Patent Grant
9955777
The present invention relates to a twisted wire brush, and in particular, to a twisted wire cleaning brush for cleaning a grill.
A twisted wire brush typically comprises bristles held by and extending radially from a twisted wire core. To form the twisted wire brush, the bristles are inserted between parallel wires while the wires are twisted to press the bristles between the wires. Depending on the application for which a twisted wire brush might be intended, the density of the bristles and the surface area over which the bristles cover can be varied by adjusting the number of bristles, by angling the bristles at multiple angles from the core axis, and by bending the twisted wire core into various shapes. The bristles can also be made of varying materials having varying physical dimensions, flexibility, and other characteristics suitable for the particular application.
In twisted wire brushes built for cleaning applications, in which the brushes are used with relatively strong force to clean, the bristles can be relatively thick in diameter, made of metal, and be relatively rigid. However, despite the relative strength offered by the characteristics of many cleaning brushes, the bristles wear with use, often bending, splintering, and breaking during use. These brushes exhibit limited durability as a result, and can require regular replacement with regular use.
Further, in many instances, worn and damaged brushes can pose a nuisance or a hazard. With grill brushes, for example, a bristle fragment can attach to a grill on which food is cooked, and then find its way into the food that is ingested. The food-borne bristle can be a mere nuisance, or it can wind up causing internal harm to a person that chews and/or swallows the bristle fragment.
It would be desirable to provide a twisted wire brush that can overcome the disadvantages discussed above.
It would be desirable to provide a twisted wire brush that has greater durability, and/or is less prone to bristles breaking, splintering, or fragmenting.
To achieve these objectives, embodiments of and methods of making a twisted wire brush are provided. In one embodiment, a twisted wire brush comprises a twisted wire core, a first length of spring coil, and a second length of spring coil. The twisted wire core comprises a core axis, a first core wire, and a second core wire. The first core wire and the second core wire are intertwined, twisting helically about the core axis. The first length of spring coil has a first diameter and extends about the first core wire. The second length of spring coil has a second diameter and extends about the first core wire. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter and the first length of spring coil extends inside the second length of spring coil. The first length of spring coil and the second length of spring coil are pressed between the first core wire and the second core wire.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the first length of spring coil is less rigid than the second length of spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises a plurality of consecutive 360 degree turns about a coil axis, and given an equal force against the first spring coil and the second spring coil, the 360 degree turns of the second spring coil are deflectable a farther distance in a direction parallel to the core axis than the 360 degree turns of the first spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises a plurality of consecutive 360 degree turns of spring coil wire about a coil axis, and adjacent 360 degree turns of the second spring coil are spaced farther than adjacent 360 degree turns of the first spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the first length of spring coil is more axially compressed than the second length of spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises a plurality of consecutive 360 degree turns of spring coil wire about a coil axis, the first length of spring coil has a first portion with a first number of 360 degree turns per distance in a direction parallel to the core axis, the second length of spring coil has a second portion with a second number of 360 degree turns per distance in a direction parallel to the core axis, and the first number of 360 degree turns per distance is greater than the second number of 360 degree turns per distance.
In some aspects of this embodiment, a spring coefficient of the first spring coil is greater than a spring coefficient of the second spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the material of the first spring coil is more rigid than the material of the second spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises spring coil wire, and the gauge of the spring coil wire in the first length of spring coil is greater than the gauge of the spring coil wire in the second length of spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the twisted wire brush further comprises a third length of spring coil and a fourth length of spring coil, the third length of spring coil having a third diameter and extending about the second core wire, the fourth length of spring coil having a fourth diameter and extending about the second core wire, the fourth diameter being larger than the third diameter and the third length of spring coil extending inside the fourth length of spring coil, the third length of spring coil and the fourth length of spring coil being pressed between the first core wire and the second core wire along with the first length of spring coil and second length of spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the twisted wire brush further comprises a handle.
In another embodiment, a method of making a twisted wire brush comprises providing a first core wire and a second core wire, positioning a first length of spring coil to extend inside a second length of spring coil, the first length of spring coil and the second length of spring coil extending about the first core wire so that the first core wire extends through the first length of spring coil and the second length of spring coil, and twisting the first core wire and the second core wire about a core axis to form a helix, to intertwine the core wires, and to press each length of spring coil between the first core wire and the second core wire.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the method further comprises positioning a third length of spring coil to extend inside a fourth length of spring coil, the third length of spring coil and the fourth length of spring coil extending about the second core wire so that the second core wire extends through the third length of spring coil and the fourth length of spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the first length of spring coil is less rigid than the second length of spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises a plurality of consecutive 360 degree turns about a coil axis, and given an equal force against the first spring coil and the second spring coil, the 360 degree turns of the second spring coil are deflectable a farther distance in a direction parallel to the core axis than the 360 degree turns of the first spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises a plurality of consecutive 360 degree turns of spring coil wire about a coil axis, and adjacent 360 degree turns of the second spring coil are spaced farther than adjacent 360 degree turns of the first spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the first length of spring coil is more axially compressed than the second length of spring coil. In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises a plurality of consecutive 360 degree turns of spring coil wire about a coil axis, the first length of spring coil has a first portion with a first number of 360 degree turns per distance in a direction parallel to the core axis, the second length of spring coil has a second portion with a second number of 360 degree turns per distance in a direction parallel to the core axis, and the first number of 360 degree turns per distance is greater than the second number of 360 degree turns per distance.
In some aspects of this embodiment, each length of spring coil comprises spring coil wire, and the gauge of the spring coil wire in the first length of spring coil is greater than the gauge of the spring coil wire in the second length of spring coil.
In some aspects of this embodiment, the material of the first spring coil is more rigid than the material of the second spring coil.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of a preferred mode of practicing the invention, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The core wires 12 can be strong enough to resist deformation in the twisted state under predetermined pressures that might normally or reasonably be applied during use (e.g., during cleaning), but be deformable in the pre-twisted state under a greater, specified pressure that can be applied during formation of the twisted wire core and the twisted wire brush 10. To be suitable, exemplary core wires 12 can be made of a variety of materials, such as, but not limited to galvanized steel, stainless steel, brass, other metallic materials, plastic, or other materials with similar structural characteristics. Suitable core wires 12 can range in diameter. For example, in some embodiments of a grill brush used for cleaning a cooking grill, the diameter of the core wires 12 can range from about 0.02 inches to about 0.3 inches, though the diameter of other embodiments of a grill brush can be outside this range. Depending on the material, the desired application, and other factors, diameters of core wires 12 can lie significantly outside this range. The core wires 12 illustrated in
Each spring coil 16 is also selected and/or designed, and incorporated into the twisted wire brush to provide relative strength and durability. Suitable spring coils 16 are fashioned from coil wire that can be made from a variety of materials, such as, but not limited to galvanized steel, stainless steel, brass, other metallic materials, plastic, or the like. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
As with the core wires 12, the coil wire can range significantly in diameter. In one embodiment of a grill brush used for cleaning a cooking grill, the coil wire diameter ranges from about 0.01 inches to about 0.10 inches, though suitable diameters in other embodiments of a grill brush can be outside this range. Also, depending on the material, the desired application, and other factors, diameters of the coil wire can be significantly outside this range. Along with the variation in the coil wire diameter, the number of coils per inch of spring coil length, when a spring coil 16 is compressed axially so the coils all touch, can also vary. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
In the twisted wire brush 10, each length of spring coil 16 can be compressed axially so that at least a portion of each consecutive 360 degree turn around a coil axis, within a single spring coil 16, barring any aberrations in the uniformity of the spring coil 16, abuts in an axial direction an immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. An aberration might be caused by one or more unintentional kinks (e.g., atypical or nonuniform bends) in the spring, a nonuniform manufacturing defect, a nonuniformity in the spring coil material, or another undesirable nonuniformity of the spring coil 16 that prevents any particular 360 degree turn from abutting an immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. In some embodiments, barring aberrations, each 180 degree section of a turn abuts in an axial direction an immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. In some embodiments, barring aberrations, each 90 degree section of a turn abuts in an axial direction an immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. In some embodiments, barring aberrations, each 45 degree section of a turn abuts in an axial direction an immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. In some embodiments, again barring any aberrations in the spring coil 16, the spring coil 16 can be compressed axially so that a majority of sections, or all sections, of each consecutive 360 degree turn abuts in an axial direction each immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn.
