Hub for a vehicle component having an arcuate pattern of media elements

A vehicle wash component, comprising:

• a hub portion configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• at least one media attachment mechanism disposed on the hub portion, the at least one media attachment mechanism including an opening;
• at least one wash media element having a first end, a second end disposed remotely from the first end, and a body portion having a front side and a back side extending along a length between the first and second end portions laterally outwardly from the hub portion, the body portion of the at least one wash media element being formed including a spring section which provides rigidity to the wash media elements such that it is substantially self-supporting along its length to remain in its laterally outwardly extending relation from the hub portion regardless of the rotational speed of the hub portion;
• a connector secured to the first end of the at least one wash media element for engaging the opening of the at least one media attachment mechanism to retain the at least one wash media element connected to the hub portion during rotation thereof about the axis of rotation;
• a treatment portion located adjacent the second end of the at least one wash media element and configured to engage a vehicle exterior;
• and
• a pair of wash media support members extending outwardly from the hub portion and oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the pair of wash media support members forming a channel for receipt of the at least one wash media element and configured to engage at least one of the front side or the back side of the at least one wash media element outwardly from the connector during rotation of the hub portion to limit angular displacement of the at least one wash media element.

A vehicle wash component, comprising:

• a hub portion configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
• at least one media attachment mechanism disposed on the hub portion, the at least one media attachment mechanism configured as a c-shaped groove;
• at least one wash media element having a first end, a second end disposed remotely from the first end, and a body portion having a front side and a back side, the at least one wash media element being formed such that it is substantially self-supporting along its length so as to extend laterally outwardly from the hub portion along its length in generally perpendicular relation to the axis of rotation regardless of the rotational speed of the hub portion;
• a connector secured to the first end of the at least one wash media element for engaging the at least one media attachment mechanism to retain the at least one wash media element to the hub portion during rotation thereof about the axis of rotation;
• the at least one media attachment mechanism configured to allow the connector to rotate therewithin about a first angle of rotation with respect to the axis of rotation;
• a treatment portion located adjacent the second end of the at least one wash media element and configured to engage a vehicle exterior;
• and
• a pair of support members extending outwardly from the hub portion and oriented generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the pair of support members forming a channel for receipt of the at least one wash media element and configured to engage at least one of the front side or the back side of the at least one wash media element during rotation of the hub portion to limit angular displacement of the at least one wash media element such that its angle of rotation with respect to the axis of rotation of the hub portion is less than the first angle of rotation.

A wash media element for attachment to a hub portion of a vehicle wash brush for rotation about an axis of the hub portion, comprising:

• an elongated body portion having a length extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, and a middle portion extending between the first and second end portions, the elongated body portion being formed of a flexible material that is substantially self-supporting along its length so as to extend laterally outwardly from the hub portion along its length regardless of rotational speed of the hub portion, and having a front side, a back side, a top side and a bottom side;
• a connector disposed adjacent the first end portion to facilitate attachment of the wash media element to the hub portion;
• a treatment portion disposed adjacent the second end portion, the treatment portion, including a plurality of separate treatment heads extending outwardly from at least one of the front side or the back side of the elongated body portion;
• and
• wherein the plurality of treatment heads are formed of different pieces of material than the elongated body portion.

A wash media element for attachment to a rotary hub portion of a vehicle wash brush for rotation about an axis of the rotary hub, comprising:

• an elongated body portion having a first end portion configured to communicate with the hub portion for rotation therewith, the elongated body portion having a second end portion configured to treat an exterior surface of a vehicle;
• the elongated body portion being constructed of a flexible material and having a front face, a back face, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the elongated body portion having a length and a height with the length being at least two times greater than the height, the elongated body portion being constructed of a material such that it is self-supporting along its length;
• a plurality of treatment heads laterally extending from the elongated body portion, each of the plurality of treatment heads including a plurality of contact elements;
• a spring portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion to render the body portion self-supporting along its length so as to extend laterally outwardly from the rotary hub along its length regardless of the rotational speed of the rotary hub.