In-situ landing light cleaning apparatus

• US 20040226576A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Martin Hambalek
• Original Assignee: Martin Hambalek
• Inventors: Hambalek, Martin
• Application Number:
  US10/436,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226576A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3073 Brush for cleaning specific unusual places not otherwise covered, e.g. gutters, golf clubs, tops of tin cans, corners
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/00 Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members

Abstract

An In-Situ Landing Light Cleaning Apparatus is disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus that permits the user to easily and thoroughly clean landing light lenses without the need for their removal and transportation to a remote cleaning machine. The apparatus has a cylindrical arrangement of brush bristles directed inwardly from a cylindrical substrate. The cylindrical substrate may be attachable to a conventional power drill or other rotating power tool by a shaft such that the cylinder can be power-rotated. The cylindrical brush member having the brush bristles is detachable so that new bristles can be installed when wear and tear mandates it. The cylindrical substrate further has a closed top end portion having a flat bristle brush insert for cleaning the top surface of the lenses.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning landing light lenses, comprising:

a generally cylindrical brush insert defined by a cylindrical substrate defining a diameter sized to accept a landing light lens therein and a plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the inner surface of said cylindrical substrate; and

a drive shaft attached to said cylindrical brush insert, whereby rotating said drive shaft causes said brush insert to rotate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a canister portion having a generally cylindrical shape and a curved inside wall and a flat wall at a closed end, said flat wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, said drive shaft extending from said outer surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a top brush insert attached to said inner surface of said closed end.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said cylindrical substrate of said cylindrical brush insert defines an outer diameter cooperatively sized to fit within said canister portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said cylindrical brush insert and said top brush insert are detachably attached to said canister portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said cylindrical brush insert and said top brush insert are attached to said canister portion with a plurality of bolts.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said drive shaft is further defined by a distal end having a non-circular cross-section.

8. A method for cleaning landing light assembly lenses, comprising the steps of:

applying an apparatus over said lenses, said apparatus comprising;

a generally cylindrical brush insert defined by a cylindrical substrate defining a diameter sized to accept a landing light lens therein and a plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the inner surface of said cylindrical substrate; and

a drive shaft attached to said cylindrical brush insert, whereby rotating said drive shaft causes said brush insert to rotate; and

rotating said apparatus until said lens is sufficiently clean.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said applying step comprises said apparatus further comprising a canister portion having a generally cylindrical shape and a curved inside wall and a flat wall at a closed end, said flat wall defining an inner surface and an outer surface, said drive shaft extending from said outer surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said applying step comprises said apparatus further comprising a top brush insert attached to said inner surface of said closed end.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said applying step comprises said apparatus further comprising said cylindrical substrate of said cylindrical brush insert defining an outer diameter cooperatively sized to fit within said canister portion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said applying step comprises said apparatus further comprising said cylindrical brush insert and said top brush insert are detachably attached to said canister portion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said applying step comprises said apparatus further comprising said cylindrical brush insert and said top brush insert are attached to said canister portion with a plurality of bolts.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said applying step comprises said apparatus further comprising said drive shaft is further defined by a distal end having a non-circular cross-section.

15. A runway landing light lens cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a canister portion defined by a closed end and an open end and a generally cylindrical wall forming an inner chamber;

a drive shaft extending from said closed end and terminating in a distal end, said distal end configured to be grasped by a conventional drill;

a top brush insert inserted into said inner chamber and attached to said closed end; and

a cylindrical brush insert inserted into said inner chamber and attached to said cylindrical wall.