Rotary cleaning tool for commode surfaces

Abstract

The embodied invention is an enhanced rotary brush tool that provides important cleaning on porcelain surfaces that are stained by hard water deposits. The brush tool incorporates an outer holder that includes a motor connecting end, a tapered shaft, an outer cup and shroud. A fill epoxy bonds the outer holder together with an internal strengthening rod and an abrasive pad. The overall assembly provides significant compressive strength to allow an individual to utilize pressure when scrubbing off the water hardness buildup.

Claims

1. A rotary brush scrubbing tool for removing water hardness buildup on a porcelain surface comprising: A) an elongated outer holder with a center line aligned in parallel with a rotating axis, wherein said elongated outer holder further comprises the following items connected in sequence: 1) a motor connecting end, 2) a hollowed tapered shaft, 3) an outer cup, and 4) a water spray shroud shaped as a ring, B) a compression strengthening metal rod inserted into said hollowed tapered shaft, wherein an elongated axis of said compression strengthening metal rod is substantially aligned with said center line and extends-through said outer cup, C) a fill epoxy that fills a space between said compression strengthening metal rod and said outer cup, and additionally fills a space between said compression strengthening metal rod and said hollowed tapered shaft, D) a disk shaped abrasive pad additionally bonded to said fill epoxy and inserted into said abrasive pad shroud, wherein a thickness direction of said disk shaped abrasive pad is substantially aligned with said rotating axis, E) wherein said disk shaped abrasive pad is made from butyl and incorporates a predetermined diamond grit size that is bonded to said disk shaped abrasive pad, F) wherein a flat surface of said disk shaped abrasive pad is oriented perpendicular to said rotating axis, G) wherein said water spray shroud partly encompasses a side surface of said disk shaped abrasive pad, and H) whereby the function of removing said water hardness from said porcelain surface when pressing and rotating said rotary brush scrubbing tool against said water hardness is added.

2. The rotary brush scrubbing tool according to claim 1, wherein said hollowed tapered shaft having a tapered angle of about 12 degrees.

3. A method for removing water hardness buildup on a porcelain surface comprising: A) providing a rotary brush scrubbing tool comprising: 1) an outer holder with a center line aligned in parallel with a rotating axis, wherein said outer holder further comprises the following items connected in sequence: a) a motor connecting end, b) a hollowed tapered shaft, c) an outer cup, and d) a water spray shroud shaped as a ring, 2) a compressive strengthening metal rod inserted into said hollowed tapered shaft and extending through said outer cup, wherein an elongated axis of said compressive strengthening metal rod is substantially aligned to said rotating axis, 3) a fill epoxy that fills a space between said strengthening rod and said outer cup, and additionally fills a space between said compressive strengthening metal rod and said hollowed tapered shaft, 4) a disk shaped abrasive pad additionally bonded to said fill epoxy and inserted into said abrasive pad shroud, wherein a thickness direction of said disk shaped abrasive pad is substantially aligned with said rotating axis, 5) wherein said disk shaped abrasive pad is made from butyl and incorporates a predetermined diamond grit size that is bonded to said disk shaped abrasive pad, 6) wherein a flat surface of said disk shaped abrasive pad is oriented perpendicular to said rotating axis, and 7) wherein said water spray shroud partly encompasses a side surface of said disk shaped abrasive pad, B) connecting said rotary brush scrubbing tool to a motor, C) powering said motor, D) applying pressure between said rotary brush scrubbing tool and said water hardness buildup, E) lubricating said water hardness buildup with water when applying said rotary brush scrubbing tool to said water hardness buildup, and F) whereby the function of removing said water hardness from said porcelain surface is added.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said hollowed tapered shaft having a tapered angle of about 12 degrees.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) FIG. 1 is a front view of the rotary brush tool.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the rotary brush tool.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the rotary brush tool.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross section through FIG. 1 and shows the inner epoxy and internal rod used to stiffen and glue the various parts together.

(5) FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the rotary brush tool.

(6) FIG. 6 is a view of the rotary brush tool when connected to the end of a rotary drill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a front view of the rotary brush scrubbing tool. A hex end 101 is used to connect the end of the rotary brush scrubbing tool to a motorized drill or similar piece of equipment. The hex end is rigidly connected to a tapered shaft 102, which in turn, is rigidly connected to an outer cup 103. The outer cup 103 is connected to a shroud 104 which surrounds an abrasive pad 105.

(8) In FIG. 1, the tapered shaft and outer cup are preferably hollow and capable of receiving a filling/binding epoxy (not shown) that will be used to adhere the abrasive pad. The epoxy is preferably a two-part epoxy with an adhering strength of at least 1,500 psi.

(9) Even though the rotary tool in FIG. 1 is described as individual parts, in production the entire part is preferably made from an injection molding machine in one piece for economic efficiency and for better connectivity without stress breakage.

(10) The abrasive pad is preferably a Butyl pad with a bonded diamond grit paste (petroleum based) that is baked on at oven temperatures until dried to create a bond. The grit size is based on the commercial screen size. For example, a 400 diamond grit is the output from a 400 mesh commercial screening process with a nominal opening of 0.0015. In a preferred embodiment a 400 diamond grit is used. In general, a 300 or higher grit will provide the abrasion needed. Use of a diamond grit embedded into the Butyl pad provides for abrasive treatment of water spots with a diamond grit suitable for surface polishing, and also provides for minimize damage and scratching to the external glaze surface of the commode. The paste optionally includes a tin oxide (10000-12000 grit). The efficacy of the paste will last in multiple scrub events, and is preferably designed to withstand at least 30 uses in commode cleaning.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the rotary brush tool. The hex end 101 (or motor connection) is meant to be a connection to a rotary tool such as an electric drill. The hex end is alternately a square end or round end that will connect to a rotating motor fixture so that it is capable of withstanding torque without damage. To this end, the hex end 101 is solid plastic.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the rotary brush tool highlighting the brush pad.

(13) FIG. 4 is a cross section through FIG. 1 and shows the inner fill epoxy 401 and internal strengthening rod 402 used to glue and stiffen the various parts together and increase the compressive strength of the rotary brush tool.

(14) FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the rotary brush tool. An outer holder 501, an internal reinforcing rod 502, a fill in epoxy compound 503 (shown in the shape in which it is formed by the gap between the outer holder and the internal reinforcing rod), and rotary brush pad 504 are illustrated in perspective view. The assembly is glued together by the epoxy compound 503 which attaches the rotary brush pad to the outer holder.

(15) The internal reinforcing or strengthening rod is buried in the epoxy compound and is an important part of the rotary brush tool. The rod provides important stiffness and compressive strength to the assembly and prevents breakage when strong pressure is applied to the rotary brush pad when it is being used. During initial prototyping, it was found that the desired compressive strength was readily achieved with the rod present, and without it, the outer holder 501 experienced breakage in an important initial trial. In a preferred embodiment, the strengthening rod is a metal, preferably steel. In another preferred embodiment, the rod is advantageously threaded on the exterior so that the metal rod is completely and firmly encapsulated by the surrounding epoxy.

(16) The outer holder is preferably made from plastic, ABS in particular was found to be acceptable. Other plastics with similar stress properties could also be used.

(17) In a preferred embodiment, success in use of the rotary scrubbing brush is based rotating the brush pad with a motor and pressing the brush pad against the stained surface. The residual water in the base of the commode provides an acceptable lubrication during the cleaning and the pad will naturally touch the water during cleaning to provide lubrication. It is preferred that the application of the brush is generally applied to a water wetted surface. During the cleaning action, a small amount of the diamond paste will come out of the brush pad and is easily flushed out of the commode for environmentally safe removal. The amount of diamond paste bonded to the brush pad will dictate how long the brush pad will be effective.

(18) The shroud is helpful in keeping the pad from excessive spraying water during use. It was noted during a trial that a shroud-less pad will spray water in an unacceptable manner when the pad touches the water in the bottom of the commode. The shroud also helps to increase edge pressure on the brush pad when tipping the rotary scrubbing brush against the stained surface. In this case, the edge area of the pad is used for cleaning. This method helps to remove water hardness from stubborn areas of the commode.

(19) It should be emphasized that use of the rotary scrubbing tool provides improvements in the cleaning method that are harder to define. Cleaning of minor stains will take only a few minutes, and major stains should be addressable in 10-15 minutes of work. It is far easier to apply pressure and let a tool do the work than to use a manual scraping method such as a pumice stone. Also, the rotary brush scrubbing tool has a length that allows a cleaning person to keep their hands out of the commode water and eliminate the grimy feeling when cleaning the commode surfaces.

(20) It should also be noted that the use of the rotary brush scrubbing tool is not confined to only commode surfaces, but its use is applicable to a variety of porcelain surfaces, such as are found elsewhere in a house or a place of business. In particular, such surfaces include a commode surface, a bathtub surface, a sink, or a shower surface.

(21) While various embodiments of the present invention have been described, the invention may be modified and adapted to various operational methods to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the description and figure shown herein, and includes all such embodiments, changes, and modifications that are encompassed by the scope of the claims.