WO1993017596A1

WO1993017596A1 - Controllable dispensing device for coupling handles to brushes

Info

Publication number: WO1993017596A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/001912
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael L. Schuman
Original assignee: Rainbow Lifegard Products, Inc.
Priority date: 1992-03-09
Filing date: 1992-03-09
Publication date: 1993-09-16

Abstract

A coupler (5) for connecting a variety of brushes (101) to handles (3) commonly used in the swimming pool industry comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow handle coupling end (25) and a tapered, threaded brush coupling end (23) at opposite ends of a body having a valve assembly (39) therein. The valve assembly (39) includes a generally cylindrical valve member (41) cooperable within a cavity (37) within the coupler body. As the valve member (41) is rotated by an external actuator (43), a duct (57), within the valve member (41) comes into and out of various degrees of alignment with a duct (38) in the body, the duct (38) being continuous from the handle coupling end (25) of the coupler to the brush coupling end (23). A dispensing tube (89) proximate the brush coupling end (23) directs fluid externally of the coupler (5) onto bristles (9) of the brush (101). The coupler (5) may also be used to couple handles (3) without reservoirs to brushes (101) having either threaded or unthreaded handle-receiving holes. In cases such as these in which no dispensing is required, the valve assembly (39) may readily be removed from the coupler (5).

Description

CONTROLLABLE DISPENSING DEVICE FOR COUPLING HANDLES TO BRUSHES

Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a coupling device and, more specifically, to a device for coupling various brushes and handles commonly used in the swimming pool industry.

Background of the Invention The principal utility of the present invention is to provide a means for coupling a variety of general purpose brushes to various service poles and handles commonly^' used in the swimming pool industry. In one embodiment, the invention provides a means for connecting a brush to a pole containing a reservoir for holding fluid, whereby the fluid in the reservoir may be controllably dispensed to the vicinity of the brush. In another embodiment, the invention may be used to couple brushes with unthreaded handle-receiving sockets to poles either having threaded or unthreaded ends.

Presently, no known devices exist for connecting special purpose service poles or handles with general purpose brushes. Certain specially designed pool service poles contain reservoirs for holding liquid to be dispensed to a brush for cleaning the pool. Other pool brush handles, made of wood, typically are shaped in various lengths to allow a user to reach and clean various depths of pool surface. Still other poles, made of aluminum or another metal, can be telescoping and have hollow, unthreaded ends which may be connected to a brush coupled to a short extension handle via a conventional spring clip; the extension handle is a part of the brush. General purpose brushes also are made with different quality, shape, and size, and many may be used only with specific types of poles or handles. Brushes having throughholes emanating from a handle-receiving socket to dispensing holes adjacent the bristles of the brush are designed for use with a service pole containing a fluid reservoir. Other brushes have handle-receiving sockets which are either threaded or unthreaded. The brushes having threaded sockets may be used only with handles having complementarily tapered ends.

Those having unthreaded sockets are typically affixed permanently to a particular handle. Still other brushes have permanent stems protruding outward from the body of the brush, the stems being adapted for connection to a hollow handle via a conventional spring clip. In light of the various types of brushes and handles sold and used, there exists a need in the swimming pool industry for a device useful to couple the various types of brushes to different handles. In particular, there exists a need for allowing conventional brushes to be used with specialized poles. Even in instances where a specially designed dispensing brush is coupled to a pole with a fluid-holding reservoir, there is no easy way of controlling the flow of the liquid outward to the brush. Moreover, the pole cannot effectively be used with conventional brushes; the pole may only be used with more expensive brushes containing throughholes for dispensing the liquid from the pole outward from the brush adjacent the brush bristles. There also exists a need for allowing brushes and handles with different types of threading to be interchanged. Brushes with unthreaded handle-receiving sockets may not be easily attached to threaded handles. These brushes cannot be used with either poles with reservoirs or other handles which are typically designed to couple with only threaded brushes. Such a need is especially great because brushes are typically eaten away by acid or chlorine when used in connection with such chemicals in a pool.

There further exists a need to provide a means for allowing a user to interchange worn out brushes when the handles are still useful. When the brush is permanently attached to a pole, the user will have the unappealing choice of using a worn out brush or buying a new brush and handle, even though the handle attached to the worn out brush may still be useful. Finally, pool service personnel would find useful a device for controllably dispensing fluid, such as liquid pool detergent, algicide, or the like, from a conventional reservoir pole to the surface of a pool underneath and between the brush bristles. Without convenient controllable dispensing, those who use a reservoir handle would needlessly waste detergent, for example, on areas of the pool which do not require the detergent, especially when the pool requires spot cleaning.

Summary of the Invention

This invention addresses the needs identified above by providing a versatile coupler which may be used to couple the various brushes and handles commonly used in the swimming pool industry.

Generally, the present invention provides a coupler for coupling an elongate, tubular handle to a brush body having a tapered handle-receiving hole. The coupler comprises an elongate body having opposite handle and brush ends. The handle end is generally cylindrical and is externally configured and arranged for insertion into a tubular open end of a handle. Adjacent the handle end, the brush body contains diametrically opposed openings for coupling the body to a handle via a conventional spring clip. The brush end is externally tapered, configured, and arranged for snugly and releasably mating in either a threaded or unthreaded brush body handle-receiving hole of predetermined diameter and angle of taper. Within the body of the coupler, a duct extends in an outlet associated with the brush end of the body. Also on the body, an externally operable valve means exists to controllably open and close the internal duct. To facilitate the needs of the swimming pool industry, the coupler provides three separate usage modes. The first usage mode fills the need in the swimming pool industry to allow service poles containing reservoirs to be attached to general purpose brushes with either threaded or unthreaded handle-receiving sockets. In this mode, the coupler is affixed to the pole and may be used to controllably dispense liquid from the reservoir pole, either to the brush itself or to an external dispensing tube proximate the brush. In this mode, the coupler contains an externally operable valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the internal duct of the coupler body.

The second usage mode for the coupler fills the need in the swimming pool industry to attach a brush with an unthreaded socket to a tubular handle. In this mode, the coupler may be used in an unvalved state. The brush can be secured to the coupler with a screw and can be secured to the handle by press-fitting or by means of a spring clip. Thus, the coupler fills the need in the swimming pool industry to provide a convenient means to attach and detach tubular handles and poles to general purpose brushes in a way that worn out brushes -may be easily and cost-effectively replaced.

The third usage mode of the coupler is as an unvalved adapter for attaching a conventional telescoping pole with a hollow and unthreaded end to a brush with a threaded or unthreaded handle-receiving socket. The coupler can be threadedly mounted to the brush body, or it can be attached by means of a screw to an unthreaded brush socket; this coupler is attached to the telescoping handle with a conventional spring clip.

When the coupler is used in its valved state in combination with a reservoir handle and a threaded or unthreaded pool brush, a bucket is not required to dispense fluid along the bristles of a brush. This saves time and energy for a user of the coupler who does not have to repeatedly dip the brush into a bucket outside the pool to obtain cleaning detergent. Furthermore, the valved coupler used with a reservoir pole enables a user to spot-clean selected areas of the pool, such as the coping tiles, by allowing the user to dispense a desired amount of detergent, shut the valve, and scrub the area with the brush without dispensing unnecessary additional fluid.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above-mentioned and other features of the present invention are more fully set forth in the following description of the presently preferred and other embodiments of the pool handle-brush coupler, which description is presented with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the coupler used to attach a general purpose brush to a handle which defines a fluid reservoir;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional elevational view of the brush and handle arrangement shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the coupler showing the valve actuator and dial plate;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional elevation view of the valve actuator and dial plate assembled within the body of the coupler;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional elevation view of an unvalved form of the coupler attached to a brush with an unthreaded handle-receiving socket and to a conventional telescoping pool service pole;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a plug used to seal the body of the coupler when the coupler is used in the unvalved condition;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the plug of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the plug of FIGS. 6 and 7; and FIG. 9 is a cross sectional elevation view of die valved coupler attached to a brush with an unthreaded handle-receiving socket and a to conventional pool service pole.

