Broom with particle capture sheet

• US 7,836,540 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Hauble, Gretchen A., Vasilakes, Lloyd S., Tuman, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter; Monica S
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWTON, STEPHANIE R
• Application Number:
  US11/832,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20090031509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 151/05, 151/10, 151/14, 151/15, 151/17
• US Class Current: 15/114
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/002 with a means for removing or creating static electricity
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/302 Broom

Abstract

Applicant discloses a broom that comprises at least one particle capture sheet. In various embodiments, the particle capture sheet can comprise a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knitted material, or a synthetic polymeric membrane. The particle capture sheet can be air permeable or air impermeable, and can comprise an electret material and/or an adhesive.

Claims

1. A broom with a particle capture sheet, comprising:

an elongated head having at least a long axis and a bottom major surface;

an optional handle attached to the elongated head;

a multiplicity of bristles attached to the bottom major surface of the elongated head and protruding downwardly therefrom; and

,

a particle capture sheet that is porous and that has first and second opposing major surfaces and an interior and a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the particle capture sheet is attached to the bottom major surface of the head and the capture sheet protrudes downwardly therefrom,

wherein the particle capture sheet is oriented generally along the long axis of the elongated head, and wherein each opposing major surface of the particle capture sheet is positioned adjacent at least a portion of the multiplicity of bristles,

and wherein the particle capture sheet serves to entrap at least some of the particles within the interior of the particle capture sheet such that the particles are not dislodged from the sheet by continued use of the broom.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the particle capture sheet is selected from the group consisting of a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knitted material, and a synthetic polymeric membrane.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the particle capture sheet is air permeable.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the capture sheet comprises electret material.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the capture sheet comprises adhesive.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the capture sheet is removably attached to the elongated head.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein the capture sheet is attached to a support rail that is removably attached to the elongated head.

8. The article of claim 7 wherein the support rail comprises a base that is slidably insertable into a channel that is present in the elongated head and aligned along the long axis of the elongated head.

9. The article of claim 7 wherein the support rail comprises a downwardly protruding, perforated frame portion that provides structural support to at least a majority of an area of the particle capture sheet.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein the particle capture sheet is oriented along the long axis of the elongated head and wherein the bristles are present in substantially equal proportions in proximity to the first and second major surfaces of the particle capture sheet.

11. The article of claim 1 wherein the bristles are arranged in bundles comprising proximal and distal ends and that are attached to the bottom major surface of the elongated head at the proximal end of the bristle bundles;

wherein at least some of the bristle bundles comprise a flared configuration such that near the proximal end of the bundles the bristles in adjacent bundles are not in contact with each other, and such that near the distal end of the bundles at least some bristles in adjacent bundles are in contact with each other; and

,

wherein at least a portion of at least one major surface of the capture sheet is not covered by bristles.

12. A broom with a particle capture sheet, comprising:

a head having at least a bottom major surface,

an optional handle attached to the head;

a multiplicity of bristles attached to the bottom major surface of the head and protruding downwardly therefrom; and

,

a particle capture sheet that is porous and that has first and second opposing major surfaces and an interior and a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the particle capture sheet is attached to the bottom major surface of the head and the capture sheet protrudes downwardly therefrom,

wherein the particle capture sheet is selected from the group consisting of a nonwoven material, a woven material, a knitted material, and a synthetic polymeric membrane,

and wherein the particle capture sheet serves to entrap at least some of the particles within the interior of the particle capture sheet such that the particles are not dislodged from the sheet by continued use of the broom.

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the particle capture sheet is air permeable.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the capture sheet comprises electret material.

15. The article of claim 12 wherein the capture sheet comprises adhesive.

16. The article of claim 12 wherein the capture sheet is removably attached to the head.

17. The article of claim 12 wherein the capture sheet is attached to a support rail that is removably attached to the head.

18. The article of claim 17 wherein the support rail comprises a downwardly protruding, perforated frame portion that provides structural support to at least a majority of an area of the particle capture sheet.

19. The article of claim 12 wherein the bristles comprise a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the bristles are attached to the bottom major surface of the elongated head at the proximal end of the bristles, and wherein the proximal end of at least a portion of the particle capture sheet is a shorter distance from the bottom major surface of the head than is the proximal end of at least some of the bristles.

20. The article of claim 12 wherein the bristles are arranged in bundles comprising proximal and distal ends and that are attached to the bottom major surface of the head at the proximal end of the bristle bundles;

wherein at least some of the bristle bundles comprise a flared configuration such that near the proximal end of the bundles the bristles in adjacent bundles are not in contact with each other, and such that near the distal end of the bundles at least some bristles in adjacent bundles are in contact with each other; and

,

wherein at least a portion of at least one major surface of the capture sheet is not covered by bristles.