Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02206187 1997-0~-27
SWEEPING DEVICE
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a sweeping device for sweeping surfaces such as floors,
glass, vehicles and other surfaces.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
In this specification, a sweeping surface is intended to mean a surface that is to
be swept.
5 There exists a continuous need for the improvement of the sweeping or raking
performance of sweeping devices, the objective being to achieve the maximum
displacement of particles within a desired size range, at a minimum consumption
of energy and at the lowest cost.
Sweeping devices in the form of squeegees for sweeping up liquids and small
10 particulate matter are known as are devices having bristles for sweeping up
larger debris and particulate matter. The latter may have bristles of varying
thicknesses to permit a greater range of particles to be swept up.
Sweeping devices incorporating both bristles and a squeegee are known. Such
devices are arranged such that the squeegee portion and the bristled portion
have to be used separately.
Often both a bristled sweeping device as well as a squeegee are required to be
used on a sweeping surface. Therefore, at least two passes over a sweeping
surface are required, firstly by a bristled sweeping device and then by a
squeegee. This results in double the labour requirement than if merely one pass
20 was made over the sweeping surface.
Neither a bristled sweeping device nor a squeegee are particularly successful atsweeping up very small particulate matter.
CA 02206187 1997-0~-27
It is an object of this invention to provide a sweeping device which at least
partially alleviates some of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention a sweeping device comprises an elongated head
having operatively upper and lower surfaces, bristles projecting from the lower
5 surface, and at least one elongated blade extending at least partially along the
length of the head to project from the lower surface and from a position such that
there are bristles on each side thereof.
It is further provided for the depth of the blade to be substantially the same as
that of the bristles and for the depth of the blade to be substantially parallel to that
10 of the bristles.
It is further provided for the head to be generally rectangular when viewed fromthe plan view, alternatively for the head to be generally diamond-shaped when
viewed in the plan view.
It is further provided for the bristles to be of varying thicknesses, for the bristles to
15 be of similar length, for the bristles to cover a substantial area of the lower
surface of the head, for the bristles to be of sufficient thickness and rigidity for the
sweeping device to be used as a rake, alternatively for the bristles to be of
sufficient thickness and rigidity for the sweeping device to be used as a broom,for the bristles to be a fibrous material, for the bristles to be of an elastomeric
20 material, for the bristles to be of rubber.
It is further provided for the bristles to be arranged in rows extending parallel to
the elongate axis of the head, for each row to contain bristles of the same order
of thickness, and for there to be alternating rows of thick bristles and thin bristles,
alternatively for the bristles to all be of a similar order.
25 It is further provided for the bristles to be substantially cylindrically, alternatively
for the bristles to be frusto-conically shaped, having a circular cross-section,
CA 02206l87 l997-0~-27
where the bristles are preferably tapered in a direction away from the head, andfor the bristles to be chamfered at the end.
It is further provided for the blade to have a length substantially of the same order
as the elongate length of the head, for the blade to be positioned generally
5 centrally extending generally longitudinally with respect to the head, alternatively
for the blade to run longitudinally;
It is further provided for the head to have a socket in the upper surface for
attaching the head to a broom handle, for the socket to have a flexible retaining
means on its inner surface for counteracting the removal of the broom handle
10 from the socket, for the retaining means to contain at least one substantially
frusto-conically shaped ring tapering towards the base of the socket adapted to
exercise a suction grip on the end of a broom handle inserted into the socket
when an attempt is make to remove the broom handle from the socket for the
retaining means to comprise at least two substantially frusto-conically shaped
rings tapering towards the base of the socket.
It is further provided for the head, bristles, elastomeric blade and socket to be in
the form of an integral moulding of a polymeric material.
A further feature of the invention is where the head contains a stiffening member,
for the stiffening member to be embedded in the head extending along the
elongate length of the head, alternatively for the stiffening member to be affixed to
the head, for the stiffening member to have a high strength to weight ratio, where
the stiffening head to be constructed of a material selected from the group
comprising spring steel, mild steel, a polymeric material, polyethylene,
polypropylene, plastics materials, fibrous materials, glass fibre, asbestos,
synthetic fibrous materials, and mixtures of materials of this group.
A further feature of the invention is for the head to have a longitudinally extending
transversely projecting blade which is generally transverse with respect to the
bristles, for the transversely projecting blade to be configured such that it can be
used as a squeegee, for the transversely projecting blade to be integrally
CA 02206187 1997-0~-27
moulded with the head, for the transversely projecting blade to have angled
corners at its free corners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only,
and with reference to the accompanying drawings which are:
s Figure 1: a side elevation of a sweeping device;
Figure 2: a rear elevation of a sweeping device with some of the bristles
removed to expose an elastomeric blade more clearly;
Figure 3: an inverted plan view of a sweeping device; and
Figure 4: a plan view of a sweeping device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the sketches, a sweeping device (1) has an elongate head (2) which
is diamond-shaped when viewed from the plan view. The head (2) has an upper
surface (3) and a lower surface (4). Bristles (5) project from the lower surface (4).
An elastomeric blade (6) projects from the middle of the head (2) in the same
direction as the bristles (5) to the same depth as the bristles (5).
The bristles (5) are frusto-conically shaped, tapered towards their free ends. The
bristles are also chamfered at their free ends to give a generally flat end. There
are a sufficient number of bristles (5) to cover most of the lower surface (4) of the
head (2).
The blade (6) is situated in the middle of the head (2) extending parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the head (2) such that it has a length of the same order as the
longitudinal axis of the head (2). The blade (6) is surrounded by bristles (5).
The head (2) has a socket (7) in its upper surface (3). Two frusto-conically
shaped rings (8,9) taper inwards towards the base (10) of the socket (7).
CA 02206187 1997-0~-27
A stiffening member (11) composed of a mild steel plate conforms to the general
shape of the head (2) when viewed in plan view and is embedded in the head (2).
A longitudinally extending transversely projecting blade (12) projects laterallyfrom a lateral face of the head (2). An edge is formed on its free edge making it
5 suitable for use as a squeegee. It has angled corners at its free corners.
The sweeping device (1) is manufactured as a unit from a rubber material,
thereby permitting the manufacturing of the head (2), the bristles (5), the blade
(6), the socket (7) and the longitudinally extending transversely projecting blade
(12) in a single manufacturing operation. The sweeping device (1) is made from
10 a rubber which is vulcanised in an injection moulding process, the stiffeningmember (11) being inserted into the mould in the appropriate position before
injection of the rubber and including a coating adapted to promote adhesion
between the stiffening member (11) and the rubber material.
In use, the socket (7) receives the end of a broom handle (not shown). The
15 frusto-conically shaped rings (8,9) grip the broom handle to resist withdrawal.
The broom handle is used to operate the sweeping device such that the bristles
(5) and blade (6) are in contact with a sweeping surface (not shown).
The sweeping device (1) is functionally operable by moving the device in forwarddirection (13) or a backward direction (14) against the sweeping surface.
20 Particulate matter (not shown) on the sweeping surface is contacted by the
bristles (5). If the particulate matter is too small to be effectively captured by the
bristles (5) then the blade (6) captures the particulate matter. In this manner,almost all types of particulate matter can be shifted by the sweeping device (1)across the sweeping surface. Liquids will be captured by the blade and likewise
25 shifted across the sweeping surface by the sweeping device (1). The use of the
sweeping device (1) in this fashion permits it to function both a broom and as asqueegee in a single sweeping operation.
Should it be required to make use of a squeegee alone, then the sweeping
device (1) is reoriented with respect to the sweeping surface such that the
30 longitudinally extending transversely projecting blade (12) contacts the sweeping
CA 02206187 1997-0~-27
surface. In this orientation, the bristles (5) and blade (6) are not in contact with
the sweeping surface and the device becomes useable as a squeegee.
Should the sweeping device (1) become damaged or worn out, it can be
replaced without having to replace the broom handle. The broom handle is
5 removed from the socket (7) and placed into the socket of a new sweeping
device (1).
It will be appreciated that variations can be made to the above described
embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. In
particular, the sweeping device (1) and broom handle can be made as an integral
10 unit, the sweeping device (1) can be manufactured from sub-components which
are later assembled, the bristles can be configured in a pattern of rows where the
bristles have varying sizes and the longitudinally extending transversely
projecting blade (12) can be omitted from the sweeping device (1).
