ES2602185T3 - Bath brush - Google Patents

Abstract

Cleaning brush with a handle (1) and a cleaning head (2) with bristles (5a - k), in which a) the base body (3) of the cleaning head (2) has in its extension plane main (10) a larger dimension than in the transverse direction (11) to it, b) the base body (3) is formed in the form of a plate, c) at least in one of its marginal sectors (3a) the body of base (3) is more flexible in the transverse direction to the main extension plane (10) than in the central sector (3b) or in the sector of the fixing point (4) to the handle (1), d) the bristles (5a - k) are formed in one piece with the base body (3), characterized in that e) the bristles (5a - k) project out of both main areas of the base body (3), f) the base body ( 3), observed above on its main extension plane (10), has a heart or arrow outline, g) the handle (1), observed in the direction of development of the main extension plane (10) of the base body (3), it has an S-shaped curved shape.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Bathroom brush

I. Field of application

The invention relates to a cleaning brush for particular curved surfaces, especially for use as a bathroom brush, dish brush, gutter cleaning brush, cosmetic peeling brush or a sauna brush.

II. Technical background

The brushes for the vater are used to clean currently usual vater cups, which are usually made of porcelain and have an internal U-shaped flange open down where the water is poured and into which dirt can also be deposited. With a bath brush, solid deposits from all interior surfaces of the vater cups must be well removed, even under the inwardly angled flange.

Additionally, there is a requirement that the bathroom brush itself, that is first of all the cleaning head, must be designed so that the solid dirt deposited in the cleaning head can also be easily removed during the cleaning process, preferably exclusively inside the vater cup by discharging water from the vater.

To this end, different models of brushes for the vater are known.

The most frequent form consists of a cleaning head that is symmetrical by rotation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle that is composed of bristles, the majority of the times of tufts of bristles, which are housed in the base body of the cleaning head which in the axial direction of the handle represent a type of extension. In general, both the bristles as well as the handle and the base body and the cleaning head are made of plastic.

The disadvantage of this design is that the bristles are relatively thin, the majority of the times less than 1 mm and when traveling with their free ends an area to clean clean only a very narrow path.

On the other hand, the ends of the individual bristles are relatively separated from each other, specifically several meters, which is necessary so as not to hinder further cleaning of the bristles themselves, since the closer the bristles are, the more difficult it is to eliminate the dirt deposited in between. This is particularly evident when the bristles are arranged in the form of tufts, when they must be removed from among the dirty bristles in a much more difficult way the closer they get in the base body to the proximity of the fixing of the lock to the base body and how much more together are the bristles.

In order to ensure a sufficient cleaning effect on the bottom and side of the vater cup, the bristles must have sufficient rigidity. On the other hand, however, this prevents bending and penetration of the bristles below the bent flange and if so, cleaning occurs only on the outer face of the bent flange, but not on the inner face.

To improve a symmetrical brush by rotation of this type, an additional piece of the plate-shaped brush with the free end upright upwards, which is to be used to be introduced, is sometimes arranged, generally at the top of the cleaning head. under the flange.

This is effective, in principle, due to the relatively high position or to the relatively very prominent position of this additional piece with respect to the remaining brush head.

However, the cleaning of the additional piece becomes extremely difficult, since there is almost no position in which this additional piece can be subjected to the water jet of the vater, because the diameter of the symmetrical part by rotation by itself it corresponds, generally, approximately with the free diameter of the outlet pipe to the siphon, that is the hydraulic closure of the vater.

In addition, brushes for the vater are known in which the cleaning head is a base body in the form of a small robust plate from which the bristles or tufts of bristles, essentially parallel or only slightly divergent, protrude, the mayona of the times in only one direction, for example perpendicular to the main plane of the base body, or also in both directions perpendicular to it.

As a rule, the plate plane of the base body is fixed angled to the handle. Thus, a cleaning of the visible areas of the vater is easy, but a cleaning under the angled flange is completely impossible.

In addition, the problem lies in the bristles and their relatively far ends between st

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There are, in addition, a series of variants of the symmetrical cleaning head by rotation, cylindrical or semicircular in the simplest case, which is made up of bristles.

Thus, document DE 101 52 123 C1 describes a cylindrical rotating body as a cleaning head, which has at least one flat area, for example in the form of a hexagonal flattening.

In contrast, PCT application WO 03/088800 A1 requires an entry in the symmetrical outer contour by rotation of the bristle shaped brush head, in order to be able to better enter the curved flange by means of the bent outward portion close to the free end of the cleaning head .

To avoid the problem of dirt between the bristles of the cleaning head it is already known to use cleaning heads without bristles, for example rotational symmetrical bodies or non-uniform shaped bodies with point knots, linear projections, etc. on the surface, arranged and configured in different ways and protruding only very little, the mayona of the times 1-2 mm above the remaining surface.

In this case, the cleaning effect in the visible accessible areas of the vater cup is generally all the better the more this base body is formed, since when working the user can apply more pressure on the area.

However, an increasing stiffness of this type of cleaning head worsens at the same time the ability to perform a cleaning under the non-curved flange.

Thus, document DE 199 41 718 shows a cleaning head more or less cylindrical with a closed external area, on whose external area sheets are arranged, particularly spiral perimetrals.

From document FR 2569972A1 a bath brush is known in which the brush head is composed of a plate-shaped base body that is partially flexible and from which bristles come out of its lower face. The handle is in the prolonged main plane of the flat back part of the curved base plate-shaped body.

Said bath brush includes all the features of the preamble of claim 1.

From US 6460215B1 a bath brush is known with a brush head consisting of a hollow base body, in round or oval top view, which has bristles on all sides. The handle is in the main plane of the base body of the brush head and is equally straight.

III. Exhibition of the invention

a) Technical objective

Accordingly, the objective according to the invention is to create a bath brush which, despite a good cleaning effect, is also, on the other hand, easy to keep free of dirt, even below the folded flange of the vater cup, and simple and cost effective to manufacture.

b) Achievement of the objective

This objective is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments result from the secondary claims.

On the one hand, due to the flattened configuration of the base body of the cleaning head and, on the other hand, due to the different flexibility in its marginal sectors with respect to the central sector, the advantage is that on the one hand, it can be applied a relatively large pressure by compression of the relatively nigged central sector on the bottom area of the vater cup and, on the other hand, the flexible edges of the flattened base body with the protruding bristles on both sides of the main areas of the body of Base can be introduced smoothly under the layered flange of the vater cup to perform cleaning there. A plurality of cleaning elements are arranged on the surface of the base body, which protrude transversely from the surface of the base body, and which on the edge can also protrude in the main plane of the base body. As cleaning elements, bristles of different forms of cross-section can be used, in particular hollows in their cross-section or also solid cleaning elements.

Particularly advantageous have been the bristles that have a triangular section and, particularly, in the form of V.

The orientation of the cross section of said bristles can be chosen, in each case, in the same direction or, seen from the point of attachment of the handle towards the base body, oriented, in each case, radially outward, simplifying the latter a non-directional use of the brush.

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The bristles are formed in a piece of a synthetic material together with the base body, for example an elastic plastic. Preferably, the transition from the base body to the cleaning elements or bristles is rounded with a rounding radius of at least 1 mm, better at least 2 mm, particularly at least 3 mm, to more easily avoid dirt deposits that occur at the edges.

For the same reason, the bristles are arranged in the base body with a minimum spacing of 3 mm or more, better 4 mm or 5 mm and, joined individually and not in tufts to, in the same way, hinder the deposit of dirties In such a way, the total thickness of the cleaning head is sized - at least in some of its marginal sectors - including the extension of the cleaning elements fixed thereto, somewhat more than the free width in the U-shaped bending of the vater rate, so that when entering with the edges of the brush below the angled flange, a cleaning of both the inner face and also the outer face of the bend occurs.

In order to vary the pressure to be applied, precisely when cleaning the bending, the different marginal sectors of the base body, which are seen from above are configured with a heart or arrow shape but that preferably have convex cavities outwards, can be flexible in different degrees.

For the same reason, the same edge sector can be flexible in different degrees in both directions transverse to the main plane of the base body, something that is easily achieved, for example, by means of reinforcement ribs existing on a face of the base body.

Likewise, the bristles may have on both sides of the base body a different flexibility and / or different cross-section contours and / or different cross-sectional dimensions, to differently configure the cleaning effect on both sides of the base body, something that is particularly advantageous when the handle leaves the base body in its main extension direction, so that the base body can also be applied with both faces on the bottom area of the vater cup.

However, the fixing point of the handle to the base body may be arranged displaced towards the center of the base body instead of towards its edge, and even project perpendicularly from the main plane of the base body.

In a refinement of the invention, the base body of the cleaning head is hollow, which can be used for different purposes.

On the one hand, in order to expel a disinfectant or cleaning agent contained in the hollow space, outlet openings can be arranged in the base body wall, in particular in the form of valves that open only with pressure on the outer area.

Preferably, the hollow space in the base body is in connection with a hollow space in the handle, and the handle configured as a pump, for example, within its tubular cylinder there is a movable sealed plunger.

By means of this pressure connection of the handle with the base body it is possible to vary the expulsion of a cleaning agent or a disinfectant agent or also of a deodorant substance through existing discharge openings in the base body, or the body of The base does not have such outlet openings and, by operating the handle pump, the overpressure existing in the base body can be varied, that is, preferably increased. This, in turn, produces a reinforcement of the base body and, thereby, an increase in the cleaning effect that can then be achieved by the head.

Preferably, the brush has, in such a way, a locking device for maintaining the increased pressure in the base body of the cleaning head, that is, for example, securing the pump plunger in an advanced position.

In order to apply the brush as universally as possible, the handle is adjustable in its angular position with respect to the base body, preferably even folding from one side to the other of the base body.

c) Examples of realization

Next, some embodiments according to the invention are described in detail. They show:

Figure 1a, a top view on the cleaning head; Figure 1b, a side view of the brush;

Figure 2, different forms of cross section of cleaning elements; Figure 3, the cleaning head in side view; Figure 4, the brush in use.

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Figure 1b shows the entire cleaning brush in the side view, composed of a handle 1 and a cleaning head 2 that is fixed to the free and lower end of the handle 1.

Thus, in side view the handle 1 is angled in the form of a double S, in each case at an angle of approximately 45 °, and is composed of a preferably hollow profile, for example of plastic or other easy-to-clean material that leaves no traces of abrasion on the porcelain.

The lower end of the handle 1 preferably has a reduced cross section and is plugged into a respective housing that projects as an extension from the upper face of the base body 3 of the cleaning head 2.

In such a way, the handle 1 preferably has a non-round outer cross section but, for example, a triangular one to prevent a rotation inside the hand.

The upper rear end of the handle 1 is configured as end 16 and, in case the handle 1 is hollow as in Figure 1b, a pump 14 can be arranged at the upper end into which a plunger 17 can be introduced into the hollow space 13 of the handle 1 and, thus, form a pressure within the hollow space 13, the meaning of which will be explained later in FIG. 3.

The cleaning head 2 fixed to the handle 1 - as seen in Figure 1a - is composed of a base body 3 that extends in a main extension plane 10, for example a plate with increasing thickness towards the fixing point 4 of the handle 1, and from there, transverse to the main plane, cleaning elements 5 are projected, hereinafter referred to as simply bristles.

Thus, the base body 3 of the cleaning head 2 has the shape of a heart or a leaf with its tip oriented in the opposite direction to that the handle 1 is curved in the side view.

As seen in Figure 1a, the bristles 5 are arranged individually in the base body 3, and not grouped in tufts. Thus, the bristles or cleaning elements 5 can be arranged on lines that extend parallel to the marginal contour of the base body 3, as shown by the upper half of the image, or on lines that extend only on one part of the outer contour, as shown in the lower half of the image, more or less parallel with respect to the outer contour of the cavities 9 of the heart shape.

For example, when the bristles 5 have a non-round shape, such as perhaps the shape of a triangle, they can always be oriented radially away from the center of the base body 3, or also always in the direction of the simetna axis. 18 of the base body 3.

So that the base body 3 almost in the form of a plate in the transverse direction 11 with respect to its main plane 10 can more easily in its marginal sectors the bar is everything reinforcement rib 8 can be formed on the upper face that meet in the center , either at the center of gravity or at the fixing point 4 for the handle 1, as shown in Figure 1a, where the fixing point 4 is arranged, however, very close behind the center of gravity of the heart shape which, in this case, is the point of coincidence of the reinforcement ribs 8.

Alternatively - instead or in addition to these reinforcement ribs 8 - the thickness of the base body 3 can be increased from the marginal sector 3a to the central sector 3b of the base body 3, as shown in Figure 1b.

Figure 2 shows possible cross-sectional shapes of the bristles or of the cleaning elements 5, the forms without live convex recesses being preferred, since dirt can easily be deposited there.

They can have a triangular shape, specifically around a solid cross section according to element 5a, around a hollow section according to element 5b or around a V-shape according to element 5c. In contrast, element 5d shows a W shape and element 5e a wavy shape. Elements 5f and 5g show round cross sections, either hollow or solid, and element 5h a rectangular shape, particularly square. Thus, the alignment is preferably selected so that a convex angle or edge is oriented in the work direction. Element 5i shows a C-shape and element 5k an X-shape, for example two L-shapes joined at the back.

Also important is the rounded transition radius 19 in the transition 6 between the base body 3 and the cleaning elements 5, as is evident in Figure 1b, to avoid the deposit of dirt in that sector, and can be achieved from the better way when the cleaning elements 5 are formed in an integrated manner with the base body part 3, for example by injecting a plastic similar to rubber.

However, one of the manufacturing alternatives is that, as outlined in an element in Figure 1b, the base body 3 has through holes that are pierced in such a way by the elements 5 so that they protrude from the part of the base body 3 on the upper face and on the lower face.

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The function of the projection of the cleaning elements outside the base body is also important for the function.

In this way, said elements 5 can be projected on one side, for example in Figures 1b and 3 from the upper face, in Figure 3 additionally from the lower face, with an equal extension in each case over the entire surface , while on the underside of the base body 3 of Figure 1b, the cleaning elements 5 protrude in the central sector 3b much more than in the marginal sector 3a.

Together with the fact that also the shape of the upper face and the lower face of the base body 3 can be freely selected, constellations adjusted to the object to be cleaned can be chosen, that is, for example according to Figure 1b, a flat bottom face of the base body 3 and an increasing upper face towards the central sector 3b, while in the solution according to figure 3 it is just the reverse, that is to say that there is a flat top face and a domed, protruding lower face pumped in sector 3b.

A typical adjustment to the object to be cleaned is shown in Figure 4 with the use of the brush according to the invention as a bath brush to be able to clean the free extension 7 under the protruding flange of a vater rate.

Thus, in order to be able to act simultaneously on both flanks of said extension, the total height of the cleaning head 2 is the same in the marginal sector 3a, that is, from the free end of the cleaning elements 5 protruding upwards to the free end of the cleaning elements 5 protruding downwards, that is in the opposite direction or, preferably, somewhat larger than the free extension 7.

Figure 3 shows another variant of the cleaning head 2 'when it has a hollow space 12, essentially extended over the entire area of the main plane 10, which is connected with a hollow space 12 of the added piece and this, by on the other hand, with the hollow space 13 of the now fixed handle 1. The pump 14 mentioned by means of figure 1b produces in this hollow space 12 a pressure through which different effects can be achieved.

Either the hollow space 12 of the base body 3 is closed, by increasing the pressure - depending on the stiffness of the material of the base body 3 - then the shape of the base body 3 is modified, but first of all the body of base 3 becomes clearly sharper due to the increasing pressure in the hollow space 12, so that a greater mechanical cleaning effect can be achieved with the same cleaning head 2, although with a lower elasticity.

However, the hollow space 12 can also be used for the deposition and ejection of a liquid, be it a cleaning liquid, a disinfectant liquid or a deodorant liquid, for which outlet openings are arranged in the base body 3, preferably configured as valves 15. The outlet openings or the valves 15 may be formed in the cleaning elements 5, specifically in its hollow interior, or also between the cleaning elements 5, however a connection with the hollow space 12 in the base body 3.

That is, a pressure exerted on the pump 14 then expels a limited amount of the substance contained in the hollow space 12.

Reference List

1 handle

2 cleaning head

3 base body

3rd marginal sector

3b central sector

4 fixing point

5a, b, ... cleaning elements (bristles)

6 transition

7 free width

8 reinforcement ribs

9 cavity

10 main extension plane

11 transverse direction

12 hollow space

13 hollow space

14 bomb

15 valve

16 out

17 embolo

18 axis of simetna

19 radio

Claims (13)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 1. Cleaning brush with a handle (1) and a cleaning head (2) with bristles (5a - k), in which a) the base body (3) of the cleaning head (2) has in its main extension plane (10) a larger dimension than in the transverse direction (11) to this, b) the base body (3) is configured as a plate, c) at least in one of its marginal sectors (3a) the base body (3) is more flexible in the transverse direction to the main extension plane (10) than in the central sector (3b) or in the sector of the point of fixing (4) to the handle (1), d) the bristles (5a-k) are formed in one piece with the base body (3), characterized in that e) the bristles (5a - k) are projected out of both main areas of the base body (3), f) the base body (3), observed above on its main extension plane (10), has a heart or arrow outline, g) the handle (1), observed in the direction of development of the main extension plane (10) of the base body (3), has an S-shaped curved shape. 2. Cleaning brush according to claim 1, characterized in that the bristles have on the two sides of the base body (3) a different stiffness and / or different cross-sectional contour and / or different cross-sectional dimensions and / or length. 3. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the same marginal sector (3a) has a different flexibility with respect to the main plane (10) of the base body in both transverse directions (11). 4. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing point (4) of the handle (1) to the base body (3) is arranged displaced backwards from the edge (3a) of the base body (3 ), in particular in the center, or in the center of gravity of the area of the base body (3) and the handle (1) fixed particularly perpendicular to the main plane (10). 5. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims for cleaning a vater cup with a U-shaped bend below the edge, characterized in that the total thickness of the cleaning head (2) is in some marginal sectors (3a) , measured including the extension of the bristles, mmily greater than the free width (7) of the U-shaped bending of the vater cup. 6. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the marginal sectors (3a) of the base body (3) have a different flexibility. 7. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the different flexibility of the base body (3) is achieved in both transverse directions (11) by reinforcement ribs (8) on one of the outer faces of the base body (3). 8. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing point (4) of the handle (1) to the base body (3) is produced at the edge (3a) of the base body (3) and in the direction of extension (10) of the handle (1) or at an acute angle to the main plane (10) of the base body (3). 9. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (1) is arranged in the base body (3) in a mobile manner and, in particular, retroelastic to its initial position, in particular by forming in a piece of a rod added to the base body (3) of a flexible material. 10. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (1) has a non-round cross section, in particular triangular with rounded angles. 11. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle (1) is configured as a pump (14), in particular housed and movable as a cylinder in the cylindrical tube of the handle (1), by means of which movement relative to length of the handle (1) it is possible to vary the pressure in the handle (1) and, thus, in the base body (3), in particular for the variation of the stiffness of the inflatable part of the base body (3) . 12. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in particular in the sector of the cleaning head (2) there is at least one opening that can be closed by means of an outlet valve (15) and the outlet valve ( 15) it is particularly operable from the handle (1) for the expulsion of deodorants and / or disinfectant or cleaning agents. 13. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a handle (1) extended at an acute angle to the main plane (10) of the base body (3), the extension length (10) of the bristles on both sides of the base body (3) are uneven and / or the handle (1) is foldable from one side to the other with respect to the main plane (10) of the base body (3), and extends in the two sides, especially at different angles with respect to the main plane (10). 14. Cleaning brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (3) It is formed in one piece with plastic bristles and, in particular, an elastic plastic.