Abstract:
A pool brush has bristles extending from the brush body in substantially every radial direction, including the rounded ends of the brush body. The brush body is attached to a curved or angled connector which may be used to secure the brush to a conventional fixed or telescoping handle. The 360-degree array of bristles on the brush allows the brush contact area with pool surfaces to be independent of the angle at which the handle is held by the user. The curved (or angled) connector permits the brush to be used to clean the underside of pool copings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/723,842, filed on Nov. 8, 2012. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention. 
         [0004]    This invention relates to pool cleaning equipment. More particularly, it relates to an improved brush for pool walls. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
         [0006]    A typical pool brush of the prior art is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B. This brush has a bar-type body with upturned ends for holding the bristles of the brush. The upturned ends permit the brush to follow curved pool surfaces to a limited degree. 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a brush of the prior art being used to clean a curved pool wall.  FIG. 2A  shows the handle angle a required to place the brush head in full contact with the wall surface. Achieving this angle may require more than a comfortable arm&#39;s reach by the user standing at the side of the pool. As shown in phantom in  FIG. 2A , a more comfortable handle angle results in a limited area of contact between the brush and the pool wall. 
         [0008]      FIG. 2B  illustrates the low handle angle required to place the brush head in full contact with the floor of a pool. Achieving such a low handle angle may require the user to crouch or bend over while using the brush. This can cause back strain and a decrease in brushing power. As shown in phantom in  FIG. 2B , a more comfortable handle angle results in a limited area of contact between the brush and the pool floor. The present invention solves these problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one particular representative embodiment, the invention comprises a pool brush having bristles extending from the tubular brush body in substantially every radial direction, including the rounded ends of the brush body. The brush body is attached to a curved or angled connector which may be used to secure the brush to a conventional fixed or telescoping handle. The 360-degree array of bristles on the brush allows the brush contact area with pool surfaces to be independent of the angle at which the handle is held by the user. The curved (or angled) connector permits the brush to be used to clean the underside of pool copings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a brush of the prior art being used to clean a curved pool wall. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  shows the effect of handle angle on brush contact area when using a brush of the prior art on a pool wall. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  shows the effect of handle angle on brush contact area when using a brush of the prior art on a pool floor. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a brush according to one embodiment of the invention being used to clean a curved pool wall. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a brush according to one embodiment of the invention attached to a handle of the prior art. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5A  shows the effect of handle angle when using a brush according to the invention to clean a pool wall. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5B  shows the effect of handle angle when using a brush according to the invention to clean a pool floor. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the bristle arrangement in an embodiment of the invention having a segmented brush body. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  is an enlargement of the portion indicated in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a brush connector according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an adjustable brush connector according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view showing the connector attachment fitting of a brush according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of the end portion of a brush body according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10B  is an end view of a brush body according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10A . 
           [0024]      FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of the end portion of a brush body according to yet another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11B  is an end view of a brush body according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of the end portion of a brush body according to still another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12B  is an end view of a brush body according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The invention may best be understood by reference to the exemplary embodiment(s) illustrated in the drawing figures. 
         [0029]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a brush  100  having upturned ends  102  and handle connector  106  is shown attached to handle H which may be a telescoping handle. Handles having an industry-standard connector at one end are available on the market. In  FIG. 1 , prior art brush  100  is shown being used to clean curved wall W of pool P. Pool P has deck coping C which may extend beyond the surface of wall W to create an overhang. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2A  illustrates the angle a at which handle H must be held by the user in order for substantially all of brush bristles  104  to be in contact with pool wall W. A more comfortable angle for handle H is shown in phantom in  FIG. 2A . However, in this condition, far fewer bristles  104  are in contact with pool wall W. The potential contact area (allowing for some degree of flex in the bristles) when the handle is held closer to the wall (in phantom) is shown in the pair of lines having opposing arrows. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2B  illustrates the angle at which handle H must be held by the user in order for substantially all of brush bristles  104  to be in contact with pool floor F. Depending on the depth of the pool and the distance from the user of the area to be cleaned, this angle may not be achievable. A more comfortable angle for handle H is shown in phantom in  FIG. 2B . However, in this condition, it can be seen that far fewer bristles  104  are in contact with pool floor F. The potential contact area (allowing for some degree of flex in the bristles) when the handle is at the steeper angle (in phantom) is shown in the pair of lines having opposing arrows. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows the wall W of pool P illustrated in  FIG. 1  being cleaned using a brush according to the invention. Handle H may be the same as that used with brush  100  in  FIG. 1 . Brush  300  has curved connector  306  which connects the brush head to handle H. Means for attaching curved connector  306  to handle H include threaded connectors, bayonet-type connectors, interference fit (“interfit”) connectors, locking pin connectors, twist-lock connectors, and other means known in the art for connecting two, substantially tubular sections together. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , brush  300  has hemispherical ends  302  and bristles  304  extending from both the ends  302  and the main portion of the brush body in a substantially 360-degree array. The upward extending bristles (as depicted in  FIG. 3 ) permit brush  300  to clean the undersurface of any overhanging portion of pool deck coping C. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows brush  300  having an array of bristles  304  of diameter B. Curved connector  306  has a central portion of having radius of curvature R and opposing, substantially straight end portions  401  and  402 . End portion  402  may be connected to the body of brush  300  and end portion  401  may be equipped with one or more spring-loaded locking projections  403  for engaging a corresponding hole(s) in handle H. In certain embodiments, portion  401  may have a reduced outside diameter to fit within handle H. Angle α 1  is the difference between the total bend in connector  306  and a right angle connection. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other embodiments can have other values of angle α 1  and, in certain embodiments, angle α 1  may be zero. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5A  shows brush  300  connected to handle H via connector  306  being used to clean wall W of a pool. It will be noted that movement of handle H from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dashed lines does not change the contact area of the brush to the wall (as shown by the lines with dimensional arrows). 
