By LOGAN B. ANDERSON, Delaware State News
MILFORD, Del. (AP) — While on a camping trip in 2016, Albert “Jake” Silbereisen saw a problem and decided to clean it up.
The Milford man had bought a new rear-wheel-drive motorhome, with a sliding part that increased the interior space of the vehicle.
After settling into a heavily wooded campground, he noticed debris falling from surrounding trees piling up on top of the slide.
He knew he would have to clear the area well before breaking camp because the remains might interfere with sliding back properly. And an improperly stored slide could damage the entire device and, even worse, allow water to get inside.
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The water can present many challenges, especially for outdoor enthusiasts with recreational vehicles. If they are not careful, water can seep in, ruining a great weekend and leading to a major repair investment.
“We went camping, and I was like, ‘How am I going to clean this up?’ There is no ladder at the back of the motorhome, so you have to bring a ladder with you,” Silbereisen said.
Since travel trailers and motorized recreational vehicles can be 8 to 12 feet tall, their roofs are out of reach.
So the outdoor enthusiast tried to find a way to clean the top of his slide off the ground, without having to lug around a ladder.
He designed a semi-circular attachment for any standard broom. The device extends the reach of a typical broom, while rotating its head parallel to the ground. The user can reach to the top of the area they wish to clean and sweep away the debris.
The original design he made just for himself.
“I made a little homemade version. People kept asking me where I got it. So the wheels kept turning,” he said, smiling.
He went to the drawing board, where he created a design, then hired a patent attorney.
“They went through the patent process to see if there was one, and they couldn’t find one,” Silbereisen said.
As a result, his design – an injection molded black semi-circular plastic broom attachment – is now patent pending and for sale. The “RV Slideout Sweep” is available for $15, plus shipping.
The sweeper allows the use of any handle and cleaning head with a standard threaded attachment. Some of his customers use a long pool skimmer handle, combined with a soft dust mop head for fine particles and debris. Others use standard kitchen brooms to do the job.
Mr. Silbereisen opened his online retail space about two years ago and has sent his creation all over the United States and Canada.
Although his idea is to help campers enjoy their vacations and protect their investments everywhere, he is proud that his company and his invention are entirely the product of the First State.
“It’s all done here in Delaware. It was invented here. We had the drawings made and finalized (here). There is a casting company in Georgetown that makes them for me,” he said.
Having his small business located nearby was very important to Mr. Silbereisen, who in his spare time often volunteers for many community events in Milford. Even the hosting site for its online store is based in Delaware.
“Banking is done even in Delaware. It’s made here and sold here.
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