Abstract:
A vehicle washing apparatus for mounting on a rotatable shaft which includes a substantially cylindrical surface having an inner face and an outer face, said substantially cylindrical surface having a plurality of spaced apart slots disposed therethrough; and a plurality of flexible elongated pads, each of said pads for insertion through adjacent said spaced apart slots for radially extending from the outer face of the cylindrical surface, a portion of each of the pads being exposed adjacent to the inner face of the cylindrical surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to rotational devices for cleaning vehicles, and more particularly to a vehicle washing apparatus which includes a plurality of elongated pads which contact the vehicles surface for cleaning upon rotation. 
     2. Description of the Prior and Contemporary Art 
     The use of rotational devices for cleaning of vehicles has undergone constant research and improvement over several decades. A consistent problem is to find a material soft enough not to mar the finish of the vehicle or cause other damage and that is substantial enough to provide the scrubbing action necessary to clean the vehicle. Configurations of drums with brushes or other material extending therefrom are known in the art. Unfortunately, each have disadvantages relating to the harshness in which they contact the vehicle, the retention of dirt, moisture, and lack of longevity. 
     It had been learned that high density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam is an ideal material for use in these vehicle washing apparatuses since it does not absorb moisture, does not retain dirt, is lightweight, and is extremely gentle on the finish of the vehicles. Unfortunately, heretofore it has been extremely difficult to mount such material to a suitable drum because of the material not being able to suffer any substantial transverse sheer without tearing and fragmenting. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,878 to Pecora issued on Mar. 29, 1983, discloses a vehicle-finishing device which includes a plurality of elongated flexible elements that are wrapped around a rod and forced into receptor notches in the hub to be retained therein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,619 to Clark; U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,135 to Clark; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,128 to Roncaglione each teach variations on insertion of brush material in a longitudinal groove or recess in a hub to retain the material thereafter. 
     None of the aforementioned mounting methods are satisfactory for mounting high density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam since cross sheer placed on the foam, when the drum rotates, causes it to tear and fall apart. 
     A different approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,929 to Hanna wherein the material is mounted to a drum by a plate and screws. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,842 to Clark teaches that clamping of brush material into groups and the mounting thereof in a drum like configuration. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,521 to Clark teaches the mounting of gathered bristles through openings disposed in a drum, the bristles being retained by wires or the like. Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,712 to Favagrossa teaches the gathering of bristles in assemblies and their mounting in discreet seats. 
     A different approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,895 to Ennis which disclosed the use of fur like material mounted to elastic cords around the circumference of a drum. 
     The gathering of bristles into groups and the clamping of fabric to a drum-like member is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,158 to Crotts. 
     None of the aforenoted methods of affixment are suitable to secure high density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam to a rotatable drum. 
     The instant invention, therefore, has found a brush material far superior to anything used before in the car washing arts, but, prior to the present invention, no satisfactory means have been found for the attachment of high density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam material to a rotating hub for the cleaning of vehicles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a vehicle washing apparatus that is gentle on vehicle finishes, yet effective in cleaning. 
     It is the further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle cleaning apparatus which employs high-density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam as a brush material. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle washing apparatus that has sufficient longevity for cost-effective commercial use. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle washing apparatus wherein the brush material thereof can easily and readily be replaced. 
     It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle washing apparatus which is essentially modular and can be assembled in various configurations to be fitted to existing automated equipment. 
     It is another still further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle washing apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle washing apparatus that is effective and low in maintenance. 
     It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide a vehicle washing apparatus which is simple in design, rugged in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation. 
     These objects, as well as further objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent after reading the ensuing description of a non-limiting illustrative embodiment and reviewing the accompanying drawings. 
     A vehicle washing apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical surface having an inner face and an outer face, a substantially cylindrical surface having a plurality of spaced apart slots disposed therethrough; and a plurality of flexible elongated pads, each of the pads for insertion through adjacent ones of the spaced apart slots and for radially extending on the outer face of the cylindrical surface, a portion of each of the pads being disposed adjacent to the inner face of the cylindrical surface. In the preferred embodiment the cylindrical surface is constructed of a plurality of modular interlocking arcuate plates each mounting high-density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam brushes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that present invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is pictorial representation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention partially broken away to show the interior mounting thereof. 
     FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of an modular arcuate section of the subject invention prior to insertion therein of the elongated pads which forms the brush thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of the modular arcuate segment after insertion of the pad therethrough. 
     FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a modular arcuate segment after cutting of the pad into a brush. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-section of FIG. 5 taken substantially along the lines  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded pictorial representation of a modular arcuate segment of the subject invention and the manner in which it mounts to a spoke member thereof. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the spoke member of the subject invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the spoke member of the subject invention taken substantially along the lines of  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the Figures, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated therein a vehicle washing apparatus  10  which comprises a plurality of arcuate sections  12  that are assembled together in modular fashion to form a substantially cylindrical assembly  14 . Although the preferred embodiment is modular, the cylindrical assembly could be unitary or constructed of non-modular sections within the spirit and scope of the invention. The substantially cylindrical assembly  14  is mounted by a plurality of spoke members  16 , as further illustrated in FIGS. 5,  7 ,  8 , and  9 . Mounted through the substantially cylindrical assembly  14  are a plurality of elongated pads  18 . The elongated pads  18  will be hereinafter described in conjunction with FIGS. 2 through 6. Although the elongated pads  18  are shown in FIG. 1 only affixed to part of the substantially cylindrical assembly  14  for purposes of illustration, the entire cylindrical assembly  14  would be populated with such elongated pads  18  when the device is put to use. 
     Rotating substantially cylindrical assemblies are well known in the car washing art and are mounted to rotating shafts. The subject invention is configured so that it can mount to a rotating shaft on conventional car washing apparatus presently known, as a substitution for currently employed devices. 
