Patent Publication Number: US-6901622-B2

Title: Lint-removing brush

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a lint-removing brush. The present invention relates more particularly to a lint-removing brush having a handle portion, a lint-removing portion attached to the handle portion, and lint-removing material attached to the lint-removing portion. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A variety of lint removal devices are known. Lint removal devices are designed to pick up particles or contaminants, such as lint, hair, threads, dirt, dust, or any other matter from a surface, such as floors, ceilings, furniture or other items, work surfaces, or clothing, to clean the surface. Examples of lint brushes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,318, U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,046, U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,953, U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,835, U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,571, and U.S. Des. 309,376. 
   Lint brushes are also sold under 3M brand name from 3M Company, based in St. Paul, Minn., under model number 836. Helmac Products Corporation, based in Flint, Mich., has also sold lint brushes in a variety of sizes under the brand name “Evercare.” 
   Other lint removal devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,695, U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,014, U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,921, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,038 U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,300, U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,465, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,337, U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,201, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,578, U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,977, U.S. Pat. Re. 25,675, and U.S. Pat. Re. 25,435 
   Other surface cleaning devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,077, U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,382 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,105,256. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One aspect of the present invention provides a lint-removing brush. In one preferred embodiment of the lint-removing brush, the lint-removing brush comprises: a handle portion including a free end and a connecting end opposite the free end; and a lint-removing portion including a free end and a connecting end opposite the free end and including a a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the distance between the first side and the second side near the free end is less than the distance between the first side and the second side near the connecting end, and where the connecting end of the handle portion is connected to the connecting end of the lint-removing portion. 
   In one aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing brush further comprises lint-removing material attached to the lint-removing portion. In another aspect of this embodiment, the lint-removing material extends from the first side to the second side around the free end of the lint-removing portion. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing brush further comprises an indicator attached to the lint-removing portion, where a portion of the lint-removing material is orientated in a direction, and where the indicator points in the direction. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing brush comprises a foam pad between the lint-removing portion and the lint-removing material. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing brush further comprises a pad support between the lint-removing portion and the foam pad. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the pad support includes a first pad support portion, a second pad support portion, and a rounded surface connecting the first pad support portion and the second pad support portion, where the first and second pad support portion each includes an alignment rail and a locating slot. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the first side of the lint-removing portion includes a latch for engaging with the locating slot of the first pad support portion and includes a guide for engaging with the alignment rail of the first pad support portion and where the second side of the lint-removing portion includes a latch for engaging with the locating slot of the second pad support portion and includes a guide for engaging with the alignment rail of the second pad support portion. 
   The present invention also provides an alternative lint-removing brush. In one preferred embodiment of this lint-removing brush, the lint-removing brush comprises: a handle portion and a lint-removing portion connected to the handle portion, where the brush includes a brush axis; and lint-removing material attached to the lint-removing portion, where the lint-removing material intersects with the brush axis. In one aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing portion includes a free end and a connecting end opposite the free end, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the distance between the first side and the second side near the free end is less than the distance between the first side and the second side near the connecting end. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing material extends from the first side to the second side around the free end of the lint-removing portion. 
   In another aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing brush further comprises an indicator attached to the lint-removing portion, where a portion of the lint-removing material is orientated in a direction, and where the indicator points in the direction. In another preferred embodiment of the above lint-removing brush, the lint-removing brush further comprises a foam pad between the lint-removing portion and the lint-removing material. In one aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing brush comprises a pad support between the lint-removing portion and the foam pad. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the pad support includes a first pad support portion, a second pad support portion, and a rounded surface connecting the first pad support portion and the second pad support portion, where the first and second pad support portion each includes an alignment rail and a locating slot. In another aspect of the above embodiment, the first side of the lint-removing portion includes a latch for engaging with the locating slot of the first pad support portion and includes a guide for engaging with the alignment rail of the first pad support portion and where the second side of the lint-removing portion includes a latch for engaging with the locating slot of the second pad support portion and includes a guide for engaging with the alignment rail of the second pad support portion. 
   The present invention provides yet another alternative lint-removing brush. In one preferred embodiment of this lint-removing brush, the lint-removing brush comprises: a brush axis; a handle portion including a free end and a connecting end opposite the free end; a lint-removing portion including a free end, a connecting end opposite the free end, and a generally parallel first side surface at a non-parallel angle relative to the brush axis, where the connecting end of the handle portion is connected to the connecting end of the lint-removing portion; and lint-removing material attached to the generally parallel first side surface of the lint-removing portion, where when the lint-removing material contacts a surface to be cleaned, the handle portion is non-parallel to the surface. 
