IE45449B1 - Improvements in and relating to brushes - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to brushes and more particularly to hand-operated cleaning brushes.

A cleaning brush having a handle formed with a holder on which is fixed a brush body provided with a brush surface having numerous short bristles closely implanted thereon and inclined in one and the same direction is known. When such a brush is moved on and in contact with an article to be cleaned in the direction of the inclination of the bristles, dust, lint or the like is readily swept off the article and caught up among the bristles, the dust, lint or the like being TO retained among the bristles. This type of brush has a surprising cleaning effect in contrast to a conventional brush comprising relatively long bristles oriented at right angles to the brush surface which merely serve to displace dust from one place to another or to brush the dust off an article to be cleaned.

However, the latter type of cleaning brush has the drawback that since the bristles are inclined in the same direction, the - 2 4S4.jg direction in which the brush body has to be moved to effect brushing is fixed and it is inconvenient in actual use. In order to overcome this drawback there has been developed a cleaning brush of the type referred to above which is provided with a pivotal and spring means arranged between the brush body and the holder so that the brush body is rotatable relative to the holder through 180° by manual operation. The latter brush is the subject of . U.K. Patent Specification No. 1,171,160 to which attention is hereby directed. However, this cleaning brush has a further drawback that, in order to turn the brush body through 180°, it is necessary to pull the brush body away from the holder against the spring and then turn the brush body, so that the use of both hands (one for grasping the handle and the other for the turning operation) is necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning brush of the type described above which is provided with a means operable in one hand to enable the brush body to be turned with a single action.

A cleaning brush according to the invention comprises a handle provided with a brush holder for holding a brush body provided with a brush surface having numerous short bristles inclined in the same direction as one another, a hollow boss provided on the back side of the brush body and within said brush holder, the boss being rotatably and axially movably mounted on a projecting shaft extending from the brush holder into said hollow boss, a spring means arranged within said hollow boss to urge the boss with the brush body toward the brush holder so that the brush body is normally held on the brush holder for enabling brushing operations to be effected, the hollow boss including a first portion adjacent its free end and a second portion adjacent the brush body which second portion is larger in diameter than the first portion, said second boss portion being formed in its periphery with - 3 S4.4 9 grooves extending axially thereof in diametrically opposed relation to each other, projecting members extending from the brush holder and respectively engageable with said grooves so as to lock the boss against rotation when the projecting members are in engagement with the respective grooves, the circumference of said second boss portion being divided by said grooves into two sections each having a slanting end surface inclined: in tjie same circumferential direction, an actuating lever mounted on said holder and forked at one end into two arras which extend adjacent the first boss portions, raised portions provided on the end surface of the first boss portion or on said arms, and inclined surfaces provided respectively on said arms or on the end face of the first boss portion and cooperating with said raised portions, the arrangement being such that when the actuating lever is operated the boss, together with the brush body, is moved axially of the shaft against the force of the spring means and the projecting members are disengaged from the grooves to release the boss from locking whereupon the boss is slightly roatated to allow the projecting members to ride onto the slanting end surfaces on the second boss portion so that, /lever is released, the projecting when the actuating'members slide along the slanting end surfaces on the second boss portion with the result that the boss together with the brush body completes its 180° rotation relative to the brush holder.

In one embodiment of this invention, the raised portions are provided on the end face of the first boss portion, while the inclined surfaces which cooperate with said raised portions are provided on the arms of the actuating lever.

In another embodiment of this invention, the raised portions are provided on the arms of the actuating lever, while the inclined surfaces which cooperate with said raised portions are provided on the end face of the first boss portion. - 4 In both cases, ths manner of the coperation is such tnat when the actuating lever is operated the boss (together with tha crush boay) is pushed against the force of the spring due to engagement between the raised portions and corresponding inclined surfaces. During this stage the boss is restrained against rotation due to the engagement of the projecting members with the respective axial grooves formed in the boss. lipcn continuing this operation, the projecting members are finally disengage! from tne axial grooves so that the boss is released from the restraint, whereupon due to the cooperation with tne raisea portions and inclined surfaces and due to the action of the spring the boss is slightly rotated to allow the free ends of the projecting members to ride on the higher end portions or the respective slanting surfaces provided on the end face of the second boss portion.

When the actuating lever is released at this stage, only the force of the spring acts on the boss. Therefore, due to this force, the free ends of the projecting members slide down the respective slanting surfaces with a result that the boss together with the brush body completes a 180° rotation while the boss together with the brush body is moved axially to the original position. Upon passing the lower end portions of the slanting surfaces the projecting members again drop into the axial grooves and the brush body is again held on the holder for enabling brushing operations to be effected.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a cleaning brush embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is vertical cross-section taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1; - 5 Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective veiw of parts shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are illustrative views for explaining the operation of the brush; 1 Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing another embodiment of this invention; and Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of parts shown in Fig. 7. Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 which show a first embodiment of this invention, the illustrated cleaning brush comprises a handle 1 formed with a hollow brush holder 2. The numeral 3 denotes a brush body which comprises a support plate 4 for supporting a brush surface 5 having a plurality of short bristles which are all inclined in the same direction (the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 2) relative to the surface 5. A hollow boss 6 is provided on the back side of the support plate 4 to project upwardly within said holder 2 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The boss 6 is mounted on a projecting shaft 7 which extends downwardly from the upper wall of the holder 2 into the boss 6 through an opening 8.

The boss 6 together with the support plate 4 is rotatably and upwardly and downwardly movable relative to the brush holder 2 in the manner explained hereinafter.

At the lower end of the projecting shaft 7 there is provided a seat 9. Within the hollow boss 6 and around the projecting shaft 7 there is arranged a spring 10 which acts between the top wall of the boss 6 and the seat 9. By means of this spring 10, the brush body 3 is normally urged toward the holder 2 so that the brush body 3 is held on the brush holder 2 for enabling brushing operations. It is prefer·; able to provide a circumferential groove 11 or ridge on the support plate 4 so that the lower edge 12 of the holder 2 engages therewith, whereby the brush body 3 is held on the holder 2 in a stable manner. - 6 The hollow boss 6 comprises an upper portion 13 and a lower portion 14 which is larger in diameter than the upper portion. The lower boss portion 14 is formed in its periphery with vertical grooves 15, 15' in diametrically opposed relation to each other. The lower boss portion 14 is divided by the grooves 15, 15' into circumferential portions 14a, 14£ each having a downwardly slanting top surface 16a, 167> inclined downwardly in the same circumferential direction. Thus the top surface 16·ζ or the lower boss portion 14s is inclined from ths higher end 17c tr lower end 17S, while tr.e top surface T6& on the lower boss portion I4T is inclined from the higher end 17‘a to lower end 17'ϊ·, The vertical groove 15 is formed between the higher end 17!a and lower end 17i, while the vertical groove 15' is formeo between the lower end 17'b and higher end 17a.

Projecting members 18, 13' extend downwardly from the inside wail cf the brush holder 2 and are slidably engageable with the vertical grooves 15, 15' respectively so as to lock the body 3 against rotation when the projecting members 18, 18’ are in engagement with the corresponding vertical grooves 15, 15' respectively.

The upper boss portion 13 is provided at its top with diametrically opposed raised portions 19, 19'. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6, each raised portion 19 or 19' takes the form of an inclined portion which is preferable but not essential. The raised portions 19, 19' are diametrically opposed and their highest portions are positioned to correspond circumferentially with the respective grooves 15, 15'.

An actuating lever 20 is mounted on the holder 2. More particularly the actuating lever 20 extends into the hollow holder 2 through an opening 21 formed in a rear wall 22 of the holder 2, The lever 20 has a cutout portion 23 which bears against the upper edge of the opening 21 to serve as a fulcrum. The rear portion of the - 7 4S4 49 lever 20 constitutes a manipulating portion 24 which extends along the handle 1 but is exposed below the handle for enabling it to be operated by hand.

The actuating lever 20 is forked at its front end into two 5 arms 25, 25' which extend above the upper boss portion 13 and contact the raised portions 19j 19' respectively. As shown the arm 25 is bent such that it has an end portion which extends upwardly to form an upwardly inclined.surface 25« and the arm 25' is bent such that it has an end portion which extends downwardly to form a downwardly , inclined surface 25S, which surfaces 25a, 25h are engageable with the raised portions 19, 19' respectively. The arms 25, 25' and raised portions 19, 19' are relatively so positioned that normally (or when the projecting members 18, 18' are in engagement with the respective 15, 15') the upwardly inclined surface 25a is in contact near its lower end with the corresponding raised portion 19 (Figs. 3 to 6) while the downwardly inclined surface 25h is in contact near its upper end with the corresponding raised portion 19' (Fig. 3).

The operation of the brush shown in Fig. 1 to 6 is as follows.

In the normal state shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the projecting members 18, 18' are in full engagement with the respective vertical grooves , 15' and the brush body 3 is held on the brush holder 2 so that the brush is in a condition for effecting a brushing operation, for example by grasping the handle 1 with the right hand.

When it is desired to turn the brush body 3 relative to the holder 2, the manipulating portion 24 of the actuating lever 20 is pulled upwardly relative to the handle 1 by one or more fingers of the same hand which is grasping the handle 1, whereupon the forward portion of the lever 20 is pushed down with the cutout portion 23 acting as the fulcrum. Thus the arms 25, 25' press the corresponding raised portion 19, 19' on the upper boss portion 13 (and hence the lower body portion 14 and brush body 3) downwardly against the force - 8 45449 of the spring 10. When the arm: 25, 25' are pressed downwardly in contact with the respective raised portions 12, 19', the raised portions 19, 19' will tend to slide on the corresponding inclined surfaces 25 a, 25c upwardly due to the action of the spring 10 and thus will tend to turn. However, such movement is prevented because the boss δ is locked against rotation due to the engagement of the projecting members 18, 13' with the respective vertical grooves 15. ':5!. Upon continuing this pressing-down operation, che brush body 3 is disengaged downwardly from the lower edge 12 of the holder 2, Upon further continuing the pressing-down operation, the projecting members 18, 18' are disengaged from the vertical grooves 15, 15' (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6). Upon complete disengagement of the projecting members 18, 18' from the grooves 15, 15' (Fig. 6) the boss 6 is released from the restraint so that the raised portions 19, 19' on the upper boss portion 13 slide upwardly along the corresponding inclined surface 25z, 25» on the respective arms 25, 25' due to the action of the spring 10, whereupon the boss 6 is rotated somewhat in the direction of arrows (Fig. 3), permitting the lower ends of the projecting members 18, 18' to ride on the respective higher end portions 17'a, 17a cf the slanting top surfaces 1S>, Ifo on the lower boss portion 14.

When the actuating lever 20 is released by the finger, the boss 6, now freed from the depressing force, is forced upwardly by the spring 10. Thus the lower ends of the projecting members 18, 13' slide down along the slanting surfaces 16^, 16« from the higher end portions 17'a, 17a to the lower end portions 17'2>, 174 causing to the completion of the 180° rotation of the boss 6 (together with the brush body 3) in the direction of the arrow 4 (Fig, 3) while bringing the brush body 3 toward the holder 2. Subsequently the . 9 . . sS4'18 lower ends of the projecting members 18, 18' pass the respective lower end portions 17'2>, 17b and drop into the adjacent vertical grooves 15', 15 respectively for engagement again, and at the same time the brush body 3 is again held on the holder 2 for enabling a further brushing operation to be effected. Meanwhile, the upper boss portion 13 is also rotated through 180° while the arms 25, ' are returned to the original position (Fig. 4) so that the raised portions 19, 19' again come into contact with the adjacent inclined surfaces 252?, 25a in the manner mentioned before, whereupon they are ready for the next turning operation.

By pulling the manipulating portion 24 of the actuating lever upwardly again, the brush body 3 can again by turned through another 180° in the same manner as explained above.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and explained above, the raised portions are provided Dn the upper boss portion 13, while the inclined surfaces cooperating therewith for the initial rotation of the boss 6 are formed on the arms 25, 25' at the forward end of the actuating lever 20. However, it is also possible for the raised portions to be provided on the arms 25, 25', while the inclined surfaces cooperating therewith are provided on the upper boss portion 13, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Thus, the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8 ts similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 except that there are provided downwardly directed raised portions 26, 26' at the forward ends of the respective arms 25, 25' and that there are provided inclined surfaces 27a, 272?, 28a, 28b on the top of the upper boss portion 13. More particularly, on the top of the upper boss portion 13 there are provided a downwardly inclined surface 27a followed by an upwardly - 10 4S 4 ·ί’5 inclined surface 274, ard a downwardly inclined surface 28« followed by an upwardly inclined surface 28c. These surfaces 27«, 27c and 28a, 284 are diametrically opposed as shown in Fig. 8. Normally the raised portion 26 is in contact with the upper portion of the downwardly inclined surface 27«, while the raised portion 26' is in contact, with the upper portion of the downwardly inclined surface 28a. when it is desired to turn the brush body 3, the manipulating portion 24 of tr··’ actuating lever 20 is pulled upwardly so that the boss 6 (together with tha brush body 3) is pressed down against the force of the spring 10. In this case the raised portions 26, 26' will tend to slide downwardly along the respective downwardly inclined surfaces 27a, 28r:and tend to rotate the boss 6 in the direction of the arrow 4 (Fig. 3) due to the force of the spring 10, but such movement is prevented because the boss 6 is locked against rotation due to the engagement of the projecting members 18, 18' with the respective vertical grooves 15, 15'.

Upon continuing the pressing-down operation, the brush body 3 is disengaged downwardly from the lower edge 12 of the holder 2 and then the projecting members '18, 18; are disengaged from the grooves , 15' as explained above in connection with the embodiment of Figs. to 6. Upon complete disengagement of the projecting members 18, 13' from the grooves 15, 15', the boss 6 is released from the restraint so that the raised portions 26, 26' on the arms 25, 25' slide downwardly along the downwardly inclined surfaces 27a, 2fe respectively due tc the force of the spring 10, whereupon the boss 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow b (Fig. 8), permitting the lower ends of the projecting members 18, 18' to ride on the respective higher end portions 17'c, 17a of the inclined surfaces 16a, 16a on the lower boss portion 14 in the same manner as explained in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, - 11 Ί'ί a When the actuating lever 20 is released by the finger, the boss 6 together with the brush body 3 completes its 180° rotation and is returned to the original position in the same manner as explained in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6. During this rotary movement, the raised portions 26, 26' slide upwardly along the upwardly inclined surfaces 27b, 28b respectively and then again come into contact with the upper portions of the adjacent downwardly inclined surfaces 23α, 27a, whereupon they are ready for the next J turning operation.

Claims (7)

1. To

1. A cleaning brush which comprises a handle provided with a brush holder for holding a brush body provided with a brush surface having numerous short bristles inclined in the same direction as one another, a hollow boss provided on the back side of the brush body and within said brush holder, the boss being rotatably and axially movably mounted on a projecting shaft extending from tne brush holder into said hollow boss, a spring means arranged within said hollow boss to urge the boss with the brush body toward the brush holder so that the brush body is normally held on the brush holder for enabling IO brushing operations to be effected, the hollow boss including a first portion adjacent its free end and a second portion adjacent the brush body which second portion is larger in diameter than the first portion, said second boss portion being formed in its periphery with grooves extending axially thereof in diametrically opposed relation 15 to each other, projecting members extending from the brush holder and respectively engageable with said grooves so as to lock the boss against rotation when the projecting members are in engagement with the respective grooves, the circumference of said second boss portion being divided by said grooves into two sections each having a slanting 20 end surface inclined in the same circumferential direction, an actuating lever mounted on said holder and forked at one end into two arms which extend adjacent the first boss portion, raised portions provided on the end face of the first boss portion or on said arms, and inclined surfaces provided respectively on said arms or on the end face of the first boss 25 portion and cooperating with said raised portions, the arrangement being - 13 4 49 such that when the actuating lever is operated the boss, together with the brush body, is moved axially of the shaft against the force of the spring means and the projecting members are disengaged from the grooves to release the boss from locking whereupon the boss is slightly rotated to allow the projecting members to ride onto the slanting end surfaces on the second boss portion so that, when the actuating lever is released, the projecting members slide along the slanting end surfaces on the second boss portion with the result that the boss together with the brush body completes its 180° rotation relative to the brush holder.

2. A cleaning brush as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the raised portions are provided on the end face of the first boss portion, while the inclined surfaces which cooperate with said raised portions are provided’on the arms of the actuating lever.

3. A cleaning brush as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the first boss portion is provided at its end face with diametrically opposed raised portions, one of the arms of the actuating lever being bent in one direction while the other is bent in the opposite direction to form inclined surfaces, engageable with respective ones of said raised portions.

4. A cleaning brush as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the raised portions are provided on the arms of the actuating lever, while the inclined surfaces which cooperate with said raised portions are provided on the end face of the first boss portion. 5. A cleaning brush constructed substantially as hereinbefore - 14 •3 9 particularly describee with reference to and as illustrated in Figs.

5. A cleaning brush as claimed in Claim 4 wherein pairs of inclined surfaces are provided on the end face of the first boss portion so that the pairs are diametrically opposed to each other and cooperate with the respective raised portions on said arms.

6. Of the accompanying drawings. 7. A cleaning brush constructed substantially as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs.

7. And 8 of the accompanying drawings.