BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rotary brush, for motor vehicle washing systems.

As is known, automatic motor vehicle washing systems conventionally comprise a plurality of rotary washing brush assemblies generally comprising a brush assembly support, usually of a cylindric arrangement, and coupled to a rotary driving member.

On an outer surface of the support are usually applied a plurality of flexible cleaning elements arranged in an adjoining relationship with respect to one another and coupled, at an end portion thereof, to said support, in a perpendicular relation- ship thereto.

An automatic cleaning and washing, for example, of a motor vehicle body are achieved by causing a plurality of the above mentioned washing brush assemblies to be rotatively driven thereby causing said flexible elements, held in a preset arrangement by centrifugal forces generated by the rotary bush assembly, to impact against the motor vehicle body, through washing water and/or washing water solutions or emulsions.

Prior washing brushes usually comprise a plurality of flaps, or strip and band elements, generally consisting of a felt material, a synthetic material bristle arrangement, synthetic foamed material strings, or a combination of different cleaning materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide such an improved washing ro- tary brush assembly including tapering fringes thereof, to provide at the end portions of the band elements a weight much lower than that of prior washing brush assemblies. Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such an improved washing brush assembly with a softer and more delicate contacting touch, thereby preventing the motor vehicle body from being damaged, while applying a very high washing force on any surfaces to be washed, and moreover reducing the noise generated during the overall motor vehicle washing operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a washing brush assembly having a good aesthetic design and which may be also used in a plurality of different operating arrangements depending on the user requirements.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a motor vehicle washing brush assembly which, owing to its specifically designed operating features, is very reliable and safe in operation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent herein- after, are achieved by a rotary washing brush assembly, for motor vehicle washing systems, characterized in that said washing brush assembly comprises a plurality of cleaning elements, each of which comprises a plate body applied to a central shaft of said brush assembly.

Said plate body has a substantially elongated configuration, extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, and being provided with a plurality of cut-outs, defining a plurality of triangular strips including corresponding bevelled or non-bevelled corner portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of an improved motor vehicle washing brush assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectioned side view of a washing brush assembly battery or bank, including a plurality of washing brush assemblies having a vertical shaft configuration, according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a further cross-sectioned front view taken along the section plane III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a further cross-sectioned front view taken along the section plane IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is yet another cross-sectioned front view taken along the section plane V of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is yet another cross-sectioned side view of a battery of washing brush assemblies having a substantially horizontal shaft configuration according to the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a first series of three bands;

Figure 8 shows a second series of three bands;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a connection of a band to a central core element;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, in an exploded arrangement thereof;

Figure 11 shows a washing brush assembly including tapered bristles providing a collet arrangement and with middle bands adapted to be crossed thereby providing a high strength cup element, the washing brush assembly having a construction formed by flag or band elements crossed at the bottom of the brush system;

Figure 12 shows the half-bands or half-flags shown in a disassembled condition;

Figure 13 shows the half-flags in a partially overlapping relationship, so arranged that also their holes are mutually overlapped;

Figure 14 shows the two half-flags bent through a 90° angle, thereby a half- flag encompasses an end portion of the other one;

Figure 15 shows two half-flags so coupled to one another as to cause one said half-flag to be overlapped on the other one, while encompassing the end portion of the first one;

Figure 16 shows the half-flags of Figure 2 so bent that one of the two half- flags partially covers an end portion of the other one;

Figures 17 and 18 show the two half-flags suitably associated with one another and including a plurality of corresponding holes being aligned in a bending operation according to a cross direction with respect to their longitudinal extension; Figure 18, in particular, is a detailed view showing the two die-cut flag elements so arranged as to be associated with one another and engaged at a block in a plastic material shaft, said block being clamped as to provide small structural reinforcement cups at the bottom portion of collet forming bristles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the improved rotary washing brush assembly according to the present invention, gener- ally indicated by the reference number 1 , comprises a plurality of cleaning elements 2, each of which consists of a plate-like body applied to a washing assembly central shaft 3.

More specifically, the plate body 2 may be advantageously made of a closed cell or non-closed cell foamed plastic material, or a felt, fabric or any other suitable materials.

Preferably, the plate body is made of a foamed polyethylene or EVA material, or other closed cell or non-closed cell foamed flexible material, or a fabric or non- woven material, or any desired combinations of coupled or non-coupled materials.

The plate body 2 has a substantially elongated configuration, extending along a longitudinal axis of said band, and comprises a plurality of cut-outs 5 defining a plurality of substantially tapering strips 4 having a triangular configuration or a nearly triangular configuration with either bevelled or non-bevelled corner portions.

The plate body 2 may be bent through 180° about its cross axis to provide two sectors, indicated by the reference numbers 6 and 7 in Figures 9 and 10, thereby being arranged in a mutually adjoining relationship, in their use condition, wherein the cleaning element plate body 2 is applied to a central shaft 3 of a washing brush assembly.

Alternatively, the plate body 2 may be bent at first on itself, along its longitudinal axis, and then through an angle of 180°, about its cross axis, to provide two cup sectors arranged in a mutually adjoining relationship, in their use condition, in which the cleaning element is applied to a central shaft of a washing brush assembly.

The plate body may be also be bent just with a bending angle of about 180°. In the central cleaning element shown in Figure 8, one of the sectors does not comprise any strip 5.