   In another preferred embodiment of the above lint-removing brush, the lint-removing portion includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the distance between the first side and the second side near the free end is less than the distance between the first side and the second side near the connecting end. In another preferred embodiment of the above lint-removing brush, the lint-removing material extends from the first side to the second side around the free end of the lint-removing portion. In another preferred embodiment of the above lint-removing brush, the lint-removing brush further comprises an indicator attached to the lint-removing portion, where a portion of the lint-removing material is orientated in a direction, and where the indicator points in the direction. 
   In another aspect of the above embodiment, the lint-removing brush further comprises a foam pad between the lint-removing portion and the lint-removing material. In one aspect of this embodiment, the lint-removing brush further comprises a pad support between the lint-removing portion and the foam pad. In another aspect of this embodiment, the pad support includes a first pad support portion, a second pad support portion, and a rounded surface connecting the first pad support portion and the second pad support portion, where the first and second pad support portion each includes an alignment rail and a locating slot. In yet another aspect of this embodiment, the first side of the lint-removing portion includes a latch for engaging with the locating slot of the first pad support portion and includes a guide for engaging with the alignment rail of the first pad support portion and where the second side of the lint-removing portion includes a latch for engaging with the locating slot of the second pad support portion and includes a guide for engaging with the alignment rail of the second pad support portion. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be further explained with reference to the appended Figures, wherein like structure is referred to by like numerals throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the lint-removing brush of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the lint-removing brush of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the lint-removing brush of  FIG. 2  in use; and 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the lint-removing brush of FIG.  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a lint-removing brush. The lint-removing brush of the present invention is designed to pick up or clean particles or contaminants, such as lint, hair, threads, dirt, dust, or any other matter from a surface, such as floors, ceilings, furniture or other items, work surfaces, or clothing, to clean the surface. The term “lint-removing” as used herein, including the claims, is not limited to just removing only lint, but rather is for removing any type of particles or contaminants, such as lint, fuzz, hair, threads, dirt, dust, or any other matter from a surface. The lint brush is useful for cleaning adjoining surface at once, such as corners of walls. The lint brush is also useful for cleaning between different sections of an article, such as the back and seat of couch or chair, or between the sections of a couch. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate one embodiment of the lint brush  10  of the present invention. Lint brush  10  includes a handle portion  12  and a lint-removing portion  14 . The brush  10  includes a brush axis designated by line A in  FIG. 2 , which is also the same axis for the handle portion  12  and the lint-removing portion  14 . 
   The handle portion  12  can have any shape and can be contoured to ergonomically fit a hand. The handle portion  12  has a free end  18  and a connecting end  16 . The free end  18  may have an optional opening  34  to permit hanging the applicator brush  10  on a hook for storage. The handle portion  12  includes optional groves  32 . 
   The lint-removing portion  14  also includes a free end  20  and a connecting end  22 . The connecting end  22  of the lint-removing portion  14  is connected to the connecting end  16  of the handle portion  12 . The handle portion  12  and the lint-removing portion  14  may be molded as a one-piece construction to be connected to each other. Alternatively, the handle portion  12  and lint-removing portion  14  may be two discrete pieces that are attached together by any means known in the art. 
   The lint-removing portion  14  includes a first side  24  and a second side  26  opposite the first side  24 . Each side includes a surface for receiving the lint-removing material  36 . The lint-removing portion also includes a surface  28  connecting the first side  24  and the second side  26 . Preferably, the first side  24 , the second side  26  and surface  28  are one continuous piece. Preferably, the surface  28  is rounded. However, the surface  28  may also be a very narrow surface where the first side  24  and second side  26  meet at a point or a line. The lint-removing portion  14  also includes a third side  38  and a fourth side  40  opposite the third side  38 . The third side is adjacent to and preferably connected to the first side  24  and the second side  26 . The fourth side is adjacent to and preferably connected to the first side  24  and the second side  26 . 
   The first side  24  of the lint-removing portion is arranged at an angle α relative to the brush axis A. The second side  26  of the lint-removing portion is arranged at an angle β relative to the brush axis. Preferably, angle α and angle β are the same angle. Preferably, angle α and angle β are in the range of 5° and 12°. More preferably, angle α and angle β are in the range of 6° and 8°. Preferably, the third side  38  and fourth side  40  of the lint-removing portion are parallel to one another. Alternatively, the third side  38  and second side  40  of the lint-removing portion may be at non-parallel angles relative to the brush axis A. 
   Preferably, the lint-removing portion  14  of the brush  10  becomes progressively thicker from the free end  20  to the connecting end  22 . In other words, the distance measured between the first side  24  and the second side  26  progressively increases from the free end  20  to the connecting end  22 . As an example, the distance between the first side  24  and second side  26  indicated by line C measured near the free end  20  is less than the distance between the first side  24  and second side  26  indicated by line B measured near the connecting end  22 . To state it another way, the first side surface  24  and second side surface  26  are at non-parallel angles relative to the brush axis A to form a wedge-shaped lint-removing portion  14 . 
   The brush  10  includes lint-removing material  36  attached to the lint-removing portion. This lint-removing material  36  includes cut or uncut loops of fibers, such as natural fibers, synthetic fibers, glass fibers, thread or wool. Preferably, the fibers are nylon fibers. A majority of the fibers are preferably orientated or tilted in one direction, as indicate by arrow D. Examples of lint-removing material  36  are well known in the art, such as pile material, or as the brush material disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,835 (Schmitz) “Two-Sided Brush and Container,” or as brush material disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,046 (Tsuruzawa) “Cleaning Brush.” One suitable example of the lint-removing material  36  is commercially available as “De-lint fabric material” from Dalian Corporation based in Dalian, China. 
   Preferably, one length of the lint-removing material  36  continuously extends around the free end  20  of the lint-removing portion  14 , intersecting the brush axis A. More preferably, the length of lint-removing material  36  is continuous and is attached to the first side  24 , the rounded surface  28 , and the second side  26  of the lint-removing portion  14 . However, the lint-removing material  36  may be several discrete pieces attached to the sides  24 ,  26  and surface  28  of the lint-removing portion  14 . For example, the brush  10  could include one discrete piece of lint-removing material  36  attached to the first side  24  and another discrete piece of lint-removing material  36  is attached to the second side  26 , leaving the entire free end or a portion of the free end  20  of the lint-removing portion  14  exposed between the two discrete pieces of lint-removing material. As another example, the brush  10  could include one continuous piece of lint-removing material attached to the lint-removing portion, where the piece could have sections removed to reveal portions of the lint-removing portion  14  underneath, such as portions of the free end  20  or portions of the first or second sides  24 ,  26 . The brush  10  includes indicators  30  for pointing in the direction that the brush  10  is to be is pressed or pulled or rubbed or slid against a surface to be cleaned. The brush  10  includes a first indicator  30   a  on the first side  24  and a second indicator  30   b  on the second side opposite the first indicator  30   a.  The first indicator  30   a  and second indicator  30   b  are in the shape of arrows. The arrows indicate the direction in which the fibers in the lint-removing material are tilted or orientated. For example, the first indicator  30   a  points in the same direction as the fibers in the lint-removing material  36  attached to the first side  24  of the lint-removing portion  14  are tilted or orientated. The second indicator  30   b  points in the same direction as the fibers in the lint-removing material  36  attached to the second side  26  of the lint-removing portion  14  are tilted or orientated. This arrangement of the indicators  30   a,    30   b  help a user orientate which way to slide the brush  10  against a surface to be cleaned. As an example, a user sees the arrow  30   a  and knows to brush the lint-removing material  36  on the second side  26  against a surface to be cleaned in the direction of the arrow  30   a.    
   When it is desired to remove the lint or other particles and contaminants from the lint-removing material of the brush to clean the brush, the brush  10  may be pressed against a cloth or other piece of material having a relatively rough surface or by a user&#39;s hand in the opposite direction as the arrow indicator. By moving the brush in the opposite direction as the arrow indicates, the lint or other particles and contaminants may be easily removed from the fibers. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the lint brush  10  in use, cleaning surfaces  50  and  52 . When the handle portion of the brush is grasped by a user&#39;s hand  54 , the lint-removing portion is pressed against or pulled against or rubbed against a surface  52  to be cleaned and slid in the direction indicated by the arrow as seen by the user, which is the indicator  30   a  in this figure. Alternatively, the user may flip the brush  10  over and rub the other side of the brush  10  against the surface  52 . When the second side of the lint-removing portion  14  is laid flat against a surface  52  to be cleaned, the user&#39;s hand and particularly the user&#39;s fingers that are grasping the handle portion  12  do not contact or brush against the surface  52  because the second side  26  is at an angle relative to the brush axis or handle axis. The portion of the lint-removing material  36  on the free end  20  of the lint-removing portion  14  of the brush  10  may clean the surface  52  or be used to clean a narrow area or corner. As illustrated, the brush may simultaneously clean two opposing surfaces  50 ,  52  or be used to clean a corner between two opposing surfaces  50 ,  52 . 
     FIG. 4  is an exploded view of one embodiment of the lint-removing brush  10 . The lint-removing portion  14  and handle portion  12  are hollow and in two separate pieces, which may be sonically welded together to form one unitary brush. The first side  24  and second side  26  of the lint-removing portion  14  both include a raised edge  66  along the outside of the sides  24 ,  26  defining an insert area  62 . The first side  24  and second side  26  both include a latch  64  and two guides  60  attached to the insert area  62 . Preferably, the latch  64  and guides  60  are perpendicular relative to each other on the insert area  62 . 
   The lint brush  10  includes a lint-removing material portion  90  made of the lint-removing material  36 . The lint-removing portion  90  includes a first portion  98 , a second portion  99 , and a middle portion  96  connecting the first portion  98  and the second portion  99 . Preferably, the first portion  98 , second portion  99 , and middle portion  96  are one continuous piece. However, the portions  98 ,  99 ,  96  may be individual discrete portions. The lint-removing material portion  90  includes a first or exterior surface  92  and a second or interior surface  94  opposite the first surface  92 . 
   The lint brush  10  includes a foam pad  80 . The foam pad  80  includes a first portion  88 , a second portion  89 , and a middle portion  86  connecting the first portion  88  and the second portion  89 . Preferably, the first portion  88 , second portion  89 , and middle portion  98  are one continuous piece. However, the portions  88 ,  89 ,  86  may be individual discrete portions. The foam pad  80  includes a first or exterior surface  82  and a second or interior surface  84  opposite the first surface  82 . Preferably, the foam pad  80  is made of a resilient support material or foam or other spongy material, such as foamed polyurethane. 
   The lint brush  10  includes a pad support  70 . The pad support  70  includes a first portion  58 , a second portion  59 , and a middle portion  76  connecting the first portion  58  and the second portion  59 . Preferably, the first portion  58 , second portion  59 , and middle portion  76  are one continuous piece. However, the portions  58 ,  59 ,  76  may be individual discrete portions. The pad support  70  includes a first surface  72  and a second surface  74 . The first portion  58  and second portion  59  of the pad support  70  both include a locating slot  68  and an alignment rail  78 . Preferably, the locating slot  68  and alignment rail  78  are perpendicular relative to each other on the second or interior surface  74 . 
   To assemble the parts of the lint-removing brush  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the lint-removing portion  14  and handle portion  12  may be sonically welded together to form one unitary brush. Next, the lint-removing material portion  90 , foam pad  80 , and pad support  70  are assembled to contact the first or exterior surface  82  of the foam pad  80  with the second or interior surface  94  of the lint-removing material portion  90  and to contact the second or interior surface  84  with the first or exterior surface  72  of the pad support  70 . Glue is then applied along the interior surface  74  of the pad support  70  and the lint-removing material portion  90  is wrapped around the foam pad  80  to bond with the glue on the pad support. Lastly, the sub-assembly of the lint-removing material portion  90 , foam pad  80 , and pad support  70  are attached to the lint-removing portion  14  of the brush  10  by sliding the alignment rails  78  on interior surface  74  of the pad support  70  to engage with the guides  60  on the lint-removing portion  14  and by engaging the locating slots  68  on the pad support  70  with the latch  64  on the lint-removing portion  14 . 
   Although, the lint-removing material  36  is illustrated as permanently attached to the lint-removing portion  14  of the brush  10 , the lint-removing material  36  may be releasably attached to the lint-removing portion  14  to make it replaceable. Alternatively, the sub-assembly of the lint-removing material portion  90 , foam pad  80  and pad support  70  could be releasably attached from the lint-removing portion  14 , to replace it with a new lint-removing portion  90 , foam pad  80 , and pad support  70  to allow a user to remove a used lint-removing material portion  90 , foam pad  80  and pad support  70  to replace it with a new sub-assembly. 
   The lint-removing portion  14 , handle portion  12  and pad support  70  are preferably made of a plastic material. Blow molding, injection molding, and other manufacturing methods may be used for a making the lint-removing portion  14 , handle portion  12 , and pad support  70 . The lint-removing portion  14 , handle portion  12  may be made into a one-piece construction for the brush  10 . Alternatively, the lint-removing portion  14  and handle portion  12  may comprise two separate pieces, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , with one piece being the top section and other piece being the bottom section of the brush  10 , where both the top and bottom sections each contain a portion of the lint-removing portion  14  and handle portion  12 . 
   The present invention has now been described with reference to several embodiments thereof. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. All patents and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the exact details and structures described herein, but rather by the structures described by the language of the claims, and the equivalents of those structures.