U.S. patent application number 10/382861 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-09 for cleaning brush for child's drinking cup sports bottles long straws adult containers and manufacturing method thereof.
Invention is credited to Benton, Robin E..
Application Number | 20040172780 10/382861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32926978 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040172780 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benton, Robin E. |
September 9, 2004 |
Cleaning brush for child's drinking cup sports bottles long straws
adult containers and manufacturing method thereof
Abstract
The invention provides a cleaning implement suitable for
cleaning a child's drinking cup, a "sippy cup or a sports bottle
having a closable spout." The cleaning implement may include an
elongated shaft or handle, one end of which may be equipped with a
cleaning brush. The cleaning brush may be relatively narrow and may
be cylindrical or spherical in shape. This configuration enables a
user to penetrate narrow apertures with the cleaning brush. The
other end of the handle may be equipped with a shaped tip having,
at least in part, an abrasive surface enabling a user to scrape
stubborn stains, particles or films from hard-to-reach areas.
Inventors: |
Benton, Robin E.; (Potomac,
MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Peter W. Gowdey
Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
Suite 800
600 14th Street, NW
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
32926978 |
Appl. No.: |
10/382861 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/105 ; 15/114;
300/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 17/00 20130101;
A46B 15/0081 20130101; B08B 1/00 20130101; B08B 9/00 20130101; A46B
15/0055 20130101; A46B 2200/3006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/105 ;
015/114; 300/021 |
International
Class: |
A47L 013/12 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for cleaning surfaces of an object, comprising: an
elongated shaft having first and second ends; a cleaning brush
provided at the first end; and a shaped abrasive tip located
substantially at the second end
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft
comprises a plastic.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the plastic is a rigid
plastic.
4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the plastic is a flexible
plastic.
5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the elongated shaft is
formed by injection molding.
6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft
comprises rubber.
7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is
cylindrical in its cross-sectional shape.
8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is
ergonomically shaped.
9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning brush
comprises a plurality of bristles affixed about an outer
circumference of said shaft.
10. A device according to claim 9, wherein at least one bristle in
the plurality of bristles comprises a plastic.
11. A device according to claim 9, wherein at least one bristle in
the plurality of bristles comprises nylon.
12. A device according to claim 9, wherein at least one bristle in
the plurality of bristles comprises steel.
13. A device according to claim 9, wherein at least one bristle in
the plurality of bristles is affixed directly to the elongated
shaft.
14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning brush is
affixed to the first.
15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the shaped tip is formed
integrally with the elongated shaft.
16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the shaped tip is
affixed to the second end.
17. A device according to claim 1, wherein only a portion of the
shaped tip has an abrasive surface.
18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the abrasive surface
comprises a nylon material.
19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the abrasive surface
comprises a plurality of abrasive particles affixed to the shaped
tip.
20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the abrasive particles
comprise silicon carbide.
21. A device according to claim 19, wherein the abrasive particles
comprise aluminum oxide.
22. A device according to claim 17, wherein the abrasive surface is
formed by scarifying the surface of the shaped tip.
23. A device according to claim 17, wherein the abrasive surface is
formed integrally with the formation of the shaped tip.
24. A method for manufacturing a cleaning implement, the method
comprising the steps of: forming an elongated shaft first and
second ends; forming a shaped tip at one end; and forming a
cleaning brush at the other end.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the elongated shaft is formed
by injection molding.
26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of forming
an abrasive surface on the pointed tip.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the abrasive surface is formed
by affixing at least one of the materials of coiled, spiraled or
tufted nylon to the pointed tip.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the abrasive surface is formed
by affixing a plurality of abrasive particles to the pointed
tip.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of abrasive
particles comprises at least one silicon carbide particle.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of abrasive
particles comprises at least one aluminum oxide particle.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein the abrasive surface is formed
by scarifying the pointed tip.
32. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of forming the
abrasive surface is performed integrally with the step of forming
the abrasive tip.
33. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of forming the pointed
tip is performed integrally with the step of forming the elongated
shaft.
34. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of securing
the pointed tip to the second end of the elongated shaft.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein an adhesive is used to secure
the pointed tip to the second end of the elongated shaft.
36. The method of claim 24, wherein the cleaning brush is formed by
affixing a plurality of bristles to the elongated shaft.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein the cleaning brush is formed by
inserting a plurality of bristles into one or more holes in the
elongated shaft.
38. The method of claim 36, wherein the cleaning brush is formed by
affixing a plurality of bristles to the exterior of the elongated
shaft.
39. The method of claim 24, wherein the cleaning brush is formed by
affixing a plurality of bristles to a brush core substrate.
40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of affixing
the brush core substrate to the first end of the elongated
shaft.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein an adhesive is used to affix
the brush core substrate to the first end of the elongated
shaft.
42. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of affixing
the cleaning brush to the first end of the elongated shaft.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein an adhesive is used to affix
the cleaning brush to the first end of the elongated shaft.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning device, and more
particularly to a cleaning brush for a child's drinking cup, a
bottle with a closeable spout, or to a vessel having a spout
requiring cleaning.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] When small children first learn to drink from cups, they
have an initial problem with spilling the cup's contents. A first
step in this learning process is for a child to learn to handle the
vessel without concerning him or herself with spilling. Therefore,
cups with spill proof sipper or spouted lids are used to facilitate
this early learning process.
[0003] While these spill proof children's drinking cups, often
referred to as "sippy cups," provide many benefits for small
children and their caretakers, their unique shape or internal
construction may render them difficult to clean. Such sippy cups
can include liquid-restricting valves in the form a flexible
plastic insert, a semi-rigid insert or a series of flexible discs.
Liquid from the cup may adhere to all of these interior surfaces of
the cup and the spill-preventing valve structures, and in
particular may adhere to the interior of the drinking spout. This
problem may be exacerbated when the liquid is particularly viscous
or sugary, for example, when the liquid is juice, milk, or a
similar beverage. Furthermore, if the cup is not cleaned shortly
after it is used, the film of liquid on the above-referenced
interior surfaces when it dries to form a crusty or tacky coating.
A similar problem can occur with sports bottles having covers
containing closeable spouts, straws, or straw-type outlets. These
too may become clogged or otherwise require cleaning if liquids
other than water are being dispensed.
[0004] Cleaning implements typically used to wash cups and other
dishware may be ill-suited to cleaning children's drinking cups or
other types of spouts. Sponges and brushes that are suitable for
cleaning most dishware are too large and bulky to be inserted into
a narrow spout to adequately clean its interior surfaces, or to fit
into the flow-controlling valves or the portion of the cups where
such valves are housed. Dishwashers may not clean these cups or
closure tops thoroughly, as the spray of the water jets may not be
directed into the spout, and as the strength of the spray may not
be sufficient to remove crusted or sticky material.
[0005] Consequently, there is need for an implement or cleaning
device that can be used to clean hard-to-reach surfaces of a
child's drinking cup, the insert valve-type flow restrictors, or
the spout in a sports liquid bottle, particularly the interior
surfaces of the inserted flow-controlling valves and the drinking
spout. It is desirable to provide a brush that is able to easily
penetrate the opening at the base of the drinking spout.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention overcomes these and other problems in the art
and relates in one regard to an implement for cleaning a child's
drinking cup. In one embodiment, the implement may include an
elongated shaft preferably formed of a flexible material. The
cylindrical shaft may form a handle that may be used to manipulate
the implement. In other embodiments, one end of the cylindrical
shaft may be provided with a narrow round or cylindrical brush
having bristles, of the same or varying lengths, and even with
bristles being position at the distal end. The brush may be used to
clean surfaces of a child's drinking cup, internal flow-controlling
inserts, valves, straws, spouts on other restricted areas of the
flow path. In another embodiment, the proximal end of the
cylindrical shaft may taper to form a pointed tip. The pointed tip
may have an abrasive surface that may be used to scrape stubborn
films or particles from surfaces of a drinking cup or spouts on
other bottles or containers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which like elements are referenced with
like numbers, and in which:
[0008] FIG. 1a illustrates a child's drinking cup with a spouted
lid (prior art).
[0009] FIG. 1b illustrates a child's drinking cup with a spouted
lid (prior art).
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a cleaning implement in accordance with
the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a method for manufacturing
a cleaning implement in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] (Note the attached "Appendix" showing several examples of
infant drinking cups.)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a child's drinking cup 100 of a type
known in the art. The drinking cup 100 includes a main vessel 102
that may be used to contain a beverage and various types of
liquids. Main vessel 102 may be smooth sided or, alternatively
equipped with one or more handles such as are illustrated at 104,
which may enable a child to better grasp the cup. Typically,
handles 104 are relatively small so that an infant or young child
may more easily grasp them.
[0014] The drinking cup 100 may also include a removable closure or
lid 106, which includes a spouted mouthpiece 108. The lid 106 may
be detachable from the main vessel 102 by being pried off from a
friction or snap-on seal, or it may have a screw type connection.
Lid 106 is typically detached from main vessel 102 in order to fill
the main vessel. Once the vessel has been filled, the lid 106 may
be reattached. The combined assembly allows a child to drink from
the spouted mouthpiece 108 without spilling the beverage. The
present invention can also be used with a sports drink bottle that
could include a cover or lid with a snap-open spout (not shown) or
a straw, and the bottle portion could have a variety of shapes and
sizes.
[0015] FIG. 1a shows a typical cover 120 and a flow-controlling
valve member 122.
