ROLLER BRUSH DEVICE

Embodiments of the present application provide for a roller device that includes a housing, a handle coupled to the housing, and a drum that is disposed within the housing and rotatably coupled to the housing. The roller brush further includes a debris collection cavity, an elastic member, and a scraping end. The debris collection cavity is disposed adjacent to a rear portion of the drum. The elastic member includes a first end and a second end, where the first end is coupled to the housing. The scraping element is disposed in the housing and is coupled to the second end of the elastic member. The scraping element includes a rotating shaft coupled to the second end of the elastic member and extends tangentially relative to the drum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under the Paris Convention to Chinese Patent Application No. 202223529780.8, filed on Dec. 23, 2022, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to devices for removing debris from surfaces, and more specifically to roller brushes.

BACKGROUND

Roller brushes (e.g., lint rollers) are devices used for removing debris (e.g., dust, lint, fluff, dandruff, hair, pet hair) from the surface of materials such as clothing, upholstery, linen, or the like. Some types of roller brushes include a cartridge having bristles that rotates within a housing of the roller brush. Applying the bristles of the cartridge onto the materials collects debris, which is then scraped by a scraper of the roller brush when the cartridge is rotated.

Conventionally, for these types of roller brushes, a size of the gap between an outer edge of the rotating cartridge and the scraper has to be adjusted manually. When the gap is relatively small, a user may need to apply additional force to clear debris through the gap, thereby rendering the rolling process labored. When the gap is relatively large, the scraper is unable to scrape smaller debris caught on the bristles of the rotating cartridge. Accordingly, there is a need for a roller brush that is effective in collecting and scraping debris while still being easy to use.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide for an improved roller device that is effective in collecting and scraping debris and is easy to use. In a first aspect, the roller brush includes a housing, a handle coupled to the housing, and a drum. The drum is disposed within the housing and is rotatably coupled to the housing. The roller brush further includes a debris collection cavity, an elastic member, and a scraping end. The debris collection cavity is disposed adjacent to a rear portion of the drum. The elastic member includes a first end and a second end, where the first end is coupled to the housing. The scraping element is disposed in the housing and is coupled to the second end of the elastic member. The scraping element includes a rotating shaft that is coupled to the second end of the elastic member, and the rotating shaft extends tangentially relative to the drum.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, the elastic member applies a biasing force onto the rotating shaft, which thereby applies the biasing force onto the scraping element. The scraping element then pushes the drum during a rotation of the drum when collecting debris. This is advantageous as it assists in driving the rotation of the drum, but also increases the effectiveness of the scraping element when scraping debris from the drum. This improves the user's experience and an overall efficiency of the roller brush.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, the drum comprises a shaving cloth disposed at a front portion of the drum in a first state of the drum and the rotation of the drum by a predetermined rotation angle moves the shaving cloth to be at least partially exposed to the debris collection cavity in a second state of the drum.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, the drum defines a shaving cloth cavity and a shaving cloth is disposed in the shaving cloth cavity. In some embodiments, the scraping element defines a scraping cloth cavity and a scraping cloth is disposed in the scraping cloth cavity. In some embodiments, the rotation of the drum causes the scraping cloth to shear against the shaving cloth, thereby decoupling collected debris from the shaving cloth to enter the debris collection cavity.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, the rear portion of the drum is adjacent to a rear portion of the housing, and a removably coupled panel is disposed onto the rear portion of the housing.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, the elastic member is a torsion spring having a first leg that defines the first end and a second leg that defines the second end.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, some embodiments further include a second scraping element axially opposed to the first scraping end and a second elastic member that applies a second biasing force onto the second scraping element. The second scraping element applies a second force onto the drum along the rotation of the drum relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the scraping element is disposed at a top portion of the housing and is configured to shear against a first shaving cloth of the drum in a first rotational direction. The second scraping element is disposed at a bottom portion of the housing and is configured to shear against a second shaving cloth of the drum in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, some embodiments further include a rotating handle rotatably coupled to a side of the drum. When the rotating handle is moved, the rotating handle is configured to drive the rotation of the drum relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the drum defines a rotating axis concentric to a center of the side of the drum. The rotating handle extends away from the side of the drum and is disposed eccentrically (e.g., away from the center) on the side of the drum.

For the roller brush of the first aspect, some embodiments further include a protruding element disposed on the drum. The protruding element extends away from a side of the drum and further extends at least partially through an opening in a side of the housing. The protruding element is configured to limit a rotational range of the rotation of the drum relative to the housing.

In a second aspect, the roller brush includes a housing, a handle coupled to the housing, a drum disposed within the housing and rotatably coupled to the housing, a debris collection cavity, a first elastic member, a second elastic member, a first scraping element and a second scraping element. The debris collection cavity is disposed adjacent to a rear portion of the drum. The first elastic member includes a first end and a second end, where the first end is coupled to the housing. The second elastic member includes a third end and a fourth end, where the third end is coupled to the housing. The first scraping element is disposed in the housing and is coupled to the second end of the elastic member. The second scraping element is disposed in the housing and coupled to the fourth end of the elastic member.

For the roller brush of the second aspect, the first scraping element further includes a first rotating shaft that is coupled to the second end of the elastic member, and the first rotating shaft extends tangentially relative to the drum along a first axis. The second scraping element further includes a second rotating shaft that is coupled to the fourth end of the elastic member, and the second rotating shaft extends tangentially relative to the drum along a second axis, where the first axis and the second axis intersect.

For the roller brush of the second aspect, the drum includes a shaving cloth disposed at a front portion of the drum in a first state of the drum and a rotation of the drum by a predetermined rotation angle at least partially exposes the shaving cloth to the debris collection cavity in a second state of the drum.

For the roller brush of the second aspect, the first elastic member applies a first biasing force onto the first scraping element and the second elastic member applies a second biasing force onto the second scraping element. The first biasing force and the second biasing force apply a force onto the drum along a rotation of the drum in either a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

For the roller brush of the second aspect, the first scraping element defines a first scraping cloth cavity, and a first scraping cloth is disposed in the first scraping cloth cavity. The second scraping element defines a second scraping cloth cavity and a second scraping cloth is disposed in the second scraping cloth cavity. In some embodiments, a rotation of the drum in the first rotational direction causes the first scraping cloth to shear against the shaving cloth, thereby scraping collected debris from the shaving cloth into the debris collection cavity and a rotation of the drum in the second rotational direction causes the second scraping cloth to shear against the shaving cloth, thereby scraping the collected debris from the shaving cloth into the debris collection cavity.

For the roller brush of the second aspect, the first elastic member is a first torsion spring having a first leg that defines the first end and a second leg that defines the second end. The second elastic member is a second torsion spring having a third leg that defines the third end and a fourth leg that defines the fourth end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The various embodiments of the disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

In referring toFIG.1, an exterior profile of a roller brush100is shown, according to some embodiments. The roller brush100(e.g., lint roller) is a device used for removing debris (e.g., dust, lint, fluff, dandruff, hair, pet hair) from materials such as clothing, upholstery, linen, or the like. In some embodiments, the roller brush100includes a housing1, a handle68, side panels72, and a removable panel13.

As depicted inFIG.1, the housing1defines a cylindrical profile, but may define any feasible geometric shape (e.g., rectangular, hexagonal, triangular). The housing1may be composed of a polymer, plastic, or any suitable material. When using the roller brush100, the user presses the housing1onto the desired material and moves the housing1in an alternating motion (e.g., upward, and downward) to remove debris from the desired material.

The housing1is coupled (e.g., removably, or irremovably) to the handle68. A user grips the handle68and moves the handle68to manipulate a position of the roller brush100onto the material to be brushed. As depicted, the handle68is cylindrical, but may define any feasible geometric shape (e.g., rectangular, hexagonal, triangular). In some embodiments, a profile is embedded into the handle that is compatible with a human hand profile, thereby allowing for the user to increase their grip onto the handle. In some embodiments, the handle is composed of a plastic material and in some other embodiments, the handle is composed of or wrapped with a soft material (e.g., leather, pleather, rubber, nylon, foam).

In some embodiments, the handle68includes a strap70disposed on a side of the handle68opposite to the housing1. The strap70allows for the roller brush100to be hung while not in use.

The housing1further defines an aperture12(e.g., opening, port, cavity) on a side, for example, a rear portion, of the housing1. The aperture12is profiled and dimensioned so that the removable panel13may be situated within the aperture12via a clearance fit. As depicted, both the aperture12and the removable panel13extend along a curvature of the housing1. The user may expose and remove the collected debris by removing the removably panel13when coupled to the housing1.

The removable panel13is coupled to the housing1via a release button66. In order to remove the removable panel13, the user actuates the release button66to release the removable panel13from the aperture12. The user may then remove the collected debris from the aperture12. Once completed, the user may place the removable panel13back onto the aperture12to then couple the removable panel13onto the housing1via the release button66.

As depicted, the release button66is a pressable button that engages a lock mechanism between the housing1and the removable panel13. However, in implementation, the release button66may be any mechanism known in the art for removably securing the removable panel13onto the housing1. For example, the release button66may be a physical switch that, when rotated, releases a locking mechanism that couples the removable panel13to the housing1.

In some embodiments, when decoupling the removable panel13from the aperture12, the removable panel13may still be hingedly coupled to the housing1when released. In other words, the removable panel13is hinged to the housing1, and to remove debris from the roller brush100, the user simply swings the removable panel13open away from the housing1to expose the aperture12. In this way, the removable panel13will stay attached to the housing and will not be misplaced and get lost.

In some embodiments, the side panels72are coupled to the sides of the housing1. The side panels72may be profiled and dimensioned in any way to be compatible with the sides of the housing1. The side panels72protect an interior of the roller brush1from egress while providing an aesthetic finish for the roller brush100. In some embodiments, the side panels72defines a side panel aperture74to facilitate clearance for a rotating handle (as will be discussed in greater detail herein).

The housing1further defines a debris opening11(e.g., entrance, cavity). During usage of the roller brush100, debris collected from the materials may enter the debris opening11before being scraped and falling inside the aperture12.

In referring toFIG.2, a front exterior profile of the roller brush100is shown without the side panels72. The roller brush100further includes a drum2, one or more scrapers5, a stopping mechanism6, sides of the drum14, a shaving cloth cavity22, and a rotating handle23. Scrapers may also be referred to as scraping element.

The drum2is disposed within the housing1and is rotatably coupled to the housing1. As depicted, the drum2defines a cylindrical profile, but may define any feasible geometric shape (e.g., rectangular, hexagonal, triangular) to accommodate being disposed within the housing1. The drum2is partially exposed from the housing and is configured to rotate within the housing1. The drum2may be rotated by a user applying the drum2onto a material and rolling the roller brush100onto the material, thereby causing the drum2to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The drum2may also be rotated via the rotating handle23. As discussed herein, the user may drive the drum2to rotate by actuating the rotating handle23in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

The stopping mechanism6includes a protrusion61and a groove62. In some embodiments, there is a single stopping mechanism6, while in other embodiments, there is a stopping mechanism6for each side of the roller brush100. The protrusion61is disposed eccentrically (i.e., off center) on the side14of the drum2, and when there is a rotating handle23, the protrusion61is disposed between the side14of the drum2and the rotating handle23. After the drum2rotates by a predetermined angle, the protrusion61makes contact (e.g., abuts, is interfered by) the groove62. The groove62is profiled within the side of the housing1and is configured to limit a rotation of the drum2in both the clockwise direction and counterclockwise direction.

The rotating handle23is coupled to the drum2and extends from a side14of the drum2. The rotating handle23is disposed eccentrically (i.e., off center) of the side14of the drum2. In some embodiments, the rotating handle23defines a concave profile76to improve a grip of the user when rotating the drum2. A user may turn the rotating handle23(e.g., clockwise, and counterclockwise) to rotate the drum2.

Now referring toFIG.3, a rear portion of the roller brush100is illustrated without the removable panel13and sides panels72. The stopping mechanism6is also illustrated on the side of the roller brush100without the rotating handle23. As the removable panel13is not illustrated, the aperture12is thereby exposed. The drum2includes a debris collection cavity21. As discussed in greater detail inFIG.4, debris that is collected from the materials being brushed is collected within the debris collection cavity21. The user may then remove the removable panel13to expose the debris collection cavity21and remove the collected debris.

