GB2212388A - Water-fed brushes - Google Patents

Abstract

A water-fed yard brush or broom has a tubular handle and a brush head which is mountable on the handle. Water delivery means delivers water via the handle to the brush head during use. The brush head comprises a plastic moulding having retaining flanges 18, 20 in which a brush element 14 carrying bristles 36 is slidably and removably received. The brush head comprises a housing 12 defining a chamber 28 in which the brush element 14 is received and forms one wall thereof, and to which water is delivered during use of the brush. The handle is mounted on one wall 24 of the housing by screwing into threaded boss 54, and said wall 24 lies in a plane at 40 degrees to 50 degrees with respect to the horizontal when the brush is in use. <IMAGE>

Description

BRUSHES This invention relates to brushes. More particularly, the invention relates to water-fed yard brushes or brooms.

In this specification the term "yard brush" refers to the kind of brush having a brush head and a handLe, and being so constructed as to be suitable for brushing a yard, pavement or the like, while the user is in a standing posture.

Many proposals have been made for water-fed brushes of various kinds. Many of these relate to short brushes intended for cleaning cars, and like operations. However, one prior proposal known to the Applicant is GB677,741 (Cohen). This discloses a brush intended for the application of water to floors e t c in cow sheds and the like. However, this proposal, and all others known to the Applicant, falls short of modern requirements in several important respects.These include an ability to meet EEC hygiene requirements, the provision of a design which enables manufacture at an acceptable cost while meeting the significant strength requirements for a brush of this kind, and an ability to provide for replacement or interchangeability of the brush element, together with an effective distribution of water to the brush element and bristles without imposing strength limitations on the structure of the brush, particularly the brush head.

An object of the present invention is to provide a brush or broom offering improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a waterfed yard brush or broom as defined in the accompanying claims.

In a preferred embodiment, the main structural items of a water-fed yard brush or broom are formed as plastic mouldings whereby EEC regulations concerning hygiene can be met. Moreover, despite this mode of manufacture, the strength requirements of the brush head and the replaceability of the brush element are provided by means of a simple flange arrangement whereby the brush element is slidably removable. The chamber defined by the housing on which the brush element is received is so effective at distribution of liquids to the brush element that even paint can be applied by means of the brush.

In the preferred embodiment, an optionally-usable alternative brush element comprises steel bristles usable for scouring work. In this brush element, and the normal bristle brush element, the centre portion thereof may be devoid of bristles, allowing more freedom for bristle f lexure. Certain rows of bristles may be removed in the region of the leading and trailing edges for the same purpose. The number of holes formed in the brush element, and which permit passage of water from the chamber to the bristles, may be varied according to requirements.

In a further preferred embodiment, a general purpose brush can use either hot or cold water. The water is introduced from a hose pipe into a variable size nozzle situated in a junction unit moulded at the bottom end of the handle shaft. The handle shaft is screwed into a boss located on the side of the brush head. The chamber defined by the brush head allows water to run freely over the head of the brush and down through the holes which are located at either end of the brush head. The entire main structure of the brush is of plastic material. The bristles comprise a durable plastic material and are inserted into a plastic block. Two holes are formed in the block, one at each end, to allow the passage of water. The brush element is a snug fit in the chamber, one end is open, the other is closed, allowing the brush element to rest tightly up against it so that no leaks occur.This arrangement allows the brush element to be easily removed. The hose connection caters for a 0.75 inch diameter hose and a 0.5 inch diameter likewise (1.91 and 1.27 centimetres respectively).

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a brush element; Fig 2 shows a perspective view of a housing portion of a brush head; and Fig 3 shows, partially cut away, an elevation view of a handle for insertion into the cylindrical internal screw thread of a boss seen on the housing in Fig 2.

As shown in the drawings, a water-fed yard brush or broom comprises a handle 10, a brush head 12 mountable on the handle, and water delivery means to deliver water to the brush head. The brush head comprises a housing 12 and a brush element 14. Water delivery means 16 is provided to deliver water to the brush head.

Housing 12 is in the form of a plastic moulding having retaining flanges 18, 20 on which brush element 14 is slidably and removably receivable. The plastic moulding is generally roof-shaped, having main faces 22, 24 disposed at 45 degrees to the horizontal, when the housing is in a horizontal attitude, as shown in Fig 2.

Housing 12 has a generally triangular end face 26 at one end, defining a space 28 in which the moulded plastic block 30 of brush element 14 is receivable on the upper surfaces of the flanges 18,20. The opposite end of housing 12 is closed so as to sealably cooperate with the end of block 30. The block is retained in its working position in the housing by means of screws or other fasteners inserted through wholes (not shown) in flanges 18, 20. Thus, when brush element 14 has been inserted into housing 12 and is secured therein, a comparatively large chamber is defined above block 30 to which water is delivered by delivery means 16. Bores 32, 34 formed in block 30 deliver water from the chamber to the bristles 36.

Handle 10 comprises a main tubular stem portion 38 having an end cap 40 and formed with, or welded to a moulded plastic junction portion 42 having a side arm 44 on which a hose connector 46 is provided, having a 0.75 inch diameter portion 48 and a 0.5 inch diameter portion 50, the latter being removably and sealably received on the former.

Water entering the hose connector 46 passes direct to the handle and hence via the tubular threaded portion 52 of the assembly to housing 12 via a boss 54 formed as a plastic moulding and welded to the housing 12. Boss 54 is formed with a cylindrical internal screw thread 56 whereby the handle assembly is securely fastened to the brush head with t he hose connector 46 proj ecting latera Ily away from the brush head and rearwards with respect to the direction of forward movement during work.

In use, a hose is connected to connector 46 and water is delivered direct to housing 12 and passes via bores 32, 34 to the bristles 36. Working loads are applied directly to the brush element 14 by the housing 12, and not by the fasteners.

Amongst other advantages provided by the embodiment are as follows. Firstly, water is delivered to the brush head at a relatively low level and conveniently so that the hose itself does not interfere with use of the brush. The water pressure is very effectively applied to the brush element. The entire assembly is formed of plastic and thus meets EEC hygiene requirements. The flanges 18, 20 secure the brush element in position and are able to withstand the substantial pressure loading applied to the asembly in use, without requiring the expense of alternative strengthening arrangements. The simple structure of the housing 12 enables water delivery thereto direct from the handle, while the latter is at the proper angle for use.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiment while remaining within the scope of the invention are the provision of more holes in the block 30, and different dispositions of these. Also, the housing 12 could be formed with a modified roof-shaped profile in which the ends 26 are not vertical but slope towards the central region of the housing 12.

Claims (13)

1 A water-fed yard brush or broom comprising : a handle; a brush head mountable on the handle and carrying bristles; and water delivery means to deliver water to the brush head during use; characterised in that said brush head comprises a plastic moulding having retaining flanges on which a brush element is slidably and removably receivable.

2 A water-fed yard brush or broom comprising a handle a brush head mountable on the handle and carrying bristles; and water delivery means to deliver water to the brush head during use characterised in that said brush head comprises a housing defining a chamber in which a brush element is received and to which said water delivery means is connected in use to deliver water, said handle being mounted on one wall of said housing and said wall lying in a plane at 40 degrees to 50 degrees with respect to the horizontal when the brush is disposed with its bristles extending vertically for brushing, whereby the handle extends at 40 degrees to 50 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

3 A brush according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said water delivery means is arranged to deliver water to said brush head through a hollow lower portion of said handle, the water delivery means having hose connection means carried on said lower portion of the handle.

4 A brush according to claim 3 characterised in that said water delivery means comprises a hollow boss welded to said brush head and having an internal screw thread in which said hollow portion of said handle is screwthreadedly receivable.

5 A brush according to claim 4 characterised in that said hose connection means projects laterally of said handle at a level within 6 inches (15 centimetres) of said boss.

6 A brush according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 when dependent upon claim 2, characterised in that one end of said housing has an opening to allow said brush element to slide in and out.

7 A brush according to claim 1 or any one of claims 2 to 6 when dependent upon claim 1, characterised by removable fastener means for said brush head arranged to releasably couple said brush element to said retaining flanges during use, the arrangement being such that said fasteners serve to prevent sliding removal of said brush element during use whi le not being subj ected to a major proportion of the work loads applied to the brush assembly during use.

8 A brush according to claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 7 when dependent upon claim 3, characterised in that said hose connection means projects laterally with respect to said handle towards the free end thereof.

9 A brush according to claim 3, or any one of claims 4 to 8 when dependent upon claim 3, characterised in that said hose connection means comprising a two-diameter hose nozzle member.

10 A brush according to claim 8 characterised in that said hose connection means projects at an angle of 30 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to said handle.

11 A brush according to claim 9 characterised in that said two-diameter hose nozzle comprises a smaller diameter portion which is a removable push-fit into a larger diameter portion and seals thereto.

12 A brush according to claim 4, or any one of claims 5 to 11 when dependent upon claim 4, characterised in that said screw thread is arranged such that said handle locks with respect to said brush head with said hose connection means projecting from the handle on the side thereof remote from said housing.

13 A water-fed yard brush or broom substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.