Curling broom incorporating a motor

A curling broom comprising:

• an elongated handle;
• a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink;
• a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head;
• and
• a control apparatus operable to dynamically control a speed of the motor, wherein the control apparatus comprises a user control mechanism operable to modify the speed of the motor dependent on a physical position of an element of the mechanism.

An apparatus comprising:

• a brush head comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink and a brush head frame connected to the ice interface element;
• a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause lateral reciprocating motion of the brush head;
• and
• a crank connected to the brush head frame and the motor;
• wherein the crank is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor and, when rotated, is adapted to cause a lateral reciprocating movement of the brush head.

A curling broom comprising:

• an elongated handle;
• a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink;
• a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head;
• and
• a control apparatus operable to dynamically control a speed of the motor, wherein the control apparatus comprises a user control interface operable to modify the power to the motor dependent on a setting of the user control interface.

A curling broom comprising:

• an elongated handle;
• a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink;
• and
• a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head;
• wherein the motor is incorporated within a module and the module is connected to the elongated handle and further connected to the brush head, whereby the brush head is coupled to the elongated handle via the module;
• wherein the module is connected to the elongated handle via a flexible joint comprising one of a gimbal and a yoke-and-trunnion.

A curling broom comprising:

• an elongated handle;
• a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink;
• and
• a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head;
• wherein the motor is an electric motor and the curling broom further comprises a power source to power the motor and wherein the power source is integrated within the elongated handle.

A curling broom comprising:

• an elongated handle;
• a brush head, coupled to the elongated handle, comprising an ice interface element adapted for contact with ice on a curling rink;
• and
• a motor coupled to the brush head and operable to cause reciprocating lateral motion of the brush head;
• wherein the motor is an electric motor and the curling broom further comprises a power source to power the motor;
• wherein the elongated handle comprises first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the brush head;
• and wherein the power source comprises a battery pack integrated into the second end of the elongated handle.

A broom comprising:

• an elongated handle;
• a brush head coupled to the elongated handle;
• and
• a module comprising a motor coupled to the brush head and a crank coupled to the motor that is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor, wherein the crank when rotated is adapted to cause a sinusoidal reciprocating movement of the brush head;
• and wherein the crank comprises a counterbalance, thereby reducing vibration caused by the rotating of the crank.

A broom comprising:

• an elongated handle;
• a brush head coupled to the elongated handle;
• and
• a module comprising a motor coupled to the brush head and a crank coupled to the motor that is operable to rotate when actuated by the motor, wherein the crank when rotated is adapted to cause a sinusoidal reciprocating movement of the brush head;
• and wherein the module further comprises a gear reduction element connected between the motor and the crank and adapted to limit a speed of rotation of the motor to a predetermined level.