity of one to five liters and may even be limited to two liters [liters], in order to be compact enough and to facilitate manipulation of the broom, such as a broom of rectangular cross-section of which the largest length arranged against the broom handle must be substantially greater than the width of the dustpan in order easily to transfer the refuse therein. On the other hand, this largest dimension of broom opening of the refuse can is preferably smaller than the width of the broom, the broom having to be able to be efficient for sweeping large surfaces contrary to those used in the so-called “airport dustpan” devices, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,481 mentioned above.
The refuse can may also comprise means for evacuating its contents, such as in particular a door, a slideway, a valve or any other system of evacuation known which does not require that the refuse be separated from the handle in order to empty it.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the refuse can contains tongues capable of reversibly locking a dustpan. Similarly the tongues may comprise notches which reversibly retain it on the refuse can. The dustpan may also be fixed directly on the handle independent of the refuse can, for example, according to the embodiments described in Patents FR 2 594 902 and FR 2 609 312.
According to another preferred embodiment, the refuse can may be composed of a box possibly provided with a lid and a belt or any other intermediate means for supporting this box. The supporting means is reversibly fixed on the handle at any determined height such that the broom may be used without hindrance despite the presence of said refuse can. The supporting means is adapted to maintain the box of the refuse can vertical with the handle, said refuse can being easily removable from this support; in which case, said refuse can does not need to have means for evacuating its contents since it may be separated from its support in order to be emptied or replaced.
Said refuse can may also be a tipping box of the “so-called airport dustpans” type as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,481. The handle may be of any variable length compatible with that of the broom itself. If the handle is shorter, the operator avoids having to bend down to the floor to pick up the refuse as in the case of a traditional dustpan such as the one shown in the accompanying Figures. The handle may then be directly fixed in reversible manner on that of the broom, said
Demai Jean-Claude
Eberard Michele
Ladas and Parry
Till Terrence R.
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