Motor vehicle rim cleaning brush

Abstract

A brush having manual or automatic operation for maintenance of mechanical rims or any object placed on top of the rims. Access to the inside of the rims is difficult due to the obstacle that the spokes and the brake disc constitute, whereby cleaning is often imperfect and residual dirt remains despite the broad range of existing products. A perfectly clean rim requires tedious cleaning using unsuitable brushes or cloths, at the price of one or more hand injuries. A brush is provided in a kit made up of elements that can be associated with one another. A horizontal body is associated with a main vertical body or a secondary vertical body, allowing areas that are difficult to access and the arms of the rim to be cleaned in a single movement without the hand ever touching any part of the wheel, thus avoiding injuries and saving time.

Claims

1. A manually operable brush configurable to an automatic operating system to clean car rims or other superimposable object, the brush presented as a do-it-yourself kit and comprising a handle, a cleaning head comprising a horizontal body, a main vertical body, an optional secondary vertical body, and non-compulsory accessories comprising a base, a reservoir, pipes provided with orifices, a button, a crank provided with a hollow cylindrical sleeve, and a coating covering active faces of the brush; wherein said horizontal body operating in a horizontal position comprises an inner portion with a concave shape in a frontal plane matching a rounded portion of a car rim, the inner portion is sub-divisible into a plurality of branches to provide a single, double or multiple body shapes; wherein said horizontal body comprises an outer portion, inclined relative to the frontal plane of the inner portion, with a lateral angle varying between 0 to 90, the outer portion being rounded, planar or all intermediate shapes therebetween, and the outer portion comprising angles and break points, the main vertical body, operating in a vertical position, comprising a support comprising an appendix and at least one branch sub-divisible into a plurality of branches, each branch being carried by the same support, thereby providing the main vertical body with a single-branch, a double branch or multiple branches.

2. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein an association of said horizontal body and the main vertical body forms the cleaning head with which the secondary vertical body is associated therewith; and wherein the main vertical body and the cleaning head are configured to be fixed at notches in the base.

3. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein each of said horizontal body, said main vertical body and said secondary vertical body represents a form of the cleaning head associated with the handle to provide an assembly, the assembly being associable to one or more of said non-compulsory accessories of the kit.

4. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal body is pierceable with a hole to receive a valve.

5. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein said each branch of the main vertical body comprises at least two faces to provide an inner face and an outer face, the inner and outer faces are joined at an angle which can vary from 0 to 180 degrees.

6. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 5, wherein the inner face of a branch of the main vertical body is shorter and narrower than the outer face of said branch of the main vertical body.

7. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein said each branch of the main vertical body is inclined in the frontal plane between 0 and 90 degrees.

8. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 7, wherein said each branch of the main vertical body is inclined in a sagittal plane between 0 and 90 degrees excluded.

9. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein the handle is configured to receive the reservoir; and wherein the handle is configured to be at least one of the following: pivotable, tiltable in an opposite direction, and adaptable to an additional circular handle or a telescopic handle.

10. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein the base is configured to fix a plurality of cleaning heads or horizontal bodies, the base comprises frames providing at least two notches arranged in a circle, each notch comprising a structure to enable either a respective horizontal body or a respective cleaning head to be fixed thereon.

11. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein said coating is superimposable on and fixed to active faces of the brush.

12. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal body, the main vertical body or the cleaning head operates alone to be a sole element of the cleaning head, the sole element of the cleaning head is provided with the handle and associated with one or more non-compulsory accessories of the kit.

13. The brush configured as a kit according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least two notches arranged in a circle, each notch configured to fix the horizontal body or the cleaning head; wherein the handle is fixed to the base either directly or by a crank; and wherein the base is associated with one or more non-compulsory accessories of the kit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. To facilitate understanding, we will illustrate the embodiments from the simplest to the most complex.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective views, on the one hand the structure of a rim showing the rounded portion (r) in the drawing on the top left with in section on the middle drawing the difficult cleaning zones (a) (b) (c), and secondly a cleaning head consisting solely of a horizontal body (1) on the drawing at the top right and finally this horizontal body inserted into the rim. As shown in the drawing, the horizontal body (1) slides between the rounded portion (r) and the brake disc (f) and, thanks to its angles, reaches the zones a and b.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective, profile and front views a cleaning head composes of a single horizontal body (18) with its inner portion (11) and its outer portion (12), pierced with a hole (15), its upper specific angle (13), its lateral specific angle (14) and its handle (5).

