Brush-like cleaning tool for cleaning grills and other structures having elongate rod-like members

A cleaning tool includes a tool body having a scraper member formed at the front end of the tool body, the scraper having a generally circular scraping edge which projects outwardly from the bottom surface of the tool body and is proportioned generally to surround rod-like members of the structure to be cleaned when in use. As preferably embodied, the tool head further includes at least one row of short bristles affixed to its bottom surface and two rows of generally longer bristles extending parallel to and located on both sides of the row(s) of short bristles.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to cleaning tools for cleaning 
cooking grills and similar structures formed with elongate rod-like 
members and more particularly to combination brush/scrapers for cleaning 
such devices. 
The art is replete with various arrangements and configurations of brushes, 
scrapers and tools having a brush and scraper affixed to the same handle. 
Known brushes vary in size and shape, as well as in the size(s), shape(s), 
arrangement and material make-up of the brush bristles in accordance with 
the particular intended use for the brush. Most scrapers have a flat 
scraping edge, but some are formed with one or more notches for special 
applications. 
For purposes of cleaning cooking grills and other structures made up of 
elongate rod-members, various types of brush and scraping tools have been 
developed for removing burned foods, fats or other encrusted substances 
from the rods. In general, these tools incorporate a wire-bristle brush 
member affixed to one side or end of a brush handle and a scraper or 
similar blade-like member mounted to an opposite end or side. Examples of 
such devices are U.S. Pat. No. 3,487,491 to Dunn and U.S. Pat. No. 
2,807,814 to Leeming. Although these devices may be adequate for certain 
applications, they suffer several marked drawbacks. 
First, the brush and scraper must be used separately. Thus, after the 
person has loosened some encrusted material with the scraper, he must turn 
the tool over or around in order to brush that material off the structure. 
This process usually must be repeated several times before cleaning is 
complete. 
In addition, as indicated above, the scrapers on such tools have either a 
flat scraping edge or, at best, are formed with one or more notch-like 
recesses to fit around a portion of the rods. Thus, when used for cleaning 
a cooking grill, it is difficult, if not impossible, to scrape the sides 
and bottom portions of the grill rods, particularly with a flat-edge 
scraper, unless the grill is lifted which is usually impossible when the 
grill is hot. Similarly, it is difficult, if not impossible, for the brush 
bristles to clean the sides and bottom portions of the grill rods. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved cleaning tool for cleaning cooking grills and other similar 
structures having rod-like members. It is also an object of the invention 
to provide a new and improved cleaning tool for cleaning encrusted 
material from grills and the like, which includes a scraping means in 
cooperative operative relation with brush bristles to permit simultaneous 
scraping and brushing action on the rod-like members. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning tool for cleaning 
cooking and barbecue grills and like structures, which includes scraping 
means capable of easily scraping encrusted materials from virtually all 
surfaces of the component rod members without having to move the grill or 
engage in contortious manipulations of the tool. Also, the invention is 
intended to provide a cleaning tool which does not have to be reserved or 
otherwise re-oriented in order to change from a brushing action to a 
scraping action. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved cleaning tool for cleaning grills and the like, which is 
relatively simple and fast to use, and which permits efficient cleaning 
effort to save time and labor. In addition, the present invention is 
intended to permit quick and efficient cleaning of cooking grills in, for 
example, commercial diners or quick-food establishments where the grill is 
in virtually constant use and burned foods and fats accumulate rapidly. 
This will encourage more frequent use to provide a cleaner cooked product 
and less chance of a flash fire occuring due to the igniting of 
accumulated foods on the grill. 
Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part herein and in 
part will be appreciated herefrom. These and other objects and advantages 
may be learned through practice with the invention, the same being 
realized and attained by means of the structures, instrumentalities and 
combinations pointed out in the appended claims. Accordingly, the 
invention resides in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, 
combinations and improvements herein shown and described. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly described, the cleaning tool according to the present invention 
includes a tool body having scraper means mounted to the front end 
thereof, the scraper means including an open-ended generally cylindrical 
scraping member which projects outwardly of the bottom surface of the tool 
body and which is open along a portion of its side to provide an almost 
circular scraping edge which is discontinuous at said opening to permit a 
rod to pass within the cylinder-like structure. A plurality of wire-like 
brush bristles are affixed to the tool body and project outwardly from its 
bottom surface. 
As preferably embodied, the brush bristles include at least one row of 
generally short brush bristles extending longitudinally back of the 
scraper and at least two rows of longer brush bristles extending parallel 
to and on both sides of said one row of short bristles. Also as preferably 
embodied, the longer brush bristles flare slightly outwardly in the 
direction away from the bottom of the tool body. 
It will be apparent from the foregoing general description that the objects 
and advantages of the invention specifically enumerated herein are 
achieved by the invention as herein embodied. Thus, for example, it will 
be found that the present invention provides a cleaning tool for cleaning 
elongate rod-like members, which incorporates a new scraper device and 
brush configuration. This cleaning tool permits relatively easy and 
thorough cleaning of encrusted materials on the elongate rod members of a 
grill or like structure. 
By providing two rows of long brush bristles surrounding one or more rows 
of shorter bristles and converging towards each other, it will be found 
that the brush bristles can reach the top and most of the side portions of 
rod-like members to facilitate cleaning same. In addition, by 
incorporating the cylinder-like scraper means which projects in the same 
direction as the brush bristles, it will be found that the rod-like 
members can be cleaned by simultaneous and cooperative brushing and 
scraping action of one cleaning tool. Moreover, the tool does not have to 
be reversed or re-oriented in order to scrape and then brush the rod-like 
members, or vice versa. 
By providing scraping means which include a generally circular scraping 
edge, it will be found that virtually all surfaces of the rod-like members 
can be cleaned by a simple back-and-forth stroke of the tool without 
requiring the grill to be lifted or otherwise moved and without requiring 
the tool to be forced between pairs of rods or otherwise manipulated to 
reach inaccessible surfaces. 
It will also be found that the brush-like cleaning tool according to the 
invention enables fast and thorough cleaning of grill rods and the like, 
encouraging more frequent use for cleaner grill and less chances of a 
flash fire occurring. 
It will be understood that the foregoing general description as well as the 
following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the 
invention but are not intended to be restrictive thereof. 
The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part 
hereof, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together 
with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention 
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a 
brush-like cleaning tool for cleaning grills or like structures made up 
generally of elongate rod-like members (hereinafter, "rod members"). 
As here embodied, the cleaning tool of the present invention includes brush 
portion 10 and scraper portion 12. Brush portion 10 is made up of handle 
section 10a and body section 10b which are preferably integrally formed 
together of a relatively strong and thermally insulating material such as 
wood or plastic. Scraper 12 is preferably affixed to the front end of body 
portion 10b (i.e., the end opposite that on which the handle is formed) by 
suitable fastening means, such as screws. (See FIGS. 1 and 3) 
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2-4, a plurality of brush bristles 
(indicated by reference numbers 16 and 18) are affixed to brush body 10b 
so as to project from one surface portion (hereinafter, the "bottom"). 
There are preferably at least two lengths of brush bristles. Short 
bristles 18, extending approximately one-half inch (1/2") from the bottom 
surface of the brush, are affixed to brush body 10b in at least one row 
(and preferably two rows) extending generally longitudinally of the brush 
portion. The longer bristles 16 (approximately 3/4" to 1" in length) are 
formed in at least two rows extending parallel to and located on both 
sides of the row(s) of short bristles 18. 
Bristles 16 and 18 are preferably made of a strong, stiffly resilient and 
heat resistant material such as commonly used in so-called wire brushes. 
Also, the bristles may be affixed to the brush body in any conventional 
matter adapted to provide secure attachment, such as by embedding 
doubled-over bristle strands in holes drilled or otherwise formed in the 
brush body. The brush bristles, especially bristles 16, are arranged with 
each group thereof flaring outwardly so that some of the bristles almost 
touch, or do in fact touch, each other, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
In addition, the bottom surface of the brush is formed slightly concave so 
that, while the base portions of the bristles are perpendicular to a 
tangent to the concave surface where attached, the ends of bristles 16 
generally define a plane which is slightly inclined inwardly with respect 
to the plane defined by the ends of bristles 18. Alternatively, the brush 
bottom may be flat and each row of bristles 16 can be embedded in the 
brush body so as to be inclined slightly inwardly toward bristles 18. In 
this way, simultaneous brushing action can be achieved by the ends of all 
the bristles. 
As preferably embodied, scraper 12 includes a generally cylindrical scraper 
member 14, open at both of its ends and formed with a slot-like opening 
extending the entire length of its bottom side as indicated at 14a in FIG. 
3. The front facing edge 14b of scraping member 14 is preferably beveled, 
as best shown in FIG. 2, to provide a relatively sharp scraping edge which 
is generally circular in configuration. The back facing edge of member 14 
can also be beveled to provide a second scraping edge for dual scraping 
action in operation. 
