Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A connector to connect, at one end, a handle of a broom with a broom head of said broom, said connector comprising:
an operative rear section configured to be received in said handle, said operative rear section comprising:
a stopper portion defining a profiled recess;
at least one fitment means configured on said stopper portion, said at least one fitment means configured to fit with complementary fitment means configured within said handle for coupling said connector with said handle;
a flange configured adjacent said at least one fitment means to restrict axial movement of said connector within said handle;
an operative middle section for providing rigidity to said connector, said operative middle section comprising:
a shoulder portion extending from said flange, said shoulder portion configured to support broom strips thereon;
a ribbed portion extending from said shoulder portion, said ribbed portion configured to facilitate secure fitment of a tube thereon, wherein said broom strips are wound around said tube along the length of said tube;
a rigid shaft portion extending from said ribbed portion to provide stiffness to said operative middle section of said connector;
an operative front section comprising a resilient shaft portion extending from said rigid shaft portion to provide resilience to said operative front section of said connector, said resilient shaft portion ends in a rigid tip, wherein said connector is configured to be rotatably supported at the profiled recess end and said rigid tip end via a supporting means to facilitate rotation of said connector for winding and connecting said broom strips on said connector and said tube.
2. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rigid tip is a tapered tip configured at the operative free end of said resilient shaft portion to allow obstruction-free insertion of said connector within said tube.
3. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient shaft portion is defined by a plurality of discs interconnected via a plurality of resilient connecting portions.
4. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fitment means is at least one of snap protrusions and thread formations.
5. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tube is made of linear low-density polyethylene, said tube is configured to be fitted on said connector to provide an extended support for mounting of said broom strips thereon.
6. The connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising guide protrusions configured on said stopper portion, said guide protrusions configured to be received in grooves formed on an inner periphery of said handle, thereby guiding the axial movement of said connector within said handle.
7. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper portion defines a recess a first profile, said recess configured to facilitate supporting said connector during assembly of said broom strip on said connector.
8. The connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first profile is selected from a group consisting of polygonal, triangular, elliptical, geometrical, non-geometrical, and any combinations thereof.

9. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector is made of high density polyethylene.
, Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of cleaning devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the field of brooms.
BACKGROUND
Conventional grass brooms are devices which include a plurality of grass fronds tied together, such that flexible bristles extending from the plurality of grass fronds form the broom head. The tied grass fronds are typically covered via a cylindrical plastic handle. The broom head is made to interface with the floor or any other surface that needs to be dusted or swept. At times, it is required that the broom head be pressed hard against the floor any other surface that needs to be swept for ensuring that the collection of dust particles or other undesired debris is done optimally. In doing so, most of the times, the grass fronds which are tied either tend to disperse or get loosened. In some cases, the grass fronds tend to break which renders the broom unusable.
In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, Indian patent application 2438/CHENP/2015 envisages a broom which comprises a strip of bristles which is wound around a core to form a broom head of the broom. The core, as disclosed in the Indian patent application 2438/CHENP/2015, provides rigidity to the broom head, to prevent the breakage of the broom head. However, the core lacks the resilience and the swirling play to efficiently absorb the various forces associated with the sweeping operation. This may cause the buckling, and even breakage of the core in some cases, if excessive forces are applied on the broom during pressed sweeping operation.
There, is therefore a need of a broom that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks associated with the conventional brooms.

OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector for connecting a handle of a broom with a broom head of the broom.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector for connecting a handle of a broom with a broom head of the broom, which is rigid enough to support the broom head.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector for connecting a handle of a broom with a broom head of the broom, which is also resilient enough to provide flexibility to the connector for allowing optimal sweeping.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages connector to connect, at one end, a handle of a broom with a broom head of the broom. The connector comprises an operative rear section configured to be received in the handle. The operative rear section comprises a stopper portion that defines a profiled recess. At least one fitment means is configured on the stopper portion and is configured to fit with complementary fitment means configured within the handle for coupling the connector with the handle. A flange is configured adjacent the at least one fitment means to restrict axial movement of the connector within the handle. The connector further comprises an operative middle section for providing rigidity to the connector. The operative middle section comprises a shoulder portion extending from the flange and configured to support broom strips thereon. A ribbed portion extends from the shoulder portion and is configured to facilitate secure fitment of a tube thereon, wherein the broom strips are wound around the tube along the length of the tube, and a rigid shaft portion extending from the ribbed portion to provide stiffness to the operative middle section of the connector. An operative front section of the connector defines a resilient shaft portion extending from the rigid shaft portion to provide resilience to the operative front section of the connector. The resilient shaft portion ends in a rigid tip, wherein the connector is configured to be rotatably supported at the profiled recess end and the rigid tip end via supporting means to facilitate rotation of the connector for winding and connecting the broom strips on the connector and the tube.
In an embodiment, the rigid tip is a tapered tip configured at the operative free end of the resilient shaft portion to allow obstruction-free insertion of the connector within the tube.
In another embodiment, the fitment means is at least one of snap protrusions and thread formations.
In another embodiment, the tube is made of linear low-density polyethylene. The tube is configured to be fitted on the connector to provide an extended support for mounting of the broom strip thereon.
In another embodiment, the connector further comprises guide protrusions configured on the stopper portion. The guide protrusions are configured to be received in grooves formed on an inner periphery of the handle, thereby guiding the axial movement of the connector within the handle.
In another embodiment, the profiled recess has a profile selected from a group consisting of polygonal, triangular, elliptical, geometrical, non-geometrical, and any combinations thereof.
In another embodiment, the connector is made of high density polyethylene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A connector for connecting a handle of a broom with a broom head of the broom, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B illustrate an isometric view and a side view of the connector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the connector of Fig. 1A being employed in a broom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The conventional grass brooms are a highly used product in most of the Asian countries. The conventional broom includes a plurality of grass fronds which are tied together. The grass fronds have flexible bristles extending therefrom, which form the broom head and are used for sweeping the required surfaces. However, at times, sweeping while applying a greater load on the broom may cause the grass fronds to loosen up or even break, rendering the broom useless.
The Indian patent application 2438/CHENP/2015 envisages a broom which comprises a strip of bristles that is wound around a core to form a broom head of the broom. The core is configured to provide rigidity to the broom head. Typically, a tube is fitted over the core, and on the tube, the strip of bristles is wound. The tube provides the surface area for connecting the strip of bristles thereon. In one example, one end of the strip is connected to the core, and then strip is wound around the core and the tube. Subsequent to the winding, the strip is connected at various locations on the core and the tube via stapling, thereby forming the broom head.
A disadvantage of the core disclosed in the Indian patent application 2438/CHENP/2015 is that it causes the failure of the tube when pressed sweeping is performed. More specifically, during the pressed sweeping operation, the end of the core, which is rigid in nature, abuts the tube under a load that is sufficient to cause either buckling or breakage of the tube. The buckling or breakage of the tube translates to the buckling or the breakage of the broom head. The broom is thus rendered unusable.
In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, the present disclosure envisages a broom that is resilient enough to prevent the breaking of the broom head when greater sweeping forces are acted upon the broom head. The broom of the present disclosure comprises broom strips, which form the broom head. In accordance with the present disclosure, the broom strip is an elongate strip of a polymeric material having polymeric bristles or grass bristles extending therefrom. In accordance with the present disclosure, the polymeric strips are wound on a connector, which then acts as the broom head and can then be used for sweeping applications.
For withstanding the various stresses involved in the sweeping operation, the broom head is required to be flexible and resilient. To this end, the connector, as envisaged in the present disclosure, has a resilient portion configured at an operative front end thereof. The resilient portion is flexible enough to deform and absorb the stresses involved the sweeping operation, while providing a swirling play to the broom head. It is also required that the connector is rigid enough to prevent buckling under the stresses associated with the sweeping operation. To this end, the connector includes a ribbed rigid shaft portion, wherein the ribs of the rigid shaft portion provide the required rigidity to the connector.
Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B illustrate an isometric view and a side view of the connector 100. The connector 100 comprises an operative rear section 102A which includes a stopper portion 102, at least one fitment means 104, and a flange 106. The stopper portion 106 is configured to be received within a handle of a broom. The at least one fitment means 104 is configured on the stopper portion 102 for fitting with the complementary fitment means formed within the handle of the broom for coupling the connector 100 with the handle. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one fitment means 104 is selected from snap protrusions and thread formations. More specifically, the snap protrusions 104 are protrusions extending in an inclined manner from the stopper portion 102. The handle is provided with a peripheral rib provided on the inner periphery thereof, which interfaces with the snap protrusions 104. The peripheral rib initially restricts the axial movement of the snap protrusions 104. Force is then applied to the connector 100 for pushing the snap protrusions 104 beyond the peripheral rib, which causes the snap protrusions 104 to advance beyond peripheral rib while making a sound that provides an indication to the user to stop pushing the connector 100 further inside the handle.
The flange 106 is configured adjacent the at least one fitment means 104 to restrict the axial movement of the connector 100 within the handle. More specifically, the flange 104 abuts the peripheral rib configured on the handle to prevent the axial movement of the connector 100 within the handle. Therefore, the snap protrusions 104 and the flange 106 facilitate the locking of the connector 100 within the handle of the broom.
