GB2562084A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A toilet brush 10 comprises a hollow receiving member 13, such as a hollow tube, which houses at least part of a flexible rod 15 having a brush head 17 at its distal end. The flexible rod is selectively secured in a retracted position by a lock device 27 comprising a collar 31 which moves along the outside of the receiving member and engages with fingers (35, fig. 2) which extend from the distal end (33, fig. 2) of the receiving member. Moving the collar towards the brush head urges the fingers to engage the outer surface of the flexible rod, thus preventing it from moving within the receiving member. The flexible rod may also be locked in an extended position, and may contain plastic, twisted metal wires or a braided construction. The fingers may have inward projections 37. The hollow receiving member or tube may have a handle 11 at its proximal end 23.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Cleaning device

Abstract Title: Flexible toilet brush with lockable extendable portion (57) A toilet brush 10 comprises a hollow receiving member 13, such as a hollow tube, which houses at least part of a flexible rod 15 having a brush head 17 at its distal end. The flexible rod is selectively secured in a retracted position by a lock device 27 comprising a collar 31 which moves along the outside of the receiving member and engages with fingers (35, fig. 2) which extend from the distal end (33, fig. 2) of the receiving member. Moving the collar towards the brush head urges the fingers to engage the outer surface of the flexible rod, thus preventing it from moving within the receiving member. The flexible rod may also be locked in an extended position, and may contain plastic, twisted metal wires or a braided construction. The fingers may have inward projections 37. The hollow receiving member or tube may have a handle 11 at its proximal end 23.

1/3

2/3

3/3

Fig 3

CLEANING DEVICE

Field of the invention

The present invention is in the field of cleaning. Embodiments relate to a toilet brush and a method of cleanings toilet.

Background of the invention

WC pans and other toilet pans are usually cleaned by a toilet brush.

In some cases the toilet brush consists of a rigid or semi rigid rod-like member with a grip or handle at one end and a brush head at the other. Various different configurations of brush head have been tried, with a view to satisfactory cleaning of the pan and of the U-bend. This type of toilet brush can be disposed in a housing or container, and stored in the toilet cubicle or room.

In other cases the brush head is secured to a twisted metal wire structure, which allows rge brush head to be inserted and moved round the U-bend. This type of toilet brush has been found less useful at cleaning the pan itself and is visually unattractive, and therefore may be stored in a cupboard or maybe an outbuilding.

Where a blockage of a toilet occurs one device for getting rid of it is a flexible plunger on the end of a rod member. The plunger is moved up and down inside the water of the toilet and the resultant waves and other movements may dislodge the blockage.

There is a need for a toilet brush that is not unattractive, that can be used to clean the pan itself and can also clean around the U-bend, and dislodge blockages.

Fig.3 shows a prior toilet brush having a handle 70 extending into a tube member 40 that houses a rod member 30 carrying a brush head 20 at one end thereof. The rod member 30 is rigid. The arrangement is such that the length of the brush can be shortened to enable it to be stored in a container 50 without a lengthy protrusion.

Summary of the invention

According to one aspect there is provided a toilet brush device having a hollow tube member housing a flexible rod member carrying at a distal end thereof a brush head, the toilet brush device having a lock device for selectively securing the rod member in a retracted position with regard to the tube member. The rod may be extended outwardly to enable blockages in the toilet and pipework to be cleared. The lock may lock the rod in the extended position. The lock may lock the rod in a number of different positions according to the amount it has been extended.

The flexible rod member may be of plastics material, or of twisted metal wires, of braided construction or of any suitable material or combination thereof.

According to another aspect there is provided a toilet brush device having a hollow tube member housing a rod member carrying at a distal end thereof a brush head, the toilet brush device having a lock device for selectively securing the rod member in a retracted position with regard to the tube member, wherein the rod member comprises plural members connected end-to end by a structure allowing pivoting of one member with respect to the next.

In another aspect there is provided a method of cleaning a toilet comprising unlocking a lock device securing a flexible rod member in a retracted position with regard to a hollow tube member and urging the flexible rod member outwardly of the hollow tube member, the flexible rod member carrying at a distal end thereof a brush head, locking the flexible rod member in an extended position with regard to the hollow tube member and urging the brush head into contact with a part of the toilet pan.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a toilet brush;

Fig 2 shows a detailed view of a lock device; and

Fig 3 shows a perspective view of a prior art toilet brush.

Description of an embodiment

Referring to Fig 1, an embodiment of a toilet brush device 10 comprises a receiving member 13, in this case a hollow circular cross-section tube member, and a flexible circular rod member 15 of smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the tube member 13. The rod member 15 carries or engages with a brush head 17. The hollow tube member 13 houses at least a portion of the flexible rod member 15 with another portion thereof extending from a distal extremity 21 of the hollow tube member 13. In this embodiment the receiving member 13 and the rod member 15 are of plastics material. The arrangement is such that the rod member can be telescoped with respect to the tube member 13.

The receiving member 13 need not be a hollow tube and need not be of plastics. The function of the receiving member is to house part of the rod member when it is in the retracted condition. The receiving member may have a handle 11 at its proximal end 23.

The flexible rod member 15 carries at a distal end thereof the brush head 17. The toilet brush device has a lock device 27 for selectively securing the flexible rod member 15 in a retracted position with regard to the tube member 13i

Referring to Fig 2, in one embodiment the lock device 27 has a collar 31 movable along an outside of the hollow tube member 13 for engagement with a plurality of fingers 35 extending from the distal end 33 of the tube member 13. The fingers 35 may be disposed to extend somewhat outwardly from the distal end 33. They may have inwardly projecting portions 37 -see Fig 1, the arrangement being such that moving the collar 31 away from the brush head 17 allows the rod member 15 to be moved outwardly of the receiving member 13; moving the collar towards the brush head 17 causes it to engage with the fingers 35 thereby to urge them into engagement with an outer surface of the rod member 15 to prevent movement thereof with respect to the receiving member 13.

The flexible rod member 15 in different embodiments is composed of one or more of the set comprising plastics material, twisted metal wires, and a braided construction. Combinations of materials are also envisaged.

In use, a user holds the handle 11 of the receiving member 13, and can use the brush as a conventional toilet brush, with the rode member 15 retracted into the receiving member 13. In this state the brush head is rigidly coupled to the receiving member so allowing brushing to take place.

To clean further into the toilet pan, or to dislodge blockages the user moves the collar 31 towards the proximal end 23 of the receiving member 13 thereby to unlock the lock. The user then extends the rod member 15 and hence the brush head 17 to a suitable length, and then moves the collar 31 back to the locked state. The user then introduces the brush towards and then into the U bend. The flexibility of the rod member allows the brush head to pass into and indeed around the U bend.

An embodiment of the invention has now been described. The specific features of the embodiment are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. A toilet brush having a hollow tube member, a flexible rod member and a brush head, the hollow tube member housing at least a part of the flexible rod member, the flexible rod member carrying at a distal end thereof the brush head, the toilet brush having a lock device adapted to selectively secure the flexible rod member in a retracted position with regard to the tube member.

2. The toilet brush of claim 1 wherein the flexible rod member is of one or more of the set containing plastics material, twisted metal wires, and braided construction.

3. The toilet brush of claim 1 or claim 2 configured such that the flexible rod member can be extended from the retracted position to an extended position with regard to the receiving member and locked in the extended position.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1707100.2

3. The toilet brush of claim 1 or claim 2 configured such that the flexible rod member can be extended from the retracted position to an extended position with regard to the tube member and locked in the extended position.

4. A method of cleaning a toilet comprising:unlocking a lock device securing a flexible rod member in a retracted position with regard to a hollow tube member;

urging the flexible rod member outwardly of the hollow tube member, the flexible rod member carrying at a distal end thereof a brush head, locking the flexible rod member in an extended position with regard to the hollow tube member and urging the brush head into contact with a part of the toilet pan.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

• ·· • · · ······ • · ·· · • · · • ·· ·· · • · · • · · ···· • · · • · · • ··

1. A toilet brush having a hollow receiving member, a flexible rod member and a brush head, the hollow receiving member housing at least a part of the flexible rod member, the flexible rod member carrying at a distal end thereof the brush head, the toilet brush having a collar movable along an outside of the hollow receiving member for engagement with a plurality of fingers extending from the distal end of the hollow receiving member, whereby moving the collar towards the brush head causes the collar to engage with the fingers thereby to urge them into engagement with an outer surface of the rod member to prevent movement thereof with respect to the hollow receiving member for selectively securing the flexible rod member in a retracted position with regard to the hollow receiving member

2. The toilet brush of claim 1 wherein the flexible rod member is of one or more of the set containing plastics material, twisted metal wires, and braided construction.