Abstract:
A roof brush and method of use. What is provided is a brush head which can be tossed on a roof and subsequently pulled off the roof to remove leaves and other debris on the roof. Accordingly, a roof brush is provided which is capable of cleaning a roof and permitting an individual operating the roof brush to remain standing on the ground while cleaning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to apparatus and methods for cleaning buildings, and in particular to a method and apparatus for cleaning roofs. 
     A cleaning problem associated with roofs is the accumulation of leaves and twigs that builds up from surrounding trees and large plants over time. Surrounding trees tend to drop their leaves, berries, twigs, and other debris onto the roofs, and the result is a load of tree trash accumulated on the roof. The problem then becomes removing this debris and is especially pronounced in the case of large pitched and high roofs which are dangerous to access. Large pitched and high roofs are difficult and dangerous to access and walk upon. 
     One cleaning method which has been attempted is using a hose to blast the vegetation off roofs from the ground. Unfortunately, this approach has the effect of turning the accumulated vegetable matter into a soggy mess, considerably heavier than the dry mess we started out with. Once the accumulated vegetable matter is wet, it becomes even more difficult to remove than when dry. 
     A number of patents have been granted for articulated brooms and other cleaning devices capable of cleaning hard-to-reach places. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,817,867 and 2,896,239 were granted to Mr. Bugbird for gutter cleaning devices. While these patents taught a brush and a broom respectively held to a handle, the angle between the broom or brush and the handle was only adjustable from the ground, and thus these devices were not suitable for cleaning wide expanses of roofs. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,119,311, 5,853,209 and 3,773,375 were granted Lavallee, McDermott, and Nehls respectively. While these patents taught a brush or other cleaning device hingedly attached to a handle, they all taught methods of use where the angle between the brush and the handle was set on the ground, and was not adjustable during use. For this reason, it would be difficult to keep the brush in contact with the roof to be cleaned. 
     Thus, it would be desirable to provide a roof cleaning brush which could have an angle between its brush and its handle adjustable during use. This feature would enable the brush to remain in contact with a roof being cleaned by virtue of gravity pushing the brush down onto the roof being cleaned. 
     It would also be desirable to have a brush which conforms to the shape of the roof being cleaned. 
     It would also be desirable to have a brush which can be easily placed on the top of the roof. 
     While certain novel features of this invention shown and described below are pointed out in the annexed claims, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details specified, since a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. No feature of the invention is critical or essential unless it is expressly stated as being “critical” or “essential.” 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a brush head which can be tossed on a roof and subsequently pulled off the roof to remove leaves and other debris on the roof Accordingly, in one embodiment is provided a roof brush which is capable of cleaning a roof and permitting an individual operating the roof brush to remain standing on the ground while cleaning. 
     In one embodiment is provided a roof brush permitting a cleaning head to be pulled all the way to the edge of a roof being cleaned, so that debris on the screen roof can be brushed off the roof. 
     In one embodiment is provided a roof brush which is capable of cleaning a roof with a liquid solution while brushing the roof. An advantage associated with this embodiment include better quality cleaning of the roof. 
     In one embodiment is provided a roof brush which can be easily thrown into position on a roof to be cleaned. Benefits associated with this embodiment include time saved positioning the cleaning head and elimination of the necessity of using a ladder to position the cleaning head. 
     In one embodiment is provided a roof brush whose design is optimized to remove organic debris from roofs. Advantages associated with this embodiment include more efficient roof cleaning, along with the attendant cost and time savings. 
     In one embodiment is provided a roof brush method of use which provides safe and easy roof cleaning. Benefits associated with this embodiment include safety and efficiency. 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the roof cleaning brush showing the top of the brush head; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the roof cleaning brush of  FIG. 1  showing the bottom of the brush head; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an individual placing the roof cleaning brush of  FIG. 1  on a roof to be cleaned; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an individual cleaning a roof with the roof cleaning brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the brush head  FIG. 1  over a convex portion of a roof; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the brush head of  FIG. 1  over a concave portion of a roof; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of an alternative brush head; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of an alternative brush head; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of an alternative brush head; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of an alternative brush head; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a brush head with uniform bristles or fingers; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a brush head with bristles or fingers of increasing length when moving toward the perimeter of the brush head; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of a brush head with a concave head; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a brush head with a convex head; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of an alternative brush head for spraying water; 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of a brush head illustrating one method of throwing the head; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed descriptions of one or more preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in any appropriate system, structure or manner. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the roof cleaning brush apparatus  10  showing top  50  of brush head  20 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of cleaning brush apparatus  10  showing bottom  100  of brush head  20 . Cleaning brush apparatus  10  can include brush head  20  and line  60 . Brush head  20  can include circular base  25 . Circular base can include a plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  40 . 
     Brush head  20  can be made out of an material sufficient to stand up to the stresses and wear and tear during use. Preferably, brush head  20  comprises a strong flexible material such as rubber, silicone, polymer, plastic, straw, cloth, etc. The material for brush head should be selected based on both flight characteristics (where brush head  20  will be used as a FRISBEE® type flying saucer) and weight characteristics (where brush head  20  will be used to push/scrape off debris from roof). The size and weight of brush head  20  can be selected for different throwing distances and coverage area when pushing/scraping debris from a roof. In one embodiment brush head in diameter is between 1 foot and 4 feet, preferably between 1.5 feet and 3 feet, more preferably between 2 and 3 feet, and more preferably about 2.5 feet. 
     Different shapes can be used for brush head  20 , such as circular, rectangular, square, parallelograms, polygonal, triangular, hexagon, octagon, etc. 
     Brush head  20  can be solid or have one or more open areas. The one or more open areas can be placed in the geometric center or symmetrically spaced around the geometric center of brush head  20 . Brush head  20  can include throwing handles or grips. These throwing handles or grips can be openings in brush head  20  or extend from brush head  20  (such as radially, or from the upper or lower surfaces). 
     The plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  40  can be thick or thin, long or short, close together or spaced apart. For example plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  40  can be spaced similar to the bristles of a broom or spaced apart similar to the tongs of a rake. Spacing of projections, fingers, or bristles  40  can be uniform or non-uniform. For example, spacing can be close at center  105  and spaced apart at perimeter  110 . Projections, fingers, or bristles  40  can be straight, angles, or curved in different directions. 