Now referring toFIG.4, a cross-sectional view of the roller brush100is shown, according to some embodiments. The roller brush100further includes an elastic member78, one or more scrapers5. A first end of the elastic member78is coupled to the housing while a second end of the elastic member78is coupled to the scraper5. In some embodiments, the elastic member78is a torsion spring. In these embodiments, a first leg of the torsion spring defines the first end of the elastic member78and a second leg of the torsion spring defines the second end of the elastic member78. In some embodiments, the elastic member78is composed of elastomers such as rubber (e.g., natural rubber, silicon rubber, nitrile rubber, urethane rubbers, chloroprene rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate rubber), nylon, silicon, or any other suitable elastic material. The elasticity provided by the elastic material and/or the torsion spring provides a biasing force onto the elastic member78and thereby also applies a biasing force onto the scraper5. The scraper5includes a rotating shaft80coupled to the second end of the elastic member78. The rotating shaft80extends tangentially relative to the drum2.

The biasing force created by the elastic member78causes the scraper5to be biased via the rotating shaft80. The scraper5then maintains this biased state when pressing onto the drum2during the rotation of the drum2in the debris collection process. This is advantageous as it assists in driving rotation of the drum2, but also increases the effectivity of the scraper5when scraping debris from the drum2. This improves a user experience and an overall efficiency of the roller brush100.

As depicted inFIG.4, there are two scrapers5on a top portion and a bottom portion of the exposed drum2(i.e., exposed outside of the housing1). In these embodiments, a top scraper5of the two scrapers5is configured to shave or scrape off the debris collected on the drum2, when the drum2rotates in a first rotational direction. A bottom scraper5of the two scrapers5is configured to shave or scrape off the debris collected on the drum2, when the drum2rotates in a second rotational direction opposite of the first rotational direction.

In some embodiments, there is a single scraper5disposed at a bottom, top, or rear portion of the drum2. In some embodiments there are more than two scrapers5. For example, there are two scrapers5disposed at the top portion and the bottom portion of the exposed drum2, and a third scraper5disposed at a rear of the drum2that is unexposed. Each of the two scrapers5include a rotating shaft80that extends tangentially to the drum2along a first axis and a second axis, respectively. The first axis and the second axis intersect at a certain point. In other words, the two scrapers are not parallel to each other.

Each of the one or more scrapers5may include a scraping cloth cavity51and a scraping cloth4disposed within the scraping cloth cavity51. The thickness of the scraping cloth4may exceed a depth of the scraping cloth cavity51so that the scraping cloth4is exposed above a top surface of the scraping cloth cavity51. This arrangement may improve a shearing capability of the scraper5during the rotation of the drum2. The scraping cloth4may consist of any suitable material for shearing debris from the bristles of the drum and may be a replaceable component.

The drum2further includes one or more shaving cloths3and shaving cloth cavities22that are at least partially exposed (i.e., exposed outside of the housing1) during a first state of the drum2. During the first state of the drum2, the one or more shaving cloths3and shaving cloth cavities22are disposed at a front portion of the drum2and are configured to collect debris from materials. The shaving cloth3may consist of any suitable material for collecting debris from materials and may consists of bristles that extend away from the drum2. A thickness of the shaving cloth3may exceed a depth of the shaving cloth cavity22so that the shaving cloth3is exposed above a top surface of the shaving cloth cavity22. This arrangement may improve a debris collection capability of the drum2during the rotation of the drum2.

During a second state of the drum2(e.g., after the drum2has rotated by a predetermined rotation angle), after the drum2has collected debris via the shaving cloth3, the debris enters the debris opening11at a top portion of the exposed drum2or at a bottom portion of the exposed drum2. During the second state of the drum2, the drum2is partially exposed to the debris collection cavity21. The collected debris is then shaved or scraped off of the drum2by the scraper5via the scraping cloth4and enters into the debris collection cavity21. As discussed in reference toFIG.3, after the user has collected a sufficient amount of debris, the user may remove the removable panel13and remove the collected debris from the debris collection cavity21.

Now referring toFIG.5, a portion of the housing1of the roller brush100is shown with certain components omitted. As depicted, the scrapers5extend along a circumference of the drum2. As described in greater detail above, the user may press onto the rotating handle23to rotate the drum2within the housing1in an alternating clockwise and counterclockwise direction. Alternatively, the user may press the exposed portion of the drum2onto a desired material and then rotate the drum2in an alternating clockwise and counterclockwise direction. The protrusion61limits a degree of rotation, in both the clockwise and counterclockwise direction, by contacting the groove62(seeFIG.3).

Although the disclosure is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the disclosure.