Cable broom

Abstract

A gutter broom is provided. The gutter broom can include one or more block segments, each block segment having openings in which bristles are positioned. The bristles can have a first stiffness or a second stiffness different than the first stiffness. Bristles having the second stiffness can be positioned radially outward of bristles having the first stiffness on a block segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A block segment for a gutter broom, comprising:
 an outer edge;   an inner edge opposite the outer edge;   bristles comprising first bristles having a first stiffness and second bristles having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and   openings comprising the bristles and arranged in an outer row adjacent the outer edge and an inner row adjacent the inner edge, the outer row comprising at least two adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles and at least two adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles, the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles being adjacent the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles, and the inner row comprising at least two adjacent inner row openings having the first bristles, the adjacent inner row openings having the first bristles being adjacent the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles,   wherein the bristles comprise a greater number of individual first bristles than individual second bristles.   
     
     
         2 . The block segment of  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent inner row openings having the first bristles are adjacent the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles. 
     
     
         3 . The block segment of  claim 1 , wherein a greater number of inner row openings comprises the first bristles than the number of outer row openings that comprises the first bristles. 
     
     
         4 . The block segment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer row comprises a greater number of individual first bristles than individual second bristles. 
     
     
         5 . The block segment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer row of openings comprises four adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles. 
     
     
         6 . The block segment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer row of openings comprises at least eight openings having the second bristles. 
     
     
         7 . A block segment for a gutter broom, comprising:
 an outer edge;   an inner edge opposite the outer edge;   bristles comprising first bristles having a first stiffness and second bristles having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and   openings comprising the bristles, an outer row of openings disposed between the outer edge and the inner edge comprising at least two adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles, a first group of at least two adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles, and a second group of at least two adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles, the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles being between the first group and the second group,   wherein the bristles comprise a greater number of individual first bristles than individual second bristles.   
     
     
         8 . The block segment of  claim 7 , wherein an inner row of openings inside the outer row comprises at least two adjacent inner row openings having the first bristles. 
     
     
         9 . The block segment of  claim 8 , wherein the adjacent inner row openings having the first bristles are adjacent at least one of the first group, the second group, and the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles. 
     
     
         10 . The block segment of  claim 8 , wherein the inner row of openings comprises a greater number of individual first bristles than individual second bristles. 
     
     
         11 . The block segment of  claim 8 , wherein a greater number of inner row openings comprises the first bristles than the number of outer row openings that comprises the first bristles. 
     
     
         12 . The block segment of  claim 7 , wherein the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristle isbristles are in a first group, the outer row of openings further comprising a second group of adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles. 
     
     
         13 . The block segment of  claim 12 , wherein the first group of the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles is disposed between the first group of the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles and the second group of the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles, and
 wherein the second group of the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles is adjacent the second group of the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles.   
     
     
         14 . A gutter broom, comprising:
 an outer edge;   an inner edge opposite the outer edge;   bristles comprising first bristles having a first stiffness and second bristles having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and   openings comprising the bristles, an outer row of openings disposed between the outer edge and the inner edge comprising at least three adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles and at least two adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles,   wherein the bristles comprise a greater number of individual first bristles than individual second bristles.   
     
     
         15 . The gutter broom of  claim 14 , wherein the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles are adjacent the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles. 
     
     
         16 . The gutter broom of  claim 14 , wherein the outer row of openings comprises four adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles. 
     
     
         17 . The gutter broom of  claim 14 , wherein the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristle is in a first group, the outer row of openings further comprising a second group of adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles, and
 wherein the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles is disposed between the first group and the second group.   
     
     
         18 . The gutter broom of  claim 17 , further comprising a third group of adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles and a fourth group of adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles,
 wherein the adjacent outer row openings having the first bristles are disposed between the third group and the fourth group.   
     
     
         19 . The gutter broom of  claim 14 , wherein the adjacent outer row openings having the second bristles are adjacent a proximal edge of the block segmentgutter broom. 
     
     
       20. A block segment for a gutter broom, comprising:
 an outer edge;   an inner edge radially inward from the outer edge;   bristles comprising first bristles having a first stiffness and second bristles having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, the bristles comprising a greater number of individual first bristles than individual second bristles;   openings arranged in the block segment in a thickness direction from a top surface of the block segment to a bottom surface of the block segment, wherein the first bristles are positioned in the openings; and   a bristle receptacle integrally formed with the block segment by injection molding, the bristle receptacle being positioned radially outward from the openings, wherein the second bristles are retained by the bristle receptacle.    
     
     
       21. The block segment of  claim 20 , wherein the block segment further comprises:
 a second bristle receptacle spaced from the bristle receptacle along the outer edge of the block segment, wherein the second bristles are retained by the bristle receptacle and the second bristle receptacle.    
     
     
       22. The block segment of  claim 20 , wherein the bristle receptacle protrudes radially outward from the outer edge of the block segment.  
     
     
       23. The block segment of  claim 20 , wherein the bristle receptacle is internal to the outer edge.  
     
     
       24. The block segment of  claim 20 , wherein the bristle receptacle defines a cavity extending through the bristle receptacle in the thickness direction from the top surface of the block segment to a bottom surface of the bristle receptacle.  
     
     
       25. The block segment of  claim 24 , wherein the cavity extends at an angle from an axis generally parallel to a central axis of the gutter broom.  
     
     
       26. The block segment of  claim 24 , wherein the second bristles are retained in the cavity by an interference fit.  
     
     
       27. The block segment of  claim 20 , wherein the first bristles comprise a first thickness, and the second bristles comprise a second thickness greater than the first thickness.  
     
     
       28. The block segment of  claim 20 , wherein the openings are arranged in a row.  
     
     
       29. The block segment of  claim 28 , wherein the openings are arranged in a second row positioned radially inward from the row of openings.  
     
     
       30. A block segment for a gutter broom, comprising:
 an outer edge;   an inner edge radially inward from the outer edge;   bristles comprising first bristles having a first stiffness and second bristles having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, the bristles comprising a greater number of individual first bristles than individual second bristles;   openings arranged in the block segment in a thickness direction from a top surface of the block segment to a bottom surface of the block segment, wherein the first bristles are positioned in the openings; and   a bristle receptacle formed with the block segment such that the bristle receptacle and block segment are unitary, the bristle receptacle being positioned radially outward from the openings, wherein the second bristles are retained by the bristle receptacle.    
     
     
       31. The block segment of  claim 30 , wherein the bristle receptacle protrudes radially outward from the outer edge of the block segment.  
     
     
       32. The block segment of  claim 30 , wherein the bristle receptacle is formed with the block segment by injection molding, and
 wherein the openings are arranged in a row.    
     
     
       33. The block segment of  claim 30 , wherein the bristle receptacle defines a cavity extending through the bristle receptacle in the thickness direction from the top surface of the block segment to the bottom surface of the block segment.  
     
     
       34. The block segment of  claim 33 , wherein the cavity extends at an angle from an axis generally parallel to a central axis of the gutter broom.  
     
     
       35. The block segment of  claim 30 , wherein the openings are arranged in a row, and the openings are arranged in a second row positioned radially inward from the row of openings.