     The elongated pads  18  are formed of a high-density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam or similar material having the same or similar characteristics. High-density cross-linked polyolefin closed cell foam is particularly desirable because it does not absorb moisture, does not retain dirt, is lightweight, and has proven to be extremely gentle on the finish of vehicles. 
     The arcuate sections  12  are each substantially the same and have formed therein a lip  20  and a flange  22 . The lip  20  and flange  22  are mating such that when they are placed adjacent to each other as shown in FIG.  5  and bolts are inserted through apertures  24 , the bolts not being shown, adjacent arcuate sections can be assembled into the substantially cylindrical assembly  14  as shown in FIG.  1 . The arcuate sections  12  are preferably joined with zinc plated bolts or the like although other methods of fixation may be used within the spirit and scope of the invention. The arcuate sections  12  themselves are preferably formed from plastic or other suitable fluid resistant material. 
     The arcuate sections  12 , as shown in the Figures include a clamp  26  which serves to help register adjacent arcuate sections  12  next to each other when assembled into the substantially cylindrical assembly  14 . Instead of using clamp  26  and the zinc plated bolts, not illustrated, other assembly means that are well-known in the joining art, such as, but not limited to: brackets, ultrasonic welding, adhesives, snaps, etc. could be employed in assembling the arcuate sections  12  into the substantially cylindrical assembly  14  within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2 through 6, the arcuate sections  12  can be seen to include a plurality of slots  28 . The slots  28  are preferably substantially parallel and when the arcuate sections  12  are assembled into the substantially cylindrical assembly  14 , the slots  28  are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substantially cylindrical assembly  14 . The elongated pads  18  each include a pair of arcuate notches  30  substantially at their mid-section such that the dimension from the belly of one notch  30  in pad  18  to the belly of the other notch  30  in pad  18  is substantially equal to the length of the slots  28 . The provision of notches  30  in the elongated pads  18  acts as a method of locking the pads in position relative to arcuate sections  12  and ultimately substantially cylindrical assembly  14  when placed in position relative thereto. 
     Referring specifically to FIG. 2 there is illustrated therein a pad  18 , bearing notches  30 , prior to insertion through slots  28  in arcuate section  12 . Referring to FIG. 4, the pad  18  has been inserted through an adjacent pair of slots  28  such that the notches  30  thereof fall in position substantially locking the pads  18  in the slots  28  of the arcuate sections  12  as a result of the relative dimensioning of these components. Therefore, portion  32  of the elongated pads  18  which resides adjacent to the interior face  34  of the arcuate sections  12  is fixed in position relative thereto maintaining the dimensional equality of the legs  36  of the elongated pads  18 . 
     After insertion through the slots  28 , the substantially elongated pads  18  are then preferably cut by a cutting tool or other methods known in the art, by virtue of a plurality of slits  38 , to form a plurality of co-joined segments  40  each free to move independently upon rotation of the vehicle washing apparatus  10  as simulated in FIG.  1 . 
     By passing the elongated pads  18  through their respective slots  28  in the arcuate sections  12  in this manner, forces evident upon rotation of the substantially cylindrical assembly  14 , acting on the pads  18 , are transferred to the portions  32  thereof, such forces bearing against the inner face  34  of the arcuate sections  12  and minimizing stresses which would tend to cause the segments  40  of the elongated pads  18  to tear therefrom. Further, the stresses, including transverseshear, placed upon the pads  18  as a result of rotation of the substantially cylindrical assembly  14  on a rotating shaft is borne by portion  32  and, in practice, does not affect the integrity of the pads  18 . 
     This method of affixment has proved satisfactory in serviceability and longevity where the mere clamping or the like of an elongated pad to a cylindrical assembly has proven to cause the segments of a suchly configured elongated pad to tear. 
     Further, as elongated pads  18  wear they can be individually replaced as necessary since each elongated pad  18  is independent from all the other elongated pads  18 . Further, arcuate sections  12  can be replaced in the modular matrix that forms the substantially cylindrical assembly  14 , as necessary, without requiring replacement of the entire assembly therefore providing truly modular construction. 
     Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1,  5 ,  7 ,  8  and  9  there is illustrated therein spoke members  16  each comprising halves  42  and  44  that are bolted together by a plurality of zinc plated bolts  46  having mating nuts or the like. 
     The halves  42  and  44  of the spoke members  16  are substantially identical and when bolted together with the bolts  46  create an opening  48  dimensioned to clamp therein a rotating shaft of a conventional car washing apparatus. The spoke members  16  serves to mount the substantially cylindrical assembly  14  and are bolted thereto by a plurality of bolts, not illustrated, to apertures  50  disposed in the halves  42  and  44  that mate with corresponding apertures  52  disposed in the arcuate sections  12 . 
     Although this particular manner of affixation or joining with bolts is illustrated, it is to be understood that alternate means could be used within the spirit and scope of the invention. Each of the halves  42  and  44  have disposed about the outer radius thereof, respectively, annular surfaces  54  and  56  dimensioned such that when the spoke members  16  are affixed in position relative to the arcuate sections  14  the annular surfaces  54  and  56  bear again the inner portions  32  of the elongated pads  18  and further lock them in position. The annular surfaces  54  and  56  can take other forms and shapes within the spirit and scope of the invention, the essential feature being contact with the inner portions  32  and pressing of the same against the inner face  12  of the arcuate sections  12 . 
     It is to be understood that the number of arcuate sections  12  used to form a substantially cylindrical assembly  14  and the number of spoke member  16  used to mount the substantially cylindrical assembly  14  can be varied within the spirit and scope of the invention along with the design of the individual components in accordance with the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, arrangements of parts and operations which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention.