Brush with alternate rows of angled tufts

Abstract

A brush may include a first row of tufts and a second row of tufts. The tufts in the first row may be angled in a first direction while the tufts in the second row may be angled in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

1 . A brush comprising:
 a tuft holder;   a primary operation axis;   a first row of tufts that: is substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; and, comprises at least first and second tufts;   a second row of tufts that: is substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; and, comprises at least first and second tufts;   wherein the first tuft in the first row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at a first tuft angle within a first plane that is parallel to the primary operation axis with respect to a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and parallel to the primary operation axis; wherein the first tuft angle is a forward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively;   wherein the second tuft in the first row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at a second tuft angle within the first plane with respect to the second plane; wherein the second tuft angle is a forward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively;   wherein the first tuft in the second row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at an third tuft angle within the first plane with respect to the second plane; wherein the third tuft angle is a backward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively; and,   wherein the second tuft in the second row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at a fourth tuft angle within the first plane with respect to the second plane; wherein the fourth tuft angle is a backward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively.   
     
     
         2 . The brush of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third row of tufts that: is substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; and, comprises at least first and second tufts; and, 
 wherein each tuft in the third row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at a right tuft angle within a third plane that is parallel to the primary operation axis with respect to the second plane; wherein the right tuft angle is substantially 90 degrees. 
 
     
     
         3 . The brush of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third row of tufts that: is substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; and, comprises at least first and second tufts; 
 a fourth row of tufts that: is substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; and, comprises at least first and second tufts; 
 wherein the first tuft in the third row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at an fifth tuft angle within a third plane that is parallel to the primary operation axis with respect to the second plane; wherein the fifth tuft angle is a forward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively; 
 wherein the second tuft in the third row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at a sixth tuft angle within the third plane with respect to the second plane; wherein the sixth tuft angle is a forward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively; 
 wherein the first tuft in the fourth row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at an seventh tuft angle within a fourth plane that is parallel to the primary operation axis with respect to the second plane; wherein the seventh tuft angle is a backward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively; and, 
 wherein the second tuft in the fourth row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at an eighth tuft angle within the fourth plane with respect to the second plane; wherein the eighth tuft angle is a backward acute angle that is between 60 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively. 
 
     
     
         4 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second tuft angles are substantially the same; and, 
 the third and fourth tuft angles are substantially the same. 
 
     
     
         5 . The brush of  claim 4  wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth tuft angles are substantially the same. 
 
     
     
         6 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first, second, third, and fourth tuft angles are between 75 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively. 
 
     
     
         7 . The brush of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a handle that extends from the tuft holder substantially along the primary operation axis. 
 
     
     
         8 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second tufts in the first row and the first and second tufts in the second row are formed of stainless steel. 
 
     
     
         9 . A brush comprising:
 a tuft holder;   a primary operation axis;   a first row of tufts that comprises at least first and second tufts that extend from the tuft holder;   a second row of tufts that comprises at least first and second tufts that extend from the tuft holder;   wherein the first and second row of tufts are substantially parallel to the primary operation axis;   wherein the first tuft of the first row and the first tuft of the second row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis; and,   wherein the second tuft of the first row and the second tuft of the second row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis.   
     
     
         10 . The brush of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a third row of tufts that: is substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; and, comprises at least first and second tufts; and, 
 wherein each tuft in the third row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at a right tuft angle within a first plane that is parallel to the primary operation axis with respect to a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and parallel to the primary operation axis; wherein the right tuft angle is substantially 90 degrees. 
 
     
     
         11 . The brush of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a fourth row of tufts that comprises at least first and second tufts that extend from the tuft holder; 
 a fifth row of tufts that comprises at least first and second tufts that extend from the tuft holder; 
 wherein the fourth and fifth row of tufts are substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; 
 wherein the first tuft of the fourth row and the first tuft of the fifth row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis; and, 
 wherein the second tuft of the fourth row and the second tuft of the fifth row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis. 
 
     
     
         12 . The brush of  claim 11  wherein:
 the first, second, third, fourth and fifth rows of tufts are positioned from a first side of the tuft holder to a second side of the tuft holder in the following order: the first row; the second row; the third row; the fourth row; and, the fifth row. 
 
     
     
         13 . The brush of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first and second tufts of the first row and the first and second tufts of the fifth row have a forward acute tuft angle; and, 
 the first and second tufts of the second row and the first and second tufts of the fourth row have a backward acute tuft angle. 
 
     
     
         14 . The brush of  claim 13  wherein:
 the forward acute tuft angle for each of the first and second tufts of the first row and the first and second tufts of the fifth row is between 75 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively; and, 
 the backward acute tuft angle for each of the first and second tufts of the second row and the first and second tufts of the fourth row is between 75 degrees and 87 degrees, inclusively. 
 
     
     
         15 . The brush of  claim 14  wherein:
 a handle extends from the tuft holder substantially along the primary operation axis; and, 
 all the tufts are formed of stainless steel. 
 
     
     
         16 . A brush comprising:
 a tuft holder;   a primary operation axis;   a handle extends from the tuft holder substantially along the primary operation axis;   a first linear row of tufts that comprises at least first, second, and third tufts that are formed of a metal and that extend from the tuft holder;   a second linear row of tufts that comprises at least first, second, and third tufts that are formed of a metal and that extend from the tuft holder;   wherein the first and second row of tufts are substantially parallel to the primary operation axis;   wherein the first tuft of the first row and the first tuft of the second row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis;   wherein the second tuft of the first row and the second tuft of the second row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis; and,   wherein the third tuft of the first row and the third tuft of the second row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis.   
     
     
         17 . The brush of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a third linear row of tufts that: is substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; and, comprises at least first, second, and third tufts that are formed of a metal; and, 
 wherein each tuft in the third row: extends from the tuft holder; and, is angled at a right tuft angle within a first plane that is parallel to the primary operation axis with respect to a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and parallel to the primary operation axis; 
 wherein the right tuft angle is substantially 90 degrees. 
 
     
     
         18 . The brush of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a fourth linear row of tufts that comprises at least first, second, and third tufts that extend from the tuft holder and are formed of a metal; 
 a fifth linear row of tufts that comprises at least first, second, and third tufts that extend from the tuft holder and are formed of a metal; 
 wherein the fourth and fifth row of tufts are substantially parallel to the primary operation axis; 
 wherein the first tuft of the fourth row and the first tuft of the fifth row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis; 
 wherein the second tuft of the fourth row and the second tuft of the fifth row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis; and, 
 wherein the third tuft of the fourth row and the third tuft of the fifth row form an X-shape when viewed from a position that is perpendicular to the primary operation axis 
 
     
     
         19 . The brush of  claim 18  wherein:
 the first, second, third, fourth and fifth rows of tufts are positioned from a first side of the tuft holder to a second side of the tuft holder in the following order: the first row; the second row; the third row; the fourth row; and, the fifth row; 
 the first and second tufts of the first row and the first and second tufts of the fifth row have a forward acute tuft angle; and, 
 the first and second tufts of the second row and the first and second tufts of the fourth row have a backward acute tuft angle. 
 
     
     
         20 . The brush of  claim 19  wherein:
 the forward acute tuft angle for each of the first and second tufts of the first row and the first and second tufts of the fifth row is between 80 degrees and 85 degrees, inclusively; and, 
 the backward acute tuft angle for each of the first and second tufts of the second row and the first and second tufts of the fourth row is between 80 degrees and 85 degrees, inclusively.