US20250031932A1

US20250031932A1 - Brush Assembly

Info

Publication number: US20250031932A1
Application number: US18/661,585
Authority: US
Inventors: Brian Naftal; Todd Kassabian; Tom Vokes
Original assignee: Keystone Plastics Inc
Current assignee: Keystone Plastics Inc
Priority date: 2023-07-29
Filing date: 2024-05-11
Publication date: 2025-01-30
Also published as: WO2025029699A1

Abstract

A brush assembly including a substrate and a brush element for removably attachable to a mount of a sweeping apparatus. The substate has a footprint that extend beyond the mount of the sweeping apparatus. The top surface of the substrate abuts the mount of the sweeping apparatus. The bottom surface of the substrate has at least one channel, with at least a portion of the channel in the footprint beyond the mount. A first type of bristle elements extends from the bottom surface of the substrate. The brush element has an upper section and a lower section. A second type of bristle elements extend from the lower section. The upper section is configured to be secured in the channel. The brush element can be easily removable from the substrate without the need to dismount the substrate from the sweeping machine.

Description

This application claim benefit of provisional patent application No. 63/529,683 filed on Jul. 29, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a brush assembly. In particular, a brush assembly for use with a sweeping apparatus that includes a substrate for mounting to the sweeping apparatus and a plurality of brush elements on said substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sweeping apparatus, such as street sweepers or floor machines, typically has a horizontal mount that accepts/receives a brush assembly. An example of such brush assembly for a street sweeper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,202, entitled “Sweeping Machine Brush Mounting Assembly” issued to Torres et al. Disclosed in the '202 patent is a brush holder 24 that carries a plurality of bristles 20, and the brush holder 24 is then mounted to a rotating disk 22 of the sweeper 10. In order to replace the bristles 20, the brush holder 24 must be dismounted from the disk 22 of the sweeper 10. Typically, the entire brush holder 24 with bristles 20 is replaced. The bristles 20 of the '202 patent are typically uniform (same material, gauge, and length) and the brush assembly serves a single purpose of street cleaning.
To accommodate different functionality and purpose, attachments can be mounted to the brush assembly of the type shown in the '202 patent. One example of such attachment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,244,859, entitled “Broom Attachment, Broom Assembly and Method for Use Thereof” issued to Robertson et al. The '859 patent discloses a broom attachment mounted between the rotating disk and the brush holder at the perimeter of the brush assembly. The broom attachment may have bristles that are different (in material, gauge and/or length) from the bristles on the brush holder. While the broom attachment of the '859 patent is removable from the brush assembly, it can only be done with the removal of the brush holder from the rotating disk. Further, as the position of the broom attachment extends beyond the radial edge of the brush holder, the broom attachment itself is not protected from damages while in operation.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved brush assembly that includes a substrate for mounting to a sweeping machine that has a plurality of brush elements serving different function and purpose, and at least some of the brush elements are easily interchangeable and replaceable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved brush assembly that includes a substrate for holding a plurality of bristles and a plurality of brush elements and for mounting to a rotating disk of a sweeping machine. The brush elements can be easily interchangeable and replaceable for different functionality and purpose. The brush assembly does not have to be disengaged from the rotating disk of a street sweeper to change and/or replace the brush elements. The brush assembly prevents rotational movement of the brush elements and protects the brush elements from damages while in operation.
The outer edge of the substrate of the present invention is similar to a starburst, with concave edges and at least one generally pointed, but rounded, extension. The substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is configured to abut a rotating disk of a sweeping machine. The bottom surface of the substrate has a least one channel, and a through hole at the channel to the top surface. The substrate holds a plurality of bristles extending from the bottom surface. The channel and through hole receive and secure a brush element.
The brush element of the present invention has an upper section and a lower section. The lower section encapsulates at least one bristle element. The upper section is correspondingly shaped to securely fit in the channel and through hole to prevent rotational movement of the brush element.
The present invention advantageously allows the substrate to receive a first type of bristle element for the intended purpose of the brush assembly, and yet have the option to easily improve or temporarily alter the intended purpose by providing the ability to add a second or third type of bristle elements with the brush elements of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and are shown in the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, forming a part of the specification wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the substrate and two different brush elements of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a section of the substrate with a bar shape brush element mounted thereon.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken across line 3-3 of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is enlarged view of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a top view of a section of the substrate with a tuft brush element mounted thereon.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken across line 6-6 of FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of a bar shape brush element of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of a tuft brush element of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a tuft brush element of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a section of the substrate with a perspective view of the upper portion of a tuft brush element.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a section of the substrate with a tuft brush element mounted thereon.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of FIG. 12 .

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a section of the substrate with a bar shape brush element being mounted thereon.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the substrate of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 16 .

FIG. 18 is a rear elevational view of a bar shape brush element of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of FIG. 18 .

FIG. 20 is a side view of the upper portion of the bar shape brush element of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of FIG. 20 .

FIG. 22 is a front elevational view of another version of a tuft brush element of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view of the tuft brush element of FIG. 22 mounted on a substrate of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of a section of the substrate of FIG. 23 .

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 24 .

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of another version of a bar shape brush element.

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of a section of the substrate with the bar shape brush element of FIG. 26 mounted thereon.

FIG. 28 is a cross sectional view taken across line 28-28 of FIG. 27 .

FIG. 29 is a top plan view of a substrate with two brush elements of FIG. 30 mounted thereon.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another version of a bar shape brush element of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a side view of the substrate having prior art bristles with a tuft brush element of the present invention mounted thereon, at an at rest position.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of FIG. 31 , with the tuft brush element shown in an operational position.

FIG. 33 is a top plan view showing a plurality of the substrate shown in FIG. 31 mounted on a rotating disk of a sweeping machine in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a brush assembly 10 that includes a substrate 100 for holding a plurality of brush elements 200/300 and for mounting to a sweeping machine S (see FIG. 33 ).

Substrate

100

As shown in FIGS. 1, 16 and 17 , substrate 100 is similar to the brush holder 24 of the '202 patent, with a plurality of holes 101 for receiving bristles B (see FIGS. 31 and 32 ) that are formed by bending wires into U-shape. The substrate 100 as shown has two rows of rectangular holes 101; however, there can be more or less number of rows and any number of holes 101. The substrate 100 also has a plurality of through circular holes 102 for mounting the substrate 100 to a rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S (see FIG. 33 ). When the substrate 100 is mounted to the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S, which has a specific footprint, with the edge of the disk D illustrated as curve A-A in FIG. 16 , the rotating disk D covers all the rectangular holes 100 to keep the U-shape wires in place (see FIG. 33 ).
Unlike the brush holder 24 of the '202 patent, outer edge of substrate 100 is similar to a starburst, with a plurality of generally pointed, but rounded, extensions 103 and concave edges 104 between the extensions 103. Each extension 103 acts as a bumper to protect the substrate 100, the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S, and the brush elements 200/300 because it extends beyond the edge of the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S and has a footprint that extend beyond the rotating disk D when mounted thereon. The rounded extensions 103 are located in a footprint that is beyond the footprint of the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S when the substrate is mounted (see FIG. 33 ). The top surface of the extension 103 has a depression 105. At the bottom surface of the extension 103 is an elongated channel 106. The axis of the elongated channel 106 is generally tangential to the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S (although it can also be at an angle from the tangent line). At the center of the depression 105 is a through hole 107 that extends to the center of the channel 106. Channel 106 has opposing side walls 109. As shown in FIG. 11 , the upper portion 107 a of the hole 107 near the top surface of the extension 103 is circular, whereas the lower portion 107 b of the hole 107 near the bottom surface of the extension 103 is hexagonal. Lower portion 107 b can be other non-circular shapes such as triangle, square, semi-circle, or other random geometric or non-geometric shapes.
FIGS. 1, 16, and 17 show the substrate 100 with a generally annulus sector shape (i.e. a wedge between two concentric circles). However, substrate 100 can have any shape, such as rectangle, curve outer edge and linear inner edge, trapezoidal, or other geometric or non-geometric shapes. It is contemplated that one or more substrates 100 are mounted to a sweeping machine S.
FIGS. 1, 16, and 17 show the extensions 103 and concave edges 104 as evenly spaced apart. However, the extensions 103 can be randomly spaced and there can be more or less number of extensions 103 for each substrate 100. Each extension 103 can extend radially outward at different distance, and non-uniformly shaped also.
Depending on how closely spaced the extensions 103 are to each other, the channel 106 of each extension 103 can be so closely adjacent each other to essentially form a polygon when a plurality of substrate 100 is used to form a circle for mounting to a rotating disk D of a sweeping machine S.
The channel 106 is shown to be linear, but it can also be curved or has any shape, such as zig zag, wavy, etc. The plurality of channels 106 can be integrated and form a radial channel.

