GB2251181A - A brush and holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A brush holder comprises a casing 2 having at least one first opening into which a brush 4 can be inserted in use, and an internal face provided with protrusions 10 to contact with and clean the bristles 12 of the brush 4 when it is inserted in the holder. Preferably the casing 2 has at least one second opening 5 to allow the dirt removed from the bristles 12 to exit the casing 2 and a slot 13 to accommodate the handle 14 of the brush 4. The casing 2 may be provided with a stand 3 or be attachable to an object. <IMAGE>

Description

A BRUSH AND HOLDER This invention relates to a brush holder and brush for use with this holder.

Brushes are frequently used to remove large quantities of dirt from objects. In doing so the bristles of the brush accumulate this dirt and the effectiveness of the brush is impaired.

Accordingly the present invention provides a brush and holder in combination comprising brush cleaning means to clean bristles of said brush, and means to retain said brush adjacent said brush cleaning means.

The brush holder preferably comprises a casing having at least one first opening into the or each of which a brush can be inserted in use, and an internal face provided with brush bristle cleaning protrusions.

Preferably the casing has at least one second opening to allow dirt removed from the bristles of said brush to exit from the casing, and a slot cut in a face of said casing opposite said internal face and intermediate respective first and second openings, into which a handle of said brush can fit.

The present invention also provides a brush for use with the brush holder having a body and bristles extending substantially perpendicularly from said body.

Such a brush is particularly useful for cleaning golf club heads after playing a stroke where the head may become caked in mud. The brush, when replaced in the holder, will be cleaned ready for its next use.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the casing of a brush holder and a brush to fit in it according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 with brushes in their respective compartments; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates the base and part of the vertical pole of the stand used with the casing illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a brush holder and a brush to fit it according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5; Figure 7 illustrates an underneath view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the casing 2 and part of the support pole 3 of a brush holder 1 and also a brush 4 to fit in the holder 2. The casing 2 has two compartments 2a and 2b separated by a dividing wall 9. The top of each compartment 2a and 2b is open to allow insertion of the brush 4 into either compartment 2a or 2b. Thus the casing can hold two brushes 4 side by side.

The floor of each compartment 2a and 2b has an opening 5 and 6 smaller than the size of the floor. There are thus ledges 7 and 8 in respective compartments 2a and 2b which prevent the brush 4 from falling out of the compartment 2a or 2b.

The internal face 11 of the back wall of the casing 2 is provided with protrusions 10 in the form of pegs protruding perpendicularly from the internal face 11.

These pegs 10 are provided to contact with the bristles 12 of the brush 4 when the brush 4 is inserted in a compartment 2a or 2b of the casing 2 to knock the dirt off the bristles 12 so that the dirt falls to the bottom of the compartment 2a and 2b and out via respective openings 5 and 6.

In the front face of each compartment 2a and 2b of the casing 2, opposite the internal face 11 provided with pegs 10, slots 13 are provided extending vertically from the floor of the compartment 2a and 2b to the open top face. These slots 13 are provided to accept the handle 14 of the brush 4 such that the brush 4 is guided into place in the compartments 2a and 2b.

The top of the casing 2 is also provided with a side plate 15, onto which printed matter such as advertisements can be attached. On the bottom of the casing 2 are tabs 16 to which the brush 4 can flexibly be attached via a chain (not shown). This prevents the separation of the brush 4 from the holder 1 and acts as an anti-theft device.

The brush 4 comprises a body 17 from a face of which protrude bristles 12 substantially perpendicularly. On an opposed face to the bristles 12 of the body 17 is attached a handle 14 which extends the length of the body 17. At the lower end of the handle 14 is provided an attachment ring 23 to which a chain can be attached and coupled to the tabs 16.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the holder 1 with two brushes 4 in place. The handle 14 of the brush 4 is tapered in cross-section such that the brush 4 is held in position in the compartment 2 or 2b. In this figure the contact between the pegs 10 and the bristles 12 is clearly shown. The action of inserting the brush 4 into the compartment causes any dirt trapped in the bristles to be removed and fall to the floor of the compartment 2a or 2b.

Figure 3 illustrates the view from underneath showing the ledges 7 and 8 of the compartments 2a and 2b.

The case 2 is supported by the support pole 3 which extends from the base 18. Printed material such as advertisements may also be applied to the base 18.

Thus Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a self-supporting brush holder 1 and a suitable brush 4 for use with the holder 1. Such an arrangement is particularly suited for use on a golf course to clean golf club heads. A brush and holder can be supplied at suitable points around a golf course such as at the golf tees.

Figures 5 to 7 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention which does not have a stand and is for attachment of another object such as a golf bag. In these figures like numerals refer to like components and only those features that differ from the embodiment described hereinabove will be described.

The brush holder 1 comprises a casing 2 with a single compartment 2a although more may be provided. Upper and lower plates 21 and 22 are provided extending from the upper and lower faces of the casing 2, coplanar with the internal face 11, and in which are provided respective attachment holes 19 and 20. This enables the brush holder 1 to be attached to an object such as a golf bag, thus providing a portable brush and holder.

The pegs 10a and 10b illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 are of two different lengths. The longer pegs 10a remove dirt lodged deeper in the bristles 12 whilst the shorter pegs 10b remove dirt at the extremities of the bristles 12. These two types of pegs are arranged alternately about the internal face 11.

Although the two embodiments described hereinabove have different pegs, the first embodiment may have the two types of pegs described in relation to the second embodiment and the second embodiment can have the one length pegs described in relation to the first embodiment.

Claims (17)

1. A brush and holder in combination comprising brush cleaning means to clean bristles of said brush, and means to retain said brush adjacent said brush cleaning means.

2. A brush holder as claimed in Claim 1 comprising a casing having at least one first opening into the or each of which said brush can be inserted in use, and an internal face provided with brush bristle cleaning protrusions.

3. A brush holder as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said casing has at least one second opening.

4. A brush holder as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein respective first and second openings are opposed and said internal face is intermediate respective first and second openings.

5. A brush holder as claimed in any of Claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein said protrusions comprise rods protruding substantially perpendicularly from said internal face.

6. A brush holder as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said rods comprise rods of first and second lengths alternately arranged on said internal face.

7. A brush holder as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 6 wherein said casing has at least one slot cut in a face of said casing opposite said internal face.

8. A brush holder as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 7 further including brush attachment means enabling said brush to be flexibly attached to said brush holder.

9. A brush holder as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 8 further including a side plate on which printed matter can be applied.

10. A brush holder as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 9 further including a stand comprising a base and a vertical pole, said vertical pole supporting said casing on said base.

11. A brush holder as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 9 further including means to attach said casing to an object.

12. A brush holder as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said means to attach comprises a first and second plate each with an attachment hole and coplanar with said internal face, said first plate extending from said casing adjacent the or each first opening and said second plate extending from an opposite end of said casing to said first plate.

13. A brush for use with the brush holder as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a body and bristles extending substantially perpendicularly from said body.

14. A brush as claimed in Claim 3 as dependent on any of Claims 7 to 12 further including a handle attached to said body and shaped to fit in said slot.

15. A brush as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said handle is of tapered cross-section, tapering towards its attachment point to said body.

16. A brush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

17. A brush holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.