US4365381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chimney cleaner
Assignee: SCHAEFER BRUSH MANUFACTURING COMPANY Inc A WI CORP
•
Filing: 1981-05-28
•
Granted: 1982-12-28
•
Expires: 2001-05-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved chimney cleaner for removing soot from the insides of chimneys. A lower plate is orthogonally connected to a vertical support member. An upper plate, which is the same shape as but smaller than the lower plate, is located over and concentric with the lower plate, so that the vertical support member passes slidably through the upper plate. Cleaning rods are connected to the perimeter of the upper plate, and pass slidably through holes near the perimeter of the lower plate, ending in scraping portions which engage the chimney walls and do the actual soot removal. A support line is attached to the top of the vertical support member, to be pulled by the operator during the cleaning operation. A control line is also attached to the top of the vertical support member. This line is then threaded through an eyelet connected to the upper plate, and held by the operator. When the cleaner becomes snagged on a protrusion on the inside wall, the operator pulls this control line, which forces the upper and lower plates apart, in turn pulling the scraping portions of the cleaning rods inward away fron the protrusion, unsnagging the cleaner.
Inventors
- 👤 Orin E. Neuman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:49
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23J; F23J3/00; F23J3/02; F23J3/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A chimney cleaner for removing soot deposits from the inside walls of chimneys, which walls have protrusions of mortar and the like, comprising: a vertical support member secured orthogonally at its lower end to a lower plate; an upper plate having an aperture near its center such that said vertical support member passes slidably through it, said upper plate thus being approximately vertically aligned with, smaller than, and approximately the same shape as said lower plate; a plurality of rod-like cleaning members looped pivotably through apertures around the perimeter of said upper plate, passing slidably through similar apertures around the perimeter of said lower plate, and ending in z-shaped scraping portions for engagement with the inside chimney walls, such that when said plates are caused to approach each other, said scraping portions are faced outward toward the walls; and means for disengaging said scraping portions of said cleaning members from any snags they may encounter with the protrusions of the inside walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A chimney cleaner for removing soot deposits from the inside walls of chimneys, which walls have protrusions of mortar and the like, comprising: a vertical support member secured orthogonally at its lower end to a lower plate; an upper plate having an aperture near its center such that said vertical support member passes slidably through it, said upper plate thus being approximately vertically aligned with, smaller than, and approximately the same shape as said lower plate; a plurality of rod-like cleaning members looped pivotably through apertures around the perimeter of said upper plate, passing slidably through similar apertures around the perimeter of said lower plate, and ending in z-shaped scraping portions for engagement with the inside chimney walls, such that when said plates are caused to approach each other, said scraping portions are faced outward toward the walls; and means for disengaging said scraping portions of said cleaning members from any snags they may encounter with the protrusions of the inside walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A chimney cleaner as recited in claim 1 wherein said disengaging means comprises remote means for causing said scraping portions to move together, such that the person operating the chimney cleaner need not use some other tool to dislodge it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A chimney cleaner as recited in claim 2 wherein said remote means comprises a control line, one end of which is held by the operator, and the other end of which is threaded through an eyelet attached to said upper plate, and secured to the upper end of said vertical support member, such that when the operator pulls said control line, said vertical support member is forced downward, moving said lower plate away from said upper plate, in turn causing said scraping portions of said cleaning members to move together, disengaging the cleaner from the snag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
An improved chimney cleaner for removing soot deposits from the inside walls of chimneys, which walls have protrusions of mortar and the like having a vertical support member secured orthogonally at its lower end to a lower plate; and upper plate having an aperture near its center such that said vertical support member passes slidably through it, said upper plate thus being approximately vertically aligned with, smaller than, and approximately the same shape as said lower plate; cleaning members looped pivotably through apertures around the perimeter of said upper plate, passing slidably through similar apertures around the perimeter of said lower plate, and ending in scraping portions for scraping the soot from the inside walls, the improvement comprising: means for disengaging said scraping portions from any snags they may encounter with the protrusions of the inside walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
An improved chimney cleaner for removing soot deposits from the inside walls of chimneys, which walls have protrusions of mortar and the like having a vertical support member secured orthogonally at its lower end to a lower plate; and upper plate having an aperture near its center such that said vertical support member passes slidably through it, said upper plate thus being approximately vertically aligned with, smaller than, and approximately the same shape as said lower plate; cleaning members looped pivotably through apertures around the perimeter of said upper plate, passing slidably through similar apertures around the perimeter of said lower plate, and ending in scraping portions for scraping the soot from the inside walls, the improvement comprising: means for disengaging said scraping portions from any snags they may encounter with the protrusions of the inside walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An improved chimney cleaner as recited in claim 4 wherein said disengaging means comprises remote means for causing said scraping portions to move together, away from the inside walls of the chimney and any protrusions thereon, such that the person operating the chimney cleaner need not use some other tool to disengage it from any snag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
An improved chimney cleaner as recited in claim 5 wherein said remote means comprises a control line, one end of which is held by the operator, and the other end of which is threaded through an eyelet attached to said upper plate,and secured to the upper end of said vertical support member; such that when the operator pulls said control line, said vertical support member is forced downward, moving said lower plate and said upper plate apart, causing said scraping portions to move together, away from the inside walls of the chimney and any protrusion thereon.
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) | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | 1986-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-27 | 1990-06-28 | 1990-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-27 | 1994-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |