US20210161281A1

US20210161281A1 - Truss brush

Info

Publication number: US20210161281A1
Application number: US16/813,128
Authority: US
Inventors: John Litterello
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-02
Filing date: 2020-03-09
Publication date: 2021-06-03

Abstract

A truss brush assembly is provided. The truss brush assembly pivotably and rotatably interconnects an elongated telescoping pole and an arrangement of spaced apart brushes that operatively engage the underside and sides of a beam or other member of a working truss. The interconnection includes a handle mount providing a swivel connection to a channel housing supporting the arrangement of spaced apart brushes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/942,553, filed 2, Dec. 2019, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cleaning tools and, more particularly, to a truss brush for cleaning the beams of a truss roof system.
A truss system is a very common structure for supporting the roof of larger enclosures, such as barns and screen enclosures, to name only a few. Unfortunately, the beams of the trusses can easily accumulate mildew, webs, and dirt, which, besides being unsightly, can also heighten the risk of allergies for those enjoying the enclosure. Currently, because the truss beams are hard to reach due to their height off the floor or ground, people use power washer or other tools to reach such beams, even though using such tools risks damaging architecture elements or property within the enclosure, such as the screen of a screen enclosure.
Specifically, homeowners with a screen enclosure utilizing a truss system must hire an experienced person to clean the trusses, which employ labor-intensive (read: expensive) equipment, like scaffolding. Typically, these practitioners use tools that can tear the screen, repair of which can be also be very labor-intensive for the same reasons—reaching the damaged screen at or near the top of the tall enclosure.
As can be seen, there is a need for a truss brush that can directly engage the beams of a truss system while the user is safely standing on the ground. The present invention embodies a three-sided brush dimensioned and adapted to encapsulate, in a controlled manner, the underside and two side surfaces of the truss beam without contacting the screen that may be along an upper surface. Thereby, the present invention cleans the beam of dirt, webs and mildew without ripping the screen, which can result from using a power washer sprays and just one slip.
In short, the product embodied by the present invention is molded to fit the truss without coming in contact with the screen and the inside brushes remove dirt, webs and mildew without the possibility of tearing your screen with a power washer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a truss brush assembly includes the following: a channel housing having a base housing wall and a first side housing wall and a second side housing wall; the housing walls joined to define a U-shaped channel; a swivel mounted to an outer surface of the base housing wall; a handle mount pivotably connected to the swivel; and an arrangement of spaced apart brushes connected along an inner surface of the U-shaped channel, wherein said arrangement of spaced apart brushes define a brush gap dimensioned to receive a width of dimensional lumber.
In another aspect of the present invention, the truss brush assembly includes the following: a channel housing having a base housing wall and a first side housing wall and a second side housing wall; the housing walls joined to define a U-shaped or C-shaped channel; a swivel mounted to an outer surface of the base housing wall; a handle mount pivotably connected to the swivel, wherein the swivel rotates 360 degrees about an axis orthogonal relative to said outer surface of the base housing wall; an elongated telescopic pole operatively associated with the handle mount opposite the swivel; a channel brush holder having a base holder wall and a first side holder wall and a second side holder wall; the holder walls joined to define an outer surface generally coextensive with said inner surface of the U-shaped channel; the holder walls nested in said inner surface of the U-shaped channel; and the arrangement of spaced apart joined along an inner surface of the holder walls, wherein said arrangement of spaced apart brushes define a brush gap dimensioned to receive a width of dimensional lumber.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a truss brush assembly that pivotably and rotatably interconnects an elongated telescoping pole and an arrangement of spaced apart brushes that operatively engage the underside and sides of a beam or other member of a working truss. The interconnection includes a handle mount providing a swivel connection to a channel housing supporting the arrangement of spaced apart brushes.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may include a truss brush assembly 10 pivotably attached to an elongated telescopic pole 12 for a standing user 14 to brush the lower portion of a truss beam 16, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The truss brush assembly 10 is connected to the telescopic pole 12 by way of a handle mount 18 with a handle clevis 22.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as upper, upward, lower, downward, outer, outward, inner, inward and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures; for instance, the outward direction (or outer) being outside of voids defined by 42 or 34 and 32 in FIG. 5, while the inward direction (or inner) being within such voids.
The truss brush assembly 10 may include a channel housing 30 have a housing base wall 33 interconnecting proximal ends of both first and second housing sidewalls 32 and 34, wherein the housing base wall 33 joins the proximal edges of the first and second housing sidewalls 32 and 34, thus defining a general “U-shape” when viewing a section thereof, as illustrate in FIG. 5. A handle mount swivel 26 may be attached along an outward surface of the base portion 33 by way of connection plate 28 with fastener holes 46 for fasteners 48 to connect the connection plate 28 to the base portion, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The handle mount swivel 26 may be adapted to rotate 360 degrees about an axis orthogonal to the base wall 33 (or parallel to fastener 48 illustrated in FIG. 5). More specifically, the handle mount swivel 26 provides an outward-facing attachment body 27. The dimensions of the attachment body 27 substantially conforms to the dimensions of the handle clevis 22. The attachment body 27includes a pair of attaching apertures which are preferably axially aligned with clevis apertures so that a mounting pin and fastener 24 can be inserted therethrough to pivotable (about the mounting pin 24) couple the handle clevis 22 to handle mount swivel 26. As a result, the handle mount 18 is operatively associated with the handle mount swivel 26, whereby the telescopic pole 12 can be removably connected to the handle mount 18 by way of, in certain embodiments, a securing spring lock 20. Separately, a brush assembly 40 is dimensioned and adapted to be slidably and snugly received between the housing base wall, first, and second housing sidewalls 33, 32, and 34. The brush assembly 40 may provide a “U-shaped” channel brush holder 42, having a holder base wall and first and second holder sidewalls proportionally similar with the channel housing 30 in shape. As a result, the channel brush holder 42 is coextensive with a channel void defined by portions of the housing base wall, first, and second housing sidewalls 33, 32, and 34, thereby forming an abutting engagement between an inner surface of the housing base wall, first, and second housing sidewalls 33, 32, and 34 and the outer surface of the channel brush holder 42. The channel brush holder 42 may be attached to the channel housing 30 by aligned fastener holes 44 and 36, respectively, and fasteners 38 interconnected through said aligned fastener holes 44 and 36.
Along an inner surface of the holder base wall, first, and second holder sidewalls are an upper brush 52 and two side brushes 50, respectively. There is a brush gap between the two side brushes 50 that may be dimensioned and adapted to operatively receive and engage with standardized widths of dimensional lumber.
For instance, the standardized width of a 2 x 8 beam may be one and three-quarters inches, and so the brush gap is slightly less than one and three-quarters inches so that both side brushes 50 engage (brush) the sides of the (2 x 8) truss beam 16.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The truss brush assembly 10 disclosed above may be provided. An individual 14 would secure the telescopic pole 12 (possibly one currently utilized for a skim net and pool brush) to handle mount 18 and adjust the telescopic pole 12 to desired length. Cleaning solution can be placed directly on brushes 50 and 52 or onto the truss beam 16. The brush gap would engage the underside portion of the truss beam 16 and the user 14 would push the brush assembly 40 up along truss beam 16 and pull back down along truss beam 16 as bristles on brushes 50 and 52 make contact with truss beam 16 to remove dirt, webs and mildew. When all dirt and mildew have been brushed away, the individual 16 would remove the truss brush assembly 10 from truss beam 16 and may rinse the truss brush assembly 10 with a hose or the like.
Water and mildew resistant material may be utilized when making the truss brush assembly 10. The brushes 50 and 52 (as well as the brush assembly 40 to channel brush holder 42 connections) may be connected with countersunk hardware into their bristle area as to prevent the fasteners from scratching the truss beam 16 during the cleaning process.
The brush gap may be sized to engage various widths of dimensional lumber or uncommon widths, depending on need. An attachment along the brush assembly 40 for a garden hose may be provided to help with rinsing dirt and mildew off of truss and brushes.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A truss brush assembly, comprising:

a channel housing having a base housing wall and a first side housing wall and a second side housing wall;

said housing walls joined to define a U-shaped channel;

a swivel mounted to an outer surface of the base housing wall;

a handle mount pivotably connected to the swivel; and

an arrangement of spaced apart brushes connected along an inner surface of the U-shaped channel, wherein said arrangement of spaced apart brushes define a brush gap dimensioned to receive a width of dimensional lumber.

2. The truss brush assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an elongated pole operatively associated with the handle mount opposite the swivel.

3. The truss brush assembly of claim 2, wherein the elongated pole is telescopic.

4. The truss brush assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a channel brush holder having a base holder wall and a first side holder wall and a second side holder wall;

said holder walls joined to define an outer surface generally coextensive with said inner surface of the U-shaped channel;

said holder walls nested in said inner surface of the U-shaped channel; and

said arrangement of spaced apart joined along an inner surface of the holder walls.

5. The truss brush assembly of claim 1, wherein the swivel rotates 360 degrees about an axis orthogonal relative to said outer surface of the base housing wall.

6. A truss brush assembly, comprising:

said housing walls joined to define a U-shaped channel;

a swivel mounted to an outer surface of the base housing wall;

a handle mount pivotably connected to the swivel, wherein the swivel rotates 360 degrees about an axis orthogonal relative to said outer surface of the base housing wall;

an elongated telescopic pole operatively associated with the handle mount opposite the swivel;

said holder walls nested in said inner surface of the U-shaped channel; and

said arrangement of spaced apart joined along an inner surface of the holder walls, wherein said arrangement of spaced apart brushes define a rush gap dimensioned to receive a width of dimensional lumber.