Shaped Brooms for Sweeping Concrete Curbs and Gutters

Abstract

A broom has a rigid backing plate having a rectangular cross section, an overall length, an upper surface and an undersurface, the backing plate having two straight regions connected by a curved region, a bristle unit comprising an elastic and flexible backing having a rectangular cross section with a width and length the same as the backing plate, an upper surface and an undersurface, with bristles extending orthogonally from all of the undersurface of the bristle unit, providing a brushing surface at the end of the bristles away from the backing plate, and a handle connected by a connector mechanism to a point on the upper surface of the shaped rigid backing plate. The upper surface of the bristle unit is joined to the undersurface of the backing plate by an adhesive along the full length of the undersurface of the backing plate.

1 . A shaped broom, comprising:
 a shaped rigid backing plate having a rectangular cross section with a width and a thickness, an overall length, an upper surface and an undersurface, the backing plate having two straight regions connected by a curved region;   a bristle unit comprising an elastic and flexible backing having a rectangular cross section with a width the same as the width of the shaped rigid backing plate, an overall length the same as the overall length of the shaped rigid backing plate, an upper surface and an undersurface, with bristles extending orthogonally from all of the undersurface of the elastic and flexible backing of the bristle unit, providing a brushing surface at the end of the bristles away from the backing plate; and   a handle connected by a connector mechanism to a point on the upper surface of the shaped rigid backing plate;   wherein the upper surface of the bristle unit is joined to the undersurface of the backing plate by an adhesive along the full length of the undersurface of the backing plate.   
     
     
         2 . The shaped broom of  claim 1  wherein the shaped rigid backing plate has three straight regions with a first and a second of the straight regions connected by a first curved region and the second and a third of the straight regions connected by a second curved region, the first curved region curving in one direction and the second curved region curving in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         3 . The shaped broom of  claim 1  wherein the shaped rigid backing plate is formed from a straight plate of polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The shaped broom of  claim 1  wherein the shaped rigid backing plate is formed from a straight plate of metal bent at regions to be curved. 
     
     
         5 . The shaped broom of  claim 1  wherein the connector mechanism is adjustable to vary the angle of extension of the connected handle relative to the backing plate. 
     
     
         6 . A method for making a broom having a length and a width with a lengthwise curved shape, comprising:
 preparing a backing plate of the length and width with an upper surface and a lower surface;   adding bristles to the undersurface of the backing plate; and   forming the plate to the curved shape.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the backing plate is a heat-formable polymer, comprising heating the backing plate at specific regions, forming the plate to the curved shape and cooling the plate to be rigid again. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the backing plate is metal, comprising bending the metal backing plate at specific regions around bending fixtures. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  comprising:
 providing a bristle assembly with bristles extending orthogonally from an underside of the flexible, rubber-like material having the width and length of the backing plate; 
 bending the backing plate to the lengthwise curved shape; and 
 joining the bristle assembly to the underside of the backing plate by a suitable adhesive. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein bristle assemblies of different bristle density are provided, comprising joining bristle assemblies of different density to different regions of the underside of the backing plate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising joining a handle connector to the upper surface of the backing plate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising connecting a handle to the backing plate by the handle connector. 
     
     
         13 . A shaped broom, comprising:
 a shaped rigid backing plate having a rectangular cross section with a width and a thickness, an overall length, an upper surface and an undersurface, the backing plate having first and second straight regions connected by a curved region;   a first straight brush having a rigid base fastened to the undersurface of the shaped rigid backing plate along the first straight region by screw fasteners;   a second straight brush having a rigid base fastened to the undersurface of the shaped rigid backing plate along the second straight region by screw fasteners; and   a handle connected by a connector mechanism to a point on the upper surface of the shaped rigid backing plate.