BROOM AND DUST PAN COMBINATION

Abstract

The broom and dust pan combination with the broom has an elongate handle and at least one offset connection attached to a bristle head to define a gateway atop the bristle head. The dust pan has at least one telescoping pivotal arm for connection to any one of the a) offset connection, b) handle, and c) bristle head, for moving the dust pan from an upright position atop the bristle head to a position lying in front of the broom and back again to the position atop the bristle head.

Claims

1. A broom and dust pan combination comprising: the broom having an elongate handle with at least one connection attached to a bristle head having associated bristles; the dust pan having at least one telescoping pivotal arm attached to any one of the a) at least one connection, b) elongate handle, and c) bristle head; and the telescoping pivotal arm and dust pan being aligned with the handle for unobstructed pivotal movement of the dust pan from a position atop the bristle head to a position lying to one side of the broom.

2. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 1 wherein the dust pan is an uprightable basin.

3. (canceled)

4. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 1 wherein the handle, the at least one connection, and the bristle head together define a gateway for unobstructed movement of the dust pan therethrough ranging from a first position on one side of the broom to an upright second position atop the bristle head to a third position on another side of the broom, and back again to anywhere between said positions.

5.-6. (canceled)

7. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 1 wherein the elongate handle is a fork handle defining a passageway through which the dust pan telescoping pivotal arm can pass through.

8. (canceled)

9. A broom and dust pan combination comprising: the broom having an elongate handle with a paired offset connection attached to a bristle head having associated bristles, to define a gateway atop the bristle head and between the paired offset connection; the dust pan having at least one telescoping pivotal arm for connection to either of the a) paired offset connection, b) handle, and c) bristle head, for moving the dust pan from a position lying in front of the broom to a position atop the bristle head to a position lying behind the broom and back again via and through the gateway.

10. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 9 wherein the elongate handle is a fork handle defining a passageway through which the dust pan telescoping pivotal arm can pass through.

11. (canceled)

12. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 9 wherein the dust pan is an uprightable basin.

13.-15. (canceled)

16. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 9 further comprising a cooperative engagement between the dust pan and either one of the a) broom handle, and b) bristle head, to selectively lock and retain the dust pan atop the bristle head in an upright position.

17. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 9 wherein the dust pan basewidth exceeds the bristle head width, to form an overhang surface for engagement by a user foot.

18. A broom and dust pan combination comprising: the broom having an elongate handle with at least one offset connection attached to a bristle head having associated bristles, to define a gateway atop the bristle head; the dust pan having at least one telescoping pivotal arm for connection to either of the a) at least one offset connection, b) handle, and c) bristle head, for moving the dust pan from a position atop the bristle head to a position lying on one side of the broom and back again.

19. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 18 wherein the elongate handle is a fork handle defining a gap that the dust pan telescoping pivotal arm can nestle within.

20.-23. (canceled)

24. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 18 further comprising a cooperative engagement between the dust pan and either one of the a) broom handle, and b) bristle head, to selectively lock and retain the dust pan atop the bristle head in an upright position.

25. (canceled)

26. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 18 wherein the elongate handle is a fork handle defining a gap that the dust pan telescoping pivotal arm can pass therethrough.

27.-28. (canceled)

29. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 18 wherein the at least one telescoping pivotal arm is selectively attachable and releasable from any of the corresponding a) at least one offset connection, b) handle, and c) bristle head.

30.-35. (canceled)

36. A broom and dust pan combination comprising: the broom having an elongate handle with at least one offset connection attached to a bristle head having associated bristles, to define a gateway atop the bristle head; the dust pan having at least one telescoping pivotal arm for connection to either of the a) at least one offset connection, b) handle, and c) bristle head, the telescoping pivotal arm and dust pan being aligned with the handle for unobstructed pivotal movement of the dust pan to any position via the gateway and within a three hundred and sixty degree arc ranging from atop the bristle head to a position lying to one side of the broom to a position underneath the bristle head to a position lying on another side of the broom and back to atop the bristle head.

37.-38. (canceled)

39. A broom and mop head combination comprising: the broom having an elongate handle with at least one offset connection attached to a bristle head having associated bristles, to define a gateway atop the bristle head; the mop head having at least one telescoping pivotal arm for connection to either of the a) at least one offset connection, b) handle, and c) bristle head, the telescoping pivotal arm and mop head being aligned with the handle for unobstructed pivotal movement of the mop head to any position via the gateway and ranging from lying to one side of the broom to a position atop the bristle head to a position lying on the other side of the broom and back again.

40.-42. (canceled)

43. The broom and dust pan combination in claim 36 further comprising a cooperative engagement between the dust pan and either one of the a) broom handle, and b) bristle head, to selectively lock and retain the dust pan atop the bristle head in an upright position.

44.-71. (canceled)

72. The broom and mop head combination in claim 39 wherein the elongate handle is a fork handle defining a passageway through which the mop head telescoping pivotal arm can pass through.

73.-75. (canceled)

76. The broom and mop head combination in claim 39 further comprising a cooperative engagement between the mop head and either one of the a) broom handle, and b) bristle head, to selectively lock and retain the mop ahead atop the bristle head in an upright position.

77.-78. (canceled)

79. The broom and mop head combination in claim 39 further comprising a paired protrusion positioned on the telescoping arm at a pre-selected location where one protrusion lies on top of the bristle head and one protrusion lies beneath the bristle head, to lock the telescoping arm to the bristle head when the telescoping arm is extended a pre-determined distance from the bristle head and biased against the bristle head.

80.-81. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment showing a combination broom with a fork handle attached to a telescoping uprightable dust pan in an upright storage position.

[0034] FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of the circled area in FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 2A is a side plan view according to FIG. 1 with the dust pan moving from one side of the broom to an upright storage position to the other side of the broom.

[0036] FIG. 2B is a side plan view according to FIG. 1 with the dust pan extended to lie on the ground on one side of the broom.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment showing a dust pan emptying debris into a waste basket.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of yet another embodiment showing a combination broom with a telescoping uprightable dust pan in an upright storage position having telescoping arms attached to a paired offset connection and bristle head.

[0039] FIG. 5A is a side plan view according to FIG. 4 with the dust pan moving from an upright storage position to a first side of the broom to beneath the broom to a second side of the broom and then returning to the upright storage position.

[0040] FIG. 5B is a perspective view according to FIG. 4 with the dust pan extended to lie on the ground on one side of the broom.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a perspective view according to FIG. 4 demonstrating foot operation of the dust pan wherein the dust pan base-width exceeds the bristle head width, to form an overhang surface for engagement by a user foot.

[0042] FIG. 7 is still yet another embodiment showing an optional detachable handle and a dust pan able to move from a position on one side of the broom to a position atop the bristle head to a position on a second side of the broom and back again.

[0043] FIG. 8 is still yet another embodiment showing a dust pan pivotally attached to a bristle head to circumnavigate the bristle head in a three hundred and sixty degree range of motion in either direction.

[0044] FIG. 9 is still yet another embodiment wherein a mop interface is substituted in place of the dust pan, to provide a mopping utility on either side of the broom with an ability to rest atop the bristle head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] FIG. 1 shows the invention (10) generally, in one specific embodiment of a combination broom (10) and dust pan (40).

[0046] The broom (10) is comprised of an elongate handle (20), and in the first specific embodiment, the handle includes a fork (30) element integrated therein.

[0047] In one possible, embodiment, the fork (30) is merely a bar I rod/dowel bent into a U-shape so as to define a passageway between a pair of fork (30) arms, while the elongate handle (20) is a solid portion (such as a tube-like sleeve) fitting over the fork (30).

[0048] In the instance of FIG. 1 the elongate handle (20) has, near the fork (30) terminals (meaning near where the fork (30) arms terminate), a paired offset connection (50) attached to a bristle head (60), to define a gateway atop the bristle head (60) and between the paired offset connection (50).

[0049] The bristle head (60) is merely a platform surface to which bristles (70) are attached.

[0050] Paired offset means that the connector (50) is spread apart and atop the bristle head (60), to define a gap within, when the connection is mated between the bristle head (60) and the handle (20, 30).

[0051] It is also possible to use only one connector (50) such that there is no connection to both sides of the bristle head (60), and such an alternate embodiment is shown particularly in FIG. 7.

[0052] The paired offset connection (50), in construction, can be either a mere extension of the fork (30) arms or a separate bracketed piece attached to the fork (30) arms to form an archway in the manner depicted in FIG. 1.

[0053] Associated with the handle (20, 30) is dust pan (40), although FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment wherein the dust pan (40) is substituted by a mop head (200) and accompanying mop cover (210).

[0054] The gateway defined by the paired offset connection (50) and the bristle head (60) forms an area through which the associated dust pan (40) can freely pass through as part of normal usage.

[0055] The dust pan (40) is ideally an uprightable basin type dust pan (40), meaning the dust pan (40) is shaped to form a basin and in operation is uprightable by gravity and basin weight distribution.

[0056] Also, the uprightable dust pan (40) can be configured with ramps (230) on either or both faces such that whichever face of the dust pan (40) is lying down or when in an extended position, a ramp will be presented to the broom so that the bristles (70) can sweep debris (130) onto the ramp (230) and into the dust pan (40).

[0057] Uprightable means the dust pan (40) can be manipulated by weight distribution into an upright position wherein debris (130) and the like is sitting within and at the bottom of the basin such that the dust pan (40) can be carried without unintentionally spilling its contentsmeaning debris (130)and later pivoted to empty any stored debris (130) into a more permanent waste storage (such as shown in FIG. 3).

[0058] In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the dust pan (40) has a conventional telescoping arm (80) attached to the dust pan (40) at at least one point, and attached to the fork (30) at at least one point.

[0059] The manner of attachment between the telescoping arm (80) and the fork (30) can be of almost any variety provided the telescoping arm (80) is able to pass through a gap defined by the fork (30) arms by pivoting the telescoping arm (80) from one side of the broom through to the other via the gateway defined by the paired offset connection (50) and the bristle head (60).

[0060] Stated differently, the telescoping arm (80) must be able to nestle within the fork (30) gap by pivoting the telescoping arm (80) from one side of the broom to atop the bristle head (60) (ie when the dust pan is in an upright position).

[0061] Best seen in alternate embodiment FIG. 5A, the telescoping arm (90) allows the dust pan (40) to be extended to either side of the bristles (70), and correspondingly placed so the bristles (70) can sweep debris into the dust pan (40).

[0062] FIG. 5A in particular demonstrates an embodiment permitting the dust pan (40) to travel in a three hundred and sixty-degree range of motion ranging from atop the bristle head (60) to one side of the bristles (70) to beneath the bristles (70) to another side of the bristles (70) and then back atop the bristle head (60).

[0063] In a configuration shown in FIG. 2B, the dust pan (40) will lie upon the ground in a position with the open basin mouth pointed toward the bristles (70) for receiving debris (130) therein, because of the pivotal connection between the dust pan (40) and the telescoping arm (80) as well as weighted construction.

[0064] The telescoping arm (80) can be configured to pass through the fork (30) gap freely and without obstruction.

[0065] Shown in FIG. 1A are optional protrusions (100) attached to the fork (30) for biasing against the telescoping arm (80) in a lock-and-release manner, wherein when the dust pan (40) is atop the bristle head (60) and the telescoping arm (80) is intentionally pinched in place between the fork (30) arms to prevent movement of the telescoping arm (80)a form of selective locking.

[0066] There are different ways to lock the dust pan (40) or telescoping arm (80) into place when the dust pan (40) is in the upright position atop the bristle head (60) and the telescoping arm (80) is amid and between the fork (30) arms, and one alternate configuration is disclosed in FIG. 6 showing a corresponding male-female engagement (110-120) to lock and release the dust pan (40) into and from the upright position atop the bristle head (60).

[0067] Where foot operation of the dust pan (40) is desired (removing or disengaging the dust pan (40) from the bristle head (60); best shown in FIG. 6), the dust pan (40) needs to be constructed with a width exceeding that of the bristle head (60) such that a portion of the dust pan (40) overhangs relative to the bristle head (60) (see FIGS. 2A and 5A), the dust pan (40) overhang being an area or surface for engagement by the user foot (FIG. 6).

[0068] Where a width narrower or equal to the bristle head (60) is desired for whatever reason, the dust pan (40) and telescoping arm (80) can be operated by hand as opposed to foot.

[0069] Other alternate configurations in FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, and 6, show a differently configured telescoping arm (90) having at least one handle offset attached to the bristle head (60), and in particular at least one telescoping arm (90) with at least one point of pivotal attachment to both and each of the dust pan (40) and any one selected from the group comprising a) the handle (20), b) the bristle head (60), and c) the at least one handle offset (50).

[0070] Specifically in FIG. 6 the telescoping arm (90) can be seen to be pivotally connected to the offset connection (50).

[0071] In such configurations with telescoping arm (90), there is no practical need for fork (30) arms integrated into the broom handle (20) but likewise there is no prohibition against sameit matters only that the dust pan (40) and telescoping arm (90) are attached and configured to permit the dust pan (40) to pivot from an extended position lying on the ground to an upright position atop the bristle head (60) and within the gateway.

[0072] The telescoping arm (90) should preferably connect to any of the a) handle (20), b) bristle head (60), and c) at least one handle offset (50), in such a manner that when the dust pan (40) is laid upon the ground, the bristles (70) of the broom (10) are able to sweep debris (130) into the dust pan (40) without being obstructed by the telescoping arm (90).

[0073] Telescoping arm (90) also permits the dust pan (40) to move from the original extended position lying on the ground to the upright position atop the bristle head (60) and then (via the gateway) to another extended position lying on the ground on a side opposite to the original extended position.

[0074] Additional features disclosed include at least one protrusion (180) positioned on the dust pan (40) (FIG. 3) to bear against telescoping arm (80), for biasing the dust pan (40) into a pre-selected orientation, such as locking the dust pan (40) into an orientation for dumping or expelling debris (130) contents into a waste bin.

[0075] Also shown in FIG. 3 is the bristle head optionally defining at least one gap (150) to receive at least partially within the gap (50) a portion of the telescoping arm (80).

[0076] The FIG. 3 gap (150) is also shown in FIG. 9, wherein not only does the gap (150) receive a portion of the telescoping arm (80), but the gap (150) also provides an interaction site for protrusions (160) such that when the telescoping arm is extended a pre-determined distance (typically such that the dust pan (40) or mop head (200) extends to just beyond the bristles (70)), the telescoping arm (80) can be nestled into the gap (150) and rigidly locked (in respect of relative vertical motion) into place by protrusions (160) relatively positioned both atop and beneath the bristle head (60), such that mopping or dust pan (40) emptying can occur with the mop head (200) or dust pan (40) secured in place.

[0077] FIG. 9 also shows a mop head cover (210) to slide over the mop head (200), in a manner known in the mopping and sweeping market, the general type of mop head being shown in this instance being similar in nature to SWIFFER?The Proctor And Gamble Company, USA) type mops, ie mop head (200) plus mop cover (210).

[0078] Also shown in a number of alternate embodiments is the feature of the telescoping arm (80) being selectively detachable from the handle (20), such as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, and regardless of whether the embodiment involves a dust pan (40) or mop head (200).

[0079] FIGS. 2A, 5A, and 8 all disclose both clockwise and counter-clockwise travel direction for the dust pan (40), or when substituted, the mop head (200).

[0080] Accounting for all of the exemplary embodiments (FIGS. 1 to 9) disclosed, the broom and dust pan (40) (or mop head (200) as appropriate) combination in the present invention is at a minimum moveable from one side of a broom to atop the bristle head (60) gateway, and at a maximum is moveable in a three hundred and sixty degree range of motion transiting over or via the bristle head (60) gateway, regardless of whether travel direction is clockwise or counter-clockwise.