US2799037A - Push broom - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent PUSH BROOM John E. Grogan, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Fuller Brush Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 13, 1954, Serial No. 443,091

8 Claims. (Cl. -172) This invention relates to push brooms and more particularly to push brooms of the type having a single brush strip. The push broom comprises a brush strip, a handle and a structure to which the brush strip and the handle are attached to connect the same in operative relation which structure is hereinafter termed the head Certain objects of the invention are to produce a push broom which is light in weight and easy to manipulate in sweeping operations and which may be readily set up in different conditions for performing diierent kinds of sweeping jobs.

Another object of the invention is to produce a push broom in which the brush strip may be readily adjusted in a number of different positions with relation to the handle to suit both the sweeper and the job.

Another object of the invention is to produce a push broom in which the brush strip may be detached from the head and another brush strip attached to the head in place thereof quickly and easily without the exercise of any particular skill.

In carrying out the above objects, applicant has produced a push broom in which the brush strip .is attached to the head by a securing means which enables the brush strip readily to be adjusted in any position longitudinally of the strip. This securing means also enables the brush strip quickly and easily to be located in any one of a plurality of predetermined angular positions with relation to the head and attached in such position. Upon disconnecting the parts of the securing means, the brush strip attached thereby to the head may be readily removed from V the head and another brush strip readily attached to the head in operating position.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in a push broom embodying the novel and improved features, constructions and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the construction therein shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a push broom embodying the invention showing the brush strip attached to the head in a position such that the axis of the handle is substantially perpendicular to the upper edge of the strip and extends at an oblique angle to the central plane of the strip.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a push broom embodying the invention showing the brush strip attached to the head in a position such that the axis of the handle is substantially in the same plane as the central plane of the brush strip and extends at an oblique angle to the upper edge of the strip.

Fig. 3 is a central transverse sectional view of the push broom with the parts in the relative positions shown .in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the head block detached from the other parts of the push broom taken from above the block, and

Fig. 5 is a detail underside plan view of the head block detached from the other parts of the broom.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings of this application, the push broom includes a brush strip indicated as a whole at 2. Each brush strip comprises a longitudinal metallic channel member 4 open at the bottom and having downwardly converging sides 6, and said brush strip comprises brush fibers 8 which project downwardly from the channel member, the brush fibers being doubled within the channel member and extending around a longitudinal core wire 10. The sides of the channel member 4 press against the fibers to hold them in place. The term fibers is used herein in a generic sense and is intended to include animal bristles, vegetable fibers, synthetic fibers, metal wires or any other suitable brush material.

The brush strip is mounted upon a head block 12 to which the handle of the broom is secured. This head block is provided with means for locating the strip angularly about a symmetrical axis of the block which is hereinafter referred to as the vertical axis of the block since it is located in a Vertical position with the blade sweep in the position shown in Pigs. 1 and 2. In the present form of the invention, the head blockis constructed to locate the brush strip in any one of four predetermined angular positions about the said axis of the block. The head block preferably consists of a mass of relatively light material such as aluminum and preferably has the shape shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

This block is provided with arcuate end faces 14, with substantially plane side faces 16 and with a substantially plane bottom face 18. For the purpose of locating the brush strip angularly about the vertical axis of the block, the block is provided at its ends with spaced marginal projections 20 extending downwardly below the bottom face 18 of the block and at its sides with spaced marginal projections 22 also extending downwardly below said bottom face, the projections 22 also being spaced from the adjacent projections 20. By these projections, the head block is formed with pairs of positioning grooves 23-23, 24-24, 26-26 and 28-28, the grooves of each pair being located on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of the block. As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 5, the grooves 23, 24 and 26 are located along the ends of the head block and the grooves 28 are located along the sides of said block. The channel member 4 of the brush strip is constructed to fit in the grooves of each pair with its open sides downward and said member, in each angular position, extending across the axis of the head block. The channel member is clamped in each set of grooves by a suitable clamping device.

The clamping device for clamping the brush strip to the head comprises a clamping block 30 preferably cylindrical in form mounted coaxially with the head block to slide vertically in a cylindrical guideway 32 in the head block. The clamping block is provided with spaced clamping jaws between which the brush strip is arranged to fit in the manner shown in Fig. 3, when the strip is engaged in any one of the pairs of positioniug grooves between the projections formed on the head block. It will be noted that the clamping or gripping jaws of the clamping block converge from about the central point of the block vertically to the outer or lower ends of the jaws. The clamping block is secured in the guideway in the head block by means of a stud 36 attached at its lower end to the block and extending upwardly therefrom through an opening 38 in the wall 40 of the head block.

When the brush strip is engaged in a pair of the locating grooves in the head block and between the clamping jaws 34 of the clamping block, it is clamped in position by the upward movement of clamping block with relation to the head block. During this movement of the clamping block, the channel member Ki of the brush strip is clamped between the clamping jaws 3d of the clamping block which engage the lower or outer portions of the side walls of the channel member 4 and the lower face 18 of the head block, against which the channel member is forced by the upward movement of the gripping jaws.

The stud 36 extends from the wall db of the head block upwardly and the upper end portion thereof passes through a connector d2 by which the handle is attached to the head block. This connector is constructed of sheet metal and is provided with a head block engaging portion 44, rectangular in outline, which engages in a rectangular recess 46 formed in the head block. The stud 3d eXtends upwardly from the wall 40 of the head block through the said rectangular portion of the connector, the stud engaging in an opening in a wall 48 formed on said portion. A wing nut 50 is threaded on the upper portion of the stud and arranged to engage the latter wall. The connector is formed with a hollow cylindrical portion 52 constructed to receive the correspondingly shaped lower end portion of a handle 54.

