GB2463044A

GB2463044A - Brush connection device

Info

Publication number: GB2463044A
Application number: GB0815725A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel John Urwin; Christopher David Lawrence
Original assignee: COTTAM BRUSH Ltd
Current assignee: COTTAM BRUSH Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-29
Filing date: 2008-08-29
Publication date: 2010-03-03
Also published as: GB0815725D0

Abstract

A connection device (3, figure 1) which can be used to connect a handle (1, figure 1) to a brush head (5, figure 1), or the like, where the connection device includes a handle engaging portion having first 39 and second 25 handle holding means, and a brush head engaging portion 19. The connection device is able to accommodate a range of handles without modification, preferably by providing a plurality of resilient fingers 27 with handle engaging formations 29 at their ends, which grip the handle when a cap 11 is applied over the second handle holding means 25. The first handle holding means 39 preferably comprises a barbing ring member with a plurality of resilient projections 41, most preferably made of metal such as sprung steel, which also grip the handle when the cap 11 is applied. The brush head engaging portion 19 may comprise one or more projections 21, with ribs 23 on their outer surface for gripping onto the brush head. Alternatively, the brush head engaging portion may be provided integrally with the brush head itself. The connection device is used to form a brush assembly, when assembled in combination with a brush head and handle.

Description

Brush Connector and Assembly The present invention relates to a connection device suitable for connecting a handle to a brush head. Additionally, the invention further provides a combined brush head and handle assembly comprising such a connection device.

Brush heads, mop heads and the like, are used the world over for domestic cleaning purposes and industrial level cleaning. These heads are produced in various materials, primarily plastics and wood. Separate brush heads and handles are usually supplied in bulk by a brush head manufacturer to a distributor, who then sells these units on to the end user. The brush heads and handles are generally not connected prior to transportation as, if they are, the dimensions of the assembled product often leads to the brush handles breaking at the point of connection to the brush head during transit.

Currently nearly all of the wooden brush handles supplied in the UK are produced in Brazil, and the variance in the diameter of the handle can be quite significant. Brush handles and heads are often returned by the user due to the poor fit between the handle and head.

Screw thread ended handles are common in the United States for providing a means of attaching a brush head to a handle. Unfortunately during use the head and the handle often un-screw themselves. As a result it has been described in the prior art to provide an anti-loosening connector for use in these types of systems. Such systems are described in United States patent number 5,161,278 and United States patent number 5,172,447. However, in the UK market, brush handles, particularly for industrial purposes, tend not to be threaded, and instead are tapered at one end to fit into a corresponding hole in the brush head.

It is common to attach the tapered handle to the brush head via a nail or screw placed through both the head and handle, or by bolting a retention clip to the brush head and manually tightening this about the tapered end of the brush handle. These methods of connection require a high level of assembly by the distributor or the end user, often needing additional tools, such as bolts, hammers or screw drivers to attach the handle to the brush head.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a connection device comprising a body, a head engaging portion and a handle engaging portion, the handle engaging portion comprising a first and a second handle holding means. The connection device is able to receive and securely retain a handle, and to fit securely into an aperture in a brush head.

By "securely" it is meant that the handle and head are connected to the connection device in a manner which allows conventional use of the brush over a protracted period without the handle and head coming apart.

The term "head" or "brush head" is intended to include, for example, mop heads, sweeping brooms, scrubbing brush heads, floor polishing pad heads, and other related items which require attachment to handles for use.

The head engaging portion is typically adapted for insertion into an aperture in a brush head. Such apertures are fairly standardised, however, it will be appreciated that the head engaging portion may be adapted to match any type of aperture. The head engaging portion preferably comprises at least one resilient member which is adapted to deform when the head engaging portion is forced into the aperture of the brush head. In a preferred embodiment the brush engaging portion comprises two or more resilient flanges which are fixed at one end to the body of the connection device. The flanges may suitably be arcuate in cross-section such that they generally match the shape of the walls of a typical aperture provided in a brush head. The flanges may decrease in width along their length such that when the flanges are forced into the aperture in the brush head they are able to move together without overlapping. Alternatively, however, the flanges may not decrease in width, but instead, may overlap each other when forced into the brush head aperture; this may be aided by providing a suitable profile on one or both of the side edges of the flanges to allow them to move over one another easily. Preferably, the two or more resilient flanges do not decrease in width, along there length but are suitably arranged relative to one another, so that they are able to move together without overlapping, when forced into the brush head aperture. A suitable arrangement may be provided by the two or more flanges having parallel sides and being suitably spaced, so that the side edges do not contact when the flanges are forced onto the brush head aperture.

It will be appreciated that the head engaging portion should be sufficiently resilient to allow it to flex into the brush head aperture under compression, but to still fit tightly in to the brush head aperture, thus ensuring that the connection device is securely fixed in the brush head. To aid a secure fit the head engaging portion can be provided with one or more projections to increase the localised pressure exerted at certain points on the walls of the aperture of the brush head, this may be achieved, for example, by providing ribs on the flanges. Additional head securing means may be provided if required.

The first handle holding means preferably comprises a barbing member which consists of one or more barbing elements adapted to engage with a brush handle when inserted into the connection device. Suitably the barbing member comprises a substantially annular member mounted within the body, the annular member having an internal diameter slightly larger than a brush handle. The annular member preferably has a plurality of resilient projections extending generally inwards therefrom, the resilient projections defining an internal diameter which is smaller than the diameter of a brush handle. Thus when a handle is passed through the annular portion, the projections are urged apart by the handle, and when an attempt is made to remove the handle the resilient projections tend to grip or dig into the handle preventing removal of the handle thus providing a barbing action. Accordingly, the resilient projections can be considered barbing elements. Suitably the barbing elements are made of a resilient but comparatively stiff material such as sprung steel or a relatively stiff plastics material -though other suitable materials will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. In some embodiments it is preferred that the barbing elements are angled towards the head engaging portion; this makes it easier for the handle to pass through the first handle engaging portion. In some embodiments it is preferable that the barbing elements have sharp ends such that they bite aggressively into the handle.

Alternatively, it is possible that the barbing elements comprise a high friction coating where they interact with the handle such that they grip the handle strongly.

The second handle holding means preferably comprises suitable means to restrict the movement of the handle within the connection device. In particular the holding means limits lateral deflection of the handle. The second handle holding means is typically in a distal position (with respect to the head engaging portion) relative to the first handle holding means.

Suitably the second handle holding means comprises resilient handle engaging means, which contact the handle, and stop means which interacts with the resilient handle engaging means to limit lateral deflection of the handle. An advantage of providing a second handle holding means is that by preventing lateral deflection of the handle the handle is held more rigidly than if a single handle holding means was used. Additionally, by limiting lateral deflection of the handle, it becomes far less likely that the handle will be able to "walk" out of the first handle holding means by repeated small movements within the barbing means. Suitably the resilient handle engaging means comprises a plurality of resilient projections. The resilient projections of the second handle engaging means do not necessarily have a barbing action, and accordingly may be less stiff than those of the first handle engaging means. Additionally, the plurality of resilient projections may suitably extend from an annular member mounted within the body of the connection device.

Suitably the resilient projections are finger-like projections. The finger-like projections suitably have an elongate portion extending from the annular member and terminating in handle engaging units. The finger-like projections extend inwards to define an internal diameter within the connection device. The internal diameter defined by the handle engaging units is desirably smaller than the diameter of a handle.

Suitable stop means to limit movement of the handle engaging means may comprise a second generally annular member which is adapted to interact with the handle engaging units and thereby limit deflection of the handle. The diameter of the stop means is slightly larger than the combined diameter of the handle and the handle engaging units. In one embodiment of the present invention the stop means is preferably provided by a cover unit, which additionally provides a smooth aesthetic appearance to the overall connection device. Suitably the cover unit comprises a generally conical shape, with the tapering upper portion of the conical cover unit providing the stop means, and the wider lower portion being adapted to interact with the body of the connection device.

Preferably the interaction between the cover unit and the body of the connection device is provided by an attachment means. Suitably the attachment means is provided by a lock or catch arrangement, and more suitably comprises a clip and void arrangement where e.g. a clip is provided on the cover unit adapted to be received by a corresponding void in the body.

When a handle is introduced to the second handle holding means, the resilient handle engaging means is urged apart and consequently, the handle engaging units are urged against the outside of the handle. When the handle is deflected within the connection device, the handle engaging means is moved into contact with the stop means such that lateral deflection is limited.

The resilient handle engaging means of the second handle holding means, and/or the handle engaging units, may comprise a material which grips the handle of the brush, thus helping to secure the handle within the connection device. The gripping effect will be increased when lateral deflection of the handle occurs as pressure will be exerted about the handle, via the interaction of the resilient handle engaging means and the stop means.

The connection device may be substantially tubular in shape.

The connection device of the present invention can quickly and easily be used to securely attach a brush head to a brush handle, without the need for additional tools or any significant level of skill.

The connection device is able to accommodate tapered, un-tapered and screw thread ended handles, as well as a range of different diameter handles without modification of the connection device. The first and second handle holding means are able to adapt to different diameter handles as a result of their resilient nature. For example, the first handle holding means will typically be adapted such that the internal diameter of the barbing elements is slightly smaller than the thinnest handle expected, but will be able to accommodate the thickest handle expected due to resilience in the barbing elements; the barbing effect will be likely to be stronger where a thicker handle is used, because the barbing elements will be more strongly urged into the handle, but sufficient barbing action will be achieved even with a smaller handle. In a similar way, a thinner handle will generally be able to deflect further before coming up against the stop means in the second brush holding means, but this is generally

acceptable.

Furthermore, the connection device may comprise a stop which prevents smaller diameter handles passing through the device. This is preferably provided by a protrusion located in the head engaging portion of the connection device and is more preferably provided by a ridge, located on the internal surface of the one or more resilient member.

It is desirable that the component parts of the connection device be assembled at the point of manufacture, such that the brush handle is simply pushed into the connection as a whole, or alternatively the connection device can be pushed in to the brush head aperture as a whole. This maintains the shipping of two units to the distributor or end user for convenient assembly in the manner to which they have become accustomed and does not add to the number of units shipped. Preferably the connection device is transported attached to the brush head, with the brush handle transported separately, the two unit parts can then be assembled on the distributors site, at point of sale or by the end user.

The connection device is not intended to be limited to component parts of a particular cross-section, e.g. circular. The connection device may be any suitable cross-section, and may vary along its length in shape and size.

It may be desirable that the connection device is provided with one or more support members, extending from the body of the connection device which connect to the brush head. These support members can, in some circumstances, provide better control and manipulation of the brush head during use, as well as potentially adding strength to the structure. The ends of the support members are suitably adapted for connecting to the brush head, for example, they may be provided with one or more location means which can be fixed to the brush head. The location means may be fixed by screwing or nailing the support members to the brush head, in one embodiment the brush head may be provided with location holes, in which the location means can be securely accommodated. These support members are particularly useful for large heavy industrial brush heads.

It is preferable that the connection device is formed predominantly from a relatively rigid material. In preferred embodiments the connection means is formed predominantly from a plastics material, in particular polypropylene has suitable properties.

The present invention further provides a brush assembly comprising a connection device as described herein, assembled in combination with a brush head and a handle.

It may be advantageous that the assembly be capable of disassembly to allow the replacement of brush heads or handles as a result of damage or wear.

It is a preferable embodiment of the present invention that the connection device is suitable for use with brush heads and handles currently commercially available, without the need for modification.

In a further aspect of the present invention the connection device may be formed as an integral part of a brush head. This may be particularly suited to where the brush head is formed from a plastic material and the brush head and the head engaging portion of the connection device may be formed as one unit. Suitably the brush head and connection device head engaging portion are formed by injection moulding as the same unit piece, and the connection device body may also be integrally formed. The first and second handle holding means will be as described above.

In an alternative embodiment the brush assembly may be provided with a stop on the brush handle rather than in the connection device to prevent smaller diameter handles from passing through the connection device and then through the aperture provided in the brush head. This stop is particularly useful with handles of a tapered end, where very narrow tapered ends may undesirably protrude from the bottom of the brush head aperture. Where a stop is provided on the handle it will meet the top of the brush connection device and stop the handle further entering the connection device. However, preferably, the stop is provided by a ridge positioned within the brush head engaging means, as set out above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a brush assembly comprising providing a connection device comprising a body, a handle engaging portion and a head engaging portion, the handle engaging portion comprising a first and second handle holding means, and further providing a handle and a brush head, wherein the method comprises the steps of; a) introducing the handle into the handle engaging portion of the connection device, and b) introducing the connection device head engaging portion into the brush head.

This method is preferably performed manually such that the whole assembly is securely fixed together. Preferably the method of assembly does not require any additional tools or fixings, such as screws or nails.

Preferred embodiments of the connection device are described above.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings provided, in which; -Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a brush head, handle and a connection device assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

-Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of a connection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

-Figure 3 shows a view of a connection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, positioned around a handle.

Throughout the following description, and in the accompanying drawings, similar components with identical functions have been designated with identical numbers.

The connection device 3 comprises a tubular portion, its middle providing a body 17, suitable to house the first 39 and second handle holding means 25, and the tubular portion to a smaller diameter at its two ends, mainly for aesthetic purposes. The tubular portion tapers at one end, to provide the head engaging portion 19, such that it fits into the brush head aperture 7, and is tapered at the other end, via a generally conical cover unit 11. The cover unit 11, can be provided with a catch or clip arrangement 13, suitable to be received by a corresponding void 15, adapted to receive the clip 13, in the body 17. Co-operation between the clip 13, and void 15 allows the cover unit 11 and the body 17 to be attached to one another, i.e. the clip 13 and void 15 co-operation allows the cover unit 11 and body 17 to be locked together. Suitably this attachment also provides retention of the first 39 and second handle holding means 25, in position within the body 17. The manual force of introducing a brush handle 1 into the connection device 3 may be sufficient to lock the cover unit 11 and body 17 together or alternatively the cover unit 11 and body 17 may be connected and locked together prior to introduction of the brush handle 1.

It is envisaged that the body 17, will provide a suitable surface for application of designs which incorporate trademarks and product names for advertising and product identification purposes.

The head engaging portion 19 comprises resilient flanges 21, suitable to be accommodated tightly within the brush head aperture 7. The resilient flanges 21 can possess ribs 23, which aid in providing the secure fit of the connection device 3 into the brush head 5. The ribs 23 provide localised areas of increased pressure when forced into the brush head aperture 7.

Nested within the internal cavity of the body 17 is the second handle holding means 25. This is provided with a plurality of finger-like projections 27, which can deform to accommodate typical variance in the diameter of handle 1. The projections 27 are urged into circumferential diameter smaller than that of the brush handle 1, but then the resilient projections 27 deform to accommodate the handle 1 once it is introduced for use. The projections 27 may extend from an annular member 45, this is best illustrated in figure 3, where the annular member 45, is shown located in line with first handle holding means 39. The projections 27 are provided with terminating handle engaging units 29.

The handle engaging units 29 (as shown in figure 3), are in contact with the annular stop means 35. The annular stop means 35 is shown as an integral part of the cover unit 11; however, this configuration is not essential. The handle engaging units 29, may taper down to form a tip 31, this tip 31 may rest, contacting a lip 37, present in the stop means 35.

When the connection device 3 is not in use, i.e. no brush handle 1 has been introduced, the finger-like resilient projections 27 are not deformed, and suitably the tips 31 of the handle engaging units 29 will engage and contact the cover unit lip 37, such that the lip 37 prevents the handle engaging units 29 from protruding from the cover unit 11, and such that the lip 37 defines a suitable opening for the introduction of a brush handle 1.

When a brush handle 1 is introduced into the connection device 3, the finger-like projections 27 deform where the handle 1 is larger than the internal diameter defined by the handle engaging units, such that the tips 31 no longer rest against the lip 37. The larger the diameter of the handle 1 the further away from the lip 37 the tips 31 become. On introduction of a large diameter handle 1, the base 33 of the handle engaging units 29 may be brought into more positive contact with the walls of the stop means 35 (facilitated by the deformation of the finer-like protrusions 27) this situation is best illustrated in figure 3, where the right hand side handle engaging unit 29 has been forced into a lower position within the stop means 35, yet the deformation of the finger-like projections 27 has resulted in re-orientation of the handle engaging unit 29 allowing maintenance of contact between the walls of the stop means 35, and the handle engaging units 29. This contact between the handle engaging units 29 and stop means limit the lateral deflection of the brush handle 1.

