Patent US3689954A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3689954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile washing unit
Assignee: Trans-World Car Wash Systems Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-31
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1989-07-31
Abstract
Abstract For use in a car or automobile washing unit in the operation of which the washing unit surrounds the automobile and moves along a prescribed path, thereby associating the automobile with various apparatus contained on the washing unit for cleaning different parts of the automobile, a side window washer including at least one brush centrifugally mounted on a pivotable overhead support which yieldably extends into the automobile during its path of movement so that the brush, during a cleaning interval, makes cleaning contact with the automobile and, more particularly, as the washer moves past the automobile, the angular orientation of the brush is such that the brush has a wiping stroke diagonally across the automobile side window so that the successive portions of the window coming into contact with the brush are in complete contacting relation therewith, and a front, side panel, fender and rear body washer including at least one brush rotatingly held in a support frame pivotally mounted on an overhead support which is itself pivotable in dual cross-direction so that the brush is continuously moving in a plane vertical to the automobile and has a wiping stroke adjustable to the shape and dimensions of the automobile.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard E Grant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:40
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B60S3/06; B60S3/063; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
For use in an automobile washing unit of the type having means for encompassing the automobile while moving along a prescribed path of movement thereby associating said automobile with cleaning apparatus contained in said washing unit, in combination, a side window washer and a front, side panel, fender and rear body washer, said side window washer comprising a dangling brush pivotally mounted on a pivotal overhead support therefor and operatively arranged for being imparted centrifugal force to yieldably extend into contact with said automobile during the path of movement of said washing unit so that said brush during a cleaning interval makes cleaning contact with said automobile side window, said brush being angularly oriented with respect to said overhead support whereby said brush executes a wiping stroke diagonally across said automobile side window so that the successive portions of window coming into contact with said brush are in substantially co-extensive cleaning contact therewith over the entire area of said portions, said body washer comprising a brush rotatingly held in a support frame therefor, said support frame being pivotally mounted on an overhead support which is itself adapted to be pivotal in dual cross-direction with the result that said brush is continuously contactingly moving in a plane vertical to said automobile and has a wiping stroke adjustable to the shape and dimensions of said automobile, said side window washer and body brush being commonly supported on said means which encompasses the automobile for being cOmmonly carried together lengthwise of the latter and acting in mutual operative association to substantially completely clean the respective automobile parts contacted thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
For use in an automobile washing unit of the type having means for encompassing the automobile while moving along a prescribed path of movement thereby associating said automobile with cleaning apparatus contained in said washing unit, in combination, a side window washer and a front, side panel, fender and rear body washer, said side window washer comprising a dangling brush pivotally mounted on a pivotal overhead support therefor and operatively arranged for being imparted centrifugal force to yieldably extend into contact with said automobile during the path of movement of said washing unit so that said brush during a cleaning interval makes cleaning contact with said automobile side window, said brush being angularly oriented with respect to said overhead support whereby said brush executes a wiping stroke diagonally across said automobile side window so that the successive portions of window coming into contact with said brush are in substantially co-extensive cleaning contact therewith over the entire area of said portions, said body washer comprising a brush rotatingly held in a support frame therefor, said support frame being pivotally mounted on an overhead support which is itself adapted to be pivotal in dual cross-direction with the result that said brush is continuously contactingly moving in a plane vertical to said automobile and has a wiping stroke adjustable to the shape and dimensions of said automobile, said side window washer and body brush being commonly supported on said means which encompasses the automobile for being cOmmonly carried together lengthwise of the latter and acting in mutual operative association to substantially completely clean the respective automobile parts contacted thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
In an automobile washing unit of the type having means for encompassing the automobile while moving along a prescribed path of movement thereby associating said automobile with cleaning apparatus contained in said washing unit, a side window washer comprising a dangling brush pivotally mounted on a pivotal overhead support, drive means for drivingly imparting to said dangling brush centrifugal force to cause the brush to yieldably extend into contact with said automobile during the path of movement of said washing unit so that said brush during a cleaning interval makes cleaning contact with said automobile side window, said brush being angularly oriented with respect to said overhead support whereby said brush executes a wiping stroke diagonally across said automobile side window so that the successive portions of the window coming into contact with said brush are in substantially co-extensive cleaning contact therewith over the entire area of said portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
In an automobile washing unit of the type having means for encompassing the automobile while moving along a prescribed path of movement thereby associating said automobile with cleaning apparatus contained in said washing unit, a side window washer comprising a dangling brush pivotally mounted on a pivotal overhead support, drive means for drivingly imparting to said dangling brush centrifugal force to cause the brush to yieldably extend into contact with said automobile during the path of movement of said washing unit so that said brush during a cleaning interval makes cleaning contact with said automobile side window, said brush being angularly oriented with respect to said overhead support whereby said brush executes a wiping stroke diagonally across said automobile side window so that the successive portions of the window coming into contact with said brush are in substantially co-extensive cleaning contact therewith over the entire area of said portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal overhead support comprises an L-shaped body having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, drive means for centrifugally operating said brush provided on said horizontal leg, said brush being mounted to said horizontal leg, said overhead support being pivotally mounted to a horizontal cross member of said frame, the brush support legs being joined so that they subtend an obtuse angle, said brush being resultingly mounted to said horizontal leg at a corresponding acute angle defined with respect to the vertical plane of said vertical support leg, said drive means centrifugally driving said brush so as to execute a diagonal wiping stroke whose angle is defined by said acute angle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein said obtuse angle is about 155* and said acute angle is about 25* .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
An automobile washing unit according to claim 2 wherein said pivotal overhead support comprises an L-shaped body having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, said brush being mounted to said horizontal leg, said overhead support being pivotally mounted to a horizontal cross member of said frame, the brush support legs being joined so that they subtend an obtuse angle, said brush being resultingly mounted to said horizontal leg at a corresponding acute angle defined with respect to the vertical plane of said vertical support leg, said drive means centrifugally driving said brush so as to execute a diagonal wiping stroke whose angle is defined by said acute angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 5 wherein said obtuse angle is about 155* and said acute angle is about 25* .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
210 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said brush support frame comprises a substantially planar C-shaped support formed by an upper leg, a lower leg and a medial connecting leg operatively oriented with the opening between said upper and lower legs facing said automobile during the path of movement of said washing unit, said brush being journaled for rotation in said opening between said support upper and lower legs, said C-shaped support being mounted to a pair of overhead support bars, said support bars being mounted to the frame of said washing unit, first pivotal means joining said C-shaped support to said overhead support bars, second pivotal means joining said overhead support bars to said frame, third pivotal means also joining said overhead support bars to said frame, said first and second pivotal means being in axial alignment, said third pivotal means pivoting said body washer in a direction counter to the direction of said first and second pivotal means, said first pivotal means adapting said body brush to move in said vertical plane, said second pivotal means adjusting said body washer to the width-wise dimensions of said automobile and said third pivotal means adjustIng said body washer to the length-wise dimensions of said automobile and to its characterizing shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said brush and overhead support are adapted to yieldably extend into contact with said automobile by means of tensionable springing means attached between said overhead support and said washing unit which in turn act to return the side window washer to its starting position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |