BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of the brush head in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the brush head depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the brush head depicted in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the brush head in the OFF position;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the brush head in the HIGH water flow position; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the brush head in the LOW water flow position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments of the invention, an examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. An exemplary embodiment of the brush head of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and is designated generally throughout by reference numeral 10.
As embodied herein, and depicted in FIG. 1, a top view of the brush head in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. Brush head 10 includes a body member 12 having a brush 50 attached thereto. Body member 12 includes an integrally formed collar 20. Collar 20 includes a threaded socket (not shown) that is configured to mate with brush handle 40. Handle 40 is configured to be coupled to a source of pressurized fluid to thereby deliver fluid to the brush head for application to the surface being cleaned. A retaining cap 42 is disposed over the end of handle 40. The rate of fluid flow is controlled by a three-position valve (not shown in FIG. 1) disposed in body member 12.
Valve control knob 30 is mounted on collar 20 and is in operative communication with the three position valve. FIG. I shows control knob 30 in the OFF position. The user may rotate control knob 30 to adjust the setting of the valve between a high-flow rate setting 34, the OFF position, and the low-flow rate setting 36. Control knob 30 includes valve position indicia 32 to provide the user with a valve setting indicator. Accordingly, when valve position indicia 32 is aligned with setting 34, indicia 32 also points to indicia 16 to indicate that the valve is operating in a high-flow rate mode. When indicia 32 is aligned with setting 36, it also points in the direction of indicia 18 to indicate that the valve is operating in a low-flow rate mode. As noted above, when indicia 32 is aligned with indicia 14, the user understands that the valve is in the OFF position.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are alternate views of the brush head 10 depicted in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of brush head 10. FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of brush head 10. Each of these Figures feature sudsing capillaries 52 disposed in the sponge brush 50. The capillaries 52 are in communication with a fluid reservoir (not shown) disposed in body member 12.
Referring to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of brush head 10 in the OFF position is shown. Handle 40 includes a threaded connection nozzle 44. A fluid delivery tube 48 is disposed within both nozzle 44 and handle 40. Spring member 46 provides a tensile force that maintains the relative positions of nozzle 44 and fluid delivery tube 48. Threaded male nozzle 44 is configured to mate with the threaded female connection fitting 22 disposed within collar 20. Once nozzle 44 is rotated into place, the end of the nozzle abuts three-position valve 300.
Valve 300 is disposed between fluid delivery channel 48 and fluid reservoir 60. Of course, the very function of valve 300 is to control the amount of fluid that may be directed into reservoir 60. Valve 300 is a cylindrically shaped fitting which is disposed in a cylindrical cavity formed in body member 12. The cylindrical space is formed by structural member 66, wall member 62, and an end portion of female connection fitting 22. Valve 300 includes a valve actuation portion 308 that is connected to control knob 30. When control knob 30 is actuated, valve 300 rotates within the aforementioned cylindrical space.
Valve 300 has a central cylindrical flow chamber 302 formed about the valve's longitudinal central axis. Valve 300 also includes an annular flow chamber 304 disposed a predetermined radial distance from the valve's central longitudinal axis. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the annular chamber 304 only partially extends around cylindrical chamber 302. As noted above, FIG. 4 shows brush head 10 in the OFF position. Accordingly, valve 300 is positioned such that valve wall 306 seals the fluid delivery channel 48 disposed in handle 40. As such, no fluid may enter either central chamber 302 or annular chamber 304. Thus, in the OFF position valve provides a water-tight seal between the input port and the reservoir 60.
Reservoir 60 is formed by body member 12 and structural member 66. Body member 12 includes an exterior wall 120 that is shaped to provide the interior volume of reservoir 60. Structural member 66 includes an integrated upper plate and the cylindrical member that accommodates valve 300. The cylindrical member is disposed within the interior volume, whereas the upper plate member encloses the interior volume formed by body member 12. Reservoir 60 further includes weep holes (not shown) that are in fluidic communication with the sudsing capillaries 52 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Structural member 66 includes fluidic channels 64, 68. Channels 64, 68 allow fluids to be directed from valve 300 into reservoir 60.
The valve assembly, including the valve 300 and control knob 30, and the body assembly, which includes body 12 and structural member 66, may be fabricated from any suitable materials including metallic materials such as steel, aluminum, or metallic alloys, and/or suitable plastic materials.
Note that an upper portion of exterior wall 120 is connected to brush member 50 by an adhesive. Below that, adhesive pad 54 is disposed between wall 120 and brush 50. Pad 54 performs an important function. It creates a gap 56 between sponge 50 and wall 120. The fluids directed out of the reservoir weep holes (not shown) are collect in gap 56 until they are absorbed by sponge 50 and directed out of capillaries 52.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that valve control mechanism of the present invention may be employed in other applicators as well as in the brush-head applicator described herein.
Referring to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of the brush head in the HIGH water flow position is shown. When control knob 30 is rotated in the clock-wise direction to high-flow setting 36 (See FIG. 1), valve 300 is likewise rotated to allow fluid to flow between handle delivery channel 48 and reservoir 60. In particular, note that central chamber 302 is connected to an intake port 308. When valve 300 is rotated in the clockwise direction, intake port 308 is aligned with fluid delivery channel 48. because the fluid is under pressure, it is directed into chamber 302 and follows the path provided by outflow port 310. The fluid is then directed into groove 312 formed in valve exterior wall 306. The clock-wise rotation of valve 300 also aligns fluidic channel 64 with groove 312. Thus, fluid begins to fill reservoir 60. Subsequently, the fluid is directed out of the reservoir weep holes, into gap 56, and out from sudsing capillaries 52.
Referring to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of the brush head in the LOW water flow position is shown. When control knob 30 is rotated in the counter-clock-wise direction to low-flow rate setting 34 (See FIG. 1), valve 300 is also rotated in the counter-clock-wise direction to allow fluid to flow between delivery channel 48 and reservoir 60. In particular, when valve 300 is thus rotated, intake port 314 is aligned with fluid delivery channel 48. The rotational movement also aligns outflow port 316 to reservoir intake channel 68. However, annular chamber 304 is connected to a smaller intake port 314 and the flow is thus restricted. Again, because the fluid is pressurized, it is directed into annular chamber 304. The fluid flows through annular chamber 304 and into reservoir 68, via the fluidic path formed by port 316 and channel 68. Again, the fluid begins to fill reservoir 60, albeit at a lower rate.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Patent Application
20070280775