Brush Element 200 (Bar Shape)

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, 8, 15, and 18-21 , brush element 200 has a plurality of metal cables 201 aligned in a row. The upper ends of the cables 201 are attached to a bar element 202. The bar element 202 has a lower section 203 that encapsulates the upper ends of the cables 201, and an upper section 204 that extends from one planar surface of the lower section 203. At the center of the upper section 204 is a hexagonal shape protrusion 205. The hexagonal protrusion 205 is internally threaded. Note that in FIG. 8 , brush element 200 optionally does not disclose an upper section 204, and the hexagonal shape protrusion 205 extends directly from the lower section 203 of the bar element 202.
Brush element 200 is shown with 14 cables 201 in a row, on one layer. However, more or less number of cables 201 can be used and there can be multiple layers of cable. Instead of metal cables 201 as the bristle element, brush element 200 can use different material based on what the brush assembly 10 is being used for. For example, metal wires, plastic filaments, fabric, or a combination of different material, etc. can be used instead of metal cables 201. While the cables 201 are shown to have uniform lengths, different lengths of cables 201 can be used in brush element 200.
To form brush element 200, the upper ends of the plurality of metal cables 201 are placed at the horizontal portion of a T-shape flat sheet metal in the same alignment and width as the vertical portion of the T. The left and right arms of the horizontal portion of the Tis then folded over the upper ends of the metal cables 201 and then welded together to encapsulate the upper ends of the metal cables 201, which form the lower section 203 of the bar element 202. The vertical portion of the T forms the upper section 204 of the bar element 202. A notch is provided at the center of the horizontal portion of the T-shape to receive the hexagonal shape protrusion 205, which is welded to the flat sheet metal.

Brush Element 300 (Tuft)

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5-7, 9-14 brush element 300 has a plurality of metal cables 301 in a tuft. The upper ends of the cables 301 are encapsulated in a circular tube 302. Extending above the tube 302 is a hexagonal shape protrusion 303. The hexagonal protrusion 303 is internally threaded.
Brush element 300 is shown with 6 cables 301. However, more or less number of cables 301 can be used and can be bunched into a non-circular shape. Instead of metal cables 301 as the bristle element, brush element 300 can use different material based on what the brush assembly is being used for. For example, metal wires, plastic filaments, fabric, or a combination of different material, etc. can be use instead of metal cables 301. While the cables 301 are shown to have uniform lengths, different lengths of cables 301 can be used in a brush element 300.
To form brush element 300, the upper ends of the plurality of metal cables 301 are placed within a circular tube 302, pinched and welded together to encapsulate the upper ends of the metal cables 301. The hexagonal shape protrusion 303 is welded to the top of the tube 302.
Brush element 300 may optionally include wings 304 (illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 9 ) extending from opposite sides of the tube 302 to resemble the upper section 204 of brush element 200.

Brush Assembly

10

The brush assembly 10 of the present invention is formed by attaching brush elements 200 or 300 into the substrate 100. Brush elements 200 or 300 are removably attachable to substrate 100. Brush assembly 10 may include only a plurality of brush elements 200 or only a plurality of brush elements 300 or a combination of at least one of each brush elements 200 and 300 secured to the substrate 100.
Brush Assembly 10 with Brush Element 200 (Bar Shape)
As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 15 , to mount brush element 200 to substrate 100, the hexagonal protrusion 205 is inserted into the lower portion 107 b of hole 107, which is correspondingly sized and shaped. The bar element 202 aligns and wedges in channel 106 abutting at least one of the side walls 109. A cap screw 400 with a hex socket is inserted into hole 107 and interacts with the internal threading of hexagonal protrusion 205 to draw up and secure the brush element 200 to substrate 100. A washer 401 may be used between the cap screw 400 and substrate 100.
While the figures show the cap screw 400 being above the top surface of the substrate 100, the depression 105 may be deeper and/or the cap of the cap screw 400 shorter such that the cap screw 400 is flushed with or below the top surface of the substrate 100 (see FIG. 29 ).
When the brush assembly 10 with brush element 200 is mounted to the disk D of the sweeping machine S having a footprint, with the edge of the disk D illustrated as curve A-A in FIG. 16 , the cap screw 400 is beyond the footprint and advantageously remains accessible such that the brush element 200 can be easily replaced or exchanged without the need to dismount the substrate 100 from the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S (see FIG. 33 ).
The interaction of the bar element 202 with the side walls 109 of channel 106 and the interaction of the hexagonal protrusion 205 with the lower portion 107 b of hole 107 advantageously ensure the brush element 200 is fixed and would not rotate while the brush assembly 10 is mounted to a sweeping machine S that is in operation. The extension 103 provides protection of the brush element 200 mounted thereon.
The bar element 202 is shown to be linear to correspond to the linear channel 106 as shown. However, the bar element 202 and the channel 106 can have different shapes (such as curve, zig-zag, wavy, random, etc.), so long as they correspond to each other to maximize the interaction and to prevent rotation of brush element 200.
Brush Assembly 10 with Brush Element 300 (Tuft)
As shown in FIGS. 5-7, 11-14 , similar to the brush assembly 10 with brush element 200, to mount brush element 300 to substrate 100, the hexagonal protrusion 303 is inserted into the lower portion 107 b of hole 107, which is correspondingly sized and shaped. The hexagonal protrusion 303 aligns and wedges in channel 106. A cap screw 400 with a hex socket is inserted into hole 107 and interacts with the internal threading of hexagonal protrusion 303 to draw up and secure the brush element 300 to substrate 100. A washer 401 may be used between the cap screw 400 and substrate 100.
While the figures show the cap screw 400 being above the top surface of the substrate 100, the depression 105 may be deeper and/or the cap of the cap screw 400 shorter such that the cap screw 400 is flushed with or below the top surface of the substrate 100 (see FIG. 29 ).
When the brush assembly 10 with brush element 300 is mounted to the disk D of the sweeping machine S having a footprint, with the edge of the disk D illustrated as curve A-A in FIG. 16 , the cap screw 400 is beyond the footprint and advantageously remains accessible such that the brush element 300 can be easily replaced or exchanged without the need to dismount the substrate 100 from the disk D of the sweeping machine S (see FIG. 33 ).
