EP2550894A1

EP2550894A1 - Cleaning tool with bristles divided into groups

Info

Publication number: EP2550894A1
Application number: EP12177361A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Mincolelli
Original assignee: Bama SpA
Current assignee: Bama SpA
Priority date: 2011-07-28
Filing date: 2012-07-20
Publication date: 2013-01-30
Also published as: ITFI20110155A1

Abstract

A cleaning tool, such as a broom, a brush or the like, comprising a frame (5) and a plurality of bristles (9) anchored to said frame (5) is described. The bristles are grouped in bundles (9F) fixed in seats on a lower surface of the frame (5). The bristles are divided into two groups of bristles (9A, 9B) between which a frame portion (5A) without bristles on the lower surface of the frame is arranged. The bundles of bristles are arranged converging to each other at locations adjacent to said portion without bristles.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of household tools and, in general, of cleaning tools. More in particular, the present invention relates to a new type of broom or brush.

State of the Art

A large number of brooms in different shapes and forms is available on the market, all designed to improve their operation and efficiency and make their use easier.
The brooms currently on the market, however, are not completely satisfactory, especially for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, for instance those around the legs of pieces of furniture such as tables, dressers etc.

Summary of the invention

According to one aspect, the objet of the invention is to provide a broom or a brush having a better efficiency especially for cleaning the areas around the legs of pieces of furniture.
According to one embodiment, a broom, a brush or other cleaning tool is substantially provided, comprising a frame, with or without a connecting member for the connection to a handle, and a plurality of bristles anchored to said frame, characterized in that the bristles are subdivided into two groups of bristles, between which a frame portion without bristles is arranged. More in particular, the tool can comprise a frame and a plurality of bristles anchored to the frame; these bristles are grouped in bundles, fixed in seats obtained on a lower surface of the frame, and are subdivided into two groups of bundles, between which a portion without bristles of the lower surface of the frame is arranged. Next to the portion without bristles, the bristle bundles are arranged converging and preferably the bundles of the two groups, adjacent to the area without bristles, have distal ends close to one another, preferably into reciprocal contact, and if necessary partially intersecting.
When two bristle groups converge, at least in the intermediate area of the tool, they can form a hollow space, i.e. a space without bristles. This space without bristles may be closed at one side by the broom frame and, at the other side, by the bristles that, divided into two groups, converge towards one another. In some embodiments the two bristle groups may converge until interfering with one another. In other words, the bristles may be arranged so as to define an area where bristles of the two groups interfere with one another. In this interference area, if present, the ends of some bristles of one bristle group are inserted between the ends of some bristles of the other group. In other embodiments, the bristles may be arranged so that the two bristle groups do not interfere with each other, i.e. so that the two groups are spaced from each other, even if preferably converging. In some cases the two groups of bristles can interfere with each other only in use, due to the bristle deformation, whilst, when not in use, they are spaced from each other.
The tool may be provided with a handle or a handgrip. The handle or handgrip can be produced in a single piece with the frame, or they can be formed by a separate component that can be (reversibly or irreversibly) fixed to the frame.
In some embodiments the two bristle groups are arranged substantially like a fan, with a variation in the bristle angle with respect to the tool median plane.
In particularly advantageous embodiments, the two bristle groups of the cleaning tool are symmetrical to each other. However, it is also possible to provide cleaning tools, such as brooms or brushes, with a different asymmetric arrangement of the bristle groups, for instance with one bristle group larger than the other one.
Further advantageous features and embodiments of the broom according to the invention are described hereafter with reference to the attached drawing, and in the appended claims, which form an integral part of the present description.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be better understood by following the description and the attached drawing, which shows a non-limiting practical embodiment of the invention. More in particular, in the drawing:

figure 1 shows one embodiment of a broom according to the invention, in an axonometric view;
figure 2 is a front view of the broom of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a section according to III-III of figure 2;
figure 4 is a view according to IV-IV of figure 2;
figure 5 is a side view according to V-V of figure 2; and
figures 6 and 7 are schematic views showing the use of the broom.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

