ADJUSTABLE BOTTLE BRUSH

Abstract

A brush includes a retractable, removable silicone rubber brush head. The diameter of the bristles diminishes as they extend outward. The bristles at the end of the brush head are positioned to contact and clean the corners of a flat-bottomed container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to brushes, and in particular to brushes for cleaning the cylindrical interiors of objects such as bottles.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Brushes were likely first used for applying pigment to surfaces, such as the walls where prehistoric cave paintings have been found. Later they were adapted for cosmetic purposes, as in the hairbrushes found among the grave goods in ancient Egyptian tombs. When they first found use as an aid to clean objects is not known, but the adaptation of brush geometry and construction blossomed during the Industrial Revolution. Brushes often take on a special shape when adapted for cleaning specific surfaces. One important cleaning task is the cleaning of cylindrical objects like bottles, and in particular, baby bottles. While many such brushes are known, the task calls out for improvement in brushes which can help reduce the difficulty of the task, and the length of time involved in using the brush.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a brush comprising a handle and a detachable brush head. The handle includes an inner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion has a first aperture extending substantially the length of the outer portion. Preferably, the outer portion is closed at its proximate end and the aperture opens at the distal end of the outer portion of the handle. Preferably, means for securing the brush is provided at or near the proximate end, such as a ring or second aperture for hanging the brush on a nail or hook or the like. The inner portion of the handle is slidably positionable inside the aperture between a first position, such as a closed position, and a second position, such as an open or extended position. Preferably, means are provided for releasably locking the inner portion at the first position and the second position, such as a twist lock.

The brush also includes a brush head, which is adapted to attach to the inner portion of the handle. The brush head has a core having a central axis, a proximate end, and a terminal end. A second aperture preferably extends substantially the length of the core for receiving the inner portion through the proximate end of the core. Preferably, the brush head is formed from a silicone rubber.

The brush head also includes a first bristle set comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical bristles extending from the core. Preferably, the bristles of the first set have a first cross-section proximate the core and a second cross-section at the distal end, with the first cross-section having a greater area than the second cross-section. Preferably, the core is generally cylindrical and the bristles of the first set extend radially from the core.

In a presently preferred embodiment, the bristles of the first set comprise a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments having a corresponding cross-sectional area. The cross-sectional area of the plurality of segments of bristles preferably diminishes from the proximate end to the distal end of the bristles. Preferably, the cross-sectional areas of the bristles of the first set are circular. Preferably, the bristles of the first set include at least two segments. In a presently preferred embodiment, the bristles of the first set include three segments. Preferably, the bristles of the first set extend at a fixed distance from the core. Preferably, the bristles of the first set extend radially from the core and are evenly spaced radially around the core. Preferably, the bristles of the second set are evenly spaced axially. Preferably, the brush head comprises a second set of bristles extending from the terminal end of the core, and which includes a subset of bristles terminating at a plane perpendicular to the axis of the core spaced from the terminal end of the core.

Preferably, the brush head is releasably affixed to the second portion of the handle.

Preferably, a means for releasably affixing the brush head to the inner portion of the handle is provided and comprises a plurality of grooves formed in the inner portion. Preferably, the brush further comprises a corresponding plurality of protrusions formed on the surface of the aperture of the core of the brush head for engaging the grooves.

Preferably, the handle includes means for locking the inner portion of the handle at at least one intermediate position between the first position and the second position. Preferably, the means for locking the inner portion of the handle comprises a twist lock device.

Preferably, the brush head further comprises a collar at the proximate end of the brush head, the collar being adapted for receiving a removable protective splash shield. Preferably, the collar comprises a pair of spaced disks having a diameter greater than the core.

Preferably, the brush further comprises a splash shield.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a brush according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the brush of FIG. 1 showing the brush head.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the brush of FIG. 1 showing the handle in a fully retracted position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the brush head of the brush of FIG. 1 showing a first set of bristles.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the brush head of the brush of FIG. 1 showing a second set of bristles.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the inner portion of the handle with the brush head removed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a cross-section of the brush of FIG. 1 taken along the long axis of the brush.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a splash shield for use with the brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the brush of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides an improved brush for cleaning the interiors of hollow objects, and in particular generally cylindrical objects such as glass bottles, bottles formed from thermoplastic materials, vacuum thermoses, baby bottles, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a brush 10 according to the present invention. The brush 10 includes a handle 20 having an outer portion 30 adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user, and an inner portion 40. The outer portion 30 has a plurality of grooves extending substantially the length of the outer portion for permitting the handle to be securely grasped by the user, and a loop or ring at one end to permit the brush to be hung for storage when not in use. The outer portion 30 also has a generally cylindrical aperture 32 extending substantially the length of the outer portion 30 for receiving the inner portion 40. The inner portion 40 is slidable from a fully closed or first position 42 (FIG. 4) to a fully extended or second position 44 (FIG. 1). The inner portion 40 can be locked at any intermediate position by twisting the outer portion 30 relative to the inner portion 40, by means of a locking device 102 provided at the distal end of the inner portion 40. Thus, a user can contract the inner portion 40 fully within the outer portion and lock the inner portion 40 in place for storage or for travel and extend the inner portion 40 to a desired length when the cleaning task so requires, as when cleaning large glass jars and the like.

As can be seen in the exploded view of FIG. 9, the locking device 102 is located at the distal end of the inner portion 40. The distal end of the inner portion 40 of the handle 20 includes a conical female thread. The conical thread is flanked at either end by a pair of disks formed on inner portion. A cam comprising a pair of mating cam halves is provided to travel axially on the conical male thread. The travel of the cam is limited by the disks. The cam halves each have a corresponding female conical thread on their respective interiors. One cam half is provided with prongs at one end, and the other cam half is provided with corresponding apertures at one end for receiving the prongs, while the other ends of the cam halves are separated by a gap when the cam is assembled. The cylindrical aperture 32 inside the outer portion 30 is provided with a set of protrusions extending on the wall of the aperture 32 the length of the outer portion being parallel to the axis of the outer portion 30. In operation, the cam contacts one or more of the protrusions as the brush handle 20 is extended or retracted. However, when the handle 20 is twisted counterclockwise (as viewed from the distal end of the brush 10), the cam is forced to ride up on the conical screw thread and thus push outward on the outer portion 30 of the handle 10, locking the inner 40 and outer 30 portions of the handle 20 together at any chosen extension of the brush 10.

The brush 10 also includes a brush head 50 having a proximate end 54 and a distal end 56. The brush head 50 includes a plurality of bristles 52 which extend from a cylindrical core 60 (FIG. 7). The core 60 and bristles 52 are integrally formed from a silicone rubber. The brush head 50 is detachable from the handle 20 so that brush head 50 can itself be cleaned in a dishwasher.

As shown in FIG. 7, the brush head 50 includes a cylindrical aperture 62 with an inner surface 64 extending substantially the length of the brush head 50 for receiving the inner portion of the handle 20. The aperture 62 is sized so that the brush head 50 is held on the handle by a friction fit. The inner portion 40 of the handle 20 has a plurality of circumferential grooves 46 formed in the surface to reduce the amount of effort required to remove or replace the brush head 50 on the handle 20 by reducing the area in contact between the brush head 50 and the inner portion 40 of the handle 20. The inner surface 64 of the core 60 of the brush head includes a pair of inwardly extending protrusions extending parallel to the brush head central axis, as well as an inwardly extending ring protruding from the surface of the aperture 62 positioned proximate the distal end of the brush head 50 to help lock the brush head 50 in place.

The brush head 50 has a central axis, a proximate end 54 to receive the inner portion 40 of the handle 20, and a terminal or distal end 56.

The bristles 52 include a first set 70 and a second set 90. The bristles 72 of the first set extend radially from the core 60 and are generally cylindrical and are spaced evenly along and around the central axis of the brush head 50 (FIG. 2). The bristles 72 are formed such that the diameter of the bristles proximate the core 60 is greater than the diameter of the bristles at their outer end. Each bristle 72 of the first set 70 includes a first segment 80 having a constant diameter which is larger than the diameter of an adjacent second segment 82 of the bristles 72. Each bristle 72 of the first set 70 has a third segment 84 adjacent the second segment 82, and which extends to the outer or distal end of the bristles 72 which is rounded.

The second set 90 of bristles 52 are positioned at the distal or terminal end of the brush head 50 and are adapted to facilitate cleaning the bottom of a bottle or the like. The second set of bristles 52 includes a first subset 92 and a second subset 94 The first subset 92 extend both radially outwardly from the core 60 and upwardly to terminate at a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the brush head 50, the plane being spaced axially from the terminal end of the core 60. The second subset 94 of bristles 52 also extends radially outwardly and upwardly but the bristles of the second subset 94 are positioned intermediate the first set 70 of bristles 52 and the first subset 92 of bristles 72. In use, the brush head 50 can be pushed against the flat bottom of a bottle such that the first subset 92 of bristles 72 contacts and cleans detritus in the area between the side and bottom of the bottle.

The brush head 50 also includes a collar 104 formed from a first disk 106 and a second disk 108 spaced from the first disk 106 and located at the proximate end of the brush head 50 for receiving a splash guard 110. The splash guard 110 is formed from a flexible sheet material such as a silicone rubber and includes an aperture with a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the disks 106, 108, such that the splash guard 110 can be stretched over the first disk 106 to attach or remove the splash guard 110 from the brush head 50.

Various modifications can be made in the details of the various embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention, all within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A brush comprising: a) a handle including an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion having a first aperture extending substantially the length of the outer portion, the inner portion slidably positionable inside the aperture from a first position to a second position, and means for releasably locking the inner portion at the first position and the second position, andb) a brush head including a core having a central axis, a proximate end, a terminal end, and a second aperture extending substantially the length of the core for receiving the inner portion through the proximate end of the core, and a first bristle set comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical bristles extending from the core, the bristles of the first set having a first diameter proximate the core and a second diameter at the distal end, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter.

2. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the core is generally cylindrical, and the bristles of the first set extend radially from the core.

3. The brush according to claim 2 wherein the bristles of the first set comprise a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments having a corresponding diameter, the diameter of each of the plurality of segments of bristles diminishing from the proximate end to the distal end of the bristles.

4. The brush according to claim 3 wherein the bristles of the first set include at least two segments.

5. The brush according to claim 3 wherein the bristles of the first set include three segments.

6. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the brush head is formed from a silicone rubber.

7. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the bristles of the first set extend at a fixed distance from the core.

8. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the brush head comprises a second set of bristles extending from the terminal end of the core and terminating at a plane perpendicular to the axis of the core spaced from the terminal end of the core.

9. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the bristles of the first set extend radially from the core and are evenly spaced radially around the core.

10. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the brush head is releasably affixed to the second portion of the handle.

11. The brush according to claim 10 wherein the means for releasably affixing the brush head to the inner portion of the handle comprises a plurality of grooves formed in the inner portion.

12. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the handle includes means for locking the inner portion of the handle at at least one intermediate position between the first position and the second position.

13. The brush according to claim 12 wherein the means for locking the inner portion of the handle comprises a twist lock device.

14. The brush according to claim 1 wherein the brush head further comprises a collar at the proximate end of the brush head, the collar being adapted for receiving a removable protective splash shield.

15. The brush according to claim 14 wherein the collar comprises a pair of spaced disks having a diameter greater than the core.

16. The brush according to claim 1 further comprising a splash shield.

17. The brush according to claim 11 further comprising a corresponding plurality of protrusions formed on the surface of the aperture of the core of the brush head for engaging the grooves.