Push broom apparatus

Abstract

A push broom apparatus is shown having an elongated handle with an elongated broom head attached to the elongated handle. A plurality of substantially rigid bristles are attached laterally to the broom head. A plurality of substantially flexible bristles are also attached laterally to the broom head. At least one scraper blade is attached to the elongate broom head.

1 . A push broom apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated handle;   an elongated broom head attached to the elongated handle;   a plurality of substantially rigid bristles attached laterally to the broom head;   a plurality of substantially flexible bristles attached laterally to the broom head; and   at least one scraper blade attached to the elongate broom head.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an axis along which the broom handle extends is substantially parallel to an axis along which the scraper blade extends. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an axis along which the broom handle extends is offset from an axis along which the scraper blade extends. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the scraping edge of the scraper blade has a sawtooth pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the scraper blade is constructed from a metal. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the substantially rigid bristles are constructed from metal fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the elongated broom head is removable attached to the elongated handle and reconfigurable so that the lateral side of the broom head facing away from the elongated handle can be reversed. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein broom head is molded from plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a mounting edge of the at least one scraper blade has a plurality of apertures therein running parallel to the mounting edge. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of apertures secures the at least one scraper blade in the elongated broom head when the broom head is molded from plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one scraper blade comprises two scraper blade, each of the two scraper blade mounted on opposite lateral sides of the elongated broom head. 
     
     
         12 . A push broom apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated broom head;   a plurality of substantially rigid bristles attached laterally to the broom head in a substantially rectangular grouping; and   a plurality of substantially flexible bristles attached laterally to the broom head in a substantially rectangular grouping.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising at least one scraper blade attached to the elongate broom head. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of substantially rigid bristles are placed together in a substantially rectangular grouping on the broom head between two groupings of substantially flexible bristles, located on either side of the grouping of substantially rigid bristles. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the scraper blade is constructed from a metal. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the substantially rigid bristles are constructed from metal fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein a mounting edge of the at least one scraper is molded into a lateral edge of the broom head. 
     
     
         18 . A method for sweeping compacted dirt from a surface, the method comprising the acts of:
 providing a push broom apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated handle; 
 an elongated broom head attached to the elongated handle; 
 a plurality of substantially rigid bristles attached laterally to the broom head; 
 a plurality of substantially flexible bristles attached laterally to the broom head; and 
 at least one scraper blade attached to the elongate broom head; 
   locating the push broom apparatus about a surface having compacted dirt; and   repeatedly pushing and pulling the push broom apparatus over the compacted dirt to determine if the substantially rigid bristles alone will remove the compacted dirt.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the acts of:
 if the substantially rigid bristles alone are determined not to have removed the compact dirt, rotating the broom 180 degrees along the axis of the elongated handle so that the scraper blade is located proximate to the compacted dirt and debris; and   scraping the dirt and debris to substantially loosen it so that it may be swept away.