U.S. patent application number 10/175140 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-01 for brush for use in washing an object.
Invention is credited to Larsen, Soren Johan.
Application Number | 20030081984 10/175140 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26069081 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030081984 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Larsen, Soren Johan |
May 1, 2003 |
Brush for use in washing an object
Abstract
A brush includes a body having a compartment for containing a
washing fluid, the body having a first surface to which bristles
are attached. A plurality of first fluid passages are provided
between the compartment and the first surface for dispensing fluid
from the compartment. A second passage between the compartment and
the first surface allows for the filling of the compartment when
the brush is submerged into a reservoir of fluid. The second
passage is provided with a non-return valve, preferably in the form
of a flexible plate having an edge attached to the inner surface of
the compartment. The non-return valve opens the second passage when
the brush is submerged, and closes the second passage when the
brush is removed from the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, the
body includes an air vent passage that advantageously includes a
throttling mechanism, such as a second non-return valve, for
limiting the flow of air into the compartment as fluid is dispensed
therefrom, thereby reducing the flow rate of fluid from the
compartment through the first passages
Inventors: |
Larsen, Soren Johan;
(Roskilde, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Howard J. Klein
Suite 510
2 Park Plaza
Irvine
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
26069081 |
Appl. No.: |
10/175140 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/291 ;
401/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 11/0013 20130101;
A46B 11/0062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/291 ;
401/282 |
International
Class: |
A47L 013/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2001 |
DK |
DK PA 2001 01580 |
Dec 13, 2001 |
DK |
DK PA 2001 01867 |
Claims
1. A brush for use in washing an object, particularly for washing
automobiles, and comprising a body having a compartment for
containing a washing liquid and brush bristles or hairs attached to
a first surface portion of said body, said body being provided
with: at least one first aperture or passage for fluid
communication between said compartment and said first surface
portion for dispensing washing fluid from said compartment, and at
least one second aperture or passage for fluid communication from
the surface of said body to said compartment for introducing
washing fluid into said compartment.
2. A brush according to claim 1, wherein said body further is
provided with washing liquid flow throttling means arranged at said
second aperture for throttling or preventing return flow of washing
liquid from said compartment through said second aperture.
3. A brush according to claim 2, wherein said throttling means
comprise a non-return valve means.
4. A brush according to claim 2, wherein said throttling means
comprise a plate of elastic material such as rubber having a size
larger than the interior mouth of said second aperture and having
one edge thereof attached to the inner wall surface of said
compartment adjacent said mouth such that said plate in relaxed
condition thereof substantially covers said mouth.
5. A brush according to claim 2, wherein said throttling means
comprise a plate having a size larger then the interior mouth of
said second aperture and arranged for pivoting around axis between
a first position wherein said plate allows flow of liquid through
said second aperture into said compartment and a second position
wherein said plate inhibits or prevents flow of liquid through said
second aperture out of said compartment.
6. A brush according to claim 2, wherein said throttling means
comprise a ball-and-valve-seat type non-return valve arranged in
said second aperture.
7. A brush according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
body is provided with at least one third aperture or passage for
allowing air to exit said compartment when washing fluid flows into
said compartment through said first, said third aperture preferably
being provided with throttling means for preventing or inhibiting
flow of air into said compartment such that when washing liquid is
dispensed through said second apertures under pressure is built up
in said compartment.
8. A brush according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of said first
apertures or passages are dimensioned and distributed such that the
area of the outer mouths thereof per unit of area of said first
surface portion increases in the direction inwards from the
boundary of said first surface portion.
9. A brush according to claim 1, wherein said bristles or hairs are
arranged in tufts and outer mouths of said first apertures or
passages are located within or adjacent said tufts.