The mounting portion of scraper 12 (indicated at 15) is preferably adapted 
to encase a portion of the front end of brush body 10b. In this way, 
scraper 12 can be securely attached to brush member 10, as by threaded 
fasteners secured from three sides (FIG. 3). In addition, reinforcing rib 
14c can be formed between mounting bracket portion 15 and scraper portion 
14 to rigidify the scraper which is made of steel or other metal. 
In operation, and referring particularly to FIG. 4, the cleaning tool is 
moved over the rod-like member (indicated generally at G in FIG. 4) to be 
cleaned, with slot-like opening 14a extending parallel to the rod. The 
person then positions the scraper so that the rod is situated within the 
cylindrical scraper 14 and the tool is moved back-and-forth in the 
direction of the rod while urging some portion of scraping edge 14b 
against the rod. Because scraper cylinder 14 is cylindrical and scraping 
edge 14b is circular (actually, it is C-shaped with a small opening), the 
person can simply and easily urge some portion of scraper edge 14b against 
every surface portion of the rod, including its bottom surface. All the 
person has to do is simply change the direction in which he urges the 
scraper 14 against the rod. To reach the bottom of the rod, the person 
need only rotate the tool about the rod so that the rod will not pass out 
through slot 14a when the person urges the scraper upwardly against the 
bottom of the rod. 
After a sufficient amount of scraping action has been completed, the tool 
is oriented so that brush bristles 18 touch the top surface of the rod. 
The tool is again moved back-and-forth along the rod and the short 
bristles 18 provide a brushing action against the top portion of the side. 
At the same time, the longer bristles 16 develop a brushing action against 
most of the side portions of the rod. If the tool is rotated about the 
rod, virtually every surface of the rod can be subjected to a brushing 
action. 
Thus, it will be readily appreciated that the rod member can be easily and 
thoroughly cleaned by a combination of scraping and brushing action 
achieved by using a single cleaning tool. Moreover, such cleaning is 
achieved through a simple back-and-forth movement, without any need to 
reverse or turn over the tool. 
It is to be understood that slot-like opening 14a can be formed at 
locations on cylindrical member 14 other than at its bottom. Thus, the 
opening need only be dimensioned as wide as or slightly wider than the rod 
member to be cleaned in order to permit the rod to pass within the 
cylinder (usually about 1/4" to 3/8"). However, with the opening at the 
bottom, it may be easier for a person to align the slot with the rod 
during use. For ease of use, the opening preferably extends in a direction 
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. 
It will also be understood that the tool body 10b can be formed to any 
convenient shape and size. As here embodied, the cross-sectional 
configuration of the tool body is slightly trapezoidal (FIGS. 3 and 4) and 
can be about one inch (1") wide along the top surface and about 
three-quarters of an inch (3/4") wide along the bottom surface, shown 
slightly concave. 
In addition, scraper 14 may be formed from a single sheet-like piece of 
steel or other metal. The sheet will be stamped to have three tab-like 
portions which are folded back (relative to a central portion which abuts 
the front facing end edge of the tool body) to form the top and two sides 
of the attaching portion 15 through which the three screws are inserted 
for securing the scraper to the tool body. The sheet will also include a 
fourth tab-like member which is folded relative to the central portion and 
then bent to form the desired configuration of the scraper edge 14b--i.e., 
a round or square-like scraper, etc. When so integrally formed from a 
single sheet of metal, the scraper will not have reinforcing rib 14c. 
However, by selecting sufficiently strong metal, the rib may not be 
necessary. Of course, for exceptionally heavy duty use where substantial 
scraping force can be expected, rib 14c can simply be welded or soldered 
onto scraper 14. 
FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment with a scraper 12' made up of 
attaching portion 15' and square-like scraper 14' defining rod-receiving 
slot 14a'. 
The great ease and the thoroughness with which this cleaning tool permits 
cleaning the rods of a grill will encourage the user to use the device 
more frequently to keep the grill clean, thereby reducing the chances of a 
flash fire due to accumulated facts, grease, etc., as well as providing 
cleaner conditions for cooking. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention in its broader 
aspect is not limited to the specific embodiment herein shown and 
described. For example, scraper member 12 can be adapted for use on 
structures having flat surfaces, such as wrought iron railings used on 
porches and steps. The cross-sectional configuration of scraper member 14 
would, however, have to include straight portions or may even be 
square-like in shape (with an opening similar to opening 14a) instead of 
the circular configuration shown in FIG. 3. The brush bristles need not be 
modified, as they can be applied against surfaces having round, flat or 
other contours. 
Thus, it will be appreciated that variations may be made therefrom, which 
are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the 
accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the 
invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.