Detailed Description of the Invention

As shown in FIG. 1, a pool cleaning brush 1 is connected to a service pole 3 via an adapter or coupler 5 according to the present invention. The brush comprises a brush body 7 to which bristles 9 are attached. Opposite the bristles, the brush body contains a handle-receiving socket 11 with a predetermined diameter and angle of taper.

The elongated, tubular pool service pole 3, conventionally made of plastic, comprises a hollow housing 13 defining an internal reservoir 15 for fluid, such as liquid pool detergent, algicide, or the like. The top end 17 of the pole is threaded to detachably mate with a complementarily threaded cap 19 which may be removed as necessary to fill the pole reservoir with, e.g., a liquid pool cleaner. The bottom end 21 of the pole is open and tubular.

As shown in FIG. 1 and in cross section in FIG. 2, the coupler 5 according to one aspect of the present invention provides a convenient means for coupling a general purpose brush having an internally threaded handle-receiving socket 11 to a tubular service pole containing a reservoir 15. The coupler is an elongated and partly hollow body, preferably made by injection molding processes of polycarbonate resin, comprising a tapered brush coupling end 23 opposite a generally cylindrical handle coupling end 25 with a body portion 27 between the brush and handle ends. A valve assembly 39 is provided in body 27 to regulate fluid flow in a duct 33 formed in the coupler. At, and adjacent to, the brush coupling end 23, the body is externally tapered and threaded for snugly and releasably mating in the internally threaded brush body handle-receiving socket 11. The configuration of the brush socket is matable with the threaded end of standard broom and brush handles of the kind which are readily available in hardware stores and the like.

The handle coupling end 25 has an outer diameter 29 approximately equal to the inner diameter 31 of the service pole, providing snug, slidable mating between the coupler and the pole. If desired, the mating may be strengthened by glue or sonic bonding to achieve an integral and permanent attachment between the service pole and coupler.

The hollow interior of the coupler body forms a duct 33 axially traversing the length of the coupler for allowing liquid contained in the pole reservoir to flow from an inlet 24 at the handle end 25 of the coupler body through valve assembly 39 and to an outlet 26 at the brush end 23 of the coupler body. The valved body portion 27 of the coupler body between the two ends provides a means for controlling the flow of liquid through the coupler. The valve assembly 39 comprises a valve member cavity 37 and a cooperable valve 28, each with central axes perpendicular to the central axis of the coupler body. A hollow valve duct 38 is defined within the coupler body on both sides of the valve member cavity. The valve member cavity spans the diameter of the coupler body.

The valve 28 comprises a valve member 41, an actuator 43, a dial retainer flange 45, an indicator plate 47, and a ring clip 77. The generally cylindrical valve member has a length greater than the outer diameter of the coupler body, allowing the valve member to traverse the length of the cavity and protrude outwardly, externally, of the coupler body, through openings 53, 55 on diametrically opposite ends of the coupler body. A valve member duct 57 traverses a diameter of the member in axial alignment with the duct formed within the coupler body. As the valve member is rotated within the cavity, the ducts are moved into and out of various degrees of alignment, thus providing a means to open and close a continuous fluid passageway within the coupler body. The external actuator 43 protrudes upward perpendicular to the coupler body and is preferably formed integrally with the valve member. The actuator provides a convenient means for a user to rotate the valve member and to fully or partially open and close the fluid passageway. The thin, preferably circular, dial retainer flange 45, also integrally formed with the valve member and the actuator at the base of the actuator, facilitates rotation of the actuator and valve member and provides a means to secure the separate, preferably circular indicator plate 47.

The indicator plate indicates the state of the valve—either open or closed (see FIG. 3). The top surface 65 of the indicator plate is etched with the words "OPEN" and "CLOSED," representing the condition of the fluid passageway with respect to the position of the actuator. A pointer 67 at the base of the actuator facilitates reading of die indicator plate by directly pointing to the appropriate etchings on the indicator plate. To prevent movement of the indicator plate while the actuator, and therefore the dial retainer flange and valve member, are rotated, a small rectangular key 69 protrudes outward perpendicular to the lower surface 71 of the indicator plate beneath the etching for "OPEN" (see FIG. 4). The key fits snugly within a complementary key recess 70 on the valved body portion 27 proximate the brush end 23 of the coupler body.

