Abstract:
An apparatus for washing hands and/or fingernails includes a brush assembly attached to a water faucet. The brush assembly includes a backplane with two opposed brushes attached to the backplane such that the bristles on each brush face outward from the backplane. A clamping mechanism removable attaches the brush assembly to the faucet. The clamping mechanism is pivotable on the faucet so the user can move the brush assembly into the water stream to use the brushes and out of the water stream for rinsing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of brushes used to clean hands and fingernails of humans, and more particularly to a brush that is a convenient fixture at its point of use, for example, at a sink. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Foodservice and medical workers are required to wash their hands frequently using a fingernail brush. Having a fingernail brush at the washing sink is therefore common. Typically, the brush is left on the sink top or shelf where surfaces may be unhygienic. Further, with wet and soapy hands it is easy to drop a fingernail brush on the floor, thereby contaminating the brush and inconveniencing the worker. Further, if the brush is on a shelf and not in the immediate field of view of the worker, the worker may forget to use it altogether. It is therefore considered useful to provide a combination of brush and fixture means to preserve hygiene and prevent the worker from dropping or forgetting to use the brush. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a brush assembly that is located at a cleaning or work station. The brush assembly includes a brush attached to a brace. In one embodiment, the brush assembly is fixedly or removably mounted at a suitable location in or around a cleaning or work station. In one embodiment the brush is removably attached to the brace. 
     A brush assembly is mounted at a wash sink which conveniently allows a worker to manipulate the brush assembly for use. In one embodiment, the worker is able to swing the mounted brush under the water stream, use the brush for hand and fingernail cleaning without having to hold or support the brush manually, and swing the brush back to its original position out from the water stream. Preferably, at all times, the brush is suspended in the air and kept off unhygienic surfaces. 
     Briefly stated, an apparatus for washing hands and/or fingernails includes a brush assembly mounted proximate a cleaning or work station, preferably proximate a sink, and most preferably proximate a water faucet. In one embodiment, the brush assembly includes a backplane with two opposed brushes attached to the backplane such that the bristles on each brush face outward from the backplane. A clamping removably mechanism removably attaches the brush assembly to the faucet. The clamping mechanism is preferably pivotable on the faucet so the user can move the brush assembly into the water stream to use the brushes and out of the water stream for rinsing. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a brush assembly; the brush assembly including a backplane with two opposed brushes attached to the backplane such that a plurality of bristles on each brush face outward from the backplane; and a clamping mechanism which attaches the brush assembly to a faucet. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a cleaning apparatus includes a brush assembly having a brush and a brace, wherein the brush is attached to the brace and the brace engages an element of a work station. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a cleaning apparatus includes a brush assembly which includes a brush removably attached to a brace; the brush having at least one cleaning surface; and wherein the brace is selectively engageable with a faucet such that the brace is capable of being manipulated with respect to the faucet. 
     While one possible application of the present invention is in connection with washing hands, many other applications are possible and references to use as a hand and nail brush should not be deemed to limit the uses of the present invention. While certain embodiments are discussed herein, they should not be interpreted as being the only embodiments of the present invention and other embodiments may be created without departing from the present invention. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention relates to a brush assembly  1  that is fixedly or removably mounted proximate a cleaning or work station, preferably proximate a sink, and most preferably proximate a faucet  7 . The brush assembly  1  includes a brush  38  attached to a brace  36 . In one embodiment brush  38  is removably attached to brace  36 . Brush  38  may take any number of forms, including but not limited to a brush with a single cleaning surface  42  or a plurality of cleaning surfaces  42 . The cleaning surfaces  42  of brush  38  may be positioned on any portion of brush  38 . In one embodiment, cleaning surfaces  42  of brush  38  are selectively removable from brush  38 . Cleaning surfaces  42  may be of any form or material capable of satisfactorily cleaning the hands or nails of a person. For example, cleaning surfaces  42  may include a plurality of bristles  2 , cloth, material containing cleaning agent, foam, a pad or sponge brush, or any combination thereof. Cleaning surfaces  42  may be manufactured of natural or synthetic materials or any combination thereof. Brush  38  may also be fabricated from a variety of materials such as plastic, wood, metal, or combination thereof. Likewise, brace  36  may take any number of forms. Brace  36  may be relatively straight, angled, or able to be manipulated. Brace  36  may be mounted proximate a sink in any manner suitable and at any location on the sink or faucet. For example, in one embodiment, brace  36  is engaged to faucet  7  via a′clamp or clamping portion  8 . In another embodiment, brace  36  is engaged to the nozzle or open end of faucet  7 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a brush assembly  1  includes a plurality of flexible bristles  2  extending outward from each side of a rigid backplane  3 . Backplane  3  preferably incorporates at least one hole  4  extending through it along an axis X-X of brush assembly  1  in the plane of the backplane. A rigid mounting member  5  preferably extends through hole  4 , with a clamping portion  8  of member  5  adapted to clamp over an upright faucet. Brush assembly  1  is adjustably positioned on rigid mounting member  5  to the desired position so that it is firmly retained during ordinary washing use. The desired preferable position for placement of brush assembly  1  on rigid mounting member  5  is under a water stream  6  when clamping portion  8  is attached to faucet  7 . In the preferred embodiment, member  5  holds brush assembly  1  through a combination of close dimensional tolerances and the frictional interplay of brush assembly  1 , hole  4 , and rigid mounting member  5 . 
     Bristles  2  of brush assembly  1  are preferably fabricated from natural or synthetic materials as is well known in the art. Backplane  3  is preferably fabricated from one or more materials selected from the group of materials consisting of wood, thermoplastics, fiber-reinforced plastics, painted steel, polymer coated steel, galvanized steel, chromed steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. In the preferred embodiment, the entire brush assembly  1  including bristles  2  and backplane  3  are integrally molded in thermoplastic. 
     Rigid mounting member  5  is preferably fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastics, fiber-reinforced plastics, painted steel, polymer coated steel, galvanized steel, chromed steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Rigid mounting member  5  is attached to or integral with the brush assembly  1 . Member  5  and its clamping portion  8  must provide the structural strength to maintain brush assembly  1  in a relatively steady cantilevered position while the worker scrubs his or her hands and fingernails on them. 
     In one embodiment, clamping portion  8  is preferably formed in an integral, resilient spring detent that has a flexible bend diameter smaller than common faucet diameters, permitting it to be snapped firmly onto the upright portion of most commercial faucets and easily pivoted about the faucet. 
     In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2 , a fastener adjustable clamp  40  is shown in which front and rear clamp plates  10  and  12 , respectively, preferably include axially aligned holes formed therethrough in flat portions thereof, and medial curved portions  14 ,  16  extending along longitudinal axis Y-Y that is transverse to axis X-X. Fasteners  18 , such as bolts with nuts or wing-nuts, or machine screws if the openings are threaded, pass through the axially aligned openings. The radius of curvature of medial portions  14 ,  16  is slightly less than the radius of curvature of faucet  7  permitting them to be clamped firmly onto the upright portion of most commercial faucets. 
     In yet another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , a plate  20  includes a medial curved portion  22  extending along axis Y-Y, and laterally aligned pairs of openings  24  formed through plate  20  on opposite sides of medial portion  22 . Flexible straps  26  are laced through opposing openings  24 , and securely fastened around faucet  7 . Flexible straps can be of such materials as plastic, leather, metal, or cloth as long as the material is flexible and doesn&#39;t rust or unduly oxidize. The radius of curvature of medial portion  22  is slightly less than the radius of curvature of faucet  7  permitting it to be clamped firmly onto the upright portion of most commercial faucets. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a further embodiment is shown which does not include mounting member  5  or hole  4 . The clamping mechanism of this embodiment includes a rod  30  that interconnects backplane  3  to a spout  32  of faucet  7 , preferably via an internally threaded connector  34  which is attached to one end of rod  30  while its opposite end is connected to backplane  3 . Rod  30  is preferably bent to be out of alignment with water flow  6 . 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to a particular preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment and that various modifications and the like could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.