Field of the Invention

[00011 The present invention deals with brooms and more specifically, brooms with a flexible neck.

Background of the Invention

[00021 Traditional broom handles consist of a straight elongated rod or pole having one end connected to a broom head. The handles are usually made of solid wood or metal tubes. The handle is therefore rigid and is generally connected in a rigid matter to the broom head.

[ ^" 00031 Push brooms generally have a wide head with bristles extending downwardly from the head. The handle is generally connected at an angle at the middle of the head and extends backwards from the head. The broom can then be pushed forwardly and in front of the user.

r00041 The rigid nature of such a broom can cause difficulties. A primary example is where one end of the broom strikes a rigid object. A considerable jolt can be felt by the user and substantial twisting action can either be detrimental to the user or damage or break the broom.

f00051 A real need has therefore been identified in the art for an improvement to brooms. Attempts have been made to solve some of the deficiencies or problems in the art. Some long-handled tools such as rakes utilize some sort of a brace such as a spring connected between the tines of the rake and the rake handle to give it some resilience. Additionally, some brooms utilize rigid braces between handle and head or braces such as a metal coil spring between the handle and the head to allow the broom head some resilience and flexibility.

rOOOβT U.S. Patent No. 634,637 to A.S. Allen and U.S. Patent No. 2,268,488 to Keeys purport to disclose brooms with flexible necks at the base of the handle where the sweeping bristles attach. A number of push brooms with a flexible neck exist as well _/ for example, 2,607,941 to D.T. Price, 4,433,931 to Malish et al. , and 5,333,345 to O' Donnell.

C00071 These broom designs, however, have certain deficiencies. First, a tightly coiled spring can pinch skin or grab clothing. Metal springs are subject to corrosion.

They also may degrade in performance over time and can take

a set if flexed too far. In addition, none of the references above disclose a curved broom head that allows the broom to act as both a push broom and a sweeping broom.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention provides a broom with a flexible neck. The flexible neck is preferably a hollow tube made from rubber. The neck is positioned between the base end of the handle and the head of the broom to attach the broom handle to the broom head.

[0009] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and to provide further detail, the broom comprises a handle having with a base end and a free end, a curved broom head with a flexible neck, and a plurality of bristles extending from the head at a substantially right angle. The broom head should be positioned so that it is substantially perpendicular to the handle with the base end attached to the flexible neck.

[0010] In accordance with further aspects of an embodiment of the present invention, the flexible neck is made of rubber, the free end further comprises a bore through the handle, the base end further comprises a threaded end, and

the broom further comprises a sleeve with a threaded interior for receiving the threaded end.

Brief Description of the Drawings

TOPHI Figure 1 shows a broom with a flexible neck in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[00121 Figure 2 shows the broom of Fig. 1 in use, sweeping a floor with a flexion of the flexible neck.

[00131 Figure 3 shows the dirt collection action of a broom head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[00141 Figure 4 shows a broom in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention being used as a push broom.

[00151 Figure 5 shows the constituent parts of a flexible neck broom in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[00161 Figure 6 depicts the constituent parts of Figure 5 in a fully assembled configuration in accordance with further aspects of the present invention.

Detailed Description

IO0171 In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a broom is provided with a flexible neck and a specially designed head. The broom may be used as either a push broom or a sweeping broom. In accordance with further alternative embodiments, the broom head is curved to trap and collect swept up dirt and debris.

[00181 Figure 1 shows a broom 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A handle 12 has a free end 12.2 and a base end 12.1. The handle 12 may be wood, metal, or some type of plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the handle is made of plastic and manufactured by ordinary plastics manufacturing methods, such as injection molding.

r00191 The base end 12.1 is connected to a flexible neck 14 which is preferably a hollow rubber tube. The flexible neck 14 connects the handle 12 to the broom head 16. The broom head 16 has a number of bristles 18 attached to its bottom

surface, extending downwardly at a substantially right angle.

1 ^" 002OI The walls of the neck 14 should be thick enough to provide the sufficient rigidity, resiliency and strength to maintain the head 16 in a sweeping position when the broom 10 is used to clean a floor (not shown) . The rigidity of the neck 14 should be balanced with the need for flexibility to allow for flexion of the neck 14 when the broom head 16 is applied to a floor.

r0021] In use, a user holds the handle with one hand 12 in the proximal area of its free end 12.2 and another hand around the mid-point of the handle 12. The user may, at this point, use the broom 10 as a push broom or sweeping broom.

C00221 Figure 2 shows the broom 10 being used as a sweeping broom. As the broom is pulled with downward force applied against and across the floor 20, the flexible neck 14 yields and bends, imparting a bias on the broom head 16 against the floor 20. In this way, the flexible neck 14 ensures that sufficient and proper force is being applied against and along the plane of the floor 20. At the same time, sweeping

the broom 10 across the floor 20 has a softer feel compared with prior art designs that incorporate a rigid handle and neck.

[0023] The broom head 16 is preferably curved with an inwardly extending, or angled edge 16.1 on each side of the head 16. As the user sweeps, dirt and debris coining into contact with the bristles 18 are directed towards the center of the broom head 16.

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a top-down view of a broom head 16 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as it sweeps across a floor (not shown) . As the head 16 sweeps across a floor in the direction of arrow 300, the bristles

(not shown) attached to the head 16 push dirt and debris 30 across the floor. The dirt and debris 30 in front of the broom head 16 is pushed inwardly, towards the center of the head 16, in the direction of arrows 302 and 304 by the bristles disposed on the inwardly-concave shape of the head 16. In this way, dirt is collected and trapped as opposed to just being pushed across the floor according to prior art designs.

[0025] Fig. 4 shows the broom 10 being used as a push broom. In use, one hand is positioned at the top of the handle 12 and another at the mid section. The head 16 of the broom 10 is pushed in front of the user in a lateral motion. The bristles 18 on the curved broom head 16 collects dust and debris as the head 16 moves across the floor.

[0026] Fig. 5 shows the constituent parts and construction of the broom. The handle 12 has a threaded tip 12.3 on its base end 12.1. An internally threaded sleeve 50 will securedly engage the threaded tip 12.3 in construction. The outer diameter of the sleeve 50 is roughly the same as the internal diameter of the elastic neck 14. A number of engaging ribs 50.1 are disposed along the outer side of the sleeve 50 for frictionally engaging the inner wall of the neck 14, which is preferably hollow.

[0027] Assembly may be accomplished in two ways. First, the sleeve 50 may be slid into position in the neck 14 and then the threaded tip 12.3 screwed into the sleeve 50. The second way involves reversing the steps. First, the threaded tip 12.3 is screwed into the sleeve 50 first. Then

the sleeve 50 and handle 12 assembly is slid into the neck 14.

[0028] It should be noted that the broom head 46 in Fig. 4 is an alternative embodiment that doesn't include the angled edges in prior examples. The head 46 is, however, curved.

[0029] Fig. 6 shows the completed construction of the broom parts in Fig. 5. The base end 12.1 of the handle is screwed onto the sleeve 50. The sleeve is frictionally secured in the neck 14. The neck 14 and broom head 16 are a single piece. The bristles 18 are attached to the broom head according to well-known methods by which bristles are normally attached to broom heads.

[0030] Bi-injection is the preferred method of construction for the flexible neck and broom head according to an embodiment of the present invention. With bi-injection, two materials are injected into the same cavity within one cycle, in this case, plastic and rubber. Rubber is injected a mold cavity to form the neck and plastic to form the broom head.

[00311 In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.