Opposite the actuator end of the valve 28, the valve member protrudes outward externally of the coupler body. At this end, a groove (not shown) is formed around the circumference of the valve member. The groove is positioned to allow an annular ring clip 77 to snugly fit against the coupler body. The overall effect of the dial retainer flange 45 and the ring clip is to snugly secure the movable valve member 41 within the valve member cavity 37. To provide additional security for the valve assembly, a horseshoe-shaped collar clip 49 may be placed over the ring clip.

The valve member 41 is preferably made of low-density polyethylene with an outer diameter 51 slightly larger than the inner diameter of the polycarbonate valve member cavity 37. The use of these dissimilar materials allows the polyethylene in the valve member to fill gaps and provide lubricity and memory in the valve assembly, allowing for a snug rotation of the valve member.

To prevent leakage of fluid if a polyethylene valve member is not used, O-rings 79 may be placed around the valve stems in a pair of recesses 80, each one proximate to a respective, diametrically opposed opening 53, 55 on the coupler body. The O-rings are held in place within each recess by O-ring retainer bearings 82. On the actuator end of the valve member, the dial retainer flange 45 holds the O-ring retainer bearing and the corresponding O-ring snugly within the recess. On the end opposite the actuator, the ring clip 77 secures the second O-ring retainer bearing and corresponding O-ring within the recess. To dispense fluid entering the inlet 24 of the coupler from the reservoir handle onto the brush bristles 9, two methods may be used. Preferably, a molded duct plug 83 force-fits within the outlet 26 of the valve duct 57 and diverts fluid through a radial dispensing tube passage 87 opposite the actuator end of the coupler body into a dispensing tube 89, fixedly mounted by glue or the like within the passage. By using this method, liquid detergent, algicide, or the like may be dispensed from the reservoir handle above the brush bristles 9. Alternatively, if the brush used contains an internal liquid-dispensing throughhole 93 in the brush body in communication with the handle-receiving socket 11 in the brush body, the dispensing tube passage 87 can be filled by a plug (not shown), and the duct plug 83 can be pushed out of the coupler body with a pin or the like. If this is done, fluid will pass directly from outlet 26 through a liquid-dispensing passage 91 at the handle end of the coupler, into the brush body liquid-dispensing throughhole 93, and onto the brush bristles 9.

As shown in FIG. 5, a pool cleaning brush 101 having a body 102 with an unthreaded handle-receiving socket 107 is connected to a tubular handle 103 via the coupler 5 in its unvalved state according to another aspect of the present invention. In this usage mode, die coupler fills the need in die swimming pool industry to attach a brush with an unthreaded handle-receiving socket to a general purpose tubular handle. The unvalved coupler is similar to the valved coupler (FIG. 2), except for differences described below. In the following description, like reference numbers used above to identify parts of the valved coupler will be used to describe like parts on the unvalved coupler.

The brush is similar to that described in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the brush contains an unthreaded handle-receiving socket 107 with a predetermined diameter and angle of taper.

Moreover, the brush body 102 may have a throughhole 121 on the brush body above the handle-receiving socket for allowing a threaded screw 123 with a length greater than the length of the throughhole typically used to engage the threading 124 of a conventional threaded handle. The elongated, tubular handle 103 is similar to the tubular reservoir pole 3 described in

FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the tubular handle comprises a hollow housing 109 with a pair of diametrically opposed apertures 111, 113 proximate the brush end 114 of d e handle. The apertures are typically used to couple the handle to a prior art brush stem (not shown) via a V-shaped conventional spring clip 115, well-known in the prior art. Moreover, unlike the reservoir pole, the tubular handle 103 does not contain a reservoir to hold fluid.

The unvalved coupler is similar to the valved coupler 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the unvalved coupler does not have a valve assembly or dispensing tube for controllably dispensing liquid. The dispensing tube 89 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is also not needed because no dispensing occurs on the unvalved coupler. Instead, on d e unvalved coupler, molded plastic plugs 117, 119 are complimentarily shaped to cover the openings 53, 55 of the valve member cavity (see FIGS. 6-8).

