US3793667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle-washing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-27
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-03-27
Abstract
Abstract Two rotary scrubbing brushes, suspended from the lintel of a portal frame which straddles the path of a vehicle to be washed, are so balanced as to hang at an angle from the upper corners of the frame with their lower ends touching or crossing in the region of the centerline of the path. According to its direction of rotation, a brush coming into contact with an end of a vehicle moving relatively to the portal frame is swung either outwardly, to scrub a side of the vehicle, or upwardly to sweep a horizontal top surface thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 U Capra
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B60S3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for washing a vehicle, comprising: a portal frame straddling a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed, said frame and said vehicle being relatively movable along said path; a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes fulcrumed near respective corners of said frame for swinging movement in a plane perpendicular to said path, said brushes being balanced to hang down along downwardly converging inclined axes; and drive means for imparting rotary and swinging motion to said brush.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for washing a vehicle, comprising: a portal frame straddling a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed, said frame and said vehicle being relatively movable along said path; a pair of rotary scrubbing brushes fulcrumed near respective corners of said frame for swinging movement in a plane perpendicular to said path, said brushes being balanced to hang down along downwardly converging inclined axes; and drive means for imparting rotary and swinging motion to said brush.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said brushes in an idle condition have their lower ends disposed substantially at a centerline of said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said brushes are mounted on opposite faces of said frame with their lower ends crossing over the region of said centerline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said brushes are pivoted to at least one member of said frame rotatable about a horizontal axis transverse to said path whereby each brush can yield to pressure in the direction of relative vehicle motion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a supplemental horizontal scrubbing brush carried on said frame for sweeping an upper vehicle surface, said pair of brushes being swingable laterally outwardly for sweeping end and side surfaces of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said pair of brushes are mounted on one face of said frame, said supplemental brush being mounted on the opposite face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said brushes are provided with jack means for swinging same laterally outwardly to clear the path of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said brushes is swingable through substantially 90* between a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said brushes are provided with respective shafts and with brackets forming journal bearings for said shafts pivoted to said frame, said drive means including respective motors carried on said brackets above said journal bearings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said brackets are provided with transverse arms pivoted to said frame at fulcra offset from their axes of rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said brackets are provided with off-axial weight means for tilting said brushes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |