COOKING GRILL CLEANING BRUSH

Abstract

A bristle member for a cleaning includes a coiled section and a bristle section that extends from the coiled section. The coiled section permits lateral movement of the bristle section along at least one of a first axis and a second axis that are perpendicular to each other. A cleaning brush that includes a plurality of the bristle members is also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND

A variety of cooking devices include a grill that supports food over a source of heat. Many such devices are used for outdoor cooking and are referred to as a barbeque (BBQ). BBQ cleaning brushes are a known tool for removing charred food residue from a grill. Such cleaning brushes typically include straight wire bristles that facilitate scraping food residue from the grill. However, the bristles of such brushes tend to deform and/or break down with use, potentially becoming lodged in food during subsequent cooking sessions.

SUMMARY

A bristle member for a cleaning brush according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure includes a coiled section and a bristle section that extends from the coiled section. The coiled section permits lateral movement of the bristle section along at least one of a first axis and a second axis that are perpendicular to each other.

In a further embodiment of the foregoing embodiment, the first and second axes are coplanar in a plane and the coiled section permits lateral movement of the bristle section in any direction in the plane.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the coiled section is frustoconical and tapers inwardly towards the bristle section.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the bristle section includes at least one first brushing surface and at least one second brushing surface. The first brushing surface is angled with respect to the second brushing surface at an angle.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the angle is approximately 90°.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the bristle section includes a first leg and a second leg that meet at a corner, the first leg provides the first brushing surface, and the second leg provides the second brushing surface.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the bristle member has a proximal end and a distal end, and the coiled section terminates at the proximal end. The coiled section and bristle section are formed by a curved bar. A first end of the curved bar includes a post that extends from the proximal end towards the distal end outside of the coiled section.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, respective central longitudinal axes of the post, the coiled section, and the first leg of the bristle section are separate from and generally parallel to each other.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the bristle member includes at least one retrograde curve between the bristle section and the coiled section.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the second leg comprises a first portion and a second portion that are generally parallel to each other, and that meet at a curved elbow. The first portion provides the first brushing surface. The second portion, which is closer to the coiled section than the first portion, connects to the coiled section through at least one retrograde curve.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the bristle section and the at least one retrograde curve are co-planar.

A cleaning brush according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure includes a head having a plurality of first openings and a plurality of bristle members that extend through the first openings. Each bristle member includes a coiled section and a bristle section that extends from the coiled section. Each coiled section permits lateral movement of its respective bristle section along at least one of a first axis and a second axis that are perpendicular to each other.

In a further embodiment of the foregoing embodiment, the first and second axes are coplanar in a plane and the coiled section permits lateral movement of the bristle section in any direction in the plane.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the cleaning brush includes a plurality of mating locking features on the head and the plurality of bristle members that interlock to limit rotation of the plurality of bristle members with respect to the head.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, each coiled section extends through a respective one of the first openings. The plurality of mating locking features includes a plurality of second openings that are separate from the first openings and include a plurality of posts that extend through the plurality of second openings, and each post is outside of the coiled section of its respective bristle member.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, each of the plurality of second openings is an opening in the head and is associated with a respective one of the first openings, and each of the plurality of posts extends from a respective one of the bristle members through its respective second opening.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the cleaning brush includes an elastomeric layer. The cleaning brush also includes a cover that compresses the elastomeric layer onto the bristle members, and thereby keeps the locking members in their respective additional openings and limits axial movement of the bristle members along respective central longitudinal axes of their respective coiled sections.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the coiled section is frustoconical and tapers inwardly towards the bristle section.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the bristle section includes a first brushing surface and a second brushing surface, and the first brushing surface is angled with respect to the second brushing surface at an angle.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the bristle section includes a first leg and a second leg that meet at a corner, the first leg provides the first brushing surface, and the second leg provides the second brushing surface.

The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be further understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example cleaning brush for a cooking grill.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of an example bristle member of the cleaning brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B illustrates a back view of the bristle member of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C illustrates a front view of the bristle member of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D illustrates a side view of the bristle member of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2E illustrates another side view of the bristle member of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2F illustrates a top view of the bristle member of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates a first view of the bristle member of FIG. 2A in which a bristle portion of the bristle member has moved along a first axis.

FIG. 3B illustrates a second view of the bristle member of FIG. 2A in which a bristle portion of the bristle member has moved along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a head of the cleaning brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a mounting plate of the cleaning brush of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates the mounting plate of FIG. 5 that includes bristle members.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which an embodiment of the cleaning brush of FIG. 1 is being used to clean a grill.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example bristle member.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example bristle member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example cleaning brush 10 for cleaning a cooking grill, such as a BBQ grill. The cleaning brush 10 includes a handle 12 that connects to a head 14, and a plurality of bristle members 16 that extend from the head 14 for cleaning the grill. Optionally, a scraper blade (not shown) can be affixed (e.g., insert molded) onto an end of the handle 12 or onto the head 14. In the non-limiting example of FIG. 1, the bristle members 16 are arranged into two rows, but it is understood that other bristle member 16 arrangements could be utilized, with a variety of different bristle quantities and brush head 14 sizes .

FIGS. 2A-F illustrate various example views of one of the bristle members 16 of FIG. 1, with FIG. 2A providing a perspective view, FIG. 2B providing a back view, FIG. 2C providing a front view, FIGS. 2D-E providing side views, and FIG. 2F providing a top view. Referring now to FIGS. 2A-F, the bristle member 16 includes a coiled section 18 and a bristle section 20 that extends from the coiled section 18. The coiled section 18 includes a frustoconical helix, and tapers inwardly towards the bristle section 20.

The coiled section 18 permits lateral movement of the bristle section 20 along a first axis A1 and a second axis A2, where the axes A1 and A2 are perpendicular to each other. The coiled section 20 extends along a central longitudinal axis A3, which is transverse to the axes A1, A2. The “lateral movement” discussed above is lateral with respect to the central longitudinal axis A3. In one or more embodiments, axis A3 is generally perpendicular to the axes A1, A2 (e.g., intersects the axes A1, A2 at an angle of 85°-90°). In one or more further embodiments, axis A3 is perpendicular to the axes A1, A2.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the axes A1, A2 are coplanar in a plane P1. In one or more embodiments, the coiled section 18 permits lateral movement of the bristle section 20 omnidirectionally (i.e., in any direction) in the plane P1.

The bristle section 20 includes a first leg 22 and a second leg 24 that meet at a corner 26 (which in the example of FIG. 2B is a curve). As shown in FIGS. 2A-C, the corner 26 may be a rounded corner.

The first leg 22 and second leg 24 collectively provide a plurality of brushing surfaces. In particular, an exterior of the first leg 22 provides a first brushing surface, and an exterior of the second leg 24 provides a second brushing surface. The first leg 22 and first brushing surface are angled with respect to the second leg 24 and second brushing surface at an angle. In one or more embodiments, the angle is approximately 90°.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, the second leg 24 includes a leg portion 24A and a leg portion 24B that are generally parallel to each other, meet at a curved elbow 28, and form a channel 29 therebetween. The leg portion 24A provides the first brushing surface, and the leg portion 24B, which is closer to the coiled section 18 than the leg portion 24A, connects to the coiled section 18 through a plurality of curves 30, 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the curved elbow 28 and curves 30, 32 may be C-shaped, and the first leg 22 and second leg 24 may collectively be L-shaped.

In one or more embodiments, the bristle member 16 is formed from a curved bar 40, and the curves 26, 30, and 32 are all retrograde in that the bar 40 curves back towards itself in each curve. To elaborate, the curve 32 includes a first end 34A and a second end 34B, and along a length of the curve 32 from end 34A to end 34B, the curved bar 40 curves back towards itself, such that the ends 34A-B are approximately 180° offset. Similarly, the bar 40 curves back towards itself through curved elbow 28 and curve 30. Of course, it is understood that these are non-limiting examples, and that the curves 28, 30, 32 may be differently shaped (e.g., parabolic-shaped), and that not all of the curves 28, 30, 32 may be retrograde.

The bristle member 16 has a proximal end 42A and a distal end 42B. In the example of FIGS. 2A-F, the coiled section 18 terminates at the proximal end 42A, and the bristle section 20 terminates at the distal end 42B.

