Adjustable Brush

Abstract

An adjustable brush particularly suited for use with machines adapted to employ rotary cleaning brushes, characterized by a plurality of concentrically related, annular arrays of tufts of bristles extended from a base plate and substantially terminating in a common plane. A particular feature of the brush resides in a provision of a support plate selectively positioned between said base plate and said plane, including therewithin a multiplicity of annular arrays of tuft-receiving openings, and operatively suspended from said base plate by a plurality of screw-threaded studs adapted to be digitated for repositioning the support plate relative to the plane, whereby the trim length, or effective length of the bristles and, consequently their flexibility, selectively is varied.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to rotary brushes, and more particularly to a rotary brush having extended bristles laterally supported in a manner such that the flexibility of the bristles readily is adjustable to impart to the brush a selected softness for purposes of accommodating a cleaning of carpets and the like, while enhancing the wear resistant characteristics of the bristles.

The prior art is replete with rotary brushes, including those having disk-shaped base plates, sometimes called clutch plates, provided with a plurality of annular arrays of extended, compact bundles of bristles, frequently called "tufts". Normally, such brushes are employed with rotary scrubbing machines of types having power units which drive the brushes in unidirectional rotation for purposes of performing scrubbing, waxing, shampooing and similar operations. Various types of bristle materials commonly are employed in fabricating the tufts of brushes so employed. Among such materials are both natural and synthetic fibers.

Unfortunately, each type of fiber heretofore commonly employed normally suffers from certain deficiencies. For example, where natural fibers are employed certain fluids employed in cleaning operations undesirably affect these fibers causing the fibers rapidly to deteriorate under constant use.

It is well known that certain synthetic materials are highly resistant to the effect of cleaning fluids. However, surfaces to be cleaned frequently require that the cleaning fluids be delivered and utilized while relatively hot in order to achieve the desired cleaning function. As a consequence of utilization of heated fluids, the inherent stiffness of the individual bristles frequently is substantially reduced. This effect particularly is pronounced where synthetic materials are employed as a bristle material. The natural result is that where the bristles are employed with hot cleaning fluids they are subjected to inordinate flexing. When synthetic bristles are subjected to a continuous flexing, under an operative use, they tend to fail due to resulting fatigue. This failure normally is experienced in the form of breaking, splitting and often complete fracture.

Of course, as the bristles are extended from their base, the unsupported body portion thereof initially can be provided with a reduced length, normally called "trim length", in order to increase bristle stiffness and thus avoid undesired flexing of the bristles. However, such a practice tends generally to be unsatisfactory since the operative life of the brush substantially is reduced. Hence, while synthetic materials, such as nylon, are particularly useful in resisting the deleterious effects of the chemical compositions of various types of cleaning fluid, and, consequently, are particularly suited for use in cleaning operations, bristles formed from such material tend to be particularly susceptible to bending, as well as fatigue resulting from such bending. Consequently, the commonly provided bristles fail to fully satisfy existing needs.

In order to overcome the noted deficiencies of various types of bristles, it heretofore has been a practice to shear the tufts of deformed and failing bristles so that the substantially straight and foreshortened body portion of the bristles is provided to be re-used. Another technique sometimes employed requires that the machine include reversing directions of rotation for the brushes, whereby the tufts operatively are flexed in an opposite direction. Unfortunately, both of the aforementioned practices tend to be expensive. For example, where shearing of the brushes is employed, a significant expense is encountered in performing the shearing operations and in supplying machine operators with an adequate number of replacement brushes. Where a reversal of the direction of rotation of the brush, during cleaning operations, is accommodated, complexity is introduced into the design and fabrication of the scrubbing machines and the couplings employed in coupling the brushes to the machines. Therefore, there currently exists a need for a practical solution to the problem of providing an economic brush having an increased operative life.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It therefore is an object of the instant invention to provide an improved brush having adjustably supported bristles.

Another object is to provide a brush having an increased operative life.

Another object is to provide an improved brush which is suited for extended use with rotary scrubbing machines.

Another object is to provide a brush which includes an adjustable support plate for varying the trim length of tufts of bristles fabricated of synthetic materials whereby the flexibility of the bristles is variably controlled.

