Abstract: A hydrofoil (10) is disclosed for attachment to a pool brush (12) to facilitate cleaning the side walls of a pool. The hydrofoil is pivotally attached to the handle through a resilient clip (30) passing through a pair of opposed holes (24) in the hydrofoil (10) and received in matching engagement pin receiving apertures (48, 50) in a notch (46) in the hydrofoil (10). As the pool brush (12) is moved up and down along the side of the pool, the hydrofoil pivots and causes the water to force the pool brush against the side of the pool to facilitate cleaning.

Abstract: A scraping brush from cleaning dirt and debris from a surface. The inventive device includes a handle having a brush extending from a first end thereof and a scraping block extending from a second end thereof. The scraping block is configured to include a planar rear face oriented at an oblique angle relative to a planar front face, with a pair of arcuate lateral faces intersecting both the planar front and rear faces.

Abstract: A substrate treatment apparatus includes a loader 1 for soaking a plurality of wafers W in deionized water, a back surface cleaning portion 2, a front surface cleaning portion 3, a rinsing and drying unit 4 and a plurality of transporting units 6. The back surface cleaning unit 2 cleans the back surface of the wafer W with a brush from the lower side by supplying deionized water to the wafer W that is removed from the loader 1. The front surface cleaning unit 3 cleans the upper surface of the wafer W with a brush by supplying deionized water to the wafer W cleaned by the back surface cleaning unit 2. The rinsing and drying unit 4 rinses the cleaned wafer W and then dries it.

Abstract: A floor scrubbing machine has a chassis mounted on front and rear wheels and a scrub head attached to the front of the chassis by a system of articulated links. Structure is provided for absorbing the kinetic energy of the moving machine in the event that the scrub head strikes a fixed object. On impact the geometry of the linkage system causes the front wheels to be lifted off the floor, thereby quickly lifting considerable weight. Also, a pair of heavy springs stretch, and parts of the chassis deform elastically. By this structure the kinetic energy is absorbed within the machine. No heavy protective shrouds are needed, and a simple flange along the front edge of the scrub head housing provides adequate stiffness.

Abstract: A brush pressure system for a cleaning or sweeping machine, particularly of the pedestrian type, has elements for biasing the brush or brushes against the surface to be cleaned or swept, at a desired value and preferably at a controllably variable value. Long springs mounted in spring tubes which are compressed by an electrical actuator are the preferred option. With a controllable brush pressure the cleaning or sweeping machine is more adaptable, can be used for both heavy duty cleaning or scrubbing tasks and light sweeping tasks without the need to for resetting the machine in the factory and without wearing out the expensive brushes or damaging the floor surface.

Abstract: A combined floor cleaning and floor polishing machine comprises a motor housing (1), an inclined operator handle (2), a base (3) with castors (4) and a motor-operated shaft (5) for a rotating disc (7) supporting interchangeably a cleaning pad or polishing pad, so that the machine weight is carried partly on the pad and partly on the castors (4). If the handle (2) is tilted the machine moves laterally to one side or other in dependence upon the direction of tilt. The use of elastomeric torsion blocks (8) to connect the motor housing (1) to the base (3) provides an elastic resistive force in either tilt direction and thus improves controllability of the cleaning/polishing movement in either lateral direction, by a simple, robust and inexpensive construction.

Abstract: A golf shoe cleaner 10 is provided for attachment to a golf bag base 20. A brush 12 having an array of bristles 34 thereon, is removably attached to a brush retainer 14. The brush retainer 14 is hingedly attached to an attachment bracket 16. The brush retainer 14, with the brush 12 therein, swings between a "use" and "store" position. The store position is characterized by the vertical or near vertical position of the brush retainer 14 where the brush retainer 14 is secured in place by a pair of opposing spring bracket bullet catches (78 and 80) on the attachment bracket 16. The use position is characterized by the horizontal, or near horizontal orientation of the brush retainer 14.

Abstract: A rotary, floor polishing and scrubbing pad for a rotary floor polishing machine is provided and includes an elongated member having a generally hourglass shape. The hourglass shape is defined by oppositely disposed, concave side walls extending between a pair of spaced apart outer walls. The concave side walls define cutting edges for cutting away dirt and wax on a floor and then slinging any loosened debris away from the polishing and scrubbing pad during rotation thereof by the rotary floor polishing machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine having a carriage for movement on a floor surface. The carriage has structure for rocking the carriage with respect to a floor surface. A workhead assembly is pivotably mounted on the carriage for movement between a first working position and a second rest position. A biasing structure acts on the workhead assembly to move the workhead assembly from one of the positions to the other. Rocking of the carriage allows the workhead assembly to move under influence of the biasing structure from one position to the other position.

Abstract: A mop having a mop sheet holder member 2 of a short cylindrical shape and of a resiliently flexible material attached to the fore end of a handle stick 1. An axially extending sheet anchoring groove 12 is formed on the top side of the sheet holder member 2 to anchor therein opposite end portions of a mop sheet securely in cooperation with a sheet retainer arm pivotally movable into engagement with the sheet anchoring groove 12 from above.

Abstract: A device for repetitively cleaning the tips, edges and blades of dental instruments during prophylaxis. A first embodiment includes two substantially parallel, contiguous rolls made from a rough, absorbent material and attached to an adhesive strip including a lower surface which adhesively attaches to a dental tray. Second, third and fourth embodiments include, respectively, three, four and five substantially parallel, contiguous rolls.