The invention will be described below with particular reference to a broom. However, it should be understood that the invention can also be applied to other cleaning tools, such as for instance a brush. The only important thing is that the tool is provided with a frame, stick or lath, to which bristles are anchored forming the actual cleaning member.
The drawing shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention. The broom, indicated as a whole with number 1, is usually provided with a handle 3, shown only in figures 6 and 7 and omitted in the remaining figures 1-5.
According to some embodiments the broom 1 comprises a frame, stick or lath 5 equipped with a sleeve 7, preferably in a central position, forming a connecting member for connecting the brush to the handle. The sleeve 7 may be threaded inside or differently shaped to form a preferably reversible connecting system for connecting the handle 3. In other embodiments, the connecting member may be positioned in a non-central position and the frame may be asymmetric.
In some embodiments, the frame or stick 5 of the broom 1 is manufactured integrally as a single piece with the sleeve 7, made for instance of molded plastic.
Bristles, indicated as a whole with reference number 9, are anchored in the lower part of the frame or stick 5 and form the cleaning element, i.e. the element with which the broom 1 is equipped for collecting dirt. The bristles may be of any adequate material and have adequate length. According to the invention, the bristles 9 are characteristically divided into two bristle groups, indicated respectively with 9A and 9B. The frame 5 has, in the intermediate area between the two bristle groups 9A, 9B, an area 5A without bristles. Preferably, although not necessarily, the bristle groups 9A, 9B are substantially symmetric with respect to a median plane of the broom corresponding to the trace of the cross section line III-III of figure 2. In this way, the area 5A without bristles of the frame 5 is in correspondence of the sleeve 7 forming the connecting member for the handle 3. In other embodiments, the bristles may be arranged asymmetrically, for instance a bristle group may have greater extension than the other one.
In the illustrated embodiment the bristles of the two groups are arranged in a substantially fan-like manner. These two bristle fans intersect in the central area. This arrangement is currently preferred, although not essential; for instance, arrangements may be provided wherein the bristles of the two groups touch one another in the area of maximum approach, without intersecting, or arrangements wherein the bristles of the two groups do not touch one another, or arrangements wherein they touch, and interfere with, one another only when the broom is stressed, with the bristles bent against the surface to be cleaned, with consequent enlargement of the two bristle fans. However, it is in general preferable that the bristles of the two groups converge in the central area.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bristles 9 are grouped in bundles 9F that are anchored in suitable seats formed on the lower surface of the stick or frame 5.
The inclination of the bristles, and in particular of the bristle bundles 9F, is preferably variable along the transverse extension of the frame or stick 5. The variability of the angle of inclination of the bristle bundles 9F is shown in particular in figure 2. As shown in this figure, starting for instance from the centerline of the broom 1 and moving to the left, the bristle bundles 9F have an inclination, with respect to the vertical, gradually varying from an angle α₁ to an angle α₂ of opposite sign. With such a configuration, the bristles of the group 9A converge towards the bristles of the group 9B in the central area of the broom 1. Preferably, at the end of the bristle bundles 9F in the central area there is an intersection or interference between adjacent bundles of the two groups 9A and 9B. In this way, in the central area of the broom 1 a central hollow space, indicated with V, is defined of nearly triangular shape; the bristles of the groups 9A and 9B are arranged on both sides of this space V. This volume V, of substantially triangular cross section, has the vertex in correspondence of the intersection area of central bundles 9F. The bristle bundles 9F have a substantially conical conformation, as the bristles tend to enlarge from the proximal end (the one fixed to the frame or stick 5) towards the distal end (the one farthest from the frame or stick 5), and therefore the angle (variable from α₁ to α₂) formed between bristle bundles and median plane can be referred to the axis of the bundles 9F.
The lower surface 5S of the stick or frame 5 of the broom 1 has preferably a curvilinear shape. In advantageous embodiments of the broom, the curvature of the lower surface 5S of the frame or stick 5 is such that the bristle bundles 9F are always nearly orthogonal to the surface 5S in the point where the bristles are anchored onto the stick or frame 5 of the broom. As already mentioned, due to the divergence of the single bristles forming each bundle 9F, these latter may actually have a conical shape, as schematically shown in the drawing. In this case, the abovementioned orthogonality is referred to the axis of the cone formed by the bristles of each bundle 9F.
This reciprocal orientation between bristles and stick or frame 5 simplifies the production and makes the anchoring of the bristles 9 onto the frame 5 of the broom 1 more reliable. It is also possible for the lower surface 5S of the frame 5, in the bristle anchoring area, to have a different shape, for instance with plane segments with a variable inclination with respect to the horizontal, so as to form a faceted surface similar to a curved surface. In general, the bristle anchoring surface of the frame has advantageously two surface portions, onto which the two bristle groups 9A and 9B are respectively anchored, which have a convex profile and between which the surface portion or area 5A without bristles is defined. Thanks to the convexity of the bristle anchoring surfaces, the two bristle groups can be arranged according to two fans, wherein the bristles are substantially orthogonal to the anchoring surface formed by the frame 5.
In advantageous embodiments, the broom frame or stick 5 forms two arched areas, preferably substantially symmetrical with respect to the central plane corresponding to the plane of section III-III of figure 2. The two arched portions of frame 5 define the lower arched surface indicated as a whole with 5S, onto which the bristle bundles 9F are anchored. The two arched portions extend from a central core of the frame 5, in correspondence of which the sleeve 7 is provided, towards the opposite distal ends of the frame 5.
To be stronger, the broom frame may be provided, in some embodiments, with bracings 5V. These bracings 5V (see in particular figures 1 and 2) are preferably arched. In advantageous embodiments, each bracing 5V extends from the central sleeve 7 towards the corresponding distal end of the frame or stick 5. Each bracing 5V has preferably a curvilinear profile with extrados facing the broom handle and intrados facing the bristles 9, i.e. the bracings 5V are shaped with a curvature opposite to that of the portions of the frame 5 defining the curved surfaces 5S for anchoring the bundles of bristles 9.
The bracings may be designed also differently, for instance with a rectilinear profile inclined with respect to the broom median plane. In other embodiments, the bracings may be formed by joined rectilinear portions extending preferably from the central area, where the sleeve is located, towards the distal ends of the frame 5. In other embodiments the bracings may be shorter, extending for instance only until the half, or two thirds, of the extension of the frame from the sleeve 7 to the end.
Such a broom allows to obtain particular advantages in use, that are clearly apparent from figures 6 and 7, where the use of the broom for cleaning areas around legs G of a table T is shown. The particular arrangements of the bristles 9 in two groups 9A, 9B, with a hollow area V between them, allows the user to arrange the broom around the leg G, so that the bristles surround the leg. With rotating movements around the leg and movements away from the leg, according to the direction indicated by the arrow f, it is therefore possible effectively to remove the dirt accumulated around the legs G.
The best effectiveness of the broom is obtained by arranging the two bristle groups 9A, 9B so as to obtain an interference between the bundles 9F nearest the center plane; it is however also possible to provide the area or hollow space V with a slightly different shape, for instance also without the interference of the most internal bristles, as shown in the preferred embodiment of the attached figures.
It is understood that the drawing only shows an example provided by way of a practical arrangement of the invention, which can vary in forms and arrangements without however departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. Any reference numbers in the appended claims are provided for the sole purpose of facilitating reading of the claims in the light of the description and the drawing, and do not in any manner limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.