         [0036]      FIG. 5B  shows brush  300  connected to handle H via connector  306  being used to clean floor F of a pool. It will be noted that movement of handle H from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dashed lines does not change the contact area of the brush to the floor (as shown by the lines with dimensional arrows). 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the invention wherein brush  300  comprises tubular body  301  having holes therein for insertion of bristles  304 . At the ends of tubular body  301  are hemispherical portions  302  which may also have holes for holding bristles  304 . Saddle-type connector mount  308  may be secured to tubular body  301  with one or more fasteners  310  which may be machine screws or other fasteners known in the art. In certain embodiments, connector mount  308  may be welded to tubular member  301 . In yet other embodiments connector mount  308  may be integrally molded with a polymer tubular member  301  or bonded to member  301  using an adhesive or ultrasonic welding. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6A , the body of brush  300  may comprise a plurality of segments that may be assembled by the end user or prior to shipment to the end user (to simplify the manufacture of the brush body). One particular configuration for joining such segments is shown in the exploded view of  FIG. 6A . Segment  312  has portion  316  of reduced outside diameter. Portion  314  has portion  318  of increased inside diameter which may be selected to provide an interference fit with portion  316 . Alternatively, portions  316  and  318  may be joined using an adhesive or by solvent welding. In certain other embodiments, portions  316  and  318  may be threaded. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , angled connector  700  comprises first straight segment  702  joined to second straight segment  704  at angled joint  706  which may be a welded joint. As shown, segment  702  may be equipped with means for locking engagement with a handle and segment  704  may be equipped with means for attachment to a brush body. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , adjustable connector  800  comprises first straight segment  802  joined to second straight segment  804  at joint  806  which may be an adjustable joint having means for varying the angle between segments  802  and  804 . Angle adjust means may include friction disks, flexible connectors, knobbed disks, interlocking dogs, radially-grooved disks, and the like. Segment  802  may be equipped with means for locking engagement with a handle and segment  804  may be equipped with means for attachment to a brush body. In certain embodiments, joint  806  may be equipped with locking means for securing joint  806  at a particular desired angle. 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of the invention having a two-part attachment means for the connector. Connector receiver  322  may have a substantially flat portion and block mounting portion  320  may have a corresponding, substantially flat upper surface for mating with connector receiver  322 . Connector receiver  322  may be secured to block  320  with fastener(s)  310 . In certain embodiments fastener  310  may be a machine screw, but other fastening means known in the art may also be used. Block mounting  320  may be a separate piece that is mechanically secured to tubular body  310  (e.g., by fastener  310 ). Alternatively, block  320  may be integrally molded with tubular body  301 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 10A  shows an embodiment wherein brush body  1001  has a substantially square cross section. Body  1001  may be hollow or solid and has holes for the insertion of bristles.  FIG. 10B  shows end portion  1002  which has the form of a truncated, square-based pyramid. 
         [0043]      FIG. 11A  shows an embodiment wherein brush body  1101  has a substantially triangular cross section. Body  1101  may be hollow or solid and has holes for the insertion of bristles.  FIG. 11  B shows end portion  1102  which has the form of a truncated, triangular pyramid. 
         [0044]      FIG. 12A  shows an embodiment wherein brush body  1201  has a substantially hexagonal cross section. Body  1201  may be hollow or solid and has holes for the insertion of bristles.  FIG. 12B  shows end portion  1202  which has the form of a truncated, hexagonal pyramid. 
         [0045]    Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, they are not intended to limit what this patent covers. One skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as literally and equivalently covered by the following claims.