Abstract:
A dispensing brush is disclosed having a novel integrated dispensing system for delivering cleaning solutions and similar liquids to a surface to be cleaned. The dispensing system has a reservoir for liquid retention that is coupled to the dispensing brush. An integral pump dispenses the liquid from the reservoir and through a nozzle to a surface to be cleaned. The pump is actuated from a lever that is depressed by a user, at times repeatedly, to facilitate pumping of the liquid onto a surface to be cleaned by scrubbing action of the dispensing brush.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to cleaning devices, and more specifically to a dispensing brush that delivers a cleaning solution from the brush without the need for a separate cleaning solution dispenser. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Cleaning and scrub brushes have been used throughout the years as tools to facilitate the cleaning of objects where undesirable material is stubbornly attached to the object, requiring mechanical abrasion of the undesirable material for proper cleaning. These brushes have a plurality of bristles that emanate from a pad or similar backing and provide abrasive cleaning action when the brush is moved over the object to be cleaned, often times repeatedly. Brushes to clean objects have taken on a variety of forms over the years, and have included many different bristle materials and bristle configurations. What has commonly become known as a scrub brush has a handle or similar gripping surface and a plurality of bristles attached to a backing. The handle or gripping surface allows the user to firmly grasp the scrub brush and move it across the surface of an object to be cleaned, often repeatedly and with varying amounts of downward force. 
         [0005]    While there are times when a cleaning brush can be effectively used without a solvent or cleaning solution, often a cleaning solution, solvent or other such liquid will make the cleaning process easier and more effective. The cleaning solution is often applied to the object to be cleaned either before scrubbing with the brush or during the scrubbing operation. The way in which the cleaning solution is applied in conjunction with the brushing operation is often a matter of personal preference, and a variety of containers to retain the cleaning solution can be found in most stores. There are times when the container that retains the cleaning solution is not well suited for dispensing the proper amount of cleaning solution, and the resulting cleaning operation is either less than effective or the cleaning solution is wasted or over used. What is therefore needed is a cleaning brush with an integrated cleaning solution dispenser. 
         [0006]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide such a dispensing brush. 
         [0007]    These and other objects of the present invention are not to be considered comprehensive or exhaustive, but rather, exemplary of objects that may be ascertained after reading this specification and claims with the accompanying drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dispensing brush comprising a handle attached to a brush substrate; the brush substrate comprising a plurality of bristles; a reservoir for liquid retention; a pump capable of receiving liquid from the reservoir; a dispensing nozzle to deliver liquid from the pump; a lever mechanically coupled to the pump such that movement of the lever causes actuation of the pump and subsequent dispensing of the liquid. 
         [0009]    The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described in this specification, claims and the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispensing brush of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a rotated perspective view of the dispensing brush; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a rear plan view of the dispensing brush; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the dispensing brush; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the dispensing brush; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the dispensing brush; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the dispensing brush; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the dispensing brush showing the reservoir cap disassembled; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the dispensing brush; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  depicts a taper valve of the reservoir cap; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  depicts an engagement feature of the reservoir cap; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  depicts a pump actuator lever assembly of the dispensing brush; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  depicts a handle assembly of the dispensing brush; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  depicts a handle overlay of the dispensing brush; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  depicts a handle half of the dispensing brush; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  depicts a reservoir of the dispensing brush; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a brush substrate assembly of the dispensing brush; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a plan view of the brush substrate assembly of the dispensing brush; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the brush substrate assembly of the dispensing brush; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the pump of the dispensing brush; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the pump of  FIG. 20 . 
       
    
    
       [0032]    The attached figures depict various views of the dispensing brush in sufficient detail to allow one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. These figures are exemplary, and depict a preferred embodiment; however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment depicted herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this specification, claims and drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    A Dispensing Brush is described and depicted by way of this specification and the attached drawings. 
         [0034]    For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. 
         [0035]    The Dispensing Brush of the present invention, as described and depicted herein, provides, among other things, a novel liquid reservoir and dispensing mechanism that delivers a liquid such as a cleaning solution toward the working surface of the brush, thus improving the efficiency of the cleaning process and providing improved cleaning. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispensing brush of the present invention. The dispensing brush may be made from any suitable material, for example, a plastic. Examples of suitable plastics include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like. Bioplastics may also be used in some embodiments of the present invention. In addition, reinforced plastics, metals, wood, or other materials that may be suitably formed may also be used. The various components of the dispensing brush may be made by injection molding, blow molding, machining, extruding, forming, or the like. The various components are then assembled in accordance with the instructions and figures provided herein. 
         [0037]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a dispensing brush  100  is shown comprising a handle and related handle assembly  105  attached to a brush substrate  113 . The brush substrate  113  comprises a plurality of bristles  115  that protrude outwardly from the substrate  113  and may also be grouped together to form groups of bristles where in one embodiment each group comprises between 2 and 100 bristles. A reservoir  107  for liquid retention can also be seen fixed below the handle and may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be shaped to conform to the underside of the handle. A pump (as shown in  FIG. 9  as  903 ) is also part of the dispensing brush  100  and is capable of receiving liquid from the reservoir  107  when so filled. A dispensing nozzle  201 , as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , is arranged to deliver liquid contained in the reservoir through the action of the pump  903 . A lever and related pump actuator lever assembly  111  is mechanically coupled to the pump  903  (as seen in  FIG. 9 ) such that movement of the lever causes actuation of the pump and subsequent dispensing of the liquid contained in the reservoir  107 . The reservoir  107  can be seen clearly attached to the dispensing brush  100  such that it is integral with the dispensing brush  100  during a cleaning operation. 
         [0038]    The handle assembly  105  comprises a front support beam  101  that is curved to conform to a user&#39;s hand and provides adequate width and structural integrity to support the reservoir  107 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the handle assembly  105  is made in two or more parts to accommodate placement of a pump and related structural elements within and attached thereto. Such structural details are shown by way of example, and not limitation, in  FIG. 9 . The front support beam transitions into the main handle where a thumb rest  103  can be seen. The thumb rest may simply be a flattened area of the handle or may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be depressed or concave to more comfortably support the thumb or appendage of a user. As seen and taught by way of example in  FIG. 1 , the reservoir  107  is generally wedge shaped to best accommodate it&#39;s location under and attached to the front support beam  101  and related handle assembly  105 . The reservoir  107  may be made from a clear, opaque, or translucent plastic such that the contents of the reservoir, and their depletion level, can be clearly seen by the user. The shape of the reservoir  107  may also vary along a vertical dimension such that there is additional ability to accommodate cleaning solution toward the bottom area of the reservoir  107 . A reservoir cap  109  can also be seen in  FIG. 1  attached to the side (vertical wall) of the reservoir  107 . The placement of the reservoir cap  109  may vary, with some embodiments of the present invention placing the reservoir cap on the top or bottom horizontal surfaces of the reservoir  107 . The reservoir cap  109  may also be placed at an angle to any side by appropriate modification of the shape of the reservoir through tooling and related computer aided design (CAD). Further, the reservoir wall where the reservoir cap  109  is placed may protrude outward past the reservoir cap  109  in order to accommodate more cleaning solution and further to provide a more positive area for the reservoir cap to be situated. 
         [0039]    Under the handle assembly  105  can also be seen a pump actuator lever assembly  111  that can be gripped and moved by a user to in turn move and actuate a pump that moves the cleaning solution or similar liquid from the reservoir  107  and out a nozzle (such details to be later described with the assistance of subsequent figures). The pump actuator lever assembly  111  may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be bent or angled such that a portion of the pump actuator lever assembly  111  is generally parallel to the handle (although variations on such parallel precision may be a matter of design choice, and a curved or otherwise non-parallel pump actuator lever assembly portion may be employed). The pump actuator lever assembly  111  also contains further structural components that will be further depicted and described by way of  FIG. 12 . 
         [0040]    As can also be seen in  FIG. 1 , a brush substrate  113  can be seen with attached bristles  115 . The brush substrate  113  may be curved in some embodiments to provide a better overall cleaning for it. The brush substrate  113  may also comprise slots completely through the brush substrate, and may also comprise slots that are only partially through the thickness of the brush substrate  113 . These various slots may be fashioned singularly, or may alternate such that the fully through slots and the partially through slots are adjacent each other in an alternating arrangement. In some embodiments of the present invention, the brush substrate  113  may be flexible or semi-flexible due to variables such as choice of material, thickness of material, number of slots, and the like. As will be further seen in subsequent figures, the brush substrate  113  is attached to the handle assembly  105  and a brush substrate strut and brush substrate retention fixture may further be employed to facilitate structural attachment of the handle to the substrate and related bristles. Such further details can be seen by way of example in  FIG. 13 . The bristles  115  may be made from any suitable fibrous, stranded, or related material such as a plastic, metal, natural fiber, synthetic fiber, or the like. The bristles  115  may be pressed into holes in the substrate  113 , molded in place, glued or bonded in place, or the like. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a rotated perspective view of the dispensing brush that clearly shows the dispensing nozzle  201 . The dispensing nozzle  201  is directed toward the leading edge or cleaning surface of the dispensing brush  100  in such a way that cleaning solution or similar liquid is deposited on the surface to be cleaned. The user may chose to dispense the cleaning solution or liquid while scrubbing with the dispensing brush  100 , or may lift the dispensing brush  100  away from the cleaning surface and direct the dispensing nozzle  201  at an area where the cleaning solution is to be applied. In this manner, the user can carry the dispensing brush  100  without the need to carry and pick up a brush and cleaning solution dispensing bottle separately. Such convenience not only saves time, but through the precise application of cleaning solution also saves unnecessary consumption of cleaning solution during a cleaning task. In some embodiments of the present invention, the dispensing nozzle  201  is adjustable to change the spray pattern and/or delivery volume. The adjustment may be made by rotation of the nozzle, insertion of a screwdriver blade and subsequent rotation of the nozzle, or the like. 
         [0042]    The reservoir cap  109  can also be seen in  FIG. 2  as having a grip for ease of rotation and removal. The grip may be a longitudinal span, a knob, a point, knurls, other geometries, or simply the reservoir cap itself. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a rear plan view of the dispensing brush where another perspective of the handle assembly  105  can be seen. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the dispensing brush showing clearly the placement of the dispensing nozzle  201 . As previously stated, the nozzle may be adjustable and further may be directional. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the dispensing brush. The flared bottom of the reservoir and the placement of the reservoir under the handle can be seen. The front support beam  101  of the handle assembly  105  is seen to be progressively larger than the handle itself in this exemplary embodiment. This larger size provides not only structural rigidity, but also accommodates internal placement of the pump, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the dispensing brush. The bristles  115  can be seen attached to the brush substrate  113 . Slots can also be seen that traverse the width of the substrate  113  and also traverse only a part of the width of the substrate  113 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the dispensing brush that further shows the pump actuator lever and the angle thereof. Placement of the reservoir  107  in relation to the handle assembly  105  can also be seen as well as the exemplary slots or cuts in the brush substrate  113 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the dispensing brush showing the reservoir cap disassembled. The transverse grip on the reservoir cap  109  can be seen along with a gasket seal  801  to provide a liquid tight seal when the reservoir cap  109  is properly attached to the reservoir  107 . The gasket seal  801  may be a flat annular seal that is retained by a lip or recess on the reservoir cap itself, or may be an O-ring or the like. The gasket seal may be made from any soft durometer material suitable for liquid tight sealing, such as rubber, silicone rubber, various expanded or closed cell synthetic materials, cork, or the like. Also, a taper valve  803  can be seen that provides for replacement air into the reservoir  107  as liquid is being dispensed.  FIG. 10  shows a close up view of this taper valve. The taper valve  803  brings two edges of material into close contact such that in one direction the edges are tight and in the other direction the edges are loose to allow for the passage of air while excluding the entry of liquid in an opposite direction. The taper valve  803  uses edges that are tapered or angled toward each other to accomplish this objective, and allows the reservoir cap  109  to be placed on a vertical wall of the reservoir  107  without leaking. 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the dispensing brush. A handle overlay  901  can be seen as an optional item to provide comfort to the user, as the handle overlay is made from a soft durometer material, and may cover the entire handle or a portion thereof. A pump  903  can also be seen that provides fluid communication and fluid delivery between the reservoir  107  and the dispensing nozzle  201  that is depicted in  FIG. 2 . The reservoir  107  has an opening or hole that is in turn connected to the pump  903  for the entry and subsequent expulsion of liquid previously contained in the reservoir  107 . The pump  903  may be any form of mechanical pump including a piston actuated or diaphragm style pump. In  FIG. 9 , the pump  903  is mechanically coupled to the pump actuator lever assembly  111  by way of a cam feature that provides translational force from the lever piece through a curved cam structure and into a linear drive of the pump  903  where the linear drive includes a stem or similar surface to receive the force from the cam and transfer it to a piston or fluid moving arrangement within the pump to force liquid from the reservoir  107  and out the dispensing nozzle  201  with force sufficient to broadcast or spray the liquid onto a surface to be cleaned. In some embodiments of the present invention the pump  903  is an electrically driven pump that is actuated through a lever, button or switch that contains electrical contacts. 
         [0050]      FIG. 10  depicts a taper valve  803  of the reservoir cap. As previously described, the taper valve  803  is attached to a protrusion and opening on the reservoir cap  109  on the inward facing portion of the reservoir cap  109 . The angled or tapered surfaces of the soft durometer material of the taper valve provide a liquid seal in one direction while allowing make up air to enter the reservoir  107  in the other direction. 
         [0051]      FIG. 11  depicts an engagement feature  1101  of the reservoir cap. This engagement feature may be a protrusion or recess that couples and locks with an opposing feature on the reservoir  107  along the surface where the reservoir cap  109  attaches to the reservoir  107 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 12  depicts a pump actuator lever assembly  111  of the dispensing brush. A lever  1201  can be seen with a flattened or otherwise ergonomic surface to allow interaction by a user. Such interaction includes repeated movement of the lever  1201  to drive the pump  903  (see  FIG. 9 ) and expel liquid from the dispensing nozzle  201  (see  FIG. 2 ). A pump engagement cam  1203  can also be seen mechanically coupled or formed with the lever  1201 . The pump engagement cam  1203  provides translational force from the lever  201  through a cam  1203  and into a linear drive of the pump  903  where the linear drive includes a stem or similar surface to receive the force from the cam  1203  and transfer it to a piston or fluid moving arrangement within the pump to force liquid from the reservoir  107  and out the dispensing nozzle  201  with force sufficient to broadcast or spray the liquid onto a surface to be cleaned. The pump engagement cam  1203  may be curved or angled to facilitate proper interaction between the lever  1201  and the pump  903  as seen in  FIG. 9 . To allow the pump actuator lever assembly  111  to pivot or hinge repeatedly in order to drive the pump, a first hinge pin  1205  and a second hinge pin  1207  can be seen protruding from the pump actuator lever assembly  111  at a suitable location such that recesses or similar features in the dispensing brush handle assembly  105  are able to receive and interact with the hinge pins such that movement occurs that is sufficient and adequate to drive the pump. 
         [0053]      FIG. 13  depicts a handle assembly  105  of the dispensing brush. The various features within the handle assembly to accommodate the pump  903  (not shown in  FIG. 13 ) can be seen. In addition, a brush substrate strut  1301  can be seen that has a generally flat appearance to accommodate attachment of the brush substrate to the handle assembly  105 . A brush substrate retention feature  1303  can be seen where the brush substrate is mechanically fastened to the brush substrate strut  1301  and related handle assembly  105 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the brush substrate strut  1301  is curved to conform to a curved brush substrate. 
         [0054]      FIG. 14  depicts a handle overlay  901  of the dispensing brush. As previously stated, the handle overlay is made from a soft durometer material to provide a comfortable and secure grip for the user. 
         [0055]      FIG. 15  depicts a handle half  1501  of the dispensing brush. This handle half  1501  mates with the handle assembly  105  to form a handle that also incorporates the pump within the two pieces. Fastening features and pump retention features can be clearly seen in  FIG. 15 . As the two halves are joined together, the reservoir  107 , as further depicted in  FIG. 16 , is retained by mechanical means such as a reservoir attachment protrusion  1601  that provides a protrusion, in one embodiment a linear protrusion, that can be captured and retained by the handle half  1501  and handle assembly  105  when formed or attached together. A reservoir fill opening  1603  can also be seen protruding from the reservoir  107  with at least one reservoir engagement feature  1605  that may include a slot, recess, or slot with an angled (such as right angled) opening in the reservoir fill opening  1603  to allow for engagement and retention of the reservoir cap  109  (not shown in  FIG. 16 ). 
         [0056]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a brush substrate assembly  113  of the dispensing brush. A front substrate strut attachment feature  1701  can be seen along with a rear substrate strut attachment feature  1705 . The attachment features may be protrusions or recesses with mating geometries to allow attachment of the brush substrate  113  to the handle assembly  105 . In addition, a front substrate stop  1703  can be seen to allow for placement and securement of the handle to the substrate while reducing stress on the attachment features while the dispensing brush is in use. 
         [0057]      FIG. 18  is a plan view of the brush substrate assembly  113  of the dispensing brush showing side cuts  1801  that alternate with full transverse cuts. In some embodiments of the present invention, the substrate is a curved substrate  1803 . The perspective view of  FIG. 19  better shows the curved substrate embodiment and also further depicts the attachment features  1701  and  1705  as well as the front substrate stop  1703 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the pump  903  of the dispensing brush. Various embodiments of the present invention may employ various types of pumps. In this example, a linear piston style pump is depicted. A pump piston stem  2001  can be seen that provides a surface for the pump engagement cam to move when the pump actuator lever is moved. The pump piston stem  2001  is in turn connected to the pump piston (not show in  FIG. 20 , see  FIG. 21 ). A pump cylinder  2003  houses and seals the pump piston and a pump body  2005  provides fluid communication between the pump cylinder  2003  and the pump intake  2007  and the pump discharge  2009 . For both the pump intake  2007  and the pump discharge  2009  fittings can be seen to allow attachment to a hose, conduit, or the like. To show the inner workings of the exemplary pump  903 , an exploded view of the pump can be seen in  FIG. 21 . A spring  2101  can be seen to return the piston  2103  to a given linear position in the cylinder. The piston  2103  also has seals to provide a liquid tight seal between the piston and the cylinder, thus allowing for movement and spray of the cleaning solution placed within the reservoir of the dispensing brush. A piston spring  2105  can also be seen to provide return force to the piston  2103  as it travels through the cylinder  2003 . Seals such as O-rings and gaskets are used as necessary to provide for a liquid tight seal and associated pressurization and expulsion of cleaning solution by the pump  903 . 
         [0059]    To use the dispensing brush, cleaning solution or a similar liquid is placed in the reservoir and the reservoir then appropriately capped. A pump actuator lever is squeezed and released repeatedly, driving the liquid from the reservoir and through a dispensing nozzle. The dispensing brush is positioned such that the expelled liquid is deposited on a surface to be cleaned, and the dispensing brush is used to scrub and subsequently clean the surface. The dispensing brush provides a novel arrangement for dispensing cleaning solution or similar liquid in an efficient and cost effective manner, something heretofore not possible with separate dispensing bottles and cleaning brushes. 
         [0060]    It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, a dispensing brush. While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification, claims and the attached drawings.