Broom or Squeegee with Built-in Scraper

Abstract

A scraper broom intended for use on parquet, tile and other finished floors, with the scraper (14) attached to the broom head (10) by inserting its upper portion into a socket (12) which is an integral part of the broom head (10). The socket (12) is centrally located on one of the long sides of the broom head (10), the socket (12) tightly embracing the scraper (14), while the lower portion of the scraper (14) with the sharpened lower edge (15) extends downwards along the bristles (16). The scraper (14) is made preferably of abrasive-resistant plastic to assure it won't scratch finished floors. Similar embodiment is provided for a squeegee.

Claims

1. A broom for cleaning finished floors with stuck dirt found on them, comprising: a. a broom head with implanted bristles, said broom head having at least one socket which is an integral part of said broom head, b. a scraper made of a material and having a shape providing said scraper is scratch-safe for parquet, tile, linoleum and other finished floors, c. said scraper having at least one fastening member, which is an integral part of said scraper, said fastening member suited to be accommodated by said socket, d. said scraper attached to said broom head by inserting said fastening member into said socket in a way that said socket tightly embraces said fastening member, e. an elongated handle attached to said broom head by known conventional means, whereby providing convenient means for cleaning finished floors.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONFIG. 1A, FIG. 1B AND FIG. 1CFIRST EMBODIMENT

[0007] FIG. 1A shows a general view of the first embodiment. This embodiment comprises an elongated broom head 10 with implanted bristles 16, broom handle 20 and scraper 14. Threaded socket 18 centrally located on the upper side of broom head 10 receives threaded lower end of broom handle 20. Upward-extending scraper socket 12 with the opening close to the lower surface of broom head 10 is centrally located on one of the long sides of broom head 10. Rib 22 fills the gap between scraper socket 12 and handle socket 18, providing additional support for socket 12 and adding stiffness to the structure. Sockets 12 and 18 and rib 22 are made one-piece with broom head 10. The upper portion of scraper 14 is tightly inserted into scraper socket 12, while the lower portion of scraper 14 with sharpened lower edge 15 extends along bristles 16.

[0008] FIG. 1B shows scraper socket 12 in more detail. As it can be seen, socket 12 is formed by rectangular scraper support plate 24 with inwardly bent lips 26a, 26b and 26c on its upper, left and right edges.

[0009] As can be seen on FIG. 1C, scraper 14 is an elongated rectangular flat sheet with slightly rounded corners and sharpened lower edge 15. To insert scraper properly into socket 12 surface 28 should be adjacent to plate 24. This way, sharpened edge 15 can be effectively used for scraping. To assure scraper 14 will not scratch parquet, tile and other finished floors, it is made of abrasive-resistant plastic or another material with similar properties. The dimensions of scraper 14 should be carefully chosen in the way that, on one hand, it can be inserted into socket 12 without using excessive force, and on the other hand it is inserted tightly enough to safely fix it in the desired position.

OperationFirst Embodiment

[0010] FIG. 2A shows the first embodiment of this broom used for sweeping, and FIG. 2Bfor scraping.

DescriptionAlternative Embodiments

[0011] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an alternative way of attaching scraper 14 to broom head 10. In this embodiment scraper support plate 24 has 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped grooves 32a and 32b with openings on the lower surface of broom head 10, while scraper 14 is provided with 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped ribs 34a and 34b on its upper portion. The dimensions of ribs 34a and 34b are carefully chosen in the way these ribs can be tightly inserted into grooves 32a and 32b correspondingly.

[0012] FIGS. 4A and 4B show another alternative way of attaching scraper 14 to broom head 10. In this embodiment 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped ribs 36a and 36b are located on scraper support plate 24, while scraper 14 has 2 parallel trapezoid-shaped grooves 38a and 38b with openings on the upper edge of the scraper. The dimensions of grooves 38a and 38b are carefully chosen in the way that ribs 36a and 36b can be tightly inserted into grooves 38a and 38b correspondingly.

[0013] The operation of the alternative embodiments is completely similar to this of the first embodiment and doesn't need additional description.

[0014] FIGS. 5A and 5B showing the embodiment of this invention for a squeegee can be understood by themselves and do not require additional description.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

[0015] Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the broom with built-in scraper provides cheap, lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-use means for effective cleaning of parquet, tile, linoleum and other finished floors with stuck dirt found on them.

[0016] While several embodiments for this invention have been fully explained, many other variations and modifications are possible. For example: [0017] The grooves and ribs used to attach scraper 14 to scraper support plate 24 in the second embodiment can be T-shaped instead of trapezium-shaped, the same is correct for the third embodiment, [0018] Instead of 2 parallel grooves and 2 ribs, one wider groove and one wider rib can be used, [0019] T-shaped rail can be provided on scraper support plate 24 of the third embodiment instead of ribs 36a and 36b and a slot cut along the central axis of scraper 14 instead of grooves 38a and 38b, in the way this rail's center profile can be tightly inserted into this slot and T's roof embraces the scraper.

[0020] Accordingly, the scope of this invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.