Vertically rotating grooming attachment brush and method of use

Abstract

A vertically rotating grooming attachment brush comprising a brush hub and bristles, and method for cleaning a surface having organic biofouling. The bristles extend from the brush hub and are positioned at or near its outer rim. One or more rows of bristles can be included. The bristles can be grooming bristles or shroud bristles or a combination of the two. A rigid or elastomeric shroud or skirt can also be included about the edge of the brush hub. Vertical rotation of the grooming attachment brush causes a low pressure region to build in the central area of the brush hub. This low pressure region creates a force that forcefully attracts the grooming attachment brush to the surface to be cleaned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grooming attachment brush, comprising:
 a brush hub having a tuft attachment surface;   a row of grooming bristles extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned at or near a periphery of said brush hub; and   a row of shroud bristles extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned along and interior to the row of grooming bristles;   wherein said grooming bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface further than said shroud bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface.   
     
     
         2 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 1 , wherein the brush hub is circular in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid shroud positioned about the edge of the brush hub, wherein said shroud bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface further than said shroud extends from said tuft attachment surface. 
     
     
         4 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of shroud bristle tufts positioned near a center of the brush hub in an impeller vein shape. 
     
     
         5 . A grooming attachment brush comprising:
 a brush hub having a tuft attachment surface;   a row of shroud bristles extending from the brush hub and positioned at or near a periphery of said brush hub;   a row of grooming bristles extending from the brush hub and positioned along the interior of the row of grooming bristles;   wherein said grooming tufts extend from said tuft attachment surface further than said shroud tufts extend from said tuft attachment surface.   
     
     
         6 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 5 , wherein the brush hub is circular in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 5 , further comprising a rigid shroud positioned about the edge of the brush hub, wherein said shroud bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface further than said shroud extends from said tuft attachment surface. 
     
     
         8 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of shroud bristle tufts extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned near a center of the brush hub in an impeller vein shape. 
     
     
         9 . A grooming attachment brush comprising:
 a brush hub having a tuft attachment surface; and   a row of shroud bristles and grooming bristles extending from said brush hub and positioned at or near a periphery of said brush hub;   wherein said grooming bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface further than said shroud bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface.   
     
     
         10 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 9 , wherein the brush hub is circular in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 9 , further comprising a rigid shroud positioned about the edge of the brush hub, wherein said shroud bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface further than said shroud extends from said tuft attachment surface. 
     
     
         12 . The grooming attachment brush of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of shroud bristle tufts extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned near a center of the brush hub in an impeller vein shape. 
     
     
         13 . A method for cleaning a surface, comprising:
 providing a surface to be cleaned:   providing at least one grooming attachment brush, wherein said at least one grooming attachment brush comprises:
 a brush hub having a tuft attachment surface; 
 a row of grooming bristles, said grooming bristles extending from said brush hub and positioned at or near a periphery of said brush hub; and 
 a row of shroud bristles having tips, said shroud bristles extending from said brush hub and positioned either along and interior to the row of grooming bristles, or along and exterior to the row of grooming bristles, or in the same row as the grooming bristles; 
 and wherein said grooming bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface further than said shroud bristles extend from said tuft attachment surface; and 
   rotating said at least one grooming attachment brush at a predetermined rotational speed while placing said shroud brush tips against said surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one grooming attachment brush further comprises a plurality of shroud bristle tufts extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned near a center of said brush hub in an impeller vein shape. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said surface to be cleaned is further defined as a surface of a hull of a ship, said surface having biofouling. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said rotational speed is further defined as being greater than 200 rotations per minute. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said rotational speed is between 200 and 1100 rotations per minute. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one grooming attachment brush further comprises a plurality of shroud bristle tufts extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned near a center of the brush hub in an impeller vein shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one grooming attachment brush further comprises a plurality of shroud bristle tufts extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned near a center of the brush hub in an impeller vein shape. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one grooming attachment brush further comprises a plurality of shroud bristle tufts extending from said tuft attachment surface and positioned near a center of the brush hub in an impeller vein shape.