EP1025777A2

EP1025777A2 - Base-container for supporting and cleaning brushes

Info

Publication number: EP1025777A2
Application number: EP00200277A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Piacenza
Original assignee: Snips SRL
Current assignee: Snips SRL
Priority date: 1999-02-04
Filing date: 2000-01-27
Publication date: 2000-08-09
Also published as: ITMI990063U1; EP1025777A3; IT246503Y1; ITMI990063V0

Abstract

A base-container for brushes, of the type comprising a base proper (11) on which there is applied a hull-shaped cover (12) for containing, protecting and supporting the brush, characterized in that, in the said base (11), a comb (or rake) (13) is moreover provided on which the bristles of the brush engage and against which the said bristles may be rubbed.

Description

The present invention refers to a containing base for supporting and cleaning brushes, in particular for domestic use, which characteristically incorporates a multi-toothed comb (or rake) for cleaning the bristles of the brush, whether these be made of synthetic or of natural material.
Brushes are known that are used for domestic cleaning purposes, of the type comprising a long handle at the end of which is applied the brushing element (the brush proper) consisting of a mass of bristles, or filaments, which may be made either of synthetic material or of natural material.
As a complement to the brush, a base is provided for containing and supporting the brush, by means of which the brush can be set stably in an upright position and stored away tidily in the space provided for the purpose.
An implement of this kind is, for example, described and illustrated in the patent application for model of utility No. MI93U 000131 filed in Italy on February 16, 1993.
The use of brushes of the type referred to above involves periodic cleaning of the bristles, in which dirt, such as dust, fluff, hairs and so forth, generally gets stuck and accumulates.
The operation of cleaning the bristles of the brush is generally carried out in a wide variety of ways and is left to the user's own inventiveness, and may involve shaking or beating the brush out of doors or washing it in a bath, or other methods still.
However, it would be highly desirable that such an operation of cleaning could be performed systematically after each cleaning operation in order to maintain the bristles of the implement as clean as possible so as to ensure proper use of the implement, which, if impregnated with dust, fluff, hairs, etc., is not only unable to sweep adequately but may leave the dirt that was previously stuck between the bristles behind it on the floor.
The general purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problem by making a base-container for brushes, in particular for domestic use, provided with means by which it is possible to carry out cleaning of the brush after every use in a spontaneous, almost automatic, way.
The aforesaid purpose is achieved by a base-container for brushes having the characteristics described in the main claim attached hereto and in the subordinate claims.
The structural and functional characteristics of the invention and its advantages with respect to the prior art will be more clearly understandable from an examination of the ensuing description, with reference to the attached photographs, which show an example of practical embodiment of the invention. In the photographs:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view illustrating the closed rear part of the base-container according to the invention, provided with footrest;
Figure 2 is a top perspective view illustrating the open front part of the base-container according to the invention, from which the comb for cleaning the bristles of the brush is clearly visible;
Figure 3 is a top perspective view, in an oblique direction, of the open front part of the base-container according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the base-container of Figures 1-3;
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the footrest;
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the handle block;
Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of the open front side of the base-container according to the invention, illustrating the brush with the bristles engaged in the comb during the cleaning process;
Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the base-container with the brush engaged in it, where the container is transparent to enable the inside to be seen; and
Figure 9 is a side perspective view illustrating the base-container with incorporated comb, with the brush engaged in it, without the container cover.

With reference to the figures, a base-container for brushes, particularly but not exclusively for domestic use, made according to the invention is designated as a whole by the reference number 10 and is structurally made up of a base proper 11 on which is applied a container in the form of a hull-shaped cover 12.
According to the present invention, in the base 11 is made a comb (rake) 13 comprising a plurality of vertical teeth or prongs, the number and arrangement of which are such as to enable both convenient positioning of the brush in the resting position and the operation of cleaning of the bristles of the brush by means of longitudinal rubbing.
For this purpose, the hull-shaped cover 12 presents a wide, shaped front slit 14, whereas at the rear it is closed with a crowned section 15 which has on top of it a number of ribs 16, on which a foot can be conveniently rested so as to keep the base-container still in position on the floor so that the operation of cleaning the brush by means of longitudinal rubbing of the bristles on the pronged comb or rake 13 may be carried out.
In addition, to keep the brush in an upright position when it is not operative, the slit 14, from a widened configuration narrows and terminates at the top with a sleeve-type coupling 17, which is open at the front and to which the handle 18 of the brush may be applied by snapping it into position, as shown in Figure 6.
In this way, the purpose mentioned in the introductory part of the description is achieved, i.e., that of making a base-container for brushes, particularly but not exclusively for domestic use, which, in addition to having the function of keeping the brush in an upright position with the bristles protected, can also serve to perform the function of cleaning the bristles whenever the brush is to be stored away after use.
The scope of the invention is defined in the ensuing claims.

Claims

Base-container for brushes of the type comprising a base proper (11) on which is applied a hull-shaped cover (12) for containing, protecting and supporting the brush, characterized in that in the said base (11) is further provided with a comb (or rake) (13) on which the bristles of the brush engage and against which they can be rubbed.
Base-container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said hull-shaped cover (12) has at the rear a plurality of ribs (16) on which a foot can be conveniently and firmly rested so as to keep the base container still in position on the floor in order to carry out the operation of cleaning of the brush by means of longitudinal rubbing of the bristles on the pronged comb (13).
Base-container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said hull-shaped cover (12) is open at the front by means of a wide shaped slit which narrows at the top and terminates with a removable means for fastening of the handle (18) of the brush.
Base-container according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said removable fastening means consists of a sleeve-type coupling (17) open at the front, to which the handle (18) of the brush may be applied by being snapped into position.