Abstract: A walk-behind self-propelled device comprises a main frame including a base portion and a handle portion; a pair of wheels secured to the base portion for engaging the ground surface; an engine mounted on the base portion; a hydraulic pump carried by the base portion and operably connected to the engine; a first hydraulic motor directly coupled to the wheels and operably connected to the hydraulic pump; an attachment secured to the base portion; a second hydraulic motor directly coupled to the attachment and operably connected to the hydraulic pump; and first and second valves for controlling the first and second hydraulic motors, respectively. Each of the first and second valves has a bypass position whereby hydraulic fluid bypasses the first and second hydraulic motors. First and second handgrips are provided for operating the first and second valves, respectively.

Abstract: A portable hand held cleaning device is adapted to receive various cleaning implements, such as bristle brushes, abrasive wheels, chisels, and the like, into a tool engaging member. The tool engaging member is preferably operable by a rechargeable battery to selectively rotate and/or reciprocate at varying speeds. The rechargeable battery is included in a housing. The tool engaging member is preferably displaceable to improve the efficiency of the cleaning device in hard to reach areas. The housing may further include plumbing and a pump for delivering fluid from a cleansing fluid container to a discharge proximate the cleaning tool engaging member.

Abstract: A film strip cleaner apparatus includes a support plate having a plurality of film guide rollers journaled thereon to define a cleaning path of the film. A cleaning roller carrying arm is pivotally mounted on the support plate and has a pair of spaced apart film cleaning rollers journaled thereon and positioned on opposite sides of the film cleaning path. A position lock pin is mounted on an end of the roller arm and is resiliently urged toward the support plate. A pair of pin receiving apertures are formed through the support plate and are positioned in angularly spaced relation to the pivot axis of the roller arm.

Abstract: A coupling for removably affixing a brush to a rotatable drive shaft includes a drive hub affixed to the drive shaft, in which an axial projection having a cam surface is disposed on either the drive hub or the brush. The other of the hub and the brush defines a recess for accepting the projection and has a spring retainer affixed thereto. The projection and recess have an interfitting spline connection for preventing relative rotation between the drive hub and the brush. The cam surface is adapted to elastically spread the retainer to allow-the projection to be inserted within the recess. The retainer thereafter engages the shelf surface to prevent removal of the projection from the recess. The spring retainer is provided with tabs for elastically spreading the retainer to disengage the shelf surface and allow the brush to be easily removed from the drive hub.

Abstract: Discs and a footpad for devices such as automatic swimming pool cleaners are disclosed. The discs incorporate upwardly-extending, non-truncated fins protruding radially from their peripheries. The peripheries themselves, moreover, define a plurality of tongues for increased flexibility, and both the discs and footpad may include ramped segments facilitating movement over obstacles extending from swimming pool surfaces.

Abstract: A sanitary sewer root clean out tool for use with a plumber's snake is formed by an elongated helical member having a forward compacted root penetrating end portion supporting a pair of laterally pivoting blades which are retracted during forward movement of the tool and expand laterally in a root cutting action when moved rearwardly. A root cutting assembly transversely surrounds an intermediate portion of the elongated helical member and is angularly rotated thereby by forward and rearward movement of the helical member relative to the cutting assembly to sever roots surrounding the helical member by blades radially projecting outward from the periphery of the helical member as the latter is longitudinally reciprocated.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in cleaning the underwater surfaces of swimming pools and the like includes a body with an inlet and an outlet for connection to a flexible suction hose; a flexible foot member adapted to at least partially surround the inlet; means for interrupting the flow between the inlet and the outlet and characterised in that the apparatus includes a plurality of feet projecting from the bottom of the body, each foot comprising a plurality of adjacent resiliently flexible members projecting in a direction away from the body and towards the rear thereof.

Abstract: A waterproof flexible glove with extended sleevelet with releasably lockable cuff fastenable to a shirt or blouse sleeve, having reservoirs on the fingers and palm which act to retain cleansing solutions by the surface tension of the cleansing solutions and methods of manufacture.

Abstract: A high-speed conversion for floor treating machines which comprises a wheeled frame, an impeller member attached to the floor treating drive of a floor treating machine for rotation therewith, a plurality of speed accelerators fixedly attached to the impeller member and having an end portion thereof engaging the frame and having an opposite end portion fixedly attached to a roller for engaging a floor treating element support which is rotatably journaled to the impeller member. A floor treating element such as a brush, pad, or sand paper is fastenable to the floor-facing side of the floor treating element support for rotatable engagement to the floors. In operation, the impeller member rotates at a speed up to 300 rpm and the speed accelerators rotate the floor treating element and support at speeds capable of exceeding 2500 rpm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and/or treating elongated closed ducts or channels, particularly ventilation ducts. The device includes an automotive vehicle and mounted thereon a rotary brush useful for cleaning and/or surface treating. The rotary brush is mounted for rotation on a shaft that extends generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the duct. The invention also contemplates mounting a television camera onto the automotive vehicle for monitoring results of the cleaning and/or treating operation.

Abstract: A motorized anti-plaque toothbrush comprises a handle (1) at one end of which is a cleaning/massaging head (3), in particular a brushing head, which rotates about an axis which is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle (1) and is turned with a continuous one-way rotary motion or with a reciprocating rotary motion by a motor, preferably an electric motor, housed in the handle (1). According to the invention, the cleaning/massaging head (3) is composed of at least two separate cleaning/massaging tool parts (4, 5) that are supported coaxially with respect to each other in such a way that they can rotate relative to each other, being turned in mutually opposite directions in the case of continuous one-way rotation and in phase opposition to each other in the case of reciprocating rotation.

Abstract: An improved plumbers' tool of the type employing a helically wound coiled spring which is controllably inserted into waste lines to remove blockages. In operating the tool of the invention, a storage drum from which the clean-out spring is payed out is rotated, usually by a small electric motor, and the spring is clamped in a chucking mechanism so as to rotate with the housing. The improvement of the present tool resides in the provision of a unique actuating mechanism which provides a substantial mechanical advantage that enables the operator, using only one hand to grip a forwardly positioned stationary handle with the fingers and move a pivotally movable, rearwardly positioned handle with the heel of the hand to cause the chucking mechanism to positively engage the coiled spring in a manner to prevent slippage even under severe torque loading conditions.

Abstract: A toothbrush is provided having two housing sections (1, 2) which are pivotable relative to one another, of which a first housing section (1) serves as a handle and accommodates a drive unit (4) for driving a drive shaft (5), and of which a second housing section (2) carries a brush-head (3), which is drivable by the drive shaft, which second housing section (2) is pivotable relative to the drive shaft (5) about a pivot (6).

Abstract: To scrub adjacent parallel grout lines on a tile floor simultaneously, a long handle is attached to a base which is wider than the space between adjacent grout lines. Two or more long narrow scrubbing elements are adjustably mounted on the base with the long sides parallel to one another. They are spaced apart to correspond to the spacing between tiles and locked in position. When they are moved back and forth in a scrubbing motion, they tend to remain in the depressed grout lines so they are self-guiding. All the scrubbing effort is directed to the grout lines which tend to accumulate dirt more than the elevated, impervious tile surface. The scrubbing elements may be bristle brushes, foam or fibrous scrubbing material. An electric motor driven embodiment is shown with rotary brushes adjustably mounted on a rotary shaft.

Abstract: A turbine driven underwater pool cleaner is disclosed having a housing to which is attached a hose providing a source of suction. The suction functions to draw debris into and through the housing via an opening at the bottom surface of the housing. A rotatable turbine is provided in the flow path of the fluid being drawn through the housing. A pair of wheels are provided which are mounted both for rotation and translation with respect to the housing. A pair of shafts extend from and are driven by the turbine. A radial projection is provided at the end of each shaft. During each revolution of the shaft, the radial projection provides both a rotational and a translation force on the wheel for driving the cleaner in a sure manner about the pool surface. Two alternate approaches are disclosed for steering the cleaner. In one approach, the drive to one of the wheels is selectively disengaged. In another embodiment, the device is steered by placing a torque on the suction hose.

Abstract: A motor vehicle washing apparatus having a brush assembly and curtain assembly for prolonging the life of the brush assembly and the curtain assembly by adjusting the length of elements of each when wear occurs. The brush assembly includes a plurality of brush elements mounted on a drum by connectors which are removably received in channels on the outer surface of the drum. The connectors engage selected slots of a plurality of slots in the brush elements to allow for selectively and incrementally adjusting the position of a free end of each brush element. In a similar fashion, the curtain assembly has a plurality of curtain elements mounted on a support rod. The curtain elements each have a plurality of slots therein for accommodating self-orienting removable locking fasteners permitting selective and incremental adjusting of the position of a free end of each curtain element.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically driven toothbrush having a simple structure and capable of changing the reciprocation stroke of bristles in a simple operation. The toothbrush is composed of a head portion 10 including a bristle portion 15 studded with bristles 14, a grip portion 12 having a motor 22, an intermediate transmission member 20 mounted in the grip portion and connected to the head portion, and a conversion mechanism 24 interposed between the intermediate transmission member and the motor for converting a rotational movement of the motor into a reciprocal movement of the intermediate transmission member. At least the bristle portion of the head portion is resiliently tiltable with respect to an axis of the intermediate transmission member, and at least the reciprocation stroke of the bristle portion can be changed in accordance with the tilting distance of the bristle portion.

Abstract: Assemblies are disclosed for cleaning the inside walls of pipes and tubes. A first embodiment includes a small turbine with angled blades axially mounted on one end of a standoff support. An O-ring for stabilizing the assembly within the pipe is mounted in a groove within the outer ring. A replaceable circular brush is fixedly mounted on the opposite end of the standoff support and can be used for cleaning tubes and pipes of various diameters, lengths and configurations. The turbine, standoff support, and brush spin in unison relative to a hub bearing that is fixedly attached to a wire upstream of the assembly. The nonrotating wire is for retaining the assembly in tension and enabling return of the assembly to the pipe entrance. The assembly is initially placed in the pipe or tube to be cleaned. A pressurized water or solution source is provided at a required flow-rate to propel the assembly through the pipe or tube. The upstream water pressure propels and spins the turbine, standoff support and brush.

Abstract: A pneumatic mechanism for incrementally adjusting a glass sheet washing machine of the type having upper and lower sets of brushes and rollers spaced apart vertically to wash sheets of glass of various thicknesses passing between the sets. The upper set of brushes and rollers is carried by an upper frame member and the lower set of brushes and rollers is carried by a lower frame member. The pneumatic mechanism includes a pair of stacked pneumatic cylinders arranged in lifting engagement with the upper frame member at each corner of the upper frame. A selector is provided to sequentially actuate one and then the other of the pneumatic cylinders in a stack to extend their piston rods which are of different lengths to raise the upper frame relative to the lower frame by incremental distances defined by the extended lengths of the respective piston rods.

Abstract: Disclosed are new features relating to a brush-supported carpet cleaning machine of the type having counter-revolving brushes. Such features include a new handle mounting and latching arrangement which simplifies handle mounting and de-mounting, which helps support the weight of a handle-mounted vacuum pod and which promotes a high degree of machine self-propulsion. The pod is attached to the machine handle by a novel gudgeon-and-pintle mechanism. Such features also include a new support device, preferably brush-mounted, which helps prevent the machine shroud from snagging carpet if the machine should "wallow" or "yaw" in operation.