Abstract: A brush for a rotary floor machine is especially adapted to clean grout on tile floors. The brush includes a disk having a plurality of first and second bores arranged into a plurality of rings disposed about one face of the disk. Each ring defines an arcuate pattern of alternating first and second bores. The first bores are angled inwardly towards the center of the disk, preferably 5.degree. from a line normal to the plane of the disk. The second bores are angled outwardly toward the periphery of the disk, preferably 5.degree. from a line normal to the plane of the disk. Tufts of bristles disposed within the first and second bores thus form pairs of overlapping bristles.

Abstract: An automatically adjustable brush assembly for cleaning semiconductor wafers. The brush assembly includes a first rotary brush, a brush carriage having first and second arms and a second rotary brush, and at least one pressure adjustment assembly positioned to engage at least one of the arms of the brush carriage and configured for automatically adjusting the pressure applied to the wafer surfaces by the first and second rotary brushes. The brush assembly further includes a control system coupled to the pressure adjustment assembly for controlling operation of the pressure adjustment assembly to selectively increase and decrease the pressure applied to the wafer by the first and second rotary brushes.

Abstract: A foot sponge for providing cleansing of the feet includes a sponge member which provides a foot receptacle thereinside. The foot receptacle is characterized by an insole upon which a user's foot rests, a fore-foot receptacle into which the fore-foot of the user's foot is received, and preferably a heel receptacle for receiving the heel and ankle area of the user's foot. Preferably, the nose of the forefoot cavity is pre-soaped with a viscous liquid soap. The underside of the sponge member is flat and is connected with a base member having a plurality of uniformly distributed suction cups facing outwardly therefrom. In the preferred form of the foot sponge according to the present invention, the sponge member is composed of two parts, an outer component of a "dry" or "open cell" sponge material which provides the general shape and structural integrity to the foot sponge and an inner component of a "wet" or "closed cell" sponge material which provides a washing interface with the user's skin.

Abstract: A roller and tray apparatus includes a roller assembly which includes a handle portion, a bearing portion connected to the handle portion, and a replaceable porous roller portion connected to the bearing portion. The roller portion includes a first canted peripheral edge adapted to contact a first interior surface adjacent to an interior corner without contacting a second interior surface adjacent to the interior corner. A tray assembly includes a squeeze area for receiving the roller portion for squeezing out excess coating material from the roller portion. The squeeze area includes a first canted wall portion which is complementary to the first canted peripheral edge and is adapted to squeeze excess coating material out of the roller portion. The roller portion may also include a second canted peripheral edge adapted to contact a second interior surface adjacent to the interior corner without contacting the first interior surface adjacent to the interior corner.

Abstract: A vacuum head having a confinement zone with a portion of surfaces inside a water pool, under the vacuum head, for cleaning surfaces of the floor and adjacent sides, inside a water pool. A water outlet is mounted within the confinement zone, whereby the presence of water in the confinement zone generates a flow of water driven toward the water outlet. A plurality of water jets within the confinement zone impinge water upon the portion of surfaces, under the vacuum head, for the water from the water jets to hit the portion of surfaces within the confinement zone, to remove dirt from said portion of surfaces, and said dirt together with said water to be substantially confined within the confinement zone, and be displaced along the flow of water driven toward the water outlet.

Abstract: A motorized brush imparts vibrational motion to a scrubbing brush head. The brush includes a water-tight housing, in which a small electric motor is mounted. The motor includes an eccentric weight mounted to its drive shaft. In use, the motor is energized, causing the eccentric weight to be rotated. The eccentric weight vibrates the brush head without rotating it. This vibrational motion provides an effective scrubbing action without the necessity for complex sealing mechanisms connecting the brush head to the motor shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a buffing pad mounted on a rotary powered buffing machine is adapted to be mounted on the upper edge of an open container containing a liquid cleaning solution. The buffing pad is placed in an upper enclosure the bottom of which includes a water wheel mounted for engagement by the buffing pad and rotatable between the enclosure and a point below the level of cleaning solution in the container, such that powered operation of the buffing machine and rotation of the pad drives the water wheel to deliver cleaning solution to the pad enclosure to clean accumulated wax, dirt and other materials from the pad. The device makes use of a series of rotatable cleaning wheels of the type used in prior devices which are also driven by the buffing pad and assist in loosening and removing accumulated materials from the buffing pad.

Abstract: A handle includes a distal working head portion with a distal end and a distalmost splash guard, an intermediate gripping portion including an upstanding gripping member, and a proximal forearm embracing portion including a pair of opposite level rails extending upwardly at an angle from the gripping portion and diverging outwardly to an inverted U-shaped portion. The inverted U-shaped portion is sized to nest over the forearm of a user to apply downwardly directed forces on the distal end of the working head portion. A recess in the lower surface of the working head portion is structured to receive grill cleaning tools for removable attachment to the handle.

Abstract: An automatic swimming pool cleaner of the type driven by water flow, having a housing forming a chamber open at its lower side, pivotable attachment of a hose, and a handle pivotably and detachably secured to the housing, such that the pool cleaner can be used manually or automatically as desired. Various embodiments of the invention include vibratory bristle drive to provide forward motion, directional change, rotational scrubbing, and/or vibratory scrubbing action for dual-use (automatic or manual) and manual cleaning apparatus.