WO1999052397A1

WO1999052397A1 - Fluid dispensing brush

Info

Publication number: WO1999052397A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000827
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Atkinson; R. S. Corney
Original assignee: Ian Atkinson; Corney R S
Priority date: 1998-04-15
Filing date: 1999-03-17
Publication date: 1999-10-21
Also published as: GB0024332D0; AU2945699A; GB2351899A; GB9807929D0

Abstract

A brush (30) comprises an elongated fluid reservoir (8) having at one end thereof removable closure means (1) and being open at the other end (10), a brush head (14) having means (13, 13a) for engaging with the open end of the reservoir, means (11, 5) for securing the brush head relative to the reservoir and/or closure means, and actuating means (2, 6, 7) operable to urge the brush head away from the open end of the reservoir so as to dispense fluid from the reservoir over the brush head.

Description

-1- FLUID DISPENSING BRUSH

The present invention relates to a brush, particularly though not exclusively for cleaning a toilet bowl or similar sanitary installation, which incorporates a fluid dispensing mechanism. Brushes for such application generally have an elongated handle at the end of which is provided a brush head of bristles or similar structures.

Various designs have in the past been proposed, whereby fluid (disinfectant, cleaning fluid or the like) is stored inside the brush handle, and a mechanism is provided for forcing the fluid out of the brush head during use.

Existing designs (such as are described in patent specifications Nos EP 0005685 and DE 3104734) rely on one or more holes provided at or close to the lowermost portion of the brush head.

Such designs suffer from the disadvantage that the fluid being dispensed, when the brush is held in its usual, head down orientation, flows directly away from the brush head and does not adequately coat the bristles. This is particularly important where the fluid is disinfectant, as coating the bristles in this way after use keeps the brush in a hygienic condition during storage.

According to the present invention there is provided a brush comprising an elongated fluid reservoir having at one end thereof removable closure means and being open at the other end, a brush head having means for engaging with the open end of the reservoir, means for securing the brush head relative to the reservoir and/or closure means, and actuating means operable to urge the brush head away from the open end of the -2 - reservoir so as to dispense fluid from the reservoir over the brush head.

Preferably, the reservoir is provided in the form of a hollow elongated body, and the closure means preferably comprises a cap having a downwardly projecting short, cylindrical tube portion which fits inside the upper end of the reservoir body when the cap is placed on the reservoir.

Conveniently, the brush head is mounted on a long rod, the free end of which is rigidly secured within the cap. The cap, with the rod end secured therein, is constantly urged away from the upper end of the reservoir body by spring means, such that when not in use there is a fluid tight seal provided between the brush head and the lower, open end of the reservoir body. By compressing the spring means by pushing the cap down towards the reservoir, a small gap is created between the brush head and the lower, open end of the reservoir body, from which the fluid within the reservoir is dispensed.

Thus, because the fluid is dispensed from an annular gap above the brush head, it flows downwardly in a generally even manner over the whole surface of the brush head.

Upon releasing the cap, the spring means urges the gap closed and fluid dispensing stops.

Preferably, the brush head is generally elongate with rounded upper and lower ends, bristles being provided in a staggered arrangement over the surface of the head. Conveniently, the bristles are mounted such that they point downwards, enhancing the even coating of the bristles with the fluid. - 3-

Instead of spring means, there may be provided a resiliently deformable member located in the upper region of the reservoir between the reservoir body and the connecting rod, such that pressing down on the member by pressing down the cap to which the upper end of the rod is attached causes the member to deform whilst the dispensing gap is open, but upon releasing the downwards pressure on the cap the member returns to its original shape, thus closing the gap again.

Such a member may take the form of a resiliently deformable plastic strip, attached at each end to the inner wall of the reservoir, and in the centre to the rod, such that in the not-in-use condition the strip is arched upwardly in the centre.

The reservoir preferably includes at least one plate having holes therein to control the fluid flow.

Preferably, all major components of the brush are manufactured from plastics material (polypropylene or the like) with the exception of the spring which may be stainless steel or similar material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an exploded drawing of the brush according to one embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a drawing of the brush in its assembled form,

Figure 3 is a section on line A-A of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a section on line B-B of Figure 2, - 4 -

Figure 5 illustrates a single set of bristles, and

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 through 5, a brush 30 according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises a hollow, elongate reservoir 8 which may be a simple cylindrical tube or alternatively shaped to give a more pleasing aesthetic effect, within which there is housed brush rod 12.

Brush rod 12 has at affixed to its lowermost end a rounded end brush head 14 with bristles 19 protruding therefrom in a staggered, downward pointing orientation which assists in even coating of the bristles during fluid dispensing. The upper end 13, and more particularly shoulder 13a, of brush head 14 forms a fluid-tight seal with the lower end 10 of reservoir 8 (an optional sealing means such as a gasket 10a or the like may be provided here) .

At the other end of the brush the reservoir 8 is closed by a cap comprising a lid 1 which is removable to allow re-filling of the reservoir 8 with disinfectant fluid, a handle 2 which is shaped (eg spherical) to fit comfortably in the hand, housing 3 for receiving spring 6, holes 4 inside the handle to allow disinfectant to be poured through the handle into the reservoir, and a threaded hole 5 for connection with threaded end 11 of rod 12. Spring 6 is mounted inside the cap, between the upper end of reservoir 8 and the blind end of housing 3. The internal details of handle 2 can be seen more clearly in Figure 3 - tapered supports 16 support the threaded hole 5 (designated 17 in Figure 3) and are surrounded by spring housing 3 (designated 18 in Figure 3) . -5-

To assemble the brush, threaded hole 5 of the handle 2 is tightened onto threaded part 11 of rod 12 which compresses the spring 6 which in turn forces the lower end 10 of the reservoir onto the brush head upper end 13, forming a fluid- tight seal between the reservoir end 10 and the shoulder 13a, either with or without a sealing gasket 10a.

The reservoir 8 has a finger knuckle 7 which helps the user to grip the reservoir when operating the brush. Inside the reservoir there is mounted a plate 9 which has holes 15 therein to control the disinfectant flow to the chamber 9a at the bottom of the reservoir.

To operate the brush (that has previously been filled with disinfectant or other fluid) , the user holds handle 2 in the palm of his hand. Then, by gripping finger knuckle 7 and applying upward pressure, the reservoir 8 separates slightly from brush head 13, thus allowing fluid to be dispensed and dispersed over bristles 19. The size of the gap is controlled by the gap 20 between the handle 2 and the finger knuckle 7.

The amount of disinfectant discharged is controlled by holes 15 in plate 9 (see Figures 1 and 4) which allow disinfectant to flow evenly into chamber 9a, thus preventing excess disinfectant escaping whilst the brush is in use - this chamber will fill up again when the brush is not in use.

Releasing the finger knuckle 7 will cause the seal between gasket 10a and the brush head 13 to re-make, under the restoring action of spring 6.

Referring now to Figure 6, in an alternative embodiment the threaded end 11 of rod 12 is threaded through a central hole in arch-shaped resiliently deformable plastic strip 22 and - 6- into a threaded hole in lid 24, such that there is a gap 23 between the lid 24 and the upper end of reservoir 8. The plastic strip 22 is attached to the reservoir 8 only in two places (eg at opposite sides of the reservoir) which allows the disinfectant to flow past the strip into the reservoir. The normally arched shape of member 22 maintains the previously described seal at the brush end, but by temporarily collapsing the arch by applying pressure to the lid 24 (assisted by the knuckle 7) , the seal is broken and the fluid is dispensed. By releasing the pressure, the strip 22 returns to its arched position, hence re-making the seal. The size of the dispensing gap is determined by the size of the gap 23 between the lid 24 and the upper end of the reservoir 8, as well as by the degree to which the arch- shaped member 22 collapses under pressure.

Claims

- 7-CIAIMS

1. A brush comprising an elongated fluid reservoir having at one end thereof removable closure means and being open at the other end, a brush head having means for engaging with the open end of the reservoir, means for securing the brush head relative to the reservoir and/or closure means, and actuating means operable to urge the brush head away from the open end of the reservoir so as to dispense fluid from the reservoir over the brush head.

2. A brush according to Claim 1 wherein the reservoir is provided in the form of a hollow elongated body, and the closure means preferably comprises a cap having a downwardly projecting short, cylindrical tube portion which fits inside the upper end of the reservoir body when the cap is placed on the reservoir.

3. A brush according to Claim 2, wherein the brush head is mounted on a long rod, the free end of which is rigidly secured within the cap.

4. A brush according to Claim 3, wherein the cap, with the rod end secured therein, is constantly urged away from the upper end of the reservoir body by spring means, such that when not in use there is a fluid tight seal provided between the brush head and the lower, open end of the reservoir body.

5. A brush according to Claim 4, wherein compressing the spring means by pushing the cap down towards the reservoir, a small gap is created between the brush head and the lower, open end of the reservoir body, from which the fluid within the reservoir is dispensed. - 8 -

6. A brush according to Claim 5, wherein upon releasing the cap, the spring means urges the gap closed and fluid dispensing stops.

7. A brush according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the brush head is generally elongate with rounded upper and lower ends, bristles being provided in a staggered arrangement over the surface of the head.

8. A brush according to Claim 7, wherein the bristles are mounted such that they point downwards.

9. A brush according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein instead of spring means, there may be provided a resiliently deformable member located in the upper region of the reservoir between the reservoir body and the connecting rod, such that pressing down on the member by pressing down the cap to which the upper end of the rod is attached causes the member to deform whilst the dispensing gap is open, but upon releasing the downwards pressure on the cap the member returns to its original shape, thus closing the gap again.

10. A brush according to Claim 9, wherein a member may take the form of a resiliently deformable plastic strip, attached at each end to the inner wall of the reservoir, and in the centre to the rod, such that in the not-in-use condition the strip is arched upwardly in the centre.

11. A brush according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the reservoir preferably includes at least one plate having holes therein to control the fluid flow.

12. A brush according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein all major components of the brush are manufactured from plastics material (polypropylene or the like) with the - 9- exception of the spring which may be stainless steel or similar material.

13. A brush according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.