Folding broom

• US 9,049,918 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2011
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Perelli, Thomas, Mason, Grant, Kepner, Matthew Scott, Drake, James Lloyd II
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERRY, STEPHANIE R
• Application Number:
  US13/089,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 152/03, 151/71, 151/591, 134/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/302 Broom
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0033 bending or stretching or collapsing A46B7/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/005 Brushes with a telescopic or similarly moveable portion
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/023 where the bristle carrier retracts or collapses, i.e. for storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32327 including radially spaced detent or latch component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32336 Engaging notch or recess in outer periphery of component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32344 Side of rod engages recess in radial face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32361 Engaging recess in radial face
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32368 including radial interengaging tongue and slot or serrations

Abstract

A broom comprises a handle and a head supported by the handle. The head comprises a first head section pivotably connected to a second head section such that the head sections may rotate relative to one another between a folded position and an unfolded position. An actuator is movably mounted on the handle between a first position and a second position. A first connecting member connects the actuator to the first head section and a second connecting member connects the actuator to the second head section such that movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position moves the head sections relative to one another between the folded position and the unfolded position. A method of operating the broom is also provided.

Claims

1. A broom comprising:

a handle including a first aperture defined in a yoke at a first end of the handle;

a head supported by the handle and comprising a first head section and a second head section pivotably mounted on the first end of the handle such that the first and second head sections may rotate relative to the handle between a folded position where the first and second head sections are disposed generally along the handle and an unfolded position where the first and second head sections are disposed in an aligned use position,

where the first head section comprises a second aperture on a first flange of the first head section and a fourth aperture on a second flange of the first head section,

where the second head section comprises a third aperture on a third flange of the second head section and a fifth aperture on a fourth flange of the second head section,

where the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth apertures receive a pivot pin such that the first aperture is positioned between a pair comprising the second and third apertures and an opposing pair comprising the fourth and fifth apertures, such that the first head section and the second head section may pivot relative to one another and to the handle about the pivot pin;

an actuator movably mounted on the handle between a first position and a second position;

a first rigid connecting member extending between and pivotably connected to the actuator and to the first head section and a second rigid connecting member extending between and pivotably connected to the actuator and to the second head section such that movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position moves the first and second head sections relative to one another between the folded position and the unfolded position.

2. The broom of claim 1 further comprising a lock to lock the actuator in the first position and the second position.

3. The broom of claim 1 wherein in the unfolded position the first head section and the second head section are positioned at 90 degrees relative to the handle and are in-line with one another.

4. The broom of claim 1 wherein the first head section and the second head section are rotated approximately 90 degrees between the folded and the unfolded positions.

5. The broom of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a first section that is telescopically received in a second section to allow relative movement between the first section and the second section between an extended position and a collapsed position.

6. The broom of claim 5 further comprising a twist locking collar to lock the first section relative to the second section.

7. The broom of claim 1 wherein the first head section and the second head section comprise bristles.

8. The broom of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a sleeve that is disposed over the handle such that the sleeve may slide over the handle.

9. The broom of claim 2 wherein the lock comprises an aperture on one of the handle and the actuator that receives a pin on the other one of the handle and the actuator, the pin being biased to an extended position by a spring.

10. A broom comprising:

a handle;

a head supported by the handle and comprising a first head section and a second head section pivotably mounted on a first end of the handle such that the first and second head sections may freely rotate relative to the handle between a folded position where the first and second head sections are disposed generally along the handle and an unfolded position where the first and second head sections are disposed in an aligned use position, and where the first head section, the second head section and the handle pivot relative to one another about a single pivot axis, where the first head section and the second head section comprise mating faces joined at a single pivot point that abut one another when the first head section and the second head section are in the unfolded position;

an actuator movably mounted on the handle between a first position and a second position;

a first rigid connecting member extending between and pivotably connected to the actuator and to the first head section and a second rigid connecting member extending between and pivotably connected to the actuator and to the second head section such that movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position moves the first and second head sections relative to one another between the folded position and the unfolded position.

11. The broom of claim 10 where the handle comprises a first end and a second end, the head being supported adjacent the first end and the actuator being moved toward the second end when the actuator is moved between the first position and the second position.

12. The broom of claim 10, wherein the mating faces meet at an acute angle from a line formed by the first and second head sections in the unfolded position.

13. The broom of claim 10 wherein in the unfolded position the first head section and the second head section are positioned at 90 degrees relative to the handle and are in-line with one another.

14. The broom of claim 10 wherein the first head section and the second head section are rotated approximately 90 degrees between the folded and the unfolded positions.

15. The broom of claim 10 where the handle is collapsible.

16. The broom of claim 15 wherein the handle comprises a first section that is telescopically received in a second section to allow relative movement between the first section and the second section between an extended position and a collapsed position.

17. The broom of claim 16 further comprising a twist locking collar to lock the first section relative to the second section.

18. The broom of claim 10 wherein the first head section and the second head section are of equal length.

19. The broom of claim 10 wherein the first head section and the second head section comprise bristles.

20. The broom of claim 10 wherein the first connecting member is connected to the actuator at a first pivot joint and the second connecting member is connected to the actuator at a second pivot joint.

21. The broom of claim 20 wherein the first connecting member is connected to the first head section at a third pivot joint and the second connecting member is connected to the second head section at a fourth pivot joint.

22. The broom of claim 10 wherein the actuator comprises a sleeve that is disposed over the handle such that the sleeve may slide over the handle.

23. The broom of claim 10 further comprising a lock to lock the actuator in the first position and the second position.

24. The broom of claim 23 wherein the lock comprises an aperture on one of the handle and the actuator that receives a pin on the other one of the handle and the actuator.

25. The broom of claim 24 wherein the pin is biased to an extended position by a spring.