Gotbaroom

Abstract

A gutta loom is provided, the gutta loom having a mandrel, one or more carriers each removably coupled to the mandrel, and one or more bristle strips, each bristle strip removably coupled to one of the carriers. The gutta loom components may be recyclable and modular, and require no tools for assembly or maintenance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure (the present invention) relates to a sweeper for cleaning surfaces. In particular, it is a gutter broom for sweeping roads, streets, and other road surfaces.

Background Art

[0002] Sweeper vehicles may be used to remove debris or trash and particulate matter from various surfaces. In particular, a gutter broom (broom means "brush") may be used to sweep roads, streets, and other road surfaces, and may be attached to a road sweeper vehicle to move across the road surface. The gutter broom can also approach curbs or the sides or walls of buildings to remove debris. The gutter broom may have a brush mount for receiving brush bristles or bristle brushes for cleaning.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] One viewpoint provides a gutta room which preferably includes a mandrel, a retaining carrier, and a bristle strip. The mandrel has a channel which extends outward from its radially inner edge at an angle to the centerline of the mandrel. The retaining carrier is coupled to the mandrel in a position within the channel. The bristle strip is preferably coupled to the carrier so as to be retained, and the bristle strip preferably extends downward from the carrier. In one viewpoint, the bristle strip preferably has a cable and a bristle bent around the cable. In another viewpoint, the cable is preferably positioned within a cavity of the carrier so as to couple the bristle strip to the carrier. In yet another viewpoint, the bristle strip preferably has an upper end with a first cross-sectional area and a lower end with a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area preferably being larger than the second cross-sectional area. In yet another viewpoint, the bristle strip is preferably coupled to the carrier at its upper end. From another perspective, the carrier is preferably directed at an angle to the channel. From one perspective, the carrier is preferably having a lock for holding the bristle strip. From another perspective, the lock is preferably including a cantilever portion. From another perspective, the lock is preferably extending across one or more sides of the carrier. From another perspective, the lock is preferably preventing radially outward motion of the bristle strip coupled to the carrier. From one perspective, the angle is preferably 30°.

[0004] Another viewpoint provides a retaining carrier coupled to a mandrel. The mandrel preferably has a cavity for receiving a bristle strip and a lock for preventing radially outward movement of the bristle strip. In one viewpoint, the retaining carrier preferably further has an upper end extending upward from the mandrel and a lower end extending downward from the mandrel. In another viewpoint, the bristle strip preferably has an end with a relatively large cross-sectional area so as to be detachably positioned at the upper end of the carrier. In another viewpoint, the lock preferably extends across the upper end of the carrier to prevent radially outward movement of the bristle strip. In yet another viewpoint, the retaining carrier preferably further has an open end. The retaining carrier preferably is positioned within a channel which extends from the mandrel, and the open end preferably is located far from the central opening of the mandrel. In another viewpoint, the lock preferably extends across the open end of the carrier to prevent radially outward movement of the bristle strip positioned within the cavity of the carrier.

[0005] Another aspect provides a method for replacing a bristle strip without tools. This method may include the step of preparing a gutter loom. The gutter loom may have a mandrel, a carrier coupled to the mandrel, and a bristle strip, the bristle strip being positioned within the carrier. This method may further include the steps of opening a lock at the open end of the carrier, removing the bristle strip from the carrier, inserting a second bristle strip into the carrier, and closing the lock so that the lock holds the bristle strip within the carrier. In one aspect, this method may include the steps of latching the lock to the carrier and releasing the lock from the carrier. In one aspect, this method may include the step of holding the gutter loom on a drive plate. The mandrel may be coupled to the drive plate. In another aspect, this method may include the steps of rotating the carrier inward and sliding the carrier out of the gutter loom. From another perspective, the method may include the steps of rotating the second carrier inward and sliding the second carrier in the gutterroom.

[0006] Another viewpoint provides a bristle strip coupled to a retaining carrier. The bristle strip preferably has one or more bristle folded over a cable, an upper end having a first cross-sectional area, and a lower end having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first. The lower end is preferably angled obliquely to the upper end to form an obtuse angle. In one viewpoint, the one or more bristle may include steel. In another viewpoint, the one or more bristle may be encased in a steel insert. In one viewpoint, the carrier may have a lock extending across the open end of the carrier so that the bristle strip is held radially. In one viewpoint, the upper end may be positioned in an upper cavity of the carrier. The lower end may be positioned in a lower cavity of the carrier. In another viewpoint, the upper cavity may be angled obliquely to the lower cavity so that the bristle strip is held laterally to form an obtuse angle.

[0007] The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming part of this specification illustrate embodiments and, together with this specification, further assist in explaining the principles of the embodiments and enabling those skilled in the art to construct and use such embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1A] This is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with a gutta-room from various viewpoints. [Figure 1B] These are enlarged views of the Guttaba Room in Figure 1A from various perspectives. [Figure 2] This is a perspective on Guts Room from various viewpoints. [Figure 3] These are side views of the Gutta Room from various perspectives. [Figure 4] These are disassembled and assembled diagrams of the Gutta Room from various perspectives. [Figure 5] These are plan views of the mandrel from various perspectives. [Figure 6] These are side views of the carrier from various perspectives. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view of a part of the Guttaba Room from various viewpoints. [Figure 8] These are plan views of the carrier from various perspectives. [Figure 9] These are side views of a bristle strip from various perspectives. [Figure 10] These are perspective views of carriers and bristle strips from various viewpoints. [Figure 11] This is a perspective on Guts Room from various viewpoints. [Figure 12] This is a perspective on careers from various viewpoints. [Figure 13] These are side views of the carrier from various perspectives. [Figure 14] These are side views of the carrier from various perspectives. [Figure 15A] This is a front view of a carrier in one embodiment. [Figure 15B] This is a front view of a carrier in a different configuration. [Figure 16] This is a perspective on careers from various viewpoints. [Figure 17] These are perspective views of bristle strips from various viewpoints. [Figure 18] These are side views of the carrier and bristle strip from various perspectives. [Figure 19] This figure illustrates exemplary methods for assembling and maintaining a Gutta Room according to various perspectives. [Figure 20] This is a perspective on Guts Room from various viewpoints. [Figure 21] This is a perspective on Guts Room from various viewpoints. [Figure 22] This is a perspective on Guts Room from various viewpoints. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The features and advantages of the various aspects will become apparent from the detailed description set forth below when considered in connection with the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding elements throughout the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally refer to elements that are identical, functionally identical, and / or structurally identical.

[0010] Next, the present invention will be described in detail with respect to its various aspects as shown in the accompanying drawings. When described as "one aspect," "an aspect," "an exemplary aspect," etc., these indicate that the aspect being described can have a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but that not every aspect necessarily has the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same aspect. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in relation to one aspect, this is recognized to be within the ordinary knowledge of those skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in relation to other aspects, whether explicitly described or not.

[0011] The following examples are illustrative of aspects of the present invention but are not limiting thereof. Other suitable design modifications and applications of the various conditions and parameters that are commonly encountered and apparent to those skilled in the art are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0012] The aspects of this disclosure relate to guttabloms. A guttablom can rotate around its central axis (i.e., its axis of rotation) to clean a surface along its path. The guttablom may have a mandrel (i.e., a driven plate), one or more carriers, and one or more bristle strips (i.e., strips, bloom segments, bloom attachments, brushes, bristle, etc.) as described herein. The mandrel may be positioned about parallel to the horizontal and can rotate around a vertical axis. The mandrel may be circular or arc-shaped, and such a mandrel may support about 20 bristle strips and carriers extending downward from the mandrel. Each carrier may be detachably coupled to the mandrel in a channel extending through the radially outer end of the mandrel. For example, the channel may extend outward from the radially inner edge. The channel may extend at an angle to the centerline of the mandrel. A retaining tab along the outer end of the mandrel can secure the carrier radially. Tabs located along each side of the carrier can secure the carrier laterally to the mandrel. Each bristle strip is similarly preferably removably coupled to the mandrel and secured in both radial and lateral directions. As various viewpoints provide, the bristle strips can be inserted into the carrier and these bristle strips may be secured laterally and / or radially by, for example, pressure fitting, snap fitting, interlocking fitting, adhesive, lock, or other mounting methods.

[0013] The road surface is made of various materials (e.g., concrete, small round stones, bricks, etc.) and / or can collect debris (e.g., bushes, mud, non-natural debris, etc.), thus requiring cleaning applications where the contact pressure, time, or other parameters change. In a gutter broom, the bristle strip may extend downward from the carrier to contact the surface for cleaning. According to some aspects, the bristle strip may be made of steel (iron) and / or another material (e.g., metal, plastic, composite, natural material), and may have various dimensions, rigidities, geometries, or other characteristics for cleaning various surfaces. For example, the bristle strip may be composed of steel (e.g., steel wire). Steel can have sufficient rigidity to break up and / or move debris. According to some aspects, the bristle strip may be composed of 100% recyclable steel. Thus, a gutter broom having a bristle strip made of recyclable steel can be said to be environmentally considerate. According to other aspects, the bristle strip can be composed of other materials or a blend of materials. For example, the bristle strip may have a mixture of steel and polypropylene. In some aspects, the mandrel may also be composed of 100% recyclable steel. The carrier may be, in some aspects, injection-molded plastic.

[0014] The gutta-room described herein is preferably modular. For example, the arrangement of the mandrel, carrier, and bristle strips can be changed both during initial assembly and throughout the gutta-room's service life and operation. The operator can customize the gutta-room to target specific surface requirements, for example, by changing the number of bristle strips with particular properties. For example, the gutta-room may have a first type of bristle strip that provides a delicate contact relationship and a second type of bristle strip that provides a stronger contact relationship. This can help limit the overall abrasive contact of the gutta-room so as not to damage the road surface while targeting tough debris, such as bushy surfaces. The modular design can also streamline the assembly of the gutta-room and the replacement of the bristle strips. Instead of shipping the gutta-room in at least partially assembled state, which can increase packaging and logistics costs, the modular components can be shipped compactly in smaller bundles (e.g., flat-packed or densely packed in two boxes).

[0015] Modular assembly components are best manufactured individually to support customized inspection services. For example, if an operator needs a replacement carrier or bristle strip, they can source the component rather than having to obtain an entirely new guttablo for a replacement part. From several perspectives, a guttablo can undergo numerous component replacements throughout its service life. Components can be sourced individually to replace damaged or worn components. Similarly, components can be interchangeable between guttablos to support customization and inspection maintenance. From one perspective, the modular system can also facilitate cleaning of each component, for example, to prevent contamination by mud or sand.

[0016] The bristle strips are preferably positioned at an angle on the gutta-room within the carrier. This allows adjacent bristle strips to be offset from each other. The angled positioning of the bristle strips on the gutta-room supports distributed contact with the surface, resulting in each bristle strip wearing more evenly than other bristle strips assembled at the same time and possessing identical properties. A mandrel with a wide interior also supports this point. Due to the distribution of wear, bristle strips assembled at the same time and possessing identical properties can be replaced together. From various perspectives, each bristle strip can last for approximately 80 to 150 hours without requiring inspection, maintenance, or replacement.

[0017] Inspection and maintenance can also be made simple and tool-free. For example, the bristle strip can be mechanically positioned in and out of the carrier in the same manner, without the use of tools. Thus, even inexperienced and / or less skilled operators can assemble, inspect, and replace the gutter bloom, and replace worn bristle strips. Furthermore, the assembly and replacement of the bristle strips can be done in a reduced time, for example, in minutes compared to several hours. In some respects, while the gutter bloom is mounted on the vehicle, the locks on each carrier can be opened, for example, by rotating the locks away from their locked position. This allows for radial movement of the bristle strip positioned in the carrier, and as a result, the bristle strip can slide out of the carrier for replacement or inspection. Since the locks only need to be rotated away from these locked positions for replacement, the gutter bloom can remain mounted on the vehicle during replacement. In this way, operators can easily complete replacements at the roadside or in a parking lot.

[0018] The gutter bath described herein is also efficiently manufactured because each component can be manufactured and distributed separately. Furthermore, by providing bristle strips with various properties (e.g., rigidity), the gutter bath can be made lighter, thereby supporting manufacturing efficiency. By increasing manufacturing efficiency, the cost of the gutter bath can be significantly reduced. In addition, cost savings can outperform manufacturing; for example, lighter gutter baths can help reduce the long-term lifespan and operating costs of the motor. Therefore, the selection of bristle strips should be carried out according to the surface type to ensure efficient cleaning and prevent damage caused by continuous wear contact, along with considerations for the motor in operation of the device.

[0019] The GottaBloom 100 is shown in Figures 1A and 1B. Although the GottaBloom 100 is described herein, it should be understood that its components can be used in other GottaBlooms or GottaBloom systems, for example, for retrofitting, customization by replacing components, etc.

[0020] In some respects, the gutterroom 100 can be mounted on a vehicle 10 (e.g., a truck, tractor, or compact car). The vehicle 10 can guide the gutterroom 100 along various surfaces. The gutterroom 100 is preferably positioned on the shoulder side of the vehicle 10 to move along curbs or along the sides of buildings where debris may accumulate for cleaning (e.g., cleaning, removal of debris and / or granular material). The vehicle 10 can also move the gutterroom 100 along the floor, for example, in a manufacturing area or retail environment. The vehicle 10 is preferably equipped with a drive unit 12 and a drive plate 14. The drive unit 12 can rotate the drive plate 14 and the gutterroom 100 supported by the drive plate 14 (e.g., via an electric motor or a hydraulic motor). The gutta-room 100 can rotate about its central axis 20 (i.e., its axis of rotation), thereby moving and / or crushing debris or other material (e.g., weeds, grass, mud, soil, sand, garbage, etc.) along its path. The central axis 20 is preferably perpendicular overall to the path of movement of the gutta-room 100 (e.g., the surface to be cleaned). In one respect, the central axis 20 is preferably perpendicular overall. The gutta-room 100 is preferably positioned such that it is horizontal overall when it is rotating about the central axis 20 which is perpendicular overall.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the gutta bloom 100 may have a mandrel 200 (i.e., a driven plate), the mandrel 200 may support one or more carriers 300 and one or more bristle strips 500 (i.e., strips, bloom segments, bloom attachments, brushes, bristle, etc.). Each carrier 300 may hold and support a bristle strip 500. Thus, the carriers 300 may be sleeves or containers for the bristle strips 500.

