US20040117931A1

US20040117931A1 - For a scrubbing brush

Info

Publication number: US20040117931A1
Application number: US10/265,990
Authority: US
Inventors: Darren Washington; John King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-23
Filing date: 2002-12-23
Publication date: 2004-06-24

Abstract

A scrubbing brush that includes a body, at least one hand grip, a brush head, a water supply apparatus, and a motor. The water supplying apparatus fluidly communicates with the body, the brush head, and a water source, and dispenses water from the brush head. The brush head includes a housing that is pivotally attached to the body, by a ball joint, and a brush that are rotatably attached to the housing thereof. The water supplying apparatus includes a coupling that extends from and is in fluid communication with the body and the brush head, and a flexible hose that is fluidly attached to the coupling and the water source. In one embodiment, the motor is an electric motor that is disposed in the body and is operatively connected to and rotates the brush of the brush head. In another embodiment, the motor is an impeller arrangement that is disposed in the housing of the brush head and is operatively connected to the brush of the brush head, and when impacted upon by the water entering the housing of the brush head through the flexible hose, rotates and causes the brush of the brush head to rotate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a brush. More particularly, the present invention relates to a scrubbing brush.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Clean bathroom surfaces are essential for many reasons. The moist wet surfaces in bathrooms provide a haven for bacteria and viruses and must be kept under control to prevent disease. If a bathroom is not kept impeccably clean, a bathroom user can be exposed to such aliments as foot fungus, the common cold, or other more serious illnesses. A clean bathroom area is also a matter of personal pride. It can be very embarrassing to have a guest use bathroom facilities which are unsanitary or even unsightly.

The reality is that many bathrooms are not kept as clean as the user might desire due to the hassle involved in cleaning bathroom surfaces such as the bathtub and shower stall.

The conventional method of cleaning a bathroom consists of filling a bucket with detergent and water and manually scrubbing the surfaces with a sponge or brush. This method has many inherent problems. Such a method involves repeatedly rinsing the brush and having to fill and dump the bucket numerous times to discard dirty water. The soap or detergent can cause skin irritations or allergic reactions.

wearing rubber gloves can combat the skin irritation problem but rubber gloves are known to be very uncomfortable because they promote excess sweating of the hands. Also, a percentage of the general public cannot use rubber gloves due to latex allergy which can cause severe itching, rash, and possible anaphylactic shock.

Another problem with manual cleaning is that the person cleaning must manipulate their body in many ways to reach all of the surfaces. This includes kneeling on hard surfaces which can cause knee and back problems. Reaching higher surfaces involves reaching over ones head. This latter movement can easily cause a person to lose their footing on slick surfaces and cause serious injury.

Numerous innovations for scrubbing devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,671 to Rand teaches a multipurpose cleaning device which can be used as a bath and tile scrubbing device, can be used for cleaning the interior of toilet bowls and other hard to reach locations as well as being adapted for use in conjunction with floors, walls, ceilings and the like. The device is in the form of an encapsulated motor or engine which is preferably at least water resistant in construction and has a removable longitudinally extending handle as well as laterally disposed gripping means. Dispensing means are also included as are a plurality of different shaped scrubbing means.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,578 to Bordeaux teaches a tool for cleaning a bathtub. The tool enables an individual standing adjacent a bathtub to readily reach and clean the inner vertical and horizontal surfaces of the bathtub. The tool comprises a cleaning head and an elongate handle shaped, contoured and dimensioned to allow the application of the cleaning head to bottom and side surfaces of the bathtub. The handle is attached to the cleaning head generally at the center of gravity thereof to facilitate the control and positioning of the cleaning head during utilization of the tool. The cleaning head includes a rotary circular pad for contacting and cleaning the surfaces of the bathtub and a motor for supplying motive power to drive the circular pad. The circular pad is resiliently compressible to facilitate the adaptation of the cleaning head to the various curved surfaces of the bathtub.

STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,334 to Henriquez et al. teaches a primary fluid, e.g. water, and auxiliary fluid, e.g. soap, dispensing scrubber apparatus that includes a pistol-shaped housing which has a hand-grip portion and a scrubber-holder portion. A primary fluid conveyance assembly includes, in sequence, an inlet end, a pre-valve conduit, a valve assembly, a post-valve conduit, and an outlet end. A flexible hose has one end connected to the inlet end of the primary fluid conveyance assembly and has another end which includes a faucet connector. Rechargeable batteries are housed within the housing and power a DC motor. A trigger-containing switch assembly is connected between the motor and the batteries. A drive shaft is connected to the motor, and a scrubber head is connected to the drive shaft. A spray nozzle is connected to the outlet end of the post-valve conduit. The drive shaft is hollow and forms a portion of the post-valve conduit of the primary fluid conveyance assembly. A fluid-tight seal is connected between a lead-in portion of the post-valve conduit and the hollow drive shaft. A motor armature includes a hollow armature shaft which serves as the drive shaft and also forms a portion of the post-valve conduit of the primary fluid conveyance assembly. The scrubber head may be in the form of a brush or a sponge. A container assembly, connected to the housing, contains a quantity of an auxiliary fluid which is moved to the valve assembly through a feed tube.

YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,790 to Root et al. teaches a submersible scrubbing device using a direct current electric motor powered by rechargeable batteries. The device has a longitudinal body, with the rotating brush tool positioned in line with the body, to allow the tool and the device to be inserted into narrow passageways. The housing of the device is designed to prevent water from entering the device. Variously configured scrubbing brushes or scrubbing tools are used with the device.

STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,982 to Phillips teaches a water driven brush mechanism which is pivotally attached to a rigid hose. The rigid hose acts as a handle to the user and a conduit to supply water to the brush mechanism. The pivotal attachment allows the user to change the angle of the brush mechanism to the rigid pipe to facilitate the cleaning process. The rigid hose is attached to a flexible hose on the opposite end of the brush mechanism. The flexible hose in turn attaches to the faucet or shower head for the necessary water supply. The flexible hose is necessary to provide easy movement of the brush mechanism to a variety of positions with respect to the faucet or shower head. The flexible hose is also of sufficient length as to easily reach the desired surface to be cleaned. The flexible hose has a male threaded end cap which can engage with the threaded male end of a shower head by use of a coupling device. Alternatively, the flexible hose can be attached to the threaded end of a grommet device which snugly fits over a bathtub faucet.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for scrubbing devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a scrubbing brush that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a cleaning brush that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a scrubbing brush that is simple to use.

BRIEFLY STATED, YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a scrubbing brush that includes a body, at least one hand grip, a brush head, a water supply apparatus, and a motor. The water supplying apparatus fluidly communicates with the body, the brush head, and a water source, and dispenses water from the brush head. The brush head includes a housing that is pivotally attached to the body, by a ball joint, and a brush that is rotatably attached to the housing thereof. The water supplying apparatus further includes a coupling that extends from and is in fluid communication with the body and the brush head, and a flexible hose that is fluidly attached to the coupling and the water source. In one embodiment, the motor is an electric motor that is disposed in the body and is operatively connected to and rotates the brush of the brush head. In another embodiment, the motor is an impeller arrangement that is disposed in the housing of the brush head and is operatively connected to the brush of the brush head, and when impacted upon by the water entering the housing of the brush head through the flexible hose, rotates and causes the brush of the brush head to rotate.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The sole FIGURE of the drawing is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention. [0021]

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

[0022] 10 scrubbing brush of the present invention
[0023] 12 body
[0024] 14 at least one hand grip
[0025] 16 brush head
[0026] 18 water supplying apparatus for fluidly communicating with water source 20 and facilitating cleaning.
[0027] 20 water source
[0028] 22 water of water source 20
[0029] 24 bayonet connectors of body 12
[0030] 26 proximal end of body 12
[0031] 28 distal end of body 12
[0032] 30 one hand grip of pair of hand grips 30 and 32 of at least one hand grip 14 for gripping by one hand of user
[0033] 32 other hand grip of pair of hand grips 30 and 32 of at least one hand grip 14 for gripping by other hand of user
[0034] 34 resilient material covering pair of hand grips 30 and 32 of at least one hand grip 14 for facilitating gripping
[0035] 36 housing of brush head 16
[0036] 38 ball joint of housing 36 of brush head 16
[0037] 40 brush of brush head 16
[0038] 42 coupling of water supplying apparatus 18
[0039] 44 flexible hose of water supplying apparatus 18
[0040] 46 first end of flexible hose 44 of water supplying apparatus 18
[0041] 48 second end of flexible hose 44 of water supplying apparatus 18 for fluidly attaching to water source 18

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the sole FIGURE, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention, the scrubbing brush of the present invention is shown generally at [0042] 10.
The scrubbing [0043] brush 10 includes a body 12, at least one hand grip 14 disposed on the body 12, a brush head 16 movably attached to the body 12, and a water supplying apparatus 18 fluidly communicating with the body 12 and the brush head 16 for fluidly communicating with a water source 20, such as a faucet or shower head, and dispensing water 22 from the brush head 16 for facilitating cleaning.
The [0044] body 12 is slender, elongated, telescopically length adjustable by way of bayonet connectors 24, has a proximal end 26 and a distal end 28, and is made of aluminum for preventing rusting.
The at least one hand grip [0045] 14 is a pair of hand grips 30 and 32 which are covered with a resilient material 34 for facilitating gripping.
One hand grip [0046] 30 for gripping by one hand of a user extends arcuately from the proximal end 26 of the body 12 and lies in a plane, and the other hand grip 32 for gripping by the other hand of the user extends straight and laterally outwardly from the body 12, perpendicularly to the plane of the one hand grip 30 and in close proximity to the distal end 28 of the body 12.
The [0047] brush head 16 comprises a housing 36 that is pivotally attached to the distal end 28 of the body 12, by a ball joint 38, and a brush 40 that is interchangeably and rotatably attached to the housing 36 thereof for rotational relative thereto, and is either coarse, semi-rigid, or fluffy depending upon desired cleaning.
The [0048] water supplying apparatus 18 comprises a coupling 42 that extends laterally outwardly from and is in fluid communication with the body 12, is in fluid communication with the brush head 16, and is disposed between the other hand grip 32 and the distal end 28 of the body 12.
The [0049] water supplying apparatus 18 further comprises a flexible hose 44 that has a first end 46 that is fluidly attached to the coupling 42 thereof, and a second end 48 for fluidly attaching to the water source 18 so as to allow the water 22 from the water source 20 to travel through the flexible hose 44, through the coupling 42, through the body 12, through the housing 36 of the brush head 16, and out between the brush 40 of the brush head 16 for facilitating cleaning.
The scrubbing [0050] brush 10 further comprises a motor rotating the brush 40 of the brush head 16 for facilitating cleaning.
The motor is preferably an electric motor that is disposed in the [0051] distal end 28 of the body 12 and is operatively connected to the brush 40 of the brush head 16.
The scrubbing [0052] brush 10 further comprises an interface disposed in the distal end 28 of the body 12 and electrically communicating with the electric motor for holding batteries to power the electric motor.
A typical such electric motor and interface are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,334 to Henriquez et al. which is incorporated herein by reference thereto so that its teachings supplement the disclosure of the instant application, as was allowed in the recent decision in Robotic Vision Systems, [0053] Inc. v. View Engineering, Inc., 112 F.3d 1163, 42 USPQ.2d 1619 (Fed. Cir. 1997), where the Court held:
“Knowledge of a skilled artisan may supplement the disclosure.“ [Emphasis added][0054]
In [0055] Young Dental Manufacturing Company, Inc. v. Q3 Special Products, Inc., 112 F.3d 1137, 42 USPQ.2d 1589 (Fed. Cir. 1997), where the Court held:
“An inventor must only disclose information that would not have been apparent to a skilled artisan.” [Emphasis added][0056]
And, in [0057] Genentech, Inc. v. Novo Nordisk, Als, 108 F.3d 1361, 42 USPQ.2d 1001 (Fed. Cir. 1997), where it was held:
“A specification need not disclose what is well known in the art. [0058]
Alternatively, the motor is an impeller arrangement that is disposed in the [0059] housing 36 of the brush head 16 and is operatively connected to the brush 40 of the brush head 16, and when impacted upon by the water 22 entering the housing 36 of the brush head 16 through the flexible hose 44, rotates and causes the brush 40 of the brush head 16 to rotate.
A typical such impeller arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,982 to Phillips which is incorporated herein by reference thereto so that its teachings supplement the disclosure of the instant application, as was allowed in the decisions in [0060] Robotic Vision Systems, Inc. v. View Engineering, Inc.; Young Dental Manufacturing Company, Inc. v. Q3 Special Products, Inc.; and Genentech, Inc. v. Novo Nordisk, Als, discussed supra.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. [0061]
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a scrubbing brush, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. [0062]
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. [0063]

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A scrubbing brush, comprising:

a) a body;

b) at least one hand grip disposed on said body;

c) a brush head movably attached to said body; and

d) a water supplying apparatus fluidly communicating with said body and said brush head for fluidly communicating with a water source and dispensing water from said brush head for facilitating cleaning.

2. The brush as defined in claim 1, wherein said body is slender, elongated, telescopically length adjustable by way of bayonet connectors, is made of aluminum for preventing rusting, and has:

a) a proximal end; and

b) a distal end.

3. The brush as defined in claim 2, wherein said at least one hand grip is a pair of hand grips.

4. The brush as defined in claim 3, wherein one hand grip for gripping by one hand of a user extends arcuately from said proximal end of said body and lies in a plane, and the other hand grip for gripping by the other hand of the user extends straight and laterally outwardly from said body, perpendicularly to said plane of said one hand grip and in close proximity to said distal end of said body.

5. The brush as defined in claim 3, wherein said pair of hand grips are covered with a resilient material for facilitating gripping.

6. The brush as defined in claim 4, wherein said brush head comprises a housing that is pivotally attached to said distal end of said body, by a ball joint.

7. The brush as defined in claim 6, wherein said brush head further comprises a brush that is interchangeably and rotatably attached to said housing thereof for rotational relative thereto, and is one of coarse, semi-rigid, and fluffy depending upon desired cleaning.

8. The brush as defined in claim 7, wherein said water supplying apparatus comprises a coupling that extends laterally outwardly from and is in fluid communication with said body, is in fluid communication with said brush head, and is disposed between said other hand grip and said distal end of said body.

9. The brush as defined in claim 8, wherein said water supplying apparatus further comprises a flexible hose that has:

a) a first end that is fluidly attached to said coupling; and

b) a second end for fluidly attaching to the water source so as to allow water from the water source to travel through said flexible hose, through said coupling, through said body, through said housing of said brush head, and out between said brush of said brush head for facilitating cleaning.

10. The brush as defined in claim 9; further comprising a motor rotating said brush of said brush head for facilitating cleaning.

11. The brush as defined in claim 10, wherein said motor is an electric motor that is disposed in said distal end of said body and is operatively connected to said brush of said brush head.

12. The brush as defined in claim 11; further comprising an interface disposed in said distal end of said body and electrically communicating with said electric motor for holding batteries to power said electric motor.

13. The brush as defined in claim 10, wherein said motor is an impeller arrangement that is disposed in said housing of said brush head and is operatively connected to said brush of said brush head, and when impacted upon by the water entering said housing of said brush head through said flexible hose, rotates and causes said brush of said brush head to rotate.