10. A brush according to claim 9, wherein said tufts are fastened
at one end thereof in an annular space of a nipple or bushing
surrounding a central channel therein, said nipples or bushings
being arranged in said outer mouths of said first apertures or
passages such that washing fluid may be dispensed from said
compartment through said central channel.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a brush for use in washing
an object, particularly for washing automobiles, and comprising a
body having a compartment for containing a washing liquid and brush
bristles or hairs attached to a first surface portion of said body,
said body being provided with at least one first aperture or
passage for fluid communication between said compartment and said
first surface portion for dispensing washing fluid from said
compartment.
[0002] A brush of this type is known where water is led to the
apertures by a hose connected thereto. Much of the water dispensed
is wasted and creates a nuisance as well as an environmentally
undesirable situation.
[0003] From German patent No. DE 817 134 a brush for dispensing
water on loaves of bread is known having a water compartment
incorporated communicating with apertures for dispensing water.
Water is filled into the compartment and the compartment is closed
by a lid to avoid spilling the water when using the brush. This
brush is difficult to use because the lid has to be removed, the
water is to filled into the compartment and the lid replaced for
each time a charge of water is to be used.
[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a brush of the
type indicated where the waste of washing liquid is reduced to a
minimum and the filling of washing liquid into the compartment is
rendered efficient and easy to effect.
[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by
providing the body with at least one second aperture or passage for
fluid communication from the surface of said body to said
compartment for introducing washing fluid into said compartment.
Hereby, the washing liquid can be introduced into the compartment
simply by dipping the body of the brush into a reservoir of washing
liquid.
[0006] So as to reduce the wastage of washing liquid further and
allow the brush to be used on inclined or even vertical surfaces,
said body further is provided with washing liquid flow throttling
means arranged at said second aperture for throttling or preventing
return flow of washing liquid from said compartment through said
second aperture. Hereby, the tendency of the washing liquid to
spill out of the compartment through the second aperture will be
reduced and the washing liquid will to a large degree only be
dispensed in the intended manner through the second (dispensing)
apertures.
[0007] In a currently preferred embodiment of the brush according
to the invention, said throttling means comprise a non-return valve
means, and preferably said throttling means comprise a plate of
elastic material such as rubber having a size larger than the
interior mouth of said second aperture and having one edge thereof
attached to the inner wall surface of said compartment adjacent
said mouth such that said plate in relaxed condition thereof
substantially covers said mouth. This is a particularly simple and
efficient way of avoiding that the washing liquid spills out
through the first passage while still allowing automatic and rapid
filling of the compartment when dipping the brush into a container
with washing liquid.
[0008] Alternatively, said throttling means may comprise a plate
having a size larger then the interior mouth of said second
aperture and arranged for pivoting around axis between a first
position wherein said plate allows flow of liquid through said
second aperture into said compartment and a second position wherein
said plate inhibits or prevents flow of liquid through said second
aperture out of said compartment.
[0009] Further alternatively, said throttling means may comprise a
ball-and-valve-seat type non-return valve arranged in said second
aperture.
[0010] In a currently preferred embodiment of a brush according to
the invention, the body is provided with at least one third
aperture or passage for allowing air to exit said compartment when
washing fluid flows into said compartment through said second
aperture, said third aperture preferably being provided with
throttling means for preventing or inhibiting flow of air into said
compartment such that when washing liquid is dispensed through said
first apertures under pressure is built up in said compartment.
Hereby the flow of washing liquid into the compartment is not
hindered by over pressure, because of the venting of air through
the third (ventilating) aperture or passage. Furthermore, the
dispensing rate of the washing liquid may be reduced by the
throttling means arranged in or adjacent the third ventilating
passage thus prolonging the time period in which washing may take
place during simultaneous supply of washing liquid to the bristles.
These throttling means may comprise a non-return valve such as the
ones dealt with above in connection with the throttling means
associated with the second aperture.
[0011] Preferably, a plurality of said first apertures or passages
are dimensioned and distributed such that the area of the outer
mouths thereof per unit of area of said first surface portion
increases in the direction inwards from the boundary of said first
surface portion. Hereby it is achieved that a major part of the
washing fluid is dispensed at a distance from the boundary of the
bristles and thereby is available for the washing effect of the
bristles and does not merely flow away beyond the boundary of the
surface portion provided with bristles.
[0012] So as to achieve that the washing liquid engages the
bristles and is applied to the surface to be washed in an efficient
manner, said bristles or hairs may be arranged in tufts, and outer
mouths of said first apertures or passages may be located within or
adjacent said tufts. Hereby the washing liquid is dispensed to the
bristles in said tufts and flows down said bristles to the surface
to be washed.
[0013] Advantageously, said tufts may be fastened at one end
thereof in an annular space of a nipple or bushing surrounding a
central channel therein, said nipples or bushings being arranged in
said outer mouths of said first apertures or passages such that
washing fluid may be dispensed from said compartment through said
central channel. Hereby, a particularly efficient dispensing of
washing liquid to the bristles is achieved in a manner allowing for
good quality control and secure fastening of the bristles to the
surface of the brush.
[0014] The invention will in the following be explained more in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings where various
embodiments of the brush according the invention are shown, solely
by way of example, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, elevational, partly sectional view
of a preferred embodiment of the brush according to the
invention,
[0016] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the brush shown in FIG.
1,
[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, partly sectional view of the brush
in FIG. 1 illustrating the introduction of washing fluid into the
brush, and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, enlarged scale, fragmentary view
of an embodiment of a bristle tuft combined with a washing fluid
dispensing aperture according to the invention.
[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a brush indicated generally
by the reference number 1 comprises a handle portion 2, a body
portion 3 having an interior compartment 4 for receiving washing
fluid such as water or water with detergent and a number of tufts
of bristles or hairs attached to a substantially planar surface
portion 6 of the body portion 3.
[0020] An aperture or passage 7 communicates the compartment 4 with
the surroundings such that washing fluid may enter the compartment
4 when the brush 1 is submerged in a reservoir of washing fluid as
shown in FIG. 3 where washing fluid 8 from a reservoir thereof
enters the compartment 4 through aperture 7, as indicated by arrows
R1.
[0021] A plate 9 of a flexible material such as rubber is fastened
to the inner surface of the compartment 4 at 10 adjacent the inner
mouth of the aperture or passage 7 such that pressure from the
washing fluid 8 in the reservoir urges the flexible plate to flex
into the position 9a shown with dotted lines in FIG. 1 and full
lines in FIG. 3 whereby washing fluid is allowed to enter the
compartment 4 through the passage 7. When the brush 1 is taken out
of the reservoir of washing fluid 8, the flexible plate 9 will
revert to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 where the
plate 9 covers the interior mouth of the passage 7 such that
washing fluid in the compartment is inhibited or prevented from
flowing out through the passage 7.
[0022] The flexible plate thus functions as a non-return valve
allowing washing fluid to enter the compartment 4 when the brush 1
is dipped in a reservoir of washing fluid 8, and inhibiting or
preventing washing fluid to flow out of the compartment 4 when the
brush 1 is removed from the reservoir of washing liquid and is
applied to the surface to be washed, for example the surface of an
automobile or any other surface to be washed such as a floor, a
wall, a bath tub or the like.
[0023] Apertures or passages 11a and 11b communicating the
compartment 4 with the surface portion 6 of the body 3 are provided
for allowing washing fluid 8 to be dispensed to said surface
portion 6 when the brush 1 is held in a suitable position for
washing a surface such that the pressure of washing liquid in the
compartment urges the washing fluid through said passages 11a and
11b.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the passages 11a have a larger cross
sectional diameter than the passages 11b arranged closer to the
boundary of the surface portion 6 whereby the washing fluid is
dispensed more heavily in regions remote from said boundary so that
the washing fluid dispensed is applied to the surface at a central
region of the bristles 5 so that maximum efficiency of the washing
fluid is obtained.
[0025] The passages 11a and 11b may be distributed over the entire
surface portion 6 or in other ways such that more washing fluid is
dispensed in the central region of the surface portion 6 than at
the edge regions of the surface portion 6.
[0026] A ventilation aperture or passage 12 is provided at the end
of the compartment remote from the passage 7. The ventilation
passage 12 allows air to leave the compartment when washing fluid
is entering, as indicated by arrows R2 in FIG. 3. When washing
fluid is being dispensed through passages 11a and 11b, the
ventilation aperture or passage 12 allows air to enter the
compartment in a direction opposite the arrows R2 in FIG. 3.
[0027] Hereby build-up of over and under pressure in the
compartment 4 is avoided such that flow of washing liquid into and
out of the compartment is not hindered by said over and under
pressure.
[0028] However, it may be advantageous to arrange a throttling
means, for instance a non-return valve of the types mentioned above
and below, in or adjacent ventilating passage 12 such that flow of
air into the compartment 4 is hindered or prevented during
dispensing of washing liquid because under pressure or vacuum is
built up in the compartment 4. Hereby the rate of flow of washing
liquid through the apertures 11a and 11b will be reduced thereby
prolonging the time period in which washing may take place with the
brush 1 during simultaneous supply of washing liquid to the
bristles 5. This effect may also be achieved by arranging the outer
mouth of the passage 12 such relative to the handle that said outer
mouth of passage 12 may be covered by a finger of a user during
washing such that the finger functions as a non-return valve
preventing air-flow through ventilating passage 12 into compartment
4.
[0029] In FIG. 1 an alternative embodiment of a non-return valve is
shown arranged at the front of the body 3 in a passage 13 where a
rigid plate member 14 is arranged around a pivot 15 such that the
plate 14 rotates counter-clockwise when the brush is submerged in a
reservoir of washing liquid and thereby does not obstruct the
passage 13, while it rotates clockwise to the position shown in
FIG. 1 when the brush is in use and washing liquid is in the
compartment 4, in which position the plate 9 abuts the inner
surface of the compartment adjacent the passage 13 and the plate 14
thereby obstructs the passage 13 thus inhibiting or preventing flow
of washing liquid from the compartment through said passage 13.
[0030] Other non-return valve means may be employed, for example
ball-and-valve-seat type non-return valves may be located in an
aperture corresponding to aperture 7 or 13 or in passage 12.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 4, a nipple or bushing 16 having an
annular space 17 wherein one end of all the bristles of a tuft 5
are inserted and fastened, is arranged in an aperture or passage 18
communicating the compartment 4 with the surface portion 6, the
washing liquid 8 being dispensed through a central channel 19 in
the nipple or bushing 16 such that the washing liquid 8 flows down
along the bristles of the tuft 5 thus being applied to the surface
to be washed in an efficient manner.
[0032] This effect may also be achieved by boring the apertures
11a, 11b in the middle of or adjacent a tuft of bristles 5 fastened
in a conventional manner in the body 3, the bored aperture 11a, 11b
thus removing some of the bristles in the tuft. This embodiment is
simple and cheaper to manufacture, but has the disadvantage that
some of the bristles of the tufts involved are removed.
[0033] The brush may be designed for many other uses, for instance
as a scrubbing brush being brushed for scrubbing floors where the
handle is much longer and where the aperture for introducing
washing liquid into the compartment is arranged in the top surface
of the body in which case the non-return valve means may be
dispensed with because the washing liquid introduction aperture is
arranged at the top of the body and the scrubbing brush is intended
solely for use in a horizontal position.
[0034] It is likewise within the scope of the invention that the
bristles are replaced by other scrubbing means, such as strips of
cloth (mops) or textiles cloth arranged across the surface 6
perhaps combined or substituted by a sponge body arranged on or
adjacent surface portion 6 of the body 3.
[0035] The compartment 4 may be located in many different ways
relative to the handle and the surface portion 6 carrying the
bristles, the location and configuration of the compartment being
determined by the specific use of the brush thus configured.
* * * * *