Curling broom incorporating a motor
First Claim
1. A curling broom comprising:
- an elongated handle;
a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink; and
a module comprising a motor and a crank coupled to the motor;
wherein the crank is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor and, when rotated, the crank is adapted to cause a sinusoidal reciprocating movement of the brush head; and
wherein the crank comprises a counterbalance, thereby reducing vibration caused by the rotating of the crank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motorized broom that may be used in the game of curling is provided. The broom comprises a moveable synthetic fabric brush head that can provide a sweeping motion consistent with the regulatory requirements governing the game of curling. The motorized curling broom can assist individuals who would otherwise not be able to effectively accomplish a sweeping motion with their own strength or stamina to participate recreationally and competitively in the game. The curling broom comprises: a motor and associated gear reduction and crank configuration for causing a sinusoidal back and forth sweeping action of the brush head. The broom further includes a user control mechanism for intuitive adjustment of the power supplied to the brush head by way of controlling the speed of the motor and the pressure applied to the sweeping surface. A dynamic balancing mechanism reduces unwanted vibration transmitted to the individual using the broom.
13 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A curling broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink; and a module comprising a motor and a crank coupled to the motor; wherein the crank is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor and, when rotated, the crank is adapted to cause a sinusoidal reciprocating movement of the brush head; and
wherein the crank comprises a counterbalance, thereby reducing vibration caused by the rotating of the crank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A curling broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink; a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head; and a control apparatus operable to dynamically control a speed of the motor, wherein the control apparatus comprises a user control mechanism operable to modify the speed of the motor dependent on a physical position of an element of the mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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a brush head comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink and a brush head frame connected to the ice interface element; a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause lateral reciprocating motion of the brush head; and a crank connected to the brush head frame and the motor;
wherein the crank is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor and, when rotated, is adapted to cause a lateral reciprocating movement of the brush head. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A curling broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink; a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head; and a control apparatus operable to dynamically control a speed of the motor, wherein the control apparatus comprises a user control interface operable to modify the power to the motor dependent on a setting of the user control interface.
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31. A curling broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink; and a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head; wherein the motor is incorporated within a module and the module is connected to the elongated handle and further connected to the brush head, whereby the brush head is coupled to the elongated handle via the module;
wherein the module is connected to the elongated handle via a flexible joint comprising one of a gimbal and a yoke-and-trunnion.
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32. A curling broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink; and a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head; wherein the motor is an electric motor and the curling broom further comprises a power source to power the motor and wherein the power source is integrated within the elongated handle.
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33. A curling broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink; and a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head; wherein the motor is an electric motor and the curling broom further comprises a power source to power the motor;
wherein the elongated handle comprises first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the brush head; and
wherein the power source comprises a battery pack integrated into the second end of the elongated handle.
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34. A broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head coupled to the elongated handle; and a module comprising a motor coupled to the brush head and a crank coupled to the motor that is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor, wherein the crank when rotated is adapted to cause a sinusoidal reciprocating movement of the brush head; and
wherein the crank comprises a counterbalance, thereby reducing vibration caused by the rotating of the crank.
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35. A broom comprising:
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an elongated handle; a brush head coupled to the elongated handle; and a module comprising a motor coupled to the brush head and a crank coupled to the motor that is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor, wherein the crank when rotated is adapted to cause a sinusoidal reciprocating movement of the brush head; and
wherein the module further comprises a gear reduction element connected between the motor and the crank and adapted to limit a speed of rotation of the motor to a predetermined level.
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Specification