U.S. patent application number 11/789251 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-15 for brush assembly for a cleaning device.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Hoover Company. Invention is credited to Evan A. Gordon, Adam C. Sclafani, Kevin L. Thomas.
Application Number | 20070261193 11/789251 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33030236 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070261193 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gordon; Evan A. ; et
al. |
November 15, 2007 |
Brush assembly for a cleaning device
Abstract
A cleaning device for cleaning a surface is provided including a
base for movement along a surface, a suction nozzle associated with
the base, and a suction source for drawing liquid and dirt from the
surface through the suction nozzle. The cleaning device further
includes a brush assembly operatively connected to the base,
wherein the brush assembly has at least one brush, which includes a
first set of pliable elements extending downwardly from the brush
and contacting the surface. The pliable elements slope downwardly
and outwardly with the first set of pliable elements having at
least a first group of pliable elements and a second group of
pliable elements, wherein each of the pliable elements of the
second group of the first set extend downwardly from the brush at a
length less than the first group of the first set and the second
group of pliable elements of the first set being positioned
inwardly from the first group of the pliable elements of the first
set.
Inventors: |
Gordon; Evan A.; (Canton,
OH) ; Thomas; Kevin L.; (North Canton, OH) ;
Sclafani; Adam C.; (North Canton, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Renner, Kenner, Greive, Bobak, Taylor & Weber
First National Tower, 4th Floor
Akron
OH
44308
US
|
Assignee: |
The Hoover Company
|
Family ID: |
33030236 |
Appl. No.: |
11/789251 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10664457 |
Sep 17, 2003 |
7225501 |
|
|
11789251 |
Apr 24, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/320 ;
15/300.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/0472 20130101;
A47L 9/0488 20130101; A47L 11/34 20130101; A47L 7/0009 20130101;
A47L 5/30 20130101; A47L 11/4041 20130101; A47L 11/4038
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/320 ;
015/300.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 7/00 20060101
A47L007/00; A47L 5/00 20060101 A47L005/00 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A cleaning device for cleaning a surface comprising: a base for
movement along the surface; a suction nozzle associated with said
base; a suction source for drawing liquid and dirt from said
surface through said suction nozzle; a brush assembly operatively
connected to said base; said brush assembly having at least one
brush including plural pliable elements, wherein said brush
includes outer pliable elements and inner pliable elements; and
wherein said outer pliable elements terminate in a first plane, and
said inner pliable elements terminate in a second plane vertically
offset upwardly from said first plane.
22. The cleaning device of claim 21, wherein said outer pliable
elements and said inner pliable elements are arranged to form an
outer ring of pliable elements and an inner ring of pliable
elements.
23. The cleaning device of claim 21, wherein said outer pliable
elements are arranged in a pair of parallel rows, and said inner
pliable elements are arranged in a second pair of parallel
rows.
24. The cleaning device of claim 21, wherein said brush defines at
least one opening for dispensing liquid to the surface, said
opening being located between said inner and outer set of pliable
elements.
25. The cleaning device of claim 21, wherein said pliable elements
are bristle bundles.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/664,457 filed on Sep. 17, 2003, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a brush assembly for a
cleaning device such as a carpet or hard floor cleaner. More
particularly, the present application pertains to such a brush
assembly that has pliable elements designed and constructed for
agitating an uneven surface.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] It is known in the prior art to provide a cleaning device
having a brush assembly for scrubbing of a cleaning surface being
cleaned. One example of a cleaning device with a vertical axis
brush assembly is illustrated by commonly owned pending U.S. patent
application having Ser. No. 09/955,725 and publication number
20030051308 to Morgan et al. Other devices or machines have
roller-type brush assemblies such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,041,472 issued to Kasen et al. or fixed brush assemblies such
as that illustrated by commonly owned patent application having
Ser. No. 10/340,291 and publication number 2004014463 to Gerber et
al. Typically, brush assemblies from these and other machines have
trouble cleaning grout, recessed, or other uneven areas of the
cleaning surface.
