Wheel washer

• US 8,302,241 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John W. Reed
• Original Assignee: John W. Reed
• Inventors: Reed, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/437,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 15/532, 15/533, 15/534, 15D/IG.2
• US Class Current: 15/53.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/042 Wheel cleaning devices integral with vehicle B60S1/00

Abstract

A wheel washer includes a frame. The wheel washer also includes a arm attachable to the frame, the arm being capable of movement with respect to the frame. The wheel washer further includes a brush attachable to the arm, the brush being capable of movement both in and out with respect to a surface of the frame and being capable of rotation in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. The arm can be an articulated arm or a multi-axis arm.

Claims

1. A wheel washer, comprising:

a frame;

an arm coupled to an outer surface of the frame, the arm being capable of movement with respect to the frame; and

a brush attachable to the arm, the brush being capable of movement both in and out with respect to the outer surface of the frame and being capable of rotation in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction,

wherein the brush includes an inner brush portion and an outer brush portion that surrounds the inner brush portion, and

wherein the inner brush portion and the outer brush portion are capable of rotational movement in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction,

wherein the inner brush portion extends outwards with respect to the outer brush portion when the inner brush portion and the outer brush portion both rotate in the first rotational direction, so that the inner brush portion becomes more closely positioned than the outer brush portion with respect to a wheel of a vehicle to be cleaned by the wheel washer, and

wherein the inner brush portion is positioned inwards with respect to the outer brush portion when the inner brush portion and the outer brush portion rotate in the second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, so that the outer brush portion becomes more closely positioned than the inner brush portion with respect to the wheel of a vehicle to be cleaned by the wheel washer.

2. The wheel washer according to claim 1, wherein the arm has a first end hingedly or pivotably coupled to the frame and a second end on which the brush is attached.

3. The wheel washer according to claim 1, wherein the brush is detachable from the arm by application of a small force to the arm.

4. The wheel washer according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises:

a pair of clamps for holding a wheel in place with respect to the frame; and

means for moving the frame upwards or downwards with respect to the wheel.

5. The wheel washer according to claim 4, wherein the frame further comprises:

rollers attached to a lower surface of the frame, to allow the wheel washer to be easily moved from one position to another position.

6. The wheel washer according to claim 1, wherein the frame of each of the plurality of wheel washer units further comprises:

rollers attached to a lower surface of the frame, to allow the wheel washer to be moved from one position to another position by way of signals provided by the control unit.

7. The wheel washer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a ratchet device configured to move, by mechanical ratcheting action, the inner brush portion slightly outwards with respect to the outer brush portion when rotation of the inner brush portion and the outer brush portion changes from the second rotational direction to the first rotational direction.

8. The wheel washer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit configured to receive information as to a particular shape and dimension of a wheel and/or hubcap of the vehicle,

wherein the control unit controls linear movement and rotational rate and rotational direction of the brush so as to clean the wheel and/or hubcap in accordance with the particular shape and dimension of the wheel and/or hubcap.