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective, profile and bottom views, a variant having a cleaning head composed of a single horizontal body (18) working alone in association with a handle (5), a button (41), a reservoir (9), pipes (10), and orifices (43). The coating has not been shown so as not to hide said orifices on the active face 44). The position of the reservoir is variable but must not interfere with movements or hit any portion of the rim. In this figure, said reservoir is positioned on the inner portion (11) of the horizontal body.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, a variant of the preceding figure with a cleaning head represented by a single horizontal body (18) associated with a handle (5), a button (41) and a reservoir (9) positioned on the handle (5).

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective and sectional views a variant with a cleaning head composed of a horizontal double body (19) with its two portions separated by a space (19) and working alone with a handle (5), a button (41), without any other accessories.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates in perspective views a cleaning head composed of a double body horizontal body (21) associated with a double handle (36) without any accessories. In the upper drawing, said horizontal body is in the closed position and in the bottom drawing it is in the open position showing the space between the two portions (21).

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates, in front and perspective views, a cleaning head composed of a single, single branch (25) main vertical body, its support (22), its appendix (23) and working alone with a handle (5) without any other accessories. The sectional view illustrates the inner face (31) and the outer face (32) of said main vertical body as well the angle (33) joining them.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates, in front and perspective views, a variant with a cleaning head composed of a single, double branch vertical main body (26) working alone with a handle (5) without any accessories. The sectional view shows the inner face (31), the outer face (32) of each of the branches of the single, double branch main vertical body (26) as well as the angle (33) joining them.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates, in perspective and profile views, a variant with a cleaning head composed of a double (29), single branch (25) main vertical body working alone with a handle (5) without any accessories.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates in perspective, front and sectional views, a variant with a cleaning head composed of a double (29), single branch (25) main vertical body having three faces (31) (32) (34) joined together by their angles (33) and working alone with a handle, without any accessories.

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates in perspective, front and profile views, a variant with a cleaning head composed of a functional unit (4) working alone, itself composed of a single horizontal body (18), with a hole (15), a double (29), single branch vertical body and a handle (5) associated with a reservoir (9) and pipes opening into the orifices (43).

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates in perspective and profile views, a variant of said brush with a cleaning head composed of a functional unit (4), itself composed of a horizontal body (1) and a main vertical body (2) associated with a secondary vertical body (3), pipes opening into the orifices (43) and a reservoir (9) without any other accessories.

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates in profile views, the various aspects of the handle according to an eleventh feature. In the top drawing, the horizontal body (1) is in the normal working position and is supposed to clean the lower portion of a rim. In the bottom drawing, the horizontal body (1) turned over is supposed to clean the upper portion of the rim. One can note the handle (5) pivoting between its initial position (5) and the position caused by the tilting or pivoting (5). In the third drawing, the handle is in tilting position (5) on a horizontal body always oriented towards the upper portion. In the bottom drawing one can note the additional circular handle (39) fixed to a handle (5) in the normal position.

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates in front and profile views, in the top drawings, a base (6) with a handle (5) which is directly secured thereto and, in the lower drawings, a base the handle of which is fixed by means of the crank (7) provided with its hollow cylindrical sleeve (8). This base is composed of frames (38) provided with notches (40). A reservoir (9) without any other accessories is associated thereto.

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates in a front and sectional views, said brush with a cleaning head composed of five functional units (4) inserted in a base provided with 5 notches (40) associated to a handle (5) fixed thereto by means of a crank (7) and a reservoir (9) without any other accessories.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(17) According to other variants, not shown, the horizontal body may be multiple with or without a hole.

(18) The main vertical body can be double, multiple, single branch, double branch, multi-branches. Said elements can be associate with each other in as many combinations as possible before associating with a handle and/or a secondary vertical body and/or a base which may be provided with one or more notches and/or a crank and/or a hollow cylindrical sleeve and/or a reservoir and/or pipes and/or a button and/or coating and/or orifices. All these associations can be cast in one piece.

(19) The device is a manually operated brush but adaptable to an automatic operation system for cleaning car rims or any other stackable object which is, according to a first feature is provided, in the form of a do-it-yourself kit and necessarily comprising a handle (5), a cleaning head represented by a horizontal body (1) or a vertical body main (2) or a secondary vertical body (3) or a functional unit (4) and accessories whose presence is not compulsory, namely a base (6), a reservoir (9), pipes (10), a button (41), a crank (7) provided with its hollow cylindrical sleeve (8), a specific coating (42) covering the active faces (44) provided with orifices (43).

(20) According to a second feature, the association of said horizontal body (1) and main vertical body (2) forms the functional unit (4) with which may be optionally associated the secondary vertical body (3) and said horizontal body (1), said main vertical body (2), said functional unit (4) being attachable at the notches (5) of the base (6).

(21) According to a third feature, said functional unit (4) and its components, namely said horizontal body (1), said main vertical body (2), possibly said secondary vertical body (3), each show a form of cleaning head with which is associated a handle (5), the assembly being associated or not to the base (5), the crank (7) with its hollow cylindrical sleeve (8), the reservoir (9), the pipes (10) provided with orifices (43), the button (41), the coating (42); the association of the elements of the kit can therefore be partial or total, even if the result of this association is cast in one piece, regardless of the method of fixing said elements.

(22) FIG. 1 illustrates on the one hand the structure of a rim showing the rounded portion (r) in the top left drawing including, in a sectional view in the middle drawing, the difficult-access zones (a) (b) (c) and on the other hand a cleaning head only composed of a horizontal body (1) in the top right drawing and at last this horizontal body inserted in the rim. As shown in the drawing, the horizontal body (1) slides between the rounded portion (r) and the brake disc (f) and, thanks to its angles, reaches the zones a and b.

(23) The embodiment of said horizontal body is also represented in the following figure. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the horizontal body is unique (18). According to a fourth feature, the horizontal body is itself composed of two portions. An inner portion (11) of thin thickness in an frontal plane, follows a concave shape matching the rounded portion (r) of the rim; an outer portion (12) also of small thickness and inclined with respect to the plane of the inner portion (11) according to a lateral specific angle (14) which can vary between 0 to 90 so that it matches the offset of the rim with the possibility of contacting the adjacent portion of tire. This outer portion is plane here.

(24) According to a fifth feature, as the outer portion (12) is always narrower than the inner portion (11), the junction zone of these two portions becomes automatically more hollow with a higher specific angle (13).

(25) Thus, the inner portion of thin thickness slides between the brake disc and the rounded portion to reach the zone (a) beyond said brake disc; the higher specific angle (13) enables access to the zone (b) hidden by the branch.

(26) The dimensions of the horizontal body are variable depending on the rim cleaned but are defined so that the length can reach the inner edge of the rim and even the offset so as to mobilize it easily, the width enables to insert it between two adjacent spokes, the thickness enables to slide it between the brake disc and the rim, the spoke is superimposable on that of the cleaned rim.

(27) As a non-limiting example, if the distance between two neighboring spokes is equal to 10 cm, with a rounded portion r having a radius of 20 cm, the distance between the rounded portion and the brake disc being equal to 5 cm, the width of the rounded portion being equal to 15 cm from one edge to the other, the body horizontal will be 17 cm in length with a radius of 20 cm, a width of 9 cm and a thickness of 1 cm so as to mobilize it easily.

(28) According to a sixth feature, the horizontal body may be pierced with a hole (15). The dimensions of the hole for passing the valve are defined so that the brush does not contact said valve when moving.

(29) The dimensions and the position of the handle (5) are also variables. The handle is defined so as to accommodate a push button (41) and is positioned so that the hand does not contact any element of the rim during cleaning in order to avoid injury.

(30) The embodiment according to FIG. 3 represents in perspective, profile and bottom views a variant of the preceding form provided with accessories, namely the pipes (10), the reservoir (9), the button (41), the orifices (43) visible on the active face (44) and the lateral faces of the horizontal body (18). The coating has not been represented so as not to hide the orifices.

(31) The embodiment according to FIG. 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, a variant with a cleaning head represented by a single horizontal body (18) associated with a handle, a button (41) and a reservoir positioned on the handle (5). The dimensions of the reservoir vary, but it should not hinder the movements.

(32) The embodiment according to FIG. 5 shows, in perspective and sectional views, a variant of said brush provided with a cleaning head composed of a double horizontal body (19) with its two portions separated by a space (19), associated with a handle (5) and a push button (41) without any other accessories. The dimensions of the space (19) between the two portions of the horizontal body are defined so that a rim spoke can slip therebetween. This variant is meant to multi-spoke and thin rims.

(33) The embodiment according to FIG. 6 shows, in a perspective view, a variant of said brush provided with a cleaning head composed of a double body horizontal body (21) associated with a double handle (36) without any other accessories. In the top drawing, said horizontal body is in the closed position and, in the bottom drawing, it is in the open position showing the space between the two portions (21).

(34) Moving the handle causes the horizontal body to open or to close resulting in a translational movement. This operation is meant to reduce the alternating movements during cleaning. If the horizontal body (21) is associated with a main vertical body (2), this movement also enables to clean the adjacent spokes without any extra effort.

(35) The embodiment according to FIG. 7 illustrates, in a front and perspective views, a variant of said brush provided with a cleaning head represented by the vertical main body which is here single, single branch (25), with its support (22), its appendix (23) according to a seventh feature and working alone with a handle without any other accessories.

(36) According to an eighth feature, each vertical branch of the main body is composed of at least two faces with an inside face (31) and an outer face (32) of thin thickness which are joined with an angle (33) ranging from 0 to 180 degrees excluded as shown in the sectional view. In this figure, the angle is 90.

(37) Still, in the same figure, it is seen that the inner face (31) is much less high and wide than the outer face (32) according to a ninth feature.

(38) According to a tenth feature, each branch of the vertical body is inclined in two planes. This inclination varies, in the frontal plane, between 0 and 90 degrees excluded and, in the sagittal plane, between 0 and 90 degrees also excluded in order to adapt the configuration of the brush to that of the cleaned rim.

(39) By way of a non-limiting example, for a rim provided with a spoke having the following dimensions: outer face 30 cm in height, 5 cm in width, inner surface 25 cm in height due to the angle formed by the union with the inner face of the adjacent branch, 5 cm in width; distance relative to the brake disc of 5 cm, the main vertical body will have the following dimensions: outer face (32) 30 cm in height, 5 cm in width, inner face (31) 23 cm in height so as not to contact the above-mentioned angle, 7 cm in width showing a distance with respect to the brake disc of 3 cm. In this way, said brush can be mobilized without contacting the brake disc.

(40) The embodiment, according to FIG. 8, shows, in front and perspective views, a variant of said brush provided with a cleaning head composed of a single, double-branch (26) main vertical body working alone with a handle (5) without any accessories. The position of the handle (5) is variable. The dimensions comply with the same features as previously, outside the size of the space between the two arms which varies according to the rim cleaned. This type of configuration is designed for multi-spoke and thin rims, said spoke must slip into said space. The sectional view shows the inner face (31), the outer face (32) of each of the branches of the single, double branch (26) main vertical body as well as the angle (33) joining them.

(41) The embodiment according to FIG. 9 shows, in perspective, front and profile views, a variant of said brush provided with a cleaning head composed of a double (29), single branch (25) vertical main body working alone with a handle (5) without any accessories. The position of the handle is variable, here central.

(42) In this variant, the second main vertical body is positioned symmetrically to the first. The dimensions of the faces of each branch are the same as those above-mentioned.

(43) The embodiment according to FIG. 10 illustrates, in perspective, front and sectional views, a variant of said brush provided with a cleaning head composed of a main double (29), single branch (25) vertical main body whose branches have 3 faces (31) (32) (34), working alone with a handle (5) without any accessories. The third face (34) has the same features as those of the inner face (31). The dimensions are the same as those described for FIG. 7.

(44) The embodiment according to FIG. 11 illustrates, in perspective, front and profile views, a variant provided with a cleaning head composed of a functional unit (4) working alone, itself composed of a single horizontal body (18), with a hole (15), a double (29), single branch (25) vertical body and a handle (5) associated with a reservoir (9) and pipes, not visible in this figure, opening into the orifices (43).

(45) Said main vertical body is fixed, by its appendix (23) located at its support (22), to the distal appendix (17) of said horizontal body. Said horizontal body and said main vertical body have the same features as those described above. It should be noted that said appendixes can impart said main vertical bodies their inclination. The dimensions also respect those above-mentioned.

(46) The embodiment according to FIG. 12 illustrates, in perspective and profile views, a variant provided with a cleaning head represented by the functional unit itself composed of a horizontal body (1), a main vertical body (2), a vertical accessory body (3) associated with a handle (5), a push button (41), pipes not visible in this figure opening into the orifices (43) and a reservoir (9) without any other accessories.

(47) The dimensions of the secondary vertical body (3) are defined so that it can first slip into the space between two adjacent spokes of the same rim then between the spoke of the rim and the brake disc so as to be able to mobilize it without contact that last. The dimensions of the horizontal body (1), the main vertical body (3) and the handle (5) meet the same criteria as those above-mentioned.

(48) The embodiment according to FIG. 13 illustrates, in profile views, different presentations of the handle in accordance with an eleventh feature. In the top drawing, the horizontal body (1) in the normal working position is supposed to clean the lower portion of a rim. In the bottom drawing, the horizontal body (1) turned over is supposed to clean the upper portion of the rim. It should be noted that the handle can tilt from its initial position (5) to the position cause by the tilting or pivoting (5). In the third drawing, the handle is in tilting position (5) on a horizontal body still oriented towards to the upper portion. In the bottom drawing, it should be noted the additional circular handle (39). The position of the handle on the cleaning head is variable but the tilting and the addition of an additional handle should remain possible. The dimensions of the handle must enable an easy grasp and, in addition, to meet the above-mentioned criteria. Furthermore, the handle can have different presentations. It may be conical as in FIG. 2 or 3 but also have the shape of an arched handle as in FIG. 5 or 7.

(49) The embodiment according to FIG. 14 illustrates, in front and profile views in the top drawings, a base (6) provided with a handle that is fixed directly thereto and, the bottom drawing, a base (6) whose handle is fixed via a crank (7). Said base is composed of frames (38) providing notches (40). A reservoir (9) is associated therewith without any other accessories. Said base is complete here that is it forms a circle and comprises five notches (40). Each notch is adapted to receive a horizontal body or a functional unit. The dimensions of the notches are directly correlated with those of the horizontal body (1) or the functional units (4) and thus the rim.

(50) The base can also accept accessories such as the reservoir, the crank provided with its hollow cylindrical sleeve (8) represented here. The face of the base in contact with the rim can also be active, therefore provided with orifices.

(51) The embodiment according to FIG. 15 illustrates, in front and sectional views, a variant provided with a cleaning head composed of five functional units (4) inserted in a base provided with 5 notches (40) associated to a handle which is fixed thereto by means of a crank (7) provided with its hollow cylindrical sleeve (8), a reservoir (9) without any other accessories. The dimensions of the base (6) and functional units (4) meet the same criteria as above. It should be noted that the horizontal body or the functional unit which is fixed to the base may be provided with its own handle which automatically becomes inactive. If the functional unit is specifically meant to be incorporated into a base, the handle (5) can be suppressed when designing it, such in this figure.

(52) This brush is meant to clean of mechanical rims especially for cars. Given the number of cars on the road, about 40 million in France alone, making it available to the greatest number of motorists is possible only with an industrial production.