Flex-joint for handles

Abstract

A unitary shock absorbing one piece flexible joint located between an upper and lower handle portion of a cleaning apparatus handle thus allowing flexing of the handle around the mid section when the handle is being abused. The Flex-Joint apparatus being rectangular in shape thus having flexing attributes when the handle is forced down thus flexing and not bending causing handle breakage. Secondly, the curvature of the connector on the bottom side and flat surface between the end of the connector lip and handle allows for heavy object to come on contact with the handle and not cause breakage.

What I claim as my invention is: 
     
         1 . A handle with a mid sectional Flex-Joint that can be used to attach to numerous floor cleaning apparatuses:
 a. A unitary one piece elastomer joint connector located between the upper and lower handles that has a flexible longitudinal section having a thickness which is thicker than the thickness of said flex joint longitudinal section between axial bores with open end on both sides that house the upper and lower handles and thus allowing flexing around the horizontal flexing within the longitudinal section between approximately 3-75 degrees;   b. The flexible longitudinal section when viewed cross sectionally is rectangular in shape but not limited to any design;   c. A connector that has two open end axial bore opening for receiving an upper and lower handle;   d. The mid section between the two axial bore openings is rectangular in shape;   e. The Flex-Joint connector is made out of a flexible elastomer plastic material with memory;   f. The Flex-Joint connector to handle can be attached via numerous means and not limited to screw, push pin, pin, and rivet.   
     
     
         2 . The Flex-Joint handle in accordance to  claim 1  has a recess protruding downward allowing for the Flex-Joint to flex. 
     
     
         3 . The Flex-Joint handle in accordance to  claim 1  has the upper and lower handle ends edge having a minimum radius of 0.02″. 
     
     
         4 . The Flex-Joint in accordance with  claim 1  can be angled between the two handles to enhance bristle contact to floor, and thus make ergonomic for the operator, the horizontal and/or longitudinal angle in the mid longitudinal section can have a fixed difference before flexing of 0 to 75 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The Flex-Joint bottom portion of apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  whereas the curvature of the lip between the midpoint and end of the upper and lower flat insert lips has an approximate radius between 0.15″ to 7″ and the lip height are between the lower and upper portion of the lower handle and upper handle and upper and lower flat insert lips are between 0.05″ to 0.15″. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus Flex-Joint in accordance to  claim 1  bottom portion is either flat or recessed. 
     
     
         7 . A handle with a mid sectional Flex-Joint that can be used to attach to numerous floor cleaning apparatuses:
 a. A unitary one piece elastomer joint connector located between the upper and lower handles that has a flexible longitudinal section having a thickness which is thicker than the thickness of said flex joint longitudinal section between axial bores with open end on both sides that house the upper and lower handles and thus allowing flexing around the horizontal flexing within the longitudinal section between approximately 3-75 degrees;   b. The flexible mid joint section having a pair of symmetrical arcuate recesses located on opposite side and extending the width of said flexible mid section, the arcuate recess forming an upper engagement stop limit pad  15  and lower engagement stop limit pad  14  where the upper engagement pad and the respective lower stop limit form a predetermined gap distance for allowing horizontal and/or longitudinal flexing of longitudinal mid section and upper handle  4  and lower handle, whereby the flexible mid section allows the upper and lower handle sections to move handle back and forth but if pushed hard and pushing heavy items the allows the handle to flex horizontally and/or longitudinally relative to cleaning apparatus comes in contact with heavy objects, either one of said upper engagement pads comes in contact with its respective aligned lower stop limit pad and thereby prevents said handle member from horizontal movement such that flexible mid section prevents handle from breaking due to elastomer limits;   c. Unbreakable molded elastomeric Flex-Joint made out of a flexible plastic elastomer material with memory;   d. The Flex-Joint connector to handle can be attached via numerous means and not limited to screw, push pin, pin, and rivet.   
     
     
         8 . The Flex-Joint in accordance with  claim 7  can be bent to enhance bristle contact to floor, and thus make ergonomic for the operator, the horizontal and/or longitudinal angle in the midpoint longitudinal section can have a fixed difference before flexing of approximately 3 to 75 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The Flex-Joint in accordance with  claim 7  Can be bent to enhance bristle contact to floor, and thus make ergonomic for the operator, the horizontal and/or longitudinal angle in the mid longitudinal section can have a fixed difference before flexing of 0 to 75 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The bottom portion of apparatus in accordance with  claim 7  whereas the curvature of the lip between the midpoint and end of the upper and lower flat insert lips have an approximate radius between 0.15″ to 7″ and the lip height are between the lower and upper portion of the lower handle and upper handle and upper and lower flat insert lips are between 0.05″ to 0.15″ 
     
     
         11 . The Flex-Joint handle in accordance to  claim 7  has the upper and lower handle ends having radius of a minimum 0.02 
     
     
         12 . A handle with a mid sectional Flex-Joint that can be used to attach to numerous floor cleaning apparatuses:
 a. A unitary one piece elastomer joint connector located between the upper and lower handles that has a flexible longitudinal section having a thickness which is thicker than the thickness of said flex joint longitudinal section between two protruding ends that are inserted into tube like handles thus allowing flexing around the horizontal flexing within the longitudinal section between approximately 3-75 degrees;   b. The flexible longitudinal section when viewed cross sectionally is rectangular in shape but not limited to any design;   c. The mid section between the two axial bore openings is rectangular in shape;   d. The Flex-Joint connector is made out of a flexible elastomer plastic material with memory;   e. The Flex-Joint connector to handle can be attached via numerous means and not limited to screw, push pin, pin, and rivet.   
     
     
         13 . The Flex-Joint handle in accordance to  claim 12  has a recess protruding downward allowing for the Flex-Joint to flex. 
     
     
         14 . The Flex-Joint in accordance with  claim 12  can be angled between the two handles to enhance bristle contact to floor, and thus make ergonomic for the operator, the horizontal and/or longitudinal angle in the mid longitudinal section can have a fixed difference before flexing of 0 to 75 degrees.