[0016] FIG. 1b shows a bottom view of cover 120 and in particular
the recesses 124 and 126 that receive valve portions 128 and 130,
respectively. The valve portions 128 and 130 are each generally
tubular in form, as are the recesses 124 and 126. The spout portion
132 is positioned at the end of recess 124, and a vent opening is
at the end of the recess 126.
[0017] Each of the valve portions includes as end wall, 134 and
136, respectively, at the upper end thereof, and each end wall
includes a slit or other closable opening to permit liquids to flow
when a child sucks on the spout.
[0018] Each of these recesses, valve portions, spouts and vents
will require cleaning, and the cleaning implement 200, shown in
FIG. 2, provides a device to clean each of these cap and lid
structures.
[0019] Other sippy-type cups are shown in the attached
Appendix.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a cleaning implement 200 made in
accordance with the present invention. Such a cleaning implement
may be used to clean surfaces and other structural parts of the
drinking cup 100. In particular, cleaning implement 200 is designed
to be small in size but sufficient to clean the interior surfaces
of the spouted mouthpiece 108, as well the small handles 104, the
surrounding areas, and the internal valve structures.
[0021] The cleaning implement 200 may include a shaft 202. The
shaft will act as a handle and be used to manipulate one or the
other ends the implement. In one embodiment, the shaft 202 may be
made of a flexible material, for example, a flexible plastic,
rubber, or another flexible material including metal. Since the
degree of flexibility is a relative thing, shaft 202 needs to be
stiff enough to transmit sufficient force for cleaning yet be
bendable to be maneuverable into tight places to provide proper
cleaning. This flexibility may facilitate cleaning hard-to-reach
surfaces, including the recesses 124, 126, valve portions 128, 130,
or a straw in a sports bottle. In other embodiments, however, the
shaft 202 may be more rigid. The shaft 202 may be made of wood,
wire, rubber, plastic, or any other appropriate material. In either
case, the shaft 202 may be cylindrical in cross-section, or may
exhibit another cross-sectional shapes including that of a
triangle, hexagon or octagon. The shaft 202 may also be formed into
an ergonomically shaped handle that renders the implement easier to
grasp. Additionally, the shaft can be formed from a combination of
materials including plastic and foam, various moldable mediums.
Further, the shaft could have an enlarged gripping section, as
shown in phantom at 206 at one or more positions along the shaft.
Such enlarged area 206 could also be soft or formed of a gel type
material.
[0022] The shaft will typically be long enough so that an adult
hand may easily grasp it, but not so long as to become unwieldy. A
shaft length of approximately 6 inches may be suitable. However,
other shaft lengths between 4 and 10 inches are possible.
[0023] The shaft will typically also be of a diameter that renders
it easy to grasp and manipulate. A shaft diameter of approximately
{fraction (3/8)} inch is preferred, but other shaft diameters, both
larger and smaller are possible.
[0024] In another embodiment, one end of the shaft 202 may be
provided with a bristle brush 204 integrally formed or molded in
place. If the shaft were twisted wire the bristles can be wound
into position at the end of the shaft 202. The brush 204 may be
used to clean surfaces of a drinking cup or other object. Brush 204
may have a narrow elongated shape, or it maybe round or cylindrical
in form. This shape may enable the brush 204 to be used to clean
the interior surfaces of the spouted mouthpiece 108. The bristles
208 forming the brush 204 may be made of nylon, plastic, steel, or
any other suitable bristle material. The bristles 208 forming the
brush 204 may be of the same lengths, of varying lengths; or
combinations thereof. Bristles can extend from the end surface of
shaft 202 as well as outwardly along part of the length of shaft
202. Also, bristles can extend at various angles. This bristle
orientation will allow a user to efficiently clean various surfaces
with differing contours.
[0025] Brush 204 may also be formed separately from the shaft 202
and subsequently affixed to the shaft 202. In other embodiments,
the bristles of the brush may be formed integrally with the molding
or forming of the shaft 202. Alternatively, bristles may be
attached by a variety of approaches, for example, by inserting and
adhering the bristles into holes in the shaft 202, by affixing the
bristles to the exterior surface of the shaft 202, or by stitching
the bristles directly onto the shaft.
[0026] The other end of the shaft 202 may be formed with a shaped
tip, one example being a tapered tip 206. However, other shapes
could be used including bulbed, angled, squired or even as a sharp
edge. The shaped tip 206 may be used to clean narrow apertures,
other relatively inaccessible portions of the cup, or areas where
more force or effort is required. The shaped tip 206 may have an
abrasive exterior surface on all or a portion thereof that may be
used to scrape stubborn films or particles from surfaces of the
drinking cup.
[0027] The abrasive surface on the shaped tip 206 may be a
synthetic abrasive scrubbing material such as coiled, spiraled or
tufted nylon, which may be permanently secured in place by adhesive
or alternatively abrasive particles formed from nylon, other
synthetic materials, stone or other natural abrasive materials
could be molded in place. For example, abrasive particles such as
silicon carbide or aluminum oxide particles may be secured to the
pointed tip 206 by a suitable adhesive to form the abrasive surface
or they could also be integrally attached during molding by having
been previously placed in the mold. If the cleaning implement will
primarily be used to clean a child's drinking cup, smaller
particles may be preferable, since larger particles may scratch the
surface of the cup, creating sharp surfaces that may harm a child.
If the cleaning implement is to be used for other applications,
however, larger particles may be preferable.
[0028] As an alternative embodiment, the shaped tip itself may be
separately formed of an abrasive material, and subsequently secured
to the shaft 202. In still other embodiments, the pointed tip may
be formed of the same material as the shaft 202, but may be sanded
or otherwise altered to render its surface suitably abrasive.
Additionally, the pointed tip may be formed with contours that
render its surface relatively abrasive; for example, the pointed
tip may be formed by injection molding to have an irregular or
contoured surface. The molding of the shaft will use standard
molding techniques well known to those skilled in the art and
further description of the mold, the temperatures, cure time and
mold construction are not believed to be required.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting the separate steps
manufacturing a cleaning implement in accordance with the present
invention. The process may begin with step 300, wherein the shaft
is formed. If the shaft is made of plastic, the shaft may be
formed, for example, by injection molding, extrusion or by some
other suitable molding process. Other methods of forming the shaft,
using other materials, will occur to those skilled in the art.
[0030] The process may continue in step 302, wherein the shaped tip
may be formed. If the pointed tip incorporates the same material as
the shaft, the tip may be formed simultaneously with the shaft;
steps 300 and 302 may therefore, in some embodiments, be combined
into a single step. The method of forming the shaped tip may vary
based on the substrate used to create the tip. For example, if the
shaped tip is made of flexible or rigid plastic, the pointed tip
may be formed through injection molding or through another suitable
process. If the pointed tip is formed of wood or of a relatively
soft abrasive material such as pumice, the pointed tip may be
carved or machined in a separate forming step 302 apart from shaft
formation. Other methods of forming the shaped tips, and other
materials suitable for the tips, will occur to those skilled in the
art.
[0031] The method may continue in step 304, wherein an abrasive
surface may be formed on the shaped tip. If the tip is made of a
material that is already abrasive, steps 302 and 304 may be
combined into a single step. Whereas abrasive particles such as
silicon carbide or aluminum oxide particles are to be integrally
molded in place, the interior of the mold can be coated or
otherwise supplied with abrasive particles so that during molding
the plastic material will flow through the particles with some of
them extending out of the formed surfaces. The tip may also be
sanded or otherwise altered to render its surface more
abrasive.
[0032] Where the shaped tip is separately formed, the method may
continue in step 306, wherein the tip is secured to the shaft, for
example, using an adhesive, heat bonding, or other bonding
technique.
[0033] Where the bristles are integrally formed during molding, the
brush will be formed together with the shaft. However, the method
may continue with step 308, wherein the brush is subsequently
formed on the shaft. As noted above, the bristles may be formed of
nylon, plastic, metal, or of another suitable material. The
bristles may have varying lengths, or may all be of the same
length. Preferably, the bristles used to form the brush are long
enough to be useful for cleaning, but short enough that the brush
may be used to clean relatively inaccessible surfaces. A range for
bristle lengths of approximately {fraction (1/8)} inch to about
{fraction (1/2)} inch is preferred.
[0034] When the brush is formed on the shaft following shaft
formation, the brush securing of the bristles to the shaft may be
accomplished by having the bristles inserted into pre-formed holes
in the shaft, or simply by securing them to the exterior of the
shaft by adhesive. The bristles may also be secured to the shaft,
for example, by stapling, stitching, or by some combination of
these techniques.
[0035] The brush may also be formed separately from the shaft, for
example, by stapling, stitching, or gluing the bristles to each
other or to some other substrate. Then, as in step 310, the brush
would be attached to the shaft. It would also be possible to
prepare a base fabric containing bristles with the fabric then
being adhered in place in the form of a cap over the end of the
shaft.
[0036] The foregoing description of the system and method for a
cleaning brush for a drinking or sports cup according to the
invention is illustrative, and variations in configuration and
implementation will occur to persons skilled in the art. For
instance, while the invention has generally been described as
containing a cleaning implement for dishware, the invention could
be used to clean a variety of household surfaces such as bathroom
or kitchen tiles, or could be used to clean any item with small
dimensions or with relatively inaccessible surfaces. Furthermore,
various materials suitable for forming the implement have been
disclosed; however, other suitable materials will occur to those
skilled in the art. Similarly, while various methods for forming
the implement have been disclosed, other manufacturing methods will
occur to those skilled in the art.
[0037] The scope of the invention is accordingly intended to be
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *