WO2006079817A1

WO2006079817A1 - Brush head

Info

Publication number: WO2006079817A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/000269
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Andrew Wilkes
Original assignee: Vale Brothers Limited
Priority date: 2005-01-28
Filing date: 2006-01-27
Publication date: 2006-08-03
Also published as: GB0501811D0; EP1860975A1

Abstract

A grooming-brush (100) head comprising at least a first portion (102) and a second portion (104), which first portion is connected to the second portion by a flexible joint (108), and whereby the brush head (100) is arranged to be held in the users hand such that at least one of the first (101) and second portions (104) is arranged to be adjacent, in use, to a user's fingers or palm of his/her hand.

Description

BRUSH HEAD

The present invention relates to brush heads suitable for use as part of a pet grooming-brush, a broom, a household brush, an equine brush and the like.

The design of a standard grooming-brush or of a broom is simple and has changed little over history. Both typically comprise a rigid brush head with embedded bristles which, in the case of a broom is attached to a shaft and, in the case of some types of grooming-brush may have a strap through which a user inserts their hand. Some grooming-brushes comprise flexible heads formed of, for example, rubber or leather, but leather brushes tend to be more expensive to manufacture than the rigid brushes and rubber brushes may be less appealing to a user. Little improvement has been suggested to the design of a broom, other than varying the angle of the bristles.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a brush head comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, which first portion is connected to the second portion by a flexible joint.

This is advantageous as when used as part of a pet, or equine, grooming- brush, the joint will allow the portions to pivot about the joint, allowing the brush head to more closely follow the contours of the pet or equine (for example a horse or domestic animal such as a cat, dog or rabbit) . When used as the head of a broom, the brush head may be better able to sweep into corners and may, for example, be able to brush the lower portion of a wall at the same time as brushing a floor.

The brush head may, for example, be formed of a plastics material and the or each joint may comprise a portion of reduced thickness, providing a flexible portion about which the portions can pivot. The flexible portion may also include holes in the material, which is advantageous to increase the flexibility of the joint, and further to reduce the amount of material required to make the head and reduce the weight of the brush head. The flexible portion may comprise ribs arranged substantially parallel to the pivot line of the joint. This provides extra strength while still allowing the or each joint to be flexible.

Preferably, the brush head is formed as a one-piece moulding. This will result in a brush which is simple and economical to produce when compared to prior art flexible brushes and to alternative embodiments incorporating one or more separate joints.

The brush head may comprise bristles embedded into the head. The bristles may, for example, be stapled, anchored or adhered, such as with glue, into holes drilled or moulded in the head in a manner familiar to the person skilled in the art.

In preferred embodiments, the bristles may be absent in the region of the or each flexible joint. This may allow greater flexibility about the joint as the bristles will not act on one another in the region of the joint when the head pivots about the joint. In such embodiments, the bristles to either side of a joint are preferably angled toward each other. This is advantageous as the ends of the bristles will therefore define a continuous sweeping area. If the bristles are instead parallel, the brush head may leave, for example, ungroomed stripes on a horse or unswept regions of a floor.

Further, the bristles on either side of the joint may be offset with respect to each other such that, when the head is bent about the joint to bring the bristles together, the bristles (or clumps of bristles) on either side of the joint will not interact. This allows the joint to fold more freely (although the skilled person will appreciate that brush bristles are often soft and in such embodiments, the joint may move freely even if the bristles are not offset; the bristles will simply bend on contact with each other) .

In a preferred embodiment, the brush head comprises first, second and third portions, with a first flexible joint between the first and second portions and a second flexible joint between the second and third portions. Such an embodiment is versatile and simple for a user to operate. However, the brush may comprise four, five, six, ten, twenty or more portions, or any number in between. More portions may make the brush more versatile as it will fit better to the contours of an irregular surface.

In some embodiments, the brush head may have a substantially closed form, each portion being connected to two others at a flexible joint. Such an embodiment may be convenient for brushing all sides of an article at once. Such a brush head may have particular application in cleaning an extruded or drawn items during or after their manufacture. Such a brush head could adapt to an item of changing exterior or interior shape along its length.

