US2164432A

US2164432A - Fountain brush

Info

Publication number: US2164432A
Application number: US97163A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel D Selwyn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-08-21
Filing date: 1936-08-21
Publication date: 1939-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1956-07-04

Description

July 4, 1939- s. D. sl-:LwYN

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Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICErl 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a fountain brush.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fountain brush which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and elfi- .5 cient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fountain brush which is especially adapted for use in cleaning bottles, cans and like containers having relatively narrow lnecks and into which the arms and hands of the operator can not readily be inserted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel valve and control device therefor for automatically turning on the `water supply to the bristles of the brush when the latter is inserted into a bottle, can, or analogous container.

An additional .object of the present invention is to provide a. novel device for connecting the new brush to a water supply such, for example, 20 as a hose or conduit and by means of which the operator of the brush is enabled to move the same freely and in any direction relative to the said hose or conduit.

A further object of the invention is to construct the new brush in such a manner that the water supply to the bristles may be cut olf ccmpletely so that the brush may be used simply as a brush and not as a fountain brush, if so desired.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists' in `the novel combination and arrangement o-f parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by references to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal, vertical sectional view showing a preferred form of the new invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View on line 2 2 in Fig. 1, showing the water control valve embodied in the new brush and the mounting of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view 45 on line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

A preferred form of the new fountain brush is shown in the drawing, is therein generally indicated at I0, and comprises a substantially cylindrical brush back or mounting II which has a 50 central and axially extending bore or passage I2 formed therein. 'Ihis passage or bore I2 extends from the rear end I3 of the brush back II to a point adjacent to, but disposed rearwardly of' the front end of the same (Fig. l), and arranged in this bore or central passage I2 is the front end portion I4 of a cylindrical tube I5, this front end portion I4 of the tube I5 being provided with radially arranged rows of apertures I6 Formed in the brush back or mounting II are apertures or passages I'I which extend from the Mi peripheral surface I9 of the brush back or mounting I I tothe central passage or bore I2 therein, and these passages I1 open out onto the periphery of the brush back or mounting II between the bristles I8, it being noted that the 10 bristles I8 at the front end of the brush back II are longer than the bristles at the rear of the same so that the brush is given a somewhat ovoid form, that is, the brush is larger at the front of the same than at the rear thereof, for a puri5 pose to be described presently.

'Ihe tube I5 includes a rear end portion 20 and this portion is projected through a central passage or bore 2l which is formed in a handle 22 and this handle 22 has a screw threaded inner 20 end portion 23 which is threaded onto a screw threaded end portion 24 of the brush back II so as to couple these two parts together.

Threaded onto the outer end portion of the handle -22 is a protective sleeve 4I and mounted 25 on, that is, fixed to the outer or rear end portion of the tube 20, rearwardly of the handle 22, is a knurled nger grip or ring 42 by means of which the tube 20 may be rotated, in a manner, and for a reason, to be described hereinafter.

The tube 20 has an enlarged rear end portion providing the socket 25 of a ball and socket or universal point 26 which includes a ball portion 21 and this ball portion 21 is formed as apart of a connection 28 which is provided with a ceng5 trally arranged passage or bore 29.

Slidably mounted in the front end portion I4 of the tube I 5 is a valve-operating rod or plunger 30. This rod or plunger 3U has a front end portion 3| which is slida'bly projected through a 40 passage 32 which is formed in an extension 33 of the brush back II and formed on the outer or `front end portion of the rod or plunger is a ball 34.

The valve-operating rod or plunger 30 is at- '45 tached, at its inner end, to a valve 35 which is pivotally mounted upon a shaft or pintle 36 which is extended across the portion I4 of the tube I5, above the diametrical center of the latter (Fig. 2), this pintle 36 having its end portions vanchored in the walls of the portion I4 of the tube I5. The ends of the shaft or pintle 36 are swedged and project into an annular groove 40 which is formed in the brush back II so as to ,55

permit the tube I--I4 to be rotated relative to the brush back or mounting II.

Arranged upon the pintle 36 is a coil spring 31 and this coil spring 3l has an end portion or arm 38 which bears against the valve 35 so as to urge the same normally into closed position (Fig. 3) the valve 35 being stopped or held in closed position, against the action of the spring 3l, by means of a boss or stop 39 which is formed on the inner side of the portion I4 of the tube I5.

