GB2548067A

GB2548067A - A cutlery washing up design

Info

Publication number: GB2548067A
Application number: GB1501285.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jones Rosemary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-01-27
Filing date: 2015-01-27
Publication date: 2017-09-13
Also published as: GB201501285D0

Abstract

A device for washing cutlery comprising a bowl 2 having a lid 3, a base unit 4 and at least one rotating brush 5 that is positioned within the volume of the bowl, where the lid and base unit are detachable from the bowl 2. The lid, bowl and base unit have a handle to allow the components to be lifted and/or to steady the device in use. The brush 5 may be rotated manually or electrically by a mechanism in the lid 3 (fig 3, fig 4) or via a mechanism within a base unit 4 (fig 1, fig 2). The brush or brushes 5 are removable for cleaning or to allow the brushes to be replaced. Preferably the base unit has a non slip surface or suckers 10. In use the bowl is filled with water and the brushes rotated to clean the cutlery. After the cutlery has been rinsed the cutlery may be polished by adding polishing agent to the bowl. The device may have a water inlet connected to the bowl and an outlet in the base unit. The cutlery once cleaned may be placed into a drainer bowl (fig 7).

Description

A Cutlery Washing Up Design

Description.

Washing cutlery in the kitchen sink by hand is a laborious and lime taking task, and many people find it even more laborious than washing up cups, saucers and plates. Yet, there is often not enough space for a washing up machine, and many people cannot afford them.

This Invention, therefore, provides a means of washing cutlery, which speeds the process up by at least ten minutes, and which is additionally hygienic in that the washed cutlery is thoroughly rinsed, and dries in a separate container without the use of drying up cloths.

The invention, which does not take up a significant amount of space, is easily cleaned, and is sufficiently robust to last many years; the basic components being made of relatively dense material. There is also a lid limiting the amount of noise coming from the mechanism.

The washing up procedure is as follows; a bowl containing brushes, water, and washing up liquid is placed on a base unit near the kitchen sink, the unit supported by non-slip material holding it to the work top surface. During the day, used cutlery is put in a bowl to soak, the handles being positioned at the top. At the end of the last meal of the day, a sufficient amount of cutlery is ready to be washed. This is achieved by means of an electric or manual driven motor turning round one or more brushes positioned in the bowl.

The procedure takes about three minutes to complete, after which the bowl is lifted from the base unit, emptied of washing water, and put in the sink so the cutlery may be rinsed with water from the hot tap. When the rinsing is finished, and the rinsing water emptied, the cutlery is removed from the bowl by hand and placed in an identical shaped drainer bowl, where it dries. Then it is either put in the cutlery drawer or remains in the drainer for re-use. The electrical or manual driven rotating motion of the brushes in the bowl causes the water to swirl, which, in turn, causes the cutlery to move round, and because the brushes are at the same level as the used part of the cutlery, they remove the particles of left over food.

The smallest model can accommodate up to 24 pieces of cutlery at any one time, and in about 1.25 litres of water, its dimensions being 25 cms high and 18 cms diameter at its rim.

Much larger sized models, with more powerful rotating mechanisms, can accommodate twice or three times that number, their size being only restricted by the weight of the bowl and the water, and the means of transporting them from the side of the sink to the hot water tap.

The brushes are positioned to contact the cutlery's used surfaces, and may be easily detached in order to be replaced when worn, perhaps once or twice a year depending on the durability of the material of which they are constituted. Because they are part of the washing up process, it is envisaged they will not require separate washing, though a jet of hot water from the sink's hot tap, if directed at them, might be required from time to time to remove the most adhesive debris from between their bristles.

Where cutlery requires polishing, a small amount of polishing agent may be added to the bowl after the rinsing water is removed, and the rotation resumed for a few minutes. The cutlery may then be further washed and rinsed, and taken out of the bowl before being further polished by hand.

Brushes may also be added to the sides of the bowl if the density of cutlery requires it and the engine is sufficiently powerful to operate with that density.

Millions of households will welcome this relatively inexpensive and time saving design, as it is an alternative to the time taking task of picking cutlery out of the general washing up and washing each piece individually.

The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 shows the Invention in its electrically driven embodiment with the brushes being rotated by a mechanism positioned in the base unit.

Figure 2 shows the invention in its manually operated embodiment with the brushes being rotated by a mechanism positioned in the base unit.

Figure 3 shows the invention in its electrically driven embodiment with the brushes being rotated by a mechanism positioned in the lid.

Figure 4 shows the invention in its manually operated embodiment with the brush being rotated by a manual driven mechanism positioned in and on the lid.

Figure 5 shows a single brush virhich screws into the rotating support in the base or in the lid.

Figure 6 shows brushes extending from a central replaceable spindle and support.

Figure 7 shows a typical drainer bow^ and stand.

In Figure 1 there is a cutlery washing up design 1, constituted of a bowl 2, a lid 3, a base unit containing an electrically driven rotating mechanism 4, brushes 5, and in which the lid has a turning and lifting handle 6. the bowl has a carrying handle 7. and where the bowl and its bmshes detach from the base unit at 8, from its lid at 9, and where the base unit has a non-slip surface or suckers 10, and an aperture into which an electrical lead feeding an electrical rotating motor enters at 11, with an accompanying off-on switch at 12, and with suitable aeration at 13.

In Figure 2 there is a cutlery washing up design 1, constituted of a bowl 2, a lid 3, a base unit containing a manually driven rotating mechanism 4. brushes 5, and in which the bowl has a carrying handle 7, and the base unit has a steadying handle 7a, and where the bowl and its brushes detaches from the base unit at 8, from its lid at 9. and where the base unit has a non slip surface or suckers 10, and an aperture into which the handle of a manually rotated rotating device is slotted 11a.

In Figure 3 there is a cutlery washing up design 1, constituted of a bowl 2, a lid containing an electrically driven rotating mechanism 3, a base unit 4, brushes 5, and in which the lid has a turning and lifting handle 6, the bowl has a carrying handle 7, and vtrhere the bowl detaches from its base unit at 8, and from its lid at 9, and where the base unit has a non slip surface or suckers 10, and where the lid has an aperture into which an electrical lead enters 11b, and an ofF-on switch 12 a, with suitable aeration at 13. in Figure 4 there is a cutlery washing up design 1, constituted of a bowl 2, a lid containing and supporting a manually driven rotating mechanism 3, a base unit 4, brushes 5, and in which the bowl has a carrying handle 7, the base unit a steadying handle 7c, and where the bowl detaches from its base unit at 8, and from its lid at 9, and where the base unit has a non slip surface or suckers 10, and where said lid has an aperture into which a manually rotated handle enters 11c, and by which it may be lifted from the bowl.

In Figure 5 there is a typical single brush 5, showing a screw in mechanism.

In Figure 6 there is a typical spindle of brushes 5, and a support, which includes a fixture connecting with the typical 'set in' plug device rotated by the rotating mechanism, and which may be removed from the bowl by an anticlockwise circular movement.

In Figure 7 there is a drainer bowl and its stand 14.

Claims

Claims. Claim 1. A Cutlery Washing Design constituted of a bowi, a lid and a base unit, said bowl containing one or more brushes, electrically or manually rotated by a mechanism positioned in the base unit or in and on the iid, and said bowl having one or more lifting handles, and said lid having a iifting and twisting handle, and said bowl being detachable from said lid and said base unit. Claim
2. A Cutlery Washing Design as in Claim 1, in which the electrically driven embodiment has an electrical lead entering either the base unit or the lid, and an off-on switch and one or more aeration apertures. Claim
3. A Cutlery Washing Design as in Claim 1, in which, and in the manual driven embodiment, said rotation mechanism is contained in the base unit or the lid, there being an external rotating handle, which, when attached to the mechanism in the lid, also acts as a lifting mechanism, and there being a steadying handle positioned to offset the pressure from the manual drive.. Claim
4. A Cutlery Washing Design as in Claims 1,2, and 3, where one or more brushes typically communicate with the rotating mechanism in the lid or in the base unit, by means of a typical 'set in' plug, and where said brushes and their support maybe removed from the rotating mechanism for cleaning or replacement by an anticlockwise movement or other typical release and detachment methods. Claim
5. A Cutlery Washing Design as in Claims 1,2,3, and 4, where the size of the bowl may be increased to accommodate more numerous pieces of cutlery, and where there maybe further brushes positioned at its iower periphery, and, if necessary, where the whole design may be supported by a mechanical carrying and tipping mechanism, and be further adapted by the inclusion of a water exit pipe at the bowl's base, and a water inlet pipe at the bowl's top, these being appropriately supported by further mechanisms as required. Claim
6. A Cutlery and Washing Up Design as in Claims 1,2,3,4 and 5, where there is a drainer bowl and its stand, and one which may be divided into compartments to accommodate the different sorts of cutlery, and where they may quickly and hygienically dry