Patent Publication Number: US-2021161281-A1

Title: Truss brush

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/942,553, filed 2, Dec. 2019, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to cleaning tools and, more particularly, to a truss brush for cleaning the beams of a truss roof system. 
     A truss system is a very common structure for supporting the roof of larger enclosures, such as barns and screen enclosures, to name only a few. Unfortunately, the beams of the trusses can easily accumulate mildew, webs, and dirt, which, besides being unsightly, can also heighten the risk of allergies for those enjoying the enclosure. Currently, because the truss beams are hard to reach due to their height off the floor or ground, people use power washer or other tools to reach such beams, even though using such tools risks damaging architecture elements or property within the enclosure, such as the screen of a screen enclosure. 
     Specifically, homeowners with a screen enclosure utilizing a truss system must hire an experienced person to clean the trusses, which employ labor-intensive (read: expensive) equipment, like scaffolding. Typically, these practitioners use tools that can tear the screen, repair of which can be also be very labor-intensive for the same reasons—reaching the damaged screen at or near the top of the tall enclosure. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a truss brush that can directly engage the beams of a truss system while the user is safely standing on the ground. The present invention embodies a three-sided brush dimensioned and adapted to encapsulate, in a controlled manner, the underside and two side surfaces of the truss beam without contacting the screen that may be along an upper surface. Thereby, the present invention cleans the beam of dirt, webs and mildew without ripping the screen, which can result from using a power washer sprays and just one slip. 
     In short, the product embodied by the present invention is molded to fit the truss without coming in contact with the screen and the inside brushes remove dirt, webs and mildew without the possibility of tearing your screen with a power washer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a truss brush assembly includes the following: a channel housing having a base housing wall and a first side housing wall and a second side housing wall; the housing walls joined to define a U-shaped channel; a swivel mounted to an outer surface of the base housing wall; a handle mount pivotably connected to the swivel; and an arrangement of spaced apart brushes connected along an inner surface of the U-shaped channel, wherein said arrangement of spaced apart brushes define a brush gap dimensioned to receive a width of dimensional lumber. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the truss brush assembly includes the following: a channel housing having a base housing wall and a first side housing wall and a second side housing wall; the housing walls joined to define a U-shaped or C-shaped channel; a swivel mounted to an outer surface of the base housing wall; a handle mount pivotably connected to the swivel, wherein the swivel rotates  360  degrees about an axis orthogonal relative to said outer surface of the base housing wall; an elongated telescopic pole operatively associated with the handle mount opposite the swivel; a channel brush holder having a base holder wall and a first side holder wall and a second side holder wall; the holder walls joined to define an outer surface generally coextensive with said inner surface of the U-shaped channel; the holder walls nested in said inner surface of the U-shaped channel; and the arrangement of spaced apart joined along an inner surface of the holder walls, wherein said arrangement of spaced apart brushes define a brush gap dimensioned to receive a width of dimensional lumber. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a truss brush assembly that pivotably and rotatably interconnects an elongated telescoping pole and an arrangement of spaced apart brushes that operatively engage the underside and sides of a beam or other member of a working truss. The interconnection includes a handle mount providing a swivel connection to a channel housing supporting the arrangement of spaced apart brushes. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present invention may include a truss brush assembly  10  pivotably attached to an elongated telescopic pole  12  for a standing user  14  to brush the lower portion of a truss beam  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The truss brush assembly  10  is connected to the telescopic pole  12  by way of a handle mount  18  with a handle clevis  22 . 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as upper, upward, lower, downward, outer, outward, inner, inward and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures; for instance, the outward direction (or outer) being outside of voids defined by  42  or  34  and  32  in  FIG. 5 , while the inward direction (or inner) being within such voids. 
     The truss brush assembly  10  may include a channel housing  30  have a housing base wall  33  interconnecting proximal ends of both first and second housing sidewalls  32  and  34 , wherein the housing base wall  33  joins the proximal edges of the first and second housing sidewalls  32  and  34 , thus defining a general “U-shape” when viewing a section thereof, as illustrate in  FIG. 5 . A handle mount swivel  26  may be attached along an outward surface of the base portion  33  by way of connection plate  28  with fastener holes  46  for fasteners  48  to connect the connection plate  28  to the base portion, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The handle mount swivel  26  may be adapted to rotate  360  degrees about an axis orthogonal to the base wall  33  (or parallel to fastener  48  illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). More specifically, the handle mount swivel  26  provides an outward-facing attachment body  27 . The dimensions of the attachment body  27  substantially conforms to the dimensions of the handle clevis  22 . The attachment body  27 includes a pair of attaching apertures which are preferably axially aligned with clevis apertures so that a mounting pin and fastener  24  can be inserted therethrough to pivotable (about the mounting pin  24 ) couple the handle clevis  22  to handle mount swivel  26 . As a result, the handle mount  18  is operatively associated with the handle mount swivel  26 , whereby the telescopic pole  12  can be removably connected to the handle mount  18  by way of, in certain embodiments, a securing spring lock  20 . Separately, a brush assembly  40  is dimensioned and adapted to be slidably and snugly received between the housing base wall, first, and second housing sidewalls  33 ,  32 , and  34 . The brush assembly  40  may provide a “U-shaped” channel brush holder  42 , having a holder base wall and first and second holder sidewalls proportionally similar with the channel housing  30  in shape. As a result, the channel brush holder  42  is coextensive with a channel void defined by portions of the housing base wall, first, and second housing sidewalls  33 ,  32 , and  34 , thereby forming an abutting engagement between an inner surface of the housing base wall, first, and second housing sidewalls  33 ,  32 , and  34  and the outer surface of the channel brush holder  42 . The channel brush holder  42  may be attached to the channel housing  30  by aligned fastener holes  44  and  36 , respectively, and fasteners  38  interconnected through said aligned fastener holes  44  and  36 . 
     Along an inner surface of the holder base wall, first, and second holder sidewalls are an upper brush  52  and two side brushes  50 , respectively. There is a brush gap between the two side brushes  50  that may be dimensioned and adapted to operatively receive and engage with standardized widths of dimensional lumber. 
     For instance, the standardized width of a  2  x  8  beam may be one and three-quarters inches, and so the brush gap is slightly less than one and three-quarters inches so that both side brushes  50  engage (brush) the sides of the ( 2  x  8 ) truss beam  16 . 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. The truss brush assembly  10  disclosed above may be provided. An individual  14  would secure the telescopic pole  12  (possibly one currently utilized for a skim net and pool brush) to handle mount  18  and adjust the telescopic pole  12  to desired length. Cleaning solution can be placed directly on brushes  50  and  52  or onto the truss beam  16 . The brush gap would engage the underside portion of the truss beam  16  and the user  14  would push the brush assembly  40  up along truss beam  16  and pull back down along truss beam  16  as bristles on brushes  50  and  52  make contact with truss beam  16  to remove dirt, webs and mildew. When all dirt and mildew have been brushed away, the individual  16  would remove the truss brush assembly  10  from truss beam  16  and may rinse the truss brush assembly  10  with a hose or the like. 
     Water and mildew resistant material may be utilized when making the truss brush assembly  10 . The brushes  50  and  52  (as well as the brush assembly  40  to channel brush holder  42  connections) may be connected with countersunk hardware into their bristle area as to prevent the fasteners from scratching the truss beam  16  during the cleaning process. 
     The brush gap may be sized to engage various widths of dimensional lumber or uncommon widths, depending on need. An attachment along the brush assembly  40  for a garden hose may be provided to help with rinsing dirt and mildew off of truss and brushes. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.