US20160143428A1

US20160143428A1 - Brushware structure

Info

Publication number: US20160143428A1
Application number: US14/549,439
Authority: US
Inventors: Chu-Chau Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-20
Filing date: 2014-11-20
Publication date: 2016-05-26

Abstract

A brushware structure is detachably coupled to a brush unit that comprises a handle and a clamping frame. The handle has a body and a front end. The clamping frame includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame has a base end connected to the front end and a terminal end. The second frame has a pivotable end and a detachable end. The pivotable end is pivotably engaged to the terminal end, such that the detachable end can be selectively configured in or out of an assembled position by the second frame. When the detachable end is in the assembled position, the clamping frame forms a closed structure and defines a clamp opening where the brush unit is clamped in. When the engageable fixing end is detached, the clamping frame forms an open structure where the brush unit is removed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a brushware structure; in particular, to a brushware structure that is detachably coupled to a brush unit.
2. Description of Related Art
Typical brushware includes a brush portion and a handle that are integrally formed or coupled to each other through a male-female coupling manner such as screwing, tightly-fitting, or snapping. In order to provide optimal cleaning performance, the bristles or pads on brushes are typically consumer products that require frequent replacements due to distortion, undesirable odor from the gathering of filth or mold, or damage over time.
Integrally formed brushware basically cannot be replaced. When the brushware is no longer in condition for cleaning, the entire brushware must be replaced, which is costly and not environmental friendly, whereas the coupling between the male and female counterparts on the brushware will eventually become loosened after a certain time of usage and will need to be replaced as well. Moreover, slits between the male-female coupling brushware tend to harbor filth and mold due to moist environments, or even biofilm that is quite difficult to clean and not hygienic, and may serve as a medium to spread bacteria and diseases.
To address the above issues, the inventor strives via associated experience and research to present the instant disclosure, which can effectively improve the limitation described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the instant disclosure is to provide a brushware structure in order to improve upon hygiene and the coupling between a handle and a brush unit of a conventional brushware.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, a brushware structure is provided to detachably couple to a brush unit. The brushware structure includes a handle having a body and a front end arranged to an end of the body and a clamping frame. The clamping frame includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame has a base end connected to the front end and a terminal end. The second frame has a pivotable end and a detachable end. When the detachable end is in the assembled position, the detachable end can be detachably coupled to the base end via an engageable fixing end, such that the clamping frame forms a closed structure and defines a clamp opening in the closed structure as the brush unit is clamped in the clamp opening. When the engageable fixing end is detached, the detachable end is detached from the base end and the second frame removes the detachable end from the assembled position in a pivotal manner, such that the clamping frame forms an open structure and the brush unit is removed from the brushware structure.
The instant disclosure provides improvements upon the convention arts. Specifically, the instant disclosure provides assembled brush units that are distinct from the conventional male-female coupling manner and enhanced in coupling, all of which significantly improve durability, longevity, and replacement convenience of the brush unit while reducing costs and product wastes that are environmental unfriendly. Moreover, significantly improved structural design of the instant disclosure over the conventional arts provides a more hygienic solution, in which the filth or mold that harbors between the slits of a male-female coupling brushware can be eliminated.
In order to further understand the instant disclosure, the following embodiments and illustrations are provided. However, the detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the disclosure, rather than limiting the scope being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram illustrating an open structure for a clamping frame of a brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating a closed structure for the clamping frame of the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 1C is another schematic diagram illustrating the close structure for the clamping frame of the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 1D is a perspective bottom view illustrating a fixing portion of the brushware structure not yet fixed to any parts in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 1E is a perspective top view illustrating the fixing portion of the brushware structure not yet fixed to any parts in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 1F is a schematic diagram illustrating the fixing portion of the brushware structure ready to be fixed in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a brush unit to be assembled with the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating the brush unit assembled with the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating a single clamp opening, which resembles the shape of a teardrop, of the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating a single clamp opening, which is annularly shaped, of the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram illustrating three teardrop shaped clamp openings of the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram illustrating three annularly shaped clamp openings of the brushware structure in accordance with the instant disclosure; and

