GB2207858A - Cleaning brush - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning brush comprises a brush body 2 rotatably mounted on and biased axially by a spring 13 towards a brush holder 3, and a lever 18 for urging the brush body away from the brush holder. A post 21 is fixed to the brush holder 3 and project axially towards the brush body 2, the circumference of the post being divided into a pair of camming surfaces 22 inclined in the same circumferential direction. A pair of ribs 16 are fixed to the brush body 2 and project axially towards the brush holder 3, each rib being arranged to engage a respective camming surface 22 of the post when the brush body is urged away from the brush holder, whereby camming engagement between the ribs 16 and the camming surfaces 22 under the spring bias of the brush body towards the brush holder brings about substantially 180 DEG rotation of the brush body on the holder. <IMAGE>

Description

Cleaning Brush The invention relates to a cleaning brush in which a brush body is rotatable on a brush bolder.

It is known to provide brushes for cleaning clothinq or other textiles having a brush surface comprising many short bristles all inclined in the same direction, so that when clothinq is brushed dust, lint, hair and the like is picked up and retained by the bristles. This material can later be removed from the bristles by stroking them in their direction of inclination. With such brushes, in order to effect cleaning, the brush surface must always be moved in the same direction. To avoid handling difficulties for the user the brush surface may be provided on a brush body which is rotatable on a brush holder connected to a handle, so that the brush surface can be rotated through 1800 when it is desired to change the direction of brushing.

A brush is known from British Patent No.

1 571 307 having a handle provided with a lever which can be actuated to effect automatic rotation of the brush body through 1800. In this arrangement a hollow boss on the rear of the brush body proects axially towards the brush holder and comprises a first portion adjacent its free end and a second portion adjacent the brush body of larger diameter than the first portion. The circumference of the second boss portion is divided into two sect ions each having a slanting end surface inclined in the same circumferential direction. The boss is axially and rotatably movable on a shaft projecting from the rear of the brush holder into the boss, there being a spring arranged inside the boss to urge the brush towards the brush holder.The lever provided on the brush handle is operable to engage the first portion of the hollow boss to move the brush body axially away from the brush holder, and at the same time camming engagement between the lever and this first boss portion effects an initial rotation of the brush bodv. Subsequently rotation of the brush body is brought about by a further camming engagement between a pair of projecting members fixed to the rear of the brush holder and the slanting end surfaces of the second boss portion. Thus the hollow boss provided on the rear of the brush body has a relatively complicated shape in order to provide the desired rotation of the body.

According to the invention there is provided a cleaning brush comprising a brush body rotatably mounted on and biased axially towards a brush holder, actuating means for urging the brush body away from the brush holder, a post fixed to the brush holder and projecting axially towards the brush body, the circumference of the post being divided into a pair of camming surfaces inclined in the same circumferential direction, and a pair of ribs fixed to the brush body and projecting axially towards the brush holder, each rib being arranged to engage a respective camming surface of the post when the brush body is urged away from the brush holder, whereby camming engagement between the ribs and the camming surfaces under the bias of the brush body towards the brush holder brings about substantially 1800 rotation of the brush body on the holder.

With this arrangement, by providing camming surfaces extending circumferentially about the post fixed to the brush holder, the corresponding ribs of the brush body which engage the camming surfaces to effect rotation can take a relatively simple form. Thus the brush body can be relatively simple in construction and of low weight.

There may be two types of brush surface at each end of the body which are selectivelv available by rotating the body. Preferably, however, the brush surface comprises many short bristles all inclined in the same direction.

Preferably the actuation means comprises a lever forked into two arms and the brush body is provided with a pair of engagement portions in diametrically opposed locations each radially outward of a respective axially proecting rib of the brush body, each arm of the forked lever being arranged to engage each such engaqement portion to urge the brush body away from the brush holder and to effect initial rotation of the brush body.

The radially outward locations of the engagement portions ensure that a relatively small force is required by the engagement between these portions and the arms of the lever to provide the torquf necessary for the initial rotation of the brush body. The initial rotation can be effected by a camming arrangement in which the arms of the lever and the engagement portions are shaped such that axial force therebetween results in the initial rotation of the brush body. This may be achieved by providing a suitable circumferential slant on either the arms of the lever or the engagement portions, or on both.In a preferred embodiment, the lever is pivotally mounted on the brush holder and is arranged to be pushed by a user towards the brush holder to urge the brush body away from the brush holder The cleaning brush preferably includes means for locking the brush body in each position of use and adapted to be unlocked when the actuation means is operated by a user.Although there will generally be some form of locating engagment between the rim of the brush body and the brush holder, preferably the pair of axially projecting ribs of the brush body are engaged during brushinq in a corresponding pair of slots formed in the brush holder post at diametrically opposed positions and between the camming surfaces thereof, thereby locking the brush body against rotation. when it is desired to rotate the brush body, operation of the actuation means causes the brush body to move axially away from the brush holder until the ribs disengage from the slots, thereby permitting rotation to take place. This arrangement can provide a positive interlock such that small inadvertent movements of the brush body away from the holder do not result in rotation of the body.

The brush body is preferably provided with a central shaft fixed thereto and extending into a central cavity of the post. In this arrangement the axial bias on the brush body may be provided by a compression spring extending axially in the cavity, the spring being retained between an abutment provided at the free end of the central shaft and bearing means inside the post e.g. an annular -shoulder formed on the inside wall of the post.

In a preferred embodiment the rear face of the brush holder remote from the brush body is formed with an opening such that the free end of the brush body central shaft is visible from the rear of the brush holder. Since the central shaft is fixed to rotate with the brush body, by providing suitable markings on the free end of the shaft, the position of the brush body may thus be indicated to a user. For example, the free end may be marked with an arrow or pointer indicating the direction of brushing.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 is a side elevation view of a cleaning brush in accordance with the invention; Fiqure 2 is on underneath plan view of the brush; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the front portion of the brush, showing the rotation mechanism; Figure 4 is an section on the lines IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a transverse section through the front portion of the brush, showing the rotation mechanism when the brush body is in the brushing position; Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 5 showing the rotation mechanism when the brush body is moved away from the brush holder, lust prior to rotation; and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the rotation mechanism.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the cleaning brush 1 comprises a brush body 2 rotatably mounted on a brush holder 3 and having a brush surface 4 in which many short bristles are all inclined in the same lateral direction. The brush holder includes a front portion 5 for mounting the brush body and a rear handle 6. A push button 7 is arranged on the handle such that when it is depressed and then released by a user the brush body is caused to rotate through 1800, thereby enabling reversal of the direction of brushing.

Referring to Figure 3, the brush body includes a brush surface 4 carried by a rigid support 8 secured to a rotatable plate 9. This plate has a peripheral rim 10 which on the front face of the plate receives the support 8 and on the rear face serves to locate the plate against the edge of the brush holder 3 in each of the two brushing positions.

As seen in Figures 3 to 7 the rotation mechanism 11 is formed by components provided on the back of the brush body 2 and on the brush holder 3.

A central shaft 12 extends from the plate 9 of the brush body 2 towards the brush holder 3, and received on the shaft is a compression spring 13 seated against an abutment lip 14 provided at the free end of the shaft. The spring is seated at its other end on an annular shoulder 20 on an inside wall of a hollow post 21 projecting from the brush holder towards the brush body and serves to bias the body towards the holder. A pair of projecting members 15 extend from the brush body towards the brush holder in diametrically opposed relationship on each side of the central shaft 12. Each of these members 15 includes a rib 16 the free end of which is arranged for camming engagement with the post of the brush holder.Radially outwardly of the rib each member 15 has an engagement portion 17 arranged to be urged in the direction away from the brush holder when it is desired to rotate the brush body.

The actuation means for urging the brush body away from the brush holder comprises a lever 18 pivotally mounted on the brush holder. The end of the lever adjacent the handle 6 is formed to provide the push button 7 and the other end is forked into two arms 19 each arranged to engage a respective engagement portion 17 of the brush body to urge it away from the brush holder when the button 7 is pushed. Both the arms 19 and the engagement portions 17 are circumferentially sloped to provide a camming arrangement such that axial engagement between these elements results in a tendency for the brush body to rotate. The radially outward disposition of the engagement portions 17 ensures that a minimum of axial force is required to cause such rotation.

