WO2022208059A1

WO2022208059A1 - Improved brush cleaner and brush

Info

Publication number: WO2022208059A1
Application number: PCT/GB2022/050762
Authority: WO
Inventors: Babajide Jimi OGUNYOMI; Oluwatomi Maryann POPOOLA
Original assignee: Ogunyomi Babajide Jimi; Popoola Oluwatomi Maryann
Priority date: 2021-03-30
Filing date: 2022-03-28
Publication date: 2022-10-06
Also published as: GB2605387A; GB202104496D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a brush, e.g. a toilet brush cleaner and associated toilet brush, and methods of use of same. There is provided an apparatus for cleaning a brush comprising a brush holder (10), the brush holder (10) comprising: a container (20) for receiving a brush and holding a fluid; within the container (20), at least one of a spiral track member (70, 170) comprising a (e.g. at least one) spiral track (72, 172) and a (e.g. at least one) follower (52, 152) located in the spiral track; a rotatable fan (80) rotatable with respect to the container and associated with one of the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170) (e.g. mounted on or drivable with rotation of one of the follower and spiral track member); the other of the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170) configured to engage with a brush such that motion (e.g. linear or reciprocal motion) of a brush with respect to the brush holder (10) causes the follower (52, 152) to travel in the spiral track (72, 172) and rotational motion to be imparted to the fan (80). In this way fluid, typically liquid, optionally air, can be rotated about a brush (12) in the container (20). The spiral track member (72, 172) rotates, for example, on a downstroke or an upstroke or on both downstroke and upstroke of the brush (12) to cause the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170) to move with respect to one another and so impart motion to the fan (80).

Description

Improved Brush Cleaner and Brush

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a brush, e.g. a toilet brush cleaner and associated toilet brush, and methods of use of same.

Background

Known toilet brush cleaners include the following:

W02011101883 MASTROMATTEI describes hydraulic means for operating cleaning means e.g. a brush. A hydraulic turbine rotates the cleaning means when a water flow has a pressure sufficient to activate the turbine, the brush rotates its bristles, rubs against bristles of the WC brush, removing impurities. Similarly, DE202008001955U HAGEN describes an automatic toilet brush cleaning system, incoming water driving a paddle wheel, the paddle wheel starts rotating and drives the cleaning process. EP1518488 PAPAZZONI describes a chamber supplied with a jet of water onto a brush which may be turned to be sprayed by water. US5259406 HOFMANN describes a housing with nozzles directed toward the toilet brush to provide a flow of water or air on the brush. In these prior art embodiments, a supply of water is required and also appropriate drainage, both of which are problematic.

DE19807828 VOLZ describes an immersed brush and liquid moved by a rotating part to clean the brush. This requires power. GB2338889 SAYLES describes a washing machine for a toilet bowl cleaner wand that uses motors to turn spindles to which are fastened threads of fibre which clean the wand when rotating. This also requires power.

FR2759569 BLOCK provides bristles to clean the sides and base of a brush when it is inserted. This requires a user to turn the brush on itself which may be difficult to do.

US2020163447 SPITALETTA describes a toilet brush and holder with inter-engaging features to allow separation of the brush handle from the brush head but cleaning is not addressed.

US2010314272 JURGENS describes a cleaning container in which an activation element is moved down against the force of a spring element to activate a spray or to close a container. This provides a cleaning fluid, but nothing more. ES1135557 BALSEIROS describes a toilet brush holder with a spring closed valve activated by manual pressure downwards by a brush to release cleaning fluid.

US2004159330 ANEMONE describes a toilet brush holder with a spring fixed to the base, pressing downwards on the toilet brush causes the brush to press against the spring. The spring may include a toggle switch and may control a lighting device.

US2019125910 ALLANNA describes a powered toilet brush cleaner that uses internal brushes.

DE20205623 WEISHUHN describes a toilet brush with a rotatably mounted and spring- loaded handle head. The bristle carrier is catapulted out of the water by the activated force of the spring in an upward rotary movement of a turned square, guided in a socket to prevent dripping when the brush is removed. Rotation of the brush as this occurs sprays the cleaning liquid, which is undesirable.

Various prior examples of WC toilet brush cleaners require hydraulic or electric power. This is over complex and undesirable e.g. in a bathroom, being dangerous or requiring permanent installation. Various examples require manipulation of the brush itself which can be difficult for some users. Some examples risk spraying cleaning liquid. Some describe merely passively spraying water or disinfectant on the brush. Some merely address activation of switches. An improved brush cleaner which enables rapid, easy and frequent cleaning, and rapid installation, without the need for power, is therefore desirable. Easier discharge of cleaning fluid is also desired. An improved deployment of a brush ready for cleaning e.g. a toilet is also desired. Easy replacement of a brush is also desirable.

