U.S. patent application number 12/152142 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-19 for adjustable angle cleaning brush head.
Invention is credited to Dennis Pardini.
Application Number | 20090282634 12/152142 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41314734 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090282634 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pardini; Dennis |
November 19, 2009 |
Adjustable angle cleaning brush head
Abstract
Adjustable angle cleaning brush comprised of a handle and
rotatably attached first longitudinal brush head and a second
longitudinal brush head that are side by side and parallel to each
other in one configuration and rotate out to a T position with
respect to the handle in a second configuration. One end of each
brush head is fixedly attached to a pinion gear within the handle.
The pinion gears engage a centrally located rack so that when a
user pushes up on an actuation button attached to the rack, the
brushes rotate out into a T position. They are held in a T position
by a spring biased post. The user can press on the post to return
the brush heads to the side by side position.
Inventors: |
Pardini; Dennis; (Novato,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNIS PARDINI
48 SAN DOMINGO WAY
NOVATO
CA
94945
US
|
Family ID: |
41314734 |
Appl. No.: |
12/152142 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/172 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 7/02 20130101; A46B
5/0012 20130101; A46B 5/0016 20130101; A46B 5/0075 20130101; A46B
2200/3033 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/172 |
International
Class: |
A46B 5/00 20060101
A46B005/00 |
Claims
1. adjustable angle cleaning brush head comprising: a first brush
head; a second brush head; a brush angle change button; a hollow
main handle; a slide button; a slide button track; a locking post;
a locking post spring a rack tension spring; a first pinion gear; a
second pinion gear; a rack; and a rack extension shaft; said hollow
handle enclosing said rack and said rack extension shaft and said
tension spring which are all located longitudinally within said
handle; said hollow handle being widened at the uppermost portion
to retain said first and second pinion gears; said rack capable of
extending out of the top portion of said handle; said slide button
fixedly attached to said rack extension shaft; said tension spring
attached at one end to said slide button and at the opposite end to
a retaining post within the lower portion of said hollow handle;
said first pinion gear fixed by a shaft on the upper left side of
said rack and said second pinion gear fixed by a shaft on the upper
right side of said rack; said first and second gear shafts
rotatably attached to apertures in the said widened portion of said
handle; said first and second brush heads being constructed in a
standard longitudinal bottle brush format; said first brush head
fixedly attached to said first pinion gear and said second brush
head fixedly attached to said second pinion gear so that both said
brush heads are in close proximity to and parallel to each other;
said first and second brush heads capable of rotating outwardly
from each other to form a T shape with respect to said handle when
a user slides said slide button along said slide button track
located on said handle in an upward motion toward said brush head
portion which causes said rack to move upward and force said first
pinion gear to rotate counter clockwise and said second pinion gear
to rotate clockwise; said first and second brush heads capable of
being fixed in place in said T position when said spring biased
locking post engages an aperture in the side of said hollow handle;
said first and second brush heads capable of being disengaged from
said T position and returning to said side by side parallel
position when a user presses on the tip of said locking post so
that it is freed from said side aperture thereby allowing said rack
to be pulled downward.
2. Adjustable angle cleaning brush head as claimed in claim 1
wherein a third brush head is fixedly attached to the opposite end
of said handle; said third brush head angled at approximately forty
five degrees with respect to said handle. said third brush bristles
mounted in a standard rigid flat plastic base plate so that said
third brush head bristles are facing away from said handle.
3. An alternate embodiment of said adjustable angle cleaning brush
head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cleaning brush head is
comprised on only one rotatable brush head capable of forming an L
shape rather than the said T shape.
4. An alternate embodiment of said adjustable angle cleaning brush
head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second brush
heads are capable being fixed a plurality of Y shaped
configurations by use of a plurality of said locking pin apertures
located in a linear orientation on the side of said brush
handle.
5. An alternate embodiment of said adjustable angle cleaning brush
head as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second pinion
gears are eliminated and said rack is eliminated and said first and
second brush heads are rotatably pinned to the top most portion of
a centrally located slidable post within said hollow handle and
where said slidable post can be pulled down by the user causing
said first and second brush heads to be forced from a parallel
position to a T position with respect to said handle.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to the field of hand held
cleaning brushes and more specifically to an adjustable angle
cleaning brush head.
[0005] Cleaning brushes are well known in the housewares industry.
They generally include a rigid handle and a brush head. Brushes are
made in a variety of configurations including standard bottle brush
designs that employ a central twisted wireform that holds bristles
perpendicular to the wireform. Another standard brush configuration
includes a rigid backing plate that has a plurality of bristles
inserted into pre-formed holes in the plate. This type of brush can
have a handle extending from its backing plate, or can include a
griping portion directly on top of the backing plate.
[0006] For certain cleaning applications it is beneficial to have a
brush head that is capable of bending or rotating to one side to
help the brush head reach hard to get at spaces such as the rear
portion of a kitchen faucet, or behind the spokes of a vehicle tire
rim. A number of inventors have addressed this problem to some
degree. W F Hoerle in his patent U.S. Pat. No. 2,379,962 shows a
cleaning tool that includes a clevis joint to allow the brush head
to rotate and bend. McLaughlin et al. in their patent U.S. Pat. No.
4,908,900 shows a bristle brush whose head can be rotated sideways
for helping to clean ice and snow off a vehicle windshield. Lee in
her patent D294886 shows a bent head for a cleaning brush for
cleaning radiators and the like. Peake et al in their patent U.S.
Pat. No. 6,032,316 shows a plate that includes bristles where the
plate can pivot and be set at an angle with respect to a
surrounding frame for shoe cleaning purposes. Weber et al in their
patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,738 discloses a toilet cleaning brush
that has a head that can be bent for fitting into the bowl more
easily. Li in his patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,58 shows a wheel
cleaning brush whose head can be bent. And Le Van in his patent
application 2007/0297846 discloses a rim detailing brush that has a
multiple replaceable cleaning heads.
[0007] However, all the above sited patents contain deficiencies
with regard to providing a bendable brush head for reaching hard to
get at spaces such as behind the spokes of a vehicle rim or behind
a faucet set mounted on a kitchen sink. None of the sited patents
except the McLaughlin patent show a way to change the angle of a
brush head and lock it in place at that angle. The McLaughlin
patent does not show a brush head that can be quickly turned. It
must be manually removed from the handle and replaced in a
different orientation. None of the above sited patents show a side
by side pair of brush heads that can be quickly, by the push of a
button, rotated outward to form a T shape with respect to the
handle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary object of the invention is to provide a hand
held cleaning brush tool whose bristle brush head angle can be
adjusted and locked in place by the user.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning
brush head that is composed of two brushes that can be quickly and
easily rotated from a parallel side by side position to a
perpendicular T shaped position.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning
brush head that allows the user to clean behind hard to reach areas
such as behind spokes of a vehicle tire rim.
[0011] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of
illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is
disclosed.
[0012] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
there is disclosed adjustable angle cleaning brush head comprising:
a first brush head, a second brush head, a brush angle change
button, a hollow main handle, a slide button, a slide button track,
a locking post, a locking post spring, a rack tension spring, a
first pinion gear, a second pinion gear, a rack, and a rack
extension shaft, said hollow handle enclosing said rack and said
rack extension shaft and said tension spring which are all placed
longitudinally within said handle, said hollow handle being widened
at the uppermost portion to retain said first and second pinion
gears, said rack extending out of the top portion of said handle,
said slide button fixedly attached to said rack extension shaft,
said tension spring attached at one end to said slide button and at
the opposite end to a retaining post within the lower portion of
said hollow handle, said first pinion gear rotatably fixed by a
shaft on the upper left side of said rack and said second pinion
gear rotatably fixed by a shaft placed on the upper right side of
said rack, said first and second gear shafts rotatably attached to
the said widened portion of said handle, said first and second
brush heads being constructed in a standard longitudinal bottle
brush format, said first brush head fixedly attached to said first
pinion gear and said second brush head fixedly attached to said
second pinion gear so that both said brush heads are in close
proximity to and parallel to each other, said first and second
brush heads capable of rotating outwardly to form a T shape with
respect to said handle when a user slides said slide button along
said slide button track located on said handle in an upward motion
toward said brush head portion which causes said rack to move
upward and force said first pinion gear to rotate counter clockwise
and said second pinion gear to rotate clockwise, said first and
second brush heads capable of being fixed in place in said T
position when said spring biased locking post engages an aperture
in the side of said hollow handle, said first and second brush
heads capable of being disengaged from said T position and
returning to said side by side parallel position when a user
presses on the tip of said locking post so that it is freed from
said side aperture thereby allowing said rack to be pulled
downward.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and
include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be
embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some
instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated
or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial section view of the invention showing
bristles in a parallel position.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial section view of the invention showing
bristles in a rotated T position.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the invention with bristles
in parallel position.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the invention with bristles
in the T position.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a section view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the alternative embodiment
of the invention with bristles is parallel position.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of the alternative embodiment
of the invention with bristles in the T position.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a side view of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are
provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present
invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for
teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in
virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or
manner.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a top perspective view of the
invention 100. A first and second brush head 2, 4 are positioned
side by side in a longitudinal manner at the end of handle portion
8. The first and second brush heads 2, 4 are constructed in a
standard bottle brush manufacturing technique. A third brush head
that acts as a tire cleaning brush 10 is mounted on the opposite
end of main handle 8. The brush head is positioned at approximately
a forty-five degree angle with respect to the handle and is
comprised of a flat rigid plastic plate having stiff nylon bristles
extending up from the plate approximately one inch. A brush angle
change button 6 can be pushed along slide button track 12 to cause
the brush heads 2,4 to rotate to form a T shape with respect to the
handle as will be explained in detail below.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the invention 100.
The bristles of tire brush head 10 can be clearly seen. Rubber grip
portion 14 helps the user hold the handle 8 in a comfortable non
slip manner.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a partial side view of the invention. The
bottom of brush head 2 can be seen to be fixedly attached to first
pinion gear 20. Pinion gear 20 includes shaft 22 that pins the gear
20 to the handle portion 8. In this view raised brush angle
changing button 6 can be seen, as well as raised rubber grip
portion 14. Locking aperture 18 and the end of locking post 16 can
also be seen. The locking post 16 helps hold the first and second
brush heads 2, 4 in their spread T shaped portion, as will be
explained further below.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a partial top section view of the invention as
defined by section line 50 shown in FIG. 11. The central wireform
spines of brush heads 2, 4 are fixedly attached to pinion gears 20,
32. Rack 28 slidably engages both pinion gears 20, 32. Handle 8 is
widened at its topmost portion to accommodate pinion gears 20, 32.
Rack extension shaft 36 is fixedly attached to the bottom of rack
28 and terminates in brush handle change button 6. Button 6
includes a tab having an aperture that accepts on end of tension
spring 24. The other end of spring 24 is pinned to a post 26 within
handle 8. When the user pushes up on button 6, rack 28 travels
upward causing pinion gear 20 to rotate counter clockwise and
pinion gear 32 to rotate clockwise. Attached brush heads 2, 4 are
therefore caused to also rotate forming a T shape with respect to
handle 8 as shown in FIG. 5
[0030] FIG. 5 is a partial top section view of the invention as
shown by section line 50 in FIG. 11 and shows locking post 16
engaged with locking aperture 18 thereby locking the brush heads 2,
4 in their rotated condition. A locking post spring 38 pushes
locking post 16 out into aperture 18. The user can unlock the
locking post 16 by pushing in on the tip of the post 16 until it
clears the wall thickness of handle 8 wall. Of course one can
envision alternate embodiments where a plurality of apertures along
the side of handle 8 could allow the brush heads 2, 4 to lock at
angles other than the T shape so far disclosed. These other angles
would create a Y shape of varying degrees depending on how far up
button 6 was pushed. Additionally, an alternate design can be
envisioned where a single brush head was employed, thereby creating
an L shape with respect to the handle 8 when in the rotated
position.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a partial top view of the invention showing
brush heads 2, 4 in the parallel position. Brush angle change
button 6 is in the lowered portion and is guided by button guide
track 12.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows a partial top view of the invention showing
brush heads 2, 4 in the perpendicular T position. Locking pin tip
16 can be seen protruding from the side wall of handle 8. Brush
angle change button 6 is in the raised position. Rack 28 is
protruding slightly from the widened portion of handle 8.
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a partial section plan view of an alternate
embodiment of the invention where brush heads 202, 204 are pinned
at the top 214 of a central slidable post 206 which is contained
within a hollow handle 210. Brush heads 202, 214 are constructed by
standard bottle brush manufacturing techniques.
[0034] FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the alternate embodiment of the
invention 200. Brush heads 202, 204 are pinned by shaft pin 214.
Slide button 208 is shown in the up portion in its slide track 212
located on the wall of handle 210.
[0035] FIG. 10 is shows a partial plan view of the alternate
embodiment of the invention 200 where brush heads 202, 204 are
splayed outward so that the brush portion located near pin 214 is
engaged by the flat surfaces 218 located at the top of handle 210.
Slide button 208 is shown in the down position in its slide track
212.
[0036] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the invention 100
[0037] While the invention has been described in connection with a
preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it
is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *