IP Library Granted Patent US 12,569,102
Granted Patent B2
US 12,569,102 · App. 18/249,171 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Flexible brush system

Inventors: Kenneth L. Shary (Ft. Myers, FL); Jerry D. Schemm (Mentor, OH)
Assignee: THE MALISH CORPORATION
A47L11/4038A46B5/0075A46B5/0095A46B9/02A46B13/008A46B13/02A46B2200/3033
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,569,102
App. No.
18/249,171
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A brush system utilizable with a floor-cleaning machine includes brush head, a coupler, and a riser, wherein the coupler is a flexible coupler for adjusting the position of the riser relative to the brush head. The brush head essentially comprises a bristled pad that may be peeled off a floor machine pad driver.

Claims (23)

1 . A brush system for a floor machine, the brush system comprising:

a brush head,

a flexible coupler attached to the brush head, and

a riser attached to the flexible coupler, wherein the flexible coupler is expandable to vary a position of the riser relative to the brush head,

wherein the flexible coupler is adjustable between a fully collapsed position and a fully extended position, wherein the brush head is relatively further from the riser when in the fully extended position as compared to the fully collapsed position; and

wherein the flexible coupler includes a base portion that is attached to the brush head and an upper portion that is attached to the riser, and wherein the upper portion telescopes within the base portion when in the fully collapsed position.

2 . The brush system of claim 1 , wherein the brush head comprises:

a pad having a bristle surface and a floor machine mounting surface opposite the bristle surface;

a plurality of tuft sites protruding from the bristle surface and defining a weight reducing void between neighboring tuft sites; and

a tuft of bristles arranged in at least one of the tuft sites.

3 . The brush system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the tufts of bristles is flared.

4 . The brush system of claim 2 , wherein at least one cut-out is provided in the pad and extends between the bristle surface and the mounting surface.

5 . The brush system of claim 4 , wherein the cut-out is a centrally located cut-out that is coaxial with the pad.

6 . The brush system of claim 4 , wherein the cut-out is an intermediate cut-out provided at an intermediate region of the pad between a radial center and periphery of the pad.

7 . The brush system of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate cut-out includes a plurality of intermediate cut-out symmetrically provided about the pad.

8 . The brush system of claim 2 , wherein at least one zone without tuft sites is provided on the bristle surface.

9 . The brush system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tuft sites are arranged in concentrically extending rows corresponding with a periphery of the pad.

10 . The brush system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible coupler is adjustable into one or more intermediate positions between the fully collapsed position and the fully extended position.

11 . The brush system of claim 1 , wherein the brush head includes a central opening and the flexible coupler is connected to the brush head about the central opening.

12 . The brush system of claim 11 , wherein the brush head includes a lip extending around the central opening, the flexible coupler is attached to an upper surface of the lip.

13 . The brush system of claim 1 , wherein the riser comprises a top surface and a plurality of tabs on the top surface.

14 . The brush system of claim 1 , wherein the brush head is circular in shape.

15 . The brush system of claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a lower end attached to the brush head and an upper end attached to the upper portion of the flexible coupler, wherein a diameter of the flexible coupler varies along the base portion such that the diameter of the base portion decreases from the lower end towards the upper end.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2023
From: SHARY, KENNETH L.; SCHEMM, JERRY D.
To: THE MALISH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063329/0016 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63113391 · Nov 13, 2020
Provisional Application 63092163 · Oct 15, 2020
Related Publication 20230380649A1 · Nov 30, 2023
References Cited (19)
US 1653108A · Koenig · 1927 [cited by examiner]
US 3823516A · Christian · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3908220A · Adamson · 1975 [cited by examiner]
US 4137601A · Eschenbach · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4271557A · Caron · 1981 [cited by examiner]
US 4888843A · Smith · 1989 [cited by examiner]
US 5692808A · Heuvelman · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 5706549A · Legatt · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 5806132A · Kelley · 1998 [cited by examiner]
US 7530135B2 · Benedict · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 7587779B2 · Walz · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 8453293B1 · Monson · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20040255420A1 · Shary et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20130344785A1 · Weder · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140007368A1 · Larson · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20190002948A1 · Ferapontova · 2019 [cited by applicant]
GB 2444773A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued Oct. 15, 2024, in European Patent Application No. 21880976.2, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued Jan. 25, 2022 for PCT/US21/54742 filed Oct. 13, 2021, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]