Liquid driven rotary brush with liquid soap feeder

A brush is disclosed having an elongated hollow handle and an integrally-secured casing. The casing has a shaft to which is rotatably secured a paddle wheel. The latter has a bottom surface to which are secured a plurality of bristles. The handle contains a water feed pipe which terminates in a nozzle inside the casing adapted to direct the water stream onto the paddle wheel. A liquid soap-dispensing means is provided in the shaft.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to bristle brushes used for washing 
the body, more specifically to a novel brush having a rotating element 
whereby the bristles also rotate for thorough cleansing and massage. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Brushes, with or without handles, and having bristles affixed to a back 
have been used for bathing and washing for a long time. Yet the common 
brushes, as presently used, have disadvantages. For example, it is 
sometimes necessary to make vigourous scrubbing movements to properly 
cleanse one's body. For most people, perhaps, this is not a problem, but 
for youngsters, the elderly and very obese or corpulent people, such 
scrubbing may be very tiring or, at worst, impossible. 
Since a good bath or shower also requires the use of soap, another 
disadvantage of known brushes is that they must be held in one hand and 
the soap held in the other for an effective soaping and brushing action. 
This is often difficult because soap is, of course, very slippery. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the above, it is an important object of the present invention to 
provide a brush which eliminates the need for scrubbing by having bristles 
secured to a rotating head. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a brush which 
accomplishes the rotation of the bristles by a mechanical conversion of 
water pressure. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a brush 
which incorporates a liquid soap-dispensing means. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a brush of the 
above type, which is simple in design and non-costly to produce. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are realized 
according to a preferred embodiment comprising a hollow handle secured to 
a cylindrical casing which is orthogonal to the handle, extending 
downwardly and made of suitable, lightweight and rigid material. 
The casing is made in two detachably-secured parts, an upper section and a 
lower section. The upper section is hollow and secured to the handle, as 
mentioned above. The lower section is annular in shape and is provided 
with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced holes for a purpose explained 
below. 
The upper section also includes an integrally-formed and 
downwardly-extending, central and cylindrical shaft whose lower end is in 
the plane of the annular lower section. 
A vertically-oriented paddle wheel, having a plurality of blades, is 
rotatably mounted on the shaft. Bushing means are preferably provided 
between the paddle wheel and the shaft. The lower end of the paddle wheel 
extends outwardly defining an annular surface of slightly smaller diameter 
than that of the annular section and extending slightly below the lower 
edge of the latter. Brush bristles are rigidly attached to the annular 
surface in a known manner. 
Bearing means are provided at the contact points between the paddle wheel 
and the inner walls of the upper and lower sections of the casing. 
Locking means are also provided at the lower end of the shaft, serving to 
removably secure the paddle wheel inside the casing and a bearing means is 
provided to prevent vertical free play of the wheel. 
A water feed pipe is located in the handle and projects a short distance 
into the casing, having a nozzle which directs the water flow to the 
blades of the paddle wheel on one side thereof. The opposite end of this 
water feed pipe projects out of the grip end of the handle, being adapted 
for attachment to any suitable water source in a bath or sink. 
As a secondary feature, the brush of the present invention is also provided 
with a liquid soap-dispensing means. To accomplish the latter, the shaft 
is made hollow and is adapted to be filled with luquid soap. The lower end 
of the shaft and the tightening means are each provided with a small 
channel in registry with one another through which the soap may be 
ejected. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a pump element to 
force the soap through the channels. This pump element is accessible on 
the top surface of the casing. Retaining means are provided to removably 
keep the pump element in place.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The brush 1 of the invention includes an elongated hollow handle 2 and a 
cylindrical casing 3 integrally formed therewith. Casing 3 has a 
cylindrical wall and two end walls 8' and 12, each having a central 
aperture 81" and 12", respectively. Handle 2 is preferably 12-14 inches 
long and its outer end portion is provided with grip protrusions 2' by 
which it may be grasped. 
A water feed pipe 4, extending through handle 2, has a rear end projecting 
out of the latter, which is threaded, and is adapted for connection to a 
pressurized water supply, such as a sink or bath faucet (not shown). Feed 
pipe 4 also has a forward end projecting a short distance into casing 3 
and terminating in a nozzle 5. This forward end is held in place by a 
collar 6 secured to the inner wall of casing 3. 
The outer end of handle 2 is formed with a detachable threaded cap 7 to 
allow access to feed pipe 4. 
Casing 3 incorporates two detachably-secured sections 8 and 9. Section 8 
consists of end wall 8' and a portion of the cylindrical wall of the 
casing 3. Handle 2 extends orthogonally to said cylindrical wall portion. 
Section 8 is further integrally formed with a central, axially extending 
hollow shaft 10 surrounding and communicating with the central aperture 8" 
of end wall 8'. The free end of this shaft 10 is hemi-spherical in shape. 
The cylindrical wall portion of section 9 is adapted to be screwed onto the 
edge of the cylindrical wall portion of section 8 in end-to-end relation 
by threading, indicated at 11. The end wall 12 of casing 3 is provided 
with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced holes 12' through which the 
water coming from nozzle 5 may flow. Casing 3 has a skirt 9' which 
projects beyond end wall 12 and forms a continuation of the cylindrical 
wall of casing 3. 
A paddle wheel 13 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 10 within casing 3. The 
former has a central cylindrical hub and a plurality of radial and 
spaced-apart paddles 14. The hub has an extension which projects from the 
central aperture of end wall 12 and forms an annular shape brush bristles 
carrying portion 15 which is half circular in cross-section. Portion 15 is 
axially spaced from and overlies end wall 12. Its free circular edge is in 
sliding and rotational engagment with skirt 9'. A plurality of hairs or 
bristles 16 are attached to this portion 15 and extend therefrom in a 
direction away from end walls 8' and 12. The radially inner part of 
portion 15 of paddle wheel 13 is provided with a plurality of 
circumferentially-spaced holes 17 through which water flows radially 
inwardly into bristles 16. 
To improve the smooth rotation of paddle wheel 13 about shaft 10, a 
cylindrical bushing 18 is located between paddle wheel 13 and shaft 10, as 
seen in FIG. 5. 
A locking means is provided at the lower end of shaft 10 to secure paddle 
13 in position, consisting of a nut 19 which can be screwed onto the free 
end of shaft 10 by threading, indicated at 20, until it abuts the 
hemispherical free end of shaft 10. 
Positioned between nut 19 and the free end of shaft 10 is a washer 21, the 
function of this washer being to eliminate vertical free play of paddle 
wheel 13 on shaft 10. Washer 21 is also formed with an annular 
protuberance 21' which engage on elbow 22 on paddle wheel 13 as the latter 
rotates. 
The inner surface of end wall 8' is also provided with a similar 
protuberance shown at 23. Similarly, section 9 is provided with 
protuberances, indicated at 24 and 25. Thus, paddle wheel 13 rotates 
smoothly without any vertical or lateral free play. 
It will be readily apparent that paddle wheel 13 revolves under the action 
of water streaming out of nozzle 5 onto the paddles 14. As the water flows 
into bristles 16, a thorough cleansing and light message are obtained. 
As an additional feature of the inventon, a liquid soap-dispensing means is 
provided: hollow shaft 10 can be filled with liquid soap 28. To eject the 
soap, a first narrow channel 26 is formed in the free end of shaft 10 
which is in registry with a second narrow channel 27 formed in the center 
of nut 19. 
A pump element 29 is provided at the fixed end of shaft 10 consisting of a 
hemispherical rubber cap 30, which is secured in place by a threaded 
annular member 31, the latter being screwable into the end wall 8' of 
casing 3. Cap 30 has a lower circular rim 30' over which member 31 is 
screwed. A one-way soap injector valve 32 is integrally formed in cap 30 
for the injection of soap into shaft 10. It will be clear that, by 
pressing on cap 30, an amount of soap will flow through channels 26 and 
27. 
While the invention has been described according to the above preferred 
embodiment, it is to be understood that variations can be introduced 
without departing from its spirit or scope. For example, the length of the 
handle, or the overall size of the brush, may change. Also, the bristles 
may be made of different materials. 
It is to be noted that all the elements described, except the bristles, are 
preferably made of rigid lightweight plastic material.