[0022] The gutter bloom 100 may have an upper end 101 and a lower end 102. The upper end 101 of the gutter bloom 100 may have a mandrel 200 that can be securely attached (e.g., by bolts, adhesive, welding, etc.) to the drive plate 14. In one view, the mandrel 200 may be directly connected to the bloom drive unit 12 so that the drive plate 14 is not required. In several views, the mandrel 200 may be removable so that it is modular. The lower end 102 of the gutter bloom 100 may have a bristle strip 500 such that the lower end can come into contact with a surface for cleaning. In one view, the gutter bloom 100 may be suspended from the drive plate 14 so that only the lower end 102 of the gutter bloom 100 can come into contact with a surface, debris, or other object.

[0023] The bristle strip 500 is preferably made of a material that can withstand contact with various surfaces (e.g., concrete and unpaved roads) and debris (e.g., large and small stones, mud, bushes, etc.). In one view, each bristle strip 500 is preferably made of flattened steel wire folded over a steel cable to form a bristle. In several views, each bristle strip 500 is preferably made of, for example, about 15 to about 30 individual wires. The flattened steel wire and / or steel cable is preferably further enclosed within a steel. In one view, the portion of each bristle strip 500 that contacts the surface is preferably a steel box, so that the flattened steel wire does not come into contact with the surface or debris. In one view, a 100% steel composition of the bristle strip 500 is preferably made of a material that can support the crushing and movement of debris along the path of the guttaroom 100 in a fully recyclable state. The bristle strip 500 is described in detail below.

[0024] Referring to Figure 4, in some respects, the gutter loom 100 can support approximately 10 to approximately 35 carriers 300 and bristle strips 500, for example, approximately 15 to approximately 30 carriers 300 and bristle strips 500, for example, approximately 20 carriers 300 and bristle strips 500. Each carrier 300 is preferably detachably coupled to the gutter loom 100. Each bristle strip 500 is preferably detachably coupled to one of the carriers 300 provided in the gutter loom 100. Thus, the carriers 300 and bristle strips 500 are preferably modular. In another respect, the carriers 300 are preferably formed integrally with the mandrel 200. In yet another respect, the carriers 300 are preferably formed integrally with the bristle strips 500.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, the mandrel 200 preferably has an interior 210, an outer end 220, one or more first outer edges 230, one or more second outer edges 240, one or more channels 250, one or more channel ends 255, an inner edge 260, an inner edge 270 of the outer end 220, a tubular portion 280, and one or more carrier return tabs 290.

[0026] From several perspectives, the mandrel 200 should be circular or arc-shaped. From one perspective, the mandrel 200 should have standard dimensions known in the industry. From several perspectives, the mandrel 200 should be made of one or more of the following: metal, plastic, composite material, ceramic, polymer, natural fiber, etc. For example, the mandrel 200 should be made of steel. From one perspective, the mandrel 200 should be made of 100% recyclable steel.

[0027] In some respects, the interior 210 is preferably defined by an inner edge 260. The inner edge 260 is preferably the radially inner edge of the mandrel 200 at a diameter D2 of the mandrel 200. The diameter D2 is preferably in the range of about 50 cm to about 127 cm. The outer end 220 is preferably extending radially outward from the inner edge 260. The outer end 220 is preferably having one or more channels 250. In some respects, the channels 250 are preferably openings located between a first outer edge 230 and a second outer edge 240. Thus, the outer end 220 is preferably having one or more first outer edges 230 and corresponding second outer edges 240, each of which defines a channel 250. In some respects, the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240 penetrate the outer end 220. In some respects, the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240 extend radially outward from the inner edge 270 of the outer end 220. In one respect, the inner edge 270 is preferably the radial edge of the mandrel 200 at a diameter D1 of the mandrel 200. The diameter D1 is preferably in the range of approximately 50 cm to approximately 127 cm.

[0028] The inner edges 260 and 270 are preferable to define the tubular portion 280 of the mandrel 200. In some aspects, the channel 250 is formed by attaching (e.g., by welding) a component having a first outer edge 230 and a second outer edge 240 onto the tubular portion 280 of the mandrel 200. Thus, in some aspects, the mandrel 200 is not a single piece. In some aspects, the carrier return tab 290 is preferable to extend into the channel 250 by extending one or both of the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240 into the channel 250. In some aspects, each channel 250 is preferable to extend from a channel end 255. Each channel end 255 is preferable to join each first outer edge 230 at the inner edge 270 of the outer end 220.

[0029] In some respects, the channel 250 is preferably arranged to extend outward from the inner edge 270 along the channel axis 16. In one respect, the channel axis 16 is preferably arranged at a channel angle θ from the centerline 15 of the mandrel 200. In some respects, the channel angle θ is preferably in the range of about 5° to about 85°, for example, in the range of about 20° to about 60°, for example, about 30°. In some respects, the angled arrangement of the channels 250 can reduce contact between adjacent bristle strips 500 while the bristle strips 500 are rotated to position them so that they can work effectively.

[0030] In some respects, the interior 210 defined by the inner edge 260 is preferably dimensioned to prevent the bristle strips 500 from bending inward as they rotate around the central axis 20 in the guttaroom 100. In some respects, the interior 210 defined by the inner edge 260 is preferably dimensioned to prevent each of the bristle strips 500 from contacting any adjacent bristle strip 500 as it rotates. For example, a wider interior 210 allows the bristle strips 500 to be positioned further apart, thereby reducing contact between adjacent bristle strips 500 during rotation, allowing the bristle strips 500 to be positioned to function effectively.

[0031] In some respects, the distance between the inner edges 260 and 270 of the outer end 220 is preferably distance D3, which is the difference between D1 and D2. This distance can define the tubular portion 280 of the outer end 220. In some respects, by positioning the bristle strip 500 further outward from the interior 210, the spacing between adjacent bristle strips 500 can be increased. Thus, in some respects, the tubular portion 280 located between the inner edges 260 and 270 of the outer end 220 can reduce contact between adjacent bristle strips 500 while rotating, allowing the bristle strip 500 to be positioned so that it can work effectively. In some respects, the tubular portion 280 can support the outer end 220 and limit its lateral displacement (for example, as a result of the weight added when the mandrel 200 is at least partially filled with the carrier 300 and the bristle strip 500).

[0032] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, in some respects, each carrier 300 may have a first end 350, a second end 360, a left rail 370, a right rail 380, a left slot 390, and a right slot 420. In some respects, the carrier 300 may have an upper end 310, a lower end 320, an upper cavity 330, a lower cavity 340, a locking member 430, and a locking extension 440. In some respects, the carrier 300 may be made of injection-molded plastic.

[0033] The carrier 300 is preferably positioned in the channel 250 of the mandrel 200 and detachably coupled to the mandrel 200 along the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240. Each carrier 300 is preferably positioned at a channel angle θ from the centerline 15. In one view, each carrier 300 is preferably positioned at the same channel angle θ. In another view, the carriers 300 are preferably positioned at different channel angles θ. In one view, each carrier 300 can orient its lower space 340 perpendicular to the channel 250, so that the bristle strip 500 is positioned within the channel 250 so that it extends downward in a vertical direction as a whole from the mandrel 200. From another perspective, each carrier 300 may have its lower cavity 340 and / or upper cavity 330 directed diagonally to the channel 250, so that the bristle strip 500 is positioned within the channel 250 at an angle to the mandrel 200. For example, the lower cavity 340 and / or upper cavity 330 of the carrier 300 may extend laterally from the mandrel 200, parallel to the axis 22 (Figure 6) as a whole. From some perspectives, the axis 22 may be at an angle α from the axis 21. Therefore, the carrier 300 may extend from the mandrel 200 at an angle α from the axis 21. From some perspectives, the angle α may be in the range of about 15° to about 90°, for example, in the range of about 30° to about 75°, for example, about 60°. Therefore, each carrier 300 is preferably positioned in an offset state relative to the adjacent carrier 300.

[0034] Referring to Figure 7, in some respects, it is preferable to position the carrier 300 within the channel 250. The carrier retaining tab 290 is preferable to engage the carrier 300 within the channel 250 and hold it as a whole in a radial direction parallel to the axis 23. The engagement of the carrier retaining tab 290 with the carrier 300 can provide a snap fit or interlocking fit for holding the carrier 300 within the channel 250. In some respects, the carrier retaining tab 290 of the mandrel 200 can elastically deform a portion of the carrier 300 located within the channel 250 by, for example, pushing or sliding the carrier 300 radially on the carrier retaining tab 290 in a radial direction parallel to the axis 23 (see Figure 10) as a whole during installation. Once engaged, the carrier retaining tab 290 can prevent radial outward movement of the carrier 300 from the channel 250.

[0035] In some respects, each carrier 300 may have a left rail 370. The space between the left rails 370 may form a left slot 390. Similarly, in some respects, each carrier 300 may have a right rail 380. The space between the right rails 380 may form a right slot 420. In some respects, the carrier 300 may be provided within a channel 250 and detachably coupled to a mandrel 200, so that a first outer edge 230 can be provided within the left slot 390 between the left rails 370, and a second outer edge 240 can be provided within the right slot 420 between the right rails 380. Therefore, the carrier 300 is preferably positioned to surround the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240, so that the carrier 300 as a whole extends across the mandrel 200 in a tangential direction parallel to the axis 21 (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the carrier 300 as a whole is perpendicular to the radial edge of the mandrel 200). In some respects, the left rail 370 and the right rail 380 can hold the carrier 300 in the channel 250 in a lateral direction parallel to the axis 22 as a whole. In this way, the carrier 300 can be kept lateral within the channel 250 while rotating around the central axis 20 within the guttaroom 100, because the left rail 370 and the right rail 380 can prevent lateral movement.

[0036] In some respects, the carrier 300 may extend radially outward from the mandrel 200. In these respects, each carrier 300 may be slidably positioned within the channel 250. In one respect, the left slot 390 and the right slot 420 allow the carrier 300 to slide on the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240. In one respect, the extent to which the carrier 300 can be radially positioned within the channel 250 is determined by pushing or sliding the carrier 300 over a distance D4 onto the carrier stop tab 290. The channel end 255 can be a contact point located at this foremost radial position of the carrier 300 within the channel 250. Referring to Figure 8, in some respects, the first end 350 of the carrier 300 may contact the channel end 255 at this foremost radial position of the carrier 300 within the channel 250.

[0037] As shown in Figure 8, in some respects, the locking member 430 is preferably cantilevered. In one respect, the locking member 430 is preferably having a mounting end 431 and a free end 432. In one respect, the mounting end 431 can fix the locking member 430 to one surface of the carrier 300. The free end 432 is preferably not mounted, and such a free end is preferably extending away from the first end 350 of the carrier 300 toward the second end 360. In one respect, the free end 432 is preferably having a raised groove or notch so that the user can easily grasp the free end 432 when removing and installing the bristle strip 500. In some respects, the locking extension 440 of the locking member 430 is preferably extending laterally from the free end 432. In this respect, the locking extension 440 is preferably extending across the second end 360 of the carrier 300. Therefore, the lock extension 440 is preferably positioned to extend across the second end 360 in a tangential direction parallel to the axis 21 as a whole (i.e., the lock extension 440 is positioned perpendicular as a whole to the second end 360 which extends parallel to the axis 22 as a whole). In this way, the lock extension 440 can prevent the bristle strip 500 positioned within the carrier 300 from moving radially outward. Conversely, the lock extension 440 can be rotated away from the second end 360, thereby allowing the bristle strip 500 to move radially outward, for example, for inspection, maintenance, or replacement.

[0038] As shown in Figure 9, the bristle strip 500 preferably has an upper end 510, a lower end 520, a first end 530, a second end 540, and an insert 550. In some respects, the bristle strip 500 is preferably manufactured continuously in a roll forming operation.

[0039] In some respects, each bristle strip 500 may contain, for example, about 15 to about 30 individual bristle strands. As mentioned above, in one respect, each bristle strip 500 may contain bristle strands bent onto a cable. For example, the bristle strip 500 may consist of flattened steel wire bent onto a steel cable. In some respects, the bristle strands may be bent in half onto a cable about 13 cm (5 inches) long. In other respects, the bristle strands may instead be bent onto a composite "core" (i.e., a central mass). In one respect, the bristle strip 500 may consist of bristle strands about 13 cm (5 inches) long. In one respect, the individual bristle strands of the bristle strip 500 may be about 0.2 cm to 0.4 cm wide and made of hardened spring steel about 0.05 cm to 0.11 cm thick. From another perspective, Bristle is good because it is a compact cable with a diameter of approximately 0.3 cm to 1.2 cm.

[0040] The bristle and cable are preferably further enclosed within, for example, steel. The enclosure is preferably an insert 550. In some respects, the insert 500 can prevent the bristle from contacting the surface. In some respects, the enclosure for the insert 550 is preferably cut every 6 inches (15.24 cm). In some respects, the bristle is preferably enclosed within a steel casing which is sheet steel with a thickness of approximately 0.05 cm to approximately 0.26 cm. As mentioned above, the bristle strip 500 is preferably made of 100% recyclable steel. In some respects, the upper end 510 of each bristle strip 500 is preferably made of a large cross-sectional area due to the cable. The large cross-sectional area allows the bristle strip 500 to fit tightly into the insert 550. In one view, the lower end 520 of each bristle strip 500 may extend downward from the upper end 510, and such lower end may be detached (i.e., not coupled to any other component). In one view, the lower end 520 may have a sharp leading edge to allow debris to move and / or crush along the path of the guttaroom 100.

[0041] From some perspectives, the Bristle Strip 500 may be made of one or more of the following: metal, plastic, composite material, ceramic, polymer, natural fiber, etc. For example, the Bristle Strip 500 may be made of steel, aluminum, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, PVC, plant fiber, or hair. From other perspectives, the Bristle Strip 500 may be made of other materials or a blend of materials. For example, the Bristle Strip 500 may have a mixture of steel and polypropylene. From yet another perspective, the bristle may be made of polyurethane or other composite material with a diameter of approximately 0.1 cm to approximately 0.21 cm. From some perspectives, the bristle may be round and straight or crimped.

[0042] In some respects, one or more bristle strips 500 can have different properties based on the type of bristle contained within the bristle strip 500. For example, by providing various forms of bristle strips 500 with different properties within the gutta-room 100, cleaning can be facilitated and customized for one or more specific surfaces. For example, the gutta-room may be used outdoors to clean streets that require various forms or levels of contact (e.g., abrasive or fine). Streets may have varying degrees of roughness and may be made of various materials, such as concrete, brick, small pebbles, and / or asphalt, each requiring a different cleaning method from one another. Streets may also include bushes, such as patches of grass or weeds. In another embodiment, the street may have other natural debris, such as sand, mud, and large and small stones, or non-natural debris, such as scraps and recycled materials. Therefore, the cleaning performance of the gutta-room 100 can be facilitated to effectively clean these separate surfaces, bushes, and / or debris. The gutta-room 100 can also be customized by including a relatively small number of bristle strips 500. For example, the bristle strips 500 may be omitted from the mandrel 200 to create a paddle-type contact relationship with the surface, for example, for snow removal. In another respect, the bristle strips 500 may have varying bristle lengths (for example, the bristle strips 500 may have different lengths from each other), thereby improving the cleaning performance of intermediate surfaces. In this respect, the surface contact contour of the bristle strips 500 may be customized to clean one or more surfaces.

[0043] From some perspectives, the Gutba Room 100 may include bristle strips 500 made of different materials to facilitate cleaning and allow for customization. From some perspectives, the bristle strips 500 made of different materials may be included in the Gutba Room 100 to take advantage of the properties of each material. From other perspectives, the bristle strips 500 may be a blend, for example, by including both steel and polypropylene.

[0044] From several perspectives, it is desirable for Bristle Strip 500 to have varying stiffnesses to facilitate cleaning and for customization. For example, a Bristle Strip 500 with high stiffness can provide an abrasive contact state that effectively targets certain debris, such as bushes along streets or compacted mud. Thus, Bristle Strip 500 can be useful for targeting debris that may be tough enough for strong cleaning to move or crush (i.e., cut), such as bushes, compacted mud, and large and small stones. Higher stiffness can reduce buckling and provide inertial impact to move tough debris. High-stiffness Bristle Strip 500s placed together (e.g., grouped or adjacent) can more effectively grasp and / or crush tough debris. Lower-stiffness Bristle Strip 500s can provide a fine contact state. Thus, Bristle Strip 500 can be useful for delicate cleaning to target areas of separation between various surfaces. Large motion and flexibility can be achieved upon impact, and as a result, the first bristle strip 500 can buckle to reach cracks, rough areas, gaps, etc. Thus, the bristle strip 500 can effectively target lightweight debris (e.g., sand) and granular materials. In some respects, the guttaroom 100 may have bristle strips 500 with varying stiffnesses to provide both abrasive and delicate contact with the surface. Stiffness can be determined by the material, diameter, cross-sectional area, cross-sectional geometric shape, wall thickness, outer layer, coating for reinforcement, ribs, openings, etc. For example, a bristle strip 500 made of steel may be crimped to increase its stiffness. The bristle strip 500 may have cross-sectional geometric shapes such as circular, elliptical, rectangular, star-shaped, or plus sign.

[0045] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the bristle strips 500 are preferably removably coupled to the carrier 300, for example, by sliding the bristle strips 500 into the carrier 300. In some respects, each bristle strip 500 is also preferably positioned within the carrier 300 so that it can be directed diagonally toward the mandrel 200 and the channel 250. In some respects, the bristle strips 500 are preferably pushed or slid into the carrier 300 in a radial direction parallel to the axis 23 as a whole. Thus, as with the carrier 300, once the bristle strips 500 are removably coupled to the carrier 300, the bristle strips 500 can extend both up and down in a lateral direction parallel to the axis 22 as a whole from the mandrel 200. Thus, the bristle strips 500 are preferably positioned at an angle α from the axis 21, extending from the mandrel 200, so that each bristle strip 500 can be positioned in an offset state relative to adjacent bristle strips 500. The offset of each bristle strip 500 prevents each bristle strip 500 from contacting an adjacent bristle strip 500 while it rotates around the central axis 20 within the gutta-room 100. In addition, as described above, in one respect, because the bristle strips 500 are positioned at an angle, each bristle strip 500 can wear more evenly when the gutta-room 100 rotates around the central axis 20. Because the wear is distributed, bristle strips 500 with similar characteristics may need to be replaced at the same time.

[0046] Referring to Figures 7 and 10, in some respects, the carrier 300 is preferably slidably positioned within the channel 250 by enclosing the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240 of the mandrel 200. The carrier 300 can slide on the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240 of the mandrel 200, so that the upper end 310 of the carrier 300 can extend upward from the mandrel 200, and the lower end 320 of the carrier 300 can extend downward from the mandrel 200. In one respect, the upper end 310 of the carrier 300 preferably has a locking member 430. The space within the upper end 310 preferably includes an upper void 330. The lower end 320 may constitute the opposite end of the carrier 300 as seen from the upper end 310, and such a lower end may similarly include a lower void 340.

[0047] In some respects, each of the bristle strips 500 is preferably received within the upper and lower cavities 330 and 340, respectively, of the carrier 300. In one respect, the upper end 510 of the bristle strip 500 is preferably received within the upper cavity 330, and the lower end 520 of the bristle strip 500 is preferably received within the lower cavity 340.

[0048] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, in one view, the upper end 510 with a large cross-sectional area can fill the upper cavity 330. This creates a pressure-fitted state, which in turn allows the upper end 510 to be fixed within the upper cavity 330, and consequently, the bristle strip 500 to be fixed within the carrier 300. In another view, the bristle strip 500 may be fixed within the carrier 300 by snaps, adhesive, or other mounting methods. In several views, the bristle strip 500 may be fixed within the carrier 300 so that the first end 530 of the bristle strip 500 can abut against the first end 350 of the carrier 300, which can abut against the channel end 255 as described above. The second end 540 can constitute the opposite end of the first end 530, and such second end can similarly abut the second end 360 of the carrier 300. In some respects, the upper end 510 of the bristle strip 500, which has a large cross-sectional area, can extend within the upper space 330 of the carrier 300, thereby preventing the bristle strip 500 from moving laterally parallel to the axis 22 as a whole. In some respects, the lock extension 440 can extend across the upper end 310 of the carrier 300, and thus extend across the upper space 330 of the carrier 300. Therefore, when the bristle strip 500 is fixed within the carrier 300, the lock extension 440 can extend across the second end 360 of the carrier 300 and the second end 540 of the bristle strip 500. This can prevent the bristle strip 500 from moving in the radial direction parallel to the axis 23 as a whole.

[0049] As shown in Figure 11, in another embodiment, in some respects, the gutta-room 1000 may have a mandrel 2000 capable of supporting one or more carriers 3000 and one or more bristle strips 5000. The gutta-room 1000 and its components may be substantially the same as those of the gutta-room 100 described above.

[0050] Referring to Figures 12 and 13, in some respects, each carrier 3000 may have a left slot 3900 and a right slot 4200. In some respects, the carrier 3000 may have an upper end 3100, a lower end 3200, an upper cavity 3300, a lower cavity 3400, a first end 3500, a second end 3600, a left side 4600, a right side 4700, a carrier hinge 4500, a lock 4300, a lock hinge 4400, a lock end 4800, and a lock tab 4900. In some respects, the carrier 3000 may be made of injection-molded plastic. The carrier 3000 may be detachably coupled to the gutter loom 1000, similar to the carrier 300 of the gutter loom 100.

[0051] Referring to Figures 11 and 14, in some respects, the carrier 3000 is preferably angled diagonally with respect to the mandrel 2000. For example, the carrier 3000 as a whole is preferably extended upward in a lateral direction parallel to the axis 25. In some respects, the axis 25 is preferably at an angle β with the axis 24. Therefore, the carrier 3000 is preferably extended upward from the mandrel 2000 at an angle β with the axis 24. Similarly, the carrier 3000 as a whole is preferably extended downward from the mandrel 2000 in a lateral direction parallel to the axis 26. In some respects, the axis 26 is preferably at an angle γ with the axis 24. Therefore, the carrier 3000 is preferably extended downward from the mandrel 2000 at an angle γ with the axis 24. In some respects, the angles β and γ from the axis 24 are preferably in the range of about 15° to about 90°, for example, in the range of about 30° to about 75°, for example, about 60°. Thus, the upper end 3100 and lower end 3200 of each carrier 3000 are preferably offset from the upper end 3100 and lower end 3200 of the adjacent carrier 3000. In some respects, the carrier 3000 is preferably provided in the channel 2500 and is preferably detachably coupled to the mandrel 2000 via a left slot 3900 provided on the left side 4600 and a right slot 4200 provided on the right side 4700. In one respect, the left slot 3900 and the right slot 4200 allow the carrier 3000 to slide along it on the mandrel 2000. In some respects, the left and right sections 4600 and 4700 surrounding the mandrel 2000 located in the left and right slots 3900 and 4200 respectively can hold the carrier 3000 as a whole within the channel 2500 in a lateral direction parallel to the axis 25 or axis 26. Thus, it is preferable that the carrier 3000 be maintained laterally within the channel 2500 while rotating within the gutterroom 1000. In other respects, it is preferable that the carrier 3000 be coupled to the mandrel 2000 by snaps, adhesive, or another mounting method.From one perspective, the carrier 3000 is preferably arranged to surround the mandrel 2000 such that it extends across the mandrel 200 in a tangential direction parallel to the axis 24 as a whole (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the carrier 3000 as a whole is perpendicular to the radial edge of the mandrel 2000).

[0052] As shown in Figures 15A and 15B, in some respects, the left side 4600 and the right side 4700 are preferably hinged to each other by a carrier hinge 4500. Thus, the carrier 3000 is preferably a clamshell such that the left side 4600 and the right side 4700 can rotate relative to each other. Due to manufacturing constraints, this hinged carrier allows for a more complex internal geometric shape to be well coupled to the mandrel 2000 and / or bristle strip 5000. In another respect, the carrier 3000 can be additively manufactured so that the hinge 4500 is not required.

[0053] Referring to Figures 11 and 16, in order to position the carrier 3000 within the channel 2500, the left portion 4600 and the right portion 4700 can rotate inward around the hinge 4500 and slide on the mandrel 2000 via the left slot 3900 and the right slot 4200. The inward pivot allows the carrier 3000 to pass over the carrier retaining tab 2900 (see Figure 5 for the carrier retaining tab 290), and as a result, the first end 3500 of the carrier 3000 can be positioned radially inward of the carrier retaining tab 2900 when the carrier 3000 is positioned within the channel 2500. In some respects, the left portion 4600 and the right portion 4700 may be biased to rotate outward. Therefore, once the carrier 3000 is positioned within the channel 2500, the left portion 4600 and the right portion 4700 can rotate outward and engage with the carrier retaining tab 2900 via the left slot 3900 and the right slot 4200. This engagement allows the carrier 3000 to be held within the channel 2500. In this way, the carrier 3000 can be fixed as a whole in a radial direction parallel to the axis 27. In some respects, the carrier 3000 may have an additional fixing mechanism, such as a tab similar to the carrier retaining tab 2900, which can contact the mandrel 2000 and maintain the carrier 3000 within the channel 2500.

[0054] Referring to Figure 14, in some respects, the lock 4300 can extend across the carrier 3000 in a tangential direction parallel to the axis 24 as a whole (i.e., the lock 4300 is positioned perpendicular to the second end 3600 as a whole, which extends parallel to the axes 25 and 26 as a whole). In this way, the lock 4300 can prevent the bristle strip 5000, positioned within the carrier 3000, from moving radially outward. Conversely, the lock 4300 can be rotated away from the second end 3600, thereby allowing the bristle strip 5000 to move radially outward, for example, for inspection, maintenance, or replacement.

[0055] Referring to Figures 15A, 15B, and 16, in this view, the lock 4300 may extend across the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000, which may be located at the opposite end of the carrier 3000 from the first end 3500. In some views, the lock end 4800 may engage with the lock tab 4900 of the carrier 3000 to securely close the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000 from end to end. In one view, the lock end 4800 may be clipped or snapped (or latched in a different way) to the lock tab 4900 of the carrier 3000. Since the lock end 4800 and the lock tab 4900 engage with each other, the lock 4300 as a whole can be fixed radially parallel to the axis 27. From one perspective, the lock 4300 can be rotated away from the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000 by the lock hinge 4400 (i.e., the lock 4300 can be released). The lock 4300 is released when the carrier 3000 is coupled to the mandrel 2000 and when the gutter blouse 1000 is attached to the vehicle (e.g., vehicle 10). Therefore, at any point in the life of the gutter blouse 1000, including when it is suspended from the vehicle, it is preferable that it be kept away from the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000. In this way, the bristle strip 5000 can be accessed for replacement when necessary.

[0056] As shown in Figure 17, the bristle strip 5000 for the gutter loom 1000 is preferably pre-bent (for example, bent or curved prior to insertion into the carrier 3000). In this way, the upper end 3100 and the lower end 3200 are preferably extended relative to each other so that the bristle strip 5000 as a whole does not extend substantially along the axis 25 or axis 26. This geometric shape can increase the frictional force acting between the bristle strip 5000 and the carrier 3000 when the bristle strip 5000 is positioned within the carrier 3000 to allow for good retention of the bristle strip 5000 within the carrier 3000.

[0057] Referring to Figures 11, 17, and 18, the bristle strips 5000 are preferably detachably coupled to the carrier 3000. In some respects, each bristle strip 5000 is preferably positioned within the carrier 3000 such that it can be angled toward the mandrel 2000 and the channel 2500. In some respects, the bristle strips 5000 as a whole are preferably pushed or slid into the carrier 3000 in a radial direction parallel to the axis 27. Thus, similar to the carrier 3000, when the bristle strips 5000 are detachably coupled to the carrier 3000, the bristle strips 5000 as a whole are preferably extended both vertically from the mandrel 2000 in a lateral direction parallel to the axes 25 and 26, respectively. More specifically, the upper end 3100 of the carrier 3000 is preferably extended upward from the mandrel 2000, and the lower end 3200 of the carrier 3000 is preferably extended downward from the mandrel 2000. From various viewpoints, one portion of the bristle strip 5000 is preferably extended upward from the mandrel 2000 at an angle β from the axis 24, and another portion is preferably extended downward at an angle γ from the axis 24. In this way, each bristle strip 5000 is preferably positioned in an offset state relative to adjacent bristle strips 5000. The offset of each bristle strip 5000 prevents each bristle strip 5000 from coming into contact with any adjacent bristle strip 5000 while it is rotating in the guttaroom 1000.

[0058] Referring to Figures 16 to 18, in one view, the upper end 3100 of the carrier 3000 may have a lock 4300. The space within the upper end 3100 may include an upper cavity 3300. The lower end 3200 may constitute the opposite end of the carrier 3000 as seen from the upper end 3100, and such a lower end may similarly include a lower cavity 3400. In several views, each of the bristle strips 5000 may be received within the respective upper cavity 3300 and lower cavity 3400 of the carrier 3000. In one view, the upper end 5100 of the bristle strip 5000 may be received within the upper cavity 3300, and the lower end 5200 of the bristle strip 5000 may be received within the lower cavity 3400. From one perspective, the bristle strip 5000 is preferably bent such that when the bristle strip 5000 is slid into the carrier 3000, the upper end 3100 can conform to the shape of the upper cavity 3300 and the lower end 3200 can conform to the shape of the lower cavity 3400, thereby allowing the bristle strip 5000 to be pressure-fitted into the carrier 3000. Thus, the movement of the bristle strip 5000 in the lateral direction parallel to the axis 25 or axis 26 can be prevented as a whole. In this way, when the left side 4600 and right side 4700 of the carrier 3000 are rotated outward to engage with the carrier retaining tab 2900, the upper cavity 3300 and the lower cavity 3400 are preferably shaped to receive and hold the bristle strip 5000. The frictional force acting between the carrier 3000 and the bristle strip 5000, as well as the geometric shapes of the carrier 3000 and the bristle strip 5000, allow the bristle strip 5000 to be held laterally.

[0059] In some respects, the lock 4300 is preferable to extend across the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000, and consequently, across the upper space 3300 of the carrier 3000. Therefore, when the bristle strip 5000 is fixed within the carrier 3000, the lock 4300 is preferable to extend across the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000 and the second end 5400 of the bristle strip 5000. This can, as a whole, prevent the movement of the bristle strip 5000 in the radial direction parallel to the axis 27 (Figure 17). In some respects, the lock 4300 is preferable to extend completely across the second end 3600 at the upper space 3300 in order to prevent the movement of the bristle strip 5000 in the radial direction parallel to the axis 27 as a whole. The second end 3600 at the upper cavity 3300 is preferably completely covered to hold the bristle strip 5000. In other words, the bristle strip 5000 is preferably attached to the carrier 3000 by snaps, adhesive or other mounting methods.

[0060] In some respects, the lock 4300 can be rotated away from the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000 by the lock hinge 4400. Therefore, since the lock 4300 does not prevent the movement of the bristle strip 5000 radially outward, the bristle strip 5000 can be removed from the carrier 3000 for inspection, maintenance, or replacement.

[0061] An example of assembly and replacement is shown in Figure 19. This method will be explained with particular reference to the gutta-room 100, but as can be understood, this method can be applied to the gutta-room 1000 and other planned gutta-rooms.

[0062] For the initial assembly, the operator may receive modular assembly components of the Gutta Room 100, including mandrels 200, carriers 300, and bristle strips 500. Because these components are flattened as a whole, the bristle strips 500 can be efficiently packaged and transported. The bristle strips 500 are available upon request from the operator. For example, the operator may require bristle strips 500 made of steel wire and / or polypropylene, and may receive the bristle strips 500 accordingly.

[0063] To initially assemble the gutter loom 100, the operator may slide one or more carriers 300 onto the mandrel 200, as shown in step 1910. The operator may repeat this step for each of up to approximately 30 carriers 300. With respect to the gutter loom 1000, this step may include rotating the carriers 3000 inward and sliding them onto the mandrel 2000. Once they have passed the carrier retaining tabs 2900, the carriers 3000 may be rotated outward toward these biased positions so that they engage with the carrier retaining tabs 2900 and are fixed to the mandrel 2000. In step 1920, the operator may slide one or more bristle strips 500 onto one or more carriers 300. The operator may repeat this step for many carriers, for example, for up to about 20 carriers 300 or 3000 that are detachably coupled to the mandrel 200. Assembly and maintenance are also relatively simple and require no tools. The entire gutta loom 100 is shown in Figure 20.

[0064] As shown in Figure 19, in step 1930, the operator may remove at least one bristle strip 500. This may be to replace or repair the bristle strip 500, or to better fit the gutta-room 100 to a particular surface, for example, to reduce the degree of abrasive contact. To remove the bristle strip 500, the operator may push the cantilever locking member 430 aside and pull out the bristle strip 500 in a sliding manner. The second end 360 of the carrier 300 may be open so that the bristle strip 500 can be pulled out in a sliding manner when the locking member 430 is pushed aside. The gutta-room 100 with the bristle strip 500 removed is shown in Figure 21. With respect to the gutter loom 1000, the lock 4300 can be rotated away from the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000 by releasing the lock end 4800 from the lock tab 4900 of the carrier 3000 (for example, by releasing the lock 4300). Once the lock 4300 is removed from the second end 3600 of the carrier 3000, the bristle strip 5000 can be pulled out in a sliding manner. As described above, when the gutter loom 100 is rotating around the central axis 20, each bristle strip 500 is capable of uniform wear. Because the wear is distributed, bristle strips 500 that have the same characteristics and are assembled together may require simultaneous replacement.

[0065] From one perspective, steps 1920 and 1930 can be performed more regularly than steps 1940 and 1910, thereby maintaining and / or repairing the gutterroom 100. Thus, the replacement of the bristle strip 500 is considered frequent maintenance, while the replacement of the carrier 300 is considered infrequent maintenance.

[0066] From several perspectives, it is preferable to detachably connect the bristle strip 500 to the carrier 300, then detachably connect the carrier 300 to the mandrel 200, and then install it in the channel 250 of the mandrel 200. As a variation, once the carrier 300 is connected to the mandrel 200 and installed in the channel 250, the bristle strip 500 may be detachably connected to the carrier 300. Thus, the bristle strip 500 can be removed from the carrier 300 both before and after the carrier 300 is detachably connected to the mandrel 200 and installed in the channel 250.

[0067] Typically, only the bristle strip 500 may need to be replaced due to wear, although in some cases the carrier 300 may need to be replaced due to damage or wear. As shown in Figure 19, in step 1940, the operator may remove at least one carrier 300 that has received the bristle strip 500. The carrier 300 cannot be removed while it is housing the bristle strip 500. Therefore, the bristle strip 500 (step 1930) must be removed before removing the carrier 300 (step 1940). To remove the carrier 300, the operator may slide it over a distance D4 (Figure 7) along the first outer edge 230 and the second outer edge 240, including the carrier retaining tab 290. The gutter room 100 with the carrier 300 removed is shown in Figure 22. From several perspectives, the carrier 300 can be removed from the mandrel 200 while the bristle strip 500 is detachably coupled to the carrier 300. Thus, the carrier 300 and the bristle strip 500 received within the carrier 300 can be removed from the mandrel 200 at the same time.

[0068] From one perspective, the carrier 300 can come into contact with the surface and / or debris less frequently than the bristle strip 500. Therefore, from one perspective, the carrier 300 can be replaced less frequently than the bristle strip 500. From another perspective, the mandrel 200 can be replaced less frequently than both the carrier 300 and the bristle strip 500. The mandrel 200 and / or the carrier 300 can be replaced if either one is significantly damaged or worn. No tools are required to replace the mandrel 200, carrier 300, and / or bristle strip 500.

[0069] It should be understood that the detailed description section, rather than the summary and abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The summary and abstract sections describe one or more illustrative aspects of the invention as envisioned by the inventors, but not all illustrative aspects, and thus the summary and abstract sections do not limit the description of the invention and the appended claims in any way.

[0070] The present invention has been described above with the help of examples of the specified functions and functional building blocks illustrating these relationships. For the sake of clarity, the boundaries of these functional blocks are arbitrarily defined in this specification. Different boundaries may be defined, as long as the specified functions and their relationships are adequately implemented.

[0071] The above description of specific aspects fully represents the overall nature of the invention, and others can easily modify and / or apply it to various uses, for example, specific aspects, without excessive experimentation, by applying ordinary knowledge in the art, without departing from the general technical spirit of the invention. Accordingly, such applications and modifications are included in the meaning and equivalents of the disclosed aspects, based on the teachings and guidelines presented herein. It should be understood that the words or terms used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the invention, and therefore the words or terms herein should be interpreted by those skilled in the art in light of the teachings and guidelines.

[0072] The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the illustrative aspects described above, but should be determined solely by the description of the following claims and the scope equivalent thereto.

Claims

1. It's a Gotba Room, The mandrel has a channel, the channel extending outward from the radial inner edge at an angle to the centerline of the mandrel, It has a retaining carrier positioned within the channel, angled diagonally to the channel, and coupled to the mandrel, A gutta-room having a bristle strip coupled to the retaining carrier so as to be held by the retaining carrier, the bristle strip extending downward from the carrier.

2. The bristle strip is Cables, and The gutture according to claim 1, having a bristle bent around the cable.

3. The gutta-room according to claim 2, wherein the cable is positioned within a cavity in the carrier so as to connect the bristle strip to the carrier.

4. The gutta-room according to claim 1, wherein the bristle strip has an upper end having a first cross-sectional area and a lower end having a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being larger than the second cross-sectional area.

5. The gutta-room according to claim 4, wherein the bristle strip is coupled to the carrier at its upper end.

6. The gutter blob according to claim 1, wherein the carrier has a lock for holding the bristle strip.

7. The lock includes a cantilever portion, as described in claim 6.

8. The gutter blob according to claim 6, wherein the lock extends across one or more sides of the carrier.

9. The gutterroom according to claim 6, wherein the lock prevents the radially outward movement of the bristle strip coupled to the carrier.

10. The gutta-room according to claim 1, wherein the angle is 30°.

11. A retaining carrier coupled to a mandrel, wherein the retaining carrier is A space to accommodate a bristle strip, A lock for preventing the radially outward movement of the bristle strip, The upper end portion extending upward from the mandrel, and A retaining carrier having a lower end extending downward from the mandrel.

12. The retaining carrier according to claim 11, wherein the bristle strip has an end having a relatively large cross-sectional area so as to be detachably positioned at the upper end of the retaining carrier.

13. The retaining carrier according to claim 11, wherein the lock extends across the upper end of the retaining carrier to prevent radial outward movement of the bristle strip.

14. It further has an open end, The retaining carrier is positioned within a channel extending from the mandrel, The retaining carrier according to claim 11, wherein the open end is located far from the central opening of the mandrel.

15. The retaining carrier according to claim 14, wherein the lock extends across the open end of the retaining carrier to prevent radial outward movement of the bristle strip positioned within the cavity of the retaining carrier.

16. A method for replacing a bristle strip without tools, the method being: The process includes the step of preparing a gutta-room, the gutta-room having a mandrel, a carrier coupled to the mandrel, and a bristle strip, the bristle strip being positioned within the carrier, The process includes the step of rotating the lock away from the open end of the carrier, The step includes removing the bristle strip from the carrier, The process includes the step of inserting a second bristle strip into the carrier, The lock is rotated so that it extends across the open end of the carrier. A method that includes the steps to do so.

17. The steps of latching the lock to the carrier, The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of releasing the lock from the carrier.

18. The further step includes holding the gutta-room on the drive plate, The method according to claim 16, wherein the mandrel is coupled to the drive plate.

19. The steps of rotating the carrier inward, The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of sliding the carrier out of the gutter room.

20. A step of rotating the second carrier inward, and The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of sliding the second carrier in the gutta-room.

21. A bristle strip coupled to a retaining carrier, wherein the bristle strip is 、 One or more bristle folded back on the cable, An upper end having a first cross-sectional area, A bristle strip having a lower end having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, wherein the lower end is angled toward the upper end to form an obtuse angle.

22. The bristle strip according to claim 21, wherein the one or more bristle is made of steel.

23. The bristle strip according to claim 21, wherein one or more bristles are enclosed within a steel insert.

24. The bristle strip according to claim 21, wherein the carrier has a lock that rotates across the open end of the carrier so that the bristle strip is held radially.

25. The bristle strip according to claim 21, wherein the upper end is positioned inside the upper cavity of the carrier, and the lower end is positioned inside the lower cavity of the carrier.

26. The bristle strip according to claim 25, wherein the upper cavity is directed obliquely to the lower cavity to form an obtuse angle such that the bristle strip is held laterally.

27. ​​The gutta-room according to claim 1, wherein the retaining carrier has a slot for receiving the mandrel.

28. The carrier according to claim 11, wherein the lock is rotatably mounted on a first side of the retaining carrier and extends from the first side to a second side opposite to the first side.

Images