[0006] Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
brush assembly for a cleaning device with improved cleaning of
grout, recessed or other uneven areas of the cleaning surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The foregoing and other objects of the present invention
will be readily apparent from the following description and the
attached drawings. In one aspect of the present invention, a
cleaning device for cleaning a surface is provided. The cleaning
device includes a base for movement along a surface, a suction
nozzle associated with the base, and a suction source for drawing
liquid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle. The
cleaning device further includes a brush assembly operatively
connected to the base, wherein the brush assembly has at least one
brush, which includes a first set of pliable elements extending
downwardly from the brush and contacting the surface. The pliable
elements slope downwardly and outwardly with the first set of
pliable elements having at least a first group of pliable elements
and a second group of pliable elements, wherein each of the pliable
elements of the second group of the first set extend downwardly
from the brush at a length less than the first group of the first
set and the second group of pliable elements of the first set being
positioned inwardly from the first group of the pliable elements of
the first set.
[0008] In another aspect of the invention, a cleaning device for
cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the
surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the
dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The
cleaning device includes a base for movement along a surface and a
recovery system mounted to the base. The recovery system includes a
suction nozzle and a suction source for drawing liquid and dirt
from the surface through the suction nozzle. The cleaning device
further includes a liquid distribution system for dispensing liquid
to the surface, and a brush assembly operatively connected to the
base, wherein the brush assembly has at least one brush including a
first set of pliable elements extending downwardly from the brush
and contacting the surface with the pliable elements of the first
set sloping downwardly and outwardly. The brush includes a second
set of pliable elements extending downwardly from the brush and
contacting the surface, wherein the second set of pliable elements
is located inwardly from the first set of pliable elements. The
brush has at least one opening for dispensing the liquid to the
cleaning surface with the opening located between said first and
second sets of pliable elements.
[0009] In still another aspect of the invention, a cleaning device
for cleaning a surface is provided. The cleaning device includes a
base for movement along a surface, a suction nozzle associated with
the base and a suction source for drawing liquid and dirt from the
surface through said suction nozzle. A brush assembly is
operatively connected to the base, wherein the brush assembly has
at least one brush including a first set of pliable elements
extending downwardly from the brush and contacting the surface. The
first set of pliable elements has at least a first pliable element
extending a first length, at least a second pliable element
extending a second length greater than the first length of the
first pliable element, and at least a third pliable element
extending a third length greater than the second length of the
second pliable element, wherein the first pliable element is
positioned inwardly from the second pliable element, and the second
pliable element is positioned inwardly from the third pliable
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the attached drawings, of which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
floor-cleaning device with a portion cut away to show the brush
assembly according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the brush assembly of the
embodiment in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of one of the gear brushes of the
brush assembly shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the gear brush of FIG.
3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the section of the gear brush
circled in FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
floor-cleaning device with a portion cut away to show the brush
assembly according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the brush assembly of the
embodiment of FIG. 6;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of one of the gear brushes of the
brush assembly shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the gear brush of FIG.
8;
[0020] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the section of the gear brush
circled in FIG. 9;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a brush assembly according
to still another embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 11A is an enlarged elevation view taken along line
11A-11A of FIG. 11; and
[0023] FIG. 12 is front perspective view of a brush assembly
according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view
of an upright hard floor-cleaning unit 40 having a brush assembly
of one embodiment of the present invention. The hard floor-cleaning
unit 40 comprises an upright handle assembly 42 pivotally connected
to the rear portion of a base assembly 44 that moves and cleans
along a surface. The base assembly 44 includes a nozzle assembly 62
with a squeegee 66 for recovering particles and/or fluid from the
floor and a brush block assembly 216 (FIG. 2A) for scrubbing the
floor. The handle assembly 42 includes a recovery tank 53 for
collecting the particles and/or fluid picked up by the nozzle
assembly 62 and a solution distribution system having a solution
tank 43 containing cleaning solution for distribution on the floor.
Both the nozzle assembly 62 and brush block assembly 216 are
removable from the base assembly 44. Further details of the
cleaning unit 40 are disclosed in the co-pending patent application
Ser. No. 09/956,297, having publication number 20030051309, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, the brush block assembly 216 comprises
a brush support plate 218 having six spaced apart openings 220A,
220B, 220C, 220D, 220E, and 220F. Fixedly received within the
openings 220 are bushings 222A, 222B, 222C, 222D, 222E, and 222F
which in turn rotatingly receive axial shafts 224A, 224B, 224C,
224D, 224E, and 224F of gear brushes 226A, 226B, 226C, 226D, 226E,
and 226F. The gear brushes 226A-F rotate on a vertical axis. A
drive shaft 225 having a square cross section is welded to the
axial shaft 224B of the gear brush 226B adjacent the right outer
brush 226A. Each of the gear brushes 226 is basically configured as
a spur gear having ten teeth 228 that intermesh such that when one
gear brush 226 rotates, all other gear brushes 226 rotate
accordingly. The center hub of gear brushes 226 forms a hollow
downwardly projecting cup 230 having a multiplicity of openings 232
circumscribing the bottom thereof for dispensing the cleaning
solution from the solution tank 43 to the cleaning surface.
