Patent Application
20060130250
The invention is applicable to the field of accessories for machines for cleaning dirty surfaces; in particular it is preponderantly applicable for domestic use, such as for example cleaning car bodywork, or blinds and the like.
The devices are generally constituted by a handle for manoeuvring the brush and a box body which externally terminates with a plurality of soft bristles for cleaning a dirty surface.
The prior art includes an Italian patent, filed by the same application, no. IT 1214945, in which a washing brush is illustrated, activated by the cleaning water.
The device exhibits a tubular body, having a double function, as a handle for manoeuvring the brush and a port for connection to a water-supply source, defining a channel for water that terminates in a box-type body.
The body externally exhibits a plurality of bristles which, when the brush is moved about, eliminate the traces of dirt on a surface.
The use of the device includes a succession of operative stages before a clean surface is obtained.
In a first stage the operator proceeds with a pre-washing stage in which he or she wets the dirty surface and, by brushing the surface with the bristles, effects a first cleaning operation on the surface.
Then, either manually or using another device, the operator proceeds to cover the already-wet surface with a liquid detergent.
In a final stage, and once more using the brush, the surface is rinsed, removing both the layer of detergent and the finer dirt.
Obviously this is a considerably laborious task for the operator, especially bearing in mind the dimensions of some dirty surfaces.
In order to reduce the operative washing times by simplifying the structure, brushes having an integrated reservoir for containing liquid detergent have been developed.
The reservoir is provided at a bottom thereof with detergent passage holes, which can also be termed mixing holes, which mix the detergent directly with water.
In these devices the pre-washing stage and detergent-distribution stage can be combined, simplifying the washing process by reducing working times.
When these devices are put away, after work has finished, if there are traces of detergent still in the incorporated reservoir, they can run into the mixing holes and solidify.
When the brush is taken out to be used again, the functioning thereof is compromised as the mixing holes for the detergent are blocked and will not collaborate in the mixing of the water and detergent.
What is more, these brushes, for ergonomic and design reasons, having the reservoir internally arranged, have the further disadvantage of its being difficult to gain access to the reservoir to free up the mixing holes.
The main aim of the present invention is to provide a brush integrated with a reservoir for liquid detergent which is not hampered by the above-described blocking problem of the mixing holes.
The precise technical objective described and the specified aims are all attained by a washing brush which is characterised in that it comprises one or more of the technical solutions claimed in the accompanying claims.
The washing brush (1) comprises a main body (2) having an inlet (3) connectable to a water supply source and an outlet (4) from which a mixture of water and liquid detergent exits externally of the brush (1). The body (2) is provided with a reservoir (5) for containing a liquid detergent, having a bottom (5a) affording at least a hole (6). Externally of the main body (2) there is a plurality of bristles (7) for removing the dirt, moved by means for transmitting motion (8). The brush (1) is provided with integral means (9) for mechanically removing the liquid detergent remaining at the base of the at least a hole (6).
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows, of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated purely by way of example in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:
With reference to the figures of the drawings, 1 denotes in its entirety a washing brush according to the present invention.
The brush 1 is defined by a main body 2 exhibiting an inlet 3 which is connectable to a water supply source and an outlet 4 through which a mixture of water and liquid detergent terminates externally of the device.
The main body 2 is composed of a handle 25 connected to a box-type body 26, which body 26 is preferably defined by an upper shell 26a and a lower shell 26b, joined one to the other.
The handle 25, which is preferably hollow and tubular, exhibits a first end 25a which enables a connection of the inlet 3 to a water supply source and a second end 25b which enables a connection to the box-type body 26.
An attachment 27 is interpositioned between the body 26 and the handle 25, in proximity of the second end 25b of the handle 25, which attachment 27 exhibits at a first end thereof 27a, facing the inlet 3, a filter 28 which can hold back solid substances suspended in the water, and at a second end thereof 27b, opposite the first end 27a, a nozzle 29 conveying the water flow.
The body 26 is inferiorly provided, at the lower shell 26b, with a disc element 10 inferiorly provided with a plurality of bristles 7 for permitting a washing of a dirty surface.
Means for transmission of motion 8 are present internally of the body 26, which means for transmission can induce a rotation on the disc element 10.
The means for transmission of motion 8 exhibit a bladed impeller 13 and a sprocket 19.