In some embodiments, the or each flexible joint may be covered by a covering means. This protects the flexible joint and makes the device more aesthetically pleasing. The covering means is preferably formed of a flexible material such as rubber, thermopolyethylene, or the like.

In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to arrange the flexible joint to preferentially bend in one direction rather than the other direction. For example, in some embodiments, it may be more appropriate that bristles bend towards each other (for example for brushing around several sides of a relatively narrow object) . In other embodiments, it may be convenient for the bristles to preferentially bend away from each other (for example in brushing a portion of a floor and a wall in one stroke) .

Preferably, the flexible joints are arranged to be resilient such that the portions of the brush head assume a substantially aligned arrangement in the absence of pressure applied by a user. This prevents the brush head from folding into a position in which it is not immediately usable.

Advantageously, the brush head may comprise a fixing means for fixing a strap, handle, or the like thereto. Affixing a strap, handle or the like makes the brush easier to use as a grooming-brush.

The brush head may be arranged to be held in or on a user's hand such that a user can apply different amounts of pressure to the head with different parts of their hand. The flexible joints therefore allow a different amount of pressure to be conveyed across the brush head to an item being brushed. In such embodiments it may be convenient to have a strap to facilitate for single handed brushing.

In embodiments where the brush head is arranged to be held by a user, the brush head may advantageously further comprise friction pads which may be engaged by a user's fingers, the heel of the hand and/or other areas of the hand. This is convenient as the user's hand is less likely to slip and therefore the user can more accurately apply pressure to the brush head. In hand-held embodiments, the brush head may alternatively or additionally comprise a peripheral rubber grip. This may be engaged by a user's fingers and help prevent the brush head from slipping from the user's hand. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided brush comprising a brush head in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in conjunction with bristles and optionally a handle.

In one embodiment, the handle comprises a strap arranged on one side of the brush head, the bristles being arranged on the other side of the brush head and arranged to hold the brush head to a user's hand. This may makes the brush easier to manipulate.

In preferred embodiments, the brush comprises a strap adjustment means arranged to allow the length of the strap to be adjusted. This is advantageous as it allows a user to adjust the strap to suit the size of their hand.

In alternative embodiments, the handle may comprise a shaft arranged to allow the brush to be used as a broom or a handle arranged to allow the brush to be used as a hearth brush.

The second aspect of the invention may incorporate aspects of the first aspect of the invention and vice versa.

Some embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:

Figure 1 shows a brush head according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a two-part component for addition to the brush head of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a brush head including the component of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a pet grooming-brush comprising the brush head of Figure 3 ; and

Figure 5 shows a broom according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Shown in Figure 1 is a component of a brush head 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The brush head 100 of this example comprises a one-piece polypropylene moulding forming a substantially oval tablet and separated into transverse portions comprising first 102, second 104 and third 106 portions, wherein the first portion 102 is joined to the second portion by a first flexible joint 108 and the second portion 104 is joined to the third portion 106 by a second flexible joint 110.

In this embodiment, the first portion 102 is a mirror image of the third portion 106, both being shaped to form the ends of the oval of the brush head 100 and further profiled so as receive a component described below with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

The second portion 104 comprises a central section of the oval and incorporates a fixing means provided by a fixing slot 112 for receiving the first end of a strap or handle and a strap adjustment means 114, comprising first and second slots. The fixing means is described in greater detail with reference to Figure 4 below.

The first 108 and second 110 flexible joints comprise generally thinner portions of material (in this case plastics material) (when considering the depth of the oval tablet as compared to the dimensions of its oval faces) , which define a flexible portion about which the brush head 100 is bendable along a line across the width of the oval. The flexible joints 108, 110 are substantially mirror images of each other and each comprises three strengthening ribs 116 running substantially parallel to the fold line the ribs 116 being spaced apart so as to allow the brush head to fold. The joints 108, 110 further comprise holes 118 formed therein to allow greater flexibility in the region of the holes. Varying the dimensions of the holes 118 allows the flexibility of the joints 108, 110 to be tailored.

Figure 2 shows two thermopolyethylene (TPE) rubber grips 202, 204 which may be attached to the head 100. The skilled person will appreciate that the provision of such grips 202, 204 is not essential to the invention but provides some advantages as discussed below.

The grips 202, 204 substantially comprise mirror images of each other, each comprising an arcuate portion 206 arranged to fit around the ends of the oval tablet forming the head 100. The arcuate portion 206 is arranged to cover the external perimeter of the first 102 or third 106 portions of the head 100. The grips 202, 204 also each comprise a covering portion 208, arranged to cover the first 108 or second 110 joints and incorporating undulations which cooperate with the ribs 116 of the head. The grips further incorporate friction pads 208, the purpose of which is described below.

Figure 3 shows the components of Figures 1 and 2 assembled together. The arcuate portion 206 covers the outer perimeter of the first 102 and third 106 portions of the head 100 and the covering portion 208 covers the joints 108, 110. The friction pads 210 are arranged on one side of the first 102 and third 106 portions respectively, in a region of the ends of the head 100. The purpose of these friction pads 210 is that, when the head is held in a person's hand, the fingers and the heel of the hand contact the friction pads 208 and facilitate the manipulation of the head 100. As his or her hand is less likely to slip, the user will be better able to apply the correct amount of pressure to the object or animal being brushed and also to produce the desired degree of articulation in one or both hinges 108, 110. Further, the symmetry of the components means that the head 100 may be used by either hand and may be used with a user's fingers placed on the first portion 102 or the third portion 106.

Figure 4 shows a brush 400 incorporating the brush head 100 shown in Figure 1 assembled as shown in Figure 3, which brush may be particularly suited as a grooming-brush and is therefore described in relation to a brush for grooming horses or other equines. The brush 400 further comprises bristles, which in this example are horsehair bristles 404 embedded in one face of head 100. In this example, and in a manner familiar to the person skilled in the art, holes (not shown) are drilled (or otherwise provided - such as by moulding) in the surface of the head 100 and clumps of bristles 402 are stapled into the holes. The holes drilled in the head 100 in a region of the hinges 108, 110 are drilled at an angle such that the bristles 402 inserted therein are angled towards each other, over the joints 108, 110.

The brush 400 further comprises a strap 404. The strap 404 comprises a canvas strip which, during manufacture of the brush 400, has been passed through the fixing slot 112 in a direction away from the bristles 402 and fixed to the fixing slot 112. The strap 404 passes over the back of the head 100 (i.e. the opposite face to the face on which the bristles are arranged) , down through the first slot of the strap adjustment means 114 and up through the second slot. The end of the strap is then finished by being folded back on itself to form a widened portion 406 which is too wide to pass back through the strap adjustment means 114. The strap 404 is held in frictional engagement by the strap adjustment means 114 but may be fed through the slots by a user to adjust the amount of the strap 404 between the fixing slot 112 and the strap adjustment means 114 to enable the brush 400 to be fitted securely to a particular user's hand.

In other embodiments the strap 404 may be stapled, or otherwise adhered, to the brush 400.

In use of the brush 400, a user places his or her hand between the strap 404 and the back of the head 400. If necessary, the strap 400 can be adjusted as described above to ensure the user's hand is held securely to the brush 400. In this position, the user's fingers and the heel of his or her hand contact the friction pads 208 and in addition their fingers may further curve over one of the arcuate portions 204, in this example, the arcuate portion 208 on the first portion 102 of the head 100. The arcuate portions 208 may therefore add to the comfort and to the ease of use of the brush 400 as well as helping to secure the user's grip on the brush 400.

The user may then proceed, in this example, to brush a horse as follows. When brushing a relatively flat area of the horse, for example a flank, the user applies roughly equal pressure over his or her whole hand. To brush, for example, over the horse's spine, the user may apply greater pressure with their fingers, bending the first joint 108, which lies between the first portion 102 and the second portion 104. To brush the legs of the horse, the user can form their hand into a cup shape, bending both the first 108 and second 110 joints and allowing the bristles 402 to contact the leg on several sides.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which a brush head 100' forms part of a broom 500. The brush head 100' has many features in common with the first embodiment described in relation to Figures 1 to 4 above. Like parts are labelled with like reference numerals and are not discussed in detail below.

As the brush head 100' of this embodiment is not intended to contact a user's hand, there is no need for friction pads, straps and the like. The brush head 100' comprises a fixing means in the form of a shaft anchor point 502 affixed to the second portion 104 of the head 100' , which comprises a hollow cylinder with an internal screw thread. A cylindrical shaft 504 with a screw thread about one end is screwed into the anchor point 502.

In use, a user takes hold of the shaft 504 and uses it to push the bristles 402 of the broom 500 over a surface. When, for example, sweeping the edges or the corner or a room, the user can push either the first 102 or third 106 portions against the base of a wall, causing the first 108 or second 110 hinge to bend such that a portion of the bristles (for example those attached to the first 102 and second 104 portions) contact the floor while a further portion of the bristles 402 (for example those attached to the third portion 106) brush against the base of the wall.

Alternative embodiments exist which do not depart from the scope of the invention. For example, the brush may comprise an integral handle and/or may comprise a handle attached to one end of the brush head (for example like a hearth brush) . The brush head may have other shapes rather than the oval shape described above. It could for example be circular or square. In some embodiments, the brush head may be closed to form a roughly triangular, square, annular or other shape. In such embodiments, the bristles may face towards the inside of the closed form. They may also be angled to face out of one of both faces. Alternatively, in embodiments of the brush for cleaning the interior of an item, the bristles may face outwards of the closed form.

Claims

1. A grooming-brush head comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, which first portion is connected to the second portion by a flexible joint, and whereby the brush head is arranged to be held in the users hand such that at least one of the first and second portions is arranged to be adjacent, in use, to a user's fingers or palm of his/her hand.

2. A brush head according to claim 1 arranged to be used in grooming horses or other equines.

3. A brush head according to claim 1 or 2 which comprises a third portion linked to the second portion by a second flexible joints.

4. A brush head according to claim any preceding claim in which the or each joint is formed of a plastics material.

5. A brush head according to any preceding claim in which the or each joint comprises a portion of reduced thickness arranged to provide a flexible portion.

6. A brush head according to claim 5 in which the flexible portion include holes in the material from which the joint is fabricated.

7. A brush head according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the flexible portion comprises ribs arranged substantially parallel to the pivot line of the joint.

8. A brush head according to any preceding claim in which the or each portion and the at least one flexible joint are formed as one-piece, generally as a moulding.

9. A brush head according to any preceding claim which comprises bristles embedded to the head.

10. A brush head according to claim 9 in which the bristles are absent in the region of the or each flexible joint.

11. A brush head according to claim 10 in which the bristles to either side of a joint are angled toward each other.

12. A brush head according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the bristles on either side of the joint are offset with respect to each other such that, when the head is bent about the joint to bring the bristles together, the bristles on either side of the joint will generally not interact.

13. A brush head according to any preceding claim in which the or each flexible joint is covered by a covering means.

14. A brush head according to claim 12 in which the covering means are constructed to be substantially resilient.

15. A brush head according to any preceding claim which is arranged such that the flexible joint preferentially bends in one direction.

16. A brush head according to any preceding claim in which at least one of the or each flexible joint is arranged to be resilient.

17. A brush head according to claim 16 which is arranged such that some or all of the portions of the brush head assume a substantially aligned arrangement in the absence of pressure applied thereto .

18. A brush head according to any preceding claim which comprises a fixing means for fixing a strap or handle thereto.

19. A brush head according to any preceding claim which comprises friction pads which, in use of the device, are engaged by a user's fingers, the heel of the hand and/or other areas of the hand.

20. A brush head according to any preceding claim which further comprises a peripheral rubber grip.

21. A brush comprising a brush head according to any of claims 1 to 20 in conjunction with bristles and a handle.

22. A brush according to claim 21 in which the handle comprises a strap arranged on one side of the brush head and the bristles are arranged on the other side of the brush head, the strap being arranged to hold the brush head to a user's hand.

23. A brush according to claim 22 which comprises a strap adjustment means arranged to allow the length of the strap to be adjusted.

24. A brush according to claim 21 in which the handle comprises a shaft arranged to allow the brush to be used as a broom.

25. A method of grooming comprising using a brush having at least a first portion and a second portion, each comprising a plurality of bristles, which first portion is connected to the second portion by a flexible joint, and whereby the brush is arranged to be held in the user's hand such that the user can bend the brush by flexing his/her hand.

26. A method according to claim 25, which is used in grooming horses or other equines.