Pipe cleaning brush

Abstract

A pipe cleaning brush which comprises a cleaning unit including a brush body and an elastic body, a connecting unit including a flexible strip, and a handle unit including a fixed handle and a plug-connected part that are separated and embedded with each other. The plug-connected part includes a first branch rod and a second branch rod. One end of the first branch rod and one end of the second branch rod are pivoted to each other to be opened or collapsed, and the first branch rod or the second branch rod is embedded and positioned above the fixed handle, so that the second branch rod or the first branch rod is rotated and to simultaneously drive the connecting unit and the cleaning unit to rotate.

Claims

1. A pipe cleaning brush for cleaning a plurality of cotton fibers in an air duct of a clothes dryer, and the pipe cleaning brush comprising: a cleaning unit, including a brush body for inserting into an inner wall of the air duct to clean up, and an elastic body fixed in series at a central position of the brush body; a connecting unit, including a flexible strip with a bendable function to connect with one end of the elastic body; and a handle unit, including a fixed handle and a plug-connected part which are separated and embedded with each other, wherein one end of the fixed handle is connected to one end of the flexible strip opposite to the elastic body, and the plug-connected part includes a first branch rod and a second branch rod, one end of the first branch rod and one end of the second branch rod are respectively provided with a first pivotal end and a second pivotal end, the first pivotal end and the second pivotal end are pivotally connected with each other to allow the first branch rod and the second branch rod being pivoted to each other to be opened or collapsed, one end of the first branch rod opposite to the first pivotal end is provided with a first embedding end and one end of the second branch rod opposite to the second pivotal end is provided with a second embedding end, the first embedding end and the second embedding end are respectively embedded with the fixed handle to fold the plug-connected part for convenient packaging and transportation, and the first branch rod and the second branch rod are pivoted to each other to be opened and fixed, and the first branch rod or the second branch rod is embedded and positioned above the fixed handle, and the second branch rod or the first branch rod is rotated and to simultaneously drive the connecting unit and the cleaning unit to rotate to clean the cotton fibers in the air duct of the clothes dryer.

2. The pipe cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein other end of the fixed handle which is not connected to the flexible strip is provided with two first embedding holes for the first embedding end and the second embedding end to be inserted and positioned in the two first embedding holes respectively, and at a central position of the fixed handle is provided with a second embedding hole perpendicular to the two first embedding holes and penetrating the fixed handle for the first embedding end or the second embedding end to be inserted and positioned in the second embedding hole, and the second embedding end or the first embedding end is arranged in a same direction with the fixed handle.

3. The pipe cleaning brush as claimed in claim 2, wherein an outer side of each of the two first embedding is a circular hole, and the inner side of each of the two first embedding is a polygonal hole connected with the circular hole, and the second embedding hole is a polygonal hole, wherein the first branch rod and the second branch rod are in circular shape, and the first embedding end and the second embedding end are in polygon shape to match with shapes of the inner side of each of the two first embedding holes and the second embedding hole.

4. The pipe cleaning brush as claimed in claim 3, wherein a first hole is provided at one end of the fixed handle opposite to the flexible strip, and the first hole perpendicularly passes through one of the two first embedding holes and parallels the second embedding hole, and wherein one end of the first branch rod close to the first embedding end is provided with a second hole which is embedded with one of the two first embedding holes and aligned with the first hole, and a binding member penetrates into the first hole and the second hole to secure the fixed handle and the plug-connected part after embedded with each other.

5. The pipe cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pivotal end includes a pivotal hole, an curved protrusion, a first protrusion, and a first block, and wherein the pivotal hole is located at a central position of the first pivotal end, the curved protrusion is adjacent to the first branch rod and facing the second pivotal end, the first protrusion located at one end of the curved protrusion with a first groove, and the first block is connected to one end of the curved protrusion opposite to the first protrusion; and wherein the second pivotal end includes a convex shaft, an curved groove, a second protrusion, and a second block, wherein the convex shaft is located at a central position of the second pivotal end and facing toward the first pivotal end, the curved groove is adjacent to the second branch rod and facing toward the first pivotal end to provide for the curved protrusion to rotate, the second protrusion is located at one end of the second pivotal end opposite to the second branch rod with a second groove, and the second block is connected to one end of the second pivotal end opposite to the second protrusion and abutted against the first block, the convex shaft is provided with a through hole located inside the convex shaft and penetrated through the second pivotal end, a slot located at a corresponding position of the convex shaft to divide the convex shaft into semi-circles and to make the convex shaft elastic, and a protruding parapet extending toward an outer side of the convex shaft to penetrate into the pivotal hole and engage on an outer side of the pivotal hole, wherein an outer diameter of the protruding parapet is larger than an outer diameter of the convex shaft, the second protrusion is rotated and engaged in the first groove, the first protrusion is rotated and engaged in the second groove, and an open-state is present by the first pivotal end and the second pivotal end, and the first block abuts against the second block, and a closed-state is present by the first pivotal end and the second pivotal end.

6. The pipe cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brush body includes a plurality of round plastic bristles fixed in series with the elastic body, and the plurality of round plastic bristles are wavy-shaped.

7. The pipe cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the elastic body is inserted and fixed inside one end of the flexible strip.

8. The pipe cleaning brush as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer side of the flexible strip is covered with a soft protection sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an existing pipe cleaning brush being folded;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of another existing pipe cleaning brush;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a pipe cleaning brush of the invention;

(4) FIG. 4A is a perspective assembly view of the pipe cleaning brush in FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of position 4B of the pipe cleaning brush in FIG. 4A;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a plug-connected part of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a first branch rod and a second branch rod of the plug-connected part of FIG. 3 being unfolded;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the first branch rod and the second branch rod of the plug-connected part of FIG. 3 being folded;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fixed handle and the unfolded first branch rod and second branch rod of the plug-connected part of FIG. 3;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of the fixed handle and the unfolded first branch rod of the plug-connected part of FIG. 3 ready to be embedded;

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of rotating the second branch rod and driving the fixed handle of FIG. 9 to rotate;

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of the pipe cleaning brush of FIG. 3 ready to be inserted into an air duct of a clothes dryer; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a side view of the pipe cleaning brush of FIG. 11 being inserted into the air duct of the clothes dryer and grabbing cotton fibers in the air duct of the clothes dryer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) In order to enable the examiner to have a deeper understanding and recognition of the features, objects and efficacies of the invention, a preferred embodiment is provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(15) Please refer to FIG. 3, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5, FIG. 6. FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the invention provides a pipe cleaning brush 3 for cleaning a plurality of cotton fibers 72 in an air duct 71 of a clothes dryer 7. The pipe cleaning brush 3 includes a cleaning unit 4, a connecting unit 5 and a handle unit 6. The cleaning unit 4 includes a brush body 41 inserting into an inner wall of the air duct 71 to clean up, and an elastic body 42 fixed in series at a central position of the brush body 41. In this embodiment, the brush body 41 includes a plurality of round plastic bristles 411 fixed in series with the elastic body 42. The plurality of round plastic bristles 411 are wavy-shaped with strong rigidity to not only increase hardness but also improve an ability of grabbing the plurality of cotton fibers 72 without being easily deformed, as shown in FIG. 4B. During a process that the brush body 41 inserts into the inner wall of the air duct 71 for cleaning up, one end of each of the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 abuts against recesses 711 on the inner wall of the air duct 71 to be capable of grabbing the cotton fibers 72 in the recesses 711. If one end of each of the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 abuts against convex parts 712 of the inner wall of the air duct 71, the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 will be bent and immediately be restored, so as to prevent the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 from being deformed or damaged when abutting against the inner wall of the air duct 71 to increase a service life of the plurality of round plastic bristles 411.

(16) The connecting unit 5 includes a flexible strip 51 with a bendable function to connect with one end of the elastic body 42. The connecting unit 5 is wound into a folded state through the flexible strip 51. Specifically, one end of the flexible strip 51 is provided a one end of the elastic body 42 for inserting and to be fixed, and a soft protection sleeve 511 is covered on an outer side of the flexible strip 51.

(17) The handle unit 6 includes a fixed handle 61 and a plug-connected part 62 that are separated and embedded with each other, wherein one end of the fixed handle 61 is connected to one end of the flexible strip 51 where is opposite to the elastic body 42, and the other end of the fixed handle 61 is provided with two first embedding holes 611, and at a central position of the fixed handle 61 is provided with a second embedding hole 612 perpendicular to the first embedding holes 611 and penetrating the fixed handle 61. More specifically, an outer side of each of the two first embedding holes 611 is a circular hole, and the inner side of each of the two first embedding holes is a polygonal hole and connects to the second embedding hole 612 which is a polygonal hole. In this embodiment, the inner side of each of two first embedding holes 611 and the second embedding hole 612 are hexagonal holes. Moreover, a first hole 613 is provided at one end of the fixed handle 61 where is opposite to the flexible strip 51, and the first hole 613 perpendicularly passes through one of the first embedding holes 611 and parallels the second embedding hole 612.

(18) Please refer to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. The plug-connected part 62 includes a first branch rod 621 and a second branch rod 622. One end of the first branch rod 621 and one end of the second branch rod 622 are respectively provided with a first pivotal end 623 and a second pivotal end 624. The first pivotal end 623 and the second pivotal end 624 are pivotally connected with each other to allow the first branch rod 621 and the second branch rod 622 being pivoted to each other to be opened or collapsed. One end of the first branch rod 621 opposite to the first pivotal end 623 is provided with a first embedding end 625, and one end of the second branch rod 622 opposite to the second pivotal end 624 is provided with a second embedding end 626, wherein the first embedding end 625 and the second embedding end 626 are respectively inserted and positioned in the two first embedding holes 611. In order to match with shapes of the inner side of each of the two first embedding holes 611 and the second embedding hole 612, the first embedding end 625 and the second embedding end 626 are in polygon shape. In this embodiment, the first embedding end 625 and the second embedding end 626 are tightly matching with the inner side of the first embedding hole 611 and the second embedding hole 612 in hexagonal shape. When a user want to rotate the fixed handle 61, the first embedding end 625 or the second embedding end 626 is inserted and positioned in the second embedding hole 612, so that the second embedding end 626 or the first embedding end 625 is arranged in a same direction with the fixed handle 61 for the user's hand to hold the second branch rod 622 or the first branch rod 621 to rotate, and then the fixed handle 61, the connecting unit 5 and the cleaning unit 4 are simultaneously driven to rotate.

(19) The first branch rod 621 and the second branch rod 622 are in circular shape. One end of the first branch rod 621 close to the first embedding end 625 is provided with a second hole 627 which is embedded with one of the two first embedding holes 611 and aligned with the first hole 613, and then a binding member 628 penetrates into the first hole 613 and the second hole 627 to secure the fixed handle 61 and the plug-connected part 62 after embedded with each other to prevent the plug-connected part 62 from falling off from the two first embedding holes 611.

