LONGO, Renato (Via Marconi 14, PIEVE Dl CURTAROLO, 35010, IT)
CLAIMS
1. A new device for coupling broom handles (M) with a core (A) suitable for inserting inside the bunch of bristles forming the brush on the broom, complete with a substantially cylindrical seat (A2) for inserting the broom handle (M), characterized in that it comprises:
■ said element or core (A) with a flat part (Al) and said seat (A2) with an inside wall (A6) that is at least partially threaded for screwing in the end (Ml) of the broom handle (M),
■ at least one covering element or hood (C) surrounding said element or core (A) and the top end of the bristles, and wherein said hood (C) is engaged non-removably to said element or core (A).
2. New coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that said element or core (A) comprises at least one plate or wall (A4) arranged crosswise to said fiat part (Al).
3. New coupling device according to claims 1, 2, characterized in that said covering hood (C) comprises at least one opening or hole (F) providing access from the outside to the opening in said seat (A2) and one or more wings (S) arranged internally so as to come to bear on said core (A) when it is inserted in the hood (C).
4. New coupling device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said wings (S) come to bear on said wall (A4) and particularly in the vicinity of the end of said wall (A4).
5. New coupling device according to the previous claims, characterized in that said seat (A2) is surrounded by a cylindrical wall (A3) partly emerging from said hole (F) in said hood (C), wherein on the outside of said cylindrical wall (A3), in the vicinity of the opening in said seat (A2), there is at least one ridge (A7) that prevents said cylindrical wall (A3) from sliding out of the hole (F) in the hood (C).
6. New coupling device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said ridge (A7) is ring-shaped. 7. New coupling device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the top end (A8) of said cylindrical wall (A3), coinciding with the opening in said seat (A2), has a truncated cone shape, and wherein said ring- shaped ridge (A7) coincides with the bottom edge of said head (A8).
8. New coupling device according to the previous claims, characterized in that said cylindrical wall (A3) is connected externally to said flat part
(Al) by means of reinforcement ribbing (A5).
8 |
TITLE
DEVICE FOR COUPLING HANDLES OF BROOMS MADE WITH VEGETABLE FIBERS
DESCRIPTION This patent relates to brooms with bristles made of vegetable fibers and particularly concerns a new device for attaching a broom handle to a broom with bristles made of vegetable fibers.
There are known types of broom, which are utensils similar to brushes that are used to sweep up dirt, dust and waste of various kinds on the floor. The known types of broom come in various shapes and are made using materials of various type, be they vegetable, such as sorghum fibers, or made of plastic or other synthetic material.
The known types of broom consist of a plurality of bristles held together to form a brush to which a handle is attached to serve as a grip. The known brooms made of plastic also comprise an element for holding all the bristles together with an internally-threaded seat for inserting and screwing in the threaded end of the handle, made of wood, plastic or metal. In the known types of broom with bristles made of vegetable fibers, e.g. broom sorghum, the bristles are collected and tied together to form a bunch, in which the end of a wooden handle is inserted and fixed.
In this way the handle is not attached stably, however, and it also cannot be replaced. That is why, when the bristles of the broom become worn, after prolonged use, the handle cannot be reused and it becomes necessary to purchase a whole new broom, complete with a new wooden handle. There are also known couplings for the handles of such brooms with vegetable fiber bristles, which substantially consist of an internally-threaded tubular element for inserting and fixing the end of the handle, wherein said
tubular element is solidly attached to a flat plate suitable for being inserted and fixed inside the broom's bunch of bristles.
The known couplings enable only the handle to be removed in the event of it proving necessary to replace said handle or the bristles. One of the drawbacks of the couplings of known type consists in that they cannot be permanently attached to the inside of the bunch of bristles, from where they often accidentally slide out after the broom has been in use for a while.
To overcome all the above-mentioned drawbacks, a new broom handle coupling device particularly suitable for brooms made with vegetable fiber bristles has been designed and realized.
The main object of the present invention is to ensure a stable attachment of the handle, which can nonetheless also be rapidly detached when it proves necessary to replace the handle or the bristles. Another object of the present invention is to prevent the broom handle from sliding out of the bunch of bristles or into an erroneous position therein.
Another object of the present invention is to allow for the use of broom handles of any type, and particularly handles made of light metal, e.g. aluminium, which are more manageable and sturdy. Another object of the present invention is to realize a broom with vegetable fiber bristles with a telescoping handle, i.e. that is reducible in length, so as to enable its transportation, stocking and sale in compact packaging.
These and other, direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new device for coupling broom handles, particularly suitable for brooms with vegetable fiber bristles, with a self-engaging, non-removable covering hood.
The new coupling device comprises at least one element, hereinafter called the core, suitable for inserting and fixing inside the bunch of bristles, said
of bristles, i.e. any accidental displacement from its correct position is prevented.
The characteristics of the present invention will be better clarified by the following description with reference to the illustrations, which are attached as a non-restrictive example.
Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the element or core (A) for inserting in the bunch of bristles, while figures 2 and 3 respectively show a side view and a view from below of said element or core (A).
Figure 4 shows a cross-section of said element or core (A) along the line a-a indicated in figure 2.
Figure 5 is a cross-section of the covering hood (C), while figure 6 schematically illustrates said element or core (A) inserted in said covering hood (C).
The new coupling device mainly comprises two elements, one of which is at least one element or core (A), for fitting inside a bunch of bristles, to which a handle (M) is attached, and the other is at least one covering element or hood (C).
Said element or core (A) comprises at least one flat part (Al) for inserting and fixing inside the bunch of bristles, and at least one part with a cylindrical seat (A2) having a longitudinal axis (X) lying in the plane parallel to said flat part (Al).
Said cylindrical seat (A2) has an internal wall that is at least partially threaded (A6) for inserting and screwing down the threaded end (Ml) of a broom handle (M). Said cylindrical seat (A2) is surrounded by a cylindrical wall (A3) solidly attached to said flat part (Al) so as to form a single body (A).
Said element or core (A) also comprises at least one cross wall (A4) at right
angles or in any case crosswise with respect to said flat part (Al) and situated in the vicinity of the base of said seat (A2) and said cylindrical part
(A3).
Said wall (A4) substantially serves the purpose of limiting the insertion of said element or core (A) inside the bunch of bristles. In fact, the top ends of the bristles forming the bunch wherein said flat part (Al) is inserted come up against said cross wall.
Said element or core (A) also comprises ribbing (A5) for reinforcement and for connecting the cylindrical wall (A3) to said flat part (Al), said ribbing (A5) combining with said wall (A4) to prevent any bending or twisting of said fiat part (Al) in relation to said cylindrical wall (A3).
The covering hood (C) comprises a wall (Cl) surrounding said element or core (A) and the top ends of the bristles forming the bunch, with at least one opening or hole (F) for inserting said cylindrical wall (A3) on said element or core (A), so that said seat (A2) remains accessible from the outside for inserting the threaded end (Ml) of the broom handle (M).
Said hood (C) is placed over said element or core (A) and is attached thereto in a non-removable manner.
To be more precise, on the inside of said hood (C) there are one or more wings or septa (S) arranged so as to come up against said wall (A4) on the core (A) inserted in the hood (C), as illustrated in figure 6.
The stable attachment of the hood (C) to said element or core (A) is assured by the presence of at least one ring-shaped ridge (A7) situated on the outside of the cylindrical wall (A3) in the vicinity of the opening of said seat (A2) for enabling the insertion of said cylindrical wall (A3) inside said hole (F) in the hood (C), and for preventing its subsequent withdrawal.
To be more specific, the head (A8) of said cylindrical wall (A3) is in a
truncated cone shape so as to facilitate the insertion of said cylindrical wall (A3) in said hole (F) in the hood (C), while at the same time said ridge (A7) prevents it from sliding back out.
Since any displacement downwards is prevented by means of said wings (S) coming to bear on said wall (A4), and any displacement upwards is prevented by the presence of said ridge (A7), said hood (C) is consequently stably engaged to said element or core (A), and both are stably attached to the bunch of vegetable fiber bristles.
Thus, with reference to the previous description and to the contents of the illustrations, the following claims are advanced.