Abstract: A replaceable bristle ring for removable attachment to a swimming pool cleaner, such bristle ring having bristles secured along it and projecting downwardly to terminate in bristle ends adapted to support the pool cleaner on a surface to be cleaned and means facilitating attachment with respect to the pool cleaner housing. A preponderance of the bristles are preferably inclined along lines which are skew lines with respect to the axis of the ring, such that vibration causes movement of the pool cleaner along a swimming pool bottom surface. A preferred replaceable ring has an annular surface with features for interengagement with another bristle ring.

Abstract: A car-cleaning implement (1) comprises a spongy resiliently-flexible liquid-absorbent block (2) having an exposed face (3) for applying soapy water, and its opposite face sheathed with a thin flexible skin (4) which is not water absorbent and is formed with parallel ribs (5) extending between opposite ends of the block. By inverting the block after washing off the soapy water, the ribbed skin can be used to remove water droplets from the painted surface of the car without streaking.

Abstract: A sport grip cleaning unit to be used at the location of the sporting activity. The cleaning unit consists of a vending operation under the control of the user. The unit consists of a two compartment cabinet whereby the user is able to control the cleaning action of the unit by the insertion of the sporting apparatus handle into the unit whereby the grip handle butt depresses a micro-switch activating the cleaning brushes. This action also causes the cleaning fluid pump to activate whereby the cleaning fluid floods the cleaning area to lubricate and flush accumulated grime, grit, and oils into the drain system where it is filtered and recycled. Thus the grip is restored to its desired tacky, firm hold condition. The sport grip cleaning unit includes a cleaning fluid reservoir that is removable from the unit for replacement with a new reservoir of cleaning fluid. In this manner, the cleaning unit is self-contained and can be easily serviced.

Abstract: A tube cleaning apparatus for tubes and pipes installed in power plant and similar industrial equipment utilizes a rotating brush assembly fitted to one end of a rotary cable encased in a protective casing and driven at its other end in clockwise and counterclockwise rotation by a reversible motor. The invention provides a drive unit fitted with a plurality of drive rollers for engaging the protective casing and propelling the casing, cable and brush assembly at a high rate of speed into and out of each tube being cleaned. A control system for the drive unit enables the operator to manipulate the reversible motor by issuing pulses to actuate switches controlling on/off and direction of rotation of the motor. An arresting device provides for stopping forward progress of the brush assembly as it reaches the end of each tube being cleaned.

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: Discs for devices such as automatic swimming pool cleaners are disclosed. The discs includes slots (or other suitable apertures) positioned near their rimmed peripheries. The peripheries themselves, moreover, incorporate rounded edges or beads, and both the discs and associated footpads may include ramped segments facilitating movement over obstacles extending from swimming pool surfaces.

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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.