It is another object to provide a disk-shaped rotary brush having a base plate from which is extended a plurality of tufts of bristles of a synthetic material arranged in a plurality of concentrically related, annular arrays, and an adjustable support plate coupled to the base plate adapted to be repositioned relative to the plane of the base plate for varying the trim length of the tufts, whereby lateral support is imparted to the bristles for thus controlling the flexibility of the tufts.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by providing a rotary brush with an adjustable support plate including a multiplicity of concentrically related annular arrays of openings adapted to receive and laterally support tufts of bristles extended from a base plate, whereby the tufts are afforded lateral support so that the stiffness of the bristles can selectively be varied simply by manually repositioning of the support plate relative to the distal ends of the tufts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating, in phantom lines, a machine of a type with which the adjustable brush of the instant invention commonly is employed, when utilized in cleaning operations.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a rotary brush of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 and which embodies the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a support plate provided for the brush of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the brush of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating a position in which the support plate can be disposed in order to maximize trim length and accordingly increase bristle flexibility.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, similar to that of FIG. 4, illustrating a position in which the support plate can be disposed in order to minimize trim length and accordingly reduce bristle flexibility.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged fragmented elevation of the brush of FIG. 5, illustrating a relationship established between the outer array of tufts and the associate support plate, whereby the bristles of the outermost array are supported against flexing.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation, similar to FIG. 6, illustrating a modified relationship established between the outer array tufts of bristles and the support plate which permits the bristles of the outermost array to be flexed radially for thereby operatively increasing the effective diameter of the brush.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is in FIG. 1 illustrated, in phantom lines, a scrubbing machine 10. In practice, the machine 10 is provided with a suitable motor 12 which serves selectively to drive a rotary brush 14 for performing various operations, including a cleaning of carpets formed of nylon and similar synthetic materials.

As illustrated, the brush 14, which embodies the principles of the instant invention, includes a base plate 16, frequently referred to as a clutch plate, having provided therein a plurality of fluid delivery openings 18 through which selected cleaning fluids and the like operatively are delivered during various stages of cleaning operations.

The base plate 16 includes a suitable coupling collar 19 configured to couple the brush 14 with an output coupling of the machine 10. The plate 16 also includes a multiplicity of tuft-receiving openings 20 for receiving therewithin the base of bristles 22 grouped into compact tufts 24. The openings 20 normally are arranged in a plurality of concentrically related, annular arrays of mutually spaced openings, whereby the brush 14 is provided with a multiplicity of concentrically related arrays of extended tufts, including a circumscribing outer array 25. The distal portions of the tufts 24 are adapted to engage a surface as it is being cleaned, while the motor 12 of the machine 10 imparts a selected rate of rotation to the brush 14 for advancing the distal portions of the tufts along the engaged surface.

The particular manner in which the tufts 24 are secured within the openings 20 can be varied as found practical. As a practical matter, however, in order to increase the operative effectiveness of the brush 14, the tufts 24 of the outermost array 25 are inclined relative to the adjacent tufts of the adjacent array. This is achieved simply by forming the openings 20 which receive the tufts 24 of the array 25 in a manner such that the openings are inwardly inclined so that the tufts 24 are inclined relative to the tufts of the remaining arrays.

Since the base plate 16, coupling collar 19, and the mounting of the tufts 24 within the openings 20 form no particular part of the instant invention, and is well within the purview of the art, a detailed description thereof is omitted in the interest of brevity.

In order to impart a desired stiffness to the tufts 24, there is provided a support plate 26, which, in effect, serves to vary the trim length of the bristles. This plate is of a planar configuration and includes a multiplicity of suitable openings 28 through which cleaning fluids being employed operatively are delivered to the surface being cleaned. Additionally, the support plate 26 is provided with a multiplicity of tuft-receiving openings 30.

The openings 30 also are arranged in a plurality of concentrically related, annular arrays 25, in a manner such that they are paired with, and coaxially related to the openings 20 formed in the plate 16. The tufts 24 axially are extended through the openings 30 so that the support plate 26 is, in effect, positioned between the plane of the surface being cleaned and the plane of the openings 20. It is important to understand that the openings 30 are of a diameter such as to firmly engage the peripheral surface of the tufts 24, whereby their surfaces serve to impart lateral stability to the tufts and consequently the bristles 22 in order to preclude an operative deflection of the individual bristles 22. Since the tufts 24 extend from openings 30, formed within the support plate 26, which imparts lateral stability to the individual bristles 22 of the tufts 24, the tufts can be assumed to have their base portions disposed within the plate 26 so that their body portions, in effect, are provided with a trim length dictated by the spacing of the support plate 26 relative to the distal ends of the tufts.

Hence, it should readily be apparent that in order to increase the stiffness of the bristles 22 of the tufts 24, the support plate 26 is repositioned to a plane located near the distal ends of the tufts. Where this stiffness is to be reduced, the plate 26 is repositioned to a plane located near the base plate 16. It is therefore to be understood that by repositioning the plate 26 it is possible practically to control the trim length of the bristles 22 for thus controlling their stiffness.

In order to achieve the desired repositioning of the support plate 26, a plurality of screw-threaded adjusting studs 32 are employed in mounting the support plate. Each stud 32 includes a thumb-wheel 34 rigidly fixed thereto and rotatably is seated in the support plate 26, through a suitable bearing pin and collar coupling assembly 35, FIG. 6. As a practical matter, the base plate 16 includes therein a multiplicity of appropriately formed screw-threaded bores 36 which receive the screw-threaded studs 32 so that as the thumb-wheel 34 is manipulated, the studs 32 are advanced along the bores 36 for thereby selectively repositioning the support plate 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the plate 26 includes an annular array of openings 30 which receive therein the outermost array 25 of tufts 24 for imparting lateral stability to the tufts of this array. Consequently, all of the bristles 22, as they are extended from the base plate 16, have imparted thereto a similar stiffness and the flexibility thereof is controlled by repositioning the plate 26 relative to the base plate 16.

While the plate 26, as shown in FIG. 6, functions quite satisfactorily for its intended purposes, it frequently is desirable to clean in crevices, corners and the like which require that the bristles 22 of the rotary brush 14 be extended radially from the periphery of the base plate 16. Such a radial extension of the distal end portions of the bristles 22 of the outermost array 25 can readily be accommodated by providing the support plate 26 with a modified configuration, as best illustrated in FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the support plate 26 is so configured that the tufts 24 of the outermost annular array 25 substantially are unsupported at their mid-portions so that the array of tufts circumscribes the periphery of the support plate 26. Consequently, as the plate 16 is driven in rotation, through a selective operation of the motor 12, the bristles 22 of the outermost array 25 are permitted to flex outwardly beyond the periphery of the plate 16 for thereby effectively increasing the operative diameter of the brush 14.

OPERATION

It is believed that in view of the foregoing description, the operation of the device will be readily understood and it will be briefly reviewed at this point. With the brush 14 assembled in a manner such that the studs 32 serve to secure the support plate 26 at a predetermined disposition, between the distal ends of the bristles 22 and the base plate 16, the brush operatively is coupled with a scrubbing machine 10. In the event the stiffness imparted to the bristles 22 is greater than that desired in performing a given cleaning operation, the brush can be "softened" simply by manipulating the plurality of thumb-wheels 34 for advancing the plate 26 toward the base plate 16 for thus lengthening the trim length of the bristles 22. Consequently, the flexibility of the bristles thus is increased.

Conversely, where it is found to be desirable to increase the stiffness of the bristles 22 of the tufts 24, the thumb-wheels 34 are manipulated in a manner such as to advance the plate 26 toward the distal ends of the bristles 22 for thereby shortening their trim length and thus reducing their flexibility.

Where the outermost array 25 of the tufts 24 is confined by the support plate 26, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the bristles 22 of this array remain substantially rigid. However, where the tufts of the outermost array 25 circumscribe the periphery of the support plate 26, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the distal ends of the bristles 22 of the outermost array 25 of tufts 24 are permitted to flex outwardly for thus increasing the effective diameter of the brush 14 whereby certain cleaning operations are enhanced.

In view of the foregoing, it should readily be apparent that the hereinbefore described embodiment of the instant invention is a greatly improved rotary brush, due to the fact that the stiffness of the brush's bristles accurately can be controlled through a selective repositioning of the support plate so that degradation of the bristles effectively is controlled, while the overall effectiveness of the brush simultaneously is enhanced.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.

Claims

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable brush comprising:

A. a base plate of a substantially planar disk-shaped configuration adapted to be coupled with a rotary scrubbing machine;

B. a disk-shaped support plate;

C. means adjustably coupling the support plate with the base plate in a variable spaced relationship therewith;

D. means defining within said support plate a multiplicity of tuft-supporting openings arranged in a plurality of concentric annular arrays; and

E. a plurality of substantially parallel bristles separated into a plurality of compact tufts arranged in a plurality of concentrically related annular arrays, seated in and extended from said base plate, the tufts of the inner arrays extending through the tuft-supporting openings of the support plate and the tufts of the outermost array circumscribing the peripheral surface of the support plate.

2. The brush of claim 1 wherein the tufts of the outermost array of tufts are so arranged as to cause said array to conform to a substantially truncated conical configuration.

3. An adjustable brush comprising:

A. a disk-shaped base plate having a substantially planar configuration and including means defining therein a multiplicity of mutually spaced, tuft-receiving openings arranged in a multiplicity of concentrically related annular arrays;

B. a support plate including means defining therein a multiplicity of tuft-supporting openings disposed in a plurality of concentrically related annular arrays and coaxially related to selected tuft-receiving openings;

C. a plurality of bristles bundled into a plurality of tufts seated in said tuft-receiving openings and extended through selected tuft-supporting openings and terminating in a terminal plane in a manner such that the tufts are arranged in a plurality of concentric arrays of tufts with the outermost array of said plurality of arrays circumscribing the periphery of said support plate; and

D. adjustable coupling means coupling said support plate with said base plate adapted to be digitated to reposition said support plate to selected positions relative to said terminal plane, whereby the stiffness of said tufts is varied by varying the trim length of said bristles as they extend between said support plate and said terminal plane.

4. The brush of claim 3 wherein the tufts of the outermost annular array of tufts are inclined with respect to the tufts of the adjacent array of tufts.