Patent Application
20220295978
The present invention is directed to a scrub brush, and in particular, a brush that combines a sponge and a brush with bristles.
Utensils for cleaning are well known in the art. Sponges are useful for absorbing, retaining and releasing a solution of water and a cleaning agent, while a brush having bristles is used for sweeping and scrubbing. Typically, when a cleaning project requires both tools, one is frequently going back and forth from one tool or the other, frequently dunking the tools in a bucket of cleaning solution. This not only is inconvenient, but it is also time consuming. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a device that addresses these deficiencies.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a scrub brush that combines the advantages of a sponge and bristles.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a scrub brush that is more convenient to use for cleaning projects.
A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a scrub brush that is less time consuming to use.
A scrub brush has a main body that includes a top surface, a bottom surface, end walls, and side walls. Attached to the top surface of the main body is a sponge. Attached to and extending away from the bottom surface of the main body are a plurality of bristles. The sponge is preferably removably attached to the top surface of the main body either by clips that are rotatably attached to the top surface, or fitted over an import tube and a vent tube that extend away from the top surface of the main body. The main body has a plurality of channels that extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the main body with each channel aligned with one of the plurality of bristles. Alternatively, the main body has a hollow chamber with a plurality of semi-permeable holes on the bottom surface that align with the bristles. Extending through one of the end walls is a button.
Referring to the Figures, a scrub brush 10 includes a main body 12 having a top surface 14, a bottom surface 16, end walls 18, and side walls 20. Removably attached to the top surface 14 of the main body 12 is a sponge 22. Attached to and extending away from the bottom surface 16 of the main body 12 are a plurality of bristles 24.
In one embodiment, the sponge 22 is attached to the top surface 14 of the main body using any conventional means such as clips 26 that are rotatably attached to the top surface 14 of the main body 12. Extending through the main body 12 from the top surface to the bottom surface 16, are a plurality of channels 28. The bristles 24 are aligned positioned adjacent the channels 28.
In operation, water and a cleaning agent are applied to the sponge in any manner such as dunking the scrub brush 10 in a bucket or the like. While applying manual force to a surface to be cleaned with the scrub brush 10, manual pressure is also applied to the sponge 22. As pressure is applied to the sponge, the water and cleaning agent begin to flow through the channels partly by force and partly due to gravity through the channels 28 to the bristles 24. The bristles are then lubricated with the water and cleaning agent to assist in cleaning a surface.
In another embodiment the top surface 14, bottom surface 16, end walls 18, and side walls 20 form a hollow chamber 30. Extending away from the top surface 14 is an import tube 32. A cap 34 is attached to an end of the import tube 32 which is in communication with the hollow chamber 30. Also extending away from the top surface 14 and in communication with the hollow chamber 30 is a vent tube 36. The sponge 22 has a pair of holes 38 that receive the import tube 32 and the vent tube 36 that permit the sponge 22 to be fitted over and held in place by the import tube 32 and vent tube 36. The holes 38 are of an equal distance, as are the import tube 32 and the vent tube 36 to permit the sponge 22 to be flipped and used on an opposite side. To clean a smooth surface, the sponge 22 is removed to clean the surface and then replaced when completed.
On the bottom surface 16 of the main body 12 are a plurality of semi-permeable ducts 40 where each duct is aligned with bristles 24. Also, on one end wall 18 of the main body 12 has a button 42 that extends through the end wall 18, and at the opposite end 18 is a hook 44 for hanging the scrub brush 10. Attached to the button 42 is a thin plastic sheet 43 that extends along the bottom surface 16 of the main body 12 within the hollow chamber 30. The plastic sheet has a plurality of holes 45 that selectively align with the semi-permeable ducts 40.
In operation, the hollow chamber 30 is filled through the import tube 32 with a cleaning solution that includes a combination of a cleaning agent such as soap and water. The scrub brush 10 is then grasped with a hand of the user such that the import tube 32 is positioned between the individual's thumb and forefinger. Applying manual force of the scrub brush 10 to a cleaning surface the cleaning solution flows through the semi-permeable ducts 40 to lubricate the bristles 24. To provide cleaning solution to the bristles 24 the button or similar mechanism 42 is activated to cause the thin plastic sheet 43 to slide across the bottom of the main body and holes 45 align with the semi-permeable ducts 40 to permit cleaning solution to flow through the ducts 40 to the bristles. When the button is deactivated the plastic sheet 43 slides back so that holes 45 no longer align with ducts 40.
In yet another embodiment the main body has an inner wall 46 that forms a recess 48 having an open top and a bottom wall 50. The recess 48 is adapted to receive the sponge 22 that is held in place by a rotatable clip 26 or the like. The recess 48 is surrounded by the hollow chamber 30 formed as previously described and including the import tube 32 and cap 34, the semi-permeable ducts 40, and the button 42. The chamber also extends beneath the bottom wall 50 of the recess to separate the sponge 22 from the bristles 24. The inner wall 46 has ducts 52 that permit cleaning fluid to seep from the hollow chamber 30 to the sponge 22.
From the above discussion and accompanying figures and claims it will be appreciated that the scrub brush 10 offers many advantages over the prior art. It will be appreciated further by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby. It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in the light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included in the spirit and purview of this application.
