Patent Application
20120230754
The invention generally relates to a hose-attachable apparatus and system for washing an object, and more particularly to a washing attachment and system for washing a brush-like object.
Maintaining the cleanliness of objects, such as paintbrushes, after use often requires that the object be rinsed with a fluid such as water or a more particularized cleaning fluid, such as paint thinner. Washing a used paintbrush to remove debris, e.g., paint, discourages the debris from more permanently attaching itself to the bristles of the brush. Not washing away paint from a brush after use can lead to the paint drying to the bristles, which makes it more difficult to thereafter remove the paint from the brush. Further, improper washing can lead to clumping of the bristles of the brush, which thereafter makes the toe of the brush less even and consistent. Accordingly, thorough washing of objects such as paintbrushes after use is usually desired.
Thoroughly washing away debris from an object such as a used paintbrush can require the use of a large amount of washing fluid. It is often preferable to rinse the paintbrush with only fluid free of any debris, such as by running the brush under running, clean water. However, this leads to the use of a significant amount of water. Alternatively, to reduce the amount of water used, users will on occasion repeatedly dunk the debris-covered bristles of the brush in a batch of cleaning fluid. While this conserves the amount of fluid used to wash the brush, the efficiency of this cleaning method generally decreases during the process, as the debris transfers from the bristles of the brush and mixes with the cleaning fluid such that subsequent submersions of the bristles in the mixture expose the brush to less-clean fluid than the fluid originally in the cleaning batch. The inefficiency of such a system can require increased time to thoroughly remove the debris from the brush. Further, the bristles of a delicate paintbrush, such as an artist's brush, can be damaged if a washer presses the heel of the brush against the bottom of a washing basin or otherwise too roughly man-handles the bristles during cleaning, which some washers are prone to do in their attempts to separate bristles to allow access of washing fluid to debris otherwise trapped between bristles.
The present washing attachment and system provides a washing device and system that efficiently, quickly, and thoroughly accommodates washing of an object such as a paintbrush, by allowing for interaction of washing fluid, combing teeth, and brushing bristles against the object while allowing for adjustments to the washing attachment and system to accommodate the washing of objects of varying sizes and levels of durability or delicacy.
The washing attachment includes a main body that has a wall that defines within the main body a main conduit. A number of teeth are supported by the wall of the main body and extend from the wall. Each tooth is supported by the wall at its base, such that the tip of each tooth points away from the main body. In some embodiments the teeth of the washing attachment are arranged in a first row with each of the teeth being spaced evenly from its neighboring tooth or teeth.
Within each of at least some of the teeth are extending conduits. In some embodiments, each of the teeth of the washing attachment includes an extending conduit. In other embodiments, only some of the teeth of the washing attachment include extending conduits. An extending conduit passes through its respective tooth from the base of the tooth toward the tip. The extending conduits within the teeth are configured to be in communication with the main conduit. At least according to some embodiments, the extending conduit within a tooth does not pass all the way to the tip of the respective tooth.
Each of the teeth containing an extending conduit further includes a number of teeth openings. According to some embodiments, the teeth openings are back-angled notches arranged in a series along one side, such as the front side, of each respective tooth. In other embodiments, the teeth openings are slits cut along the length of the corresponding tooth. In some embodiments, each tooth includes an equal number of teeth openings that are equally spaced along each respective tooth. In other embodiments, the number of teeth openings included on a respective tooth varies from one tooth to another.
The washing attachment further includes a number of bristle extensions, which are supported by and extend away from the wall of the main body of the washing attachment. The bristle extensions are lined along the bases of the teeth. According to some embodiments, including those in which the teeth are arranged in a single row, the bristle extensions are arranged in at least one second row in front of the row of teeth, such that the teeth openings are directed toward the bristle extensions.
In some embodiments, the wall of the main body is configured to be cylindrically shaped with the main conduit passing through the center of the main body. In such embodiments, the main body further includes a cap that covers the upper or distal end of the main conduit. The lower end of the main conduit remains essentially open so as to allow fluid to be passed into the main conduit from the open end.
The washing attachment further includes a hose attachment adapter that is supported by the wall of the main body and is connected to the wall near to the open end of the main conduit. The hose attachment adapter is configured to accommodate connection of the washing attachment to a hose. In some embodiments, the washing attachment further includes a flow control valve that is configured to selectively allow adjustment of fluid pressure of fluid passed through the main conduit and out through the teeth openings via the extending conduits. In some embodiments, the flow control valve is integrated with the hose attachment adapter.