The connector 100 further comprises an operative middle section 108A which includes a shoulder portion 108, a ribbed portion 110, and a rigid shaft portion 112. The shoulder portion 108 extends from the flange 106 and is configured to support one end of a broom strip thereon. In an embodiment, the shoulder portion 108 has a cylindrical cross-section. In one example, one end of the broom strip is connected to the shoulder portion 108, and is wound thereon. In an embodiment, the broom strip is stapled on the connector 100 at staple locations 122, 124,126. In an embodiment, as seen in Fig. 1B, the stable location 122 is at the tip 116 of the connector, the staple locations 124 is at the rigid shaft portion 112, and the stable location 126 is provided at the shoulder portion 108. The aforementioned staple locations 122, 124, 126 are only exemplary, and the staple locations can be other locations as well along the length of the connector 100.
The ribbed portion 110 extends from the shoulder portion 108 and is configured to facilitate a secure fitment of a tube thereon, wherein the broom strip is wound around the tube along the length of the tube. In an embodiment, the tube is made of linear low-density polyethylene. The tube is configured to be fitted on the connector 100 to provide an extended support for mounting of the broom strip thereon.
The rigid shaft portion 112 extends from the ribbed portion 110 to provide stiffness to the connector 100. The rigid shaft portion 112 provides strength to the connector 100 to withstand the loads associated with the sweeping process.
The connector 100 further comprises an operative front section 114A which includes a resilient shaft portion 114 extends from the rigid shaft portion 112 to provide resilience to the connector 100. The resilient shaft portion 114 provides flexibility to the connector 100. Thus, the resilient shaft portion 114 absorbs the loads while also giving flexibility to the broom head, which was not the case with the conventional broom. In an embodiment, the resilient shaft portion 114 comprises a plurality of discs which are interconnected by means of resilient connecting portions, wherein the plurality of discs and the resilient connecting portions are integrally formed as the resilient shaft portion 114.
In an embodiment, the connector 100 further comprises a tapered tip 116 configured at an operative free end of the resilient shaft portion 114 to allow an obstruction-free insertion of the connector 100 within the tube. In one embodiment, the tapered tip 116 can also be used to hold the connector 100 via a holder during the operation of winding the broom strip on the connector 100.
In another embodiment, the connector 100 further comprises guide protrusions 118 configured on the stopper portion 102. The guide protrusions 118 are configured to be received in grooves formed on an inner periphery of the handle, thereby guiding the axial movement of the connector 100 within the handle.
In another embodiment, the stopper portion 102 defines a profiled recess 120. The recess 120 is configured to facilitate supporting the connector during an assembly of the broom strip on the connector 100. More specifically, the connector 100 is supported within a holder or a mandrel and is held at the recess 120 at one operative end, and held at the tapered tip 116 at the opposite operative end. In one example, a mandrel, inserted within the recess 120, has a profile complementary to that of the recess 120 so as to provide slip-free support to the connector 100. The other end of the connected, i.e., the tapered tip 116 is supported on another mandrel. Once securely supported between the two mandrels, the connector 100 is rotated along a longitudinal axis to allow the winding of the broom strip on the connector 100. In an embodiment, the profile of the profiled recess is selected from a group consisting of polygonal, triangular, elliptical, geometrical, non-geometrical, and any combinations thereof.
In another embodiment, the connector is made of high density polyethylene.
Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the connector 100 being employed in a broom 200. The broom 200 comprises a handle 202 and a broom head 204. The connector 100 is fitted within the handle 202. The portion of the connector 100 that is extends beyond the end of the connector 100 fitted with a tube 206. The tube 206 provides an extended support to the connector 100 to allow the winding and the mounting of the broom strip along the length of the tube 206. The handle 202 is provided with an inner peripheral rib that interacts with the snap protrusions 104 and the flange 106 of the connector 100 to facilitate the locking of the connector 100 within the handle 202.
The connector 100 of the present disclosure is rigid and resilient at the same time. The rigid shaft portion 112 of the connector 100 is the core of the connector 100 that provides structural rigidity to the connector 100 for withstanding accidental falls as well as the stresses associated with the sweeping process. The resilient shaft portion 114 provides the flexibility to the connector 100 to dampen the stresses involved when the sweeping is performed with relatively greater pressure to sweep off the debris. For example, when glass is shattered on the ground, it is a common practice to sweep the debris while applying an additional load on the broom to ensure all of the sharp debris particles are swept off. In such a case, the resilient shaft portion 114 provides a damping effect as well as a swirling play to the broom head which uses the connector 100, as disclosed in the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a connector for connecting a handle of a broom with a broom head of the broom, which:
• is rigid enough to support the broom head; and
• resilient enough to provide flexibility to the connector for allowing optimal sweeping.
The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully revealed the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.