U.S. patent application number 10/670860 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-31 for bathtub scrubbing brush.
Invention is credited to Belcastro, Carmela L..
Application Number | 20050066458 10/670860 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34376018 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050066458 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Belcastro, Carmela L. |
March 31, 2005 |
Bathtub scrubbing brush
Abstract
A bathtub scrubbing brush including a telescopic handle having a
detachably coupled bristled brush at a swivel end of the handle and
a manually operated switch at a hand contoured grip end, with an
included electric battery pack energizing an included motor to
rotate the brush in at least one of a clockwise and
counter-clockwise direction.
Inventors: |
Belcastro, Carmela L.;
(Holmdel, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Carmela L. Belcastro
16 Orchard Ave.
Holmdel
NJ
07733
US
|
Family ID: |
34376018 |
Appl. No.: |
10/670860 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 13/001 20130101;
A46B 2200/1006 20130101; A47K 3/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/028 |
International
Class: |
A46B 013/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A bathtub scrubbing brush comprising: a telescopic handle of
adjustable length having a hand-contoured grip at a first end and a
swivel at an opposite second end; a bristled brush detachably
coupled to said swivel and rotatable with respect thereto; motor
means within said handle for imparting at least one of a clockwise
and counter-clockwise rotation to said brush; and an electric
battery pack within said handle for manually energizing said motor
means to operation when desired.
2. The bathtub scrubbing brush of claim 1 wherein said motor means
imparts both of a clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation to said
brush when energized to operation.
3. The bathtub scrubbing brush of claim 1 wherein said battery pack
is rechargeable from electric utility line connection.
4. The bathtub scrubbing brush of claim 1 wherein said swivel is
fixedly adjustable in position to angularly orient a plane of
rotation of said brush with respect to the length of said
handle.
5. The bathtub scrubbing brush of claim 4 wherein said bristled
brush includes a rubberized guard facing said swivel from which a
plurality of fine, non-ceramic scratching bristles extend
oppositely therefrom.
6. The bathtub scrubbing brush of claim 5 wherein said telescopic
handle is of plastic composition, of tubular length, and wherein
said bristled brush and telescopic handle are of cross-section
dimension to seat within a vertical stand when maintained in a
non-operating state.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Research and development of this invention and Application
have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under
any Federal program.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] This invention relates to scrubbing brushes, in general, and
to one for the cleaning of all surfaces of a bathtub whether
horizontal, vertical or slanted, in particular.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] As will be readily appreciated, one of the household chores
most avoided is the cleaning of one's bathroom. Regardless of
whether the bathroom is located in a house, an apartment, or in a
dormitory complex, usually it is the last spot to be cleaned.
Whether that follows simply from the type of activity which takes
place there, or whether it is because the least amount of the day
is spent there (as contrasted with a living room, kitchen or
bedroom), the fact remains that the process of cleaning the
bathroom is frequently put off until its state of being cannot be
tolerated any longer.
[0008] While handled brushes are available for cleaning a toilet
bowl, and brushes are available for cleaning the walls of a stall
shower and the walls enclosing around a bathtub, nothing is
generally available to assist in the cleaning of the various
surfaces of a bathtub. In practice, this activity then follows by
getting down on one's hands and knees to scrub both the tub's
inside surfaces and its top edges as well. As will be readily
understood, not only is this relatively unpleasant, but something
which is quite difficult to do by those who may be physically
impaired, or to those who just find it uncomfortable or hard to get
down on all fours to do the task, and then to have to stand up
again once it is completed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to
provide a bathtub scrubbing brush which can be operated from a
standing position.
[0010] It is an object of the invention, also, to provide such a
bathtub scrubbing brush which can be oriented to cleanse both the
horizontal and vertical surfaces of the tub, and any of its slanted
surfaces.
[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide such a
bathtub scrubbing brush with a handle whose length can be adjusted
to accommodate the height of the user and the various dimensions
which the tub might take.
[0012] It is a further object of the invention to provide this type
of scrubbing brush which can be automatically operated, so as to
fit the needs of those who are physically impaired or otherwise
find difficult the forward-and-back, up-and-down, movements
required to clean the bathtub surfaces of their detritus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] As will become clear from the following description, the
bathtub scrubbing brush of the invention includes a telescopic
handle of adjustable length having a hand-contoured grip at one end
and a swivel at an opposite end. A bristled brush is detachably
coupled to the swivel and rotates with respect to it under control
of a motor within the handle for imparting at least one of a
clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation to the brush. As will be
seen, an electric battery pack is included within the handle to
manually energize the motor to its operational mode when
desired.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the battery pack is rechargeable
from an electric utility line connection--and the swivel is fixedly
adjustable in position to angularly orient a plane of rotation of
the brush with respect to the length of the handle, whether the
rotation of the brush be clockwise or counter-clockwise. In this
embodiment, the bristle brush may include a rubberized guard facing
the swivel, and from which a plurality of fine, non-ceramic
scratching bristles extend in the opposite direction. Having the
telescopic handle of plastic composition, and of tubular length,
the resulting bathtub scrubbing brush can be made extremely
lightweight and therefore easily moveable. In the preferred
embodiment, an appropriate switch configuration can be employed to
rotate the bristle brush when scrubbing, either in a clockwise
direction, in a counterclockwise direction, or in both--albeit, not
simultaneously.
[0015] As with the typical toilet bowl cleaning brush, a "vertical
stand" may be had, of dimension to accept the brush and telescopic
handle for seating within the stand when maintained in its
non-operating state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] These and other features of the present invention will be
more clearly understood from a consideration of the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a bathtub scrubbing brush
according to the invention; and
[0018] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a "vertical stand" for
receiving the scrubbing brush in seated position between uses.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bathtub scrubbing brush 10
when not in use can, be seated within the hollow 12 of a vertical
stand 14 for collecting any drippage at its bottom 15, in
protecting a floor. The scrubbing brush 10 includes a telescopic
handle 16 illustratively shown in three sections 16A, 16B, 16C, of
adjustable length through the release of compressible pins 18 in
any one of a plurality of apertures 20 on the sections in
well-known manner. A hand contoured grip 22 is shown at a first end
24 of the handle 16, while a swivel 26 is coupled at the opposite
end 28. A bristle brush 30 is detachably coupled in any appropriate
manner to the swivel 26 so as to be rotatable with respect thereto.
A motor 32 of appropriate construction is coupled within the handle
16 for imparting at least one of a clockwise and counter-clockwise
rotation to the brush 30 once energized--and to such end, an
electrical battery pack 34 is also included within the handle to
manually energize the motor 32 into operation. With the battery
pack inserted, for example, in or adjacent to the hand contoured
grip 22, an appropriate switch can be installed (as at 38) for
actuating the motor to rotate the brush 30 in either of a clockwise
or counter-clockwise direction, or in both. With the battery pack
34 being rechargeable from a conventional electrical utility line
connection, then, operating the switch 38 starts the bristle brush
30 rotating.
[0020] As will well be recognized, a bathtub to be cleaned
typically comprises vertical sides, horizontal bottom and top
surfaces, and front and rear downwardly sloping angled surfaces.
For cleansing any of them, the swivel 26 to which the bristle brush
30 couples is fixedly adjustable in position (as at 50) to
angularly orient the plane of rotation of the brush so as to allow
scrubbing of these surfaces most efficiently--orienting the plane
of rotation with respect to the length of the handle 16 either
horizontally, vertically, or at one or more of a series of angles
in-between. Where the bathtub is of a ceramic surface composition,
the bristles 40 of the brush 30 could be selected of a fabrication
and fineness so as not to scratch the surfaces of the bathtub being
cleaned--whereas, for older tub manufactures of metal, for example,
a coarser degree of bristles could be employed. Detaching the brush
30 from the swivel 26 allows for this interchange of "abrasiveness"
as well as for replacement of the brush once its bristles 40 are
ground down over time.
[0021] As will be understood, by having the handle 16 adjustable in
length, by angularly controlling the plane of rotation of the
bristled brush 30, and by allowing replacement of the bristles when
ground down, a scrubbing brush of this nature becomes available for
use in cleaning the grime from the tub's surfaces and the rings of
detritus which characterizes the process of bathing. As will
equally be understood, the scrubbing brush of the invention
continues to permit its use in cleaning the walls which surround
the tub--and, in a manner which does not require any getting down
on one's hands and knees to complete the scrubbing, as one can
stand erect when using the brush, and wherein the scrubbing is
effected by the motor provided with its electric battery control.
Because the battery is rechargeable, continued operation can be had
over extensive periods of time--especially with the brush being of
a design having a rubberized guard 45 facing the swivel 26 on one
end, with the bristles 40 extending opposite thereto. Such bristles
and guard are as particularly shown in FIG. 1.
[0022] While there have been described what are considered to be
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily
appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be
made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For
at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims
appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *