US3333289A

US3333289A - Brush

Info

Publication number: US3333289A
Application number: US595219A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alice M Maughan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-11-17
Filing date: 1966-11-17
Publication date: 1967-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-01

Description

Aug. 1, 1967 A. M. MAUGHAN 3,333,239

BRUSH Filed Nov. l7, 1966 20 a J l I] i 11 1 ,l 1!

INVENTOR. ALICE M. MAUGHAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,333,289 BRUSH Alice M. Maughan, Beverly Hills, Calif. Filed Nov. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 595,219 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-460) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a cleaning brush of oval shape wherein the bristles are in the form of close knit tufts extending normally from one surface of the brush. The ends of the bristles terminate in two an'gulated planes defining an apex line running parallel to the surface from which the tufts extend over the length of the brush itself. Thus the bristles towards the convex side are shorted than the central bristles thereby defining a corner for the bristle end surfaces. This arrangement facilitates cleaning in corners and the like.

This invention relates generally to cleaning brushes and more particularly to an improved brush particularly well adapted for cleaning the corners of walls and the like.

Conventional brushes for cleaning and related purposes are often cumbersome and present difficulties if the area to be cleaned is not readily accessible. A typical problem involves cleaning the interior corners between floors, walls and the like. Conventional brushes often include handle or base portions which interfere with the wall or floor as one attempts to bring the bristles or cleaning portion of the brush into contact with the corner for cleaning the same. Moreover, the bristles or cleaning portions of conventional brushes are not well suited for engaging the corner to provide the desired cleaning action, with a minimum of difiiculty.

With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide an improved brush being designed to readily accommodate itself within interior corners of walls and the like with the result that the corners may be thoroughly cleaned with maximum case.

More particularly it is an object, in accordance with the preceding object, to provide a cleaning brush having a base or handle portion and a cleaning portion which are cooperatively arranged to permit the cleaning portion to engage otherwise inaccessible areas such as corners without the base or handle portion interfering with the desired cleaning action.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of the invention are obtained by providing a brush having a base member which is lightweight and compact and defined in part by a pair of convex sidewalls which are joined at their ends to form parabolic or tapered end portions of the base member. The base member is further defined by a pair of substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.

The brush includes a plurality of closely spaced bristle tufts secured to the top surface of the base member and extending upwardly therefrom. The free ends of the bristle tufts terminate in a pair of angularly related planar surfaces which are arranged to provide a complementary engagement with the surfaces of the corner to be cleaned.

The sidewalls of the base member preferably include a pair of spaced continuous ribs defining a peripheral groove therebetween providing a convenient means for gripping the brush. If desired, a handle member may be detachably secured to the bottom surface of the base member to provide an additional or alternate means for gripping the brush.

A better understanding of the invention will now be had by referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the brush in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the brush of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end elevation view of the brush of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the brush of the invention includes a base or handle member 10 which may be made of wood, for example. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the base member 10 is defined in part by a pair of convex sidewalls 11 and 12 which are joined at their ends to form parabolic or

tapered end portions

13 and 14. The

end portions

13 and 14 are spaced to define the longitudinal extent of the base member 10. It is apparent in FIGURE 2 that the sidewalls 11 and 12 are symmetrical. The base member 10 is further defined by a pair of substantially parallel and planar top and

bottom surfaces

15 and 16.

In order to provide a convenient means for gripping the base member 10, the sidewalls 11 and 12 preferably include a pair of spaced, substantially

parallel ribs

17 and 18 extending around a periphery of the base member. The

ribs

17 and 18 are spaced to define a continuous groove 19 therebetween which serves to receive the fingers of the user when gripping the brush.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a plurality of bristle tufts 20 are arranged in closely spaced relation on the top surface 15 of the base member 10. As best shown in FIGURE 4 each of the bristle tufts 20 comprises a plurality of bristles 21 which are secured by adhesives or the like within a cylindrical opening 22 defined in the surface 15. The bristles 21, may be made of nylon, for example, and extend upward from the base member 10 at substantially right angles to the surface 15.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the bristle tufts 20 terminate in free ends defining a pair of substantially

planar surfaces

23 and 24 which are angulated with respect to each other and converge to form an apex 25. The apex 25 extends along a line substantially parallel to the surface 15 and extending between the

end portions

13 and 14. The

surfaces

23 and 24 are symmetrical with respect to the apex 25 and are preferably disposed at an angle of with respect to each other, as shown.

In order to provide an additional or alternate means for gripping the brush, an elongated handle 26 may be threadedly or similarly secured to the center of the bottom surface 16 of the base member. The handle 26 includes a cylindrical shank 27 and an enlarged gripping portion 28. As shown, the handle 26 extends outwardly from the surface 16 at substantially a right angle and may be detached from the base member if desired.

The brush as above-descri-bed is particularly effective for cleaning interior corners and the like. The parabolic arrangement of the end portions of the base member permit the brush to enter corners more readily. The angulated

surfaces

23 and 24 of the bristles permit the same to engage the surfaces of an interior corner in a compl mentary manner. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the arrangement of the base member and the bristles facilitates cleaning corners and the like with maximum ease. Moreover, the brush may be easily handled with or without the handle 26, as desired.

Various changes falling within the scope and the spirit of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, not to be thought of as limited to the specific embodiment set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved brush adapted for cleaning interior corners of walls and the like, comprising: a base member having a pair of symmetrical convex sidewalls terminating in ends being joined to form parabolic end portions of said base member, said end portions being spaced to define the longitudinal extent of said base member, said base member further being defined by substantially planar and parallel top and bottom surfaces; and a plurality of closely spaced bristle tufts secured to said top surface and extending upwardly therefrom at substantially right angles, said bristle tufts terminating in free ends defining a pair of substantially planar surfaces which are ang-ulated with respect to each other at substantially ninety degrees to converge and form an apex along a line extending between said end portions of said base member parallel to said top surface, whereby the free ends of the bristle tufts are arranged for complementary engagement with the interior corner of a wall.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, including an elongated handle secured centrally to said bottom surface of said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,179 4/1916 Rasemsen 15197 1,359,104 11/ 1920 Rheinberger 15-160 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,038,925 5/1953 France. 1,080,217 5/1954 France.

467,273 10/ 1928 Germany.

20 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

PETER FELDMAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN IMPROVED BRUSH ADAPTED FOR CLEANING INTERIOR CORNERS OF WALLS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SYMMETRICAL CONVEX SIDEWALLS TERMINATING IN ENDS BEING JOINED TO FORM PARABOLIC END PORTIONS OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID END PORTIONS BEING SPACED TO DEFINE THE LONGITUDINAL EXTEND OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID BASE MEMBER FURTHER BEING DEFINED BY SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR AND PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES; AND A PLURALITY OF CLOSELY SPACED BRISTLE TUFTS SECURED TO SAID TOP SURFACE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES, SAID BRISTLE TUFTS TERMINATING IN FREE ENDS DEFINING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SURFACES WHICH ARE ANGULATED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AT SUBSTANTIALLY NINETY DEGREES TO CONVERGE AND FORM AN APEX ALONG A LINE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID BASE MEMBER PARALLEL TO