Multi-use cleaning device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6598256
  • Patent Number
    6,598,256
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, April 25, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 29, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A cleaning device for attachment to a water faucet, comprising a housing element having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion being threaded for operable engagement with a water faucet, and the bottom portion having an opening therein, aperture is positioned in the housing element allowing th flow of water through the housing element. A plurality of cleaning bristles are positioned around or about the opening of the bottom portion of the housing element for cleaning fingernails, hands, razors, toothbrushes and the like.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of Invention




This invention relates to cleaning devices, and more particularly to cleaning and scrubbing devices which are attached to faucets and other water outlets.




2. Description of the Related Art




Heretofore a wide variety of cleaning, scrubbing, scouring, and associated devices have been proposed and developed. Many devices have been proposed for cleaning and scrubbing objects, and some have been disclosed and developed for attachment to faucets.




The present invention provides a novel cleaning, scrubbing, and scouring device for attachment to faucets for cleaning fingernails, hands, razors, toothbrushes, and the like. The device of the present invention is extremely useful for use in bathrooms, kitchens, or on any water faucet, for cleaning, scrubbing, and scouring objects, hands, fingernails, and the like.




Although various type of cleaning devices are known in the prior art, none are directed to a single piece, removable cleaning device with cleaning bristles which is easily secured to or removed from a water faucet. The present invention provides a novel and unique device which is highly efficient at cleaning, scrubbing, and scouring objects, hands, fingernails and the like.




Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide cleaning device for operable attachment to a faucet, which is easily installed and/or removed if desired. The device of the present invention is also inexpensive to manufacture and use, and may be used in a wide variety of applications resulting in significant reductions in both time and labor to clean objects, fingernails, hands and the like.




Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentality's and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is a cleaning device for attachment to a water faucet, comprising a housing element having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion being threaded for operable engagement with a water faucet, and the bottom portion having an opening therein. An aperture is positioned in the housing element allowing the flow of water through the housing element. A plurality of cleaning bristles are positioned around or about the opening of the bottom portion of the housing element for cleaning fingernails, hands, razors, toothbrushes and the like.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with a general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.





FIG. 1

is a perspective of the multi-use cleaning device of the present invention secured to a faucet, according to the invention.





FIG. 2

shows a bottom view of such device, according to the invention.





FIG. 3

shows a side view of such device, according to the invention.





FIG. 4

shows a top view of such device, according to the invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.




In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a multi-use cleaning device for attachment to a water faucet, comprising a housing element having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion being threaded for operable engagement with a water faucet, and the bottom portion having an opening therein. An aperture is positioned in the housing element allowing the flow of water through the housing element. A plurality of cleaning bristles are positioned around or about the opening of the bottom portion of the housing element for cleaning fingernails, hands, razors, toothbrushes and the like.




In

FIG. 1

, multi-use cleaning device


10


, is shown according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Preferably, cleaning device


10


is secured to a water faucet


12


. A housing element


14


, preferably has a top portion


16


, and a bottom portion


18


. Top portion


16


, being threaded


20


, for operable engagement with a water faucet


12


. Threads


20


may be either left or right handed threads, or male or female configured threads. Bottom portion


18


, has an opening


22


, therein.




Best seen in

FIGS. 2 and 4

, an aperture


24


, in housing element


14


, allows the flow of water through the housing element. Aperture


24


, may be provided in different sizes, allowing different flows of water through cleaning device


10


, as desired.




As seen in

FIGS. 1

,


2


and


3


, a plurality of cleaning bristles


26


, are operably positioned around or about opening


22


of bottom portion


18


, of housing element


14


. Bristles


26


, may be composed of nylon, plastic, or other durable resilient material. Depending upon the method of manufacture, bristles


26


, may be secured either directly in housing


14


, or secured in a plurality of receiving apertures


28


, best seen in FIG.


2


. Alternatively, an insert plate or platform with apertures may be positioned within housing element


14


.




Housing element


14


, preferably is provided with a curved outer surface


30


, but may alternatively have planar or rectangular configurations as well. Of course, it is critical, regardless of the configuration of housing


14


, to have threads


20


be operably exposed so engagement with the faucet


12


is possible. Housing element


14


, is preferably composed of a durable, resilient material, such as plastic or metal.




In operation and use multi-use cleaning device


10


, is highly efficient for cleaning razors, fingernails, combs, hands, and other objects by simply securing housing element


14


to a water faucet and then either first turning on the water and then scrubbing the object with bristles


26


, or alternatively, first scrubbing the object and then turning on the water.




As is evident from the above description, a wide variety of cleaning devices may be configured for may different applications which utilize the multi-use cleaning device described herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.



Claims
  • 1. A cleaning device for attachment to a water faucet, comprising:a housing element having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top and bottom onion each being generally circular in cross-section, the portion being externally threaded for direct engagement with a water faucet, the top portion including the threads thereon and the bottom portion having substantially the same diameter; a central aperture passing through both the top and bottom portions of the housing element which terminates at a central opening in the bottom portion, said aperture allowing the flow of water through said housing element, the remainder of the bottom portion of the housing element being free of any additional water-supplying apertures; and a plurality of bristles received in bristle-receiving said bottom portion, the cleaning bristles being arranged in generally concentric circular rings around the opening in the bottom portion of the housing element.
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Number Name Date Kind
1041011 Bryan Oct 1912 A
1333146 Wilson Mar 1920 A
1344008 Treese Jun 1920 A
1467337 Runkle Sep 1923 A
1928929 Craig Oct 1933 A
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4311404 Kodera Jan 1982 A
5398365 MacKenzie Mar 1995 A
6029292 Leiferman et al. Feb 2000 A
6213667 Isaac Apr 2001 B1
6227740 Stear et al. May 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number Date Country
37327 Nov 1967 FI
645644 Feb 1979 SU
679202 Aug 1979 SU