Broom stabilizer damper

Abstract

A stabilizer-damper for stabilizing a broom, mop, or other long-handled device while such device is resting against a countertop or other surface. The stabilizer-damper is a device that provides stabilization to prevent the long-handled device from falling to the floor and also provides a damping effect to lessen the intensity and harshness of the sound if the long-handled device happens to fall to the floor. The stabilizer-damper fits onto the handle and provides a frictional surface to resist movement of the handle.

1 . A stabilizer apparatus for use with a long-handled device comprising:
 a body with an outer edge and an inner bore adapted to be mounted over a handle; and   the body defining a frictional outer portion adapted to minimize movement of the body when the body is engaged with a surface.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body is formed of a compliant material. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the body has a durometer of about 30 to about 40. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the inner bore of the body has one of a circular shape, irregular shape, and a fingered shape with at least one projection. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slot extending between the inner bore and the outer portion.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the outer portion has one of a circular, polygonal, curvaceous, elliptical and oval shape. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an open ended groove formed in the outer edge of the body; and   a compressive force element adapted to be mounted in the groove.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a beveled bottom surface formed on the body, the bottom surface least one of a plurality of beveled portions of the beveled bottom surface are adapted to engage a surface.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a stiffening element carried on the body.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the stiffening element has an arcuate shape. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an inner stiffening web carried by the body.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises:
 a inner member having an outer edge and an inner bore adapted to be mounted over a handle; and   a outer member concentrically mountable over the outer edge of the inner member, the outer member carrying the frictional outer portion adapted to minimize movement of the body when the body is engaged with a surface.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a slot extending between an inner edge of the inner bore of the inner member and the outer edge of the inner member.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 an inner diameter of a bore of the outer member being greater than an outer diameter of the outer edge of the inner member.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising:
 at least the inner member formed of a compressible material such that forced engagement of the outer member over the inner member compresses the inner member and expands the inner bore of the outer member.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first and second members are formed of different materials.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first and second members have different durometers.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hand grip adapted to be mounted over an end of a handle; and   the body carried on the band grip.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein:
 the body is separately mountable on the hand grip.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein:
 the body is integrally constructed as one piece with the hand grip.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein:
 the body defines a protrusion carrying the frictional outer portion on the hand grip.   
   
   
       23 . A stabilizer apparatus for use with a long-handle device comprising:
 a body with an outer edge and an inner bore adapted to be mounted over a handle, the inner bore having one of a circular shape, and a regular shape, and a fingered shape with at least one projection; and   the body defining a frictional outer portion adapted to minimize movement of the body when the body is engaged with a surface, the outer portion having one of a circular, polygonal, curvaceous, elliptical and oval shape.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising:
 a beveled bottom surface formed on the body, the bottom surface having a plurality of beveled portions at least one of the plurality of beveled portions of the beveled bottom surface adapted to engage a surface.   
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising:
 a slot extended between the inner bore and the outer portion.   
   
   
       26 . The stabilizer apparatus for use with a long-handled device comprising:
 a hand grip adapted to be mounted on an end of a handle of a long-handled device;   a body having an outer edge, the body carried on the hand grip; and   the body defining a frictional outer portion adapted to minimize movement of the body when the body is engaged with a surface.   
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein:
 the body is separately mountable on the hand grip.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein:
 the body is integrally formed as one piece with the hand grip.   
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein:
 the body defines a protrusion carrying the frictional outer portion on the hand grip.   
   
   
       30 . An article comprising:
 a tubular handle having an end;   a body with an outer edge and an inner bore adapted to be mounted over a handle; and   the body defining a frictional outer portion adapted to minimize movement of the body when the body is engaged with a surface.   
   
   
       31 . The article of  claim 30  further comprising;
 a hand grip adapted to be mounted over an end of a handle; and   the body of the stabilizer apparatus carried on the hand grip.