The present invention seeks to alleviate one or more of the above problems.

Statements of the Invention In one aspect the invention comprises a brush cleaning apparatus comprising a brush holder, and preferably also a brush, the brush holder comprising a container, with, a conversion mechanism for converting linear and/or reciprocal motion of a brush into rotational motion of a rotatable fan within the container to cause the cleaning fluid (e.g. liquid) at the bottom to spin around the container, so washing the brush.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for cleaning a brush comprising a brush holder (10), the brush holder (10) comprising: a container (20) for receiving a brush and holding a fluid; within the container (20), at least one of a spiral track member (70, 170) comprising a (e.g. at least one) spiral track (72, 172) and a (e.g. at least one) follower (52, 152) located, or locatable, in the spiral track; a rotatable fan (80) rotatable with respect to the container and associated with one of the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170) (e.g. mounted on, or drivable with, rotation of one of the follower and spiral track member); the other of the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170) configured to engage with, or comprising part of, a brush such that motion (e.g. linear or reciprocal motion) of a brush with respect to the brush holder (10) causes the follower (52, 152) to travel in the spiral track (72, 172) and rotational motion to be imparted to the fan (80).

In this way fluid, typically liquid, optionally air, can be rotated about a brush (12) in the container (20). The spiral track member (72, 172) rotates, for example, on a downstroke or an upstroke or on both downstroke and upstroke of the brush (12) to cause the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170) to move with respect to one another and so impart motion to the fan (80).

The apparatus may further comprise: a brush; and further wherein one of the brush (12) and the container (20) comprises the (e.g. at least one) spiral track member (70,170) and the other comprises the (e.g. at least one) follower (52, 152).

This does not preclude providing both cooperating tracks and followers on both the brush and the container, although this may be rather complex to implement.

Preferably, further in which: the brush (12) has a handle (40) and a brush head (50) and at least one of the brush head (50) and the handle (40) comprises at least one follower (52) (e.g. attached to or integral therewith it); and in which the spiral track member (70) is rotatably mounted within the container (20) and the rotatable fan (80) is associated with the spiral track member (80); whereby, in use, the follower (52), (e.g. driven by motion of the brush (12) e.g. in a reciprocal manner) travels in the spiral track (72) of the spiral track member (70,) to drive rotation of the spiral track member and fan.

In this case the follower travels reciprocatively up and down along the spiral track and drives the spiral track to rotate in at least one direction, typically downwards, indeed preferably only downwards as will be explained later, and the spiral track member and associated fan rotate. Various alternative embodiments can be envisaged from the information in this disclosure, for example, the spiral track may be fixedly located to the base of the container and the follower may be associated with a fan. The follower rotates with respect to the container as it travels along the spiral track imparting rotational motion to the fan with respect to the container and so with respect to the fluid within it. In one or more embodiments, the spiral track is intended to refer to a structure somewhat like a screw thread or cork screw that is provided as continuous or quasi-continuous surface feature (sufficiently continuous to facilitate travel along it) on or an internal or external surface, or within a side wall of, of a spiral track member. The spiral track may be provided as a helical track, having at least one contact surface describing a helical path (with tangent lines at a constant angle to a longitudinal axis). The spiral track member, particularly when provided as a shaft, may have a constant average diameter along its length although its diameter may vary to accommodate the spiral track (as a recess and/or raised projection). The spiral track may be formed from a recess winding about a central pillar, or a raised projection winding around a central pillar or a combination of both. The track may be formed from a recess winding within an internal surface of an elongate recess or a raised projection winding within an internal surface of an elongate recess or a combination of both.

Indeed, this disclosure describes a spiral track and follower mechanism but other motion conversion mechanisms for converting rotational to linear motion may be envisaged.

Preferably, the spiral track member (70) comprises a shaft (70) upstanding within the container and the brush (12) comprises a co-operating elongate recess (60) for receiving the shaft (70). Preferably, the brush comprises an handle upper portion (40A) and a handle lower portion (40B), and the brush head (50) is located at a distal end of the handle lower portion (40B), and within the handle lower portion (40B), the elongate recess (60) is provided for receiving the spiral track member (70).

Preferably, the fan is located at or near an internal base of the container.

Preferably, the spiral track member (70) is elongate (e.g. the spiral track extends at least partially along the length of the spiral track member) and upstanding. Preferably, the spiral track member (70) is mounted rotatably within the container (e.g. on a base of a container either directly or indirectly mounted on the internal base of the container).

Preferably, a clutch mechanism is provided so that one of a downstroke and an upstroke of the brush drives the fan to rotate and the other does not. Various ways of providing a clutch can be envisaged including the provision of one or more clutch profiled surfaces.