FIG. 3E is a schematic diagram illustrating the clamping frame of the brushware structure not bent towards the clamp opening in accordance with the instant disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The aforementioned illustrations and detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the instant disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the instant disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings.
Please refer to FIGS. 1A to 1C. The instant disclosure provides a brushware structure that can be detachably coupled to a brush unit BR (brush unit BR also shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B). The brush units BR shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are shower balls used for showering, two to be specific, but not limited to the example provided herein. The brush unit BR can be repeatedly detached and reassembled from the brush structure. The brush unit BR can also be sponges, foams, or composite bodies made of cotton along with a roughening surface, such as a recyclable resin-foam scouring pads or pulp-cotton composite scouring pads.
As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the brushware structure includes a handle 10 and a clamping frame 20. The handle 10 includes a body 11 and a front end 111 arranged at an end of the body 11. The clamping frame 20 includes a first frame 21 and a second frame 22. The first frame 21 has two ends, a base end 211 connected to the front end 111 and a terminal end 212. The second frame 22 has two ends, a pivotable end 221 and a detachable end 222. The pivotable end 221 is pivotably coupled to the terminal end 212, such that the second frame 22 can drive the detachable end 222 that is correspondingly positioned on another end of the pivotable end 221 to be selectively in an assembled position (as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C) or disassembled position (as shown in FIG. 1A).
Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, when the detachable end 222 is in the assembled position, the detachable end 222 can be detachably coupled to the base end 211 of the first frame 21 through a fixing portion 23, so that the clamping frame 20 can form a closed structure 20 a and define a clamp opening SP. As a result, the clamping frame 20 can clamp the brush unit BR in the clamp opening SP (brush unit BR as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the clamping frame 20 is partially or entirely hidden by the brush unit BR). As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the fixing portion 23 is detached, the detachable end 222 can be detached from the base portion 211, and the second frame 22 can be pivoted along with the detachable end 222 to be disassembled, so that the clamping frame 20 forms an open structure 20 b and the clamping fame 20 releases the brush unit BR (as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2B). FIGS. 1A to 1C further disclose how the second frame 22 can be pivoted along with the detachable end 222 to be assembled and disassembled. Specifically, the pivotable end 221 and the terminal end 212 can be mutually coupled through the pivotable portion P. The pivotable portion P can be an independent part that is the pivotably coupling structure between the pivotable end 221 and the terminal end 212, but is not limited to the example provided herein. The pivotable portion P can also be a part of the terminal end 212 that is pivotally coupled to the pivotable end 221, or as an alternative, a part of the pivotable end 221 that is pivotally coupled to the terminal end 212. As such, the second frame 22 can be pivoted along with the detachable end 222 towards the base end 221 of the first frame 21 to an assembled position or pivoted along with the detachable end 222 away from the base end 221 in order to be disassembled.
Please refer to FIGS. 1D to 1F. The fixing portion 23 further includes an engageable fixing end 231 and a binding strap 232. The engageable fixing end 231 can be fixed on the detachable end 222. The engageable fixing end 231 has a first fixing portion 2311 arranged thereon. The binding strap 232 can extend from the engageable fixing end 231, towards the base end 211 of the first frame 21, and wrap around the base end 211 of the first frame 21. The binding strap 232 has a free end (not labeled), and the free end has a second fixing portion 2321 arranged thereon. The binding strap 232 is wound around the outer peripheral portions of the base end 211 and correspondingly fixes the second fixing portion 2321 to the first fixing portion 2311. The first fixing portion 2311 and the second fixing portion 2321 are correspondingly coupled to each other, so that when the first frame 21 and the second frame 22 are correspondingly coupled to each other, the closed structure 20 a remains closed (as shown in FIG. 1C). The first fixing portion 2311 and the second fixing portion 2322 are not limited to the coupling manners as described above. However, as shown in FIGS. 1D to 1F, the first fixing portion 2311 is preferably a male coupling part while the second fixing portion 2321 is a female coupling portion. The first and second fixing portions 2311, 2321 are coupled to one another through a male-female coupling system to provide a mutually coupled system. Preferably, the binding strap 232, as shown in FIGS. 1E and 2B, can also have a plurality of protrusions 2322 arranged on the surface thereof to provide preferred friction and prevent slipping from hands. However, the first fixing portion 2311 and the second fixing portion 2321 can also be coupled to each other via Velcro, so that the closed structure 20 a (as shown in FIG. 1C) can remain securely closed. As an example, the engageable fixing end 231 is fixed on the detachable end 222 as shown in FIGS. 1D to 1F. On the other hand, the engageable fixing end 231 can also be fixed on the base end 211 of the first frame 21 (not shown in figures), whereas the binding strap 232 can extend from the engageable fixing end 231 towards the detachable end 222 and wind about the detachable end 222. The free end of the binding strap 232 has a second fixing portion 2321 arranged thereon, the binding strap 232 winds around the outer peripheral portions of the detachable end 222, and the second fixing portion 2321 is correspondingly fixed to the first fixing portion 2311 of the engageable fixing end 231.
Please refer to FIG. 1C. The first frame 21 can bend towards the clamp opening SP to form a first bend portion 21 a, and the second frame 22 can bend towards the clamp opening SP to form a second bend portion 22 a. The first bend portion 21 a and the second bend portion 22 a resemble substantially mirror images of one another and cooperatively define a compressing structure ST. The first bend portion 21 a and the second bend portion 22 a can also cooperatively define two teardrop shaped clamp openings SP1 from the clamp opening SP. Please refer to FIG. 3C. In order to enhance the tightness of the clamping frame 20, the first frame 21 can also form two separate bending portions, a first front bending portion 21 b and a first rear bending portion 21 c, towards the clamp opening SP whereas the second frame 22 can form two separate bending portions, a second front bending portion 22 b and a second rear bending portion 22 c, towards the clamp opening SP. The first front bending portion 21 b corresponds to the second front bending portion 22 b, in which both bending portions cooperatively define a front compressive structure ST1. The first rear bending portion 21 c corresponds to the second rear bending portion 22 c, in which both bending portions cooperatively define a rear compressive structure ST2. The clamping frame 20 have two compressive structures that inwardly clamp toward the clamp opening SP, specifically, the front compressive structure ST1 and the rear compressive structure ST2 can cooperatively provide enhanced clamping. The first frame 21 and second frame 22 in FIG. 3 also resemble mirror images of one another. The front compressive structure ST1 that is defined between the first front bending portion 21 b and the second front bending portion 22 b as well as the rear compressive structure ST2 that is defined between the first rear bending portion 21 c and the second rear bending portion 22 c cooperatively define three teardrop shaped clamp openings (SP1, SP2, and SP3) in the clamping opening SP, but the shapes of the clamp openings (SP1, SP2, and SP3) are not limited to a teardrop. Please refer to FIG. 3D. The curvature of both the first front bending portion 21 b′ and the second front bending portion 22 b′, as both bending portions are leaning towards the clamp opening SP, is larger than that of the first front bending portion 21 b and the second front bending portion 22 b in FIG. 3C. Also, the curvature of both the first rear bending portion 21 c′ and the second rear bending portion 22 c′, as both bending portions are leaning towards the clamp opening SP, is larger than that of the first rear bending portion 21 c and the second rear bending portion 22 c in FIG. 3C. As a result, the front compressing structure ST1′ and the rear compressing structure ST2′ can cooperatively define three annularly shaped clamp openings (SP1′, SP2′, SP3′) in the clamp opening SP.
Please refer to FIG. 3A. The closed structure 20 a of the clamping frame 20 can also resemble a teardrop shape, so that the clamp opening SP also resembles a teardrop shape conforming to the shape of the closed structure 20 a. Also in FIG. 3B, the closed structure 20 a of the clamping frame 20 is substantially ring shaped, so that the clamp opening SP has an annular shape. Moreover, the first and second frames 21, 22 of the clamping frame as shown in FIG. 3E can also bend in directions other than towards the clamp opening SP. As the first and second frames 21, 22 are fixed by the fixing portion 23, the longitudinal side of the closed structure 20 a is longer than the narrow side, so that the closed structure 20 a and the clamp opening SP substantially resemble the shape of a long and narrowed oval. As shown in FIG. 3E, inner peripheral portions 24 of the close structure 20 a can also have a plurality of teeth 241 arranged thereon to provide clamping and grip to the desired object. The instant embodiment can clamp the preferred brush unit BR (as shown in FIG. 2B) and provide easy replacement and cleaning.
Please refer to FIGS. 1A to 1C. The inner peripheral portions 24 of the clamping frame 20 can also have a plurality of teeth 241. As the clamping frame 20 forms the closed structure 20 a, the teeth 241 and the compressing structure ST can further cooperatively secure and clamp the preferred objects such the brush unit BR in FIGS. 2A and 2B to supplement the clamping frame 20 and further enhance the clamping function of the instant disclosure. The teeth 241 can also be applied to other embodiments of the instant disclosure as shown in most figures.
In summary, the brushware structure of the instant disclosure provides a clamping frame 20 that can be flexibly modified between the open structure 20 a and the closed structure 20 b via the use of the first frame 21 and the second frame 22. As such, the brush unit BR can be clamped and the conventional problem, such as undesired coupling between the brush head and the brush handle, and the inconvenience of cleaning the filth stuck between the slits of the coupling structure, can be resolved. All of above provides durability, environmental friendliness, and preferred hygiene.
The figures and descriptions supra set forth illustrate the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alterations, combinations or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A brushware structure detachably coupled to a brush unit, comprising:

a handle having a body and a front end arranged to an end of the body; and

a clamping frame including a first frame and a second frame, the first frame having two opposite ends, a base end connected to the front end and a terminal end, the second frame having two opposite ends, a pivotable end and a detachable end;

wherein the pivotable end is pivotably engaged to the terminal end, such that the detachable end of the second frame is selectively configured in or out of an assembled position;

wherein when the detachable end is in the assembled position, the detachable end can be detachably coupled to the base end via an engageable fixing end, such that the clamping frame forms a closed structure and defines a clamp opening in the closed structure as the brush unit is clamped in the clamp opening;

wherein when the engageable fixing end is detached, the detachable end is detached from the base end and the second frame removes the detachable end from the assembled position in a pivotal manner, such that the clamping frame forms an open structure and the brush unit is removed from the brushware structure.

2. The brushware structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivotable end is pivotally coupled to the terminal end through a pivotable portion.

3. The brushware structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the closed structure is annularly shaped and the clamp opening has a shape corresponding to the close structure.

4. The brushware structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the closed structure is teardrop shaped and the clamp opening has a shape corresponding to the close structure.

5. The brushware structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the clamping frame has a plurality of teeth arranged on an inner peripheral portion thereof.

6. The brushware structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the first frame bends towards the clamp opening to form a first bending portion, the second frame bends towards the clamp opening to form a second bending portion, the first bending portion and the second bending portion cooperatively define a compressing structure.

7. The brushware structure as recited in claim 6, wherein the first bending portion and the second bending portion cooperatively define two teardrop shaped clamp openings.

8. The brushware structure as recited in claim 6, wherein the first bending portion and the second bending portion cooperatively define two annular clamp openings.

9. The brushware structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the first frame bends towards the clamp opening to form a first front bending portion and a first rear bending portion, the second frame bends towards the clamp opening to form a second front bending portion and a second rear bending portion, wherein the first front bending portion corresponds to the second front bending portion to cooperatively a front compressing structure; and wherein the first rear bending portion corresponds to a second rear bending portion to cooperatively define a rear compressing structure.

10. The brushware structure as recited in claim 9, wherein three teardrop shaped clamp openings are cooperatively defined between the first front bending portion, the second front bending portion, the first rear bending portion, and the second rear bending portion.

11. The brushware structure as recited in claim 9, wherein three annularly shaped clamp openings are cooperatively defined between the first front bending portion, the second front bending portion, the first rear bending portion, and the second rear bending portion.

12. The brushware structure as recited in claim 2, wherein the fixing portion further comprising:

an engageable fixing end fixed at the detachable end, and the engageable fixing end having a first fixing portion arranged thereon; and

a binding strap extending from the engageable fixing end and wound around the base end of the first frame, the binding strap having a free end, the free end having a second fixing portion, the binding strap disposed around outer peripheral portions of the base end of the first frame, and the second fixing portion correspondingly fixed to the first fixing portion.

13. The brushware structure as recited in claim 2, wherein the fixing portion further comprising:

an engageable fixing end fixed at the base end of the first frame, and the engageable fixing end having a first fixing portion arranged thereon; and

a binding strap extending from the engageable fixing end and wound around the detachable end, the binding strap having a free end, the free end having a second fixing portion, the binding strap disposed around outer peripheral portions of the detachable end, and the second fixing portion correspondingly fixed to the first fixing portion.