Patent Publication Number: US-8117707-B1

Title: Pool cage beam brush

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the general art of cleaning and brushing, and to the particular field of cleaning implements for special applications. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many swimming pools are enclosed by a screened swimming pool cage which is structurally formed of box or rectangular section aluminum tubing. Screened swimming pool cages, lanai structures and the like are generally fabricated using rectangularly sectioned channel members formed of thin wall aluminum extrusions. These channel members include several surfaces and longitudinal spaced grooves on at least one surface, and typically on opposing surfaces which are coextensive with the channel member and are utilized primarily on an outwardly facing surface to supportively engage with screening enclosure material held in place with an elastomeric bead being forced into each groove with an edge of the screen material. 
     Such a screen enclosure typically includes a plurality of spaced upright channel members forming the wall structure and horizontally and angular disposed spaced channel members forming the top portion of the enclosure. The support structure formed by these channel members in this fashion is sufficient in strength to also be utilized to support various objects such as flower pots, equipment racks and brackets, lighting and stereo equipment, security system components and the like. 
     The inventor has found that the surfaces on such cages are subject to mildew as well as dirt collection. These surfaces must be periodically cleaned. Heretofore, the cleaning of these surfaces has required power washing, which, in turn, often requires a crew of several workers. The cleaning operation can be messy, expensive and time consuming if carried out by power washing. The power washing can also damage paint on the structure thereby requiring the owner to incur still further costs in both time and money to repaint damaged areas. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a means to efficiently and safely clean the surfaces of a swimming pool cage structure, and which can be carried out by the pool owner himself. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a brush device that can be releasably attached to a distal end of a pool broom and has a plurality of strategically placed brushes which brushingly engage the surfaces of the beams of a pool cage to clean those surfaces. The brushes are mounted on a head that can be angularly adjusted so the brushes will engage the cage surfaces in a manner which is conducive to thorough cleaning of those surfaces. The brushes are releasably mounted so they can be removed for cleaning or replacement. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 
       The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawing and description. The components in the FIGURE are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the FIGURE, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different view. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a brush embodying the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the FIGURE, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a brush implement  10  that can be releasably mounted on a distal end of a pool broom  12  for use in cleaning surfaces of beams used in a pool cage to prevent dirt, mildew and other undesired elements from building up on those surfaces. 
     Brush  10  includes a head section  20  connected at a proximal end  22  thereof to a distal end  30  of a support section  40  by a swivel joint  50 . Head section  20  is Y-shaped and includes a base section  52  on which is mounted two spaced-apart legs  60  and  62 . Legs  60  and  62  are attached to base section  52  by connecting sections  64  and  66  respectively and have a landing section  68  located therebetween adjacent to distal end  70  of the base section. 
     Base section  52  has a proximal end  80  which has a circular attachment section  82  thereon. Section  82  has a first surface  84  on which knurling or teeth (not visible in the FIGURE) are positioned for engagement with cooperative knurling or teeth (not visible in the FIGURE) on surface  88  of base section  90  of swivel joint  50 . The knurling or teeth on the surfaces  84  and  88  cooperate with each other to hold head section  20  at a selected angle with respect to longitudinal axis  100  of support section  40 . A clamp screw  110  clamps swivel joint section  90  to section  82  once the head section is in the desired orientation with respect to the support section  40 . 
     Support section  40  is attached to pool broom  12  by a fastener  120  and hence the brush head section  20  is placed in a desired orientation with respect to the pool broom by the swivel clamp section  50  so the brush head section is in an orientation that will most efficiently clean the surfaces of the pool cage beams. 
     A plurality of brushes,  130 ,  140  and  150 , are releasably mounted on inner surfaces of brush head section  20 . Brushes  130  and  140  face each other to clean opposite sides  200  and  202  of a pool cage beam  220  located therebetween while brush  150  is located in landing section  68  to clean an end edge  222  of the beam while the brushes  130  and  140  clean opposite surfaces thereof. As can be understood from  FIG. 1 , the brushes are located in grooves, such as groove  190 , defined in the brush head section so the brushes will be frictionally held in position on head section  20 . The brushes can be slid into or out of the grooves for cleaning or replacement as necessary. 
     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.