[0026] A gear guard 236 snap fits into a brush support plate 218.
Specifically, upwardly extending locking tabs 238 on the gear guard
236 catch onto steps 240 integrally molded to the lower surface of
the brush support plate 218. During assembly of the gear guard 236
to the brush support plate 218, the locking tabs 238 deflect
laterally extending cantilevered tangs 242 integrally formed in the
brush support plate 218 to allow the locking tabs 238 to extend
therethrough. The tangs 242 will then flex back to their initial
position, closely adjacent the locking tabs 238, to prevent the
locking tabs 238 from disengaging off of the steps 240.
[0027] With continued reference to FIG. 2, the brush support plate
218 includes a plurality of troughs 244A, 244B, 244C, 244D for
receiving the cleaning solution that flows from a distributor 246
(FIG. 2A) positioned thereon. Cleaning solution received in the
troughs 244 flows through openings 248 in them and into the center
cups 230 of the brushes 226. Once deposited within the brush cup
230, the cleaning solution flows outward toward the surface being
cleaned through openings 232 in the bottom of the brush cups. The
cups 230 contain the cleaning solution as the gear brushes 226
rotate and thus prevent solution from being sprayed outward over
the top of the gear brush. The gear guard 236 is designed to
withstand impact and prohibit cleaning solution from resting on its
inner lip 231. In particular, the bottom surface 241 of the inner
lip 231 inclines downwardly to the edge of the inner lip 231 to
direct the flow of cleaning solution off the inner lip 231.
[0028] During manufacturing of the brush assembly 216, the gear
brush axial shafts 224 are first inserted into the appropriate
bushing 222 and with gear brushes 226 in their uppermost position
and with gear teeth 228 intermeshed between the gear brushes 226.
As also seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, each gear tooth 228 has a blind
bore, extending to offset 233 into which pliable elements in the
form of bristles 136 define bristle bundles 134 which are
compressively inserted therein and extend downwardly to the
cleaning surface. The bristle bundles 134 are arranged in an outer
ring 137 around the gear brush 226 as seen in FIG. 3.
[0029] Each of the bristles 136 slope or flare outwardly with
respect to the brush assembly 216 at an angle of twenty degrees
with respect to the vertical axis of the gear brush 226. The
bristles 136 could slope outwardly at other angles too, such as,
for example, those within the range of ten to thirty degrees. Such
an outward sloping of bristles 136 allows the bristles to flex at
various heights thereby allowing the bristles 136 to get into and
scrub the grout or other recessed areas of the cleaning
surface.
[0030] FIGS. 6 through 10 depict another embodiment of the present
invention. The same reference numbers will be used for elements
that are similar in structure and function as the previous
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the brush block assembly 316
comprises a brush support plate 218 having six spaced apart
openings 220A, 220B, 220C, 220D, 220E, and 220F. Fixedly received
within the openings 220 are bushings 222A, 222B, 222C, 222D, 222E,
and 222F which in turn rotatingly receive axial shafts 224A, 224B,
224C, 224D, 224E, and 224F of gear brushes 326A, 326B, 326C, 326D,
326E, and 326F. The gear brushes 326A-F rotate on a vertical axis.
A drive shaft 225 having a square cross section is welded to the
axial shaft 224B of the gear brush 326B adjacent the right outer
brush 326A. Each of the gear brushes 326 is basically configured as
a spur gear having ten teeth 228 that intermesh such that when one
gear brush 326 rotates, all other gear brushes 326 rotate
accordingly. The center hub of gear brushes 326 forms a hollow
downwardly projecting cup 230 having a multiplicity of openings 232
circumscribing the bottom thereof for dispensing the cleaning
solution from the solution tank 43 to the cleaning surface.
