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CA-3032749-C - PORTABLE FOAM BRUSH

CA3032749CCA 3032749 CCA3032749 CCA 3032749CCA-3032749-C

Abstract

A portable foam brush includes a soap reservoir, such as optionally in a base or in a wand, a foaming chamber, and an air compressor, such as optionally battery-operated air compressor. The compressor is configured for supplying air to act upon the soap from the reservoir to cause dispensing of soap to the foaming chamber. In some embodiments, the compressor may also supply air to the foaming chamber. In use, the soap and the air in the foaming chamber combine to form an air and soap foam. The brush includes a brush end configured for receiving foam from the foaming chamber and dispensing the foam.

Inventors

  • Leon Trudeau

Assignees

  • Leon Trudeau

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20170726
Priority Date
20160726

Claims (20)

  1. Claims: 1. A portable foam brush comprising: a soap reservoir; a foaming chamber; a battery-operated air compressor configured for supplying air to act upon the soap reservoir to cause dispensing of soap from the soap reservoir to the foaming chamber and independently supplying air to the foaming chamber whereby, in use, the soap and the air in the foaming chamber combine to form a foam; and a brush end configured for receiving foam from the foaming chamber and dispensing the foam.
  2. 2. The portable foam brush of claim 1, wherein the soap reservoir has a movable piston dividing the reservoir into a chamber for containing soap and an actuation chamber, the actuation chamber being configured to be acted upon by air from the air compressor for moving the piston to decrease the size of the chamber for containing soap to thereby dispense soap therefrom.
  3. 3. The portable foam brush of claim 1 or 2, wherein the air compressor supplies air to act upon the soap reservoir via a soap reservoir air path and the air compressor supplies air to the foaming chamber via a foaming chamber air path, the soap reservoir and foaming chamber air paths having portions that are independent.
  4. 4. The portable foam brush of claim 3, wherein the foaming chamber air path is disposed exteriorly of the soap reservoir.
  5. 5. The portable foam brush of claim 3, wherein the foaming chamber air path has a segment extending through the soap reservoir.
  6. 6. The portable foam brush of claim 2, wherein the air compressor supplies air to act upon the soap reservoir via a soap reservoir air path and the air compressor supplies air to the foaming chamber via a foaming chamber air path, the soap reservoir and foaming chamber air paths having portions that are independent, and wherein the foaming chamber air path has a segment extending through the soap reservoir, and the segment of the foaming chamber air path extends at least in part in a conduit extending through the chamber for containing soap and the actuation chamber. 18
  7. 7. The portable foam brush of claim 6, wherein the conduit extends through an aperture in the moveable piston.
  8. 8. The portable foam brush of claim 3, wherein the foam chamber air path includes an adjustment valve for adjusting the amount of air delivered to the foaming chamber.
  9. 9. The portable foam brush of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a soap reservoir filling valve assembly is provided between the soap reservoir and the foaming chamber, the soap reservoir filling valve assembly having a filling mode, whereby soap can be introduced into the soap reservoir and is blocked from entering the foaming chamber, and a dispensing mode, whereby soap can be dispensed from the soap reservoir into the foaming chamber.
  10. 10. The portable foam brush of claim 9, wherein air flow from the air compressor to the foaming chamber is blocked when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the filling mode and air flow from the air compressor to the foaming chamber is permitted when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the dispensing mode.
  11. 11. The portable foam brush of claim 10, wherein an air vent of the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in an open position when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the filling mode to permit surplus air to vent from the soap reservoir and the air vent is in a closed position when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the dispensing mode.
  12. 12. The portable foam brush of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a controller of the flow of soap into and out of the soap reservoir is provided between the soap reservoir and the foaming chamber.
  13. 13. The portable foam brush of claim 12, further comprising a controller for venting of air from the soap reservoir.
  14. 14. The portable foam brush of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a brush bristle assembly is attached to the brush end for receiving foam from the foaming chamber and dispensing the foam.
  15. 15. The portable foam brush of any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a disconnectable recharging station for recharging of a battery associated with the battery operated air compressor in order to permit cordless electrical operation of the brush.
  16. 16. The portable foam brush of any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a disconnectable soap refilling station configured for filling the soap reservoir with soap in order to permit hoseless fluid operation of the brush. 19
  17. 17. A portable foam brush comprising: a soap reservoir; a foaming chamber; a battery-operated air compressor configured for supplying air to act upon the soap reservoir to cause dispensing of soap from the soap reservoir to the foaming chamber and independently supplying air to the foaming chamber whereby, in use, the soap and the air in the foaming chamber combine to form a foam; and a brush end configured for receiving foam from the foaming chamber and dispensing the foam; and wherein the soap reservoir has a movable piston dividing the reservoir into a chamber for containing soap and an actuation chamber, the actuation chamber being configured to be acted upon by air from the air compressor for moving the piston to decrease the size of the chamber for containing soap to thereby dispense soap therefrom.
  18. 18. The portable foam brush of claim 17, wherein the air compressor supplies air to act upon the soap reservoir via a soap reservoir air path and the air compressor supplies air to the foaming chamber via a foaming chamber air path, the soap reservoir and foaming chamber air paths having portions that are independent.
  19. 19. The portable foam brush of claim 18, wherein the foaming chamber air path is disposed exteriorly of the soap reservoir.
  20. 20. The portable foam brush of claim 18, wherein the foaming chamber air path has a segment extending through the soap reservoir.

Description

PORTABLE FOAM BRUSH CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/366,944 filed July 26, 2016, and from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/445,81 O filed January 13, 2017. FIELD [0002] Foam brushes are described herein and, in particular, foam brushes configured for portable use with a soap reservoir disposed in a base or a foam brush wand. BACKGROUND [0003] Foam brushes generate and dispense foam for use in cleaning, such as cleaning of building exteriors and vehicles, including automobiles, boats, and campers. Foam brushes can be used to apply foam during scrubbing of surfaces of the vehicles. The foam is generated by mixing air and soap. The foam and dirt can then subsequently be removed using a pressure washer. [0004] In self-service and commercial car washes foam brushes are often attached using a hose to a source of soap and air. This hose attachment can render the foam brush cumbersome to use. For example, the hose can drag across the floor of the washing bay, picking up grit and other debris, which can then undesirably transfer to the vehicle upon contact. Yet another disadvantage of the use of hose-tethered foam brushes is that the hose can limit the mobility of the foam brush, such as in reaching certain locations on a vehicle. For instance, the hose can become pinched under wheels, or require a user to work in certain orientations. SUMMARY [0005] Advantageously, a portable foam brush is provided that is configured for use in cleaning without requiring tethering via a cord or hose for electrical and/or fluid supply. The portable foam brush wand can include a rechargeable battery for powering the wand and a reservoir for soap. More specifically, the portable foam brush can include a soap reservoir, a foaming chamber, and a battery-operated air compressor. The compressor can also be configured for supplying air to act upon the soap reservoir to cause dispensing of soap from 1 Date Rec;ue/Date Received 2022-07-19 WO 2018/022753 PCT/US2017 /043944 the soap reservoir to the foaming chamber. The compressor can also be also configured to independently supply air to the foaming chamber. In use, the soap and the air in the foaming chamber combine to form a foam. The brush can include a brush end configured for receiving foam from the foaming chamber and dispensing the foam. [0006] In one aspect, the soap reservoir has a movable piston dividing the reservoir into a chamber for containing soap and an actuation chamber. The actuation chamber is configured to be acted upon by air from the air compressor for moving the piston to decrease the size of the chamber for containing soap to dispense soap from that chamber. [0007] In another aspect, the air compressor supplies air to act upon the soap reservoir via a soap reservoir air path. The air compressor also supplies air to the foaming chamber via a foaming chamber air path. The soap reservoir and foaming chamber air paths can have portions that are independent. The foaming chamber air path can be disposed exteriorly of the soap reservoir, or, in another form, the foaming chamber air path can have a segment extending through the soap reservoir and, in a specific form, a segment of the foaming chamber air path extends at least in part in a conduit extending through the chamber for containing soap and the actuation chamber and can extend through an aperture in the moveable piston. The foam chamber air path may include an adjustment valve for adjusting the amount of air delivered to the foaming chamber. [0008] In yet another aspect, a soap reservoir filling valve assembly is provided between the soap reservoir and the foaming chamber. The soap reservoir filling valve assembly has a filling mode, whereby soap can be introduced into the soap reservoir and is blocked from entering the foaming chamber. The soap reservoir filling valve assembly also has a dispensing mode, whereby soap can be dispensed from the soap reservoir into the foaming chamber. Air flow from the air compressor to the foaming chamber can be blocked when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the filling mode. Conversely, air flow from the air compressor to the foaming chamber can be permitted when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the dispensing mode. The valve can include an air vent with an open position when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the filling mode to permit surplus air to vent from the soap reservoir. The air vent can be in a closed position when the soap reservoir filling valve assembly is in the dispensing mode. [0009] In another aspect, the soap reservoir has a movable piston dividing the reservoir into a chamber for containing soap and an actuation chamber. The actuation chamber can be configured to be acted upon by air from the air compressor for moving the piston to decrease the size of the chamber for containing soap to thereby dispense soap therefrom.