Fluff brush

Abstract

The lint brush includes a housing and a lint tool having a lint removal material. The lint tool is movable along the longitudinal axis of the housing between a stowed position and an extended position, in which the lint tool is accommodated in the housing, and in which the lint tool extends from the housing. The lint tool is rotatable from the extended position to a first rotational position relative to the longitudinal axis. An actuator is mounted to one of the housing and the lint tool. The actuator is configured to move the lint tool from the first rotational position back to the extended position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lint brush. Background Art

[0002] A commonly used lint brush consists of a roll of lint-removing adhesive material rotatably mounted on the spindle of a brush portion, which is attached to a handle. In use, the user rolls the lint brush around the spindle on or along the surface to be cleaned, and any fibers or lint on the surface adheres to the lint-removing adhesive material. Another commonly used lint brush consists of a lint-removing brush material fixed to a brush portion, which is attached to a handle. The brush material is typically a directional material, that is, it can be pulled through the surface to be cleaned in a first direction ("pickup direction") to pick up fiber material from the surface, and pulled through the surface in an opposite direction ("release direction") to release fiber material from the brush material. It is also known to provide a lint brush in which a brush portion having one of the above-mentioned lint removal materials can be moved into and out of a handle. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to one aspect, a lint brush comprises a housing and a lint tool having a lint removal material. The lint tool can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the housing between a stowed position and a deployed position, in which the lint tool is accommodated in the housing, and in which the lint tool extends from the housing. The lint tool can be rotated from the deployed position to a first rotational position relative to the longitudinal axis. An actuator is mounted to one of the housing and the lint tool. The actuator is configured to move the lint tool back to the deployed position from the first rotational position.

[0004] According to another aspect, a lint brush comprises a housing and a lint tool. The lint tool comprises a shuttle and a tool body having a lint removal material mounted thereon. The lint tool can be moved between a stowed position and an expanded position along the longitudinal axis of the housing, in which the lint tool is accommodated in the housing, and in the expanded position, the lint tool extends from the housing. The lint tool can be rotated from the expanded position to a first rotational position relative to the longitudinal axis. An actuator is provided as a part of the lint tool and is connected between the shuttle and the tool body. The actuator is configured to move the lint tool back to the expanded position from the first rotational position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lint brush according to the present disclosure, the lint brush comprising a housing and a lint tool, wherein the lint tool is in a retracted position relative to the housing.

[0006] Figure 2is a perspective view of the lint brush with the lint tool in an extended position relative to the housing.

[0007] Figure 3 It is an exploded perspective view of the lint brush.

[0008] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Longitudinal cross-section of .

[0009] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Longitudinal cross-section of .

[0010] Figure 6 It is a top plan view of the shuttle of the fluff tool.

[0011] Figure 7 It is a top plan view of the shuttle cap of the fluff tool.

[0012] Figure 8 is an interior or rear view of a backing member for a pile tool.

[0013] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a lint brush with the lint tool in a first rotational position.

[0014] Fig.10 is a perspective view of the lint brush with the lint tool in a second rotational position.

[0015] Fig.11 yes Figure 1 Horizontal cross-section of .

[0016] Fig.12 It is a partial enlarged side view of the tool body of the fluff tool.

[0017] Fig.13 is an interior or rear view of a backing member for a cleaning pad housed in a housing.

[0018] Fig.14 It is an interior or rear view of the housing portion of the housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Of course, it should be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative, and that various modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed structures without departing from the present disclosure. Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath", "below"

[0020] "below", "lower", "above", "upper" and the like may be used to describe the relationship of an element and / or feature to another element and / or feature, such as shown in the figures. Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1-3 1 shows a fluff brush 100 according to the present invention. The fluff brush 100 includes a housing 102 and a housing 102 that can be moved in a retracted position ( Figure 1 ) and the expanded position ( Figure 2 ) between the tufting tool 104, in which the tufting tool 104 is stored in the housing 102 in the stowed position and in which the tufting tool 104 extends from the housing. As will be described below, the tufting tool 104 can also be rotated relative to the longitudinal axis 108 from the deployed position to at least a first rotational position ( Fig. 9 or Fig.10 ). The lint tool 104 has a lint removal material 110 mounted thereon that is suitable for removing fibrous material from a surface. As used herein, "fibers" or "fibrous material" include debris, such as human or pet hair, dust, lint, strings, threads, and other such materials that collect on a surface. As used herein, when referring to a surface being cleaned, "surface" includes fabric or fabric-covered surfaces, including clothing, upholstery, carpets, rugs, curtains, and other such surfaces where fibers tend to collect, and may also include hard surfaces, such as tile, linoleum, wood, etc.

[0021] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 102 includes an outer surface 116 and an inner surface 118 that defines an interior chamber 120 that is sized to receive the lint tool 104 in a stowed position. For ease of assembly, the housing 102 can be a two-piece housing that includes a first housing portion 122 and a second housing portion 124 attached to the first housing portion 122. The first housing portion 122 can be arcuate and the second housing portion 124 can be a square U-shape that allows the lint tool 104 to be properly positioned when the lint tool is moved to the stowed position; however, alternative shapes are contemplated. The interior chamber 120 can have a size and shape sufficient to receive the lint removal material 110 of the lint tool 104. For example, referring to Figure 4 , the inner chamber 120 may have a longitudinal dimension larger than the corresponding longitudinal dimension of the fluff removal material 110, so that the entire fluff removal material 110 can be completely assembled in the inner chamber. The inner chamber 120 of the housing 102 has a distal opening 126 and a proximal opening 128. In this context, "distal end" refers to the area through which the fluff tool 104 is deployed, and "proximal end" refers to the area away from the fluff tool. It is understood that the outer surface 116 of the housing 102 can be configured for functional or aesthetic purposes, such as for easy gripping by a user.

[0022] Reference Figures 3 to 7, the lint tool 104 includes a shuttle 136 and a tool body 138 adapted to support the lint removal material 110. As shown, the shuttle 136 includes a base 140 and a column 142. The base 140 includes an upper wall 148 and a side wall 150, and the upper wall 148 has a column 142 extending outwardly therefrom. According to the present disclosure, when the lint tool 104 moves between the stowed position and the deployed position, the base 140 is guided along the longitudinal dimension of the housing 102. For example, one of the shuttle 136 and the housing 102 includes a guide rail 154, and the other of the shuttle 136 and the housing 102 includes a guide 156 movable in the guide rail when the lint tool moves relative to the housing 102. In the illustrated aspect, the side wall 150 of the shuttle 136 includes the guide rail 154 and the second housing portion 124 of the housing 102 includes the guide 156. The guide rails 154 may be disposed on extensions 158 mounted to the side wall 150; although this is not required. The guides 156 may be formed as longitudinal ribs on the second housing portion 124. In addition, opposite the upper wall 148 of the shuttle base 140, a shuttle cover 166 may be provided to close the open end of the base 140. To allow for the installation of the cover 166, a boss 168 depends from the upper wall 148 and defines an aperture sized to receive a rod 172 provided on the cover 166. The cover 166 includes a side wall 174 divided into a plurality of sections by an engagement tab 178. When the side wall 174 of the cover 166 is positioned within the base 140 of the shuttle 136, the engagement tab 178 is received in an opening 180 in the side wall 150.

[0023] Continue to refer to Figures 3 to 5 , the tool body 138 is freely supported on the shuttle 136, meaning that the tool body 138 is not fixed in position on the shuttle 136. To this end, the tool body 138 includes a support wall 190 having an upper flange 192 and a lower flange 194 extending from opposite ends. The flanges 192, 194 include openings 196, 198 that are sized to receive the post 142 of the shuttle 136. In addition, the support wall 190 may include elongated spaced-apart ribs 200 that, together with the support wall, define a channel 202 for the post 142. In the illustrated aspect, a locating tab 210 and a mounting tab 214 extend from the support wall 190 for engaging a backing member 216 for the lint removal material 110. In Figure 3 and Figure 82, the backing member 216 includes a generally C-shaped body 220 having an outer surface 222 and an inner surface 224, side edges 226, 228, and upper and lower edges 230, 232. A shelf 240 extends from the inner surface 224 and is provided with a recess 242 that receives the locating tab 210. The body 220 is further provided with an opening 246 that at least partially flanks a mounting flange 248 on the inner surface 224. The opening 246 at least partially receives the mounting tab 214 when engaged to the mounting flange 248. In the present aspect, each of the side edges 226, 228 can be provided with teeth 250, and each of the upper edge 230 and the lower edge 232 can be provided with teeth 252. A compressible pad 258 (eg, a foam pad) for the lint removal material 110 may be secured to the outer surface 222 of the backing member 216 , and the teeth 250 , 252 may help secure the compressible pad 258 to the outer surface 222 .

[0024] The fluff removal material 110 is fixed to the compressible pad 258 by any suitable means. For example, the fluff removal material 110 can be permanently attached to the selected portion of the compressible pad 258 by an adhesive, a mechanical connection, or a chemical bond. In other embodiments, the fluff removal material 110 can be releasably fixed to the compressible pad 258 so that one or both can be removed and replaced when it becomes ineffective. As known in the art, the fluff removal material 110 is a directional brush material, that is, it can be pulled through the surface to be cleaned in a first direction ("pickup direction") to pick up fiber material from the surface, and pulled through the surface in the opposite direction ("release direction") to release fiber material from the brush material. For example, the brush material can be a directional pile fabric (pile fabric) with multiple short fibers tilted in one direction. When the brush material is pulled in one direction on the surface to be cleaned, it picks up fiber material from the surface. Dragging the brush material across the surface in the opposite direction will remove some or all of the fiber material collected from the brush material. According to the present disclosure, the lint removal material includes a continuous tool surface 270, which is composed of a first fabric portion 272 and a second fabric portion 274 (in Figure 3 The first fabric portion and the second fabric portion are composed of a brush material having fabric piles with opposite orientations. By this arrangement, the first fabric portion 272 and the second fabric portion 274 have opposite pickup and release directions.

[0025] As previously indicated, the lint tool 104 is moved relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing 102 from the deployed position ( Figure 2 ) can be rotated to a first rotational position (e.g., Fig. 9). More specifically, when positioned on the post 142 of the shuttle 136, the tool body 138 is rotatable relative to the shuttle 136. To guide the rotational movement of the tool body 138, one of the shuttle 136 and the tool body 138 includes a guide rail 278, and the other of the shuttle 136 and the tool body 138 includes a guide 280 that is movable in the guide rail 278 when the fuzz tool is rotated. Figure 4-6 In the illustrated aspect, the shuttle 136 includes a guide track 278 and the tool body 138 includes a guide 280. The guide track 278 is defined by an arcuate slot opening 284 formed in the upper wall 148 of the shuttle 136, and the guide 280 is defined by a pin 288 depending from the lower flange 194 of the tool body 138, the pin 288 being sized to extend through the slot opening 284. It should be understood that the slot opening 284 defines the range of rotation of the tool body 138 relative to the shuttle 136, with the ends of the slot opening defining hard stops for the tool body.

[0026] Further to the present disclosure, an actuator 290 mounted to one of the housing 102 and the lint tool 104 is configured to move the tool body 138 from the first rotational position back to the deployed position. It should be understood that the term "actuator" and variations thereof refer to an element, component, device or mechanism that is designed, configured and / or operable to automatically move the lint tool back to the deployed position, which is the position required to move the lint tool 104 back into the housing 102 to the stowed position. In the present aspect, the actuator 290 is coupled between the shuttle 136 and the tool body 138 (specifically the guide 280). Thus, the actuator 290 moves with the lint tool 104, allowing for a more compact housing 104. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the actuator 290 is a biasing member in the form of a spring 292, and as shown, the spring 292 is a torsion spring; however, an alternative spring (e.g., a tension spring) may be used to move the tool body 138 back to the deployed portion. Figure 3-5In the embodiment of the present invention, the spring 292 is positioned on the boss 168, depending from the upper wall 148 of the shuttle 136, and is retained on the boss by a rib or fin 298 on the shuttle cover 166. One leg 300 of the spring 292 is fixed in an opening 302 formed in the guide 280 or the pin 288. The other leg 304 of the spring 292 is fixed in a catch 308, such as provided on the upper wall 148. With this arrangement, rotation of the tool body 138 on the shuttle 136 toward the first rotational position (e.g., by moving the first portion 272 of the lint removal material 110 across the surface to be cleaned in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing 102) causes the spring legs 300, 304 to twist along the spring axis, thereby applying a torque in the opposite direction, causing the lint tool to move back to the deployed position rearward 104 while removing the lint removal material 110 from the surface. In addition, due to the arcuate shape of the slot opening 284, the lint tool 104 can also be moved from the deployed position ( Figure 2 ) is rotated to a second rotational position (e.g., Fig.10 ) (e.g., by moving the second portion 274 of the lint removal material 110 on the surface to be cleaned in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing 102). And the actuator 290 is configured to move the lint tool 104 from the second rotational position to the deployed position in a manner similar to that described above. Fig.12 1 is a partial enlarged side view of the lower flange 194 of the tool body 138. A wedge-shaped feature 310 having an increasing thickness toward the support wall 190 is provided on the lower flange 194. The lead-in surface 312 of the feature 310 is inclined or angled toward the support wall 190 to correct for any inaccuracies in the spring 292 so that when the tool body 138 is rotated back to the deployed position, minor misalignments between the tool body 138 and the housing 102 and / or the shuttle 136 do not prevent the tool body 138 from moving to the stowed position.

[0027] To maintain the tool body 138 on the shuttle 136, the handle 320 is removably attached to the post 142, which allows the tool body to be fixed between the shuttle and the handle. To attach the handle 320, the handle may include a boss 322 having a threaded opening that can be received in a hole 326 of the post 142, and a fastener 330 extending through a washer 332 formed in the hole 326 is threadedly received in the boss opening. An aesthetically pleasing annular decorative member 336 may be mounted on the distal opening 126 of the housing, and the annular member 336 may assist in connecting the first housing portion 122 and the second housing portion 124.

[0028] Reference Figures 3 to 5 , Fig.13 and Fig.14, the cleaning pad 340 is mounted in the housing 102, and when the lint tool 104 moves between the stowed position and the deployed position, the cleaning pad is suitable for engaging the lint removal material 110 and removing fiber material from the lint removal material. In the illustrated aspect, the backing member 342 fixes the cleaning pad 340 to the first housing portion 122. The backing member 342 includes a generally C-shaped body 350 having side edges 352, 354 and upper and lower edges 356, 358. The body 350 is provided with an opening 360, the size of the opening being designed to receive a mounting tab 364 extending from an inner surface 366 of the first housing portion 122. In this aspect, each side edge 352, 354 may be provided with a tooth 370, and each upper edge 356 and lower edge 358 may be provided with a tooth 372. The cleaning pad 340 can be fixed to the inner surface 378 of the backing member body 350, and the teeth 370, 372 can help the cleaning pad 340 to be fixed to the backing member 342. Similar to the fluff removal material 110, the cleaning pad 340 is permanently or releasably fixed to the backing member 342 by any suitable means. The cleaning pad 340 can be made of any material suitable for removing fiber material from the brush material. For example, the cleaning pad 340 can be an oriented terry fabric, as described above, which has an oriented fabric terry facing the fluff removal material 110. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand the type of material that can be used in the cleaning pad 340 to effectively remove fiber material from the fluff removal material 110 of the fluff tool 104. In addition to the cleaning pad 340, the housing 102 includes a collection area 390 located below the shuttle cover 166 for collecting fiber material removed from the fluff removal material 110. The door 392 is mounted to the housing 104 at the proximal opening 128. For example, the door 392 can be hingedly connected to the second housing portion 124, and a latch 396 formed on the door can selectively engage a protrusion 398 formed on the first housing portion 122. The door 392 is movable from a closed position for covering the collection area 390 (and the proximal opening 128 of the housing 102) and an open position allowing removal of fibrous material from the collection area 390.

[0029] It should be understood that the above disclosed embodiments, other features and functions or their substitutions or changes can be combined into many other different systems or applications as needed. In addition, those skilled in the art may subsequently make various currently unforeseen or unanticipated substitutions, modifications, changes or improvements, which are also intended to be covered by the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fluff brush, comprising: case; a lint tool having a lint removal material, the lint tool having a handle at a distal end to allow the lint tool to be movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing between a stowed position in which the lint tool is contained within the housing and a deployed position in which the lint tool extends from the housing, wherein the lint tool is rotatable in a first rotational direction relative to the longitudinal axis from the deployed position to a first rotational position by moving the lint removal material across an associated surface to be cleaned in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis; as well as An actuator includes a biasing member mounted to one of the housing and the lint tool, the biasing member configured to move the lint tool from the first rotational position back to the deployed position when removing the lint removal material from an associated surface.

2. The velvet brush according to claim 1, wherein: A cleaning pad is mounted within the housing, the cleaning pad being adapted to engage the lint removal material and remove fibrous material from the lint removal material.

3. The velvet brush according to claim 2, wherein: The housing includes a collection area for collecting fibrous material removed from the lint removal material.

4. The velvet brush according to claim 3, wherein: A door is mounted to the housing, the door being movable from a closed position for covering the collection area and an open position for allowing removal of fibrous material from the collection area.

5. The velvet brush according to claim 1, wherein: The lint tool includes a shuttle and a tool body supporting the lint removal material, and the biasing member is coupled between the shuttle and the tool body.

6. The velvet brush according to claim 5, wherein: One of the shuttle and the tool body includes a track, and the other of the shuttle and the tool body includes a guide movable in the track when the tuft tool is rotated between the deployed position and the first rotated position.

7. The velvet brush according to claim 6, wherein: The shuttle includes the rail and the tool body includes the guide, and the biasing member is coupled between the shuttle and the guide.

8. The velvet brush according to claim 5, wherein: The handle is removably attached to the shuttle, and the tool body is secured between the shuttle and the handle.

9. The velvet brush according to claim 5, wherein: One of the shuttle and the housing includes a track, and the other of the shuttle and the housing includes a guide movable in the track when the tufting tool moves between the stowed position and the deployed position.

10. The lint brush according to claim 1, wherein: The lint tool rotates from the deployed position to the first rotational position in the first rotational direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the lint tool rotates from the deployed position to a second rotational position in a second opposite rotational direction transverse to the longitudinal axis by moving the lint removal material across the associated surface to be cleaned in a second opposite direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the biasing member is configured to move the lint tool from the second rotational position back to the deployed position.

11. The lint brush according to claim 10, wherein: The lint tool includes a shuttle and a tool body supporting the lint removal material, the shuttle including an arcuate guide rail, and the tool body including a guide member that can move in the guide rail when the lint tool is rotated between the deployed position and one of the first rotational position and the second rotational position.

12. The lint brush according to claim 11, wherein: The biasing member is a spring coupled between the shuttle and the tool body.

13. The lint brush according to claim 10, wherein: The lint removal material includes a continuous tool surface comprised of a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion having oppositely oriented fabric piles.

14. A velvet brush, comprising: case; a lint tool comprising a shuttle and a tool body having a lint removal material mounted thereto, the lint tool including the shuttle and the tool body being movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing between a stowed position in which the lint tool is received within the housing and a deployed position in which the tool body extends from the housing, wherein the tool body is freely supported on and movable relative to the shuttle such that the tool body is rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis from the deployed position to a first rotational position; and an actuator provided as part of the fuzz tool and coupled between the shuttle and the tool body, the actuator being configured to move the tool body from the first rotational position back to the deployed position relative to the shuttle, Wherein, the housing is configured to be grasped by a user to allow the tool body to be rotated from the deployed position to the first rotated position relative to the longitudinal axis.

15. The lint brush according to claim 14, wherein: The tool body rotates from the deployed position to the first rotated position in a first direction relative to the longitudinal axis, and the tool body rotates from the deployed position to a second rotated position in a second, opposite direction relative to the longitudinal axis, and The actuator is configured to move the tool body relative to the shuttle from the second rotational position back to the deployed position.

16. The lint brush according to claim 15, wherein: The shuttle includes an arcuate track, and the tool body includes a guide movable in the track as the tool body rotates between the deployed position and one of the first and second rotational positions.

17. The velvet brush according to claim 14, wherein: a cleaning pad mounted within the housing, the cleaning pad being adapted to engage the lint removal material and remove fibrous material from the lint removal material, a collection area defined within the housing for collecting fibrous material removed from the lint removal material; as well as A door is mounted to the housing, the door being movable from a closed position covering the collection area and an open position allowing removal of fibrous material from the collection area.

18. The lint brush according to claim 14, wherein: The lint removal material includes a continuous tool surface comprised of a first fabric portion and a second fabric portion having oppositely oriented fabric piles.

19. A velvet brush, comprising: case; a lint tool having a lint removal material, the lint tool being movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing between a stowed position in which the lint tool is received within the housing and a deployed position in which the lint tool extends from the housing, wherein the lint tool is rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis from the deployed position to a first rotated position; and an actuator mounted to one of the housing and the lint tool, the actuator being configured to move the lint tool from the first rotational position back to the deployed position, Wherein, the shell includes a collection area for collecting fiber material removed from the lint removal material and a door mounted to the shell, the door being movable from a closed position for covering the collection area and an open position for allowing removal of fiber material from the collection area.

20. The lint brush according to claim 19, wherein: The fuzz tool is rotatable in a first direction relative to the longitudinal axis from the deployed position to the first rotated position, and the fuzz tool is rotatable in a second, opposite direction relative to the longitudinal axis from the deployed position to a second rotated position, and The actuator is configured to move the lint tool from the second rotational position back to the deployed position.

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