With this construction, the brush strip is located in a predetermined position relatively to the head block and to the handle secured to said block by engaging the strip in any one of the pairs of grooves between the downwardly extending projections on said block. The four pairs of grooves enable the brush strip to be located with relation to the head block in any one of four different angular positions about the vertical axis of the head block. The brush strip, when located in any one of these pairs of grooves, may be adjusted in any desire-d position longitudinally of the strip.

It will be noted that, in the present construction, a common mechanism is provided for securing together in their pro-per relations, the brush strip, the head block, the clamping block and the handle.

Upon loosening the nut 50 on the stud 36, the clamping7 pressure on the brush strip is relieved and the brush strip may be adjusted longitudinally in any desired position. in shifting the brush strip from one angular position to another on the head block, the nut ti'may be unscrewed to the upper end of the stud 3d and the brush strip may then be shifted to lanother set of grooves in the head block and secured in place by screwing down the nut. When it is desired to remove the brush strip in use and to substitute another brush strip there-for, the nut 30 may be loosened and the brush strip in use may be removed from the head block and clamping block by withdrawing the same longitudinally, A substitute brush strip may then be inserted longitudinally in the grooves in the head block and between the jaws of the clamping block and secured in position by tightening the nut f.

Of course, if desired, in adjusting the brush strip angu-' larly with relation to the head block or in substituting another brush, the nut Sti may be unscrewed from the stud and the clamping block with the brush strip held between the jaws thereof may be removed from the head block.

It is to be understood that the terms 'vertical, downward, upward and similar terms employed in describing the push broom shown in this application are relative terms and apply to the parts of the broom when the broom is located in the positions shown in Pigs. 1, 2 and 3.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention and having specifically described a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed is:

1. A push broom comprising a handle, a brush strip,

a head block to which said handle is attached having a groove to receive the brush strip to locate the strip in a predetermined position with relation to the block in which groove the brush strip is adjustable longitudinally, a clamping block movably mounted in a guideway on said head block and having spaced gripping jaws to receive between them the brush strip engaged in said groove in said head block, and means for moving said clamping block with relation to said head block to cause said jaws to grip the brush strip -and force the brush strip against the head block to clamp the strip between said jaws and the head block.

2. A push broom comprising a handle, a brush strip, a head bio-ck to which the handle is attached having a groove to receive the brush strip to locate the strip anguiarly with relation to the block, a clamping block movably mounted in a guideway on said head block and having spaced gripping jaws to receive between them the brush strip engaged in the groove in said head block, a threaded stud attached to said clamping block and extending through an opening in said head block, and a nut threaded on said stud for actuating the clamping block with relation to the head block to cause said jaws to grip the brush strip and force the. strip against the head block to clamp the strip between said jaws and the head block.

3. A push broom ccmprising in combination, a brush strip, a head block having a groove to receive the brush strip to locate the strip angularly about a vertical axis with relation to the block, a clamping block movably mounted on said head block and having spaced gripping jaws to receive between them the brush strip engaged in the groove in said head block, a handle, a connector attached to the lower end of the handle, and common means for securing together the connector, the head block and the clamping block and for moving said clamping block with relation to the head block to cause said jaws to grip the brush strip and force the strip against the head block to clamp the strip between the head block and. said jaws.

4. A push broom comprising in combination, a brush strip, a head block having one or more grooves to receive the brush strip to locate the strip angularly with relation to the block, a clamping block movably mounted on said head block and having spaced gripping jaws to receive between them the brush Strip engaged in the grooves in said head block, a connector engaging said head block, a stud attached to said clamping block and extending therefrom through said head block and through an opening in said connector, a nut threaded on said stud and engaging said connector for connecting together the head block, the clamping block and the connector and for moving the clamping block with relation to the head block to force the jaws on the clamping block against the brush strip and clamp the strip between said jaws and the head block and a handle secured to said connector.

5. A push broom comprising a head block, a handle attached to the head block, la brush strip attached to the head block, the head block having a guideway, a clamping block mounted for movement in `said guideway and having spaced clamping jaws between which said brush strip is arranged for longitudinal adjustment and means for moving the clamping block in said guideway to cause said clamping jaws to grip the brush strip and force said strip toward the head block to clamp the strip between said clamping jaws and the head block.

6. A push broom comprising a head block, a handle attached to the head block, a brush strip attached to the head block, the head block having a guideway, a clamping block mounted for movement in said guideway and provided with spaced clamping jaws, having a fixed relation to each other and to said clamping block, between which jaws said brush strip is engaged, and means for moving the clamping block in said guideway to cause the clamping jaws to grip the brush strip and force the strip toward the head block to clamp the strip between said jaws and the head block.

7. A push broom comprising la brush strip, a head block having a series of strip engaging devices to receive the brush strip and locate the same selectively in different positions angularly about the axis of the block, a clamping block shiftably mounted on said head block and having spaced strip clamping jaws arranged to receive the vstrip between them with the strip in any one of said angular positions, and means for moving the clamping block to cause the jaws to grip the brush strip and force the same against the head block to clamp the strip between said jaws land the head block. f

8. A push broom comprising a head block, means onl the lower portion of the head block for locating a brush strip in a predetermined angular position about the axis of the block, a brush strip mounted on the head block in engagement with said locating means and comprising a channel having downwardly converging side walls, and brush fibers secured between the side walls of said channel, a clamping block mounted for movement upwardly and downwardly on the head block and having spaced f for moving the clamping block upwardly with relation to the head block to cause the jaws to grip the side walls of the channel thereof and force the channel against the head block to clamp the channel between the jaws and the head block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,144,309 Noppe et al June 22, 1915 1,289,816 Krantz Dec. 13, 1918 2,116,441 Mason May 3, 1938 2,152,358 Palmeri Mar. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 314,879 Italy Feb. 1934

Images