The interaction of the hexagonal protrusion 303 with the side walls 109 of channel 106 and the interaction of the hexagonal protrusion 303 with the lower portion 107 b of hole 107 advantageously ensure the brush element 300 is fixed and would not rotate while the brush assembly 10 is mounted to a sweeping machine S that is in operation. Unlike the brush element 200, brush element 300 does not have a bar element 202 that aligns and wedges in channel 106. Therefore, when brush element 300 is used, channel 106 is not required to be present and the lower portion 107 b of hole 107 may be sufficient to secure brush element 300 to substrate 100. Optional wings 304 that extend from opposite sides of tube 302 interact and wedge in the side walls 109 of channel 106 to further ensure brush element 300 is fixed and would not rotate. The extension 103 provides protection of the brush element 300 mounted thereon.
Brush Assembly 10 a with Brush Element 300 a (Tuft)
FIGS. 22-25 show a variation of a brush assembly 10 with a tuft brush element 300. Brush assembly 10 a includes substrate 100 a and brush element 300 a. Similar to brush element 300, brush element 300 a includes a plurality of metal cables 301 in a tuft. The upper ends of the cables 301 are encapsulated in a taper lock collar 303 a. Collar 303 a has a frustoconical shape with an enlarged distal end.
Any number of metal cables 301 can be used as the bristle element of brush element 300 a. Bristle element can be made of different material (metal wires, plastic filaments, fabric, or a combination of difference material, etc.) based on what the brush assembly 10 a is being used for.
Substrate 100 a is similar to substrate 100, with the hole 107 a being a tapered lock bore, with the larger hole size at the top surface and the smaller hole size at the bottom surface of the substrate 100 a. The hole 107 a is correspondingly shaped and sized as taper lock collar 303 a.
To mount brush element 300 a to substrate 100 a, the distal end of the cables 301 are inserted from the top surface of the substrate 100 a through hole 107 a. The frustoconical shape of taper lock collar 303 a is wedged and secured inside the hole 107 a.
When the brush assembly 10 a with brush element 300 a is mounted to the disk D of the sweeping machine S having a footprint, with the edge of the disk D illustrated as curve A-A in FIG. 16 , the hole 107 is beyond the footprint and advantageously remains accessible such that the brush element 300 a can be easily replaced or exchanged without the need to dismount the substrate 100 a from the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S (see FIG. 33 ).
The shapes of tube 303 a and hole 107 a are shown as generally tapered cylindrical. However, tube 303 a and hole 107 a can have different corresponding tapered shapes, such as triangular, star, polygons, etc., so long as they are correspondingly shaped and sized to allow the tube 303 a to be wedged and secured inside hole 107 a.
In comparison to brush assembly 10 with brush element 200/300, brush assembly 10 a with brush element 300 a does not require the use of a cap screw 400 and does not require any tool to assemble the brush element 300 a to substrate 10 a.
Brush Assembly 10 b with Brush Element 200 a (Bar Shape)
FIGS. 26-28 show brush assembly 10 b with brush element 200 a similar to brush element 200 with the top of the upper section 204 of bar element 202 having a plurality of spikes 206. When brush element 200 a is mounted to substrate 100, the spikes 206 are driven into the channel 106 of substrate 100 when brush element 200 a is being drawn up and secure with cap screw 400.
Brush Assembly 10 c with Brush Element 200 b (Bar Shape)
FIGS. 29-30 show brush assembly 10 c with brush element 200 b similar to brush element 200 having a plurality of metal cables 201 aligned in a row with the upper ends of the cables 201 attached to a lower section 203 b of a bar element 202 b. Unlike the upper section 204 of brush element 200, the upper section 204 b of the bar element 200 b has a hexagonal shape similar to the hexagonal protrusion 205. The hexagonal upper section 204 b is wider than hexagonal protrusion 205 and is correspondingly sized as the channel 106.
Brush element 200 b is shown with 8 cables 201 in a row, on one layer. However, more or less number of cables 201 can be used and there can be multiple layers of cable. Instead of metal cables 201 as the bristle element, brush element 200 b can use different material based on what the brush assembly 10 c is being used for. For example, metal wires, plastic filaments, fabric, or a combination of different material, etc. can be use instead of metal cables 201. While the cables 201 are shown to have uniform lengths, different lengths of cables 201 can be used in brush element 200 b.
Brush element 200 b is mounted to substrate 100 similar to how brush element 200 is mounted. The hexagonal protrusion 205 is inserted into the lower portion 107 b of hole 107, which is correspondingly sized and shaped. The upper section 204 b of bar element 202 b aligns and wedges in channel 106, with two faces of the hexagonal upper section 204 b abutting opposing side walls 109 of channel 106. A cap screw 400 with a hex socket is inserted into hole 107 and interacts with the internal threading of hexagonal protrusion 205 to draw up and secure the brush element 200 b to substrate 100. A washer 401 may be used between the cap screw 400 and substrate 100. As shown in FIG. 29 , once the brush element 200 b is secured to substrate 100, the cap screw 400 sits entirely within depression 105 below the top surface of substrate 100.
When the brush assembly 10 c with brush element 200 b is mounted to the disk D of the sweeping machine S having a footprint, with the edge of the disk D illustrated as curve A-A in FIG. 16 , the cap screw 400 is beyond the footprint and advantageously remains accessible such that the brush element 200 b can be easily replaced or exchanged without the need to dismount the substrate 100 from the rotating disk D of the sweeping machine S (see FIG. 33 ).
The interaction of the hexagonal upper section 204 b of bar element 202 b with the side walls 109 of channel 106 and the interaction of the hexagonal protrusion 205 with the lower portion 107 b of hole 107 advantageously ensure the brush element 200 b is fixed and would not rotate while the brush assembly 10 c is mounted to a sweeping machine S that is in operation. The extension 103 provides protection of the brush element 200 b mounted thereon.
The use of a hexagonal upper section 204 b of bar element 202 b instead of upper section 204 of bar element 202 advantageously allow the brush element 200 b to be mounted at different angles relative to the channel 106. FIG. 29 illustrate two brush elements 200 b mounted to substrate 100, with one brush element 200 b mounted with the lower section 203 b of bar element 202 b parallel to the channel 106 and another brush element 200 b mounted with the lower section 203 b of bar element 202 b at an angle, x, from the channel 106.
Although the upper section 204 b is shown as a hexagon shape, different polygon with less or more sides can be used (e.g. square, octagon, etc.) for a correspondingly linear channel 106. Other shapes for the upper section 204 b can be used so long as it corresponds to the shape and size of the channel 106.
Brush Assembly 10 with Brush Element 300 (Tuft) In Operation
FIGS. 31 and 32 show a fully assembled brush assembly 10 with a plurality of prior art bristles B formed from wires bent into U-shape, with one tuft brush element 300 mounted thereon. Tuft brush element 300 is shown with seven (7) metal cables 301. At an at rest position (i.e. disk D of a sweeping machine S in a raised position), as shown in FIG. 31 , the cables 301 of the brush element 300 barely touch the ground and bristles B do not. At an engaged, operational position (i.e. disk D of a sweeping machine S in a lowered position), as shown in FIG. 32 , the cables 301 are splayed from pressure of touching the ground and the bristles B just touching the ground. It is important to note that the splayed cables 301 are spread out similar to how fingers are spread out on a hand to generally align with the radius of the rotating disk D. With the tuft brush element 300 located furthest from the center of the rotating disk D, it moves at a faster speed than the bristles B. The faster moving splayed cables 301 provide a whipping action to effectively move or scoop dirt/debris from the outside edge (near the gutter G) to the center of the disk and sweeping machine (see FIG. 33 ).

Additional Features/Variations

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 , substrate 100 may optionally include additional holes 108 similar to holes 107 for receiving brush elements 200/300 that are not located at the extension 103, but adjacent or among the rectangular holes 101. A channel 106 (illustrated in dotted lines as 106 a/106 b in FIG. 17 ) may be optionally molded to the bottom surface of the substrate 100 in any direction for receiving brush elements 200/300 through holes 108. Depending on the usage of the brush assembly 10, brush elements 200/300 may be present only in holes 108 and not in holes 107 at the extensions 103.
Other methods for attaching the brush elements 200/300 to substrate 100 can be used. For example, the hexagonal protrusion 205/303 may include barbs (not shown) in addition to or instead of the hexagonal shape to be snapped/wedged into the holes 107. Another example, for brush element 300, instead of a hexagonal protrusion 303, it may be externally threaded (not shown), with the hole 107 being correspondingly internally threaded (not shown); this would allow brush element 300 to be rotatably secured to substrate 100.
The brush assembly 10 of the present invention may be used any sweeper apparatus such as a scrubber, polisher, or grinder, with the brush elements 200/300 providing secondary or tertiary actions to the intended purpose of the original brush assembly 10. By providing such secondary or tertiary actions to the original brush assembly 10, the effect provided by and the result of the brush assembly 10 is different. Some examples:

- 1. Grinding concrete with a grit brush and then adding brush element 200/300 with a soft-bristle element to the brush assembly 10 to sweep away the concrete dust;
- 2. Scrubbing an airport floor and attaching a brush element 200/300 with a material that aids in removing gum from the floor;
- 3. Using a soft bristle push broom and adding a brush element 200/300 with a coarse bristle element to the middle of the broom to help clean the heavy dirt; and
- 4. Adding brush element 200/300 with cables to an existing gutter broom to make more aggressive and weed removal.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. A brush assembly for use with a sweeping apparatus having a mount for receiving the brush assembly, the mount having a first footprint, the brush assembly comprising:

at least one substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, at least one receiving means, and a plurality of first bristle elements extending from the bottom surface of the substrate within the first footprint;

wherein said substrate has a second footprint than extends beyond the first footprint of the mount when mounted to the sweeping apparatus with said top surface adapted to abut the mount and is removably attach to the mount of the sweeping apparatus, and at least a portion of said at least one receiving means is beyond the first footprint of the mount; and

at least one brush element, each brush element having an upper section, a lower section, and a plurality of second bristle elements extending from the lower section of the brush element; wherein said upper section is configured to be removably secured in said at least one receiving means, such that at least a portion of the at least one brush element is beyond the first footprint.

2. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said receiving means is positioned in said second footprint of said substrate to allow removable attachment of such at least one brush element without the need to remove the substrate from the mount.

3. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said substrate has a starburst shape, with at least one generally pointed, and rounded, extension and concave edges adjacent said extension, and said extension is located at said second footprint.

4. The brush assembly of claim 3 wherein one of said receiving means is positioned at said extension.

5. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said receiving means comprises a through hole that extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein said through hole is correspondingly shaped and sized to receive said upper section of said brush element.

6. The brush assembly of claim 5 wherein said receiving means further comprises a channel on the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein said through hole is located at the center of the channel, and said channel is corresponding shaped and sized to receive said lower section of said brush element to prevent movement of the brush element in the substrate when the sweeping apparatus is in operation.

7. The brush assembly of claim 6 wherein the mount is circular, said channel has a longitudinal axis that is generally tangential to the radius of the mount.

8. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper section of said brush element is secured to said receiving means with a fastener.

9. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper section of said brush element is secured to said receiving means by friction.

10. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper section of said brush element has a hexagonal prism shape.

11. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said lower section of said brush element is tubular shaped and said plurality of second bristle element form a tuft.

12. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said lower section of said brush element is bar shaped and said plurality of second bristle element are in a row, on at least one layer.

13. The brush assembly of claim 11 further comprises at least one wing extending from the lower section of said brush element, wherein said wing is shaped and sized to fit in said receiving means to prevent movement of the brush element in the substrate when the sweeping apparatus is in operation.

14. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one receiving means is located within the first footprint.

15. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein the mount is circular, and a plurality of substates form an annular shape.

16. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said second bristle element comprises metal cable.

17. The brush assembly of claim 1 wherein said first bristle element is different than said second bristle element.