Preferably, at least one of the at least one spiral track and the at least one follower comprises a clutch profiled surface for engaging the other of the at least one spiral track and at least one follower (e.g. so the rotation is driven by the follower traveling in the spiral track in one direction but not in the other, so the follower engages the spiral in one direction to transmit drive whereas the follower slides over the spiral track in the other direction without imparting drive).

Preferably, at least one clutch profiled surface comprises a profiled cam surface. The follower may comprise a clutch profiled surface for engaging the spiral track and/or the spiral track may comprise a clutch profiled surface for engaging the follower.

Preferably, the clutch profiled surface of the follower comprises a profiled cam surface.

Preferably, the brush head (50) is removable.

Preferably, the brush head (50) comprises one of a recess or projection of a predetermined shape for engaging with the other of a suitably profiled recess or projection of a removal tool.

Preferably, the follower (52) (e.g. nub 52) is located on the brush head (50).

Preferably, the follower is located on the handle lower portion (40B) (e.g. optionally projecting inwardly from the internal recess for receiving the spiral track member). Preferably, the fan comprises at least one blade, optionally, in which the fan has two to eight blades, two to six blades, three to four blades, optionally, where two or more blades are provided these are symmetrically arranged about an axis of rotation, optionally, these are of equal size and shape and orientation.

Preferably, the at least one blade extends generally horizontally within the container during use.

Preferably, the blade or blades of the fan have a wing profile to drive fluid around the container.

Preferably, a tip portion of at least one blade, optionally all blades, extends generally upwards in use.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a lid (30), the lid (30) comprising a (e.g. a generally cylindrical) handle support (32) having a generally cylindrical inner hole configured for receiving the handle (e.g. in telescoping and rotational relationship with the hole).

Preferably, the handle (40) is telescopically mounted within the handle support (32) so as to be retractable within it.

Preferably, the handle is spring loaded within the handle support (32).

Preferably, the container is watertight for containing liquid. It may have a removal plug for sealing the container, the plug located at or near an internal base of the container so as to facilitate draining of fluid when washing out the container.

In a further aspect there is provided a method of cleaning a brush using the apparatus described herein comprising: locating the follower (52, 152) in the spiral track (72, 172); causing the follower (52, 152) to travel in the spiral track (72, 172) to rotate the fan (80); optionally, providing liquid in the container (20). optionally, providing a brush (12) and moving the brush (12) in a reciprocating motion upwards and downwards to cause the follower (52, 152) to travel in the spiral track (72, 172) and impart motion to the fan. In a further aspect there is provided a brush for use in the apparatus as described herein, in which the brush comprises at least one of the spiral track member (70) and the follower (52). Preferably, the brush head (50) comprises one of a recess or projection of a predetermined shape for engaging with the other of a suitably profiled recess or projection of a removal tool.

In a further aspect there is provided a kit comprising an apparatus as described herein, further comprising a brush (12), a removable brush head (50), and a brush removal tool (51) configured to engage with the removable brush head (50) to aid removal and/or replacement. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit comprising a brush head and brush removal tool as described herein, optionally comprising a brush, optionally comprising a brush holder.

Several embodiments of the invention are described and any one or more features of any one or more embodiments may be used in any one or more aspects of the invention as described above.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures. Like reference numerals refer to like features.

Figures 1A and 1B show perspective views of a brush holder e.g. a toilet brush holder with a brush container or tank with, respectively, inwardly curved and straight, here inwardly sloping, side walls.

Figures 2A and 2B show, respectively, side elevation and cross-sectional elevation views of a handle support for the brush holders of Figure 1.

Figures 3A and 3B show perspective views of a toilet brush 12 in, respectively, home and extended positions.

Figures 4A and 4B show, respectively, side elevation and cross-sectional elevation views of a toilet brush 12 in a home position.

Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D show, respectively, a cross-sectional elevation view, a perspective view from below, a perspective view from above and a plan view of a toilet brush head 50. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a brush head removal tool for use with the brush head of Figure 5 in a further aspect of the invention.

Figure 7 A shows an exploded view of the toilet brush of Figures 3 and 4.

Figures 7B and 7C show, respectively, perspective and cross-sectional views along a vertical axis of a lower portion 40B of a brush handle illustrating the location of internal elongate recess 60.

Figure 8A shows a close-up cross-sectional, elevation view of a lower portion of the toilet brush holder of Figure 1A illustrating the location of upstanding shaft 70 and associated fan 80.

Figures 8B and 8C show perspective views of a suitable shaft 70 and fan 80 for use in the mechanism of Figure 8A.

Similar to Figure 8A, Figure 9A shows a close-up cross-sectional elevation view of a lower portion of the toilet brush holder of Figure 1 B illustrating the location of shaft 70 and an alternative fan 80.

Figure 9B shows a perspective view of an alternative fan 80 which may be used in the tank of Figure 8A or 9A or elsewhere.

Figures 10A and 10B show, respectively, cross-sectional elevation and perspective cut away views of an alternative toilet brush cleaner which is agnostic as to brush type but which works in a similar manner converting linear reciprocal motion into rotational motion to cause the cleaning liquid at the bottom to spin around the container, so washing the brush.

Detailed Description of the Invention

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any dimensions and relative orientations such as lower and higher, above and below, and any directions, such as vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, axial, radial, longitudinal, tangential, etc., referred to in this application are within expected arrangements and structural tolerances and limits for the technical field and the apparatus and methods described, and these should be interpreted with this in mind.

Figure 1A shows a brush holder, here a toilet brush holder 10, comprising a container also known as a tank 20 for containing fluid, preferably liquid such as cleaning liquid, having an opening at an upper end closed by a lid 30. Lid 30 has a central opening for receiving a brush 12. The opening in lid 30 is, in this example, supplemented with an upwardly extending, here cylindrical, handle support 32. A brush 12 and its brush handle 40 are located in handle support 32 through lid 30 and are reciprocally and rotationally movable in handle support 32 and so with respect to lid 30.

Tank 20 may have any suitably shaped upstanding side walls e.g. round, square etc., with any number of sides (e.g. one or more). In Figures 1A and 1B, a container with one continuous side wall is shown. In Figure 1A this is an inwardly curving side wall of curved cross section and in Figure 1B an inwardly sloped side wall of straight cross section. In one or more preferred embodiments, the opening closed by lid 30 is somewhat narrower than the largest diameter of container 20 at its widest point along the side wall(s) (e.g. its middle periphery in Fig 1A and its lower periphery in Fig 1B). Container 20 may be provided with a base 92, slightly wider than its lower periphery for stability. Container 20 is preferably watertight and may be provided with a drainage hole sealed with a plug 94. In the following description, container 20 will be referred to as tank 20 but it will be understood that these terms are used interchangeably.

In preferred embodiments brush holder 10 is designed for use with a specific kind of brush 12 associated with it and having particular elements allowing for inter-engagement with the brush holder. Nevertheless, as will be described later, particularly in relation to Figures 10 and 10B, the brush holder 10 may be used with a standard brush in various embodiments and variations of the invention, and so may be termed agnostic in respect of brush 12.

In various preferred embodiments, such as those in Figures 1 to 9, a specially designed brush 12 is used. Brush 12 here comprises a brush handle upper portion 40A that extends upwards out of handle support 32 when brush 12 is located by lid 30 in tank 20.

Optionally, brush 12 may be moved in relation to lid 30 and locked in deployed position in various embodiments ready for cleaning. For this purpose, a locking pin 41 located transversely through handle upper portion 40A may be provided. Figures 2A and 2B show an upper handle support portion 32A of handle support 32 in which an internal retaining notch 33 is provided on an inner (here cylindrical) surface of a side wall thereof for receiving locking pin 41 in a retained position to hold the brush in an extended (cleaning) position with respect to lid 30.

This is shown more clearly in Figures 3A and 3B, a lower handle support portion 32B extending below tank lid 30 (indeed in this embodiment, forming a cylindrical extension from tank lid 30) is shown. In Figure 3A, locking pin 41 has been released from retaining notch 33 (not shown) and an internal spring 38 (in Figure 4B) within lower handle support portion 32B, returns the brush 12 to its original position with respect to lid 30.

Upper and lower handle support portions 32A and 32B may be integrally formed with lid 30 or may be separate components. Brush 12 is provided with upper and lower brush handle portions 40A and 40B respectively. In Figure 3A, lower brush portion 40B is telescopically receivable into lower handle support portion 32B. A lid retainer in the form of a retaining nut 34 attaches brush 12 to lid 30 via lower handle support portion 32B. At the distal end of handle lower portion 40B, a brush head 50, in this example a removable brush head, here of generally cylindrical shape, is removably located on handle lower portion 40B. Brush head 50 may be of any suitable shape. It is preferably provided with internal bristle pockets 54 terminating in its external surface for receiving bristles to form the brush. These are not shown for clarity.

Upper handle portion 40A of brush 12 may be lowered with respect to upper handle support portion 32A of lid 30 to secure locking pin 41 in retaining notch 33, and so cause lower handle portion 40B to extend beyond lower handle support portion 32B as shown in Figure 3B. In this configuration, the brush is now in a deployed position ready for use e.g. for cleaning a toilet bowl.

It will be understood that this deployment mechanism is merely a preferred way of carrying out various preferred embodiments of the invention. More details of the extension mechanism will now be described in relation to Figures 4A and 4B.

