WO1982002017A1

WO1982002017A1 - Cleaning device

Info

Publication number: WO1982002017A1
Application number: PCT/AU1981/000182
Authority: WO
Inventors: John E Ruocco
Original assignee: John E Ruocco
Priority date: 1980-12-11
Filing date: 1981-12-04
Publication date: 1982-06-24
Also published as: CA1180517A; GB2101513B; EP0078264A1; GB2101513A; ZA818470B

Abstract

A cleaning device (10) characterised in that it comprises a first rod member (12) arranged to be manually grasped by an operator, a second rod member (18) pivotally attached to the first rod member (12) said second rod member (18) having a free end, means adjacent the free end of the second rod member (18), arranged to receive a cleaning tool (38), wherein the first and second rod members (12, 18) are urged by resilient means (24) to an angular disposition of less than 180?o relative to one another and the means for receiving a cleaning tool (38) is such that a mounted cleaning tool (38) faces into the angle included by the first and second rod members (12, 18).

Description

TITLE "CLEANING DEVICE" DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a cleaning device. There is a need for a cleaning device which can be used to clean the hulls of boats without the need for an operator to leave the deck of the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cleaning device comprising a first rod member arranged to be manually grasped by an operator, a second rod member pivotally attached to the first rod member, said second rod member having a free end, means adjacent the free end of the second rod member arranged to receive a cleaning tool, wherein the first and second rod members are urged by resilient means to an angular disposition of less than 180° relative to one another and the means for receiving a cleaning tool is such that a mounted cleaning tool faces into the angle included by the first and second rod members.

The cleaning tool can take any form such as a brush head, scraper head, sponge or soft abrasive cloth. Further, the resilient member is preferably in the form of an elastic belt or a spring which urges the first and second rod members to a particular angular disposition. If the first and second rod members are urged apart to a greater angle than the particular angle the resilient member will tend to urge them back to the particular angular disposition. Preferably, the cleaning device of the present invention also includes a third rod member attached to the second rod member adjacent the free end thereof and the means arranged to receive a cleaning tool is mounted on an outer end of the third rod member. The second and third rod members are joined together by a coupling which fixes the third rod member at a desired angle to the second rod member. The second and third rod members may be separate and joined together by a coupling. However, the second and third rod members are preferably integrally formed with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning device of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, there is shown a cleaning device 10 for cleaning boat hulls comprising a first elongated rod member 12 having a rubber stop 14 at one end.

The elongated rod member 12 is arranged in two parts which are telescopically mounted in relation to one another. Thus the length of the member 12 can readily be varied by altering the relative positions of the two parts. In this connection, the two parts are formed with co-operating apertures where they overlap. They are fixed in a particular disposition by means of a button 15 mounted within the inner part on a U-shaped spring 16. The button 15, as shown, projects through a pair of co-operating apertures to hold the two parts in a fixed disposition.

Adjacent its end remote from the rubber stop 14 a second elongated rod member 18 is pivotally connected to the first elongated rod member 12 by means of a hinge 20. The hinge 20 is freely moveable providing an adjusting nut 22 is kept slightly loose.

The first and second elongated rod members 12 and 18 are inter-connected by a coil spring 24 attached at its ends to collars 26 on the elongated members 12 and 18. The elastic belt 24 is arranged to maintain the elongated rod members 12 and 18 substantially at right angles to one another as shown. However, if the elongated rod members 12 and 18 are forced apart then the coil spring 24 will tend to urge them back to the angular disposition shown in the drawing. The elongated rod member 18 is also arranged in two telescoping parts in similar manner to the member 12 as described above. For this purpose it is fitted with a button 28 mounted on a U-shaped spring 29. At its end remote from the hinged connection to the rod member 12, the member 18 is connected to a third rod member 32. The rod member 32 is shorter than the other rod members and is turned inwardly to be on the same side of the member 18 as the member 12. Further, the rod member 32 is integrally formed with the rod member 18.

As shown, the member 32 is disposed so that its free end is substantially at right angles to the rod member 18. At its free end the member 32 is arranged to have mounted thereon a cleaning tool such as a brush head 38 as shown or a sponge or a scraper head or a soft abrasive cloth. The brush 38 is elongated and is mounted to the member 32 by a fixed mounting.