In some embodiments, all sections of each consecutive 360 degree turn around a coil axis are within about 0.20 inches of each immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. In some embodiments, all sections of each consecutive 360 degree turn around a coil axis are within about 0.15 inches of each immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. In some embodiments, all sections of each consecutive 360 degree turn around a coil axis are within about 0.10 inches of each immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn. In some embodiments, all sections of each consecutive 360 degree turn around a coil axis are within about 0.05 inches of each immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn.
The axial compression adds strength to the twisted wire brush 10, reducing or preventing axial deformation or deflection of individual 360 degree turns in each spring coil 16 during use of the twisted wire brush 10. For example, when each consecutive 360 degree turn around a coil axis, barring any aberrations, abuts in an axial direction an immediately preceding consecutive 360 degree turn, then each 360 turn in each spring coil 16 can lie in a plane approximately perpendicular to the core axis 14 (e.g., perpendicular plus or minus the diameter of the coil wire, or any shift of one or more 360 turns away from perpendicular caused by manufacturing defect or by a force, the latter caused, e.g., by use, misuse, etc.), and the axial compression can resist any force acting to deflect any individual 360 turn of a spring coil 16 out of the approximately perpendicular plane.
The spring constant of the spring coils 16 can vary. A relatively strong spring constant can help each spring coil 16 retain its shape and the desired level of spacing between each 360 degree turn, which can promote a more rigid twisted wire brush 10. A relatively weak spring constant can facilitate flexibility in the spring coil 16, which can promote a less rigid twisted wire brush 10. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
The diameter of suitable spring coils 16 used in the twisted wire brush 10 can range greatly. In some embodiments of a twisted wire grill brush, the diameter of the spring coils 16 can range from about 0.125 inches to about 2.0 inches, though again, depending on the material, the desired application, and other factors, diameters well outside this range can be suitable. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
While the exemplary embodiment depicted in
Referring again to
Each length of spring coil 16 can comprise one or more spring coil segments. If a length of spring coil 16 comprises more than one spring coil segment, then each of the spring coil segments in the length of spring coil 16 can extend consecutively in a lengthwise direction of a core wire 12, the spring coil segments abutting end to end. Forming a length of spring coil 16 from a single spring coil 16 can reduce the possibility of defects, such as, but not limited to, gaps between consecutive spring coil segments extending in a lengthwise direction of a core wire 12 when no gaps are preferable, and free hanging ends of spring coil segments that catch on an object and bend out of shape. Forming a length of spring coil 16 from multiple spring coil segments, however, can reduce the cost of, and/or enable the production of, twisted wire brushes 10 with relatively long core axes when relatively long spring coils 16 are unavailable or cost prohibitive. Forming a length of spring coil 16 from multiple spring coil segments can also facilitate varying the diameter along a single length of spring coil 16.
As illustrated in
Rotating the twisted wire brush 10 about the core axis 14 can also increase the amount of contact over time between a surface area of a flat, planar surface and the twisted wire brush 10. The faster the rotation, the higher the rate new and abrasive contact occurs between the flat, planar surface and the twisted wire brush. An electrically-powered or battery-powered rotation mechanism (not shown) can be incorporated into the twisted wire brush 10 to drive the rotation.
The core axis 14 is illustrated as being straight in
As illustrated in
In the embodiment of
Also in the embodiment of
The method of making the twisted wire brush 60 is similar to the method described above to make the twisted wire brush 10. A difference is that at least one length of superimposed spring coil (comprising a length of outer spring coil 62 extending about a length of inner spring coil 64), rather than a length of spring coil 16, is positioned about at least one of the core wires 12 before the core wires 12 are intertwined by twisting the core wires 12 about the core axis 14. Twisting the core wires 12 presses the spring wires of the outer spring coils 62 and the inner spring coils 64 between the adjacent core wires 12.
The inner spring 64 can provide an inner cleaning portion, such that during use of the twisted wire brush 60, an object to be cleaned that passes through the outer spring coil 62 can strike the inner spring coil 64. This feature can enable the user to use more force with the twisted wire brush 60 on the object to be cleaned than the user otherwise might use, for extra brushing power, while reducing the possibility that the object will pass through the spring coil and strike a core wire 12.
Also, when an object passes through the outer spring coil 62, the outer spring coil 62 can contact and clean further surfaces of the object than it might have otherwise. To promote this benefit, the 360 degree turns of the outer spring coil 62 can be relatively flexible, provided with axial spacing, with relatively little axial compression, such that an object can more easily pass through the outer spring coil 62, or such that larger objects can more easily pass through the outer spring coil 62.
An outer spring coil 62 with relatively flexible, spaced, or deflectable turns can also provide greater conformity to a surface of an object to be brushed or cleaned. The presence of the inner spring coil 64 can facilitate the design of the turns of the outer spring coil 62 to be more flexible, deflectable, and/or spaced by adding a buffer against which an object can strike and be brushed. The greater flexibility, deflectability, or spacing of the turns of the outer spring coil 62 could result in the object passing therethrough, which without the inner spring coil 64, could result in less efficient performance of the tool and/or the object detrimentally striking the core wires 12. The buffer offered by the inner spring coil 64 can reduce or prevent such possible detrimental effects by adding another spring coil cleaning surface, which can be rigid or strongly axially compressed relative to the outer spring coil 62, such that objects will be less likely to pass through the inner spring coil 64 to the core wires 12.
Flexibility and/or spacing of the spring coil turns versus rigidity and/or axial compression of the spring coil turns, as discussed above, is a product of the diameter of the spring coils, the spring coil material, the spring coil wire gauge, the spring coefficient, and the spring coil turns/inch of the spring coils, and the twists per inch of the core wires 12.
For example, the diameter of the inner spring coil 64 is smaller than the diameter of the outer spring coil 62, so the inner spring coil 64 will be more rigid and have individual turns with less deflectability compared to the outer spring coil 62. Accordingly, the relative deflectability of the turns of the outer spring coil 62 relative to the turns of the inner spring coil 64 can be controlled, in part, by selecting the diameters of the outer spring coil 62 and the inner spring coil 64 appropriately. The spring coil material can be selected to be more malleable and/or flexible, or more rigid. The spring coil wire gauge can be selected higher for more rigidity, or lower for less rigidity. The spring coefficient can generally be selected higher for greater rigidity, and lower for less rigidity, while the spring coil turns/inch of the spring coils can be selected higher for less spacing between turns (e.g., greater axial compression), or lower for greater spacing between turns (e.g., less axial compression). Finally, the twists per inch of the core wires 12 affect both the outer spring coil 62 and the inner spring coil 64. Each of these factors can be selected to control the flexibility or deflectability of the outer spring coil 62 and the inner spring coil 64, and they can be selected as desired, within the ranges discussed above with reference to
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| D90523 | Goodfellow | May 1869 | S |
| 138317 | Christoffel | Apr 1873 | A |
| 181532 | Melbert | Aug 1876 | A |
| 422117 | Christoffel | Feb 1890 | A |
| 559905 | Pike | May 1896 | A |
| 761702 | Paradis | Jun 1904 | A |
| 976606 | Schmidmer | Nov 1910 | A |
| 1156683 | Havlicek et al. | Oct 1915 | A |
| 1296719 | Veeck | Mar 1919 | A |
| 1515503 | Lucey | Nov 1924 | A |
| 1576182 | Fletcher | Mar 1926 | A |
| 1588940 | Cave | Jun 1926 | A |
| 1711741 | Nelson | May 1929 | A |
| 1762182 | Mayer | Jun 1930 | A |
| 1910153 | Eisenhut et al. | May 1933 | A |
| 1935128 | Pullman | Nov 1933 | A |
| D98940 | Hertzberg | Mar 1936 | S |
| 2186832 | Hertzberg | Jan 1940 | A |
| 2223783 | Fletcher | Dec 1940 | A |
| 2279209 | Snyder | Apr 1942 | A |
| 2528514 | Harvey et al. | Nov 1950 | A |
| D173852 | Pope | Jan 1955 | S |
| 2792579 | Roy | May 1957 | A |
| 2835392 | Hamilton | May 1958 | A |
| 2897525 | Goodwin et al. | Aug 1959 | A |
| 2913756 | MacFarland | Nov 1959 | A |
| 3112263 | Ellilä | Nov 1963 | A |
| 3337892 | Speyer | Aug 1967 | A |
| 4056863 | Gunjian | Nov 1977 | A |
| 4114221 | Enchelmaier | Sep 1978 | A |
| 4135574 | Treplin et al. | Jan 1979 | A |
| 4192036 | Heymann | Mar 1980 | A |
| 4350202 | Schulz et al. | Sep 1982 | A |
| 4357727 | McDowell | Nov 1982 | A |
| 4389926 | Joyner | Jun 1983 | A |
| 4395943 | Bandli | Aug 1983 | A |
| 4429811 | Bakeman | Feb 1984 | A |
| 4473217 | Hashimoto | Sep 1984 | A |
| 4567917 | Millard | Feb 1986 | A |
| D285487 | Tjernagel | Sep 1986 | S |
| 4667690 | Hartnig | May 1987 | A |
| 4733425 | Hartel et al. | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4782843 | Lapaglia | Nov 1988 | A |
| 4819291 | Gunjian | Apr 1989 | A |
| 4850071 | Lawrence | Jul 1989 | A |
| 4927281 | Gueret | May 1990 | A |
| 4941227 | Sussman | Jul 1990 | A |
| D310123 | Carlson | Aug 1990 | S |
| 5010950 | Voith | Apr 1991 | A |
| 5067195 | Sussman | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5168593 | Poje et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
| 5253386 | LaLonde | Oct 1993 | A |
| 5319823 | Baum et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
| 5339480 | Murg et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
| 5370141 | Gueret | Dec 1994 | A |
| 5452490 | Brundula et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
| 5513410 | Liu | May 1996 | A |
| 5515892 | Najafi et al. | May 1996 | A |
| 5560069 | Berger et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5595198 | Kemmerer | Jan 1997 | A |
| 5611361 | Leone | Mar 1997 | A |
| D380090 | Zemel | Jun 1997 | S |
| 5778476 | Squillaci et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5819354 | Alonso et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| 5836326 | Inkster | Nov 1998 | A |
| 5855219 | Spencer | Jan 1999 | A |
| 5860432 | Gueret | Jan 1999 | A |
| 5894847 | Gueret | Apr 1999 | A |
| 5970989 | Litton | Oct 1999 | A |
| 5970990 | Dunton et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
| D417324 | Faris | Nov 1999 | S |
| 6035907 | DeCoster | Mar 2000 | A |
| 6047432 | Sode | Apr 2000 | A |
| D425668 | Garofano et al. | May 2000 | S |
| 6207113 | Kagaya | Mar 2001 | B1 |
| 6237609 | Vasas | May 2001 | B1 |
| 6241411 | Brieva et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
| 6260558 | Neuner | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6276023 | Grundy | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6279583 | Neuner | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6295994 | Thayer et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 6390708 | Gueret | May 2002 | B1 |
| 6427700 | Leone et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
| 6470897 | Jung et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 6574823 | Stegens | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6823552 | Hillenbrand | Nov 2004 | B1 |
| 6948780 | Litman et al. | Sep 2005 | B1 |
| 6957654 | Montoli et al. | Oct 2005 | B2 |
| 7089946 | Rousselet | Aug 2006 | B2 |
| 7913701 | Dieudonat | Mar 2011 | B2 |
| 8099811 | Gladney et al. | Jan 2012 | B2 |
| 8607398 | Zahoransky et al. | Dec 2013 | B2 |
| 9101205 | Gunjian | Aug 2015 | B2 |
| 20020000016 | Hsieh | Jan 2002 | A1 |
| 20030056809 | Horton | Mar 2003 | A1 |
| 20030060824 | Viart et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
| 20030172485 | Dumler et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
| 20050060825 | Hillenbrand | Mar 2005 | A1 |
| 20050133056 | Montoli | Jun 2005 | A1 |
| 20050172437 | Wachter | Aug 2005 | A1 |
| 20080047086 | Gunjian | Feb 2008 | A1 |
| 20080138138 | Gueret | Jun 2008 | A1 |
| 20090088278 | Sasabe et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
| 20090276973 | Bouix et al. | Nov 2009 | A1 |
| 20100192320 | Borsari et al. | Aug 2010 | A1 |
| 20120082503 | Gueret | Apr 2012 | A1 |
| 20120198639 | Smith | Aug 2012 | A1 |
| 20160128456 | Hashimoto | May 2016 | A1 |
| Entry |
|---|
| U.S. Appl. No. 14/809,363, filed Jul. 27, 2015, Gunjian, Zaven. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170055689 A1 | Mar 2017 | US |
