U.S. patent application number 13/049159 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-17 for scrub brush.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUICKIE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Vince Cella, Dean B. Chapman, Matthew L. Chin, Jason Brian Gold, Sean E. Monahan.
Application Number | 20110277257 13/049159 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44910407 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110277257 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chapman; Dean B. ; et
al. |
November 17, 2011 |
SCRUB BRUSH
Abstract
A scrub brush for cleaning a variety of surfaces. The scrub
brush includes an arcuate main body, a handle connected to the top
surface of the main body, and a plurality of bristles extending
from a bottom surface of the main body. The body is curved such
that it forms a recess below the handle to protect a user's fingers
and/or knuckles during use. The bristles extend from the main body
such that they define a curved cleaning surface that has the same
general shape and contour as the bottom surface of the main body.
Two types of bristles, each having a different stiffness, may be
included to provide two different types of cleaning.
Inventors: |
Chapman; Dean B.;
(Montclair, NJ) ; Chin; Matthew L.; (New York,
NY) ; Cella; Vince; (Medford, NJ) ; Gold;
Jason Brian; (Scottsdale, AZ) ; Monahan; Sean E.;
(Franklinville, NJ) |
Assignee: |
QUICKIE MANUFACTURING
CORPORATION
Cinnaminson
NJ
|
Family ID: |
44910407 |
Appl. No.: |
13/049159 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61314624 |
Mar 17, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/207.2 ;
15/159.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 5/02 20130101; A46B
9/02 20130101; A46B 9/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/207.2 ;
15/159.1 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/02 20060101
A46B009/02; A46B 5/02 20060101 A46B005/02 |
Claims
1. A scrub brush comprising: a main body having a top surface, a
bottom surface, a first end, a second end and a pair of sides; a
handle connected to said top surface; bristles extending from said
bottom surface; and a cavity formed in said top surface, said
cavity being adapted to receive a user's fingers and knuckles when
said handle is gripped by a user.
2. The scrub brush of claim 1 wherein said main body is arcuate and
said pair of sides curve upward such that said top surface is
concave and defines said cavity.
3. A scrub brush comprising: a main body having a top surface, a
bottom surface, a first end, a second end and a pair of sides; and
bristles extending from said bottom surface, wherein said first end
is arcuate and has a first radius of curvature.
4. The scrub brush of claim 3 wherein said second end is arcuate
and has a second radius of curvature.
5. The scrub brush of claim 4 wherein said first radius of
curvature is greater than said second radius of curvature.
6. A scrub brush comprising: a main body having a top surface, a
bottom surface, a first end, a second end and a pair of sides; and
bristles extending from said bottom surface, wherein said main body
curves upwardly at said first end.
7. A scrub brush comprising: a main body having a top surface, a
bottom surface, a first end, a second end and a pair of sides; and
bristles extending from said bottom surface, wherein said bottom
surface is curved and said bristles define a cleaning surface
having generally the same contour as said bottom surface.
8. The scrub brush of claim 7 wherein said cleaning surface is
generally spherical at said first end.
9. A scrub brush comprising: a main body having a top surface, a
bottom surface, a first end, a second end and a pair of sides; and
bristles extending from said bottom surface, wherein said bristles
comprise a first bristle portion and a second bristle portion.
10. The scrub brush of claim 9 wherein said first bristle portion
generally surrounds said second bristle portion.
11. The scrub brush of claim 10 wherein the bristles of said second
bristle portion are stiffer than the bristles of said first bristle
portion.
12. The scrub brush of claim 11 wherein the bristles of said first
bristle portion are made of polypropylene.
13. The scrub brush of claim 11 wherein the bristles of said second
bristle portion are made of nylon.
14. The scrub brush of claim 9 wherein said second bristle portion
is positioned generally along a longitudinal axis of said main
body.
15. The scrub brush of claim 14 wherein said second bristle portion
extends a majority of the length of said main body.
16. The scrub brush of claim 15 wherein said second bristle portion
terminates at a generally circular portion located proximate said
first end.
17. A scrub brush comprising: a main body having a top surface, a
bottom surface, a first end, a second end and a pair of sides; a
handle connected to said top surface; bristles extending from said
bottom surface; and a cavity formed in said top surface, said
cavity being adapted to receive a user's fingers and knuckles when
said handle is gripped by a user, wherein said first end is arcuate
and has a first radius of curvature, wherein said main body curves
upwardly at said first end, wherein said bottom surface is curved
and said bristles define a cleaning surface having generally the
same contour as said bottom surface, and wherein said bristles
comprise a first bristle portion and a second bristle portion.
18. The scrub brush of claim 17 wherein said main body is arcuate
and said pair of sides curve upward such that said top surface is
concave and defines said cavity.
19. The scrub brush of claim 17 wherein said second end is arcuate
and has a second radius of curvature.
20. The scrub brush of claim 19 wherein said first radius of
curvature is greater than said second radius of curvature.
21. The scrub brush of claim 17 wherein said cleaning surface is
generally spherical at said first end.
22. The scrub brush of claim 17 wherein said first bristle portion
generally surrounds said second bristle portion.
23. The scrub brush of claim 22 wherein the bristles of said second
bristle portion are stiffer than the bristles of said first bristle
portion.
24. The scrub brush of claim 23 wherein the bristles of said first
bristle portion are made of polypropylene.
25. The scrub brush of claim 23 wherein the bristles of said second
bristle portion are made of nylon.
26. The scrub brush of claim 17 wherein said second bristle portion
is positioned generally along a longitudinal axis of said main
body.
27. The scrub brush of claim 26 wherein said second bristle portion
extends a majority of the length of said main body.
28. The scrub brush of claim 27 wherein said second bristle portion
terminates at a generally circular portion located proximate said
first end.
29. The scrub brush of claim 17 wherein said handle is positioned
generally along a longitudinal axis of said main body.
30. The scrub brush of claim 29 wherein said handle has first and
second ends connected to said top surface.
31. The scrub brush of claim 17 wherein said handle has first and
second ends connected to said top surface.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/314,624, filed Mar. 17, 2010,
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to cleaning
implements, and more particularly, to scrub brushes useful in
cleaning a variety of surfaces.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one example, a scrub brush is provided.
[0004] In another example, a scrub brush is provided and includes a
generally convex cleaning surface.
[0005] In another example, a scrub brush is provided having a
handle and a generally convex base with a recess defined below the
handle such that a user's fingers and knuckles are protected while
using the scrub brush.
[0006] In another example, a scrub brush is provided having a base
and a set of bristles extending from the bottom surface of the
base. The base has one end that is arcuate and has a small radius
of curvature and a second end, opposite the first end, that is
arcuate and has a radius of curvature larger than the first
end.
[0007] In another example, a scrub brush is provided and includes
at least two sets of bristles such that one set of bristles
provides a stiffer cleaning surface for hard to clean areas such as
grout lines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary scrub brush;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the scrub brush shown in FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the scrub brush shown in
FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of the scrub brush shown in FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the scrub brush shown in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side view of another exemplary scrub brush;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the scrub brush
shown in FIG. 6; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the scrub brush in FIG.
1.
[0016] Before any independent features and embodiments of the
invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of the
construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the
following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention
is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being
carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the
phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] With reference to FIGS. 1-5 and 8, an exemplary scrub brush
20 is illustrated. Scrub brush 20 generally includes main body 35,
handle 30, and bristles 72. Main body 35 has top surface 40, bottom
surface 45, first end 50, second end 55, and two parallel sides 60
and 65.
[0018] As can best be seen in FIG. 1, when viewed from the top,
first end 50 of main body 35 extends between sides 60, 65 and is
generally semi-circular in shape, which allows scrub brush 20 to be
used to more easily clean curved surfaces and larger diameter
corner surfaces. In the example shown, first end 50 has a radius of
curvature of approximately 1.75 inches, but could be made to have
any radius of curvature desired. Similarly, second end 55 of main
body 35 is also generally semi-circular in shape and has a radius
of curvature smaller than that of first end 50, which allows scrub
brush 20 to be used to more easily clean tighter curved surfaces
and smaller diameter corner surfaces. In the example shown, at
second end 55, the edges of main body 35 begin to converge towards
distal end 57. As the edges converge near distal end 57, second end
55 is radiused to form a curved point. In the example shown, second
end 55 has a radius of curvature of approximately 0.594 inches, but
again could be made to have any radius of curvature desired. Second
end 55 could also be made to come to an actual point, where the
edges of main body 35 converge and meet without any curvature of
the point.
[0019] As can best be seen in FIGS. 2-4, when viewed along the
longitudinal axis of main body 35, main body 35 is arcuate. Sides
60, 65 of main body 35 curve upwards in a generally "U" shape such
that top surface 40 is concave and defines cavity 67, which in the
example shown is located below handle 30. By having a curved or
arcuate main body 35, cavity 67 formed by arcuate main body 35
provides protection to a user's hand and knuckles from pinches,
bruises and skinning during use of scrub brush 20. When a user
grips handle 30, the user's fingers/knuckles will be located within
cavity 67 and will be protected by the raised sides 60, 65 from
hitting or scraping against the surface being cleaned.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when viewed perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of main body 35, the bottom portion of main body
35 is generally flat until it approaches first end 50. At first end
50, main body 35 again curves upward, which, as described in more
detail below, provides a curved bristle surface to allow scrub
brush 20 to be used to more easily clean curved surfaces and
corners. In the example shown, the radius of curvature of second
end 50, when viewed in the lateral direction, is approximately 2.25
inches, but again could be made to have any radius of curvature
desired.
[0021] Handle 30 has a generally circular cross-section and is also
generally curved or arcuate when viewed in the direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of main body 35. In the
example shown, handle 30 is positioned generally along the
longitudinal axis of main body 35 and extends between first end 50
of main body 35 and second end 55 of main body 35, where handle 30
is connected to top surface 40 at both ends of handle 30. In the
example shown, handle 30 is a separate part that is press fit
together with main body 35. Alternatively, handle 30 could be
integrally formed with main body 35 as a unitary piece or could be
connected or secured to main body 35 by any other well known means,
such as adhesive, sonic welding, mechanical means, etc.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, bristles 70 are stapled to and
extend from bottom surface 45 of main body 35. Alternatively,
bristles 70 could be molded into bottom surface 45 of main body 35
or connected or secured to bottom surface 45 by any other well
known means. Bristles 72 are generally equal in length and extend
generally perpendicular to bottom surface 45 to form cleaning
surface 80, which takes on the same contours as bottom surface 45
of main body 35. As best seen in FIG. 4, when viewed along the
longitudinal axis of main body 35, cleaning surface 80 is
preferably curved generally about the longitudinal axis of main
body 35 and has generally the same shape and contour as bottom
surface 45, i.e., generally convex. In addition, front portion 85
of cleaning surface 80 is generally spherical due to the curved
nature of first end 50 of main body 35. The curvature of cleaning
surface 80 allows for cleaning a variety of surfaces in an
efficient flowing manner.
[0023] In the example shown, bristles 72 include first bristle
portion 70 and second bristle portion 75, which provide differing
levels of stiffness to provide different levels of cleaning.
Alternatively, bristles 72 could all be identical or could comprise
more than two bristle portions if desired. In the example shown,
second bristle portion 75 is positioned generally along the
longitudinal axis of main body 35 and extends a majority of the
length of main body 35 to a generally circular portion located
proximate first end 50 of main body 35. In this example, the
bristles of second bristle portion 75 are stiff nylon bristles and
are intended to be stiffer than the bristles of first bristle
portion 70 to aid in the cleaning of areas like grout lines and
also provides a harder scrubbing surface for scrubbing tough
stains. First bristle portion 70 generally surrounds second
bristles portion 75 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this example, the
bristles of first bristle portion 70 are made of polypropylene and
are intended to be less stiff than the bristles of second bristle
portion 75 to aid in general cleaning.
[0024] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, another example of a scrub
brush 120 is shown. The design and construction of main body 35 and
bristles 72 of scrub brush 120 are generally the same as that for
scrub brush 20 described above. However, scrub brush 120 includes
an elongated handle 130 rather than handle 30. In this example,
elongated handle 130 is connected to top surface 40 of main body 30
via a single directional hinge 200. While this example is
illustrated with a single directional hinge 200, it is understood
that elongated handle 130 may be connected to main body 30 in any
manner known to one of skill in the art that allows pivotal and/or
rotational movement between elongated handle 130 and main body 125,
such as a universal joint or other well known means.
[0025] The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of
illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The
descriptions were selected to explain the principles of the
invention and their practical application to enable others skilled
in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and
various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated. Although particular constructions of the present
invention have been shown and described, other alternative
constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are
within the intended scope of the present invention.
* * * * *