According to the present invention, the washing brush assembly has a configuration depending on the intended application thereof.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in Figures 2-5, a vertical-shaft arrangement washing brush assembly battery 10 preferably comprises three main sectors: a bottom sector 11 , a central or middle sector 12 and a top sector 13.

The bottom sector 11 is designed for providing a stronger washing effect and, in this illustrative embodiment, said bottom sector 11 comprises ten washing brush assemblies consisting of eighteen band elements of a type indicated by the reference number 21 in Figure 7, which comprise a plurality of strips 4 having substantially the same length.

The central or middle sector 12 provides a delicate washing and comprises, in this illustrative embodiment, four washing brush assemblies consisting of twelve bands of a type indicated by the reference number 22 in Figure 7, which comprise strips 4 having a small length or being arranged in an offset position from one another.

The top sector 13 provides a middle force washing operation and comprises, in this illustrative embodiment, seven washing brush assemblies consisting of twelve bands of a type indicated by the reference number 23 in Figure 7, which in turn comprise a plurality of strips 4 having different lengths.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in Figure 6, a horizontal shaft arrangement washing brush battery, generally indicated by the reference number 30, comprises a single central or middle body 31 closed, at the opposite sides thereof, by two hand-cut through bands 24.

The central or middle body 31 provides a delicate washing operation and comprises, in this example, nineteen washing brush assemblies, formed by twelve bands of the type shown in Figure 8, comprising strips 4 having a small length or being arranged in an offset position from one another.

The washing brush assembly, moreover, comprises a central shaft 3, thereto are applied a plurality of plastic material elements 3' supported by said central shaft 3 and including a plurality of insert elements 8 holding the bent flaps 6 and 7 of the plate body 2 bent through a 180° angle about its cross axis to provide two sectors 6 and 7, which are bent one onto the other about the longitudinal axis and then through an angle of 180° about their cross axis.

This washing brush assembly is made starting from half-flags, overlapped onto one another thereby providing an inner structural rib inside the washing brush assembly, improving the strength and stiffness of the assembly both in operation and in a rest condition.

The flag elements thus arranged are located in a plastic material stub shaft element and are clamped by thermowelded plugs, thereby allowing to quickly and easily make a plurality of washing brush assemblies having different diameters, each including a reinforcement collet.

More specifically, the collet or collar at the bottom of the bristles provides the cup with an increased strength, in association with a high fringe softness, thereby the driving current of the brush assembly operating electric motors may be properly adjusted while preventing possible damages to the motor vehicle bodies.

Moreover, the enhanced central stiffness of the washing brush assemblies provides each brush assembly with an enhanced washing force, since said brush assemblies are always held in a straight and "inflated" condition, while also facilitating their packaging and shipment operations.

Figures 11 to 18 show a rotary washing brush assembly 41 , consisting of two die-cut half-flag elements 44 and 45, having a like size and shape, so overlapped as to also overlap their clamping or affixing holes 46.

More specifically, said half-flags 44 and 45 are both bent in half through a 90° angle along their longitudinal axis (Figure 14) and are then further bent through 90° along a cross axis passing through the clamping holes (see Figures 15 and 16).

The block 43 of flags 44 and 45 thus made is engaged in the plastic material shaft 42, the flag block 43 being then easily and quickly fixed as an operating unit.

Thus, small cup structural reinforcement elements 48 are provided at the bottom of the bristles, which cup elements may be referred to and operate as reinforcement collets.

The inventive washing brush assembly 41 may be made starting from mutually overlapped half-flags 44 and 45 to provide a brush assembly inner structural rib, improving the strength of the overall brush assembly both in operating and rest conditions. The flags 44 and 45 thus made are applied to said plastic material shaft 42 and are clamped to the latter through suitable thermowelded clamping plugs.

Thus, the washing brush assembly 41 is always held in an inflated and straight condition, providing an improved washing orientation and good aesthetic features.

In actual practice, said half-flags 44 and 45 allow to quickly and easily make a number of washing brush assemblies 41 having different diameters, each including reinforcement collet 48 arrangements.

More specifically, the collet element 48 at the base or bottom of the washing brush bristles improves the cup strength, while providing very soft fringes, which in turn allows to perfectly adjust the currents of the electric motors driving the washing brush assemblies, while preventing the washing brush assemblies 41 from damaging the motor vehicle body.

Furthermore, the improved central stiffness of each individual washing brush assembly 41 increases the washing force by always holding, as stated, the washing brush assemblies 41 in a straight and inflated condition, while facilitating their packaging and shipment arrangement.

It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

In fact, the inventive rotary brush assembly 41 provides a very delicate washing operation and a softer touch protecting the motor vehicle body against possible scratches and damages, while holding unaltered a high washing force.

The present invention, contrary to prior washing brush assemblies, besides providing a tip washing operation, also operates by the central bodies of the fringes, thus providing an extended contact surface and, accordingly, an improved quick washing operation, which in turn allows to save water and power.

Moreover, prior washing brush assemblies operating in a tip contact mode of operation, that is essentially arranged in a plane, during the washing operation tend to open and deform as they contact the motor vehicle bodies, which in the present invention does not occur owing to the three-dimensional arrangement of the washing bands including their corresponding reinforcement cups and firmly joined to the shaft 42.

Moreover, the washing brush assembly 41 according to the present invention allows to easily and quickly make customized washing brush batteries, according to any user requirements.

In practicing the invention, the used materials and size may be any, depending on requirements.