US2876474A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

E. M. LQEWY CLEANING DEVICE F ii ed Jan. 2, 1957 March 10, 1959 I FIG. 2.

INVENTOR EUGENE M. LOEWY ATTORNEYS.

W@qc I M United States Patent CLEANING DEVICE Eugene M. Loewy, El Paso, Tex. Application January 2, 1957, Serial No. 632,229 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-1043) This invention relates to a novel cleaning instrument and, more particularly, to a novel brush and pan combination.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cleaning device or instrument of unitary construction wherein both the brush and pan are integrally connected with each other and constantly available for conjoint usage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device of unitary construction that may be operated with the same facility as the customary separate brush and pan without the necessity, however, of utilizing two separate instruments.

In carrying out the object of this invention, an important feature and additional object is the provision of a unitary integrally related brush and pan that may be laid flat when not in use yet is capable of being manipulated with simplicity and ease to place the brush in brushing cooperation with the scoop pan.

Still another object of the invention is to provide unitary brush and pan that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture requiring a minimum of parts to assemble and a minimum of space in which it may be stored.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the brush and pan combination constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the brush and pan combination.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the brush and pan combination.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the brush and pan combination shown in its operative position.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings, the numeral generally identifies a unitary brush and pan combination that is unusually versatile and arranged for constant conjoint use. The brush and pan combination 10 comprises an elongated unitary flexible member 12 that is substantially rectangular in shape. One end of the member .12 defines a pan portion generally identified by the numeral 14 while at the other opposite end of the flexible member, there is an integral coextensive brush structure generally identified by the numeral 16.

The pan end 14 of the flexible member 12 includes a scoop 18 that is defined by upstanding ridges 20 disposed on opposite sides. The ridges 20 on the pan form the endwise guides of both the pan and the scoop. The endwise guides 20 taper downwardly from the scoop end 18 of the flexible member 12 toward the intermediate portion of the flexible member to merge smoothly therewith.

Brush structure 16 is removably secured to the opposite end 22 of the flexible member by way of a mounting head 24. The mounting head 24 is defined with a longitudinally extending slot 26 which is adapted to receive the end 22 of the flexible member 12. The width of the mounting head 24 is substantially equal to that of the flexible member 12 to form an uninterrupted extenhead 24, is substantially equal in width to that of the' scoop 18 for brushing cooperation with the same. The head 24 mounting the brush 28 is securely connected to the flexible member 12 by the manual operation of a knob means 30. The knob means 30 serves the dual function of providing a manual operator for the brush 28 while, at the same time, serving to interconnect the brush structure 16 integral with the flexible member 12 to define a unitary construction.

In order to provide for facile manual manipulation of the pan and its scoop area, there is provided on the flexible member 12 a manually operable and manipulatable knob means 32. The knob means 32 is conveniently located on the flexible member 12 to enable the pan 14 to be operated as a separate element apart from the brush structure 16 notwithstanding their integral unitary coextensive arrangement.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the brush and pan combination 10 is shown in its operative brushing and scooping position.

By grasping the knobs or handles 30 and 32, the scoop 18 of the pan 14 may be positioned at an angle that is raised slightly to a horizontal surface or to a surface that is to be cleaned. With the pan and scoop so held at the rear thereof by the handle 32, the integral related brush structure 16 is thence manipulated by the handle 30. The brush structure 16 is bent to a position as shown by the full lines in Fig. 4 wherein the same is readied for brushing or sweeping cooperation with the scoop and pan.

To move the brush structure 16 to its brushing position, the flexible member 12 is bent over itself into a shape approximating a circle. The interconnecting or linking flexible member thus provides the resilience that affords the desired cooperation between the brush 28 and the pan 14. When once the brush structure 16 is in its position for sweeping cooperation with the pan,

both the brush and the pan are operated individually in the customary manner evineing a sweeping motion as depicted by the dash lines in Fig. 4.

When not in use, the brush and pan combination 10 immediately assumes its flat linear form as seen in Figs. 1 to 3 by virtue of the inherent resilience of the Hexible member 12. In this condition the unitary brush and pan 10 may be stored easily in any convenient location either by laying the same flat on some surface or by suspending it from a support in a closet, cabinet or even behind a door.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A brush and pan combination comprising a rectangularly-shaped flat flexible member having a scoop at one end thereof and a brush at the other end thereof in normally flat relationship, said brush end being formed coextensive Widthwise with said flexible member, means including a handle to removably secure said brush coextensive with said member and whereby said brush is moved from its normally flat relationship with the scoop to bend said flexible member about itself to position Patented Mar. 10, 1959 said brush into brushing cooperationwith said scoop, and means on said flexible :r'r'ie'mber to hold the same when said brush is moved into brushing cooperation with said scoop. v mm V v U 1 2. A br sh and pan combination comprising a normally flat elongated flexible member, a scoop formed unitary with one end of said flat member, a brush substantially equal in width to that of the scoop fastened with said member at the end thereof opposite said scoop, means on said brush to manipulate the same into brushing cooperation with said scoop and to bend said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 120,090 Osgood Oct. 17, 1871 1,173,512 Hill Feb. 29, 1916 1,349,582 Peterson Aug. 17, 1920

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