Brush

Abstract

A brush structure includes a handle mounting cleaning elements attached to the handle by a single shank. Preferably the brush structure has elongated and substantially axially parallel cleaning elements each having a single shank which is joined to a main shank and which is mountable with the handle.

Description

Numerous types of cleaning instruments and brushes are known in the prior art as operable to clean uniformly spaced objects, such as venetian blinds, combs, grills, etc. Nevertheless, the same prior art devices when fitted with brushes or brush-like cleaning elements, are not easily cleaned themselves nor the brush portion of the cleaning device easily replaced when worn out as may be necessary. Other prior art multiple element brushes have the elements thereof individually removably mounted with a handle. However, these devices have a practical disadvantage in that usually the elements will wear out all at once; thus individual replacability is virtually useless.

In one preferred specific embodiment of this invention, a brush structure includes a plurality of elongated cleaning elements each with an individual shank portion connected to a main shank portion which is mountable in a handle. The cleaning elements are preferably elongated cylindrical bristle brushes arranged in a trifurcated configuration relative to the main shank and handle. The bristles of the brushes are preferably intermeshed on their adjoining peripheral portions and arranged in a substantially parallel relation relative to one another. The main shank of the brushes can be removably mountable with the handle or it can be permanently mounted with the handle.

One object of this invention is to provide a brush structure overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a brush structure having a trifurcated brush assembly removably mountable with a handle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a brush structure having elongated and trifurcated brush elements permanently mounted in a handle.

Yet, an additional object of this invention is to provide a brush structure with three cleaning elements which is adapted for the cleaning of an object simultaneously on two sides of the object as the object is moved between the elongated brush elements.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the wide side of the brush structure with the main shank passageway shown therein in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the narrow side of the brush structure with the brush assembly permanently mounted in the handle assembly;

FIG. 3 is a bristle end view of the brush assembly showing the intermeshing bristles; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view partially in cross-section of a portion of the removable brush assembly brush structure showing the main shank portion of the brush assembly and attaching portion of the handle.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the brush structure of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a brush structure of this invention, is shown therein and generally indicated at 10. The brush structure 10 includes a plurality of brushes comprising a brush assembly 12 mounted with a handle 14 which are connected by a main shank 16. The brush structures are shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 with the main shank portion 16 removably mountable in the handle 14, and shown in FIG. 2 with the main shank portion 16 permanently mounted in the handle 14.

The brush assembly 12 preferably includes three elongated cleaning elements or brushes indicated at 18, 20 and 22. Each of the individual brushes 18, 20 and 22 have individual shank portions respectively indicated at 24, 26 and 28. The shank portions of the outer brushes 24 and 28 are turned inwardly toward the center shank member 26 to achieve the trifurcated support configuration. The specific and preferred arrangement of the brushes 18, 20 and 22 is with their elongated axes oriented parallel, in a single plane, and spaced sufficiently close together so that the adjacent end portions of the bristles will intermesh. FIG. 3 is an end view of the unattached end of the brush assembly 12 showing the intermeshed and spaced relationship of the cleaning elements 18, 20 and 22. In the spaced relationship of the cleaning elements it is to be noted that only the adjoining end portions of the brush bristles are in contact as is indicated at 30 and 32.

The preferred construction of the brush assembly incorporates the use of individual brush members which are constructed of bristles mounted in a twisted wire frame. The specific brush bristles used in the construction of the brush structure 10 of this invention will depend upon the intended use of it. Obviously in some applications of the brush structure 10, the use will require hair bristles and in others flax bristles and in still others bristles of an inert material may be necessary. The twisted wire frames of the individual bristles 18, 20 and 22 are indicated respectively at 34, 36 and 38 in FIG. 2; they extend the length of the bristle portion of the brush and extend therefrom forming the shank portions 24, 26 and 28. As can be seen in FIG. 4 the three individual shanks 24, 26 and 28 are twisted together into a main twisted shank indicated at 40. In one preferred specific embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the main twisted shank 40 is directly mounted permanently in the handle 14 by the use of an adhesive or the like to secure it in a passageway formed in the handle. In another preferred specific embodiment of this invention, as is shown in FIG. 4, the main twisted shank 40 is imbedded in a fixture which is removably mountable in a passageway formed in the handle 14.

In the permanently mounted configuration of the brush assembly 12 with the handle 14, the twisted shank 40 is simply inserted in a passageway 41 at one end of a handle as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this permanently mounted brush structure the twisted shank 40 is held in place in the handle by an adhesive material or some other material so that the main shank 40 is permanently and rigidly fixed in the handle 14. In the removably mountable configuration of the brush structure 10, the twisted shank 40 is secured in a mounting fixture 42 as is shown in FIG. 4. The end portion of the handle as shown in FIG. 4 has a passageway therein indicated at 44 in which a mounted fixture 46 is secured. The mounted fixture 46 is adapted to engage with and retain the mounting fixture 42. As can be seen in FIG. 4 the mounting fixture 42 and mounted fixture 46 are provided with cooperating threaded surfaces which enable the main shank portion 16 to be threadably engaged with the handle 14. A locking washer 48 is provided to fit around the mounting fixture 42 so as to retain the main shank 16 in a fixed relation to the handle 14 when the mounting fixture 42 is drawn up into the mounted fixture 46. In the drawn up position a flange 50 on the mounting fixture is closely adjacent to a flange 52 on the mounted fixture and the lock washer 48 is positioned therebetween, holding them in a locked relation.

It is to be noted that other cooperatively engagable configurations of the mounting fixture and mounted fixture other than the threaded configuration shown in the drawings will function in a similar manner to hold the shank portion 16 and handle portion 14 in the engagable removable relation. Such other configurations which will function similarly to the threaded configuration shown herein include cylindrical and polygon shaped fixtures having means to cooperatively engage with one another and lock with one another in a rigid position. Other configurations of the mounting fixtures can be such as would include magnetic, adhesive or compressive components adapted to attach the brush assembly 12 and handle 14 in a substantially rigid relation.

The handle 14 of the brush structure of this invention is provided with means to attach the brush assembly 12 on one end thereof and means to grasp the handle by hand on the remaining portion thereof. The simple handle 14 as shown in the drawings is provided with indentations on its brush end portion and a straight grasping portion 56 on its remaining portion. The indentations 54 in practice have been found helpful to provide support for a person's thumb and forefinger when grasping the handle 14 during its use. The handle 14 shown in the drawings is shown to illustrate one type of handle which can be used with the brush structure 10 of this invention. It is to be noted that other styles and shapes and designs of handles can be used to replace the handle 14 shown in the drawings. Other handles usable with the brush structure of this invention can include handles specifically designed to be gripped either by the right or left hand or handles designed so as to be attachable to an extension member, and other handles designed with shields and so forth on the brush end portion thereof.

In the manufacture of the brush structure 10 of this invention, it is obvious that the brush assembly 12 can easily be constructed of conventional brush materials and by conventional brush manufacturing techniques so as to achieve the end product. Likewise, it is obvious that the handle 14 can be constructed simply as shown in the drawings in order to achieve the end product of the brush structure. The brush assembly 12 can be constructed so as to have the individul cleaning elements 18, 20 and 22 of different densities of bristles, and same can be constructed with brisles of different materials. The handle 14 obviously can be easily constructed and attached to the brush assembly 12 in a permanently mounted configuration and can also be easily constructed in a removably mountable configuration.

In the use and operation of the brush structure 10 of this invention, it is seen that same provides a trifurcated brush structure having elongated and parallel cleaning elements which are adapted to pass over, alongside and between objects for the cleaning thereof and same is provided with a handle. The brush structure of this invention, due to its trifurcated and parallel brush assembly, is particularly adapted to use for the cleaning of grill structure, such as oven grills, fireplace grills, barbecue grills, and the like, where the cleaning elements can be passed alongside and between the structural grill members. Also, due to the specific construction of the brush assembly, it is also particularly well adapted for use in cleaning any object wherein two sides of the object are to be cleaned and can be passed between the cleaning elements, such as decorative scrolls, table legs, and the like. In the use of the brush structure of this invention, it is obvious that same provides a brush structure wherein the brush assembly portion thereof is removable from the handle, so that the handle portion of the structure can be re-used once the brush assembly is no longer usable and must be discarded. In the permanently mounted configuration of the brush structure, it is obvious that the brush assembly can be used in the same manner to clean objects as the removably mounted configuration and the brush completely discarded when desired.

As will become apparent from the foregoing description of the applicant's brush structure, relatively inexpensive means have been provided to accomplish the herein described brush structure. The brush structure is economical to manufacture, simple to use, attractive in appearance, and can be provided with a re-usable brush assembly mountable with the handle or can be provided as a complete permanently connected brush and handle.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A brush comprising:

a. a handle,

b. a plurality of substantially axially parallel cleaning elements each individually having a shank portion joined to a main shank in a trifurcated relation.

c. means to attach said main shank to said handle,

d. said cleaning elements are elongated and trifurcated in a corresponding relation from said main shank,

e. said cleaning elements are brushes, each having a twisted wire frame,

f. said means to receive said main shank is a passageway in one end portion of said handle,

g. said main shank has said brush shank portions joined in a twisted integral overlapped relation, and

h. said main shank is rigidly mounted in said handle passageway.

2. The brush of claim 1, wherein:

a. said main shank is mounted in a mounting fixture,

b. said passageway having a mounted fixture therein to threadably receive said mounting fixture, and

c. said means to attach having a locking washer mounted about said mounting fixture and engageable with a flange of said mounted fixture to anchor said main shank in a fixed position.