Abstract:
A liquid dispenser first contains, then dispenses a cleaning solution, and finally might be used to scrubs or cleans a dirty surface. The dispenser has a hollow handle that serves as a reservoir for the cleaning solution and at each end of the handle a cleaning implement; specifically a scrubber and a sponge. When a user presses the selected implement against a cleaning surface, a valve is opened, allowing the cleaning solution to flow. The user might then scrub a dirty surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/619,649, filed Oct. 16, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Introduction  
         [0003]     Cleaning by definition is a chore. And it can get tough. Hot, soapy water dries and irritates delicate hands. Man has invented tools to make cleaning easier. For example, rubber dish gloves and handled brushes. However, gloves are awkward, and make things more complicated. Further, handled cleaning devices have their own drawbacks. Some are difficult to manipulate.  
         [0004]     Soap dispensing cleaning devices are known in the art. However, most do not efficiently dispense cleaning solutions, or involve such a complicated mechanism they are impractical for large commercial exploitation.  
         [0005]     2. Field of the Invention  
         [0006]     The present invention relates to a liquid dispenser. More specifically a dispenser that contains and dispenses a cleaning solution while the dispenser scrubs or cleans a dirty surface  
         [0007]     3. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,116 to Moore. Is titled, “Liquid Soap Dispenser and Brush Combination.” The combination features a liquid soap dispenser with a rotatably mounted soap container and a brush. To dispense soap the dispenser rotates in one direction to dispose liquid soap, and rotates in an opposite direction to block passage of soap to the brush.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,340 to Rothweiler et al. is titled “Hand Brush”. The Brush&#39;s handle contains a soap solution and a valve allows a user to start and stop the flow of the solution to the cleaning brush.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,330 to Shumway et al. is titled “Method for Cleaning an Interior Cavity of Dishware”. The method requires the use of a differentiated scrubber to clean a cylindrical dishware cavity.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,659 to Vosbikian et al. is titled “Liquid Dispensing Implement”. A hollow handle stores a soapy cleaning solution, which allows the solution to continually flow to a porous applicator.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,709 to Armer et al. is titled “Liquid Soap Dispensing and Scrub Brush”. Armer essentially teaches an apparatus for dispensing a liquid onto a cleaning surface.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,064 B1 to White et al. is titled “Soap-Fillable Brush with Sealed Actuator”. White&#39;s Actuator controls the flow of soap to a cleaning brush. A user presses down on the actuator to release the soap.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,283 B1 to Hay is titled “Hand-Held Cleaning Device”. Hay teaches an actuator that when compressed allows a cleaning solution to contact the device&#39;s brush and eventually the dirty surface to be cleaned.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,833 B1 to Perry et al. is self-explanatorily titled “Soap-Dispensing Kitchen Brush”. Perry&#39;s brush implements a mechanism similar to that described by Rothweiler et al., above.  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. D446,898 S to Brewer et al. is titled “Dish Scrubber”, and teaches an ornamental design for the same.  
         [0017]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,701 B1 to Jacobs is titled “Liquid Dispensing Handle”. Jacobs&#39;s handle implements a mechanism similar to that described by Vosbikian et al., above.  
         [0018]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,790 B1 to Kay is titled “Soap Brush”. The housing contains soapy solution for application to a brush for cleaning a dirty surface.  
         [0019]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,799 B2 to Flores, Jr. is titled “Bristled Soap Dispenser”. Here the dispenser has ducts connected to a pump, which transfers soap from an internal reservoir to exterior, cleaning bristles.  
         [0020]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,492 B2 to Lowry is titled “Bottom Dispensing Liquid Soap Dispenser”. In contrast to the references described above, Lowry&#39;s dispenser only dispenses soap and relies on other devices to put the soap to use.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispenser for cleaning an assortment of surfaces, by allowing a user to select from one of two applicators. Both applicators are attached, eliminating the inconvenience of exchanging surfaces before commencing a cleaning project.  
         [0022]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser for storage and dispensing of a cleaning solution, such as liquid soap.  
         [0023]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser with a replacement kit allowing a user to replace worn applicators while enjoying years of continuous use from the liquid dispenser. The user saves money, and environmentally harmful refuge is reduced.  
         [0024]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser having a holder so that the liquid dispenser might be placed within easy, practical reach of a user.  
         [0025]     These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a liquid dispenser for an assortment of liquids having a handle with a porous applicator at each end of the handle. One applicator is a sponge, ideal for standard cleaning and having a shape allowing access to tight spaces. The other applicator is a scrubber, also porous, but formed of a harder material for tougher cleaning. The handle is hollow, defining a cavity for liquid storage. When a user presses the selected applicator against a surface to be cleaned, a valve is opened allowing the stored liquid to flow out of the reservoir, through the porous applicator, and on to the surface to be cleaned. The handle has a plurality of non-slippery rings to help one grasp the liquid dispenser and a larger, a wide non-slippery band generally disposed in the center of the handle to allow the dispenser to be mounted to a holder.  
         [0026]     Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0027]     The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings with which are given by way of illustration only.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a view of the liquid dispenser of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the applicator scrubber of the liquid dispenser of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal view of the applicator scrubber of the liquid dispenser of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the applicator scrubber of the liquid dispenser of the present invention with the inclined surface facing outward.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the liquid dispenser of the present invention illustrating the coupling mechanism of the applicator sponge and scrubber to the handle member.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the applicator sponge of the liquid dispenser of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal view of the applicator sponge of the liquid dispenser of the present invention.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the applicator sponge of the liquid dispenser of the present invention with the inclined surface facing outward.  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the applicator sponge of the liquid dispenser of the present invention illustrating the sponge valve mechanism.  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is a view of the upper wall of the housing of the applicator sponge of the present invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 11  is a view of the base wall of the housing of the applicator sponge of the present invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the applicator scrubber of the liquid dispenser of the present invention illustrating the scrubber valve mechanism.  
         [0040]      FIG. 13  is a view of the plate of the scrubber valve mechanism.  
         [0041]      FIG. 14  is a view of the base wall of the housing of the applicator scrubber of the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the applicator sponge of the liquid dispenser of the present invention illustrating the sponge valve mechanism removed from the sponge material.  
         [0043]      FIG. 16  is a view of the sponge valve mechanism locking into the non-cylindrical internal wall of the sponge material.  
         [0044]      FIG. 17  is a view of the applicator scrubber disassembled into applicator scrubber replacement part and the scrubber valve mechanism.  
         [0045]      FIG. 18  is a view of the holder for the liquid dispenser of the present invention.  
         [0046]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the holder for the liquid dispenser of the present invention  
         [0047]      FIG. 20  is a view of the liquid dispenser in its holder mounted in a kitchen sink. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0048]     The Liquid Dispenser of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and designated generally by reference numeral  10 . With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , the liquid dispenser is seen to feature three basic components, namely: a handle member  12 , an applicator sponge  14  at the end of the handle member and an applicator scrubber  16  at the other end. Each of these components will be discussed in detail below.  
         [0049]     The handle member  12 , which includes a general cylindrical sidewall  26 , preferably formed of a transparent or translucent material, such as a suitable plastic. The handle member  12  is hollow, forming a reservoir  28  for the placement of a liquid medium, generally liquid soap, allowing the liquid to reach the applicator sponge  14  and the applicator scrubber  16  attached at opposite ends of the handle member  12 .  
         [0050]     The handle member  12  includes a cylindrical section  54 ,  58  with small diameter than the cylinder  26 , used for the coupling to the applicator sponge  14  and the applicator scrubber  16  respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The cylindrical section  54  has a flexible and resilient rubber ring  56  attached. The cylindrical section  58  has another flexible and resilient rubber ring  62  attached to this section. Rubber ring  62  will lock the connection with the applicator sponge  14  when it is inserted. This locking mechanism will be later described. The same will happen with the rubber ring  56  related with the insertion of the applicator scrubber  16 .  
         [0051]     The handle member  12  has in its surface a wide non-slippery band  34  for grasping firmly the handle member  12 . Further, this non-slippery rubber band  34  is located where the holder  138  in  FIG. 18 , later described, will hold the universal liquid dispenser  10 . The handle member  12  includes a number of non- slippery rubber rings  30  help to grasp the handle member  12  appropriately.  
         [0052]     The applicator sponge  14  has a specific external shape, allowing reaching any surface to be cleaned as best illustrated in  FIGS. 6, 7  and  8 . It has a cylindrical surface  17  used when the surface to be cleaned is cylindrical, like a glass. The waved surface  21 ,  23 ,  25  and a number of sponge filaments  22  placed between the waves; help clean the cylindrical surface, too. The applicator sponge  14  has an inclined surface  20  with an angle of approximately twenty (20) degrees related with the longitudinal axis of the handle member  12  to clean the surface of dishes. The applicator sponge  14  has a flat surface  19  to clean the bottom of any recipient.  
         [0053]     The applicator sponge  14  includes a sponge-end protuberance  24  for coupling with the handle member  12 . The sponge-end protuberance  24  has an internal cylinder  66 , allowing to insert the cylindrical section  58  belong to the handle member  12 . The internal cylinder  66  has at the end a flange  76  to hold a flexible and resilient rubber ring  68 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The rubber ring  68  seals the connection between the applicator sponge  14  and the handle member  12 . The internal cylinder  66  has a cylindrical groove  70  to lock the connection when the rubber ring  62  reach the cylindrical groove  70 , avoiding to disengage the coupling between the applicator sponge  14  and the handle member  12 . The rubber ring  62  works as a sealer, too.  
         [0054]     Internally, the applicator sponge  14  has a housing  71  which includes a generally cylindrical internal side wall  86 , preferred formed of a plastic material as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The external sidewall  86  is non-cylindrical. The housing  71  has a base wall  90  secured to the sidewall  86 . The base wall  90  has an axial bore  98  and two holes  94 , 95 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The housing  71  has a valve assembly  85 .  
         [0055]     The valve assembly  85  allows the flow of liquid to the sponge material  18 , when it is activated. The valve assembly  85  includes an elongated valve stem  74  extending axially through the housing  71  and the axial bore  98 . The housing  71  has an upper wall  80 . The upper wall  80  has an axial bore  96  and two holes  78 , 79 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0056]     The valve stem  74  moves through the axial bore  96  and axial bore  98 . The two holes  79 , 80  always allow the flow of the liquid from the handle member  12  to the housing  71 . The valve stem  74  has a round plate  92  attached at the lower end. The valve stem  74  has attached rigidly another round plate  87  inside the housing  71 . The round plate  87  has glued in the bottom a flexible and resilient rubber plate  88 . There is a spring  84  around the valve stem  74  and between the upper wall  80  and the round plate  87 .  
         [0057]     Normally, the rubber plate  88  is touching the base wall  90  covering the holes  94 , 95  of the base wall  90 , because the spring  84  is pressuring the round plate  87  and round plate  88  against the base wall  90 . This avoids the liquid inside the housing  71  to go to the sponge material  18 .  
         [0058]     The valve assembly  85  is activated when the person holding the universal liquid dispenser  10 , press the applicator sponge  14  by the bottom surface  19  and pushing against any solid surface. Then the round plate  92  is moving up and the round plate  87  with the rubber plate  88  will move up, too, allowing the liquid inside the housing  71  to go through the holes  94 , 95  to the chamber  100  and to the sponge material  18 . In this moment the spring  84  is compressed.  
         [0059]     The flow of the liquid to the sponge material  18 , generally soap, will stop when the valve assembly  85  is not pushing against a solid surface. Then, the compressed spring  84  push the round plate  87  and rubber plate  88 , and the spring  84  recovers his original position. The rubber plate  88  will block again the holes  94 , 95 .  
         [0060]     The applicator sponge  14  comprises two parts that can be disassembled for the purpose of replacement part as illustrated in  FIG. 15 . One part is composed of the housing  71  including the valve assembly  85 . The second part (the replacement part)  134  is composed of the sponge material  18  and a non-cylindrical wall  72 , generally made of plastic material, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The external side of the wall  72  is cylindrical and attached to the sponge material  18  with glue.  
         [0061]     The housing  71 , which has a non-cylindrical external side of the wall  86 , is inserted inside the non-cylindrical internal wall  72  to form the applicator sponge  14 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 15-16 . This coupling between two non-cylindrical surface, avoids the rotational movement could be created during the use of the applicator sponge  14 . The sidewall  86  has two flanges  82 , 83 . The non-cylindrical internal wall  72  of the replacement part has two grooves  130 , 131  allowing locking the replacement part  134  to the housing  71 .  
         [0062]     The applicator scrubber  16  has an external shape able to reach any surface to be cleaned, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 . The applicator scrubber  16  is used when a tough job is necessary to clean a specific surface.  
         [0063]      FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the applicator scrubber  16  with a cylindrical surface  43  ideal to clean a cylindrical surface. Further, the applicator scrubber  16  has a flat surface  41  to clean the bottom of any recipient and an inclined surface  40  to clean, per example, the surface of a frying pan or pot. The inclined surface  40  has approximately an angle of twenty (20) degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the universal liquid dispenser  10 . The applicator scrubber  16  uses a non-scratch scour pad avoiding the damage of any surface to be cleaned.  
         [0064]     The applicator scrubber  16  has four sections. The main section is the surface  38  made of non-scratch scour pad. There is a top section  44  that is made of non-scratch scour pad, too. Between these two sections, there is a small sponge section  42  to allow the movement of the section  44 . This will be described later. The last section is a scrubber-end protuberance  36  used for coupling the applicator scrubber  16  and the handle member  12 . The scrubber-end protuberance  36  has an internal cylinder  52  allowing to insert the cylindrical section  54  belong to the handle member  12 .  
         [0065]     The internal cylinder  52  has at the end a flange  77  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , to hold a flexible and resilient rubber ring  46  to seal the connection between the applicator scrubber  16  and the handle member  12 . The internal cylinder  52  has a cylindrical groove  50 . When the flexible and resilient rubber ring  56  belongs to the handle member  12  reach the cylindrical groove  50 , it will lock the connection between the applicator scrubber  16  and the handle member  12 . The rubber ring  56  can work as a sealer, too.  
         [0066]     Internally the applicator scrubber  16  has a housing  110 , which includes a truncated cylindrical wall  107 . The side of the inclined surface  40  exist truncates it, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The housing  110  includes a valve assembly  125 . The truncated cylindrical wall  107  is preferably made of a plastic material. The housing has a base wall  122  secured to the truncated cylindrical wall  107 . The base wall  122  has a bore  126  and two holes  123 , 124  as illustrated in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0067]     The housing has an upper wall  104 . The upper wall  104  has a hole  102  to allow the communication with the handle member  12 . The housing has a plate  112  close to the upper wall  104 . The plate  112  has a bore  115  and a hole  114 .  
         [0068]     The valve assembly  125  includes an elongated valve stem  116  extending vertically through the housing  110  and goes through the bore  126  in the base wall  122  and through the bore  115  in the plate  112 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 12, 13  and  14 . The plate  112  has the hole  114  to permit the liquid to flow inside the housing  110 . The valve stem  116  has a rigid round plate  128  attached at the lower end. The valve stem  116  has attached another rigid round plate  120  located inside the housing  110 . The rigid round plate  120  has glued in the bottom a flexible and resilient rubber plate  121 .  
         [0069]     There is a spring  118  around the valve stem  116  and between the plate  112  and the round plate  120 . Normally the rubber plate  121  is touching the base wall  122  covering the holes  123 , 124 , because the spring  118  is pressuring the round plate  120  and rubber plate  121  against the base wall  122 , avoiding the liquid inside the housing  110  to go outside through the sponge section  42  and non-scratch scour pad top section  44 .  
         [0070]     The valve assembly  125  is activated when the person holding the universal liquid dispenser  10  press the applicator scrubber  16  by the bottom surface  41  and pushing against any solid surface. The round plate  128  is moving up and the rigid round plate  120  with the rubber plate  121  moving up, too. This is possible because the sponge section  42  can be compressed. The liquid will flow from the housing  110  to the chamber  129  through the holes  123 , 124  existing in the base wall  122 . The liquid flows to the sponge section  42  and non-scratch top section  44 , too. In this moment the spring  118  is compressed. The flow of the liquid to the exterior will stop when the bottom of the applicator scrubber is not longer pushing any solid surface. In this case the compressed spring  118  returns to his original position, pushing the round plate  120  and rubber plate  121  against the base wall  122 . The rubber plate  121  blocks the flow of liquid.  
         [0071]     The applicator scrubber  16  comprises two parts that can be disassembled for the purpose of replacement part, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . One part is composed of the housing  110  including the valve assembly  125 . The second part (the replacement part)  136  is composed of the non-scratch sections  38 ,  44  and the sponge section  42  externally, and the truncated cylinder  108 , generally made of plastic material. The truncated cylinder  108  is attached with glue to the non-scratch scour pad  38 . The sponge section  42  is glued to the non-scratch scour pad top section  44  for one side. For the other side the sponge section  42  is glued to the non-scratch scour pad  38 .  
         [0072]     The housing  110  is inserted inside the replacement part  136  to form the applicator scrubber  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0073]     The sidewall  107  belong to the housing  110  has two flanges  105 ,  106 . The truncated cylinder  108  belong to the replacement part  136  has two grooves  132 ,  133 , allowing to lock the replacement part  136  to the housing part  110  when they are coupling.  
         [0074]     There is a holder  138  as illustrated in  FIG. 18  to put the universal liquid dispenser  10  in any place. The holder  138  comprises a frame  140 , generally made of plastic material, three cylindrical rubber suction pads  142 , 143  and  144  and a clamp  145 , generally made of plastic or metal as best illustrated in  FIGS. 18,19 .  
         [0075]     The plastic frame  140  is generally a rectangular box and support the three suction pads  142 ,  143  and  144 . They are attached to the frame  140  through the internal wall  147 . The other sides of suction pads  242 ,  243  and  244  are in the surface  150 . The frame  140  has an external wall  148 . There is a piece of plastic  146  attached to the external wall  148  to get a prudential distance between the surface  150  and the universal liquid dispenser  10 . The piece of plastic  146  is secured attached to the clamp  145 . The clamp  145  will hold the universal liquid dispenser  10  through the rubber  34  located in the handle member  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 19 .  
         [0076]      FIG. 20  shows the holder  138  and the universal liquid dispenser  10  located inside the sink  150  of any kitchen at home, factory or restaurant. The holder can be at any other place where a surface of objects needs to be cleaned.  
         [0077]     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.