Abstract:
A hand held fire hose cleaning apparatus includes at least two brushes positioned facing each other in such a manner that a fire hose can be placed between them. Water, or another suitable fluid, is delivered through the brushes onto the site of contact between the brushes and the hose. As the fluid flows, the brushes are moved back and forth, cleaning the hose quickly and efficiently.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to brushes and particularly to a brush assembly for cleaning fire hoses. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Fire fighting is a difficult and tiring process. In addition to the physical and mental strain inflicted upon the fire fighters, there is a heavy toll taken on the equipment they use to control and extinguish fires. Given the importance of the equipment to the safety of the firefighters, and of the public, it is important that the equipment be well maintained to ensure continued functionality. 
         [0003]    One particularly important piece of equipment is the fire hose. After each use, the hose must be properly cleaned to ensure longevity and continued performance. Cleaning the fire hose manually requires a number of steps. Typically, one or more firefighters unroll the hose at the fire house, lay it flat on the ground and then rinse it with water. The fire fighter must then repeatedly brush the hose with a broom to remove surface contaminants, before rinsing it a second time. The hose is then flipped over and the process is repeated on the other side. For a particularly dirty hose, detergent, such as gear and hose detergent, may be used to improve the cleaning. 
         [0004]    While there are machines for drawing a fire hose through a series of brushes, these prior art devices such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 589,559 of Sep. 7, 1897, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,175 of Mar. 5, 1985, are complicated, susceptible to breakdown and maintenance issues and are often too expensive to be purchased by many fire stations, particularly volunteer fire departments which are still the first responders in many small towns and rural areas. 
         [0005]    Thus, many fire departments must use the broom method for cleaning fire hoses, a time consuming task, and a particularly unwelcome one after hours of battling a fire. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    What is needed therefore is an improved method of, and apparatus for, cleaning fire hoses which is easier, simpler, more cost effective than expensive automated machines, and faster in operation than the brooming methods currently employed. 
         [0007]    The present disclosure describes, shows, and claims a handheld fire hose brush assembly capable of cleaning a fire hose more quickly and easily than those using known devices and methods. 
         [0008]    A preferred fire hose brush assembly in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a body defining a brush portion with a pair of oppositely mounted brushes, a handle, and a fluid supply system. The brushes are spaced to receive a fire hose between them and are attached to the handle. The handle of the hose brush assembly can have a rubber hand grip or the handle can be made of metal and grooved to secure better gripping. The fluid supply system includes a fluid channel in the body which distributes fluid to the brushes. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, the oppositely mounted brushes are spaced, and are of sufficient length, such that they accept any standard fire hose, including 1.75″ hoses and 2.5″ hoses. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the brush assembly is adapted to include a detergent reservoir in communication with the fluid path, thereby allowing detergent to be applied to the hose to aid in cleaning. 
         [0011]    A method of cleaning a hose in accordance with the present invention resides in placing the hose within a brush assembly that comprises a body having internal fluid passages and oppositely mounted brushes arranged to embrace the hose, delivering fluid into at least one of the brushes via said internal fluid passages and moving the brushes along the length of the hose. The fluid can include water or water mixed with detergent. 
         [0012]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully explained in connection with the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and in connection with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Referring now to the drawings where preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in detail, it being understood that although the drawings represent certain preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain the present disclosure. The embodiments shown herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to otherwise limit the disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a fire hose brush assembly according to the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a view of the fire hose brush assembly according to the present invention where the brushes are removed to illustrate water pockets; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a view of the underside of one brush; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the brush; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of the cavity which the brush is mounted; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-section taken along lines  3 C of  FIG. 3B ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a view of an inlet and aperture in the handle of the fire hose brush assembly; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is another view of the fire hose brush assembly with the brushes removed; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-section taken along lines  5 A of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  shows the brush assembly with a rubber handle grip attached; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates the brush assembly with a metal handle provided with knurling; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a user&#39;s hand grasping the fire hose brush assembly attached to a threaded hose to supply water with a detergent uptake reservoir. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a hose brush assembly  10  shown in accordance with the present invention has body  11  which comprises brush portion  12  and handle  14 . In a most preferred embodiment, brush section  12  and handle  14  are an integral unit (i.e., body  11  is preferably a single piece casting of aluminum), although it may be possible to make a handle  14  which threads into brush portion  12  or the like. The end of handle  14  opposite brush portion  12  includes internally threaded inlet  16  defining aperture  18  which is adapted to receive fluid from a fluid source (shown as hose  54  in  FIG. 8 ), which may be a water hose connected to a fire truck. Inlet  16  may have internal and/or external threads (not shown) or other attachment means. Brush portion  12  is generally U-shaped with two arms  20  and  22  and crossbar  23 . Brushes  24  are oppositely mounted within arms  20  and  22  at fluid pockets  26  and  28 . When assembly  10  is connected to the fluid source, fluid flows into aperture  18  into fluid channel  30  defined through the handle  14  and continues to at least one arm, but preferably into both arms  20  and  22  of brush portion  12  as will be more fully described. Fluid then exits into fluid pockets (cavities)  26  and  28  (one being shown in phantom in  FIG. 2  for simplicity) defined in each of arms  20  and  22 , via passages  35  and outlets  39  to and through holes  33  ( FIG. 3 ) defined in base  38  of brushes  24 . The spacing between and length of brushes  24  allows them to be used to clean hoses of multiple traditional sizes, specifically, widely used 1.75″ hoses and 2.5″ hoses. 
         [0027]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3B , hose brush assembly  10  is shown without brushes  24  to illustrate fluid pockets  26  and  28  disposed within arms  20  and  22  of brush portion  12 . It is to be understood, then, that internal fluid channel  30  runs from aperture  18 , through handle  14 , to manifold  31  in crossbar  23  and then splits to provide fluid through passages  35  (one shown in phantom for simplicity) to pockets  26  and  28 . Body  11  is preferably made of aluminum or can be made of hard rubber, plastic or another metal. Optionally, a removable rubber or plastic hand grip  43  can also be slipped over handle  14  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Knurling  45  can be cut onto a surface of the handle to make hand grip more reliable, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Fluid manifold  31  is in fluid communication at the fluid pockets  26  and  28  via channels  35 . The fluid thereby exits the brush portion  12  from fluid pockets  26  and  28 , typically through holes  33  ( FIG. 3 ) in brushes  24  mounted thereon. As shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 , cavity  26  is deeper at the end closest to passage  35  and thus holds a greater volume of water than the opposite end of cavity  26 . Alternatively, cavity  26  may be of uniform depth. 
         [0028]    As stated, brush portion  12  comprises a U-shaped assembly having first arm  20  and second arm  22 . First face  32  on first arm  20  opposes second face  34  on second arm  22 . First fluid pocket  26  and second fluid pocket  28  (not visible) are in fluid communication with fluid channel  30  as follows. Water, or other suitable fluid, flows through inlet aperture  18 , through handle  14  to manifold  31  and then through channels  35  and outlets  39 . The fluid then exits from fluid pockets  26 ,  28  to brushes  24 . A first brush  36  ( FIG. 3A ) and a second brush are attached to the brush portion  12  atop first fluid pocket  26  and second fluid pocket  28 , such that fluid exits the fluid pockets  26 ,  28  through holes  33  ( FIG. 3 ) in a respective brush. This allows the fluid to be delivered to the fire hose directly at the brush portion (via the fluid delivery channels) facilitating the cleaning process. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , only pocket  26  is shown (partially in phantom) as well as channel  35  (in phantom) in arm  20  for simplicity. It is to be understood that in the preferred embodiment, this same structure is present in arm  22 . In  FIGS. 3B and 3C , outlets  39  of passages  35  are shown as rectangular in shape (e.g., 2½″×½″) which, in operation, continuously fill pockets  26  and  28  with fluid which then flows through holes  33  which extend through brush base  38  to bristles  40 . With reference to  FIGS. 5A and 3C , outlets  39  of passages  35  are shown in arms  20  and  22 . Thus, it will be understood that body  11  has an internal fluid passageway from inlet  18  to outlets  39  via manifold  31  and passages  35 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A , brush  36  is shown in accordance with the present invention. The brush  36  includes base  38  with a plurality of bristles  40  arranged thereon. Base  38  is shown from the side opposite bristles  40  in  FIG. 3  having holes  42  which accept screws or other types of fasteners. Two brushes  36  are mounted to the brush portion  12 . Base  38  includes at least one hole  33  therein, arranged such that fluid can travel from the pockets  26  and  28 , through holes  33  in base  38  and into bristles  40  to aid in cleaning. Brush  36  can be attached to the brush portion  12  in any conventional manner as will be explained more fully. 
         [0031]    Again,  FIG. 3  is a bottom view of brush  36 , in which base  38  is shown along with a plurality of holes  33  to let liquid flow through base  38  and onto the hose to be cleaned. Attachment holes  42  are also seen which receive fasteners, such as screws, bolts, rivets and the like that extend through to be secured in bosses  41  ( FIG. 3B ). Screws  50  ( FIG. 7 ) are preferred since they allow worn brushes to be easily replaced. In the preferred embodiment at least six screws are used with six corresponding pads or bosses  41 . Base  38  may be made of a variety of materials; presently preferred are moldable plastics which cure or harden with minimum flexibility (i.e., rigid). 
         [0032]    As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , inlet  16  has aperture  18  which is adapted to receive a fitting from hose  54  ( FIG. 8 ) to connect, for example, to a fire truck. Hose  54  provides a quantity of pressurized water, which is then used to clean the fire hose. By using such an embodiment, a fire hose can easily be cleaned anywhere it is used, including the site of a fire as the hoses are being collected. This would eliminate the need to unravel and clean the hoses later at the fire station, saving considerable time and effort for the firefighters. (It is to be understood that  FIG. 5  shows body  11  without brushes  36  over cavities  26  and  28 .) 
         [0033]      FIGS. 6-8  illustrate fire hose brush assembly  10  according to the present invention, in which handle  14  is made more amenable to grip by hand. In  FIG. 7 , handle  14  has removable rubber or plastic hand grip  43  attached thereto. In  FIG. 7 , handle  14  is provided with knurling  45  to make a secure handgrip.  FIG. 8  shows assembly  10  in a user&#39;s hand and connected to hose  54 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a soap container  49  may be attached to supply soap to the water stream by the venturi effect. 
         [0034]    In the method of the present invention, using assembly  10 , a flattened fire hose is positioned within opposing brushes  24 . As fluid flows through the brushes, the brush assembly is moved along the length of the hose, thereby cleaning both sides of the hose at the same time. The fire hose is thus cleaned in an easy motion. Depending on the availability of a fluid source, this can be accomplished at the scene of a fire, as the fire fighters are cleaning up the equipment. 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Many embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but instead with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.