1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of brushes. In general, the brush assembly may be useful for cleaning, abrading, scraping, cutting or removing debris from any surface, including wooden, metal or ceramic surfaces. The invention may also be used to shape, texturize or otherwise prepare a surface.
2. Description of the Related Technology
The adequate sterilization of grated cooking surfaces, such as grills and ovens, is essential to proper food preparation and maintaining one's health and well-being. Ideally, cooking surfaces should be regularly cleaned before and after usage to remove any food particles or debris that may propagate bacteria or other contaminants. Regular cleaning can also prolong the lifespan of cooking surfaces and kitchen appliances.
Brush assemblies having wire bristles are common, as are brushes designed for cleaning grated surfaces. These conventional brushes, however, provide minimal abrasive surfaces, lack durability, typically are difficult to clean, and provide inadequate cleaning capabilities. Conventional brushes are ineffective in part because they are poorly designed. Typically, these brushes include a plurality of bristles that have a limited working surface, i.e. the bristle tip. The smooth elongated shaft, which comprises the majority of the bristle, by contrast has no abrasive structure. Furthermore, because the force applied to a brush is concentrated at the bristle tips, conventional brushes tend to scratch delicate surfaces in the course of cleaning.
Conventional bristles also lack durability. Bristle tips lack resilience and quickly become permanently deformed with repeated wear and upon the accumulation of debris on and between the bristles. Because of its inelastic properties, conventional bristles may be subject to fracture. Consequently, pieces of the bristles may separate from the brush and contaminate food or food preparation surfaces. Conventional brushes therefore have a very limited life expectancy.
Additionally, conventional brushes typically have a number of crevices and tightly packed bristles which are difficult to clean. This tight packed design promotes the accumulation of debris between bristles and in crevices, which is unsanitary, propagates bacteria and further contributes to brush degradation. Notably, these brushes do not include openings at the base of the brush or other means to enable debris removal. Conventional brushes, therefore, frequently need to be replaced after only a few uses.
Moreover, conventional brushes are generally ineffective in removing debris from grated surfaces. The inelastic deformable cylindrical bristles or soft sponge material of conventional brushes are inadequately designed to efficiently and effectively clean between and around grate bars. Consequently, these brushes are difficult to use and are inadequate for sanitizing grated cooking surfaces.
A need exists for an improved brush assembly and method of use to enable effective cleaning of grated surfaces, particularly grated cooking surfaces. To address the above concerns, the novel brush assembly of the present invention is designed for efficient, effective and effortless cleaning. Furthermore, it has a unique ergonomic design that facilitates use and is further durable, dishwasher safe and inexpensive to manufacture.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved brush assembly, method of use and method for making. The invention is directed to a brush assembly having a handle and brush head. The brush head includes a housing, a scraper blade attached to a front of the housing, wherein the scraper blade has a blade scraping edge and a plurality of resilient abrading springs mounted to said housing, wherein the abrading springs include a plurality of abrasive elements positioned on a surface of the abrading springs.
a) is a cross-section of
b) is a close-up of the spring bristle of
c) is an exploded view of the spring bristle of
d) is a bottom view of the spring bristle of
a) is a side view of a spring bristle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
b) is a perspective and side view of a spring bristle having a braided wire configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
c) is a perspective and cross-sectional view of a spring bristle having a braided wire configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
a) is a cross-section of the sheath of
b) is a perspective view of the sheath of
a) is a perspective view of a sheath in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
b) is a perspective view of the sheath of
c) is a perspective view of a spring tip in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
a) is a side view of a brush assembly comprising a handle, brush head and working spring abraders in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
b) is a perspective view of
c) is a bottom view of
a) is a front view of
b) is a front view of
c) is a side view of the working springs of
d) is a cross-section of two working springs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
a) is a cross-section of
b) is a working spring adjustment mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
c) is a top view of a suspension spring in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
d) is a front view of a suspension spring in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
e) is a side view of a suspension spring in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
a) is a side view of a brush assembly comprising a handle, brush head and hinged spring abraders in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
b) is a perspective view of
c) is a bottom view of
d) is a front view of
a) is a close-up of the hinged spring of
b) is a cross-section of the hinged spring of
a) is a side view of
b) is a perspective view showing a brush head including a hinged spring and working spring in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
c) is a perspective view showing a brush head including a hinged spring and spring bristles in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
d) is a perspective view showing a brush head including a working spring and a spring bristle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
a) is a perspective view showing a palm handle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
b) is a perspective view showing a pistol grip handle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
For illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referencing various exemplary embodiments thereof. Although certain embodiments of the invention are specifically described herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to, and can be employed in other apparatuses and methods. Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of any particular embodiment shown. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Further, although certain methods are described with reference to certain steps that are presented herein in certain order, in many instances, these steps may be performed in any order as may be appreciated by one skilled in the art, and the methods are not limited to the particular arrangement of steps disclosed herein.
It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a bristle” includes a plurality of bristles and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. As well, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. For purposes of the present invention, the term, “work”, “worked” or “working” may refer to a wide variety of functions, including: cleaning, abrading, scraping, cutting a material from, removing a material from, shaping, texturing, preparing a surface or any combination thereof.
The present invention relates to a novel brush assembly and method for use thereof that may be used to effectively and efficiently clean, abrade, scrape, cut debris from, remove debris from, shape, texture, prepare a surface or any combination thereof. This technology may be predicated upon the importance of: enhancing abrasion effectiveness and minimizing surface damage by providing one or more highly flexible spring abraders and/or scraper blade; increasing efficiency by positioning abrasive elements on substantially all available surfaces of one or more scraper blades, spring abraders and/or component of brush head; and effectively preventing the accumulation of debris within the brush assembly by providing an open housing and/or plow shield to expel dislodged debris.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structures throughout the various figures,
Variations of brush head 2, handle 4 and their components are described below. Specifically,
Brush head 2 may include a housing 6 having any structure, shape or configuration that protects, provides a mounting surface for and/or transfers a force from handle 4 to spring abraders 12 and scraper blade 8. Housing 6 may be constructed from a frame 16 suitable for mounting a plurality of spring abraders 12 and an outer shell 15.
As shown in
As shown in
In the exemplary embodiment of
Modular frame component 26 may be removably mounted to any surface of frame 16, including ledge 16 and/or strut 18, or other surface of housing 6 via conventional fasteners, such as a rail, apertures for receiving threaded fasteners, snap fit component, latching mechanism or quick connect mechanism that cooperates with the fasteners of frame 16. In an alternative embodiment, modular frame component 26 may be integrally formed with ledge 20 of frame 16 or any other surface of housing 6.
Modular frame component 26 may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as metal, plastic, ceramic or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, modular frame component 26 may be designed to resist deformation and may be constructed from a material that has a high compressive strength, such as stainless steel. In another embodiment, modular frame component 26 may be fabricated from a flexible and resilient material that imparts flexibility to and offsets the stiffness of spring abraders 12. The material may also be constructed from a thermoplastic.
Housing 6 may further include a shell 17 having any structure, shape or configuration suitable for protecting the components of brush head 2 and for connecting brush head 2 to handle 4. In an exemplary embodiment, shell 17 may be a substantially continuous exterior covering that protects the various components of brush head 2.
In an alternative exemplary embodiment, shell 17 may have one or more openings 14 designed to allow debris passing between and/or through spring abraders 12 to be easily expelled through housing 6. Openings 14 may prevent accumulation of debris within the brush assembly 100 that would clog or inhibit the efficiency of brush head 2, facilitates cleaning of the brush assembly 100 and/or provides a clear field of view of a surface as it is being worked.
In an exemplary embodiment, housing 6 may have an open framework wherein shell 17 is constructed from one or more strut 18 and may be arranged with one or more frame 16 to create a three dimensional lattice structure. Each frame 16 may be connected to one or more struts 18 to form one or more opening 14 through which debris is expelled. Additionally, the surface of frame 16 and/or strut 18 may be directionally tapered, grooved or otherwise contoured to guide debris out of brush head 2. Housing 6 may include one or more openings 14 positioned above, to a rear of and/or to a side of spring abraders 12. In an exemplary embodiment, housing 6 may have one or more central openings positioned above spring abraders 12 sized to receive a user's hand or tool, such as a screw driver or brush, and two or more side openings to facilitate cleaning, repair, assembly or adjustment of brush head. These openings may further provide a clear field of view of the surface being worked. Openings 14 may have any shape, size or configuration suitable for expelling debris removed by spring abraders 12, such as elliptical, circular, triangular, rectangular, square, trapezoidal shape or any combination thereof.
Referring to the exemplary embodiment of
In another exemplary embodiment shown in
Housing 6 may be fabricated from any suitable material suitable for mounting spring abrader 12 and force transference, including metals, plastics, ceramics or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, housing 6 may be designed to resist deformation and may be constructed from a material with a high compressive strength, such as stainless steel. Housing 6 may also be fabricated from a flexible and resilient material that imparts flexibility to and offsets a stiffness of spring abraders 12 and/or scraper blade 8. An exemplary material may be a thermoplastic high-temperature polymer with a low durometer, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK). One or more surfaces of housing 6, preferably, an entire structure of, may have a non-stick coating, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris from adhering to a surface of housing 6.
One or more scraper blades 8 may be integral with or removably attached to housing 6 and may function to provide a first macrocleaning pass of a surface. When applied to a grate, scraper blades 8 may be designed to remove debris from an upper surface of the grate bars, which may clog, damage or otherwise impede the operation of spring abraders 12 that are intended for finer work. Additionally, one or more scraper blades 8 may extend outward from brush head 2 and/or housing 6 so as to sit on and support brush assembly 100 above one or more grate bars. Therefore scraper blades 8 may rest on top of one or more grate bars while spring abraders 12 that may either be suspended between and/or rest on top of the grate bars.
As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, scraper blade 8 may be adapted to clean a grate structure. Scraper blade 8 may have a contoured blade edge 24 that is shaped to correspond to the spacing and position of a set of grate bars. Specifically, the curvature of blade edge 24 may either be customized, such as by using a wire form, to correspond to a specific set of grate bars or may be designed to correspond to an average or weighted average spacing of various grate bars. In an exemplary embodiment, blade edge 24 may have a scalloped configuration or have abrasive elements 28 that are periodically positioned so as to conform to the shape and/or spacing of a grate bar. In an exemplary embodiment shown in
A plurality of abrasive elements 28, such as protrusions, teeth, serrations, ridges, barbs, spikes, dimples, threads, hooks, coils, rasps, graters, any conventional abrasive contours or any combination thereof, may be positioned on a plurality of surfaces of brush assembly 100, including blade edge 24 to enhance working efficiency. Depending on the application and/or placement, abrasive elements 28 may be a planer or a three dimensional structure. Abrasive elements 28 may be immobile or independently movable relative to the surface on which they are mounted. In an exemplary embodiment, abrasive elements 28 may be configured as tapered protrusions, such as wedges, pyramid shaped teeth, flat triangular shaped teeth, serrations, or any combination thereof, that extend outwards from blade edge 24 and/or any other surface of scraper blade 8 or housing 6 and may be oriented parallel to the bars of a grate. Abrasive elements 28 may have any geometries shape that increases the amount of scraping surface contact area per given area of the abrasive element. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
Abrasive elements 28 may be positioned along any surface of scraper blade 8, including along a blade edge 24, an upper surface of blade body 22 and/or a lower surface of the blade body 22. The surface of scraper blade 8, specifically blade body 22, may be punched to form dimples or grating surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, abrasive elements 28 may be suspended downward from a lower surface of scraper blade 8 and/or housing 6 to form a set of bottom teeth that function to dislodge debris using either a slicing action or by a pounding or striking action. Abrasive elements 28 may be arranged in one or more rows or may be staggered to further enhance abrasiveness.
One or more scraper blade 8 may be either integrally formed with or removably attached to any surface of housing 6, such as a front, back or side, so that it may be pointed in any direction, such as a forward, backward, side or diagonal direction. In an exemplary embodiment, scraper blade 8 may be attached to an external surface of housing 6, an edge of housing 6, a central region of housing 6, frame 16, ledge 20, modular frame component 26, strut 18 or any combination thereof. These scraper blades 8 may substantially surround a perimeter of housing 6. In another embodiment, two or more scraper blades 8 may be attached to opposite ends, such as a forward and a rear region, opposing side regions, of housing 6.
In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of scraper blade 8 may be attached to an external surface of housing 6, an edge of housing 6, a central region of housing 6, frame 16, ledge 20, modular frame component 26, strut 18 or any combination thereof so that blade edges 20 may substantially surround housing 6. Scraper blade 8 and/or blade edges 20 may have a curved, circular, elliptical, linear, rectangular, square, trapezoidal, pointed, triangular shape or any combination thereof and may further include a plurality of abrasive elements 28.
