Twisted-in-wire brush and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A bristle structure including at least two stem wires spirally wound together to form a longitudinally extending core of the bristle structure and a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from the longitudinally extending core. Each of the bristles has a first end and an opposed second end, and each of the bristles is clamped between the stem wires such that the second end of each bristle extends a greater distance from the longitudinally extending core than the first end of the each bristle.

1 . A bristle structure comprising:
 at least two stem wires spirally wound together to form a longitudinally extending core of said bristle structure; and   a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from said longitudinally extending core, each of said bristles having a first end and an opposed second end and being clamped between said stem wires such that said second end of each bristle extends a greater distance from said longitudinally extending core than said first end of said each bristle.   
   
   
       2 . The bristle structure of  claim 1 , wherein all of said bristles have substantially the same length. 
   
   
       3 . The bristle structure of  claim 2 , wherein said second end of each bristle extends from said longitudinally extending core a distance that is at least 10% greater than the distance that said first end of said each bristle extends from said longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       4 . The bristle structure of  claim 2 , wherein said first ends of said bristles collectively form a first helical pattern extending along said longitudinally extending core, and said second ends of said bristles collectively form a second helical pattern extending along said longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       5 . The bristle structure of  claim 4 , wherein the diameter of said first helical pattern is less than the diameter of said second helical pattern. 
   
   
       6 . The bristle structure of  claim 2 , wherein said second ends of said bristles collectively form a second helical pattern extending along said longitudinally extending core, and said second helical pattern has a diameter that is greater than the length of said bristles. 
   
   
       7 . A bristle brush comprising:
 at least two stem wires spirally wound together to form a longitudinally extending core having a first end and an opposed second end;   first and second support arms respectively extending from said first and second ends of said longitudinally extending core;   a plurality of bristles extending outward from said longitudinally extending core, each of said bristles having a first end and an opposed second end, and being clamped between said stem wires such that said second end of each bristle extends a greater distance from said longitudinally extending core than said first end of said each bristle; and   a handle coupled to at least one of said first and second support arms.   
   
   
       8 . The bristle brush of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second support arms are integral extensions of the stem wires that form said longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       9 . The bristle brush of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second support arms extend along said longitudinally extending core, and said handle is coupled to only one of said support arms such that said handle also extends in substantially the same direction as said longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       10 . A lint brush for cleaning the exhaust duct of a clothes dryer comprising the bristle brush of  claim 9 . 
   
   
       11 . The bristle brush of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of each of said first and second support arms extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinally extending core, and said handle is coupled to both of said support arms such that said handle also extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       12 . A grill brush for cleaning the grill rods of a barbeque grill comprising the bristle brush of  claim 11 . 
   
   
       13 . The bristle brush of  claim 7 , wherein all of said bristles have substantially the same length. 
   
   
       14 . The bristle brush of  claim 13 , wherein said second end of each bristle extends from said longitudinally extending core a distance that is at least 10% greater than the distance that said first end of said each bristle extends from said longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       15 . The bristle brush of  claim 13 , wherein said first ends of said bristles collectively form a first helical pattern extending along said longitudinally extending core, and said second ends of said bristles collectively form a second helical pattern extending along said longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       16 . The bristle brush of  claim 15 , wherein the diameter of said first helical pattern is less than the diameter of said second helical pattern. 
   
   
       17 . The bristle brush of  claim 13 , wherein said second ends of said bristles collectively form a second helical pattern extending along said longitudinally extending core, and said second helical pattern has a diameter that is greater than the length of said bristles. 
   
   
       18 . A method of manufacturing a bristle structure, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a plurality of bristles between at least two stem wires such that a first end of each bristle extends outward from the stem wires a first distance and a second end of each bristle extends outward from the stem wires a second distance greater than the first distance; and   spirally winding the stem wires together to form a longitudinally extending core of the bristle structure and to clamp the bristles between the stem wires, whereby the first ends of the bristles collectively form a first helical pattern extending along the longitudinally extending core, and the second ends of the bristles collectively form a second helical pattern extending along the longitudinally extending core.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein all of the bristles have substantially the same length. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second end of each bristle extends from the longitudinally extending core a distance that is at least 10% greater than the distance that the first end of said each bristle extends from the longitudinally extending core. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the diameter of the first helical pattern is less than the diameter of the second helical pattern. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the diameter of the second helical pattern is greater than the length of the bristles.