     Line  60  can be operatively connected to brush head  20  through connection  30 . Preferably, swivel  62  is used to pivotally connect line  60  to brush head  20 . Swivel  62  can be on line  60  or on brush head  20 . Also preferably, connection  30  can include a U-shaped connection allowing line  60  freedom to move around the connection. Connection  30  can be located at various positions on brush head  20 , such as center  105 , perimeter  110 , or anywhere on brush head  20 . 
     Line  60  can be comprised of any material of sufficient strength and durability to withstand wear and tear during use of cleaning brush apparatus. For example, rope, cord, line, string, and chain can be used. In one embodiment a retractable line  60  can be used which automatically retracts for pulling on brush head  20 . In one embodiment line  60  can comprise a hose for allowing water spray from brush head  20 . In one embodiment line  60  can include a powered retractor (e.g., a winch) which automatically retracts line  60 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of individual  5  placing brush head  20  of roof cleaning brush apparatus  10  on roof  210  to be cleaned. Roof  210  is shown having leaves and other roof debris  220  which must be removed. Arrow  230  shows the path of brush head  20  when landing on roof  210 . To place brush head  20  on roof  210 , individual  5  tosses brush head  20  like a FRISBEE® type flying saucer, and brush head  20  flies through the air landing on roof  210 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of individual  5  cleaning roof  210  with roof cleaning brush apparatus  10 .  FIG. 4  shows brush head  20  after it has landed on roof  210  and is being pulled by individual  5  using cord  60 . Preferably, individual  5  tosses brush head  20  where it lands close to the top of roof  210 . After landing on roof  210  line  60  is pulled in the direction of arrow  240  thereby causing brush head  20  to move in the direction of arrow  240 . As brush head  20  is pulled down, leaves and other debris  260  below the path of brush head  20  will be pushed off of roof  210  and fall to the ground. Such falling to the ground is indicated by leaves and other debris  270 . After brush head  20  is pulled down from roof  210 , it can again be picked up by individual  5  and tossed on roof  210  to another position and pulled to push additional leaves and other debris (e.g., leaves and debris  250 ) from roof  210 . The process is repeated until roof  210  is cleaned to satisfaction. 
     In one embodiment brush head  20  is flexible to conform to changes in shape of roof  210  during the cleaning process.  FIG. 5  is a side view of brush head  20  navigating a convex portion of roof  210 .  FIG. 6  is a side view of brush head  20  navigating a concave portion of roof  210 . Regardless of the varying shape of roof  210  brush head  20  can conform to such shape for removing debris therefrom. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of an alternative brush  300 . This brush head can be in the shape of a triangle. Brush  300  can comprise connection  320  and plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  310 . 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of an alternative brush  350 . This brush head can be in the shape of a square or rectangle. Brush  350  can comprise connection  370  and plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  360 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of an alternative brush  400 . This brush can be in the shape of a ring having opening  440 . Brush  400  can comprise connection  430  and plurality of outer projections, fingers, or bristles  410  along with inner projections, fingers, or bristles  420 . When tossing brush  400 , it can be held either by inner circle  404  or outer circle  402 . Connection  430  can be located between inner circle  404  and outer circle  402 . This embodiment is believed to have the advantage of being light weight based on the omission of material from inner circle  404 . It is also believed to have increased flight performance characteristics compared to a solid circle. 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of an alternative brush  450 . This brush can be in the shape of a triangle having triangular opening  490 . Brush  450  can comprise connection  480  and plurality of outer projections, fingers, or bristles  460  along with inner projections, fingers, or bristles  470 . When tossing brush  450 , it can be held either by inner perimeter  454  or outer perimeter  452 . Connection  480  can be located between inner perimeter  454  and outer circle  452  (such as shown between two vertices or at one of the vertices). This embodiment is believed to have the advantage of being light weight based on the omission of material from inner perimeter  454 . It is also believed to have increased flight performance characteristics compared to a triangle. 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of brush head  20  with uniformly spaced and sized plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  40 . 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of brush head  20 ′ with uniformly spaced plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  40 ′. However, projections, fingers, or bristles increase in length when moving away from geometric center  105 . 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of brush head  20 ″ with uniformly spaced and sized plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  40 ″. Looking at brush head  20 ″ from the bottom, it has a concave surface. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of brush head  20 ″ with uniformly spaced and sized plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  40 ′″. Looking at brush head  20 ′″ from the bottom, it has a convex surface. 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of an alternative brush head  500  for spraying water. Brush  500  can comprise plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  510 , top  520 , bottom  530 , line  550 , and connection  560 . Line  550  can include a hose for fluidly connecting brush  500  to water pressure. Connection  560  can be rotatively connected to brush  500  at geometric center  505 . Brush  500  can include outer conduit  540  which can be fluidly connected to connection  560 . Water pressure in line  550  can cause inner spray  570  and outer spray  545 . Such spraying can assist in removal of small debris such as dirt or grit which would not be picked up by plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  510 . It is preferred that water pressure is turned off until brush head  500  is on roof  210  (to avoid wetting individual  5 ). 
       FIG. 16  is a top view of a brush head illustrating one method of throwing brush head  600 . In this embodiment brush head  600  can comprise plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles  610 , along with opening  620  and opening  630 . Openings  620 , 630  can be used to toss brush head  600 . As shown in  FIG. 16  individual  5  can grab brush head  600  and toss brush head  600  in the direction of arrow  640 . Openings can be used on any shaped brush head. 
     In one embodiment brush head  20  can include plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles on both its upper and lower surfaces. In this way if brush head  20  lands on roof  210  upside down, it can still be used to remove leaves and other debris. In one embodiment the outer perimeter of brush head  20  can include projections, fingers, or bristles on the upper and lower surfaces. In one embodiment the outer perimeter of brush head  20  can have a circular or elliptical cross section when cut from the upper to the lower surfaces of brush head  20 , and this cross section can have projections, fingers, or bristles around its circumference or perimeter. 
     In one embodiment brush head  20  can have a thickened section at its geometric center  105  which tapers toward its outer perimeter. In one embodiment the outer perimeter of brush head  20  can have a circular or elliptical cross section when cut from the upper to the lower surfaces of brush head  20 , and this cross section can have projections, fingers, or bristles around its circumference or perimeter. In one embodiment projections, fingers, or bristles located close to the geometric center  105  can be shorter than projections, fingers, or bristles located close to the circular or elliptical cross sections. 
     In one embodiment brush head  20  can omit plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles on both its upper and lower surfaces. In one embodiment, projections, fingers, or bristles are located only on the outer perimeter of brush head  20 . In one embodiment the plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles are angled away from the geometric center  105  of brush head  20 . 
     The following is a list of reference numerals: 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 LIST FOR REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
             
          
           
               
                 (Reference No.) 
                 (Description) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 cleaning brush apparatus 
               
               
                 20 
                 brush 
               
               
                 25 
                 circular base 
               
               
                 30 
                 connection 
               
               
                 40 
                 plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 50 
                 top of brush 
               
               
                 60 
                 line 
               
               
                 62 
                 swivel 
               
               
                 70 
                 rack 
               
               
                 100 
                 bottom of brush 
               
               
                 105 
                 center 
               
               
                 110 
                 outer perimeter ring of plurality of projections, fingers, 
               
               
                   
                 or bristles 
               
               
                 120 
                 second outer perimeter ring of plurality of projections, 
               
               
                   
                 fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 130 
                 inner plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 140 
                 open space 
               
               
                 200 
                 home 
               
               
                 210 
                 roof 
               
               
                 220 
                 leaves and other roof debris 
               
               
                 230 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 240 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 250 
                 leaves and other roof debris 
               
               
                 260 
                 leaves and other roof debris 
               
               
                 270 
                 leaves and other roof debris 
               
               
                 300 
                 brush 
               
               
                 310 
                 plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 320 
                 connection 
               
               
                 350  
                 brush 
               
               
                 360 
                 plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 370 
                 connection 
               
               
                 400 
                 brush 
               
               
                 402 
                 outer circle 
               
               
                 404 
                 inner circle 
               
               
                 410 
                 outer plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 420 
                 inner plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 430 
                 connection 
               
               
                 440 
                 opening 
               
               
                 450 
                 brush 
               
               
                 452 
                 outer perimeter 
               
               
                 454 
                 inner perimeter 
               
               
                 460 
                 outer plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 470 
                 inner plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 480 
                 connection 
               
               
                 490 
                 opening 
               
               
                 500 
                 brush 
               
               
                 505 
                 geometric center 
               
               
                 510 
                 plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 520 
                 top 
               
               
                 530 
                 bottom 
               
               
                 540 
                 outer conduit 
               
               
                 545 
                 outer spray 
               
               
                 550 
                 line 
               
               
                 560 
                 connection 
               
               
                 570 
                 inner spray 
               
               
                 600 
                 brush 
               
               
                 610 
                 plurality of projections, fingers, or bristles 
               
               
                 620 
                 opening 
               
               
                 630 
                 opening 
               
               
                 640 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.