# US 5,704,089 A · Heater fin cleaning device

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- Number: US 5,704,089 A
- Document ID: US5704089A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/770,377
- Filed: 1996-11-29
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-03-29
- Inventors: Vicki R. Walters
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704089A

## CPC

- F28G 1/00: Non-rotary, e.g. reciprocated, appliances (F28G3/00 takes precedence)
- A47L 4/02: Hand implements for cleaning venetian blinds
- B08B 1/143: {Wipes}
- F28G: CLEANING OF INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL SURFACES OF HEAT-EXCHANGE OR HEAT-TRANSFER CONDUITS, e.g. WATER TUBES OR BOILERS (cleaning pipes or tubes in general B08B9/02; devices or arrangements for removing water, minerals, or sludge from boilers while the boiler is in operation, or which remain in position while the boiler is in operation, or are specifically adapted to boilers without any other utility F22B37/48; removal or treatment of combustion products or combustion residues F23J; removing ice from heat-exchange apparatus F28F17/00)
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a cleaning device for cleaning a finned heating element having a plurality of spaced apart parallel fins defining therebetween a plurality of channels, the device including: an elongated frame member having a handle portion for the manual grasping thereof; a plurality of parallel, spaced apart tines extending from the distal end of the frame member; a plurality of closely fitting fabric sleeves disposed over the tines; and the dimensions of the sleeved tines being such that the diameter of each sleeved tine approximates the width of the channel between adjacent the fins, and adjacent the sleeved tines are spaced apart such that they can simultaneously closely engage facing surfaces of fins defining adjacent channels of the finned heating element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cleaning device for cleaning a finned heating element having a plurality of spaced apart parallel fins defining therebetween a plurality of channels, said device comprising:
(a) an elongated frame member having a monolithic handle portion for the manual grasping thereof;
(b) a plurality of parallel, spaced apart tines extending from the distal end of said frame member and monolithic therewith;
(c) a plurality of closely fitting fabric sleeves disposed over said tines;
(d) the dimensions of said sleeved tines being such that the diameter of each sleeved tine approximates the width of a said channel between adjacent said fins, and adjacent said sleeved tines are spaced apart such that they simultaneously closely engage facing surfaces of fins defining adjacent channels of said finned heating element; and
(e) said sleeves being co-joined by a skirt portion formed at open ends thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A cleaning device, as defined in claim 1, wherein each said sleeve is formed from a double layer of cotton fabric.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A cleaning device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame member is formed of injection molded polymer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A cleaning device, as defined in claim 1, wherein each said sleeve is provided as a separate member unattached to any other said sleeve.