The first handle holding means 39 comprises a barbing member provided with a plurality of resilient metal projections 41. Although the connection device 3 is suitably formed from a plastic material, the resilient barbing projections 41 are preferably formed from a sprung steel material, and where this is the case the barbing member may preferably sit inside a plastic housing (not shown). The metal projections 41 extend inwards and towards the brush head engaging portion 19, this facilitates introduction of the brush handle 1 past the projections 41 towards the brush head 5, but when the handle 1 is moved in a direction away from the brush head 5, the barbing projections 41 will resist the movement and grip the handle 1 more tightly, helping to prevent the handle 1 being removed from the connection device 3.

The handle 1 may be prevented from protruding through the brush head 5, via the aperture 7, by a stop provided by a ridge 43 on the internal surface of the head engaging portion 19.

In figure 3 the brush handlel is shown as a dot-dot-dash line, and the stop ridge 43 is shown as a dashed line; the brush head is not shown for clarity.

The component parts of the connection device 3 are locked together, via the clip 13 and void 15 interaction described above, meaning that no additional tools or particular user skill is necessary to assemble the brush head 5, brush handle 1 and connection device 3 assembly.

The connection device 3 can be manufactured by conventional techniques, e.g. injection moulding, from conventional materials such as polypropylene.

Claims

Claims 1. A brush connection device comprising a body, a head engaging portion and a handle engaging portion, the handle engaging portion comprising a first and second handle holding means.
2. A brush connection device according to claim 1, wherein said connection device is substantially tubular in shape.
3. A brush connection device according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein said head engaging portion comprises at least one resilient member.
4. A brush connection device according to claim 3, wherein said resilient member comprises two or more resilient flanges.
5. A brush connection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said head engaging portion comprises one or more projections.
6. A brush connection device according to claim 5, wherein said one or more projections is provided by ribs.
7. A brush connection device according to claim 1, wherein said head engaging portion is formed as an integral part of a brush head.
8. A brush connection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said first handle holding means comprises a barbing member which consists of one or more barbing elements.
9. A brush connection device according to claim 8, wherein said barbing member comprises a substantially annular member.
10. A brush connector device according to claim 9, wherein said substantially annular member comprises a plurality of resilient projections.
11. A brush connection device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said barbing member is formed of a sprung steel material.
12. A brush connection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said second handle holding means comprises a resilient handle engaging means.
13. A brush connection device according to claim 12, wherein said resilient handle engaging means comprises a plurality of projections extending from an annular member.
14.A brush connection device according to claim 13, wherein said projections are a plurality of finger-like projections.
15.A brush connection device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said projections are provided with terminating handle engaging units.
16.A brush connection device according to any one of the claims 12 to 15, wherein said second handle holding means further comprises a stop means.
17.A brush connection device according to claim 16, wherein said stop means comprises a second annular member adapted to interact with the handle engaging units.
18. A brush connection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said connection device comprises a cover unit.
19. A brush connection device according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein said cover unit comprises said stop means.
20. A brush connection device according to claim 19, wherein said cover unit is generally conical in shape.
21. A brush connection device according to any of claims 16 to 20 wherein said stop means comprises a lip.
22. A brush connection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said connection device comprises a stop.
23. A brush connection device according to claim 22, wherein said stop is provided by a protrusion located in the head engaging portion of the connection device.
24. A brush connection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said connection device comprises one or more support members.
25. A brush connection device according to any preceding claim, wherein said connection device is formed from a plastics material.
26.A brush connection device according to claim 25, wherein the plastic material is polypropylene.
27.A brush assembly comprising a connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 26, in combination with a brush head and a handle.
28.The brush assembly according to claim 27, wherein said brush head, connection device and handle can be pushed into each other.
29.The brush assembly according to either claim 27 or 28, wherein said brush handle is of a tapered, un-tapered end type or of a screw threaded end type.
30. The brush assembly according to any of claims 27 to 29, wherein the handle is provided with a stop.
31. A method of producing a brush assembly comprising providing a brush connection device, comprising a body, a handle engaging portion and a head engaging portion, the head engaging portion comprising a first and second handle holding means, and brush head, and a handle, and further comprising the steps of; a) introducing the handle into the handle engaging portion of the connection device, and b) introducing the head engaging portion of the connection device into a brush head.