Multipurpose cleaning brush

A multipurpose brush includes a body with a first portion having each of a top surface, opposed bottom surface and a peripheral edge, and with a second portion having each of a first surface thereof disposed on and secured to one of the bottom and top surface of the first portion, an opposed bottom surface thereof. At least one set of bristles is secured to and extending outwardly from at least one predetermined surface of the body. The second portion may have a generally triangular cross-section disposed in a plane generally planar to the one of the bottom and top surface of the first portion and may also have a pair of concave ends. A third portion is also provided in generally planar relationship with the first portion and may be adapted for scrubbing and exfoliating human skin, particularly of feet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to cleaning brushes and, more particularly, this invention relates to such a brush provided with an arched row of hard fingernail cleaning bristles located on its top surface and with a between-fingers cleaning middle portion having a triangular cross-section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is generally known, stubborn dirt, oil and grime that are often left behind after a day of work or play are not easily dislodged from the small areas and crevices of the hand and nails and even scrubbing with a standard brush can leave much of the residue behind. Often, a greater than desired effort is required to repeatedly brush and scrub user's hands and fingers in order to remove a day's worth of soils, dirt and debris.

Prior to the conception and design of the present invention, efforts have been made to alleviate difficulties of cleaning portions of the human anatomy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,351 issued to Koffier and U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,547 issued to Narula et al. provide bristle-containing brushes scrub brushes for surgical applications and include provisions for cleaning under the nail plates. However, a particular disadvantage of these prior art bristle-containing brushes in effectively cleaning the inner skin surfaces of a pair of adjacent fingers and skin surfaces disposed in closed proximity to the finger knuckles.

Furthermore, as it is generally known, bristle-containing brushes are employed for cleaning articles of produce, such as carrots, potatoes, mushrooms and the like and are also employed for cleaning various objects, for example such as railing and particularly railing on watercrafts. However, the design of each prior art brush requires a user to maintain different brushes for each specific application.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved multipurpose cleaning brush enabling a user to clean portions of the human anatomy, articles of produce and other various objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a multipurpose brush. The brush includes a body. The body includes a first portion that has each of a top surface, opposed bottom surface and a peripheral edge. There is also a second portion that has each of a first surface thereof disposed on and secured to one of the bottom and top surface of the first portion, an opposed bottom surface thereof and a generally triangular cross-section disposed in a plane generally planar to the one of the bottom and top surface of the first portion. At least one set of bristles is secured to and extending outwardly from at least one predetermined surface of the body.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a multipurpose brush that includes a body having at least one substantially planar surface. A set of bristles is secured to and extends outwardly from the at least one substantially planar surface. The bristles are convexly arched in a plane generally perpendicular to the at least one substantially planar surface. Longer bristles within the set are located toward the middle of the at least one substantially planar surface.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a multipurpose brush. The brush includes a body. The body includes a first portion having each of a top surface, opposed bottom surface and a peripheral edge. The body also includes a second portion having each of a first surface thereof disposed on and secured to one of the bottom and top surface of the first portion, an opposed bottom surface thereof and a pair of ends disposed generally perpendicular to the first portion, wherein at least one of the pair of ends has a predetermined concave shape. At least one set of bristles is secured to and extends outwardly from at least one predetermined surface of the body.