Operation As stated hereinbefore, the new brush is especially adapted for use in conjunction with bottles, cans, and analogous containers having relatively narrow necks into which it is difficult, if not impossible, for the operator to insert his arm and hand so as to manipulate the brush and control the operation of the valve which supplies the water to the bottles. In the use of the present brush this difficulty is obviated and eliminated by reason of the fact that in order for the present brush to be used it is merely necessary for the same to be inserted into the bottle, can or analogous container with which it may be used, until the bristles I8 at the front end of the brush engage the bottom wall of the container, whereupon with a little more pressure, the ball end portion 34 of the valve-operating rod or plunger 3i] will engage the bottom wall of the container and will thereupon force the said valve-operating rod or plunger 3U rearwardly (right to left, Fig. 1). This movement of the valve-operating rod or plunger 30 will open the valve 35, pivoting the same upon its axis or pintle 36 (clockwise, Fig. 3), against the action of the resetting spring 31, whereupon water will flow through the tube I5-2-I4, past the thus opened valve 35, and thence through the ports or openings I6 into the passages II from which it will emerge onto the peripheral surface of the brush back II and between the bristles I8 thereof. Accordingly, as soon as the pressure of the ball end portion 34 of the valve-operating rod or plunger 30 is released, the tensioned resetting spring 3l will force the valve 35 back into closed position (counterclockwise, Fig. 3) and in which position the said valve will be stopped by engagement with the boss or stop 39. Likewise, this movement of the valve 35 into closed position will return the valve-operating rod or plunger 30 to its normal position, as in Fig. 1.

It will be noted, therefore, that the new brush is especially adapted for use in places such as bottles, cans, and like containers, which have relatively restricted or narrow necks or openings and into which it is not convenient or possible to insert both the brush and the operators hand at the same time, for the purpose of manipulating the brush and the water control Valve therefor, the necessity for this being eliminated, in the use of the present brush, by reason of the fact that the valve 35 is automatically turned on when the brush is inserted into the container7 and against the bottom wall thereof, and is automatically turned 01T when the brush is withdrawn from the same.

The particular ovoid form of the brush head and bristles, shown in Fig. 1, has been found to be especially adapted for use in bottles and like containers having relatively narrow or restricted necks since the bristles I3 being longer at the front end of the brush than at the rear of the same, will yield readily when the brush is being inserted or passed through the neck of a bottle or like container and will again straighten out when the brush has been fully inserted into the container so as to engage the inner surface or walls of the same.

The tube I5 is rotatably mounted in the brush back I I, and in the handle 22, and may be rotated relative to the brush back II and handle 22 by grasping the finger grip 24 and turning the latter, so as to align the apertures or ports I6 in the same with the passages II in the brush back II, or to move the said ports I6 out of registration with the passages I'Iy if desired. This feature is useful as a secondary control for the water supply to the bristles I8 since if it is desired to use the new brush just as a plain brush and independently of its fountain feature lthis may be done by turning the finger grip 42 and the tube I5 so as to move the ports I6 in the tube I5 out of registration with the passages I'I.

The union or connection 28 may be attached to any suitable water supply, such as a hose or conduit, and by reason of the ball and socket or universal joint 23 the new brush may be moved in all directions, relative to the said hose or conduit, without interfering with the water supply to the brush, thus enabling the operator to move the brush readily, especially when cleaning small containers such as bottles and cans which are held in one hand or upon a support during the cleaning operation.

It is to be noted that the front end portion 3| and the ball end portion 34 of the Valve-operating rod or plunger 3E) are normally concealed by the bristles I8 and do not in any way interfere with the packing or shipment or handling of the brush when the same is not in use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A fountain brush comprising a brush back mounting having bristles mounted thereon and having a centrally arranged passage or bore formed therein, said 'brush back having passages formed therein extending from the said central passage to the peripheral surface of the same, a tube rotatably mounted in the said central passage and having ports or openings formed therein in registration with the said passages, a valve movably mounted in the said tube for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough, and a rod or plunger slidably mounted in the said tube for operating the said valve, said rod having a rear and inner end portion operatively connected to the said valve and having a front and outer end portion projecting forwardly of the said brush back or mounting and beyond the front end of the same, a handle attached to the said brush back and having a portion of said tube rotatably mounted therein, and a finger grip mounted on said tube rearwardly of said handle for rotating the said tube relative to the said brush back and handle so as to move the said ports into and out of registration with the said second-named passages.

2. A fountain brush comprising a brush back or mounting having bristles mounted thereon and having a centrally arranged passage or bore formed therein, said brush back having passages formed therein extending from the said central passage to the peripheral surface of the same, a

tube rotatably mounted in the said central passage for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough, and a rod or plunger slidably mounted in the said tube for operating the said valve, said rod having a rear and inner end portion operatively connected to the said valve and. having a front and outer end portion projecting forwardly of the said brush back or mounting and beyond the front end of the same, a handle attached to said brush back and having a portion of said tube rotatably mounted therein, and a nger grip mounted on said tube rearwardly of said handle for rotating the said tube relative to said brush back and handle so as to move the said ports into and out of registration with the said second-named passages, and means including a universal joint attached to the said tube rearwardly of said nger grip for connecting the said tube to a source of water such as a hose or conduit, said joint having a passage formed therein so as to allow fluid to flow therethrough into the said tube.

SAMUEL D. SELWYN.