Referring now to Figures 4A and 4B, lower part of brush 12 is shown with lower handle support portion 40B in a retracted position. It may be helpful to also refer to the exploded and close-up views of the brush components in Figures 7A to 7C. The various components such as upper and lower handle portions 40A and 40B and upper and lower handle support portions 32A and 32B are of generally cylindrical construction or generally cylindrical cross-section for at least part of their length along an elongate axis. This is for ease of construction and facilitates rotational and reciprocal motion. Other mechanical solutions may be possible. Lower handle portion 40B has, in this example, at an upper proximal end an upstanding profiled spigot 46B, here of hexagonal cross-section, sized and shaped to be received in non-rotating engagement with a correspondingly shaped recess 46A in a distal lower end of upper handle portion 40A. Also, at the upper proximal end of lower handle portion 40B is a laterally protruding shoulder 44 provided with an undercut 45 for retaining a spring 38 surrounding lower handle portion 40B, here functioning as a return spring.

A spring 38 (or two separate upper and lower springs 38) extend(s) between undercut 45 via an intermediate spring washer 36A and a lower spring washer 36B held in place within an internal annulus (here of cylindrical shape) provided by the spaced relation between lower handle portion 40B and lower handle support portion 32B. A notch 37 in the inner periphery of each spring washer 36 retains each distal end of each spring in position on the washer. When lower handle portion 40B is extended as shown in Figure 3B, at least upper spring 38 is compressed and retained in compression by the action of locking pin 41 in notch 33. Upon release from the notch 33 by a user, one or both springs 38 act(s) to draw lower handle portion 40B telescopically back within lower handle support portion 32B as shown in Figure 3A.

Whilst handle 40 may be provided as two separate portions 40A and 40B, it may alternatively be provided as a single, integral component. Brush head 50 is shown in Figure 4B with internal bristle pockets located within its body terminating in openings on its outer surface. Brush head 50 is also provided with an internal thread 58 to co-operate with an external thread 48 at the lower distal end of lower handle portion 40B. Thus, when lower handle portion 40B extends beyond lower handle support portion 32B, brush head 50 becomes remote from and proud of lower support portion 32B and lid retaining nut 34.

Lower handle portion 40B is provided with an internal, elongate recess 60 extending (in use) vertically along its longitudinal axis - at least partway along its length. Recess 60 is sized and shaped to accept an upstanding shaft 70 in tank 20 as will be described. A lower distal end of recess 60 is continuous with a through-hole in brush head 50 terminating in an opening 55 at the lower distal end of brush 50. Opening 55 may be of any suitable shape but is preferably provided with, at its outermost distal end, a unique profile shape 59A which can act as a removal guide and anchor, as will be described later with respect to Figures 5 and 6. Further, opening 55 may be provided with one or more (here inwardly projecting) followers 52, for engaging with a spiral track 72 on shaft 70. Indeed, one or both of recess 60 in lower handle portion 40B, and opening 55 in brush head 50 are provided with one or more followers in the form of one or more raised profile features 52, also described as nubs, to engage with one or more spiral tracks 72 on a spiral track member (here shaft 70) as will be described below. The number, location and shape of the nub(s) 52 which act as followers to engage with and follow one or more spiral tracks (upon relative motion between the follower(s) and the track(s)) provide a mechanism for converting linear motion in one or both directions, here of the brush up and down, to rotate a fan located at the base of the tank. In this way, in one or more aspects, the invention provides a conversion mechanism for converting linear or reciprocal motion into rotational motion to cause the cleaning liquid at the bottom of the tank 20 to spin around the tank, so providing a cleaning or washing action upon the brush. The energy for this action is provided by an individual manipulating the brush to and fro (usually, in a more or less vertical direction).

In the detailed embodiment described here, a pair of opposing raised projections (here known as nubs) 52 are provided within the opening 55 of brush head 50 as shown in Figure 5A. These are shaped to co-operate with two opposing spiral tracks 72 provided on an upstanding spiral track member in the form of a shaft 70. One or more nubs 52, 152 may be provided to cooperate with one or more spiral tracks 72, 172. This may be understood by also referring to Figures 5A to 5D and Figures 8A and 9A and Figures 10A and 10B.

Turning first to Figures 5A to 5D, the brush head 50 is shown in more detail. Brush head 50 is provided with two inwardly facing opposing nubs 52 which act as followers.

Here, nubs 52 are, as shown in Figure 5D, symmetrical in cross-section in a horizontal direction and, here, semi-circular. They may be of any suitably shaped profile and, indeed, may be provided with a suitable cam or clutch-shaped profile to facilitate driving of rotation in one direction e.g. on the downward stroke but not on the other e.g. on the upward stroke. This is not the case here, but one skilled in the art will understand how the nubs 52 may be shaped to carry out this function or, indeed, how spiral track 72, or both nub(s) 52 and spiral track 72 may be shaped to carry out this function. Brush head 50 is typically formed from a single piece of moulded plastic of generally cylindrical shape. Centrally located therein, a though hole is provided extending all the way through from an opening 55 at a distal end of the brush head, via an internal screw thread 58 on an inner side wall to a recess portion 57 at an upper proximal end. Recessed portion 57 is defined by one or more upstanding side walls and may be provided with one or more drain holes 56 around a base of the side wall(s).

Distal opening 55 terminates at the very distal end with, here, a raised projection formed from a side wall 59C which is here continuous and which stands proud of the outer peripheral surface of a main body of brush head 50. Contained within side wall 59C is a shaped profile 59A sized and shaped to engage with and anchor against a raised shaped protrusion 59B on a brush removal tool 51 (see Figure 5). Typically, brush removal tool 51 comprises a cardboard or plastic card, which here is shown as rectangular, mounted on which, or integral with, is an anchor base 53 of typically plastic or metal, firmly secured to it. By locating shaped end 59A of brush head 50 against the anchor 59B protruding from anchor base 53, the brush head 50 can be either firmly screwed (or clipped) to, or firmly unscrewed (or unclipped) from, the brush 12 and, in particular, from the external thread 48 of lower handle portion 40B, the brush 12 being rotated relative to the brush removal tool 51.

Referring now to Figures 8A-C and 9A-B, a tank 20 is shown upstanding on a base 92, optionally provided with a tank drainage hole 24 and an associated sealing plug 94. Within tank 20, an upstanding, elongated spiral track member, here a shaft 70, is shown configured and mounted in these example embodiments to rotate along with a fan 80.

Shaft 70 and fan 80 are rotatably mounted on bearings 90. Shaft 70 is provided with at least one and here two (opposing) spiral tracks extending at least partially along its length. In this embodiment, the opposing spiral tracks 72 extend along the entire length of the shaft 70 from the base of shaft 70 to its upstanding tip, but may only partially extend along it. Indeed, as shown in Figure 8B, here shaft 70 is provided with a tapered end 73 to help the brush head 50 engage with shaft 70 and, in particular, followers (here opposing nubs) 52 engage with respective spiral tracks 72. The base of shaft 70 is provided with a mounting area 74 which may be cylindrical (and for example clamped to, or friction fitted to, mounting area 74) but may alternatively be shaped to drive rotation of the fan 80 by rotation of the shaft 70 in at least one (or only one) direction of rotation. Fan 80 slots onto mounting area 74 and is held somewhat above the lowest distal end of shaft 70 by a shoulder 78 that extends laterally out from a central longitudinal axis of shaft 70. Shaft 70 has a base protrusion 76 ats its lowermost distal end for mounting on bearing 90. Fan 80 comprises a through-hole 84 for locating on mounting area 74 of shaft 70. Thus, fan 80 is centrally located about shaft 70 and is intended to rotate with it on at least one of the up and down strokes of the brush.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there are various mechanisms that could be used to arrange for rotation of fan 80 by shaft 70 when shaft 70 is itself rotated. These may be direct or indirect using gears or other mechanisms.

Fan 80 comprises a number of blades 82 which may be various shapes such as substantially planar with an L-shaped tip such as in Figure 8C or generally triangular such as in Figure 9B. In Figure 8C, blade 82 terminates in an upstanding tip 86 which, in use, is generally or substantially vertical. The exact angle of the tip may be varied to enhance motion of the liquid in the container upon rotation of the fan. Indeed, blades 82 may be shaped to enhance fluid rotation. Optionally, an inner wall of tank 20 now comprises shaped features to enhance rotation of the fluid e.g. see screw thread profiled surface features on the inner surface of the side wall of the tank 20.

In use, as brush 12 is lowered into tank 20, the distal opening 55 of brush head 50 passes over the tapered end 73 of shaft 70. One or more nubs or preferably, as shown here, two nubs 52 locate on and travel in one or more spiral tracks 72 provided on shaft 70. Nub(s) 52 follow spiral track(s) 72 and travel over it, preferably on a downward stroke. The hand of the user holds handle 40 of brush 12 preventing its rotation but in doing so causes nubs 52, which act as followers, to travel in one or more spiral tracks 72, exerting a lateral rotational motion on spiral tracks 72 and so on shaft 70 which is then imparted to fan 80 operatively connected to it. On an upward stroke, the reverse may occur. In other words, nubs 52 travelling over spiral track 72 may cause it to rotate, in this case in the opposite direction, and fan 80 may now also rotate in the opposite direction. Thus, the fluid is provided with a to-and-fro rotational motion in the base of the container to wash the brush.

In various other preferred embodiments, rotation in only one direction may be provided for in various ways as described below and elsewhere and as apparent to those skilled in the art from this description. For example, one of the spiral track(s) 72 or follower nub(s) 52, or indeed both may be provided with inter-engaging cam surfaces that merely slide over one another in one direction and operatively engage one another in the other direction to provide drive and so to drive rotation. Thus, in various embodiments, spiral track(s) 72 may be provided with a clutch surface in one direction which is typically a suitably shaped cam surface formed in cross-section of the thread within the spiral track 72 to allow nubs 52, opening 55 and so brush head 50 and opening 60 within lower handle portion 40B to travel over shaft 70, typically on an upstroke, without causing shaft 70 to rotate. Thus, it can be arranged that the fan is caused to rotate on a downward stroke but not on an upward stroke, in which case, repeated downward strokes will cause the fan to continue to rotate in the same direction (so increasing its rotational speed) but upward strokes of the brush will not cause any rotation, much like a child’s spinning toy. In various alternative embodiments, the fan and shaft 70 may comprise a clutch mechanism, e.g. cam clutch surface arrangement, allowing the shaft and, in particular, mounting area 74 to drive the inner surface of through-bore 84 of fan 80 in one direction but not to operatively engage it in the other so that the fan is only driven in one direction. Other ways of providing uni-directional rotation may be envisaged. It will be understood that, whilst in the embodiments shown, a spiral track 72 is provided on an upstanding shaft 70 which functions as a spiral track member, with one or more followers being provided on a brush and/or on the brush handle, other arrangements may be envisaged. For example, a spiral track may be formed on the brush and/or on the brush handle to provide a spiral track member and/or one or more followers may be provided on, or within e.g. within an elongate recess of, an upstanding shaft in the brush holder. Indeed, various combinations of these arrangements and other arrangements may be used. Furthermore, other reciprocal to rotational motion conversion mechanisms can be envisaged for converting reciprocal motion into rotational motion to cause the cleaning liquid at the bottom to spin around the container, so washing the brush. The driving motion may be one directional (a linear motion comprising one stroke of a reciprocal motion) when a clutch mechanism is used - so that repeating the driving stroke causes the fan to rotate in the same direction so picking up speed. In various arrangements, the driving motion may be reciprocal, back and forth (usually up and down) causing a to-and- fro motion of the fan. Alternatively, a further conversion mechanism e.g. clutch mechanism or gearing and clutch mechanism may be used to cause the brush to travel in one directional rotation, driven by both of the back-and-forth strokes of the brush within the container. Indeed, in various embodiments, the fan may be mounted on the base of the shaft using appropriate clutch mechanism and/or cam surfaces e.g. on mounting area 74 and/or on the inner surface of hole 84, which act to allow drive from a user’s actions on the brush to impart rotation to the fan upon one of the up-stroke and down-stroke of the brush within the container, but not the other. Other variations can be envisaged. In the example embodiment illustrated here, elongate, internal recess 60 is not provided with a follower mechanism but it may be. Indeed in alternative arrangements, a spiral track may be provided as an internal surface of a spiral track member as an elongate recess for interaction with a follower associated with shaft 70. The fan may be associated with a spiral track, either directly or indirectly, in which such a follower travels.

Figures 10A and 10B show alternative embodiments in which an agnostic fan member 180 comprises a piston 174 and a follower in the form of one or more nub(s) 152. Nub 152 engages with a spiral track 172 forming an outer wall of an upstanding spiral track member 170 within tank 20. Piston 174 can move reciprocally within an internal cylindrical recess within spiral track member 170. A platform 190 is provided at an uppermost portion of fan member 180 for engagement with an agnostic (e.g. a standard) brush 12. A brush 12 presses down on platform 190 to compress spring 142 and cause the follower 152 to travel in spiral track 172 and the fan to rotate, driving fluid rotation to clean the brush. A spring 142 is compressed on the downward stroke and, upon release of the downward force from the brush, the spring 142 is released causing fan 180 to rise. As in other embodiments, optionally the fan can travel in the reverse direction because of the arrangement of follower(s)/nub(s) 152 in spiral track 172, or follower 152 and spiral track 172 may be arranged with co-operating surfaces that only operatively engage in one direction such that the fan can be repeatedly forced to turn in one direction before rising (or lowering) and not turning when travelling with respect to one another in the reverse direction. Thus, various types of clutch mechanisms e.g. using cams/cam surfaces may be provided. These and other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

10 (toilet) brush holder 12 toilet brush 20, 120 container, also known as a tank

24 tank drainage hole 30 lid

32 handle support, 32A upper handle support portion, 32B lower handle support portion (here part of the tank lid 30 as a lower lid extension) 33 retaining notch (holds brush in extended position)

34 lid retainer (e.g. retaining nut)

36 spring washer 36A upper spring washer, 36B lower spring washer

37 notch (in inner periphery of spring washer) (to retain a distal end of a spring in position) 38 spring

40 brush handle, upper handle portion 40A, lower handle portion 40B

41 locking pin

44 shoulder

45 undercut to retain spring 46B co-operating shaped spigot, 46A co-operating shaped recess (e.g. to prevent rotation)

48 external thread

50 brush head

51 brush removal tool 52, 152 nub (to engage with shaft or spiral)

53 tool base

54 internal thread bristle pockets

55 opening

56 drain holes 57 recess

58 internal thread

59A shaped end, 59B shaped protrusion, 59C protrusion side wall 60 recess

70, 170 spiral track member e.g. shaft 72, 172 spiral track

74 blade mounting 76 bearing mounting 78 shoulder 80, 180 (rotating) fan 82, 182 blade 90 bearing 92 tank base 94 tank plug

142 spring 174 piston

190 brush engagement member e.g. pushing platform

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a brush comprising a brush holder (10), the brush holder (10) comprising: a container (20) for receiving a brush and holding a fluid; - within the container (20), a) at least one of a spiral track member (70, 170) comprising a spiral track (72, 172) and a follower (52, 152) located, or locatable, in the spiral track; b) a rotatable fan (80) rotatable with respect to the container and associated with one of the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170); c) the other of the follower (52, 152) and spiral track member (70, 170) configured to engage with, or comprising part of, a brush such that motion of a brush with respect to the brush holder (10) causes the follower (52, 152) to travel in the spiral track (72, 172) and rotational motion to be imparted to the fan (80).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a brush; and further wherein one of the brush (12) and the container (20) comprises the spiral track member (70,170) and the other comprises the follower (52, 152).

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further in which: the brush (12) has a handle (40) and a brush head (50) and at least one of the brush head (50) and the handle (40) comprises at least one follower (52); and in which the spiral track member (70) is rotatably mounted within the container (20) and the rotatable fan (80) is associated with the spiral track member (80); whereby, in use, the follower (52), travels in the spiral track (72) of the spiral track member (70) to drive rotation of the spiral track member and fan.

4. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 3 in which the spiral track member (70) comprises a shaft (70) upstanding within the container and the brush (12) comprises a co-operating elongate recess (60) for receiving the shaft (70).

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which the brush comprises an handle upper portion (40A) and a handle lower portion (40B), and the brush head (50) is located at a distal end of the handle lower portion (40B), and within the handle lower portion (40B), the elongate recess (60) is provided for receiving the spiral track member (70).

6. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5 in which the fan is located at or near an internal base of the container.

7. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 6 in which the spiral track member (70) is elongate and upstanding and is mounted rotatably within the container.

8. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 7 in which a clutch mechanism is provided so that one of a downstroke and an upstroke of the brush drives the fan to rotate and the other does not.

9. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 8 in which at least one of the at least one spiral track and the at least one follower comprises a clutch profiled surface for engaging the other of the at least one spiral track and at least one follower.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which at least one clutch profiled surface comprises a profiled cam surface.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 in which the clutch profiled surface of the follower comprises a profiled cam surface.

12. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 11 in which the brush head (50) is removable.

13. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 12 in which the brush head (50) comprises one of a recess or projection of a predetermined shape for engaging with the other of a suitably profiled recess or projection of a removal tool.

14. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 13 in which the follower (52) (is located on the brush head (50).

15. An apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 14 in which the follower is located on the handle lower portion (40B).

16. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the fan comprises at least one blade, optionally, in which the fan has two to eight blades, two to six blades, three to four blades, optionally, where two or more blades are provided these are symmetrically arranged about an axis of rotation, optionally, these are of equal size and shape and orientation.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 in which the at least one blade extends generally horizontally within the container during use.

18. An apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 17 in which the blade or blades of the fan have a wing profile to drive fluid around the container.

19. An apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 18 in which a tip portion of at least one blade, optionally all blades, extends generally upwards in use.

20. An apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising a lid (30), the lid (30) comprising a handle support (32) having a generally cylindrical inner hole configured for receiving the handle.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 in which the handle (40) is telescopically mounted within the handle support (32) so as to be retractable within it.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20 or 21 in which the handle is spring loaded within the handle support (32).

23. An apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the container is watertight for containing liquid.

24. A method of cleaning a brush using the apparatus of any of claims 1 to 23 comprising: locating the follower (52, 152) in the spiral track (72, 172); causing the follower (52, 152) to travel in the spiral track (72, 172) to rotate the fan (80); optionally, providing liquid in the container (20). optionally, providing a brush (12) and moving the brush (12) in a reciprocating motion upwards and downwards to cause the follower (52, 152) to travel in the spiral track (72, 172) and impart motion to the fan.

25. A brush for use in the apparatus of any of claims 1 to 23, in which the brush comprises at least one of the spiral track member (70) and the follower (52).

26. A kit comprising an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 23, further comprising a brush (12) removable brush head (50), and a brush removal tool (51) configured to engage with the removable brush head (50) to aid removal and/or replacement.