In a forth aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning brush for use with at least one portion of a human anatomy. The brush includes a body. The body includes a top portion having each of a top planar surface, opposed bottom planar surface and a peripheral edge, the top portion manufactured from a compressible composite rubber material having memory retention. A bottom portion is provide and has each of a top planar surface, opposed bottom planar surface and a peripheral edge. The bottom portion is also manufactured from the compressible memory retention composite rubber material. The bottom surface of the top portion and the top surface of the bottom portion are disposed substantially parallel to each other. A middle portion is also provided and has each of a top surface thereof disposed on and secured to the bottom surface of the top portion, a bottom surface thereof disposed on and secured with the adhesive to the top surface of the bottom portion, and a pair of opposed ends. Each of the pair of opposed ends curving inwardly in a plane substantially perpendicular to each of the bottom surface of the top portion and the top surface of the bottom portion. A generally triangular cross-section of the middle portion is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the each of the bottom surface of the top portion and the top surface of the bottom portion. The middle portion is manufactured from a substantially rigid plastic material. A first set of equal height bristles is secured to and extends outwardly from the top surface of the top portion and defines a substantially planar upper brushing surface. A second set of equal height bristles is secured to and extends outwardly from the bottom surface of the top portion and defines a substantially planar first interior brushing surface. A third set of equal height bristles is secured to and extends outwardly from the top surface of the bottom portion and defines a substantially planar second interior brushing surface. A fourth set of equal height bristles is secured to and extends outwardly from the bottom surface of the bottom portion and defines a substantially planar lower brushing surface. A fifth set of equal height bristles is secured to and extends outwardly from a peripheral surface of the middle portion. There is also a set of variable length nail cleaning bristles that is secured to and extends outwardly from at least one of the top surface of the top portion and the bottom surface of the bottom portion and having a hardness being one of equal to and greater than a respective one of the first and third set of bristles. Free ends of the nail cleaning bristles are convexly arched in a plane substantially perpendicular to the at least one of the top surface of the top portion and the bottom surface of the bottom portion. Longer bristles within the set are located toward the middle of the at least one of the top surface of the top portion and the bottom surface of the bottom portion. A predetermined distance is formed between the first and second inner brushing surfaces for cleaning upper and lower skin surfaces of a pair of adjacent fingers or toes in a substantially simultaneous manner. The cross-section of the middle portion is sized to enable a portion of the fifth set of bristles to clean each of inner skin surfaces of the pair of fingers or toes and skin surfaces disposed in closed proximity to respective knuckles in the substantially simultaneous manner.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a multipurpose cleaning brush that has a plurality of bristle based brush surfaces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cleaning brush that has a row of arched bristles for cleaning under nail plates of the user.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cleaning brush that has a triangular cross-section for cleaning between a pair of adjacent fingers or toes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cleaning brush that has a curved portion for cleaning cylindrically shaped objects and/or articles of produce.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cleaning brush that has means for removing outer layer of a human skin.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose cleaning brush that has means for exfoliating skin of feet.

In addition to the several objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of specificity above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Several examples for carrying out the invention are presented in terms of its present embodiments, herein depicted withinFIGS. 1 through 7, with the best mode for carrying out the invention depicted inFIGS. 4-5. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

Reference is now made, toFIGS. 1-3, wherein there is shown a multipurpose cleaning brush, generally designated as10. The brush10includes a body20. The body20includes a first portion22having each of a top surface24, opposed bottom surface26and a peripheral edge28. Preferably, each of the top surface24and the bottom surface26is substantially planar.

There is also a second portion30that has each of a first surface thereof32disposed on and secured to one of the bottom surface24and top surface26, of the first portion22. The second portion30is sized smaller than the first portion22so that the bottom surface32of the first portion22overhangs the first surface32of the second portion30. The second portion30further has an opposed bottom surface34. In accordance with one form of the invention, the second portion30is defined by opposed ends36and40and has a generally triangular cross-section42disposed in a plane generally planar or parallel to the one of the bottom and top surface,24and26respectively, of the first portion22and generally perpendicular to the ends36,40. Set of bristles46is secured to and extends outwardly from a peripheral surface44of the second portion30. The bristles46are attached to the peripheral surface44in a conventional manner, for example such as bores (not shown) formed within the second portion30or molded integral therewith. Preferably, such bristles46have equal height.

In order to use such brush10having the body20formed by a pair of portions22and30and set of bristles46, the user simply grasps the first portion22, for example using the peripheral edge28and positions the second portion30between a pair of fingers6aand6bspread in a V-shape manner, as best shown inFIG. 3. The user can then clean the inner surface of each finger6a,6bby moving the brush10in a generally linear direction, although other motions are within the scope of this invention. Advantageously, the portion of the set of bristles46disposed on and in close proximity to the end36is adequate to clean the skin surface8disposed in closed proximity to knuckles7of the hand4.

The brush10of the present invention may be also provided with a set of bristles48secured to and extending outwardly from the bottom surface26of the first portion22and defining a substantially planar brushing surface for cleaning a portion of the top skin surface8of the hand4substantially simultaneously with cleaning inner surfaces of fingers6a,6b.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a set of bristles50secured to and extending outwardly from the top surface24of the first portion22and defining another substantially planar brushing surface for cleaning larger area of the hand4, other areas of the human anatomy or various objects.

Now in a particular reference toFIGS. 4-5, therein is shown a multipurpose cleaning brush, generally designated as12. As is with the brush10, the brush12has a body20with a pair of portions22and30and a set of bristles46. To facilitate cleaning of the skin surface8as well as being able to clean a larger portion thereof, the end36of the second portion30of the body20has a predetermined concave shape38with the vertex thereof disposed below the mid point of the end36(where centerline37intersects surface38) to follow the human anatomy in this region of the hand4. Thus, the portion of the set of bristles46disposed on the end36also forms a curved brushing surface that generally follows the hand anatomy.

The present invention addresses the long felt need of improving cleaning under the nail plates9by providing a set of bristles52secured to and extending outwardly from the top surface24of the first portion22. Preferably, free ends of the bristles52form a convex arch in a plane generally perpendicular to the top surface24of the first portion22to accommodate curved nature of the finger tips and ends of nail plates9. It has been found that bristles52of equal height deflect downwardly from a force generated by their contact with the nail plates9and finger tips thus forming, temporarily, concave depressions in the outer edge of the row of bristles52, particularly when the first portion22is manufactured from a compressible composite rubber material having memory retention that has been found advantageous in cleaning under the nail plates. Such material may be of the type as employed for manufacturing various products under a “PENWAY” Registered Trademark that can be purchased from Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill. Hence, convexly arching the ends of the bristles52substantially eliminates such depressions and facilitates cleaning under the nail plates9and other curved portions of the human anatomy. It has been also found advantageous to form such set of bristles52as a single row of bristles to assure that the bristles52will be lodged under the nail plates9.

Additionally, it has been found advantageous to provide the set of bristles52in combination with the set of bristles50, wherein longer bristles within the set52are located toward the middle of such top surface22. In this form, the height of bristles52will be greater than the height of bristles50. Preferably, the set of bristles52has hardness greater than the hardness of the set of bristles50, although equal hardness throughout is also within the scope of the present invention. With the brush12of this form, the user is capable of generally simultaneously cleaning under the nail plates9as well as the tips of the fingers or toes.

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the brush10includes a third portion60having each of a top surface62, opposed bottom surface64and a peripheral edge66. Preferably, the top surface62is substantially planar and the brush10further includes a set of bristles68secured to and extending outwardly from such top surface62and defining a further substantially planar brushing surface.

The bottom surface64is also preferably substantially planar and the brush10is provided with a set of bristles70secured to and extending outwardly from the bottom surface64and defining yet another substantially planar brushing surface. The third portion60is then manufactured from the same compressible composite rubber material having memory retention as the first portion22.

When the third portion60is provided, the brush12is configured so that a predetermined distance is formed between the brushing surfaces defined by set of bristles48and68for cleaning upper and lower skin surfaces of a pair of adjacent fingers6a,6bas well as upper and lower skin portions of the hand4in a substantially simultaneous manner.

The body20of the present invention may be manufactured from any conventional plastic and/or rubber materials commonly used for manufacturing existing brushes. Preferably, at least the second portion30is manufactured from a substantially rigid plastic material to facilitate cleaning between the pair of fingers6a,6b. Any conventional materials of the body and bristles and attachment methods are contemplated within the present invention and are selected based on a particular application. For example, for surgical and personal hygiene applications, the materials and various attachment methods of the dissimilar body components therebetween and bristles thereto can be of the types taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,351 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,547, whose teaching are incorporated into this document by reference thereto.

Now in a particular reference toFIGS. 6-7, therein is shown a multipurpose cleaning brush, generally designated as14. As is with the brush12, the brush14has a body20with portions22,30and60and various sets of bristles. However, instead of the set of bristles70, the brush14is provided with means80operatively connected to the bottom surface64of the third portion60for scrubbing and/or removing skin from a human anatomy, such as a foot2and, more particularly, a bottom surface thereof.

Such means80includes an abrasive material84provided on the bottom surface64. The material84may be of the type as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,052 issued to Regner or in U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,156 issued to Brunderman and whose teachings are incorporated into this document by reference thereto.

Furthermore, means80may include a foot file of a type as manufactured by International Edge, Inc of Fairfield, N.J. under PED EGG™ brand.

If required, the bottom surface64may have a predetermined convex shape, although concave shape is also within the scope of the present invention.

Such means80may be provided as a separate member82that is attachable to the bottom surface64with an adhesive86which may be of a removable type. Alternatively, the member82may be secured to a bracket87which has a pair of U-shaped opposed edges89that can hook onto the edges of the third portion60. Thus, the member82is removably attached to the third portion60and may be easily replaced when the means84is no longer effective for scrubbing or exfoliating purposes. The means80may be provided with an internal chamber83and the middle portion of the bracket87may be manufactured generally open so as to vacate any skin fragments accumulated during use, particularly, when the means80includes the foot file of a type as manufactured by International Edge, Inc of Fairfield, N.J. under PED EGG™ brand.

In either brush10,12or14, the second end40of the second portion30may be also provided with a predetermined concave shape. For example, such shape of the second end40may be sized to allow for cleaning of the railing100on watercrafts (not shown). Thus, the brush10may be employed for both cleaning the railing100as well as cleaning the hands4and arms of the user cleaning such railing100.

It will be also appreciated that the brush having concave ends36,40and sets of bristles may be employed for cleaning articles of produce, such as carrots, potatoes, mushrooms and the like.

Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.