Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CORNER BROOM
[0001]The subject invention relates to the art of sweeping or brushing and,
more
particularly, to a brush head or broom attachment of this character adapted to
effectively
clean floor and counter surfaces, along with associated corners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002]This invention relates to the brushing or cleaning of comer areas .and
contiguous
accessible surfaces or open areas. More specifically, this invention pertains
to an
articulating brush head having structural cleaning features not heretofore
disclosed in the
brushing and cleaning art.
[0003] Existing devices consist of brooms or broom attachments of various
kinds, shapes,
and sizes, some of which include angled and/or tapered brush heads or
bristles. The
known brooms include a brush heads) in a fixed orientation to the handle
whereby
cleaning effectiveness is compromised in one or mare of the following
situations: cleaning
corners, cleaning open areas, moving dirt onto a dustpan, changing from open
floor or
surface cleaning to comer cleaning, etc. These known structures do not permit
the
cleaning features of the subject broom invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with the present invention, a brush head device for
cleaning corner
areas and open areas of a floor is provided that avoids or minimizes the
problems and
difficulties encountered with the use of devices of the foregoing character.
More
particularly in this respect, a brush head is provided which includes a frame
and an
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assembly of brush sections. The assembly of brush sections includes first and
second
wing brushes and a central brush therebetween. The first wing brush is
pivotally
interconnected to the frame at a first hinge. The second wing brush is
pivotally
interconnected to the frame at a second hinge.
[0005]In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a brush head is
provided
including a frame. The frame includes a fixed central brush with first and
second wing
brushes hingedly connected to the frame on opposing sides of the central
brush.
[0006] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a brush head
device is
provided including a frame having a first wing brush with a hinge and a second
wing brush
with a hinge. The wing brushes are hingedly connected on opposing ends of the
frame.
The hinges are spring biased from a load position to a rest position. The wing
brushes are
at an inwardly extending angle relative to the frame when the brush head is at
the rest
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
j0007]The foregoing objects, and others, will in part be obvious and in part
more fully
pointed out hereinafter in conjunction with a written description of the
embodiments of the
invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:
[0008] FIGURE 1 is an interior top perspective view of a brush head in a rest
position
according to a first embodiment;
[0009] FIGURE 2 is an interior elevational view of a brush head in the rest
position
according to a first embodiment;
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[0010] FIGURE 3 is an interior top perspective view of the brush head in a
load position
according to the first embodiment;
[0011] FIGURE 4 is an exterior top perspective view of the brush head in the
rest position
according to the first embodiment;
[0012] FIGURE 5 is an exterior [top perspective] elevational view of a brush
head in the
load position according to a second embodiment;
[0013] FIGURE 5 is an exterior elevational view of the brush head of FIGURE 5
in the rest
position;
[0014] FIGURE 7 is an exterior top perspective view of a brush head and a
handle
according to a third embodiment;
[0015] FIGURE 8 is an exterior topside front perspective view of the brush
head of FIGURE
7; and,
(0016] FIGURE 9 is an interior side perspective view of the brush head of
FIGURE 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, in which the showings
are for the
purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention only, and not for the
purpose of
limiting the invention, FIGURES 1-4 of the drawings illustrate a brush head or
broom
attachment 10 device. The brush head 10 includes a frame 12 and an assembly of
brush
sections 14. The weight of the brush sections 14 is carried by the frame 12. -
The brush
sections 14 include a pair of articulating wing brushes 16, 18 and a fixed or
central brush
20 therebetween. The frame 12 includes a collar 22 adapted to receive a handle
H
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(FIGURE 1 ) at its center. The frame 12 further includes opposing ends 30, 32
spaced from
the center. The handle H can be any variety of handle (i.e. rigid,
telescoping, retractable,
etc.) adapted to be mounted to the broom attachment 10. The opposing ends 30,
32 of the
frame 12 each include loop or eye portions 34, 36. The wing brush portions 16,
18 have
upper surfaces 48, 50. Wing brush loop or eye portions, 40, 42 are positioned
on arms 44,
46 on the wing brush portion upper surfaces 48, 50. The loop or eye portions
34, 36 of the
frame 12 are aligned with corresponding loop or eye portions 40, 42 of
respective arms 44,
46 into substantially continuous, coaxial alignment. The aligned loop or eye
portions 34,
40 and 36, 42 define pivot hinges with a hinge pin 60, 62 passing thru the
loop or eye
portions. A biasing spring 64, 66 is positioned around each hinge pin 60, 62
and engages
the frame 12 and the wing brush arms 44, 46. The hinge pins 60, 62 and the
biasing
springs 64, 66 urge the wing brushes 16, 18 into a first or (rest) position
(figures 1, 2, and
4) but allow the wing brushes to move to a second or (load) position (figure
3) as described
in more detail hereinafter. The hinge pins 60, 62 are not parallel to the
handle H. Each
hinge pin 60, 62 is aligned and coincident with a pivot axis 56, 58.
[0018 The pivot axes 56, 58 of the wing brushes 16, 18 are spaced from, and
oblique to, a
vertical or symmetrical axis 65 extending through the center of the frame 12
and coincident
with the handle H. Each of the pivot axes 56, 58 can form an angle of about
thirty degrees
with the symmetrical axis 65. This angle may be modified to accommodate
different
structures achieving the same end result.
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[0019]The wing brushes 16, 18 each include a stock or back 70, 72 having an
underside
74, 76 with a multiplicity ofi bristles 80, 82 extending therefrom. As shown
in the drawings,
the wing brush bristles 80, 82 extend downward and project outward from the
underside
74, 76 of the wing brush stocks 70, 72. The wing brush bristles 80, 82 each
have an inner
region of bristles 84, 86 and an outer region or leading edge of bristles 88,
90.
[0020]The fixed central brush 20 is mounted on an underside 13 of the frame 12
and can
be centered about the symmetrical axis 65 of the brush head 10. The central
brush 20
includes a brush stock 92 having an underside 94 with a multiplicity of
bristles 96 extending
therefrom. The central brush bristles 96 extend downward from the underside 94
of the
central brush stock 92. The central brush 20 includes an inner region of
bristles 100 and
opposing outer regions of bristles 102, 104. With reference to a first
embodiment as shown
in Figure 3, the length of the bristles on an edge 106 of the central brush
facing the
observer can be slightly shorter than the bristles in the wing brushes 16, 18.
The length of
the bristles 96 in the central brush can increase linearly from the edge 106
facing the
viewer in Figure 3 to an edge 108 remote from the viewer. At the remote edge
108, the
bristles of the central brush 20 can be equal in length to the bristles in the
two wing
brushes 16,18. This results in the advantageous configurations shown in
Figures 1, 2 and
4.
[0021]Referring to Figure 1, the brush head 10 is seen as in the rest position
as a user
would see it while extending it into a comer. The handle H can extend
outwardly and
downwardly relative to the user (i.e. offset from vertical). The wing brushes
16, 18 can
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form an angle, in the plane of the floor (not perpendicular to the handle H)
of about ninety
degrees. The terminal or free ends 120, 122 of the wing brush bristles 80, 82
can be in a
substantially horizontal plane. The terminal ends of the bristles 96 of the
central brush or a
portion thereof, are also in a substantially horizontal plane and abut the
bristles of the wing
brushes 16, 18. In this state, the brush head 10 is configured for reaching
into a standard,
right angle corner for cleaning dust and debris from a corner of a floor.
[0022~According to the first embodiment, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the
bristles 80,
82 of the wing brushes 16, 18 project downwardly and outwardly. Thus, the
bristles at the
leading edges 88, 90 are inclined forwardly from the wing brush stocks 70, 72
when the
wing brushes 16, 18 are in the rest position. This provides for an
intermingling and
overlapping of the inner region-84, 86 of wing brush bristles 80, 82 with the
outer regions
102, 104 of central brush bristles 96. This is of particular advantage in that
dirt, lint, waste,
or the like, will be prevented from passing beneath or between the bristles
80, 82, 96 in the
sweeping operation.
[0023]Additionally, the inner regions 84, 86 of the wing brush bristles 80, 82
overlap and
intermingle with each other and with the outer regions 102, 104 of the central
brush bristles
96, thereby forming closures at opposing sides of the central brush proximal
to the
symmetrical axis 65, when the brush head 10 is in the second or load position.
In the load
position the brush sections 14 can be aligned. The bristles of the wing
brushes 16, 18 and
the central brush 20 overlap in the rest state, the load state, and while the
brush head 10
moves from one state to the other. Therefore, dust swept from a corner will be
held as the
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brush head is loaded and the handle H brought to a more vertical orientation,
which moves
the brush head 10 to the load configuration.
[0024 Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, each wing brush 16, 18 includes an
upper
surface 48, 50 having an interior tab 49, 51 and an exterior tab 53, 55
mounted along
opposing edges of the upper surface 48, 50. A first stop 57, 59 includes an
inward
protruding arm 61, 63 mounted on the frame 12 and having an angled surface 65,
67 for
mating with the interior tab 49, 51 thereby providing a limit to the spring
biased rotation of
the wing brush 16, 18 at the first position. The first stop 57, 59 prevents
further inward
rotation thereby providing a pre-determined rest angle between the brush
sections 14.
This angle can be selected to provide a rest angle at the bristle ends
relative to the plane
of the floor of substantially ninety degrees when the brush head 10 is
positioned as seen
on Figure 1. The angle of the wing brushes 16, 18 in a plane perpendicular to
the handle
H is about one hundred four degrees in one embodiment. This angle is not
critical. The
angle of ninety degrees in the plane of the floor can be achieved with other
configurations
of the pivot axes 56, 58, the stops 57, 59, the desired angle of the handle H
when reaching
into a corner and other parameters.
[0025~A second stop 71, 73 includes an outward protruding arm 75, 77 mounted
on the
frame 12 and having an orthogonal surface 79, 81 for mating with the exterior
tab 53, 55
thereby providing a limit to the rotation of the wing brush 16, 18 at the load
position. The
second stop 71, 73 prevents further outward rotation thereby providing a pre-
determined
load angle between the brush sections 14. The position of the first 57, 59 and
second
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stops 71, 73 effectively limit the range of rotation of the wing brushes 16,
18 whereby the
rest angle and load angle can be fixed. In one embodiment, the load angle can
be one
hundred eighty degrees with all three brush segments in parallel, colinear
alignment.
[0026~As described, the hinges include biasing springs 64, 66 whereby the wing
brushes
16, 18 are biased inward when the brush head 10 is in the rest position. Each
of the wing
brushes 16, 18 move from a biased angled (rest) position to a substantially co-
linear (load)
position relative to the frame. As best shown in FIGURE 3, when the wing
brushes 16, 18
are in the load position, the wing brushes 16, 18 and the central brush 20 are
generally in
axial alignment and coplanar with the frame 12. In this position, the interior
angle is
generally 180 degrees between the two wing brushes 16, 18. The angle of
rotation of each
wing brush 16, 18 can range from about 30 to about 70 degrees from the second
position
to the first position.
[0027]As described above, the springs 64, 66 bias the wing brushes 16, 18 to
the first or
rest position. The wing brushes 16, 18 selectively move from this first
position (Figure 1 ) to
the second position (Figure 3) upon frictional engagement of free ends 120,
122, with and
movement along the floor, counter, or other surface. In this manner, the
spring biasing
force is overcome by a user when the wing brush sections 16, 18, more
specifically, the
free ends 120, 122, are sufficiently engaged with and moved across the floor.
The
downward pressure on the bristle free ends 120, 122 and the accompanying
friction
causes the wing brushes 16, 18 to rotate from the inclined inward position to
the generally
axially aligned position relative to the frame 12. Upon releasing the downward
force and/or
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disengaging the bristle ends 120, 122 from the floor, the wing brushes 16, 18
bias back to
the inclined inward or rest position. Thus, the position of the wing brush
sections 16, 18
are controlled by the user allowing the brush head 10 to effectively clean a
corner when in
the first position and effectively clean an open floor when in the second
position.
[0028] It is to be appreciated that the angle of the wing brushes 16, 18 and
associated
bristles 80, 82, while in the rest position, provide for two advancing points
of contact as the
brush head 10 is moved towards and over a linear edge of ,for example, a
dustpan (not
shown). The two points of contact continually advance towards the interior
corner 110 as
the brush head 10 is moved toward and over the linear edge of the dustpan.
This action
provides a funneling effect to the dirt being transported onto the dustpan. In
particular, the
dirt moves from the outer regions of wing 88,90 brush bristles 80, 82 toward
the inner
region of center brush bristles 100. This can be accomplished by the user
maintaining the
handle H in an inclined orientation as seen in Figure 1 while drawing the
brush head 10 to
the dust pan.
[0029] Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6, a second embodiment of a brush head
is
therein shown. Like components are identified with like numerals including a
primed (')
suffix and new components are illustrated by new numerals. The brush head 210
includes
a fixed central brush 220 mounted on the underside 13' of the frame 12' and is
centered
about the symmetrical axis 65' of the brush head 210. The central brush 220
includes a
brush stock 92' having an underside 94' with a multiplicity of bristles 226
extending
therefrom. The central brush bristles 226 extend downward from the underside
94' of the
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central brush stock 92'. The central brush 220 includes an inner region of
bristles 230 and
opposing outer regions of bristles 232, 234. With reference to the second
embodiment as
best shown in Figure 5, it is to be appreciated that the length of the
bristles 226 of the
central brush 220 can be slightly longer at both edges 236, 238 than the
bristles 80', 82' in
the wing brushes 16', 18'. This provides for an intermingling of the wing
brush bristles 80',
82' with the central brush bristles 226. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated
that edge 238
can extend along and into a corner (Figure 6). This is of particular advantage
in that dirt,
lint, waste, or the like, will be prevented from passing beneath or between
the bristles 80',
82', 226 in the sweeping operation.
[0030] Referring now to FIGURES 7-9, a third embodiment of a brush head
including a
handle is therein shown. Like components are identified with like numerals
including a
double primed (") suffix and new components are illustrated by new numerals.
[0031] Referring to Figure 7, the brush head 310 is seen as in the rest
position as a user
would see it while extending it into a corner. An angulated handle 312,
mounted to the
brush head 310, can include a first upwardly extending section 314, extending
upwardly
from the brush head 310 and a second section 316 extending outwardly generally
transverse to the first portion 314.
[0032] It is to be appreciated that the handle 312 can be proportioned for
single hand use
as best shown in Figure 9. The brush head 310 includes a central axis 65". The
handle
312 can be rotatably connected to the frame 12" whereby, the handle 312 can
rotate about
axis 65".
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[0033] The rotation of the handle 312 allows for the brush head 310 to be
pulled or pushed
from any angle with respect to the handle 312 and brush head 310. As shown in
FIGURES 7-9, the handle 312 can be particularly adapted for cleaning counter
top
surfaces or other confined areas. It is to be appreciated that the brush head
310 can be
used with a full length handle (not illustrated) for floor surface cleaning.
j0034]The terminal or free ends 120", 122", or a portion thereof, of the wing
brush bristles
80", 82" can be in a substantially horizontal plane. The terminal ends of the
bristles 226" or
a portion thereof, of the central brush are also in a substantially horizontal
plane and abut
the bristles of the wing brushes 16", 18". In this state, the brush head 310
is configured for
reaching into a standard, right angle comer (figure 9) for cleaning dust and
debris from a
corner of a counter, shelf, or floor.
[0035]The exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the
specific
embodiments obviously, modifications and alterations will occurto others upon
reading and
understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the
exemplary
embodiments be construed as including all such modifications and alterations
insofar as
they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
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