The hollow post 21 projecting from the brush holder towards the brush body includes an axial cavity in which the central shaft 11 of the brush body is received. The post 21 is thus generally cylindrical in shape and has an end profile adjacent the brush bodv which comprises a pair of camming surfaces 22. These are circumferentially inclined in the same direction and each extends approximately 1800 round the circumference of the post. The inclined camming surfaces 22 are separated by a pair of opposed axial slots 23 in which the ribs 16 engage to lock the brush body against rotation in either brushing position (see Figures 3 and 4). The axial cavity of the hollow post 21 extends through the rear face of the brush holder so as to provide an opening through which the free end of the brush body central shaft 11 is visible.

The operation of the cleaning brush 1 to effect rotation of the brush body 2 is as follows.

Initially the rotation mechanism is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 5. The user squeezes the push button 7 to cause the lever 18 to pivot so that the arms 19 engage the engagement portions 17 of the brush body 2 which is thus urged away from the brush holder 3. This axial movement causes the ribs 16 to unlock from the slots 23 when the fully axially displaced position shown in Figure 6 is reached. At this point the camming effect between the sloped arms 19 and engagement portions 17 under the axial pressure causes initial rotation of the brush body, so that each rib 16 engages the part of each inclined camming surface 22 which is furthest from the brush holder. When the user relases the push button 7 the brush body tends to return towards the holder under the force of the spring 13, and the camming engagement between the ribs 16 and the surfaces 22 causes the remainder of the rotation of the brush body through 1800 to occur. In doing so the brush bodv returns towards the brush holder and when rotation is complete the ribs 16 lock into the slots 23. The return movement of the brush body is transmitted to the lever 18 which is returned to its original position ready to be actuated next time it is desired to rotate the brush body.

Modifications to the brush disclosed herein, both in its broad aspects and in the specific embodiment, may be apparent to a person skilled in the art and it is intended that this disclosure should encompass any such modifications.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A cleaning brush comprising a brush body rotatably mounted on and biased axially towards a brush holder, actuating means for urging the brush body away from the brush holder, a post fixed to the brush holder and projecting axially towards the brush body, the circumference of the post being divided into a pair of camming surfaces inclined in the same circumferential direction, and a pair of ribs fixed to the brush body and projecting axially towards the brush holder, each rib being arranged to engage a respective camming surface of the post when the brush body is urged away from the brush holder, whereby camming engagement between the ribs and the camming surfaces under the bias of the brush body towards the brush holder brings about substantially 1800 rotation of the brush body on the holder.

2. A cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation means comprises a lever forked into two arms and the brush body is provided with a pair of engagement portions in diametrically opposed locations each radially outward of a respective axially projecting rib of the brush body, each arm of the forked lever being arranged to engage each such engagement portion to urge the brush body away from the brush holder and to effect initial rotation of the brush body.

3. A cleaning brush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arms of the lever and the engagement portions are shaped such that axial force therebetween results in the initial rotation of the brush body.

4. A cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pair of axially projecting ribs of the brush body are engaged during brushing in a corresponding pair of slots formed in the brush holder post at diametrically opposed positions and between the camming surfaces thereof, thereby locking the brush body against rotation.

5. A cleaning brush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the brush body is provided with a central shaft fixed thereto and extending into a central cavity of the post.

6. A cleaning brush as claimed in claim 5, wherein the axial bias on the brush body is provided by a compression spring extending axially in the cavity, the spring being retained between an abutment provided at the free end of the central shaft and bearing means inside the post.

7. A cleaning brush as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the rear face of the brush holder remote from the brush body is formed with an opening such that the free end of the brush body central shaft is visible from the rear of the brush holder.

8. A cleaning brush as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the brush body has a brush surface comprising many short bristles all inclined in the same direction.

9. A cleaning brush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.