Patent Application
20080010769
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:
With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the improved cleaning band construction or element according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, has been specifically designed for making a rotary washing brush 2, including a plurality of cleaning band constructions or elements 1, coupled to a central supporting assembly 3, through coupling means 4.
As shown, each cleaning band construction or element 1 comprises a plate body 5 which is advantageously made of a closed cell foamed plastic material, or of a non foamed plastic material, or of a rubber material.
The plate body 5 has a substantially elongated configuration, according to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning band construction, and is bent through 180° to have two free end portions 6 and 7 and a cleaning banding region to be clamped or coupled to the central supporting assembly 3.
According to the present invention, to the free end portions 6 and 7 of the plate body 5, plate-like elements 8, made of a felt or other like material, have been applied.
More specifically, the felt end portions, which have been reduced to an indispensable minimum, provide the advantage that all the water absorbed thereby can be quickly drained, with the consequent further advantage that, during and after the motor vehicle drying operation, none water drop will fall from the washing brush on the motor vehicle body.
In particular, said plate like elements 8 are coupled to said free end portions 6 and 7 of the plate body 5 by seaming or glueing binding methods.
Preferably, each said plate-like element 8 comprises, at the end portion thereof to be coupled to the corresponding end portion of the plate body 5, a cut-out 9 dividing said end portion into a first flap 10 and a second flap or strip 11.
Thus, it is possible to associate the first flap or strip 10 to a side of the end portion of the plate like body and the second flap or strip 11 to the other side of the end portion of the plate body, to provide a very safe connection of the plate like body and the two respective plate elements.
More specifically, the cleaning band construction or element 2 is coupled to said central supporting assembly 3 by coupling means 4 comprising a clamping rod 12, which is engaged in one of the slots formed along the directrix lines of the central support 3.
After the above mentioned engagement, the end portion of the bar or rod 12 will strictly and safely contact the supporting assembly 3, thereby it will be possible to perform safety welding operations.
The coupling means according to the present invention provide a very safe coupling without the need of using specifically designed driving tools and, moreover, allow to reduced to a minimum the physical effort necessary for the coupling.
The rod or bar element 12 is designed as to hold the cleaning band construction or element 1 clamped to the supporting assembly or cylinder 3.
The width of said rod element 12 is designed to provide a plurality of equispaced slots.
It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In fact, the invention provides a cleaning band construction or element which has a base portion of comparatively hard or stiff nature, which does not absorb water, and is moreover provided with sufficiently soft end portions.
This allows to make rotary washing brush assembly of a comparatively small weight, with a consequent power savings and an improved washing operation.
Thus, the cleaning band construction according to the present invention provides a washing assembly operating in very “delicate” manner on the surfaces to be washed, thereby reducing the operation vibrations and assuring a longer life of the washing member supporting bearings.
Furthermore, the rigid nature of the cleaning band construction base provides a very even washing brush, even in a rest condition thereof, that is as the washing brush is not rotatively driven, such as in the motor vehicle washing system switching on and off operations.
Moreover, the felt tips of the cleaning band elements allows to provide a very efficient washing operation, while eliminating the disadvantage of a possible weight increase due to the absorption of water, as in the prior art cleaning band elements fully made of a felt material.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI2006A 001363 | Jul 2006 | IT | national |