Also, the curved bar 40 has a first end 44A and a second end 44B. In the example of FIGS. 2A-F, the second end 44B of the curved bar 40 terminates at the distal end 42B of the bristle member 16.

The curved bar 40 includes a post 46 between the coiled section 18 and the first end 44A. The post 46 connects to the coiled section 18 through an arm 47 that includes a first arm portion 47A and a second arm portion 48B that are angled with respect to each other and are joined through an elbow 48. In one or more embodiments, the angle between the arm portions 47A-B is approximately 90°. The post 46 extends from the proximal end 42A of the bristle member 16 towards the distal end 42B of the bristle member 16, and terminates at the first end 44A of the curved bar 40. The post 46 is disposed outside of the coiled section 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2D and 2E, the bristle section 20 has a central longitudinal axis A4, and the post 46 has a central longitudinal axis A5. In the illustrated embodiment, the axes A3, A4, A5 are separate from and generally parallel to each other. As shown in the example of FIGS. 2D-F, the bristle section 20, and curves 28, 30, 32 are all coplanar in a plane P2.

FIG. 3A illustrates a first view of the bristle member 16 in which the bristle portion 20 of the bristle member 16 has moved along axis A2.

FIG. 3B illustrates a second view of the bristle member 16 in which the bristle portion 20 of the bristle member 16 has moved along axis A1. As shown in FIGS. 3A-B, the coiled section 18 acts as a spring by biasing the bristle section 20 towards a resting position 50 (also shown in FIGS. 2A-F), but permits the bristle section 20 to move along the axes A1, A2 (e.g., when cleaning a grill). When removed from a grill, the coiled section 18 biases the bristle section 20 back to the resting position 50.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the head 14 of the cleaning brush 10 of FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 4, the head 14 of the cleaning brush 10 includes a top/fastening plate 54, an compressible (e.g., elastomeric) seal layer 56, a top reinforcement plate 58, a mounting plate 60, and a bottom reinforcement plate 62. The elastomeric seal layer 56 may be at least partially composed of silicone, for example.

FIG. 5 illustrates the mounting plate 60 in greater detail. The mounting plate includes a first face 68A and an opposing second face 68B, and a plurality of first openings 70A-I and a plurality of second openings 72A-I that extend through the mounting plate 60. Although the first openings 70A-I and second openings 72A-I are separate and spaced apart from each other, each first opening 70A-I is paired with a corresponding respective one of the second openings 72A-I. The pairs of openings 70, 72 are organized in a first row 74A and a second row 74B, with openings 70A-E and 72A-E being provided in first row 74A, and openings 70F-I and 72F-I being provided in second row 74B. In the example of FIG. 5, the rows 74A-B are generally parallel to each other, but the openings 70F-I, 72F-I of the second row 74B are horizontally offset from the openings 70A-E, 72A-E of first row 74A (with respect to a width of the mounting plate 60).

Although FIG. 5 depicts a two row example with five pairs of openings in row 74A and four pairs of openings in row 74B, it is understood that this is a non-limiting example and that other configurations could be used (e.g., one row or three or more rows, fewer or greater quantities of pairs in the row(s), etc.).

FIG. 6 illustrates the mounting plate 60 with the various bristle members 16 inserted through the openings 70, 72. Referring now to FIG. 6 with continued reference to FIG. 5, each bristle member 16 extends through a respective pair of the first openings 70, 72 such that the respective pair of openings 70, 72 receives a respective bristle member 16. In one or more embodiments, a diameter of the openings 70 is smaller than a widest outer diameter of the coiled section 18 to prevent the coiled section from passing all the way through the opening 70.

The bristle section 20 is inserted through its corresponding first opening 70, and then a majority of the coiled section 18 is inserted through the first opening 70. As the coiled section 18 is being inserted into the first opening 70, the post 46 is inserted into its corresponding second opening 72. Once seated into the mounting plate 60, the arm 47 and elbow of the bristle member 16 are disposed on a first side of the mounting plate corresponding to the first face 68A (e.g., abutting the first face 68A), and the bristle section 20 and a majority of the coiled section 18 are disposed on a second side of the mounting plate 60 corresponding to second face 68B.

The plurality of posts 46 and plurality of second openings 72 interlock and provide mating locking features on the head 14. Once mounted in the mounting plate 60, the rigid nature of the arm 47 and elbow 48 of each bristle member 16, together with the interlocking mating features provided by posts 46 and the second openings 72, limits rotation of the bristle member 16 with respect to the mounting plate 60 and correspondingly the head 14 of the cleaning brush 10.

Once the head 14 is assembled, the arms 47A-B of the bristle members 16 are compressed against the first face 68A of the mounting plate 60. To elaborate, the reinforcement plate 62 is disposed beneath the mounting plate 60 (as shown in FIG. 4). In one example, the reinforcement plate 62 includes openings 70′, 72′ that are aligned with the openings 70, 72 of the mounting plate. In one or more embodiments, the openings 70′ have a narrower diameter than the openings 70.

The reinforcement plate 58 includes a plurality of openings that are aligned with the openings 70 of the mounting plate 60, are square-shaped (optionally with rounded corners), such that the arm portions 48A-B abut adjacent sides of the openings 70 to limit rotation of the bristle members 16.

The top layer/fastening plate 54 acts as a cover that compresses the seal layer 56 against the reinforcement plate 58 and optionally also the arms 48 of the bristle members 16 to push the arms 48 against the first face 68A of the mounting plate 60. This compression limits axial movement of the bristle members along their respective axes A3.

The top plate 54 includes a plurality of wings 64, and when the seal layer 56, reinforcement plate 58, mounting plate, and reinforcement plate 62 abut each other, the top/fastening plate 54 can slide over that assembly such that the wings 64 compress the layers 56, 58, 60, 62 together. Of course, it is understood that other techniques could be used in addition to or as alternatives to the wings 64 (e.g., using fasteners and/or adhesive to secure the layers to each other). In one or more embodiments, the top plate is secured to one or more of the other layers 56, 58, 60, 62 through a snap fit. In the example of FIG. 4, the handle 12 is integrally formed or fastened to the mounting plate 60. Also, it is understood that one or more of the layers shown in FIG. 4 may be omitted.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the cleaning brush 10 is being used to clean a grill having a plurality of parallel grill bars 78. As shown in earlier FIG. 2B, each first leg 22 of each bristle section 20 includes a first side 27A and a second side 27B. As shown in FIG. 7, the brush can be moved parallel to bars 78 of the grill to clean the top of the grill bars 78, and during those movements, the brush can be pushed sideways against the grill bars 78 so that the first side 27A or second side 27B of the first legs 22 can be used to clean a side of the grill bars 78. Moreover, the offset nature of the openings in the first row 74A and the second row 74B of the mounting plate 60 (see FIG. 5) provides for many brushing surfaces.

In this disclosure, like reference numerals designate like elements where appropriate and reference numerals with the addition of one-hundred or multiples thereof designate modified elements that are understood to incorporate the same features and benefits of the corresponding elements.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example bristle member 116 in which the first leg 122 of the bristle section 120 includes a leg portion 122A and a leg portion 122B that are angled with respect to each other and meet at a junction 180 (e.g., at an angle of approximately 10°-30°). This particular example includes four brushing surfaces, two of which are vertically oriented (corresponding to leg portions 122A-B, which are for cleaning the sides of bars 78 of a cooking grill) and two of which are horizontally oriented (corresponding to leg portion 124A and leg 182, which are for cleaning the tops of bars 78 of a cooking grill).

The two vertically-oriented brushing surfaces are provided by the leg portion 122A and leg portion 122B, respectively, of the first leg 122. Like leg 24 of FIG. 2B, a leg 124 is provided that includes a leg portion 124A and a leg portion 124B that are generally parallel to each other and are joined by a curved elbow 128. The two horizontally-oriented brushing surfaces are provided by leg portion 124A and leg 182. Leg 182 is angled with respect to leg portion 122B, and meets at a junction 184 (e.g., at an angle of approximately 90°).

FIG. 9 illustrates another example bristle member 216 that is similar to the bristle member 216 of FIG. 13, except that the portions 222A and 222B, instead of forming a V-shape, are generally parallel to each other. The first leg 222, second leg 224, and third leg 282 are collectively T-shaped. Leg 282 is angled with respect to leg portion 222B and they meet at junction 284.

The bristle members 16 provide superior cleaning compared to traditional barbeque brushes, and avoid the possibility of broken wire bristle fragments contaminating food cooked on a grill. The bristle members 16 and cleaning brush 10 also have a longer useful life compared to conventional wire bristle brushes.

Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of the claims. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.

Claims

1. A bristle member for a cleaning brush, comprising: a coiled section and a bristle section that extends from the coiled section, wherein the coiled section permits lateral movement of the bristle section along at least one of a first axis and a second axis that are perpendicular to each other.

2. The bristle member of claim 1, wherein: the first axis and the second axis are coplanar in a plane; andthe coiled section permits lateral movement of the bristle section in any direction in the plane.

3. The bristle member of claim 1, wherein the coiled section is frustoconical and tapers inwardly towards the bristle section.

4. The bristle member of claim 1, wherein the bristle section includes at least one first brushing surface and at least one second brushing surface, the first brushing surface angled with respect to the second brushing surface at an angle.

5. The bristle member of claim 4, wherein the angle is approximately 90°.

6. The bristle member of claim 4, wherein: the bristle section includes a first leg and a second leg that meet at a corner;the first leg provides the first brushing surface; andthe second leg provides the second brushing surface.

7. The bristle member of claim 6, wherein: the bristle member has a proximal end and a distal end, the coiled section terminating at the proximal end; andthe coiled section and bristle section are formed by a curved bar, a first end of the curved bar comprising a post that extends from the proximal end towards the distal end outside of the coiled section.

8. The bristle member of claim 7, wherein respective central longitudinal axes of the post, the coiled section, and the first leg of the bristle section are separate from and generally parallel to each other.

9. The bristle member of claim 6, wherein the bristle member includes at least one retrograde curve between the bristle section and the coiled section.

10. The bristle member of claim 9, wherein: the second leg comprises a first portion and a second portion that are generally parallel to each other, and that meet at a curved elbow;the first portion provides the first brushing surface; andthe second portion, which is closer to the coiled section than the first portion, connects to the coiled section through at least one retrograde curve.

11. The bristle member of claim 9, wherein the bristle section and the at least one retrograde curve are coplanar.

12. A cleaning brush, comprising: a head having a plurality of first openings; anda plurality of bristle members that extend through the first openings, each bristle member comprising a coiled section and a bristle section that extends from the coiled section, wherein each coiled section permits lateral movement of its respective bristle section along at least one of a first axis and a second axis that are perpendicular to each other.

13. The cleaning brush of claim 12, wherein: the first axis and the second axis are coplanar in a plane; andthe coiled section permits lateral movement of the bristle section in any direction in the plane.

14. The cleaning brush of claim 12, comprising a plurality of mating locking features on the head and the plurality of bristle members that interlock to limit rotation of the plurality of bristle members with respect to the head.

15. The cleaning brush of claim 14, wherein: each coiled section extends through a respective one of the first openings; andthe plurality of mating locking features includes a plurality of second openings that are separate from the first openings and include a plurality of posts that extend through the plurality of second openings; andeach post is outside of the coiled section of its respective bristle member.

16. The cleaning brush of claim 15, wherein: each of the plurality of second openings is an opening in the head and is associated with a respective one of the first openings; andeach of the plurality of posts extends from a respective one of the bristle members through its respective second opening.

17. The cleaning brush of claim 15, comprising: an elastomeric layer; anda cover that compresses the elastomeric layer onto the bristle members, and thereby keeps the locking members in their respective additional openings and limits axial movement of the bristle members along respective central longitudinal axes of their respective coiled sections.

18. The cleaning brush of claim 12, wherein the coiled section is frustoconical and tapers inwardly towards the bristle section.

19. The cleaning brush of claim 12, wherein the bristle section includes a first brushing surface and a second brushing surface, the first brushing surface angled with respect to the second brushing surface at an angle.

20. The cleaning brush of claim 19, wherein: the bristle section includes a first leg and a second leg that meet at a corner;the first leg provides the first brushing surface; andthe second leg provides the second brushing surface.