The impeller 13 and the sprocket are both keyed on a first shaft 14 by means of known type.
The impeller 13 exhibits a plurality of blades 18 on a periphery thereof, which are struck by the flow of water crossing the brush 1.
In particular, the nozzle 29 of the attachment 27 causes the flow of water to converge on the plurality of blades 18, inducing the impeller 13 to rotate.
The sprocket 19 is preferably located below the impeller 13.
A reservoir 5 for containing a liquid detergent is located below the body 26.
The reservoir 5 is defined by a recess 21, preferably cylindrical and preferably afforded on the upper shell 26a, which recess 21 functions as a bottom 5a of the reservoir in which at least a hole 6 is afforded for expulsion of the liquid detergent.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures of the drawings at least five holes 6 are present, specially distributed on the circumferential periphery of the recess 21.
In an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, an opening 22 is afforded on the lateral wall of the recess 21.
The opening 22 is a port through which flows the water sent by the plurality of blades 18 of the impeller 13 internally of the reservoir 5, so that the reservoir 5 also functions as a water-liquid detergent mixing chamber.
The reservoir is superiorly closed and sealed by a lid 23.
The lid 23 inferiorly exhibits a prolongation 24, preferably tubular and hollow and couplable with play internally of the recess 21, which terminates with a regular toothing 31 defining a plurality of chambers.
When the lid 23 rotates, the toothing 31 enables a gradual opening or closing of the opening 22.
In a second preferred embodiment, not illustrated in the accompanying figures on the lateral wall 21 of the recess 21, no opening is afforded 22.
In this embodiment the liquid detergent percolates, through the hole 6, into the underlying zone to mix with the water turbulently internally of the body 26. With the moving of the regular toothing 31 more or fewer holes 6 on the bottom 5a of the reservoir 5 can be opened or closed, to vary the quantity of water-detergent mixture exiting from the brush 1, or only liquid detergent should the second embodiment be used.
Below the bottom 5a of the reservoir 5 there are means 5 for mechanically removing any traces of liquid detergent left on the base of the at least a hole 6, which means 9 are mobile with respect to the reservoir by means of a transmission 8.
The means 9 for mechanically removing comprise a disc element 10 and at least a projection 11 located on a back of the disc element 10.
The disc element 10, which faces the reservoir and is below it, is inferiorly connected to the plurality of bristles 7.
The disc element 10 is crossed by at least an opening 30 afforded thereon, which enables a mixture of water and liquid detergent to exit.
A toothing 20 is present on the periphery of the disc element 10.
The toothing 20 is mechanically connected to the sprocket 19, in such a way that the sprocket 19 transmits rotary motion to the disc element 10, which in turn moves the plurality of bristles 7.
The disc element 10 is superiorly connected to the at least a projection 11.
The projection 11, preferably defined by a rectangular tooth 12, extends from disc element 10 up until it contacts with the bottom 5a of the reservoir 5.
The tooth 12, when it rotates, being solidly constrained to the disc element 10, drags on the bottom 5a of the reservoir and describes a circular crown trajectory, interesting at least a hole 6.
Thus, by a scraping/dragging action the means 9 for mechanically removing proceed to remove any traces of detergent remaining in the hole 6 which may have solidified.
The removal occurs through contact, but is also aided by an aspiration effect generated and amplified by the high speed of rotation of the disc element 10.
The tooth 12 is preferably made of a synthetic material so that when dragging on the bottom of the reservoir 5 it does not cause any lacerations.
In the preferred embodiment the means for scraping/dragging are composed of at least three teeth 12.
Each tooth 12 of the at least three teeth has a different radial distance from the centre of the disc element 10 as the disc element 10 is arranged eccentrically with respect to the reservoir 5.
This is the preferred solution because in this way not one tooth 12 alone scrapes away the solidified detergent on the various holes 6.
Thus, should a tooth 12 break and therefore become incapable of removing the solidified detergent from a hole 6, there are still other teeth remaining which work on other holes 6; in other words the water-liquid detergent mixture is not prevented from exiting from the brush.
A further advantage of the invention is given by an acceleration in the liquid detergent or water-detergent mixture exit, caused by the rapid passage of the teeth at the bottom orifice of the holes 6.
This advantage also means that high-viscosity detergents can be used.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| RE2004A000135 | Nov 2004 | IT | national |
