CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/723,842, filed on Nov. 8, 2012.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to pool cleaning equipment. More particularly, it relates to an improved brush for pool walls.
2. Description of the Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.
A typical pool brush of the prior art is shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. This brush has a bar-type body with upturned ends for holding the bristles of the brush. The upturned ends permit the brush to follow curved pool surfaces to a limited degree.
FIG. 1 shows a brush of the prior art being used to clean a curved pool wall. FIG. 2A shows the handle angle a required to place the brush head in full contact with the wall surface. Achieving this angle may require more than a comfortable arm's reach by the user standing at the side of the pool. As shown in phantom in FIG. 2A, a more comfortable handle angle results in a limited area of contact between the brush and the pool wall.
FIG. 2B illustrates the low handle angle required to place the brush head in full contact with the floor of a pool. Achieving such a low handle angle may require the user to crouch or bend over while using the brush. This can cause back strain and a decrease in brushing power. As shown in phantom in FIG. 2B, a more comfortable handle angle results in a limited area of contact between the brush and the pool floor. The present invention solves these problems.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one particular representative embodiment, the invention comprises a pool brush having bristles extending from the tubular brush body in substantially every radial direction, including the rounded ends of the brush body. The brush body is attached to a curved or angled connector which may be used to secure the brush to a conventional fixed or telescoping handle. The 360-degree array of bristles on the brush allows the brush contact area with pool surfaces to be independent of the angle at which the handle is held by the user. The curved (or angled) connector permits the brush to be used to clean the underside of pool copings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) FIG. 1 shows a brush of the prior art being used to clean a curved pool wall.
FIG. 2A shows the effect of handle angle on brush contact area when using a brush of the prior art on a pool wall.
FIG. 2B shows the effect of handle angle on brush contact area when using a brush of the prior art on a pool floor.
FIG. 3 shows a brush according to one embodiment of the invention being used to clean a curved pool wall.
FIG. 4 shows a brush according to one embodiment of the invention attached to a handle of the prior art.
FIG. 5A shows the effect of handle angle when using a brush according to the invention to clean a pool wall.
FIG. 5B shows the effect of handle angle when using a brush according to the invention to clean a pool floor.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the bristle arrangement in an embodiment of the invention having a segmented brush body.
FIG. 6A is an enlargement of the portion indicated in FIG. 6.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a brush connector according to a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a side view of an adjustable brush connector according to a third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the connector attachment fitting of a brush according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the end portion of a brush body according to another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10B is an end view of a brush body according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10A.
FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the end portion of a brush body according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11B is an end view of a brush body according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11A.
FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the end portion of a brush body according to still another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 12B is an end view of a brush body according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 12A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention may best be understood by reference to the exemplary embodiment(s) illustrated in the drawing figures.
Referring first to FIG. 1, a brush 100 having upturned ends 102 and handle connector 106 is shown attached to handle H which may be a telescoping handle. Handles having an industry-standard connector at one end are available on the market. In FIG. 1, prior art brush 100 is shown being used to clean curved wall W of pool P. Pool P has deck coping C which may extend beyond the surface of wall W to create an overhang.
FIG. 2A illustrates the angle a at which handle H must be held by the user in order for substantially all of brush bristles 104 to be in contact with pool wall W. A more comfortable angle for handle H is shown in phantom in FIG. 2A. However, in this condition, far fewer bristles 104 are in contact with pool wall W. The potential contact area (allowing for some degree of flex in the bristles) when the handle is held closer to the wall (in phantom) is shown in the pair of lines having opposing arrows.
FIG. 2B illustrates the angle at which handle H must be held by the user in order for substantially all of brush bristles 104 to be in contact with pool floor F. Depending on the depth of the pool and the distance from the user of the area to be cleaned, this angle may not be achievable. A more comfortable angle for handle H is shown in phantom in FIG. 2B. However, in this condition, it can be seen that far fewer bristles 104 are in contact with pool floor F. The potential contact area (allowing for some degree of flex in the bristles) when the handle is at the steeper angle (in phantom) is shown in the pair of lines having opposing arrows.
FIG. 3 shows the wall W of pool P illustrated in FIG. 1 being cleaned using a brush according to the invention. Handle H may be the same as that used with brush 100 in FIG. 1. Brush 300 has curved connector 306 which connects the brush head to handle H. Means for attaching curved connector 306 to handle H include threaded connectors, bayonet-type connectors, interference fit (“interfit”) connectors, locking pin connectors, twist-lock connectors, and other means known in the art for connecting two, substantially tubular sections together.