Claims

A cleaning tool, such as a broom, a brush or the like, comprising a frame (5) and a plurality of bristles (9) anchored to said frame (5), wherein said bristles are grouped in bundles (9F) fixed in seats obtained on a lower surface (5S) of the frame (5), characterized in that said bristles are subdivided into two groups of bristles (9A, 9B), between which a frame portion (5A) without bristles of the lower surface (5S) of the frame is arranged, the bundles (9F) of bristles being arranged, adjacent to said portion without bristles (9), converging to each other.
Tool according to claim 1, characterized by a connecting member (7) for the connection to a handle (3) or to a handgrip.
Tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said portion (5A) without bristles of the lower surface of the frame is positioned in a substantially central position.
Tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said portion without bristles is not centered.
Tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the two groups (9A, 9B) of bristles are arranged symmetrically with respect to a median plane substantially orthogonal to the frame (5).
Tool according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the bundles (9F) of bristles of each group of bristles are arranged with an angle variable from the center towards the end of the frame, so that the bristles nearest the frame center have an angle converging towards the central area of the frame.
Tool according to claim 6, characterized in that the bristles farthest from the centre of the frame (5) diverge with respect to the central area of the tool.
Tool according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the lower surface of said frame has curved surface portions (5S) where the bristles (9) are anchored.
Tool according to claim 8, characterized in that the curvature of said surfaces is such that the bristles are directed substantially orthogonal with respect to the lower surface of the frame.
Tool according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said frame (5) comprises two substantially symmetrical arched frame portions extending from a central core, said arched frame portions having two curved convexes surfaces onto which the bristles (9) are anchored.
Tool according to claim 10, characterized by bracings (5V) for connecting said two arched frame portions to the central core of the frame, said bracings extending from the central core to a point of connection to the respective arched frame portions, preferably near or at the distal ends of said arched frame portions.
Tool according to claim 11, characterized in that said bracings are arranged on the side of said frame opposite to the lower surface for anchoring the bristles (9).
Tool according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said bracings are curved with an opposite curvature with respect to the curvature of the two arched frame portions.
Tool according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said two groups of bristles and said frame form a hollow space, without bristles, closed at one side by the frame and at the other side by said bristles, the two groups of bristles being in reciprocal contact only in the end area of the bristles.
Tool according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the bundles of each group of bristles are arranged substantially in a fan-like manner, with a variation in the angle of the bristles (9) with respect to the median plane of the tool, preferably the bristles of the two groups intersecting in the area corresponding to the portion without bristles of the frame (5).