The brush 38 could be provided with means to enable it to be pivoted to a position where it lies substantially in the plan of the members 12, 18 and 32. In this connection the brush 38 could be provided with an apertured ring and the member 32 provided with, corresponding apertures. Stop means such as resiliently mounted button, could be provided internally of the member 32 to fix the brush 38 in a particular desired orientation. In operation, the brush 38 would be disposed, as shown, at about 90° to its storage position. A pair of pressure vanes 42 are pivotally mounted to the back of the brush 38. As shown in Figure 1, the vanes 42 are arranged to pivot between two extreme positions in which they are in engagement with reinforcing ribs 44 of the brush 38. The ribs 44 thus additionally serve as stops for the vanes 42.

The cleaning device 10 may be formed from wood, aluminium or steel or any pther suitable material. When not required for use, the cleaning device 10 could be collapsed by disengaging one end of the spring 24 from its respective collar 26.

In use, an operator on the deck of a boat grasps the elongated member 12 and holds the cleaning device 10 over the side of the boat. The brush head 38 or equivalent tool is then brought into contact with the hull of the boat. Pressure is applied to the brush head 38 by increasing the angle between the elongated members 12 and 18 against the action of the coil spring 24. The coil spring 24 tends to urge the elongated rod members 12 and 18 together and thus the brush head 38 is pressed against the hull of the boat. The hull of the boat is then cleaned by moving the cleaning device 10 in a reciprocating motion so as to cause the brush head 10 to scrub the hull of the boat and remove foreign material therefrom. Depending on the nature of the cleaning required the brush head 38 could be replaced by, for example, a sponge or scraper head.

When the brush 38 is pushed downwardly under water the vanes 42 adopt the position shown in full in the drawing. Pressure is applied by water to the vanes 42 when the cleaning device 10 is under water and assists in pushing the device 10 into contact with the boat hull. When the brush 38 is pulled upwardly the vanes 42 adopt the position shown in dotted lines and again apply pressure to the device 10.

The lengths of the members forming the cleaning device 10 may be varied with the size of the hull to be cleaned. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention. Although the use of the member 32 is preferred it is to be understood that it could be omitted. In this case the brush 38 or the like would be attached directly to the member 18. Also, the rod members of the cleaning device could be curved rather than linear. Further, the cleaning foot could have rearwardly facing water jets and be arranged to be connected to a water hose to increase pressure applied to the boat hull in use. Also, the cleaning device could have a rotary tool attached to it such as a rotary brush, driven by, for example, water pressure or an electric motor with flexi-crive. Still further, it is envisaged that the spring between the first and second rod members could be adjustable. For example, it could be connected to a threaded bolt threadedly engaged in a rod member and further with a swivel end for connection to the spring. To adjust the springing the threaded bolt could be simply rotated such as by means of a wing nut head.

Also, although it is envisaged that the cleaning tool could be replaced by an alternative tool, it is possible that a tool could be permanently attached to the member 32.

On the hinge 20 there could be mounted an additional bracket arranged to receive a boom section so that the cleaning device of the invention can be used as a boom crutch as well as cleaning device.

Also, the cleaning device could have a hose clipped to it with a nozzle adjacent the cleaning tool. The hose would be connected to a small reservoir of cleaning liquid (preferably biodegradable). The cleaning liquid would be fed to the nozzle under pressure on gravity to be applied to the surface being cleaned.

Claims

1. A cleaning device characterised in that it comprises a first rod member arranged to be manually grasped by an operator, a second rod member pivotally attached to the first rod member, said second rod member having a free end, means adjacent the free end of the second rod member, arranged to receive a cleaning tool, wherein the first and second rod members are urged by resilient means to an angular disposition of less than 180° relative to one another and the means for receiving a cleaning tool is such that a mounted cleaning tool faces into the angle included by the first and second rod members.

2. A cleaning device according to Claim 1, characterised in that it further comprises a third rod member attached to the second rod member adjacent the free end thereof and the means arranged to receive a cleaning tool is mounted on an outer end of the third rod member.

3. A cleaning device according to Claim 2 , characterised in that the third rod member is integrally formed with the second rod member.

4. A cleaning device according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the resilient member is an elastic belt or a spring.

5. A cleaning device, according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that either or both of the first an second rod members is of variable length.

6. A cleaning device according to Claim 5 , characterised in that the or each variable length rod comprises two parts telescopically mounted in relation to one another.

7. A cleaning device according to Claim 6, characterised in that the or each variable length rod contains internal means arranged to engage releasably with cooperating apertures on respective telescopic parts to fix said parts in a particular disposition .

8. A cleaning device according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the cleaning tool is a brush head, scraper head, sponge or soft abrasive cloth.

9. A cleaning device according to Claim 8, in which the cleaning tool comprises pivotally mounted vane means arranged to assist in pushing the cleaning device into contact with a surface being cleaned while under water.