US2647275A - Holder for steel wool - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1953 P. F. scHENoT HOLDER FOR STEEL WOOL Filed `me 20, 195o O :inventor Paul I.' L.Y/Lanai Patented Aug. 4, 1953 HOLDER Fort sTEEL'WooL- Y fram n. scherm, castle Shannara.. Applic'atin June zo, iss'g'sial N6; 169,263

This invention is for a cleaning tool especially designed for use in cleaning'deposits from the coils of gas-red water heaters and for other uses where a deposit is firmly' lodged on a surface, especially where access to the surface to be cleaned is difficult.

My invention has for its object to provide a novel, convenient, inexpensive tool for cleaning surfaces of the type referred to.

Gas-fired water heaters, for example, are provided with coils positioned above a burner. 'Ihese coils frequently become heavily sooted, and the soot is encrusted so that it adheres very firmly to the metal. It substantially reduces the rate of heat transfer from the hot gases through the coils.

I sometimes refer to my invention as a steel wool file, and in general it comprises a at supporting body having a handle at one end, and

about lthis body is wrapped a cord-like mass of steel wool. Notches are cut into the edges of the body throughout the greater portion of its length. The cord or rope-like mass of steel Wool is wrapped about this body and retained ,in the notches in such manner as to provide an effective cleaning and scouring surface. This implement may be pressed against the surfaces to be cleaned and rubbed thereover, and will very effectively serve to remove the deposits thereon. Because of its relatively flat, narrow form, it can be worked in small spaces and crevices. After a period of use, the steel wool which may have then deteriorated, may be unwound and removed, and a new rope or cord of steel wool substituted.

While I have referred to the invention as being particularly applicable for use in cleaning the coils of water heaters where it can be inserted between and manuevered around the convolutions of the coils, it is also adaptable for a wide variety of other uses.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the tool;

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the steel wool wrapped around the body;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the body of the tool without the steel wool; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tool from the face opposite Fig. 1.

Referring first to Fig. 3, there is shown a body preferably formed from at 'stock of a light metal, usually aluminum. One portion of the body is a shank 2 and the other portion a handle 3. The shank has notches 4 cutiin from the two edges, and the handle has an elongated opening ther'f'ein, this openingbeing shaped to form anacute vertex or wedge'slot 5a near the shank. 'Ihe end 'ofthe shank has an extenison 4a and shoulder 4b.

VAs shown in. Figs. 1, V2 and 4, a mas-s of steel woolin' the form of a cord B is wrappedaround the shank and secured in the vertex portion 5a of the elongated hole. The cord of steel wool is first extended longitudinally down the center of one surface of the shank, which I will term the front, providing a straight strand 1. At the end remote from the handle it is wrapped one full turn about extension 4a at the end of the shank, this being done by passing the strand from the front face to back over shoulder 4b, then completely around the end 4a. After one complete wrap the cord is taken diagonally across the back surface of the body to the first notchl, carried around one turn so as to cross the strand 1, and be received in a notch 4 on the opposite edge of the body. After making approximately a full turn, the `cord is passed diagonally along the back of the body to the next notch on one edge, and then around to the opposite edge, and

in like manner it is engaged in each pair of notches. When it has been engagedv in the notches nearest the handle. the cord is passed through the opening in the handle, pulled up into the Wedge slot 5a which holds it from loosening, after which any excess may be trimmed off. Thus the finished le or tool has a longitudinal strand '1, and a plurality of transverse strands 8, on one face, and a series of correspondingly 'pitched diagonal strands 9 on the other surface.

The tool as thus constructed isl Icheap to manufacture, and it provides a file-like implement which can be very effectively used for the purposes and in the manner hereinbefore described. While I have shown an elongated hole in the handle for securing the steel wool, any type of hole or notch may be provided. In addition, various thicknesses of steel Wool cord may be used, and the wool may be wound in other manners, depending on the circumstances, and other cords than steel wool may be used. The mounting of the steel wool cord as illustrated in the drawings is very advantageous because the design of the steel wool surfaces are radically different on opposite sides of the shank. When cleaning between the individual coils of a heating coil, the side shown in Fig. 4 is most effective, and, therefore, it is desirable to run the brush between the` coils twiceonce with the side of Fig. 4 up and once with the side of Fig.

3 4 down. For cleaning the inside of a coil, the surface shown in Fig. 1 is most effective. An inspection of Figs. 1 and 4 shows that the dierent arrangements of the steel Wool cord present surfaces that are adapted for projecting into different sizes of crevices and corners. The cord arrangement of Fig. 4 is very effective for cleaning a flat surface.

The opposite sides of the file behave differently, the frontr having the longitudinal and transverse strands, While the back has diagonal strands. This is of convenience in certain oper-A ations.

I have specifically shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that changes and modicatons may be made within the scope and spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A steel wool file of the class described, comprsing a iiat stiff shank having transversely aligned notches in the side edges thereof, a handle at one end having an elongated hole cut therein dening an acutev vertex near the shank, a replaceable cord of steel Wool extending down one surface of the shank and then Wound through the notches back around the shank over'the longitudinally extending portion of the steel wool, and

said cord being secured to the shank by forcing the free end of the cord in the vertex of the hole in said handle portion.

2. A cleaning implement comprising a flat, rigid body having a spaced series of notches along each side thereof, said body having a handle at one end, and a cord of steel wool cleaning element laid along one face 0f the body to provide a longitudinal strand and then wrapped about the body with one Wrap in each pair of notches to provide on one face spaced transverse strands crossing the longitudinal strand and on the other "face of the body spaced diagonal strands.

PAUL F. SCHENOT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 889,890 Bass June 9, 1908 20 1,291,131 Radel Jan. 14, 1919 1,849,497 Mazer Mar. 15, 1932 1,897,981 Johnson Feb. 14, 1933 i FOREIGN PATENTS 25 Number Country Date 4,662 Germany Apr. 17, 1879 Norway June 19, 1906

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