WO2019129818A1

WO2019129818A1 - Toilet brush

Info

Publication number: WO2019129818A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/097036
Authority: WO
Inventors: René GEUER; Christoph Geiberger
Original assignee: Geuer Rene; Christoph Geiberger
Priority date: 2017-12-27
Filing date: 2018-12-27
Publication date: 2019-07-04
Also published as: DE202017006654U1; EP3731711A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a toilet brush (1) with an elongated handle (2) which has a brush head at the use-side end. With respect to hygienic requirements, the toilet brush has a sleeve (5), in which the handle (2) is held in a slidable manner such that the brush head (3) is received within the sleeve (5) in a storage position and protrudes out of the sleeve (5) in a use position, and the toilet brush is provided with a closure (6) at the end proximal to the brush head (3).

Description

toilet brush

The present invention relates to a toilet brush with an elongated handle style, which carries a brush head at its use-side end.

Such toilet brushes are well known. Toilet brushes of this type are usually stored in a holder, which is designed as a pot, in which the toilet brush is set when not in use. The brush head and the pot holding the brush head are usually dimensioned so that the pot carries the toilet brush in a substantially upright posture. Liquid adhering to the brush head after use accumulates in the pot. When using the toilet brush again, this liquid is dragged along and drips on the way to the toilet bowl on the floor or on the toilet seat.

In another embodiment, the toilet brush is suspended when not in use in a holding device, which is provided below the brush head with a collecting tray in which drips the adhering to the brush head after use liquid. Thus, when the toilet brush is used again, it is usually possible to prevent the liquid from dripping off the brush on the way to the toilet bowl. However, after using the toilet brush and en route to the fixture, the problem still exists.

The present invention has for its object to provide a toilet brush, which allows improved use and in particular meets the hygienic requirements of the user.

To solve this problem, a toilet brush with the features of claim 1 is proposed in the present invention. The toilet brush has a sleeve in which the grip style is held in a sliding manner. The handle style can be accommodated in a storage position within the sleeve. In this storage position, the brush head is inside the sleeve. In particular, in the storage position, the brush head is surrounded substantially circumferentially by the sleeve.

Furthermore, the sleeve is matched to the handle style that the brush head projects beyond the sleeve in a position of use. In the use position of the brush head, which usually has filaments or other cleaning elements for acting in the toilet bowl, be brought into contact with the toilet bowl to brush the toilet bowl. According to the present invention, the sleeve is further associated with a closure by which the brush head near the end of the sleeve can be closed. The closure is usually designed in such a way that liquid which adheres to the brush head, in particular after use of the toilet brush, does not fall onto the toilet seat or the floor, but is caught by the closure. The closure does not necessarily have to be completely fluid-tight. However, it is usually designed in such a way that liquid initially dripping off the brush is stopped and, if appropriate, released from the toilet brush only after a delay.

Because of these features, the toilet brush according to the invention is superior to the previously known solutions. In particular, it is prevented that the liquid, which in any case is perceived by the user as unclean and adhering to the toilet brush, drips uncontrollably from the toilet brush during use of the brush.

The closure is usually a mechanical closure. This can be placed on the sleeve, for example, in the form of a closure cap or the like, for example, after which the handle style has been returned to the storage position. However, the closure can not only be applied to the end of a dog, but can also be closed by hand as a separate act, analogous to the intended compulsory control, just without this compulsory control. Accordingly, the opening and closing of the flaps can also be provided as a separate action that the user himself must make before or after the use of the brush.

In view of a simplified handling of the toilet brush according to the invention, however, solutions are preferred in which the actuations of the closure are positively coupled with the axial displacement of the handle style relative to the sleeve to the handle style of the storage position in the projecting beyond the sleeve use position spend. Thus, a longitudinal displacement of the grip style should inevitably lead to the opening or closing of the closure.

A predetermined axial displacement can be created, for example, by threading the sleeve with the grip style. A relative rotation of the sleeve and handle style accordingly leads to an axial displacement of the handle style from the storage position to the use position. By the rotationally applied rotational movement and the closing or opening of the shutter can be controlled. Thus, for example, a slipping clutch can be provided which is initially effective in order, for example, to move from the storage position to the operating position during an initial movement of the grip style. Position to open the closure and slipping when the shutter is open at maximum. In this condition, the brush head may be urged past the closure out of the sleeve. In a rotational movement in the opposite direction, the coupling must be designed so that first the brush head is returned to the storage position before the shutter closes positively controlled due to the rotational movement again. The previously mentioned slip clutch is only one possibility of the concrete design of such a forced control of axial feed and closure movement of the closure. Each transmission is conceivable, such as a transmission which controls controlled by each of the axial position of the handle style and in particular the brush head opening or closing or keeping open and closed keeping the shutter. For this purpose, a positive guide can be provided on the outside of the grip style, which cooperates with one or more push buttons, which are part of the transmission and / or act directly on the opening or closing of the closure. For such a mechanism, it is not necessary for the sleeve to be threadingly engaged with the handle style.

The closure may preferably be formed by a diaphragm which, like a diaphragm in a camera, comprises radially displaceable diaphragm elements. In the open position, the diaphragm elements are so far apart that the brush head can slide through the closure without contact. In the storage position, the aperture is usually completely closed.

However, the closure can also be formed by a flap or the like, which is provided pivotably at the end of the sleeve assigned to the brush head. This closure does not necessarily have to be provided directly on the end of the sleeve. Rather, the closure may also leave a certain gap between itself and the front end of the sleeve.

A sleeve in the context of the present invention is any elongated hollow body. In this case, a cylindrical hollow body is preferred, which does not necessarily have to have a rotationally symmetrical circular cross-sectional area. It is also possible to design cylinders with a polygonal or oval cross-sectional area as a sleeve in the sense of the present invention.

With regard to the simplest possible embodiment of the present invention, the handle style in the storage position dominates the other end of the sleeve. In the use position of the brush head protrudes beyond the provided adjacent to the brush head end of the sleeve. Also in this position, the handle style end can protrude beyond the sleeve, so that the handle style in each position of use of the toilet brush on the brush head opposite end can be grasped and operated. In this case, a stop can be provided between the sleeve and the handle style, which prevents too deep penetration of the grip style into the sleeve in the direction of the brush head. This stop can be formed for example by a part of a suspension device, which is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention at the other end of the handle style, ie at the brush head opposite the end of the grip style. About the suspension device, it is possible to store the Toi letten brush hanging.

In view of this, a toilet brush set is claimed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which has a toilet brush according to one of the preceding claims. In addition, the set comprises a holder adapted to interact with the suspension device of the toilet brush. Finally, the toilet brush set includes a drip tray, which can be mounted below the toilet brush to catch any dripping liquid. The holder can be attached to the wall, for example. It can be provided in a structural unit with the drip tray, so that the drip tray and the holder can be fastened to the wall. Alternatively, the holder and the drip tray can also be provided as a structural unit in a housing, which can be provided with a flat footprint for self-standing on the floor.

The sleeve and / or the handle style may be formed of metal, in particular stainless steel or a chrome-plated steel. In particular, a value configuration is preferred. The brush head may have filaments or other cleaning elements coated with nanoparticles to utilize a lotus effect. So that the best possible care is taken that dirt and drops fall off the brush head.

It goes without saying that the brush head may be releasably connected to the handle style, for example via threaded engagement, to replace a spent brush head with a fresh brush head. For this purpose, the present invention proposes a triggering device, with which the brush head can be replaced without contact. The tripping device has a release button provided at the upper end of the handle. This usually interacts via a direct mechanical coupling with a connecting element, which holds the brush head detachably at the opposite end of the handle. By pressing the release button, this connection is released, so that the brush head can be removed. The connection is usually designed in such a way that the brush head slides away from the handle when the handle is directed downwards, so that it emerges without contact. far away. A new brush head can be dog-tied to the connector.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1: a sectional side view of the embodiment of a toilet brush;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a second embodiment of a toilet brush; FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2; FIG.

4 shows the lower region of the toilet brush according to FIG. 3 in an enlarged view; 5 shows a view according to FIG. 3 when the brush is pushed out of its head;

6 shows illustrations according to FIGS. 3 and 5 after the brush head has been completely pushed out;

7 shows a side view for the use position shown in section in FIG. 6;

8 shows a representation according to FIG. 4 when the brush head is pushed on and

9 shows an illustration according to FIGS. 4 and 8 after the opening of a closure of the sleeve.

The Toi letten brush indicated by reference numeral 1 has a handle style 2, which is provided at the one end of use with a brush head 3. The other end has a suspension device 4 in the form of a trapezoidal eyelet. This other end of the grip style 2 projects beyond a marked with reference numeral 5 sleeve. In the storage position shown, the brush head 3 is located within the sleeve 5. A use-side end of the sleeve 5 is provided with a shutter 6 as a closure. In the storage position shown, the diaphragm 6 is closed. The handle style 2 and the sleeve 5 are in threaded engagement. By relative rotation of the two according to the direction arrow P, the handle style 2 is axially displaced relative to the sleeve. It moves in the direction of the closure 6. This closure 6 can be opened in a doglike or positively coupled manner with the relative movement of the handle 2 and the sleeve 5. So the brush 3 are pushed out of the sleeve to brush a toilet. After cleaning the toilet bowl, the brush head 3 is spent by axial displacement of the grip style 2 relative to the sleeve 5 in the sleeve 5 back. The aperture 6 is closed. Now, the toilet brush 1 can be removed from the toilet bowl without having to worry that drips attached to the brush head 3 adhering liquid and the toilet bowl or - glasses or the toilet bowl surrounding soil contaminated.

Figures 2 to 7 show an alternative embodiment. Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals compared to the previous exemplary embodiment.

The handle style 2 is provided at its use-side end with an ergonomically shaped thickening, which is shown only schematically and identified by reference numeral 7.

At the other end of the handle style 2 is the sleeve 5, which forms a cylindrical handle style 2 closely surrounding guide portion 8 and a receiving portion 9, which adjoins thereto. The two sections 8, 9 are each rotationally symmetrical. The central longitudinal axis of the Griffstiles 2 forms the symmetry axis.

In the sleeve 5, an actuating element 10 is slidably held, which comprises a fixing section 11 and an actuating portion 12. The actuating element 10 is preferably made of plastic and integrally formed. The same applies to the sleeve 5. The fixing portion 11 surrounds the handle style 2 with a small clearance. The fixing portion 11 is substantially cylindrical, individual cylinder segments being separated from one another by longitudinal slots. At the free upper end of the fixing section 1 1, an inner projection 13 interrupts interruptedly through the longitudinal slots, which can be brought into engagement with a groove recessed circumferentially on the handle style 2 in order to fix the actuating element 10 positively and detachably in relation to the handle style 2. This storage position is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

In this storage position, the brush head 3 is located within the receiving portion 9 and is surrounded by the actuating portion 12, which is also cylindrically shaped and extends between the brush head 3 and the inner circumferential surface of the receiving portion 9.

The actuating portion 12 has at its free, the flaps 14 facing end face a front side contour 15 which on the contour of the flaps 14 also during their opening movement is fit. Because to open the flaps 14, the front side contour 15 acts against the inner surfaces of the flaps 14 and presses the flaps 14.

The flaps 14 are pivotably mounted via an inner part 16, which is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the receiving section 9 and is held in a rotationally secure manner via corresponding form-locking elements on the inner part 6 and the receiving section 9 in the correct orientation. The inner part 16 forms for the pivotable mounting of the flap 14 joints, on which the flaps 14 are articulated and fixed.

In addition, the inner part 16 is magnetized. It can be completely magnetized or be provided with discrete magnetic stripes. Alternatively, other magnets may be provided, e.g. very small and inconspicuous neodymium magnets. The flaps 14 also have magnets or are magnetized, the flaps 14 attracting each other in the storage positions shown in FIG. The magnets are preferably designed such that the flaps 14 overlap one another. The flaps 14 may be provided at their free end facing each other with a retaining channel or the like, so that even with approximately horizontal orientation of the flaps 14 in the storage position no liquid dripping from the brush head 3 can pass through the flaps 14 to the outside. In addition, the flaps 14 may be resiliently biased towards the storage positions, such that upon release of a force urging the flaps 14 into an open position, the flaps will inevitably be fully or partially retracted back to the closed position shown in FIG is shown.

The opening and closing of the flaps 14 takes place when the end face contour 15 of the actuating portion 12 abuts on the flaps 14.

To open the handle style 2 is urged in the direction of the sleeve 5, that is shifted longitudinally in the sleeve 5. The handle style 2 initially takes the actuator 10 with, since this is held positively over the inner projections 13 in the circumferential groove. The corresponding form-fitting connection is secured by the inner peripheral surface of the guide section 8. In other words, the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the guide portion 8 and the outer peripheral surface of the fixing portion 10 is so dimensioned that, at least, within the guide portion 8, the individual segments of the fixing portion 11 can not flex radially outward, so that the inner projection 13 is positively held positively in each case in the circumferential groove. Thus, the actuating element 10 is initially taken when the handle style 2 advances in the direction of the sleeve 5. The front side contour 15 then lies against the flaps 14 and abuts them. From a certain opening angle of the flaps 14, they are pivoted completely by the magnetization of the inner part 16. Initially, this movement can be triggered solely by the actuating element 10 or supported by it later. The closing of the flaps can be promoted by spring force or - as in the exemplary embodiment - by the repelling effect of magnets. In the embodiment, this effect is used, and so push the flaps 14 against the repulsive forces of the magnets mounted opposite pole in the open position. This causes the flaps 14 to close by the repulsive forces when the opening part 10 slides away.

FIG. 9 corresponds to a position of the grip style 2 together with the actuating element 10 after the flaps 14 have been completely opened. It can be seen that the fastening section 11 has been brought out axially from the guide section 8 (see FIG. Thus, the inner projections 13 are no longer forced into the circumferential groove. Since the actuating element 10 abuts against the inner part 16, the movement of the actuating element 10 is hindered, so that the segments of the fixing section 1 1 despite radial inner bias from the peripheral surface of the grip style 2 solve. For this purpose, the inner projections 13 on the segments and the circumferential annular groove of the grip style 2 have an adapted contour, which facilitates the sliding out of the inner projections 13 from the circumferential groove. The free ends of the fixing sections can be designed so that upon retraction of the Griffstiles 2 the Festlegungsabschnitte 11 are urged radially inwards, by the contour of the sleeve 5, so that the inner projections 13 when passing the circumferential groove in this einfedern. Significant to the functioning of the embodiment is the reversible positive connection between the actuator 10 and the handle style. 2

In any case, after the flaps 14 have been completely opened, the actuating element 10 remains essentially within the receiving section 9. The flaps 14 are dimensioned so that they are located inside the sleeve 5 even in their open position, so that an aesthetically pleasing impression is produced (FIG. see Figures 5, 6, 7).

Upon further advancement of the Griffstiles 2, the brush head 3 is increasingly pushed out of the sleeve 5 until it protrudes at a large distance from the sleeve 5 (see Figures 6, 7). Now, the brush head 3 can be used in a known manner to clean a toilet bowl.

After completion of this activity, the grip style 2 is withdrawn. Here, the segments of the fixing portion 11 rub against the outer peripheral surface of the grip style 2, so that the actuator 10 is taken with the handle style 2. The actuator 10 abuts against the transition of the guide portion 8 and receiving portion 9 of the sleeve 5 and can only be moved further in the direction of the guide portion 8 upward when the segments of the fixing portion 11 with its inner projections 13 in the circumferential groove of the grip style 2 added are. After reaching this releasably positive connection, the actuating element 10 is forcibly moved with the handle style 2. The storage position is reached when the flaps 14 are closed (compare Figures 2, 3 and 4). In the storage position, the brush head 3 abuts with its upper end against the transition between the fixing portion 11 and the operating portion 12 of the Betätigungselemen- tes 10 and / or this transition of the actuating member abuts against the upper end of the receiving portion. 9

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 17 designates a sliding ring which can be provided at the upper free end of the guide section 8 in order to guide the grip style 2 with little play. With this development, the solidity of the leadership of the brush head 3 when pushing out of the sleeve 5 is improved. The sliding ring 17 is fixed to the sleeve 5, preferably glued therein.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

toilet brush

grip style

brush head

suspension

shell

shutter

thickening

guide section

receiving portion

10 actuator

1 1 fixing section

12 operating section

13 inside lead

14 flaps

15 frontal contour

16 inner part

17 sliding ring

P directional arrow

Claims

claims

1. toilet brush (1) with an elongated handle style (2) which carries at its end of use a brush head, characterized by a sleeve (5) in which the handle style (2) is slidably held in such a way that the brush head (3 ) is received in a storage position within the sleeve (5) and in a use position, the sleeve (5) projects beyond, and at its the brush head (3) near end with a closure (6) is provided.

2. Toilet brush according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (5) with the handle style (2) is in threaded engagement.

3. Toilet brush according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closure (6) comprises a diaphragm provided with radially displaceable diaphragm elements.

4. Toilet brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle style (2) in the storage position with its other end, the sleeve (5) surmounted.

5. Toilet brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle style (2) has at its other end a suspension device (4).

6. Toilet brush according to one of the preceding claims characterized by a Betigungs- tigungselement (10) which is detachably on the handle style (2) can be fixed and slidably provided in a receiving portion (9) of the sleeve (5) for the brush head (3) is and thus with the handle style (2) cooperates, that at a the brush head (3) from the sleeve (5) urging movement of the handle style (2) first the actuating element (10) together with the handle style (2) is moved and after Opening of the retaining section (9) closing flaps (14) by the actuating element (10) fixed forcibly released and further insertion of the Griffstiles (2) in the sleeve (5) of the brush head (3) from the receiving portion (9) is forced out.

7. toilet brush according to claim 6, characterized in that the actuating element (10) after releasing the determination on the handle style (2) rubbing with the handle style (2) cooperates.

8. toilet brush according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the fixing section (1 1) under elastic bias against the handle style (2) is applied.

9. Toilet brush according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that an open position of the flaps (14) and / or the closing of the flaps (14) are supported by magnetic forces.

10. Toilet brush according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the flaps (14) are held on the flaps (14) fixed magnets in a closed position.

1 1. Toilet brush according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, a triggering device with a provided at the upper end of the handle handle release button and a connecting element to releasably attach the brush to the handle handle.

12. toilet brush set with a toilet brush according to one of the preceding claims, a holder adapted to cooperate with the suspension device (4), and a collecting tray.