Each of the molded plastic plugs has a body wi an arc-shaped top 125, cylindrical side walls 127, and a flat bottom 129, allowing the plugs to fit snugly into the cavity openings. If desired, the plugs may be sealed by glue or by sonic bonding. A plastic rectangular key projection 131, complimentarily shaped to fit within a key recess 70 on the coupler body, provides for a tight fit between the plugs and the coupler body and hinders movement of the plugs once they are in place.

As shown in FIG. 9, the valved coupler 5 (as described in FIGS. 1 and 2) may be used with a reservoir pole 3 and a conventional brush 101 having a body 102 with an unthreaded handle-receiving socket 107 (as described in FIG. 5). This embodiment of me present invention is similar to that described in FIGS. 1 and 2 with respect to the attachment between the handle end 25 of die coupler and the reservoir pole and controllable dispensing of the fluid in the reservoir pole through a valve assembly 39 and external dispensing tube 89.

This embodiment is similar to that described in FIG. 5 with respect to the attachment of the brush end 23 of die coupler body and a brush with an unthreaded handle-receiving socket

107 using a mounting screw 123.

Where die coupler is used with a brush having an unthreaded, tapered handle-receiving socket, force-fitting of the tapered coupler into the socket may suffice to hold die brush in the coupler. In that event, a retainer screw 123 is not needed. In still anodier aspect of the present invention (not shown), the unvalved coupler 5 (see

FIG. 5) may be used in combination witii a tubular handle 103 (see FIG. 5) and a brush 1 with a threaded handle-receiving socket 11 (see FIG. 2).

The described embodiments of the invention are only preferred and illustrative of die inventive concept; the scope of the invention is not to be restricted to such embodiments. Various and numerous otiier arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A coupler for coupling an elongate handle having an open end to a brush body having a tapered handle-receiving hole d erein, the hole having a predetermined diameter and angle of taper, the coupler comprising a body having opposite handle and brush ends, die body at and adjacent its handle end being externally configured and arranged for insertion into a tubular open end of a handle, the body at and adjacent its brush end being externally tapered, configured and arranged for snugly and releasably mating in a brush body handle- receiving hole of the predetermined diameter and angle of taper.

2. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the brush end of die coupler comprises external threading cooperable with internal threading in a brush body hole.

3. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the handle end of d e coupler comprises a hollow, open-ended sleeve with diametrically opposed holes through the sleeves adjacent the open end diereof, the sleeve being configured to slidably fit into the tubular open end of a handle.

4. The coupler of claim 3 wherein the brush end of the coupler comprises external threading cooperable witii internal threading in a brush body hole, die external threading having a taper angle and diameter selected for snug fit within an untiireaded brush body hole.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupler body comprises a duct dierealong between opposite end openings at the handle end and brush end of die body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the brush has bristles mounted to a surface of its body, and a passage through the brush body from the handle-receiving hole to that surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the hollow handle defines an interior chamber communicating with the handle open end and in which liquid to be dispensed to a brush can be contained.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the brush has bristles mounted to a surface of its body, a passage tiirough the brush body from the handle-receiving hole to that surface.

9. The coupler of claim 5 wherein the coupler further comprises an externally operable valve means operable for regulating fluid flow through the duct.

10. The valve means of claim 9 further comprising indicator means externally associated wϊdi the valve for indicating the flow-regulating state of the valve.

11. The valve means of claim 9 wherein the valve is a rotatable member removable from the coupler body, and plug means sealable to the coupler body for closing openings formed in me coupler body by removal of d e valve member from the coupler body.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupler body comprises a duct dierealong open at the handle end of die body and closed at ie brush end, the coupler body having a fluid flow passage from the duct to die exterior of the coupler body adjacent die brush end of that body.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the hollow handle defines an interior chamber communicating widi the handle open end and in which liquid to be dispensed to a brush can be contained.

14. The coupler of claim 12 wherein the coupler further comprises an externally operable valve means operable for regulating fluid flow tiirough the duct.