(20) As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first pivotal end 623 includes a pivotal hole 6231, an curved protrusion 6232, a first protrusion 6233 and a first block 6235, wherein the pivotal hole 6231 is located at a central position of the first pivotal end 623, the curved protrusion 6232 is adjacent to the first branch rod 621 and facing toward the second pivotal end 624, the first protrusion 6233 is located at one end of the curved protrusion 6232 with a first groove 6234, and the first block 6235 is connected to one end of the curved protrusion 6232 opposite to the first protrusion 6233. The second pivotal end 624 includes a convex shaft 6241, an curved groove 6245, a second protrusion 6246 and a second block 6248, wherein the convex shaft 6241 is located at a central position of the second pivotal end 624, the curved groove 6245 is adjacent to the second branch rod 622 and facing toward one side of the first pivotal end 623 to provide for the curved protrusion 6232 to rotate, the second protrusion 6246 is located at one end of the second pivotal end 624 opposite to the second branch rod 622 with a second groove 6247, and the second block 6248 is connected to one end of the second pivotal end 624 opposite to the second protrusion 6246 and abutted against the first block 6235. The convex shaft 6241 is provided with a through hole 6242 located inside the convex shaft 6241 and penetrated through the second pivotal end 624, a slot 6243 located at a corresponding position of the convex shaft 6241 to divide the convex shaft 6241 into semi-circles, and a protruding parapet 6244 extending toward an outer side of the convex shaft 6241 to penetrate into the pivotal hole 6231 and engage on an outer side of the pivotal hole 6231. The convex shaft 6241 is inserted into the pivotal hole 6231 or moved out of the pivotal hole 6231 through an elasticity of the slot 6243. An outer diameter of the protruding parapet 6244 is larger than an outer diameter of the convex shaft 6241. The second protrusion 6246 is rotated and engaged in the first groove 6234, the first protrusion 6233 is rotated and engaged in the second groove 6247, so that an open-state is presented by the first pivotal end 623 and the second pivotal end 624. The first block 6235 abuts against the second block 6248, so that a closed-state is presented by the first pivotal end 623 and the second pivotal end 624.

(21) Please refer to FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. When using the pipe cleaning brush 3, the first branch rod 621 and the second branch rod 622 are first rotated by the user to present the open-state, and then the second protrusion 6246 is rotated and engaged in the first groove 6234, the first protrusion 6233 is rotated and engaged in the second groove 6247, and the first embedding end 625 or the second embedding end 626 of the first branch rod 621 is inserted and positioned in the second embedding hole 612, so that the first embedding end 625 or the second embedding end 626 are disposed in a same direction with the fixed handle 61 for the user to hold with a hand to clean up the inner wall of the air duct 71 by inserting the brush body 41. During this process, the second branch rod 622 or the first branch rod 621 is rotated by the user's hand to simultaneously drive the fix handle 61, the connecting unit 5 and the cleaning unit 4 to rotate, and the brush body 41 will be rotated on the inner wall of the air duct 71 of the clothes dryer 7. One end of each of the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 of the brush body 41 abuts against the recesses 711 on the inner wall of the air duct 71 to be capable of grabbing the cotton fibers 72 in the recesses 711. If one end of the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 abuts against the convex parts 712 of the inner wall of the air duct 71, the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 will be bent and immediately be restored, so that one end of the plurality of round plastic bristles 411 abutted against the convex parts 712 of the inner wall of the air duct 71 is also capable of grabbing the cotton fibers 72 on the convex parts 712 of the inner wall of the air duct 71. The brush body 41 continuously moves back and forth in the air duct 71 of the clothes dryer 7 so as to improve an efficiency of grabbing and removing the cotton fibers 72 on the inner wall of the air duct 71 as shown in FIG. 12.

(22) When the pipe cleaning brush 3 is not used, the first embedding end 625 or the second embedding end 626 positioned in the second embedding hole 612 is taken out, so that the second protrusion 6246 is separated from the first groove 6234, and the first protrusion 6233 is separated from the second groove 6247, so that the first pivotal end 623 and the second pivotal end 624 are in the closed-state through the first block 6235 abutting against the second block 6248, and then the first embedding end 625 and the second embedding end 626 are respectively inserted and positioned in the two first embedding holes 611 to close the plug-connected part 62, as shown in FIG. 4. In this way, an overall volume of the handle unit 6 is reduced so that the pipe cleaning brush 3 is packaged and transported without occupying space.