Push-flex attachment

Abstract

A flexible attachment mechanism used in conjunction with a push broom or floor squeegee having a handle and a broom head or squeegee blade to provide a flexible attachment mechanism at the junction where the broom head or squeegee blade handle is connected to the broom head or squeegee blade support frame. The flexible attachment mechanism allows the broom head or squeegee blade to flex up and down causing the flexible attachment mechanism to be pre-loaded when pushing with the handle and upon releasing the downward movement during a normal sweeping action, the pre-loaded flexible attachment mechanism springs up, which in turn causes the broom head or squeegee blade to spring upwardly to kick the debris further away from the broom head or squeegee blade holder. Furthermore, the new innovation allows heavy equipment to run over the handle and/or cleaning head and flex thus reduce handle and/or cleaning head damage.

1 . An attachment member to be used in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning head and a handle, the attachment member comprising:
 a. A flexible body having a mounting section for mounting to said cleaning head, a longitudinal section for receiving and securing one end of said handle thereto, and a connecting section interconnecting the mounting section and the longitudinal section together.   b. Said connecting section having a thickness which is thinner than the thickness of said mounting section for allowing a predetermined angle of lateral flexing of said connecting section with said longitudinal section;   c. Means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus;   d. Means for limiting the downward flexing of said connecting section and said longitudinal section, where the limiting means controls the amount of downward flexing; and   e. Said means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus having at least two bolts inserted through said cleaning head and through said mounting section of said body and secured thereto by at least two corresponding wing nuts or nuts;   f. Whereby said body of said attachment member is pre-loaded when a user pushes down on said handle causing said connecting and longitudinal sections to flex downward and upon releasing the downward pressure during a normal sweeping action, the pre-loaded body of said attachment member springs up said cleaning head causing the debris in front of said cleaning causing the debris in front of said cleaning head to be lifted up and pushed further away from said cleaning head;   g. whereby means for limiting the upward flexing of said connecting section and said longitudinal section, where the limiting means controls the amount of upward flexing; and   h. said limiting means includes said back side of apparatus and aft end of broom head when in contact with said ground to form an upward stop limit when heavy weight is applied to said cleaning head and/or handle;   i. whereby said mounting base aft of bolts that attach said mounting section to said cleaning head has a segment that has a material density that is less dense and more flexible than combined said longitudinal section and said push broom handle;   
     
     
         2 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said body is made out of elastomer material. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said angle is approximately between the range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said connecting section further comprises a pair of symmetrical arcuate recesses located on opposite sides and extending the width of said connecting section, each arcuate recess forming an upper engagement pad and a respective lower stop limit pad such that when said cleaning head comes in contact with an object, either one of the upper engagement pads comes in contact with its respective lower stop limit pad and thereby prevents said handle from lateral movement such that said attachment member prevents said handle from breaking from said cleaning head. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said connecting section is generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said limiting means includes a downward stop limit integrally formed with said body from said connecting section for engaging with said rear aft end of cleaning head. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby said height of mounting base aft of bolts that attach to said mounting section to said cleaning head has a segment that is thinner than said longitudinal section. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby said means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus having at least two threaded bolts inserted through the top of said mounting section and threadedly engaged with said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus; 
     
     
         9 . An attachment member to be used in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning head and a handle, the attachment member comprising:
 a. a flexible body having a mounting section for mounting to said cleaning head, a longitudinal section for receiving and securing one end of said handle thereto, and a connecting section interconnecting the mounting section and the longitudinal section together;   b. said connecting section having a thickness which is thinner than the thickness of said mounting section for allowing a predetermined angle of lateral flexing of said connecting section with said longitudinal section;   c. means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus;   d. wherein said means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus includes at least two bolts inserted through said cleaning head and through said mounting section of said body and secured thereto by at least two corresponding wing nuts or nuts and/or;   e. at least two threaded bolts respectively inserted through the top of said mounting section and threadedly engaged with said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus;   f. means for limiting the upward flexing of said connecting section and said longitudinal section, where the limiting means controls the amount of upward flexing; and   g. said limiting means includes said back side of apparatus and aft end of broom head when in contact with said ground to form an upward stop limit when heavy weight is applied to said cleaning head and/or handle;   h. whereby said mounting base aft of bolts that attach said mounting section to said cleaning head has a segment that has a material density that is less dense and more flexible than combined said longitudinal section and said push broom handle;   i. attachment member in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said predetermined angle of lateral flexing is approximately between the range of 3 degrees to 75 degrees;   j. attachment member in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said connecting section is generally a rectangular shape.   
     
     
         10 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said flexible body is made out of elastomer material. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said angle is approximately between the range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said connecting section further comprises a pair of symmetrical arcuate recesses located on opposite sides and extending the width of said connecting section, each arcuate recess forming an upper engagement pad and a respective lower stop limit pad such that when said cleaning head comes in contact with an object, either one of the upper engagement pads comes in contact with its respective lower stop limit pad and thereby prevents said handle from lateral movement such that said attachment member prevents said handle from breaking from said cleaning head. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 9 , whereby said height of mounting base aft of bolts that attach to said mounting section to said cleaning head has a segment that is thinner than said longitudinal section; 
     
     
         14 . An attachment member to be used in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning head and a handle, the attachment member comprising:
 a. a flexible body having a mounting section for mounting to said cleaning head, a longitudinal section for receiving and securing one end of said handle thereto, and a connecting section interconnecting the mounting section and the longitudinal section together;   b. said connecting section having a thickness which is thinner than the thickness of said mounting section for allowing a predetermined angle of lateral flexing of said connecting section with said longitudinal section;   c. means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus;   d. whereby said mounting base aft of bolts that attach said mounting section to said cleaning head has a segment that has a density with less mass and more flexible than combined said longitudinal section and push broom handle;   e. said connecting section further comprises a pair of symmetrical arcuate recesses located on opposite sides and extending the width of said connecting section, each arcuate recess forming an upper engagement pad and a respective lower stop limit pad such that when said cleaning head comes in contact with an object, either one of the upper engagement pads comes in contact with its respective lower stop limit pad and thereby prevents said handle from lateral movement such that said attachment member prevents said handle from breaking from said cleaning head;   f. means for limiting the upward flexing of said connecting section and said longitudinal section, where the limiting means controls the amount of upward flexing; and   g. said limiting means includes said back side of apparatus and aft end of broom head when in contact with said ground to form an upward stop limit when heavy weight is applied to said cleaning head and/or handle;   h. whereby said mounting base aft of bolts that attach said mounting section to said cleaning head has a segment that has a material density that is less dense and more flexible than combined said longitudinal section and said push broom handle;   i. wherein said means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus includes at least two bolts inserted through said cleaning head and through said mounting section of said body and secured thereto by at least two corresponding wing nuts;   j. Wherein the material is made from any material that has a flexible memory.   
     
     
         15 . The flexible insert member in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said means for attaching said mounting section to said cleaning top surface of said cleaning head includes at least two threaded bolts respectively inserted through the top of said mounting section and threadedly engaged with said cleaning head of said cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said flexible body is made out of, elastomer material. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said angle is approximately between the range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said connecting section is generally a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the hole diameter in said apparatus housing is a minimum of 0.050″ less in diameter than the diameter of said handle. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment member in accordance with  claim 14 , whereby said height of mounting base aft of bolts that attach to said mounting section to said cleaning head has a segment that is thinner than said longitudinal section;