As shown in FIG. 3, brush 300 has hemispherical ends 302 and bristles 304 extending from both the ends 302 and the main portion of the brush body in a substantially 360-degree array. The upward extending bristles (as depicted in FIG. 3) permit brush 300 to clean the undersurface of any overhanging portion of pool deck coping C.
FIG. 4 shows brush 300 having an array of bristles 304 of diameter B. Curved connector 306 has a central portion of having radius of curvature R and opposing, substantially straight end portions 401 and 402. End portion 402 may be connected to the body of brush 300 and end portion 401 may be equipped with one or more spring-loaded locking projections 403 for engaging a corresponding hole(s) in handle H. In certain embodiments, portion 401 may have a reduced outside diameter to fit within handle H. Angle α1 is the difference between the total bend in connector 306 and a right angle connection. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other embodiments can have other values of angle α1 and, in certain embodiments, angle α1 may be zero.
FIG. 5A shows brush 300 connected to handle H via connector 306 being used to clean wall W of a pool. It will be noted that movement of handle H from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dashed lines does not change the contact area of the brush to the wall (as shown by the lines with dimensional arrows).
FIG. 5B shows brush 300 connected to handle H via connector 306 being used to clean floor F of a pool. It will be noted that movement of handle H from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dashed lines does not change the contact area of the brush to the floor (as shown by the lines with dimensional arrows).
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein brush 300 comprises tubular body 301 having holes therein for insertion of bristles 304. At the ends of tubular body 301 are hemispherical portions 302 which may also have holes for holding bristles 304. Saddle-type connector mount 308 may be secured to tubular body 301 with one or more fasteners 310 which may be machine screws or other fasteners known in the art. In certain embodiments, connector mount 308 may be welded to tubular member 301. In yet other embodiments connector mount 308 may be integrally molded with a polymer tubular member 301 or bonded to member 301 using an adhesive or ultrasonic welding.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the body of brush 300 may comprise a plurality of segments that may be assembled by the end user or prior to shipment to the end user (to simplify the manufacture of the brush body). One particular configuration for joining such segments is shown in the exploded view of FIG. 6A. Segment 312 has portion 316 of reduced outside diameter. Portion 314 has portion 318 of increased inside diameter which may be selected to provide an interference fit with portion 316. Alternatively, portions 316 and 318 may be joined using an adhesive or by solvent welding. In certain other embodiments, portions 316 and 318 may be threaded.
Referring now to FIG. 7, angled connector 700 comprises first straight segment 702 joined to second straight segment 704 at angled joint 706 which may be a welded joint. As shown, segment 702 may be equipped with means for locking engagement with a handle and segment 704 may be equipped with means for attachment to a brush body.
Referring now to FIG. 8, adjustable connector 800 comprises first straight segment 802 joined to second straight segment 804 at joint 806 which may be an adjustable joint having means for varying the angle between segments 802 and 804. Angle adjust means may include friction disks, flexible connectors, knobbed disks, interlocking dogs, radially-grooved disks, and the like. Segment 802 may be equipped with means for locking engagement with a handle and segment 804 may be equipped with means for attachment to a brush body. In certain embodiments, joint 806 may be equipped with locking means for securing joint 806 at a particular desired angle.
FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention having a two-part attachment means for the connector. Connector receiver 322 may have a substantially flat portion and block mounting portion 320 may have a corresponding, substantially flat upper surface for mating with connector receiver 322. Connector receiver 322 may be secured to block 320 with fastener(s) 310. In certain embodiments fastener 310 may be a machine screw, but other fastening means known in the art may also be used. Block mounting 320 may be a separate piece that is mechanically secured to tubular body 310 (e.g., by fastener 310). Alternatively, block 320 may be integrally molded with tubular body 301.
FIG. 10A shows an embodiment wherein brush body 1001 has a substantially square cross section. Body 1001 may be hollow or solid and has holes for the insertion of bristles. FIG. 10B shows end portion 1002 which has the form of a truncated, square-based pyramid.
FIG. 11A shows an embodiment wherein brush body 1101 has a substantially triangular cross section. Body 1101 may be hollow or solid and has holes for the insertion of bristles. FIG. 11 B shows end portion 1102 which has the form of a truncated, triangular pyramid.
FIG. 12A shows an embodiment wherein brush body 1201 has a substantially hexagonal cross section. Body 1201 may be hollow or solid and has holes for the insertion of bristles. FIG. 12B shows end portion 1202 which has the form of a truncated, hexagonal pyramid.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, they are not intended to limit what this patent covers. One skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as literally and equivalently covered by the following claims.
