NL2001505C2 - Washing-up brush provided with a gripping element for a knob arranged on a drain plug. - Google Patents

Description

Washing-up brush provided with a gripping element for a knob arranged on a drain plug

The present invention relates to a washing-up brush, comprising a handle and a brush part attached to the handle with brush hairs placed therein, the washing-up brush being provided with an engaging element.

Such dishwashing brushes are generally known.

10 Traditionally, washing is done in washing-up bowls, but in recent decades the sinks present in fitted kitchens have been made suitable for washing.

To this end, the drain opening of these sinks is provided with a stopper, which is placed in the drain opening for closing this opening, after which the sink is filled with water to the desired level, detergent is added and the washing process can take place. After washing, the water is drained from the sink through the drain opening. The stop must be removed for this. To remove this plug, the dishwasher must go into the dishwashing water with one hand to grab the plug and remove it from the drain opening, after which the used dishwashing water can drain. This is unpleasant because the dishwashing water is usually contaminated and sometimes still hot. Since dishwashers are used more often, the used dishwashing water is often more contaminated, because only the more contaminated pans are washed by hand and most of the less contaminated dishes, such as cutlery and crockery, are washed in the dishwasher.

The present invention seeks to provide means with which the unpleasant hand-engaging of the plug in the dishwashing water is avoided.

This object is achieved by a washing-up brush of the above-mentioned type, wherein the engaging element is adapted to engage a button arranged on a drain plug 30.

As a result of these measures, the plug can be grasped with the aid of the washing-up brush and the plug can be pulled out of the discharge opening without the dishwasher having to grip the contaminated washing-up water with its hands.

2

It is noted here that such plugs are also used with washbasins, but these are often connected to the tap by means of a chain, so that the plug can be removed by pulling on the chain. With plugs used in kitchen sinks 5, such chains are not used because of hygienic disadvantages. Furthermore, in kitchen sinks, the plugs are designed as so-called sieve plugs, which - depending on their height position in the drain opening - completely close the drain opening or connect the sink to the drain channel via sieve openings included in the sieve plug. Both 'normal', closing plugs and sieve plugs are usually provided with a button on their upper side, which can be easily engaged, because the plug is provided with a wide part which is connected to the plug by a narrower part, for example with the mold of a mushroom.

The measure according to the invention thus makes it possible to remove the plug with the aid of the washing-up brush from a drain opening of a water-filled sink without having to immerse the hands in the water.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the engaging element is arranged at the end of the handle remote from the brush part. This leads to a simple construction of the washing-up brush; the brush is attached to one end of the handle and the engagement element for the plug at the other end.

According to an alternative embodiment, the engaging element is arranged at the end of the brush part remote from the handle. Although this is a structurally more difficult variant, it is more attractive in terms of ease of use; the brush can be engaged with its handle part for removing the plug; this in contrast to the previous embodiment in which the brush must be engaged with its brush part.

In order to be able to easily hang the washing-up brush, it is attractive if it is provided with a suspension hook at the end remote from the brush part.

3

The engaging element is preferably provided with an engaging recess with at least one open end which is bounded by fixed parts on at least two opposite sides. This is an attractive form for an engagement element.

Even more preferably, the engagement recess is closed at its end opposite the at least one open end. This simplifies the construction even further.

To facilitate the engagement of the brush present on the plug, it is attractive when the distance between the edges of the engagement recess decreases from the open end of the engagement recess.

The engaging element preferably extends at an acute angle with respect to the main direction of the shank. This allows the plug to be engaged with the brush positioned vertically in the water, which simplifies handling and whereby the chance of the hands getting into the water is reduced.

In order to simplify the construction and thus to reduce the cost price, according to a preferred embodiment the handle, the brush part and the engaging element 20 are made from a single plastic part.

According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the washing-up brush comprises a part made of metal wire which extends at least along the handle and the engaging element is formed from this part made of metal wire.

25

The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1: a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2: a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3: a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

4

Figure 1 shows a complete brush according to the invention designated 1 as a whole. The cleaning brush comprises a handle 2 which is for instance made of wood and a brush part 3, which is also made of wood and in which brush bristles 4 are placed. The handle 2 and the brush part 3 are connected to each other by a piece of galvanized steel wire 5, which extends through grooves provided in the brush part 3 and the handle 2, and which is made so rigid that the brush part 3 and the handle 2 are firmly are connected to each other.

Such a cleaning brush is well-known in the art. A portion 10 of the steel wire is often bent at the free end of the handle to form a hook with which the brush can be hung.

The dishwashing brush according to the present invention differs from this by providing an engaging element 6 in the form of two bent pieces 6a, 15 and 6b respectively of the steel wire 5. These bent parts 6a, 6b are spaced apart such that they can engage under a thickening 10 of a mushroom-shaped button 11 which is on a stop 12 for an opening of a sink 13. Here the bent pieces of wire extend parallel to each other, but it is also possible that the pieces of wire extend towards one end extend with increasing distance. Furthermore, the pieces of wire extend at an angle that is less than 90 ° with the longitudinal direction of the dishwashing brush.

It is otherwise also possible that the ends of the steel wire pieces 6a and 6b are connected to each other, however, the maximum distance between the steel wire pieces must be greater than the thickness of the button 10, and the smallest distance must be smaller then the thickness of the button 10.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the washing-up brush according to the invention, which is made of plastic. Here too, the aiwas brush, indicated in its entirety by 21, comprises a handle 22 and a brush part 23, in which bristles 24 are planted. Both parts are formed from a single plastic part which is obtained, for example, by injection molding. On the side of the handle 22 a suspension hook 31 is formed which serves to suspend the brush and which is formed together with the other plastic parts. A forked part 26 is provided on the brush 23 at the end of the brush 23 remote from the handle 22 and also formed from the same plastic part. The forked part 26 comprises two pieces 26a and 26b which enclose a recess 27 which is adapted to engage the knob 10 of a plug 12, and in the same way as in the embodiment explained with reference to Figure 1. Both parts 26a and 26b are adapted to act as a scraper in a manner known per se. This embodiment has the advantage that it can be produced in very simple and inexpensive manner in large numbers, for example by injection molding.

Finally, figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a washing-up brush according to the invention. This embodiment also comprises a handle or handle 22, which in the present case has a U-shaped cross-section and which is connected to a brush part 23, in which the bristles 24 are placed.

On its side remote from the brush part, the handle is connected to a forked part 36, which is provided with a recess 37 with which the knob of a plug can be engaged. An opening 29 is provided in a surface 28 of the handle 22, through which the washing-up brush can be hung.

It will be clear that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments explained above; numerous variations and combinations of the above-described measures and embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

25

Claims (10)

1. Washing-up brush, comprising a handle and a brush part attached to the handle with brush hairs placed therein, wherein the washing-up brush is provided with an engaging element, characterized in that the engaging element is adapted to engage a button arranged on a drain plug. Dishwashing brush according to claim 1, characterized in that the engaging element is arranged at the end of the handle remote from the brush part. 10 Dishwashing brush according to claim 1, characterized in that the engaging element is arranged at the end of the brush part remote from the handle. 4. Washing-up brush according to claim 3, characterized in that the washing-up brush is provided with a suspension hook at the end remote from the brush part. Dishwashing brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engaging element is provided with an engaging recess with at least one open end which is bounded on at least two opposite sides by fixed parts. Dishwashing brush according to claim 5, characterized in that the engagement recess is closed at its end opposite the at least one open end. Dishwashing brush according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the distance between the edges of the engagement recess decreases from the open end of the engagement recess. A washing-up brush according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the engaging element extends at an acute angle with respect to the main direction of the handle of. Dishwashing brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle, the brush part and the gripping element are made of a single plastic part. Dishwashing brush according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the washing-up brush comprises a part made of metal wire which extends at least along the handle and that the engaging element is formed from this part made of metal wire.