US4299003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle washing apparatus for washing the front, sides and rear of a vehicle
Assignee: NS Corp
•
Filing: 1980-09-17
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Granted: 1981-11-10
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Expires: 2000-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle wrap around type brush cleaning assembly comprised of a single brush support arm pivoted at one end to an overhead frame structure inside a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed. A rotatable brush is mounted on a shaft connected to the opposite end of the brush support arm and is normally positioned adjacent the center line of the path to be contacted by the vehicle. A brush motor rotates the brush in a direction which walks the brush along the front, side and rear surfaces of the vehicle. A flexible coupling may be utilized to couple the brush shaft to the brush support arm to permit the brush to tilt or swing in any direction. Two such brush assemblies may be mounted overhead on the frame structure on opposite sides of the center line of the path to wash both sides of the vehicle. In that instance, one of the brush support arms is of a different length than the opposite brush support arm to position the brush assemblies in an overlapping relationship near the center line of the path.
Inventors
- 👤 George T. Ennis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:00
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B60S3/06; B60S3/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A vehicle washing apparatus for washing a vehicle moving relative thereto comprising: supporting frame means extending over a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed; a single brush support arm pivotally mounted at one end by pivot means directly to said frame means at a point overhead inside said path; said pivot means being fixedly secured to said frame means to preclude forward or lateral movement of said pivot means relative to said frame means; a rotatable brush for washing the vehicle; means rotatably mounting said brush at the opposite end of said arm to normally position said brush in a position substantially underneath said opposite end and in said path to be contacted by the vehicle; and means for rotating said brush in a direction which causes said brush to walk along the surface of the vehicle due to the reactive force between the surfaces of the vehicle and said brush to wash one or more of the front, side, and rear surfaces of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A vehicle washing apparatus for washing a vehicle moving relative thereto comprising: supporting frame means extending over a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed; a single brush support arm pivotally mounted at one end by pivot means directly to said frame means at a point overhead inside said path; said pivot means being fixedly secured to said frame means to preclude forward or lateral movement of said pivot means relative to said frame means; a rotatable brush for washing the vehicle; means rotatably mounting said brush at the opposite end of said arm to normally position said brush in a position substantially underneath said opposite end and in said path to be contacted by the vehicle; and means for rotating said brush in a direction which causes said brush to walk along the surface of the vehicle due to the reactive force between the surfaces of the vehicle and said brush to wash one or more of the front, side, and rear surfaces of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said brush support arm is pivotally mounted to said frame means at a point overhead between the center line and an outer edge of said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said arm in its normal position prior to contact of the brush by the vehicle extends inwardly from said one end towards the center line of said path a sufficient distance to position at least a portion of said brush adjacent the center line while said brush is rotating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said brush mounting means includes means for enabling said brush to tilt as it is contacted by the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said means for enabling said brush to tilt comprises flexible coupling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 1 which includes means connected between said brush mounting means and said arm to regulate movement of said brush.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
196 words
A vehicle washing apparatus for washing a vehicle moving relative thereto comprising: supporting frame means extending over a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed; a pair of rotating brush assemblies mounted overhead on said frame means on opposite sides of the center line of said path, each of said brush assemblies comprising: a single brush support arm pivotally mounted at one end by pivot means directly to said frame means at a point overhead inside said path said pivot means being fixedly secured to said frame means to preclude forward or lateral movement of said pivot means relative to said frame means; a rotatable brush for washing the vehicle; means rotatably mounting said brush at the opposite end of said arm to normally position said brush in a position substantially underneath said opposite end and in said path to be contacted by the vehicle; and means for rotating said brush in a direction which causes said brush to walk along the surface of the vehicle due to the reactive force between the surface of the vehicle and said brush to wash one or more of the front, side, and rear surfaces of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
A vehicle washing apparatus for washing a vehicle moving relative thereto comprising: supporting frame means extending over a predetermined path of a vehicle to be washed; a pair of rotating brush assemblies mounted overhead on said frame means on opposite sides of the center line of said path, each of said brush assemblies comprising: a single brush support arm pivotally mounted at one end by pivot means directly to said frame means at a point overhead inside said path said pivot means being fixedly secured to said frame means to preclude forward or lateral movement of said pivot means relative to said frame means; a rotatable brush for washing the vehicle; means rotatably mounting said brush at the opposite end of said arm to normally position said brush in a position substantially underneath said opposite end and in said path to be contacted by the vehicle; and means for rotating said brush in a direction which causes said brush to walk along the surface of the vehicle due to the reactive force between the surface of the vehicle and said brush to wash one or more of the front, side, and rear surfaces of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein each said brush support arm is pivotally mounted to said frame means at a point overhead between the center line and an outer edge of said path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein each said arm in its normal position prior to contact of the brush by the vehicle extends inwardly from said one end towards the center line of said path a sufficient distance to position at least a portion of said brush adjacent the center line while said brush is rotating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said brush support arm in one of said brush assemblies is of a different length than the brush support arm in the other of said brush assemblies to position said brush assemblies in an overlapping relationship near the center line of the path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said brush mounting means includes means for enabling said brush to tilt as it is contacted by the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said means for enabling said brush to tilt comprises flexible coupling means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle washing apparatus defined in claim 7 which includes means connected between each said brush mounting means and said arm to regulate movement of said brush.
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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) | 1984-11-09 | 1985-05-11 | 1985-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-09 | 1989-05-11 | 1989-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-09 | 1993-05-11 | 1993-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |