GB2150016A

GB2150016A - Implement for sweeping

Info

Publication number: GB2150016A
Application number: GB08331821A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Petrus Cornelis Vermeulen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-29
Filing date: 1983-11-29
Publication date: 1985-06-26
Also published as: GB8331821D0

Abstract

An implement for sweeping a surface, such as a broom, comprises a head 116 having a broom stick socket 120 on its upper surface and bristles 18 projecting from its lower surface. The head and the bristles are in the form of an integral moulding of a synthetic plastics material. The bristles at the opposite ends of the head are inclined outwardly at an angle of about 20 DEG with respect to the vertical position. A vent 128 is provided to facilitate insertion of handle 114 into socket 120. The head 116 may have a flexible flap integral with its upper surface by which it may be suspended. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Implement for sweeping THIS INVENTION relates to an implement for sweeping a surface, such as a broom.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided an implement for sweeping comprising a head having an upper surface and a lower surface, means on the upper surface for attaching the head to means for supporting the head during a sweeping operation and bristles projecting from the lower surface, wherein the bristles and the head are in the form of an integral moulding of a synthetic plastics material.

The supporting means may be in the form of a substantially rigid elongate member, such as a broom stick.

The means on the upper surface of the head for attaching the head to the supporting means may comprise a socket. The socket may be integrally moulded with the head.

The socket may be adapted to receive a broom stick in such a fashion that the broom stick extends obliquely to the bristles.

The angle defined between the bristles and the broom stick in the socket may be between about 1 20 and 1 80'. Preferably, the.angle is about 150'.

The head may be substantially elongate in shape. The bristles at one or at both ends of the head may extend laterally outwardly beyond the or each end of the head. The bristles may extend at an angle of between about 15 to about 45 outwardly with respect to the vertical position. Preferably, the bristles extend outwardly at an angle of about 20 with respect to the vertical position.

The head may be provided with a vent leading laterally out of the socket from near its inner end. The head may be provided with a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may be in the form of an integrally moulded ridge extending along the head or it may be in the form of metal reinforcing embedded in the head. In the latter case, the reinforcing may comprise one or more metal rods extending longitudinally of the head.

The head may further include webs on opposite sides of the socket, extending between the socket and the head and wherein the webs are integrally moulded with the head and the socket.

Alternatively, the head may comprise brace connection means on either side of the socket and which are adapted to connect braces for a broom stick to the head.

The invention also extends to a broom comprising a head, substantially as herein described, and a broom stick inserted in the socket.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an implement for sweeping comprising a head having an upper surface and a lower surface, means on the upper surface for supporting the head during a sweeping operation and bristles projecting from the lower surface, wherein the bristles, the head and the supporting means are in the form of an integral moulding of a synthetic plastics material.

The supporting means may comprise a flexible member. It may be in the form of a flap, having a lower end which is attached to the head and a upper end which is adapted to be attached to means from which it may be suspended.

The head may be elogate in shape.

The head may be provided with a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member may be in the form of an integrally moulded ridge extending along the head or it may be in the form of metal reinforcing embedded in the head. In the latter case, the reinforcing may comprise one or more metal rods extending longitudinally of the head.

The bristles at one or at both ends of the head may extend laterally outwardly beyond the or each end of the head. The bristles may extend at an angle of between about 15 to about 45 outwardly with respect to the vertical position. Preferably, the bristles extend outwardly at an angle of about 20 with respect to the vertical position.

The bristles may be relatively short or they may be relatively long. For example, they may be from about 65mm to about 750mm long.

The bristles may be arranged in rows with the bristles in adjacent rows being staggered with respect to one another. When the sweeping implement according to the invention is a broom, about 10 rows of bristles, extending longitudinally of the head, may be provided.

When the sweeping implement according to the invention is not a broom, fewer rows of bristles, such as for example three of four rows, may be provided.

The invention is now described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the sweeping implement is a broom head. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a broom head according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the broom head of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the broom head of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of part of the broom head of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section taken along the lines A-A in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-section along the lines B B in Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a three-dimensional view of a broom comprising a broom head and a broom stick, according to another embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 indicates a broom head in accordance with the invention.

The broom head 10 comprises a moulding of a synthetic plastics material providing a back portion 1 6 having integrally moulded bristles 1 8 projecting therefrom. The back portion 1 6 has surfaces 16.1 and 16.2 which, in use, are respectively lower and upper surfaces. The broom head 10 further comprises socket means 20 defining a broom stick socket 22.

The socket 22 is adapted to receive one end of the broom stick 114 (See Figure 7). The socket 22 extends from the upper surface 1 6.2 of the back portion 16, oppositely to the bristles 18, but at a slope to the bristles 1 8.

The angle defined between the axis of the socket 22 and the axis of bristles 1 8 underneath the socket 22, is conveniently about 150 . The corresponding angle between the elongations of the axes is then 30 , as indicated in Figure 6.

A vent 28, leading laterally out of the socket 22 from near its inner end, is provided to facilitate insertion of a broom stick into the socket 22.

The back portion 1 6 comprises an integrally moulded reinforcing ridge 30 standing proud of the upper surface 16.2. Especially for a relatively long broom head, the reinforcing is preferable to avoid bending of the broom head in a direction opposite to the direction of sweeping. Further reinforcing, in the form of a pair of steel rods 25 embedded in the back portion 16, is provided. The steel rods 25 are only illustrated in Figure 5 and only one steel rod 25 is shown in side view.

The socket means 20 is integrally moulded with the back portion 1 6. For strengthening purposes, webs 27, which are integrally moulded with the socket means 20 and the back portion 1 6, are provided on opposite sides of the socket means 20 (shown only in Figure 5).

The bristles 1 8 in the centre region of the broom head 10 are parallel to each other and extend perpendicularly from the surface 16.1.

However, the bristles 18 at the ends 16.3 of the back portion 1 6 extend laterally outwardly beyond the ends 16.3. This configuration facilitates sweeping in areas which are difficult to reach. Conveniently, the bristles at the ends 16.3 are sloped at an angle of about 20 from the vertical, the broom head being in its operative disposition. This slope is indicated in Figure 5.

With reference to Figure 7, another embodiment of a broom in accordance with the invention is indicated by reference numeral 110.

The broom 110 comprises a broom head 11 2 including an integrally moulded back portion 116, bristles 11 8 and socket means 1 20. An end of a broom stick 114 is received in a broom stick socket 122.The bristles 11 8 at the ends of the broom head 11 2 extend perpendicularly but, if desired, they may be sloped, such as those of the broom head 10.

Instead of having reinforcing member in the form of a ridge, the broom 110 has a reinforcing member in the form of a mild steel round bar 1 30 of about 6 millimetres diameter moulded in the back portion 11 6.

The broom head 11 2 further comprises braces 1 32 connected to the back portion 11 6 via brace sockets 1 36 at spaced positions on either side of the broom stick socket 122.

The braces 1 32 extend convergingly upward and have broom stick connection means in the form of a collar 1 34 at their convergent ends. The convergent ends of the braces 1 32 are attached to the collar 1 34 through which the broom stick 114 is passed. A screw, which is not shown, secures the collar 1 34 to the broom stick 11 4. Especially for relatively long broom heads it is preferable to have braces to stabilize the broom head with respect to the broom stick.

The brace sockets 1 36 are defined by brace socket means 1 38 which are integrally moulded with the back portion 11 6.

Claims

1. An implement for sweeping comprising a head having an upper surface and a lower surface, means on the upper surface for attaching the head to means for supporting the head during a sweeping operation and bristles projecting from the lower surface, wherein the bristles and the head are in the form of an integral moulding of a synthetic plastics material.

2. An implement for sweeping according to claim 1, wherein the means on the upper surface of the head for attaching the head to a supporting means comprises a socket.

3. An implement for sweeping according to claim 2, wherein the socket is integrally moulded with the head.

4. An implement of sweeping according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the socket is adapted to receive a broom stick in such a fashion that the broom stick extends obliquely to the bristles.

5. An implement for sweeping according to claim 4, wherein the angle defined between the bristles and the broom stick in the socket is between about 120 and 180.

6. An implement for sweeping according to claim 5, wherein the angle is about 1 50,.

7. An implement for sweeping according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head is elongate in shape and the bristles at one or at both ends of the head extend laterally outwardly beyond the or each end of the head.

8. An implement for sweeping according to claim 7, wherein the bristles extend at an angle of between about 15' to about 45' outwardly with respect to the vertical position.

9. An implement for sweeping according to claim 8, wherein the bristles extend outwardly at an angle of about 20 with respect to the vertical position.

10. An implement for sweeping according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head as a reinforcing member.

11. An implement for sweeping according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing member is in the form of an integrally moulded ridge on the head.

1 2. An implement for sweeping according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing member is in the form of a metal reinforcing embedded in the head.

1 3. An implement for sweeping according to claim 12, wherein the head is elongate in shape and the reinforcing comprises one or more metal rods extending longitudinally of the head.

14. An implement for sweeping according to claim 2, including webs on opposite sides of the socket, extending between the socket and the head and wherein the webs are integrally moulded with the head and the socket.

1 5. An implement for sweeping according to claim 2, including brace connection means on either side of the socket and which are adapted to connect braces for a broom stick to the head.

16. A broom comprising an implement according to any one of the preceding claims, attached to a broom stick.

1 7. A broom head substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A broom substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. An implement for sweeping comprising a head having an upper surface and a lower surface, means on the upper surface for supporting the head during a sweeping operation and bristles projecting from the lower surface, wherein the bristles. the head and the supporting means are in the form of an integral moulding of a synthetic plastics material.

20. An implement for sweeping according to claim 19, wherein the supporting means comprises a flexible member.

21. An implement for sweeping according to claim 20 wherein the flexible member is in the form of a flap having a lower end which is attached to the head and an upper end which is adapted to be attached to means from which it may be suspended.

22. An implement for sweeping according to any one of claims 1 9 to 21, wherein the head is elongate in shape.

23. An implement for sweeping according to claim 22 wherein the head is provided with a reinforcing member.

24. An implement for sweeping according to claim 23 wherein the reinforcing member is in the form of metal reinforcing embedded in the head.

25. An implement for sweeping according to claim 24 wherein the reinforcing comprises one or more metal rods extending longitudinally of the head.

26. An implement for sweeping according to any one of claims 1 9 to 25 wherein the bristles are arranged in rows with the bristles in adjacent rows being staggered with respect to one another.