Patent Application
20140223681
The present invention relates generally to a scrubbing surface provided as a component of a fluid dispenser, such as a hose nozzle.
Water hoses are owned by many people and used for a multitude of purposes. Whether in the garage, in the garden, or just around the house there are many activities or projects that utilize water hoses, such as landscaping, gardening, mechanical work, house maintenance, and car washing. Often times, especially in the garden, these activities entail a large amount of hands-on work. When watering plants, pulling weeds, or digging holes for new plants and trees, a persons' hands have plenty of opportunities to become dirtied. While rinsing with water is usually sufficient to clean the hands, the fingernails prove much more difficult to sanitize.
To clean fingernails, a person generally resorts to a brush. Commonly kept in utility rooms, bathrooms, and sometimes kitchens, the brush is inconveniently located when working outdoors. Ideally, a person should be able to clean their nails before entering their home. In addition, cleaning nails with a brush and spray of water results in a large amount of splatter, which can cause a mess indoors require additional time to be spent on cleaning. An obvious solution is to simply take the brush outdoors, but the small size makes the brush easy to misplace and lose. As a result, the nail brush is nowhere to be found when it is needed most. There exists a need for providing a brush that is readily available when a garden hose is in use.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a brush as part of a hose nozzle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brush that is easily located, accessible, and usable. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brush that can be used outside, providing a water source, and may be used with or without soap. It is a further object of the present invention to allow a person to quickly clean their hands and fingernails in a quick, easy, and effective manner.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a fluid dispenser, like those found on garden hoses, with a scrubbing surface. As illustrated in
The nozzle 1 comprises a main nozzle body 11, a handle 12, a trigger 13, a diffuser 14, and a pressure regulator 15, like shown in
The main nozzle body 11 servers as an attachment or connection point for several other components, as well as providing part of the flow path for water. The main nozzle body 11 comprises an open end 111 and a closed end 112, which are seen in
The trigger 13 allows a user to activate water flow through the main nozzle body 11, engaging and disengaging the trigger 13 to control the flow of water. In the preferred embodiment the trigger 13 is a pivotable piece. As illustrated in
The handle 12 allows a user to hold and utilize the present invention, as well as serves as part of the water flow path. The handle 12 comprises a first end 121, a second end 122, a contoured grip 123, and a hose receptacle 124, parts of which can be seen in
The brush 2, visible in
In the preferred embodiment, the brush 2 is removably attached to the main nozzle body 11. A removable brush 2 provides numerous advantages. For example, a person could buy a number of brushes 2 to use with the nozzle 1. This could be purely for aesthetic purposes or for utilitarian purposes. A person who becomes tired of a particular brush 2 design can simply replace the brush 2, one with a more pleasing design. If a person finds the plurality of bristles 22 to be too rough, or finds a different layout of the bristles 22 is more effective, they can simply swap the original brush 2 out for a different brush 2. In essence, the removable nature of the brush 2 adds an element of flexibility to the present invention.
There are various ways of creating this attachment. One possibility is to position a plurality of fasteners 3 on the top surface of the main nozzle body 11, along with a plurality of fastener receptacles 4 on the first surface 211 of the brush 2. The fasteners 3, which could be wing nuts, thumb screws, snap fasteners, or similar easily manipulated items, engage with the fastener receptacles 4 on the main nozzle body 11. The fastener receptacles 4 are cavities that are designed to received the type of fastener 3 selected. An example of this attachment type is seen in
Other methods of attaching the brush 2 to the nozzle 1 are possible. For example, a hook-and-loop fastener could be used, with a hook portion being positioned on top of the nozzle 1 and a loop portion being positioned on the bottom of the brush 2.
Alternatively, magnets could be placed on the nozzle 1 and the brush 2, using magnetic attraction to secure the brush 2 to the nozzle 1. Other possible attachment methods include straps to hold down the brush 2 or latches on the brush 2 that engage with notches on the nozzle 1. Many attachment methods are suitable, although each method has plusses and minuses. For example, using hook-and-loop fasteners will not be as stable as a tongue 5 and groove 6, while magnets may prove too difficult to separate from each other. The best attachment methods will be simple to implement, low cost, and easy to use.
In a simpler embodiment, the brush 2 is permanently connected to the nozzle 1, rather than being attached. While a removable brush 2 has its advantages, a permanently connected brush 2 can be better integrated to the nozzle 1. This is because attachment methods do not have to be provided, some of which are complex or unsightly. A permanently connected brush 2 will also be sturdier and less expensive than a removable brush 2. The brush 2 can be connected by bolts, nails, glue, or even molded as part of the nozzle 1. Many additional connection methods can be employed, as long as the brush 2 is properly secured to the nozzle 1.
In the preferred embodiment, the brush 2 half an inch in height, two and a half inches in length, and half an inch in width. The plurality of bristles 22 are preferably made from nylon and stand three quarters of an inch tall. While the present invention can be constructed from a number of materials, such as metals and plastics, the selected materials are ideally readily available and derived from known technology, light weight, durable, easy to manufacture, cost effective, and sturdy.
The present invention provides several advantages to a user. The present invention, though designed for outdoors use, can also be used indoors. The present invention provides a convenient, secure, and hard to misplace scrubbing surface while using a hose, saving time and money. The present invention allows a personal to easily clean their nails, hands, and other surfaces while using a hose. The present invention is easily cleaned after use, thanks to its detachable nature and easily accessible water source.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
