Bottle brush

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016249733-A1
Application number	US-201615055490-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Feb 26, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Modular and flexible brush systems are disclosed having multiple interchangeable parts that have different functions. A base portion contains a nipple brush. A handle portion includes various internal connecting mechanisms and stores the nipple brush. A top portion includes a bottle brush and has a flexible neck portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device to scrub a container, comprising:
a rigid handle comprising a first core portion and a second core portion, the first and second core portions connected internally within the handle; a flexible portion removably connected to the handle and including a resilient material of a predetermined hardness, the flexible portion adapted to bend relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and a first brush operatively connected to the flexible portion and sized to efficiently scrub an inside of the container as the flexible portion bends.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a separable base portion attachable to the rigid handle.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the base portion includes a second brush which is smaller than the first brush and is sized and configured to efficiently scrub an inside of a smaller container.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the second brush is disposed within an interior chamber of the second core portion of the handle when not in use.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the base portion attaches to the second core portion of the handle through friction fit.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the base portion includes a threaded portion which mates with an internal thread on the second core portion of the handle.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the flexible portion includes a threaded projection which mates with an internal thread in the first core portion of the handle, opposite the internal thread in the second core portion which mates with the base portion.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first core portion and the second core portion of the handle are connected through a threaded fastener.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first core portion and the second core portion of the handle are connected through internal bonding.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion has spine-like configuration.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the spine-like configuration includes a plurality of adjacent discs.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of discs are aligned so that their centers are on a longitudinal axis of the flexible portion.

13 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the discs have the same diameter and depth.

14 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the discs have varying diameters and depths.

15 . The device of claim 10 , wherein a gap is formed between adjacent discs.

16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient material extends beyond the flexible portion and into an outer sleeve portion.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the outer sleeve is made of the resilient material.

18 . A device to scrub a container, comprising:
a handle having a first core and a second core; a flexible top portion removably connected to the handle with a resilient material of a predetermined hardness disposed in at least one gap, the flexible top portion adapted to bend at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle; a brush operatively connected to the flexible portion and the first core within the handle, and sized to efficiently scrub an inside of the container as the flexible handle bends; and a second brush operatively connected to the second core and received within the handle.

19 . The device of claim 18 , the flexible top portion having a spine-like configuration.

20 . A device to scrub a container, comprising:
a handle having a first core and a second core; a flexible top portion having a neck removably connected to the handle with a resilient material of a predetermined hardness disposed around the neck, the flexible top portion adapted to bend at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle; a brush operatively connected to the flexible top portion and the first core within the handle, and sized to efficiently scrub an inside of the container as the flexible handle bends; and a second brush operatively connected to the second core and received within the handle.

Assignees

• Munchkin Inc

Inventors

• Tebbe Mark Gerard
• Dunn Steven B
• Hatherill Mark A
• Kang Yong Sun Simon
• Chan Sung Yun
• Birkert Thomas E

Classifications

• A46B5/0037 Primary

  Flexible resilience by plastic deformation of the material · CPC title

• B25G1/02

  flexible (hammers heads having shock-absorbing means B25D1/12) · CPC title

• A46B5/0016

  Brushes with heads on opposite sides or ends of a handle not intended for simultaneous use · CPC title

• A46B15/0097

  Self supporting, e.g. brushes that stand upright or in other particular ways · CPC title

• B25G1/08

  with provision for storing tool elements · CPC title