[0031] During manufacturing of the brush assembly 316, the gear
brush axial shafts 224 are first inserted into the appropriate
bushing 222 and with gear brushes 326 in their uppermost position
and with gear teeth 228 intermeshed between the gear brushes 326.
As best seen in FIGS. 8-10, each gear brush 326 includes a gear
tooth 228 having a blind bore, extending to offset 233 into which
pliable elements in the form of bristles 331,332 define bristle
bundles 334 which are compressively inserted therein and extend
downwardly to the cleaning surface. The bristle bundles 334 are
arranged in an outer ring 337 around the gear brush 326. Each of
the bristle bundles 334 includes inner and outer bristle groups
335, 338, respectively, that slope or flare outwardly with respect
to the brush assembly 316 at an angle of thirty degrees with
respect to the vertical axis of the gear brush 326. The bristles
331 of the outer bristle group 338 are longer than the bristles 332
of the inner bristle group 335. The inner bristle group 335 is also
trimmed outwardly at an angle of forty-five degrees with respect to
the cleaning surface, such that the length of each successive
bristle going from the inner end 340 to the outer end 342 of the
inner group 335 is longer than that of the previous bristle. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, bristle 332C is longer than
332B, which is longer than 332A and so forth. Thus, when the
bristles in each bristle bundle 334 are flexed outwardly the tips
344 of the bristles 332 in the inner bristle group 335 contact the
cleaning surface to provide better scrubbing action.
[0032] The gear brush 326 further includes a second set of bristles
346, 348 defining bristle bundles 350 which are received in blind
bores and arranged in an inner ring 352 around the gear brush 326.
These bristle bundles 350 are shorter in length than the bristle
bundles 334 of the outer ring 337. Consequently, as best shown in
FIG. 10, outer bristle bundles 334 terminate in a first plane
P.sub.1, and inner bristle bundles 350 terminate in a second plane
P.sub.2 that is vertically offset upwardly from first plane
P.sub.1. In other words, the difference in length between the outer
bristle bundles 334 and inner bristle bundles 350 causes the
respective bundles 334, 350 to terminate in different planes
P.sub.1, P.sub.2. Each of the bristle bundles 350 includes inner
and outer bristle groups 354, 356, respectively, that flare
outwardly with respect to the brush assembly 316 at an angle of
thirty degrees with respect to the vertical axis of the gear brush.
The bristles 346 of the outer bristle group 356 are longer than
those of the inner bristle group 354. The inner bristle group 356
is also trimmed outwardly at an angle of forty-five degrees with
respect to the cleaning surface, such that the length of each
successive bristle going from the inner end 358 to the outer end
360 of the inner bristle group 356 is longer than that of the
previous bristle. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, bristle
348C is longer than 348B, which is longer than 348A and so forth.
Thus, when the bristles in each bristle bundle 350 are flexed
outwardly the tips 362 of the bristles 348 in the inner bristle
group 354 contact the cleaning surface to provide better scrubbing
action. Also, the difference in height of bristle bundles 334 and
350 allow the longer bristle bundles 334 to clean grout areas or
other recessed areas of the floor. Bristle bundles 235 are also
compressively inserted into the front comers of the brush support
plate 218 for edge cleaning as shown in FIG. 7.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows an upright hard floor-cleaning unit 41 having
the brush assembly 316. The hard floor-cleaning unit is similar to
that shown in FIG. 1 except for the brush assembly as previously
described. Thus, similar reference numbers will be used. The hard
floor-cleaning unit 41 comprises an upright handle assembly 42
pivotally connected to the rear portion of a base assembly 44 that
moves and cleans along a surface. The base assembly 44 includes a
nozzle assembly 62 with a squeegee 66 for recovering particles
and/or fluid from the floor and the brush block assembly 316 for
scrubbing the floor. The handle assembly 42 includes a recovery
tank 53 for collecting the particles and/or fluid picked up by the
nozzle assembly 62 and a solution tank 43 containing cleaning
solution for distribution on the floor. Both the nozzle assembly 62
and brush block assembly 316 are removable from the base assembly
44. Further details of the cleaning unit 41 are disclosed in the
co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/956,297, having
publication number 20030051309, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference. The bristle arrangement of the brush
assemblies 216 and 316 of the above-mentioned embodiments can also
be incorporated into the brush assembly shown in co-owned U.S. Pat.
No. 6,009,593, the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference.
[0034] FIGS. 11 and 11A show still another embodiment of the brush
block assembly 416. In particular, the brush assembly 416 comprises
a rectilinear brush support member 418 having blind bores into
which pliable elements in the form of bristles 476, 478, 480, 482,
494, 496, 498, 500 defining bristle bundles 460, 462, 464, 466 are
compressively inserted therein. The brush assembly 416 includes an
outer front row 419 of bristle bundles 460, an inner front row 421
of bristle bundles 462, an inner rear row 423 of bristle bundles
464, and an outer rear row 425 of bristle bundles 466. The rows are
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the brush support member 418
and also oriented transversely to the cleaning path. The bristle
bundles 420 project downwardly from the support member 418 for
engagement with the cleaning surface. The bristles in the outer
rows 419 and 425 are longer than the bristles in the inner rows 421
and 423. Consequently, as best shown in FIG. 11A, outer bristle
bundles 466 terminate in a first pane P.sub.1, and inner bristle
bundles 464 terminate in a second plane P.sub.2 that is vertically
offset upwardly from first plane P.sub.1. In other words, the
difference in length between the outer bristle bundles 466 and
inner bristle bundles 464 causes the respective bundles 466, 464 to
terminate in different planes P.sub.1, P.sub.2.
[0035] Each of the bristle bundles 460, 462 include respective
inner or rear bristle groups 468, 470 and respective outer or front
bristle groups 472, 474 that slope or flare outwardly or forwardly
with respect to the brush assembly 416 at an angle of thirty
degrees with respect to the vertical axis of the brush assembly
416. The bristles 476, 478 of the respective outer bristle groups
472, 474 are longer than the bristles 480, 482 of the respective
inner bristle groups 468, 470. Each of the inner bristle groups
468, 470 is also trimmed outwardly at an angle of forty-five
degrees with respect to the cleaning surface, such that the length
of each successive bristle going from the inner end to the outer
end of the inner group is longer than that of the previous bristle.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11A bristles 480C and 482C are
longer than 480B and 482B, which are longer than 480A and 482A and
so forth. Thus, when the bristles in each of the bristle bundles
460, 462 are flexed outwardly the tips 484 of the bristles 480, 482
in the respective inner bristle groups 468, 470 contact the
cleaning surface to provide better scrubbing action.
[0036] Each of the bristle bundles 464 and 466 include respective
inner or front bristle groups 485, 486 and respective outer or rear
bristle groups 490, 492 that slope or flare outwardly or rearwardly
with respect to the brush assembly 416 at an angle of thirty
degrees with respect to the vertical axis of the brush assembly
416. The bristles 494, 496 of the respective outer bristle groups
490, 492 are longer than the bristles 498, 500 of the respective
inner bristle groups 485, 486. Each of the inner bristle groups
485, 486 is also trimmed outwardly at an angle of forty-five
degrees with respect to the cleaning surface, such that the length
of each successive bristle going from the inner end to the outer
end of the inner group is longer than that of the previous bristle.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11A bristles 498C and 500C are
longer than 498B and 500B, which are longer than 498A and 500A and
so forth. Thus, when the bristles in each of the bristle bundles
464, 466 are flexed outwardly the tips 484 of the bristles 498, 500
in the respective inner bristle groups 485, 486 contact the
cleaning surface to provide better scrubbing action.
[0037] The bristle bundles 460, 466 in the outer rows 419 and 425
are longer than the bristle bundles 462, 464 in the inner rows 421
and 423. This difference in height allows the longer bristle
bundles 460, 466 to clean grout areas or other recessed areas of
the floor.
[0038] As best shown in FIG. 11, the support member 418 further
includes a line of elongated slots 422 spaced longitudinally and
disposed between the front and rear edges of the support member
418. A dispensing bar 424 (FIG. 11A) is integrally formed with the
bottom of the support member 418, underlying the bottom of slots
422. An additional scrub strip 430 (FIG. 11A) is adhesively mounted
on the bottom of the support member 418 rearwardly adjacent the
dispensing bar 424.
[0039] Together, the dispensing bar 424 and slots 422 define
relatively deep compartments or troughs 432 in the support member
418, which break up bubbles of cleaning solution that collects
therein. The relatively wide troughs 432 also allow easy rinsing
and cleaning of dirt collected therein. Recessed channels 440 are
disposed in the upper surface 438 of the support member 418 to
direct the cleaning solution to flow into the troughs 432.
Integrally formed on the top surface 446 of the support member 418
are splashguards 436 that surround the channels 440 to prevent the
cleaning solution from splashing out of the channels. Since the
troughs 432 are spaced apart, the collecting of cleaning solution
in one area is minimized in case of an error occurring in molding
an uneven dispensing bar 424. A pair of outwardly curved ribs 454,
456, which define a handgrip, are attached on the top surface 446
of the support member near the front end. A nub 458 is formed at
the forward end of each of the ribs 454, 456 for added grip
support.
[0040] A pair of locating hooks 442 are attached to the top surface
of the support member and extend rearwardly. The hooks 442 are
slidably received in a base assembly of the floor cleaning unit.
Further details of the floor cleaning and brush assembly are
described in commonly owned co-pending patent application having
Ser. No. 10/340,291 and publication number 2004014463, the
disclosure which is incorporated by reference. Optionally, the
bristle bundles as a whole for each row may vary in length or
height with respect to the cleaning surface. For example, one
bristle bundle may be longer than its adjacent bristle bundles to
the right and left of it in the row.
[0041] FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, the brush assembly 516 is a
horizontal brush roll including a cylindrical drum 514 and a
plurality of pliable elements in the form of bristles 520 and 521
defining bristle bundles 522 secured to the drum 514 extending
radially therefrom. The bristle bundles 522 are secured to the drum
514 in a generally helical pattern originating at each end of the
drum 514 and terminating at the center of the drum 514.
[0042] Each of the bristle bundles 522 include inner and outer
bristle groups 524, 526 as viewed when the bristle extends down and
is located in front of the drum 514. Alternatively, each of the
bristles 520 and 521 can slope or flare outwardly with respect to
the brush assembly 516 (when the bristle extends down and is
located in front of the drum 514) at an angle of thirty degrees
with respect to a plane extending radially from the secured end of
the bristle and oriented perpendicular to the horizontal axis of
the brush roll 516. The bristles 521 of the outer bristle group 526
are longer than the bristles 520 of the inner bristle group 524.
The inner bristle group 524 is also trimmed outwardly at an angle
of forty-five degrees with respect to a plane across the free ends
of the bristles 521 of the outer bristle group 526, such that the
length of each successive bristle going from the inner end to the
outer end of the inner bristle group 524 is longer than that of the
previous bristle. For example, bristle 520C is longer than 520B,
which is longer than 520A and so forth. Thus, when the bristles in
each bristle bundle are flexed outwardly the tips 528 of the
bristles 520 in the inner bristle group 524 contact the cleaning
surface to provide better scrubbing action. The bristle bundles 520
as a whole for each row vary in length or height with respect to
the cleaning surface. For example, bristle bundle 520B is longer
than its adjacent bristle bundles 520A and 520C to the right and
left of it in the helical row. The brush assembly 516 is rotatably
mounted to several floor cleaning machines such as the
floor-cleaning machine 40 of FIG. 1 and the carpet extractors in
co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,673 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,442, the
disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. The brush
assembly 516 is also rotatably mounted to floor cleaning machines
such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,472 issued to Kasen, U.S. Pat. No.
6,467,122 issued to Lenkiewicz, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,533,871 and
6,073,330 issued to Zahuranec, the disclosures of which are
incorporated by reference. Brush assemblies 216, 316, and 416 from
the previous embodiments can also be mounted to these
floor-cleaning machines.
[0043] For all of the embodiments, each bristle is crimped instead
of straight so that when the bundles are formed, more scrubbing
coverage is provided. Such crimping on the bristles in the bundles
also reduces deflection of the bristles as they scrub, thereby
minimizing the spraying or splattering of cleaning solution from
the bristles.
[0044] The present invention has been described by way of example
using the illustrated embodiment. Upon reviewing the detailed
description and the appended drawings, various modifications and
variations of the preferred embodiment will become apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art. All such obvious modifications and
variations are intended to be included in the scope of the present
invention and of the claims appended hereto.
[0045] In view of the above, it is intended that the present
invention not be limited by the preceding disclosure of a preferred
embodiment, but rather be limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *