Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a manually-operated household cleaning tool, and more particularly to household cleaning tool having optimum geometry for cleaning of bathroom, kitchen, floor, wall, ceiling, and other surfaces in the home. The shape of the tool head is designed to provide contiguous surface contact on a variety of concave basin surfaces while the angle and length of the handle attached thereto facilitates reach and leverage of the operator in potentially confined environments. The multiplicity of contact material and stiffness of said material further enhances the utility of the tool under any household condition.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Application 61/270,209, filed on Jul. 6, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is a brush intended for manual use particularly suited to the application of cleaning basins and tubs, especially those embodied by showers, bathtubs, Jacuzzis, and other fixtures generally found in bathrooms. The geometry of the brush head is optimized for maintaining uniform contact with a variety of potential fixture shapes to ensure the efficient scrubbing necessary for effective cleaning. The orientation and dimensions of the brush handle are ideal for use by the operator in a wide variety of potentially restricted spaces. In addition to these bathroom surfaces, the invention embodies significant utility for the purposes of removing dirt from baseboards and walls due to the wide surface contact area of the broad edges as well as removal of accumulated dirt and cobwebs in corners via the bristles protruding from the narrow edges. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention comprises a Brush Head with modified rectangular geometry such that the Head Core presents both flat and narrow sides for the attachment of Contact Material. The narrow sides are rounded to provide a gradient of Contact Material of uniform thickness around the Head Core to avoid Head Core contact and inadvertent scratching of the surfaces to be cleaned. In plan form view, one of the rectangular corners of the Head Core presents a larger radius for optimum contact of curved surfaces and the opposite corner of the Head Core presents a sharp edge for the attachment of longer and potentially stiffer bristles to remove dirt or undesired material from corners and creases. The invention also comprises an angled Neck for attachment of a Brush Handle to the Brush Head in a fashion so as to facilitate maximum surface contact of the broad sides while enabling the operator to grip the Brush Handle without undue contact of the operator&#39;s hands to the surface to be cleaned. The Brush Handle itself may be comprised of a single member in any number of fixed lengths, more than one member alone or in series to provide a variety of resultant lengths depending on member configuration, or a continuously variable length or telescoping member to provide a virtually unlimited number of equivalent Brush Handle lengths. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0004]    The attached drawings depict a preferred embodiment of the brush. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an overview illustration consisting of a plan view, right side view, and bottom view of the brush assembly including labels of the salient geometric features described above. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a detailed illustration of the Brush Head, also in plan, right side, and bottom views with representative dimensions of a preferred embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  further elaborates on a particular preferred embodiment of the Brush Handle configuration to illustrate how multiple smaller members with such representative dimensions could be, but need not be, used in series to provide a larger resultant length. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The body of the invention comprises three main components: the Brush Head, Neck, and Brush Handle, as well as sundry subcomponents. The Brush Head comprises a Head Core surrounded by Contact Material. The neck comprises an angular attachment to the Brush Head, Reinforcement Ridges, and Attachment Mechanism for interfacing with the Brush Handle. The Brush Handle comprises multiple Handle Segments with additional Attachment Mechanisms to connect with the other representative Handle Segments, the Neck, or the End Cap. 
         [0009]    The Brush Head is based on a modified rectangular shape encapsulated in bristles or pads of material for the application and dispersion of water, soap, or other cleaning products upon the surface of the target fixture, as well as resultant removal of dirt or other undesirable soil or grime from such surfaces. This material (referred to herein as “Contact Material”) is of sufficient abrasiveness for scrubbing without damage to finished ceramic, porcelain, tile, fiberglass, plastic, wood, drywall, or other such household surfaces. 
         [0010]    The Head Core is made of molded plastic or other composite material of like hardness, density, and/or water-resistance with an aspect ratio of roughly 7:5:1 in terms of Length (L): Height (H): Width (W). This core is filleted on all surfaces such that there are no flat edges except at the top of the Head Core for attachment of the Neck and Brush Handle with the fillet size on the edges being ½ the total width of the head (0.5 W) resulting in semi-cylindrical edge surfaces. One lower corner of the rectangular Head Core comprises an additional Radius (R) of 40% of the Height (0.4 H) to facilitate uniform scrubbing contact with any curves inherent in the target fixtures. The other lower corner of the rectangular brush core, though possessing the 0.5 W curvature in the Width direction, remains at a right angle with respect to the L and H dimensions. 
         [0011]    The Contact Material is generally of uniform Thickness (T) surrounding the Head Core equal to 1× the Width (W) on all sides saving the top surface to provide for attachment of the Neck and Brush Handle resulting in an overall width of 3 W. The Contact Material Thickness (T) increases slightly at the lower right angle corner and possesses increased stiffness. This area (referred to herein as the “Spike”) is designed to allow penetration of any tight corners of the target fixtures thus removing dirt, grime, or other impurities more difficult to reach with the broader surfaces of the contact material. The local thickness of the Contact Material at the Spike may extend to as much as 1.25 T, or 0.25 T beyond the standard contact material thickness, tapering down to standard thickness T gradually in all directions radiating from the spike. 
         [0012]    The Neck has two purposes: to introduce an Angle (A) to the orientation of the Brush Handle and provide an Attachment Mechanism for the first Handle Segment. The Angle of the Brush Handle provides optimum contact of the brush Contact Material and target fixture surfaces. When scrubbing the side or bottom of a fixture, for example, the operator of the brush can maintain perpendicular contact with the brush tip or continuous contact with the brush side from a variety of positions both inside and outside the target fixture. The brush handle Angle (A) is greater than 135 degrees measured from the brush head. 
         [0013]    The Neck contains an Attachment Mechanism to allow the attachment of the first Handle Segment. The Brush Handle is a tubular member generally about 1 inch in diameter to allow for a firm grip by large and small hands alike. The overall width of the Neck may need to increase to support the insertion of the Handle Segment if the width of the Head Core is equal to or less than the diameter of the Brush Handle. The increased Neck girth may be accomplished by a curve or taper up from the brush Head Core. The Neck has similar material properties to the Head Core and the two may be part of a single mold in the interest of manufacturability. 
         [0014]    Further, the Neck contains Reinforcement Ridges or flanges designed to reduce the stress concentration at the point where the angular Neck meets the Head Core as this region will be subject to forces resulting from transmitting the pressure and motion of scrubbing from the Brush Handle to the Brush Head. These Reinforcement Ridges generally follow the coincident axes of the Neck and Brush Handle flowing seamlessly from the Head Core to the Neck. The Reinforcement Ridges are also potentially part of the single mold with the Head Core and Neck. 
         [0015]    The handle Attachment Mechanism may be as simple as a threaded post or more complex such as a deadbolt type latch or spring-loaded peg and matching hole. The critical factor is that the Handle Segment be removable to allow the interchangeability of different handles or brush heads. 
         [0016]    As noted above, the Brush Handle is a cylindrical component generally about 1 inch in diameter comprised of multiple Handle Segments joined by Attachment Mechanisms of the same size as the Attachment Mechanism of the first Handle Segment with the Neck. In that way the overall length of the handle may vary to accommodate the scrubbing of very large basins (e.g. pools) or more narrow fixtures such as sinks, toilets, or narrow showers. The diameter of the handle itself may vary locally at the points of each Attachment Mechanism depending on the particular geometry chosen. These locations could provide additional gripping and leverage to the brush operator, with or without additional components tailored to this purpose. The Brush Handle material may be the same as the Head Core or an alternate strong, lightweight material such as wood or aluminum. 
         [0017]    The handle End Cap protects and encapsulates the end of the final Handle Segment preventing inadvertent damage: to the target fixture surface from otherwise blunt impacts, similarly to the operator, and also to the final attachment mechanism if applicable. It may also comprise a storage facilitating feature such as a peg hole, cord, or the like to increase the ease of stowing the brush when not in use. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    The preferred embodiment of the brush comprises a Head Core rectangle of dimensions: Length 7 inches, Height 5 inches, and Width 1 inch as shown in  FIG. 2 . The Head Core is surrounded by 0.5 inch radius fillets and the left lower corner radius is equal to 2 inches. The Head Core, Neck, and Reinforcement Ridges are manufactured from a single piece of injection-molded plastic with a threaded joint in the Neck to support the attachment of a Handle Segment with a 1-inch outer diameter. The Neck tapers up from the 1 inch Width at the top of the Head Core to 1.5 inches in diameter to allow for a 0.25 inch wall thickness at the point where the Handle Segment is inserted into the Neck. The Neck is positioned at a 160 degree angle relative to the Head Core. The Reinforcement Ridges are 0.25 inches thick and roughly triangular in shape, extending from the outer diameter of the Neck for 2 inches along the top of the Head Core and tapering up to the top of the Neck at the necessary 160 degree angle. 
         [0019]    The Contact Material is a pattern of stiff bristles of nylon or other material of a uniform 1 inch Thickness. It is expected the bristles would be attached to the Head Core in uniform clusters staggered around all of the Head Core Surfaces excepting only the top surface to allow for the positioning of the Neck and Brush Handle. Note that the 3 views in  FIG. 2  are section views through the axial centerlines of the Head Core and do not show the Contact Material in the plane of the drawing. The lower left corner of the Contact Material would incorporate the Spike feature with bristles of increased stiffness and length such that the Spike extends locally to a total thickness of 1.25 inches or 0.25 inches beyond the standard Contact Material Thickness. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  describes the preferred Brush Handle configuration consisting of a total 3 16-inch long Handle Segments for a total tubular length of 48 inches. The Handle Segments would be interchangeable to result in a Brush Handle length of 16, 32, or 48 inches. The Attachment Mechanisms illustrated consist of larger outer diameter segments with threaded insets to allow for the attachment of the Handle Segments. The Attachment Mechanism would generally be permanently fixed to one end of the Handle Segments to provide a male-female coupling between Handle Segments. The End Cap as shown has a rounded tip and a hole for hanging. The End Cap could be attached to the end of any Handle Segment as described above. The Handle Segments and End Cap would be made out of strong, durable, lightweight plastic such that the total brush assembly would weigh as little as possible without compromising the stiffness necessary to tolerate the pressure of sustained use.