The washing attachment is further configured to be used within a washing system such as a system including a hose connectable to the washing attachment via the hose attachment adapter, where such hose is connected to a reservoir of fluid to be used to wash an object. As such, in use, cleaning fluid passes out of the reservoir, via a reservoir outlet, through the hose, into the main conduit of the main body via the open end of the main conduit, out of the main conduit into the connecting extending conduits in the teeth, and finally out of the extending conduit via the teeth openings to an external area in which the object to be washed should be present. Where such object is a paintbrush, therefore the paintbrush can be held over a waste receptacle of the washing system and the fluid passing through the washing attachment applied toward the bristles of the paintbrush to encourage debris on the paintbrush to wash down into the waste receptacle. With the teeth of the washing attachment inserted between the brush bristles of the paintbrush so that the tips of the bristle extensions contact the brush bristles, a user can comb the teeth of the washing attachment through the brush bristles and move the bristle extensions along the surface of the paintbrush bristles as the cleaning fluid flows through the teeth openings. As such, the movement of the teeth through and against the debris on the brush bristles, the contact of the water from the teeth openings against the debris upon the brush bristles, and the contact of the bristle extensions against the debris on the brush bristles encourages the debris to wash off of the brush bristles and into the waste receptacle. Therefore, the washing of the brush is accomplished relatively quickly, efficiently, and thoroughly with minimized use of cleaning fluid.
In other embodiments of the washing system, such as those configured for washing a paintbrush using paint thinner, the washing system further includes a filtration system configured to separate the debris from the cleaning fluid and to recycle the separated cleaning fluid to continuing washing the paintbrush. That is, cleaning fluid free of any debris passes from a hose, into the washing attachment, and out of the teeth openings towards the brush bristles to be washed and thereafter collected with the washed-away debris within a waste receptacle. As such, the waste receptacle receives a mixture of debris and cleaning fluid. The mixture of debris and cleaning fluid passes from the waste receptacle into a filtration system in which a filter, such as a solids filter, and, in some embodiments, a secondary filter, are configured to separate the debris from the cleaning fluid and to return the purer cleaning fluid, relatively free or completely free of debris, back into the hose and toward the washing attachment for continued use in cleaning the paintbrush. Again, the washing attachment within the washing system accommodates a relatively quick, efficient, and thorough washing of an object with minimized use of cleaning fluid.
In some embodiments, the washing attachment further includes a selectively-removable sleeve having defined therein at least one cavity configured to receive at least one of the teeth of the washing attachment. As such, the sleeve is configured to selectively cover one or more of the teeth and the corresponding teeth openings of the covered tooth or teeth so that, during use of the washing attachment, cleaning fluid is discouraged from exiting the teeth openings that are covered. Accordingly, when the width of an object to be washed is less than the width of the total span of the plurality of teeth of the washing attachment, one or more sleeves can be slipped over those teeth that extend beyond the width of the object so as to limit the effective width of the washing attachment to a width that corresponds with the width of the object to be washed.
In some embodiments, a sleeve defines a number of cavities each corresponding to the relative size of the teeth of the washing attachment such that each tooth is snugly received within a corresponding cavity when the sleeve is removably placed over one or more teeth. In other embodiments, a sleeve defines only one cavity such that more than one tooth is received within the cavity when the sleeve is placed over a number of teeth.
In some embodiments, the washing attachment includes a removable sleeve configured to receive therein all of the teeth of the washing attachment, which sleeve accommodates protection of the tips of the teeth and prohibits unwanted interaction of the teeth with other objects or people when the washing attachment is not in use. Such a sleeve, during use of the washing attachment, can be completely removed from the washing attachment so as to expose all of the teeth openings to the object to be washed. Alternately, such a sleeve can be selectively removed and replaced so that only a portion of the sleeve covers fewer than all of the teeth of the attachment, with the remaining portion of the sleeve extending away from the washing attachment. In such embodiments, therefore, a single sleeve accommodates adjustment of the effective width of the plurality of teeth of the washing attachment.
Even after an object has been washed, the teeth and bristle extensions of the washing attachment accommodate further interaction with the object. For example, after all paint has been removed from a paintbrush, the teeth and bristle extensions of the washing attachment can be further combed through the bristles of the paintbrush so as to encourage drying of the bristles and even distribution of the bristles as they dry, thereby discouraging clumping.
The combing action of the teeth and the bristle extensions during washing and the relatively even flow of fluid from the series of teeth openings also encourage an even washing of the bristles of a paintbrush and even distribution of the cleaning fluid exiting the teeth openings without necessitating manhandling of the bristles. As such, the washing attachment and system are suited for use in washing even a delicate object such as a fine-haired artist's brush.
Because, in use, debris on an object being washed is acted against by each of (1) the teeth of the washing attachment, (2) the cleaning fluid exiting the teeth openings, and (3) the bristle extensions along the base of the teeth, embodiments of the washing attachment and system provide for efficient, quick, and thorough washing of an object such as a paintbrush. The availability of a removable sleeve accommodates use of the washing attachment and system with a variety of sizes of objects to be washed, such as varying sizes of paintbrushes. At least in some embodiments, the ability to vary the pressure of the fluid exiting through the teeth openings further provides flexibility to the attachment and system so that low fluid pressure can be selected for cleaning a delicate brush while high water pressure can be used for washing a brush with heavy-duty bristles.
The purpose of the Summary is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Summary is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Still other features and advantages of the claimed device and system will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the device and system, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out the device and system. As will be realized, the device and system are capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative, and not restrictive.
While the washing attachment and system are susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
As shown
In the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “e.g.,” “etc.,” and “or” indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted.
With particular attention to
A plurality of teeth 22 is supported by the main body 12 with each of the teeth 22 extending from the wall 14. According to the depicted embodiment, the teeth 22 extend essentially perpendicularly away from the wall 14 of the main body 12. In some embodiments, such as that shown in
Each of at least some of the teeth 22 have defined therein an extending conduit 26 that passes from each base 27 toward the tip 28 of the tooth 22 through which it passes. With particular regard to
With particular attention to
According to the first depicted embodiment, the washing attachment 10 includes twenty-one teeth 22, each including an extending conduit 26 passing therethrough. Each of these teeth 22 terminates in a tapering, sharp tip such that the tips thereof are configured to accommodate insertion of the plurality of teeth 22 between the brush bristles 2 of a brush 1 to be washed. Also according to the depicted embodiment, each of the teeth 22 is nearly equal in height, where such height is defined by the distance between the base 27 of each of the tooth 22, where the tooth 22 is connected to the base member 32, and the tip 28 of each tooth. Further, according to the first depicted embodiment, the teeth 22 are essentially evenly spaced along the base member 32 with approximately one-eighth inches between one tooth 22 and its neighbor.
With particular attention to
With particular attention to
According to the depicted embodiment, the teeth 22 are arranged in a first row extending along the width of the base member 32 and thus along the length of the main body 12 of the washing attachment 10. As arranged, the teeth openings 24 of the teeth 22 are also all aligned along the right side of the washing attachment 10. Also as depicted, the bristle extensions 30 are arranged in at least one second row along the teeth 22 in front of the teeth openings 24. Therefore, the teeth openings 24 are directed toward the bristle extensions 30. According to the embodiment depicted in
Preferably, each of the teeth openings 24 is aimed in the same direction as that of the other teeth openings 24. Therefore, in use, fluid exiting the extending conduits 26 is aimed in one particular direction. According to the depicted embodiment, with the main body 12 of the washing attachment 10 defining a first axis, the teeth 22 defining a second axis that is essentially perpendicular to the first axis, the direction of the fluid exiting the teeth openings 24 will be in a direction that is perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis. Thus, if the washing attachment 10 is held parallel to the ground, the teeth 22 extending outward from the main body 12 and also parallel to the ground, the fluid exiting the teeth openings 24 will be directed downward, toward the ground.
The washing attachment 10 further includes a hose attachment adapter 34 supported by the wall 14 of the main body 12. The hose attachment adapter 34 is configured to accommodate connection of the washing attachment 10 to a hose 52. According to the preferred embodiments, the washing attachment 10 further includes a flow control valve 36 configured to allow selective adjustment of fluid pressure of fluid passing through the teeth openings 24 when the washing attachment 10 is in use. According to the embodiments depicted, the flow control valve 36 is integrated within the hose attachment adapter 34. Utilizing the flow control valve 36, then, flow of fluid through the teeth openings 24 can be selectively ceased by manipulation of the flow control valve 36 without having to shut off the hose 52 connected to the washing attachment 10. Further, when a low flow of fluid is desired, the flow control valve 36 can be manipulated to limit the amount of fluid exiting through the teeth openings 24, and when a higher pressure of fluid is desired, the flow control valve 36 can be manipulated to increase the amount of fluid exiting through the teeth openings 24.
With particular attention to
The washing attachment 10 is further configured for easy use to wash an object such as a paintbrush 1. That is, the washing attachment 10 is sized so as to be easily held in one hand along the main body 12 or at the hose attachment adapter 34 area while the handle 7 of a paintbrush 1 is held in the user's other hand. As such, the washing attachment 10 may be readily positioned with the teeth openings 24 directed downward, the brush bristles 2 likewise directed downward, and the bristle extensions 30 of the washing attachment 10 in contact with the first side of the brush 1 to be washed. After washing one side of the brush 1, the washing attachment 10 may be readily moved to be positioned with the teeth openings 24 directed downward, the brush bristles 2 likewise directed downward, and the bristle extensions 30 of the washing attachment 10 in contact with the second side of the brush 1 to be washed. Following washing of the majority of the debris from the first and second sides of the brush 1, the brush 1 can be easily turned upside down, and the teeth 22 of the washing attachment 10 reinserted into the belly 3 of the brush with the teeth openings 24 of the washing attachment 10 directed toward the ferrule 6 of the brush 1, thereby to wash away debris that may remain near the heel 5 of the brush 1.
At any stage of the washing, cleaning detergent or soap may be applied to the teeth 22 of the washing attachment 10 or to the bristle extensions 30 of the washing attachment 10 to further aid in the washing of debris from the brush 1. In some embodiments, the cleaning fluid used by the washing attachment 10 includes a mixture of cleaning detergent or soap and another fluid, such as water or paint thinner.
Even without a hose 52 connected to the washing attachment 10, the washing attachment 10 may be used to comb through the brush bristles 2 of a brush 1 to encourage drying of the bristles 2 and to discourage undesirable clumping of the bristles 2 as a newly-washed brush 1 dries.
In some circumstances in which the washing attachment 10 is to be utilized, the object to be washed will not be of a width equal to the width of the plurality of teeth 22 of the washing attachment 10. Therefore, with particular regard to
The third embodiment depicted in
With particular attention to
With particular attention to
Though, the depicted sleeve 42 includes only a single cavity 44 spanning nearly the entire length of the sleeve 42, in other embodiments, the sleeve 42 includes a number of cavities 44 corresponding to the number of teeth 22 of the washing attachment 10. Further, according to the third, fourth, and seventh depicted embodiment, the sleeve 42 is comprised of the translucent plastic material. In other embodiments, the sleeve 42 is comprised of an opaque material such as an opaque plastic or metal.
According to the first and second depicted embodiments, the teeth 22 and the bristle extensions 30 of the washing attachment 10 are comprised of a rust-resistant metal, such as steel, aluminum, or stainless steel.
With particular attention to
In some embodiments the main body 12 of the washing attachment 10 is comprised of a hollowed-out piece of wood, plastic, or metal. In other embodiments, the main body 12 of the washing attachment 10 is comprised of an extruded plastic.
According to some embodiments, such as the first and second embodiments, the hose attachment adapter 34 is adapted to receive a house outlet 54 end of a hose 52 within the lower end of the washing attachment 10. According to other embodiments, such as the eighth embodiment, however, the hose attachment adapter 34 includes external threads configured to accommodate attachment of a hose 52 to the washing attachment 10 such that the hose attachment adapter 34 portion of the main body 12 is configured to be received within the house outlet 54 end of a connecting hose 52.
It is expected that, in many circumstances in which the washing attachment 10 will be used, such as that depicted in
With particular attention to
The exemplary embodiments shown in the figures and described above illustrate, but do not limit, the invention. It should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed; rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, while the exemplary embodiments illustrate use of the washing attachment 10 in conjunction with a brush 1, the invention is not limited to use with paintbrushes, but is also useable to clean objects such as brooms, mops, hair, fur, or the like. While the invention is not limited to use to wash paint from a used paintbrush, it is expected that various embodiments of the invention will be particularly useful in such circumstances. Hence, the foregoing description should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.
Thus, while there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the washing attachment and system, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.