In an exemplary embodiment of
Scraper blade 8 may be fabricated from any suitable material suitable for enabling abrasion, including metals, plastics, ceramics or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, scraper blade 8 may be designed to resist deformation and may be constructed from a material with a high compressive strength, such as stainless steel. Scraper blade 8 may also be fabricated from a flexible and resilient material. An exemplary material may be a thermoplastic high-temperature polymer with a low durometer, such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK). One or more surfaces of scraper blade 8, preferably, an entire structure of, may have a non-stick coating, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris from adhering to a surface thereof.
As shown in
Plow surface 30 may have any shape, size or configuration suitable for mass debris removal. It may include a planar, sloped and/or curved region for retaining and removing accumulated debris. In an exemplary embodiment, plow surface 30 may be a planar surface that is angularly oriented relative to a blade edge, a concave surface or a V shaped surface.
Plow shield 10 may be fabricated from any substantially flexible and non-deformable material, such as metal, plastic, ceramic or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, plow shield 10 may be composed of stainless steel; cast zinc or aluminum with a chrome finish; a thermoplastic high temperature-grade polymer such as those in the ABS family, or a super polymer such as PEEK. Plow shield 10 may also be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris removed from a surface from adhering to plow shield 10.
In an exemplary embodiment, plow shield 10 may be either integrally formed with or removably attached to, using a standard fastening mechanism, such as a snap fit, latching means or a male/female connector, housing 6 and/or one or more scraper blade 8. Additionally, plow shield 10 maybe positioned adjacent to one or more blade edge of scraper blade 8 to guide debris removed by blade edge away from the brush assembly. One or plow shields 10 may be connected to a forward facing blade edge, one or more sideways facing blade edges and/or a backward facing blade edge.
In the exemplary embodiments shown in
As shown in the exemplary embodiments of
Brush head 2 may further include one or more spring abraders 12. Spring abrader 12 may have at least one edge or tip capable of effectively working a surface and may be particularly suited for microcleaning and removing fine particulates. Additionally, one or more, preferably multiple surfaces of spring abrader 12 may be textured and/or contoured with abrasive structures. In an exemplary embodiment, spring abrader 12 may have a substantially 360° textured or contoured surface that enhances frictional contact with a surface to be cleaned, abraded, scraped, cut, shaped, textured or otherwise prepared. Specifically, all faces, such a front, back and sides, of a spring abrader 12, edges and/or tips may be contoured. Exemplary spring abraders 12 may have a coefficient of friction of about 1 to about 2.5. Although capable of cutting through, removing and/or scraping away debris, spring abraders 12 may be highly flexible and therefore may be operated on any surface, including wooden, ceramic, metal or plated surfaces, without marring, scratching or otherwise damaging the surface. In an exemplary embodiment, based on Hooke's law, spring abrader 12 may have a spring constant of about 2.2 kN/m to about 15 kN/m, preferably about 5 kN/m to about 15 kN/m. In an exemplary embodiment, spring abraders 12 may be capable of sustaining 5-20 lbf over a range of 0.25 inches to about 0.4 inches. In an exemplary embodiment, spring abrader 12 may have a variable spring rate to enable adjustability. Abraders 12 may also have variable wire diameters, coil diameters, pitch, handedness, coil density, coil rise angle, spring constants, deflection or any combination thereof. These properties may also change throughout the working spring. Furthermore, spring abraders 12 may also be arranged in rows, staggered or otherwise spaced apart to prevent the debris build-up and facilitate cleaning of the brush assembly.
Spring abraders 12 may be integral with or removably mounted to housing 6. In an exemplary embodiment, spring abrader 12 may be removably mounted to enable replacement of worn-out parts and facilitate cleaning of brush assembly 100. Spring abrader 12 may be attached to an external surface of housing 6, an edge of housing 6, a central region of housing 6, frame 16, ledge 20, strut 18 or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, spring abrader 12 may be fastened to housing 6 with one or more conventional fasteners, such as latches, snap fits, male and female connectors, threaded mechanisms or any combination thereof.
Spring abrader 12 may also be directly or indirectly mounted to housing 6. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
In an exemplary embodiment, spring abraders 12 may have a wide variety of configurations suited to different functions and surfaces. Exemplary spring abraders 12 may include a spring bristle 40, a working spring 42 or hinged spring 44.
As shown in
Suspension mechanism 46 may be any flexible suspension means, perpendicularly or angularly mounted with respect to housing 6, frame 16, modular frame component 26 or any combination thereof, that enables a wide range of multi-planar motion of spring bristle 40. Preferably, suspension mechanism 46 may be capable of enabling horizontal, vertical, angular and rotational bending movement of shaft 48 and spring bristle 40. Suspension mechanism 46 therefore enables shaft 48 and spring bristle 40 to bend, minimizing or eliminating the occurrence of fatigue or fracturing. In an exemplary embodiment, suspension mechanism 46 may be adjusted to provide shaft 48 and spring bristle 40 with a wide range of motion and enhanced flexibility. In an exemplary embodiment, suspension mechanism 46 may have a degree of flexion of about, more preferably about and most preferably about. In an exemplary embodiment, suspension mechanism 46 may also have a spring constant of about 2.2 kN/m to about 15 kN/m, preferably about 5 kN/m to about 15 kN/m. An exemplary suspension mechanism 46 may have a variable spring rate to enable adjustability. Suspension mechanism 46 may be fabricated from any flexible and resilient material, such as a metal, including tempered and non-tempered metals, plastics, such as thermoplastics, ceramics, or any combination thereof. The material in these embodiments will be spring steel quality, and will be treated to obtain optimum properties between toughness and strength. An exemplary material may be a hardened stainless steel having a gauge of at least 1060. Suspension mechanism 46 may also be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris from adhering to suspension mechanism 46.
Suspension mechanism 46 may have any flexible and resilient structure, preferably a resilient coiled suspension spring, a cantilever spring or a buckling column. In an exemplary embodiment, a coiled suspension spring may be constructed from one or more filaments 50, such as a flexible and resilient wire. Exemplary filaments 50 may be contoured, have a braided configuration or any combination thereof. In another exemplary embodiment, suspension mechanism 46 may include two or more filaments 50 that are braided together, such as stainless steel contoured wires that are braided together to enhance resilience, strength and abrasive surface area of suspension mechanism 46.
In an exemplary embodiment, suspension mechanism 46 and/or the filaments 50 may be contoured or other wise shaped to enhance the abrasive properties of spring bristle 40, as shown in
In a first exemplary embodiment spring bristle 40, spring bristle 40 may consist one or more of the aforementioned suspension mechanism 46. With respect to the coiled spring embodiment of suspension mechanism 46, the body of the coiled spring may include an elongate hollow coiled body, such as a cylindrical column of coils, ending at a tip. The exposed tip may be coated or blunted to protect the surface being worked. In an exemplary embodiment where the coil is constructed from filaments that are braided together, the exposed tip may be fused or otherwise closed, coated, blunted or any combination thereof. In an alternative embodiment, a distal region of the coil may be fused and the tip may have a plurality of splayed filaments to prevent unraveling. In another exemplary embodiment, the ends may form a closed loop, and the closed loop may be flattened.
In a second exemplary embodiment of suspension bristle 40 shown in
Rod 52 may be any standard connector suitable for fastening suspension mechanism 46 to sheath 64. In an exemplary embodiment, rod 52 may be used to adjust the stiffness of suspension mechanism 46 by immobilizing a portion of suspension mechanism 46. As shown in
Sheath 64 may be integrally or removably attached, using any conventional fastener, to rod 52. In an exemplary embodiment, sheath 64 may be removably attached to rod 52 in order to facilitate repair and/or to allow a user to exchange and select from a variety of different sheaths 64 that may be suitable for different applications. In an exemplary embodiment, sheath 64 may be configured as a bristle head, including a bristle plate 58 and a plurality of bristles 60 extending therefrom. As shown in
Bristle 60 may include one or more filaments 50, as discussed above. Filaments 50 may have a sufficient stiffness to effectively work a surface while maintaining a sufficient flexibility to resist deformation and prevent damaging a surface. In an exemplary embodiment, filaments 50 may be contoured, have a braided configuration or any combination thereof. In another exemplary embodiment, bristles 60 may include two or more filaments 50 that are braided together, such as stainless steel contoured wires that are braided together to enhance resilience, strength and abrasive surface area of bristle 60.
Other embodiments of sheath 64 that may be compatible with rod 52, including the various sleeve formations of
In a third exemplary embodiment of spring bristle 40, suspension mechanism 46 may be may be integrally formed with or otherwise attached to shaft 48 to effectively work a surface. Suspension mechanism 46 may also be configured to reinforce, offset, compliment or otherwise cooperate and enhance the capabilities of shaft 48. In one embodiment, the stiffness of a rigid shaft 48 may be offset by a flexible suspension mechanism 46, thereby producing a spring bristle 40 that is durable, gentle and effective for working a surface. In another embodiment, the stiffness of suspension mechanism 46 may also be adjusted by any conventional means. When spring bristle 40 is resting, shaft 48 may be either aligned in the same plane as or oriented at an angle with respect to suspension mechanism 46. In an exemplary embodiment, shaft 48 may be capable of multidirectional bending with respect to suspension mechanism 46. In an alternative embodiment, shaft 48 may be stiff and wherein a sheath 64 or spring tip 68 provides multi-axial movement. In an exemplary embodiment, shaft 48 may have a flexibility of −2.2 kN/m to about −15 kN/m, preferably about −5 kN/m to about −15 kN/m. An exemplary shaft 48 may have a variable spring rate. Alternatively shaft 48 may have a limited degree of motion with respect to suspension mechanism 46. Shaft 48 may have any suitable configuration and may be fabricated from any suitable material that resists deformation and that enables efficient working. Exemplary materials may include metals, plastics, including thermoplastics, ceramics or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, shaft 48 may be fabricated from a hardened stainless steel having a gauge of at least 1060. Shaft 48 may also be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris removed from a surface from adhering to shaft 48.
In an exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
In another exemplary embodiment, shaft 48 may optionally include a sheath 64, which may encompass a portion of, more preferably the entire length of shaft 48. Sheath 64 may be fabricated from any suitable material, preferably a hardened stainless steel having a gauge of at least 1060. Sheath 64 may also be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris removed from a surface from adhering to sheath 64. The surface of sheath 64 may include a plurality of abrasive elements 28, such as grooves, serrations, notches, protrusions or abrasive additives, designed to facilitate scraping and cleaning of any surface. In an exemplary embodiment, sheath 64 may be removably attached to shaft 48. Therefore, when abrasive elements 28 become dull from repeated use, sheath 64 may be removed from shaft 48, and shaft 48 be used to work a surface. Alternatively, a new sheath 64 may be attached to shaft 48. Sheath 64 may therefore be useful for protecting shaft 48, thus extending the life expectancy of the brush assembly. In another exemplary embodiment, sheath 64 may be permanently or integrally formed with shaft 48 using any suitable conventional means, such as an epoxy adhesive. Sheath 64 and/or the abrasive elements 28 of sheath 64 may also be configured to catch debris in only one direction to facilitate the removal of debris and cleaning of sheath 64.
As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, a spring tip 68 may be integrally formed at the tip of or otherwise attached to shaft 48 as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In a first embodiment shown in
In this embodiment, brush head 2 may include one or more sets of working springs 42 having different properties, as shown in
A set of second working springs 74 may be configured to effectively work an upper portion of a grate. Second working springs 74 may have a plurality of individual coils 68 or group of coils 68 that are more tightly packed and may be less flexible than that of the first working springs 72. Coils 68 may either be uniformly or irregularly spaced along the length of its coiled body 37. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment, second working springs 42 may have a variable spring constant or a spring constant of about 2.2 kN/m to about 15 kN/m, preferably about 5 kN/m to about 15 kN/m. The outer diameter of second working spring 74 may be about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches. The pitch may be about 32 per inch to about 5 per inch. The compressive strength of the spring may be small.
Brush head 2 may include a plurality of first working springs 72, second working springs 42 or any combination thereof to effective clean multiple surfaces of a grate or cross-bar. In an exemplary embodiment, first working springs 72 may be arranged in a plurality of rows within brush head 2. As the brush head 2 is pressed against a grate, first working springs 72 are seated between the grate bars 1 while second working spring 74 conforms to the upper surface of the grate bars 1. Linear movement of the coils along the grate removes residue from the top and side portions of the bars 1. Rows of second working springs 74 may be interspersed between first working springs 72. In an exemplary embodiment, first and second working springs 72, 74 may be arranged in alternating rows. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in
Working spring 42 may be mounted to housing 6, frame 16 and/or modular frame component 26 using any suitably flexible suspension spring 70. Suspension spring 70 may have a flexible spring body 81 integrally or removably attached to a distal end of working spring 42 and a fastener 82 that for mounting to housing 6, frame 16 and/or modular frame component 26. In an exemplary embodiment, spring body 81 may be configured as length of a linear or curved resilient spring wire. Spring body 81 may also be an extension of working spring 42. In an alternative embodiment, spring body 81 may have the same shape, configuration as the hinged springs 44 and/or individual segments 88 described below wherein spring body 81 is a resilient cantilever beam having no predisposed structural memory for permanent deformation.
Fastener 82 may be any conventional fasteners, such as a length of wire, threaded means, or eyelet, for connecting the distal ends of working spring 42 to housing 6, frame 16 and/or modular frame component 26. In an exemplary embodiment, fastener 82 may be a threaded means, such as a screw, around which spring body 81 may be wrapped. The screw may then be secured to an aperture positioned on housing 6, plate 16 and/or modular frame component 26.
Depending upon the location of fastener 82, suspension spring 70 may be vertically, horizontally or angularly suspended from housing 6, frame 16 and/or modular frame component 26 so as to enable a wide range of multi-planar motion of working spring 42. Two or more working springs 42 may be mounted at the same or different elevations with respect to one another. By varying the elevation at which one or more working springs are mounted, this design may facilitate the intended operation of first working spring 72 and second working spring 74. Specifically, first working spring 72 may be mounted at a lower elevation than second working spring 74 so that first working spring 72 may scrape a side surface of grate bar 1 while second working spring 72 scrapes an upper surface of grate bar 1. Alternatively or in addition to, plate 36 or any rigid structure anchored to a bottom surface of housing 6, frame 16 or modular frame component 26, may be used to apply pressure against select working springs 42, such as first working springs 72, forcing them between grate bars 1 while other working springs 42. These structures may be intermittently positioned so that only a select number of working springs 72 are forced between grate bars 1 while other working springs 74 rest on an upper surface of the grate bars 1.
In an exemplary embodiment, due to the variability in grate bar spacing, working springs 42 may be manually adjusted to accommodate multiple surfaces having different grate spacing or configurations. In an exemplary embodiment, shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
In a second embodiment shown in
Unlike the first working spring embodiment, in this embodiment only one set of working springs 42 need be employed to clean both an upper and side surface of grate bar 1. In this embodiment, when pressure is applied to brush head 2, the entire length of coiled bodies 37 of working springs 42 located between grate bars 1 may automatically be squeezed between grate bars 1. Other working springs that are positioned on top of grate bars 1 may rest on an upper surface thereof upon application of pressure. In an exemplary embodiment, a central aperture 69 of coils 68 may have a diameter that generally correspond to the spacing between the grate bars 1. This configuration may facilitate the sliding of working spring 42 between grate bars 1. Notably, due to the resilient spring property of first working spring 42, coils 68 automatically expand or contract to complement a grate surface; therefore, the diameter of a central aperture 69 of coils 68 need not precisely match the spacing between grate bars 1. The flexibility of working spring 42 enables it to conform to a wide variety of different grate configurations. In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of a central aperture 69 of coils 68 may be about 0.22 inches to about 0.46 inches, preferably about by 0.31 inches to about 0.46 inches, more preferably, about 0.34 inches to about 0.46 inches and most preferably, about 0.35 inches to about 0.45 inches. In an exemplary embodiment, working springs 42 may have a variable spring constant or a spring constant of about 2.2 kN/m to about 15 kN/m, preferably about 5 kN/m to about 15 kN/m.
Although not required, brush head 2 may also include a second set of working springs 42 having a larger central aperture 69. The larger diameter may be used to ensure that the working springs 42 remain positioned on an upper surface of the grate bars 1. In this exemplary embodiment, working springs 42 may have a variable spring constant or a spring constant of about 2.2 kN/m to about 15 kN/m, preferably about 5 kN/m to about 15 kN/m. The outer diameter of working spring 42 may be about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches. The pitch may be about 32 per inch to about 5 per inch. In another exemplary embodiment, one working spring 42 may have a diameter of about 0.34 inches while another set of working springs 42 may have a larger diameter of about 0.40 inches. The compressive strength of the spring may be small.
In an exemplary embodiment, these two types of workings springs 42 may be arranged in alternating rows. In another embodiment, the smaller diameter working springs 42 may be positioned within the larger diameter working springs 42. Additionally, larger diameter working spring working spring 74 may be mounted to housing 6 and/or modular frame component 26 a higher or lower elevation than the small diameter working spring 42.
The previously described suspension spring 70 and/or adjustment mechanism 72 may also be used in association with the second working spring embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, suspension spring 70 may be a rigid spring wire that can hold working spring 42 at a downward inclined, horizontal or upward inclined elevation. The rigidity and ability of suspension spring 70 to maintain a position or angular orientation affects the operation of working springs 42.
In this embodiment, a distal end of spring body 81 connected to working spring 42 may be positioned substantially in a center or middle region of an end coil 68 of working spring 42. This position ensures that working spring 42 maintains a substantially uniform formation when a force is applied to a length of coiled body 37. Therefore, when working spring 42 encounters a grate bar, the entire coiled body 37, rather than only the portion of working spring 42 immediate to the point of contact, responds to the applied force. Preferably, the entire length of coiled body 37 uniformly responds to applied force. The distal end of spring 81 connected to working spring 42 should be positioned so that the proximal end of spring body 81 mounted to housing 6 and spring deform in the manner of a torsion spring.
In other applications or under other circumstances, positioning the distal end of spring body 81 at an upper region, lower region, side regions or along the perimeter of an end coil 68 of working spring 42 may be desirable.
The angular orientation of spring body 81 may also affect the ability the ability of working spring 42 to slip between a grated surface. When spring body 81 is inclined at an upward angle relative to the site of mounting, this position may induce working spring 42 to sit atop a grate bar 1. Alternatively, when spring body 81 is oriented at a downward angle relative to the site of mounting, working spring 42 may be induced to slip between grate bars 1 upon an application of force. In this embodiment, spring body 81 may be angled in an upward direction relative to the site of mounting any where between about 0 to about 30 degrees or angled downward relative to a site of mounting between about 0 to about 30 degrees.
Additionally, the length of spring body 81 may further affect the ability of working spring 42 to slip between a grated surface. The longer spring body 81, the more flexible working spring 42 and the more easily working spring 42 may squeeze between grate bars 1. In an exemplary embodiment, brush head 2 may include a plurality of workings springs 42 having spring bodies 81 of different lengths. Brush head 2 may include a plurality of working springs 42 having suspension springs 70 with short spring bodies 81 designed to sit on top of a grate bar 1 and working springs having suspension springs 70 with long spring bodies 81 to facilitate abrasion of a side of a grate bar 1. In an exemplary embodiment, the length of spring body 81 may be between 1 to about 5 inches.
Working springs 42 of the aforementioned embodiments may have any shape, size and configuration suitable for their aforementioned functions. In an exemplary embodiment, coils 68 may be circular, oval, rectangular, square, triangular or any other suitable geometric configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, the working springs may have a variable wire diameter, coil diameter, pitch, handedness, coil density, coil rise angle, spring constant, lateral deflection. These properties may also change throughout the working spring.
Working spring 42 may be fabricated from any flexible material that retains a sufficient amount of tension to enable scraping, including metals, including tempered metals, non-tempered metals and memory metals like nitinol, plastics, such as thermoplastics, ceramics or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, working spring 42 may be a flexible gauge stainless steel or a hardened stainless steel having a gauge of at least 1060. A brass and/or ceramic material may be particularly well suited for minimizing and/or preventing damage to a surface. Working spring 42 may also be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris from adhering to working springs 42. Working spring 42 may further be heat treated to enable operation at high temperatures.
In an exemplary embodiment, working spring 42 may be constructed from one or more filament 50, as discussed above. In an exemplary embodiment, filaments 50 may be contoured, have a braided configuration or any combination thereof. In another exemplary embodiment, working spring 42 may include two or more filaments 50 that are braided together, such as stainless steel contoured wires that are braided together to enhance resilience, strength and abrasive surface area of working spring 42.
As shown in the exemplary embodiments of
Hinged spring 44 may have any configuration suitable for enabling effective and efficient surface work. In a first exemplary embodiment shown in
One or more surfaces of segments 88 may be partially or entirely covered in previously mentioned abrasive elements 28. In an exemplary embodiment, abrasive element 28 may have a grater configuration with a plurality of cutting edges 96 surrounding an aperture 98 to create a puckered structure, as shown
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
In an alternative embodiment, both the proximal end 91 and the distal end 92 may be anchored to housing 6, frame 16 or a modular frame 26. Each segment 88 would then function like a leaf spring that rides up a down while attached at the two ends. In some instances, hinged spring 44 may also include segments 88 that are hinged at a distal end 92 as well as segments 88 that are hinged at both ends 91,92.
Hinged spring 44 may be fabricated from any material, including metals, plastics, such as thermoplastics, ceramics or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, hinged spring 44 may be constructed from a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel, specifically stainless steel having a gauge of 1060.
In operation, when pressure is applied from the handle to the curved body of the hinged spring 44, tip 94 may deflect upwards and roll back and forth or side to side, enabling the hinged spring 44 to more closely conform to and remove debris from a surface. Each segment 88 of hinged spring 44 may independently respond to the applied force by moving in one or more directions. Debris may be removed from a surface as abrasion elements 28 and edges 102 of segments 88 roll and bend over the surface. Hinged spring 44 and segments 88 function as cantilever beams with a free end that moves vertically up. Upon deflection, a normal force is applied to the scraping surface. Upward deflection of body 86 may be resisted and restricted when the vertical movement of proximal end 91 hits and is restricted by housing 6, frame 16 and/or modular frame component 26. These structural stops limit blade flexion, focus the energy of attack and/or prevent undue stress and fatigue of hinged spring 44. The hinged spring end 92 and various stop structures function to prevent hinged spring 44 from permanently deforming. Specifically, they inhibit hinged spring body 86 and/or individual segments 88 from inverting or moving in a direction that would induce permanent deformation.
Fingers 104 may have any suitable configuration that allows for flexibility and facilitates the gathering and removal of debris. In an exemplary embodiment, finger 104 may have one or more flexible members, such as a flexible finger body 110 and a flexible finger tip 112, angularly oriented with respect to one another to facilitate scraping and/or debris removal. In one embodiment, finger tip 112 may be aligned with finger body 110 so as to form an integral structure having a flat blade like construct. Alternatively, finger tip 112 may have an acute, obtuse or oriented at a right angle with respect finger body 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the angle between finger body 110 and a finger tip 112 may be about 5 to about 45 degrees. Finger body 110 and finger tip 112 may have any shape size or configuration. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
Each finger tip 112 terminates in a finger scraper edge 114, which may be contoured with abrasive elements 28 to facilitate abrasion. A surface of finger tip 112 and/or finger body 110 may also include one or more abrasive structures 28 to facilitate scraping. In an exemplary embodiment, the abrasive structures 28 as previously in the embodiment of
A distal end of fingers 104 may be attached to base 106. Base 106 functions to restrict flexibility of fingers 104 in an upward deflection to prevent deformation and overextension of hinge spring 44. Additionally, the upward deflection of fingers 104 may further be restricted by adjacent structures, such as housing 6, scraper blade 8, frame 16, modular frame component 26 or any combination thereof.
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
Hinged spring 44 and/or fingers 104 may have any geometric shape, such as a rectangular, circular, elliptical or curved shape. In an exemplary embodiment, hinged spring 44 and/or finger scraper edge 114 may form a collective curved configuration, pointed configuration or other geometric shape that optimizes cleaning capability. To optimize removal of entrained debris, hinged spring 44 and/or finger scraper edge 114 may have a curved geometry wherein a first set of fingers create a leading edge of abrasive contact followed by subsequent abrasive contact from adjacent fingers 104.
Hinged spring 44 may also be fabricated from any suitable flexible material that retains a sufficient amount of tension to enable scraping, including metals, including tempered metals, non-tempered metals and memory metals like nitinol, plastics, such as thermoplastics, ceramics or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, hinged spring 44 may be a flexible gauge stainless steel or a hardened stainless steel having a gauge of at least 1060. A brass and/or ceramic material may be particularly well suited for minimizing and/or preventing damage to a surface. Hinged spring 44 may also be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris from adhering to hinged spring 44. Hinged spring 44 may further be heat treated to enable operation at high temperatures.
In operation, when pressure is applied from handle 4, fingers 104 may deflect upwards, enabling hinged spring 44 to more closely conform to and remove debris from a surface. Upward deflection of fingers 104 may be restricted by the adjacent surfaces and structures of hinged spring 44, namely scraper blade 8, frame 16, modular frame component 26, housing 6, handle or adjacent hinged springs 44 or any combination thereof. Stop structures may also be attached to any portion of the brush assembly 100. In an exemplary embodiment, hinged spring 44 may also include stops that limit the flexion of fingers 104 in order to focus the energy of attack and prevent undue stress and fatigue of hinged spring 44. Hinged spring 44 may be designed to allow fingers 104 to react to the contour of the scraping surface and lock in an attack configuration to enable efficient cleaning and avoid deformation due to excessive flexion. Applied pressure from handle 4 may be concentrated at finger tips 112 of fingers 104, to either create an effective scraping force or to gather debris.
As demonstrated by the exemplary embodiments of
To facilitate operation, spring abrader 12 may be attached to a power source, such as a motor, that may automate the working process. In one embodiment, the motor may be used to motorize the entire head. The power source may be capable of imparting motion to select or all elements comprising brush head 2, modular frame 26, frame 16 and/or spring abrader 12. In an exemplary embodiment, the power source may adjust, orient, angle, rotate, twirl, bend or otherwise impart motion to spring bristle 40. Similarly, it may be capable of adjusting, orienting, angling, rotating, or otherwise imparting motion to working spring 42. In another exemplary embodiment, it may also adjust, orient, angle or otherwise impart motion to hinged spring 44. The power source may also selectively impart motion to individual spring bristles 40, working springs 42, hinged spring 44 or any combination thereof. Alternatively, power may be supplied to automate a group of spring abraders 12. The power source may be built into the handle 4 and/or brush head 2. Alternatively, the power source may be a removable attachment that may be inserted between brush head 2 and handle 4. The power source may also be used to power other features of brush assembly 100 including lights or other electronic equipment attached thereto.
Brush assembly 100 may further include a handle 4 having any configurations suitable for efficiently transferring an applied force to brush head 2. Handle 4 may be designed to ergonomically facilitate gripping, effectively orient brush head 2 relative to a surface and enhance the pressure applied to a surface. In the simplest design, handle 4 may be a surface of brush head 2 that a user may grip.
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
Handle 4 may be fabricated from any material including metal, plastic, such as a thermoplastic, ceramic or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, handle 4 may be fabricated from ABS plastic.
In another exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in the exemplary embodiments of
In the alternative exemplary embodiment of
The various handles of the present invention may be designed to maximize the amount of force applied to effectively work a surface while reducing the amount of stress and effort required by a user. Handle 4 may be efficiently designed to provide comfort, power and control during operation. Additionally, the ergonomic design of handle 4 allows a user to grip the brush assembly 100 with one hand or apply pressure with two hands.
Handle 4 may be integrally or removably attached to brush head 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
Handle 4 may be removably attached to brush head 2 using any standard fastening means 142 and corresponding mating feature 143, such as a snap junction, a male/female connector, a threaded mechanism or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, fastening means 142 is a male/female modular docking mechanism that enables handle 4 to be removably attached to brush head 2 by pressing button 144.
In addition to the aforementioned features and components of brush head 2 and handle 4, brush assembly 100 of the present application may further include a number of optional features, such as a hand shield 146, a sweep brush 148, a liquid dispenser 150, a light 152, a thermometer 154 and power source 158. These features are designed to improve the cleaning capability of the brush assembly 100 and may be operable with any of the above embodiments of brush head 2 and handle 4.
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
Hand shield 146 and flange 160 may extend from or may be attached to any portion of brush head 2 and/or handle 4. In an exemplary embodiment, hand shield 148 may be configured to encase a portion or the entire length of user's hand and/or forearm. As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, brush assembly 100 may include multiple hand shields 146 or multiple flanges 160 that surround hand gripping portions of handle shaft 118, such as handle end 118, palm handle 128, pistol grip components 130, 132, handle frame 138 or any combination thereof. These flanges 160 may function as heat sinks to dissipate heat. As shown in
Hand shield 146 may be constructed from any suitable material capable of protecting a user's hand from dislodged debris and severe heat, such as metal, plastic, ceramic or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, hand shield 146 may be constructed from a thermally insulated material such as a thermoplastic. In another exemplary embodiment, hand shield 146 may be constructed from stainless steel.
Brush assembly 100 may further include a sweep brush 148 that may function to remove and/or disperse residue dislodged by spring abrader 12, scraper blade 8, plow shield 10 or any combination thereof. Sweep brush 148 may include a plurality of sweep bristles 164 and a platform 165.
Sweep brush 148 may be constructed from a plurality of sweep bristles 162 having any suitable size, dimension or configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may have different lengths to accommodate multiplaner surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, each sweep bristle 162 may incorporate a plurality of elements. In an exemplary embodiment each bristle may have any where between 1 to about 7 elements, such as filaments 50, per bristle. Sweep bristles 162 may have a length of about 0.5 inches to about 5 inches and may have a diameter of about 0.0625 to about 0.25 inches. Sweep bristles may be thinly or thickly set. In an exemplary embodiment, sweep brush 148 may have about 12 wires that are widely spaced apart. Sweep bristles 162 may be arranged in one or more rows wherein sweep bristles 162 are offset, parallel, or splayed relative to one another to facilitate debris removal and cleaning of the brush assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may be mounted with a directional bias to facilitate sweeping. In an exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles may also be highly flexible having a spring constant of about 2.2 kN/m to about 15 kN/m, preferably about 5 kN/m to about 15 kN/m. Additionally sweep bristles may include a plurality of abrasive elements 28 positioned along a surface thereof, preferably on all 360 degree surfaces thereof.
In one exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may have the same structure, configuration and material composition as shaft 48. In this embodiment, sweep bristles 162 are preferably a braided and contoured wire rope. The sweep bristles 162 may be strong and highly flexible wires. The ends of sweep bristles 162 may be fused, splayed out, flattened or blunted, such as by applying a material coating. The ends of the wires may bend upon contacting a surface.
In another exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may be strong, flexible pins, which are pre-threaded, contoured or otherwise textured so as to have a substantially 360° degree abrasive surface area. The relative thickness and dimension of the pin may be similar to a standard pin or sewing needle.
In another exemplary embodiment, the sweeping filaments may be an array of chains, preferably chains which have been contoured or otherwise textured so as to have a substantially 360° degree abrasive surface area. The suspended chains may be substantially strong and flexible to work a surface. In another exemplary embodiment, sweep brush 148 may be configured as a coiled spring. In one embodiment, it may have the same properties and characteristics as that of working spring 42 or spring tip 68. Moreover, sweep brush 148 and/or sweep bristles 162 may be configured to catch debris in only one direction in order to facilitate the removal of debris and cleaning of sweep brush 148.
In an exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may further have a spring suspension system have the same structure, configuration and material as suspension mechanism 46 to which any of the aforementioned configurations of sweep bristles 162 may be attached.
Sweep brush 148 and/or sweep bristles 162 may be mounted to a surface of housing 6, frame 16, modular frame component 26, handle 4 or any combination thereof. Sweep brush 148 and/or sweep bristles 162 may be located immediately behind, along a perimeter of or at a distance from spring abrader 12, scraper blade 8, plow shield 10 or any combination thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may be attached to a platform 165 that may be detachable from brush assembly 100, enabling the sweep brush 148 to function as an independent and separate brush. Platform 165, shown in
The sweep brush 148 may further include a moving frame that may be mounted to the platform to selectively immobilize a length of sweep bristles 162 and thereby control the stiffness of the sweep bristles 162. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame may be configured as a checkerboard with slots for individually receiving one or more sweep bristles. Additionally, the frame may also be used to clean sweep bristles 162. As it is raised and lowered against sweep bristles 162, it may be used to scrape away debris located on the sweep bristles.
Sweep brush 148 may be fabricated from any resilient flexible material that may enable efficient working, such as metals, plastics, such as thermoplastics, ceramics or any combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may be constructed from flexible stainless steel spring wire. Additionally, sweep bristles 162 may be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, to prevent debris removed from a surface from adhering to the sweeping filaments. In an exemplary embodiment, sweep bristles 162 may be composed of a material that is strong, sufficiently flexible to resist deformation, efficiently abrasive, rust resistant and fracture resistant.
As shown in
As shown in
Also shown in
The brush assembly 100 of the present invention has a number of advantageous features that enable it to effectively and efficiently work any surface, including grated surfaces, in a minimal number of passes. Specifically, its highly flexible components, open architecture, plow, plurality of abrasive elements, and adjustability allow for effective use in a wide variety of applications. The highly flexible and resilient nature of scraper blade 23, spring abrader 12, suspension systems or any combination thereof ensures that the surface being worked incurs minimal or no damage, scoring, or marring. Additionally, the flexibility and resilience of these components minimizes brush assembly 100 wear and prevents fracturing or deformation of spring abraders 12.
Furthermore, an open housing prevents the accumulation of debris within the brush assembly. By quickly guiding debris out of the brush assembly, this open design facilitates debris removal and prevents clogging and premature degradation of spring abraders 12. Similarly, by enabling mass removal of debris removed by scraping edge 23, the plow also prevents the accumulation of debris within the brush assembly.
The brush assembly 100 may further include abrasive elements, such as scraper blade 23 and spring abraders 12, having a plurality of abrasive surfaces that enhance the working efficiency of the brush assembly. Furthermore, because the abrasive mechanisms and other elements of the brush assembly 100 have numerous contact points, the applied force is more evenly distributed to a surface being worked, thereby preventing or minimizing damage to a surface being worked.
Moreover the brush assembly 100 and one or more of its various components may be adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of surfaces and applications. For example, the brush assembly 100 may include a number of interchangeable modular frame components 26 having different spring abraders 12, brush heads 2, handles 4 adapted for different applications. The angle of orientation, elevation, and flexibility of spring abraders 12 may also be manually adjusted. Moreover, the brush assembly 100 and its various components may be weatherproof, rustproof, dishwasher safe, easy to clean, ergonomically designed and easy to use.
The brush assembly 100 of the present invention may be used for a wide variety of applications. In particularly, it may be specifically well suited for cleaning grated surfaces, particularly grated cooking surfaces, such as grills and ovens. In an exemplary embodiment, spring abraders 12 and the various other abrasive elements of the brush assembly 100 may be capable of removing carbonized food residue entrained on a surface. Specifically, brush assembly 100 may be effective for cleaning grills fabricated from various materials, such as cast iron, stainless steel, porcelain-coated cast iron, porcelain-coated steel, porcelain coatings, and chrome plating. Notably, the brush assembly 100 of the present invention may capable of effectively removing debris without scoring, marring or otherwise damaging the surface of the grill bars or other grill surfaces. Additionally, because the components of the brush assembly 100 may be coated with a non-stick material, such as a non-toxic fluoropolymer resin or Teflon®, debris removed from a surface does not adhere to and interfere with the functional components of the brush assembly.
Although the brush assembly 100 may be particularly well adapted for cleaning any grated surface, it may also be equally effective for cleaning, abrading, scraping, cutting a material from or removing a material from any surface. Brush assembly 100 may further be used to shape, texturize or otherwise prepare a surface. The brush assembly 100 of the present invention may be used on any surface, including wood; ceramic, such as porcelain, china and clay; metal; a plated surface or any combination thereof. It is envisioned that the brush assembly 100 of the present invention may be used for conventional grinding, sanding, and/or polishing applications. In another embodiment, brush assembly 100 may be used to remove wallpaper remover. The brush assembly 100 may also be effective for various dental applications, such as cleaning tooth enamel.
An exemplary embodiment of the brush assembly 100 includes a handle 4 having a length of about 14 inches and a diameter of at least 1.25 inches.
Spring bristle 40 preferably is fabricated from a 1×7 coiled suspension spring 8, having a width of about 0.375 inches, fabricated from braided contoured stainless steel wires. Integral with the suspension spring is an elongated shaft 48, about 1 inch in length, that is also fabricated from braided contoured stainless steel wires. The braided stainless steel wires are about 1/16 inches in diameter. The wires are 1060 hardened steel wires and have a square cross-section with a dimension of about 0.625 inches by 0.625 inches.
Spring bristles 40 are arranged to correspond to universal grill bar spacing, about 0.75 inches. Spring bristles 40 are regularly spaced through the brush assembly 100 and mounted in 0.75 inch intervals. The braided wires enable stiff scraping of the sides of the grate bars 1.
The brush assembly 100 also comprises a plow shield 10 having scalloped edges. The points of the scalloped edges are also spaced 0.75 inches apart to align accommodate universal grill bar spacing.
An exemplary spring bristle 40 comprises a coiled suspension spring 8 attached to a sheath 64 having a length of about 0.75 inches and a diameter of about 0.35 inches.
An exemplary brush head 2 comprises an outer set of braided contoured stainless steel first working springs 72 including multiple groups of coils, wherein each group has a length of about 0.375 inches and include about three coils, at regularly spaced intervals of about 0.3125 inches. First working spring 72 has an overall length of about 3.125 inches. The edge of braided contoured stainless steel first working spring 72 is flat to facilitate cutting. First working spring 72 has a slinky like flexibility but a significant amount of tension to enable scraping. First working springs 72 are attached to a worm gear or rotational gear to adjust the spacing, location and orientation of first working spring 72.
Second working spring 74 preferably is fabricated from braided contoured stainless steel wire having a square cross section. Second working spring 74 has about 35-45 tightly packed regularly spaced coils about 0.5 inches in height over a length of 3.125 inches. Second working spring 74 is located within first working spring 72.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61101096 | Sep 2008 | US | |
61025059 | Jan 2008 | US |