Patent Publication Number: US-6986184-B1

Title: Brush device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of brushing, scrubbing and general cleaning, and to the particular field of rotary handle mounted brushes. 
   Many people have water jets in various devices. For example, many people have water jets in a bath tub, or in a hot tub, or the like. These water jets must be cleaned on a periodic basis. However, some of the jets may be difficult to reach. Still further, it is often difficult to clean inside the water jet as well as around the water jet. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for cleaning in and around a water jet. 
   Some water jets are quite small and it is very difficult to clean inside such jets. Small brushes, such as tootbrushes, do not do an adequate job, and may be difficult to maneuver, especially for someone who may have some disability. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for cleaning in and around a small or difficult to reach water jets. 
   Many appliances have a variety of water jets associated therewith. Some of these water jets may be larger than others. Thus, one size or shape for a brush may not be adequate to complete a jet cleaning task. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for cleaning a variety of water jets. 
   Often, the area around a water jet must be cleaned at the same time the water jet, itself, is cleaned. Thus, the wall in which a water jet is mounted should be cleaned when the water jet is cleaned so a complete job is performed. However, due to the difference in shape and size between a planar wall and a small water jet, several different cleaning implements may be required. This may be cumbersome and time consuming to the worker. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for cleaning a variety of water jets as well as the areas associated with the water jets. 
   Any device such as a water jet cleaner should be easy to use and easily manipulated. If the device is cumbersome, it will not be commercially accepted. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for cleaning a variety of water jets as well as the areas associated with the water jets and which is easy to use and manipulate. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means for cleaning in and around a water jet. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for cleaning in and around a small or difficult to reach water jet. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for cleaning a variety of water jets. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for cleaning a variety of water jets as well as the areas associated with the water jets. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for cleaning a variety of water jets, including both large and small water jets, as well as the areas associated with the water jets and which is easy to use and manipulate. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a brush device that has a plurality of annular brushes encircling a single cylindrical brush. The annular brushes are of different sizes. All brushes are mounted on a drive shaft associated with an electric motor. The cylindrical brush will fit into a water jet, while the annular brushes will clean the outside of the water jet. A brush head encircles the annular brushes and is located and shaped to engage a planar surface adjacent to the water jet being cleaned. The brush can be plugged into a battery pack or into a wall outlet to provide power for the motor. 
   Using the brushing device embodying the present invention will permit a user to clean a variety of water jets, both inside the jets and outside the jets as well as the areas surrounding the water jets using a single, easy-to-use and easy-to-manipulate device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a brush unit embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a brush device  10  which achieves the above-stated objectives. 
   Brush device  10  comprises a housing  12  which has a handle  14  and a head  16 . Handle  14  is hollow and can be used to store a battery or like power unit. An on/off switch  18  is also located on handle  14 . Head  16  is frusto-conical in shape and has a frustum end  30 , a base end  32 , and an axis  34  which extends between frustum end  30  and base end  32 . Head  30  is hollow and has an interior surface  40  and an exterior surface  42 . An opening  44  is defined at base end  32  and is contained in a plane  46 . An annular surface  48  is located on head  30  and encircles opening  44 . 
   An electric motor  50  is located inside the housing  12  and has a drive shaft  52  associated therewith. As shown in  FIG. 2 , motor  50  is at an angle with respect to drive shaft  52  and thus a gear mechanism  54  is used. However, the motor  50  and the drive shaft  52  can be coupled together in a manner that does not require gear mechanism  54 , if suitable, by simply locating motor  50  in head  16  rather than in handle  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Drive shaft  52  extends along axis  34  from inside housing  12  toward opening  44 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , drive shaft  52  extends through opening  44  out of head  16 . 
   A plurality of annular brushes  60 ,  62  and  64  are mounted on drive shaft  52  for rotation therewith. The annular brushes are of different diameters, with brush  64  being the largest and being located adjacent to opening  44  and brush  60  being the smallest annular brush and being located farthest from opening  44 . As can be understood from  FIG. 2 , each annular brush is smaller than those annular brushes that are located closer to the opening  44  than the annular brush of interest. 
   A cylindrical brush  70  is mounted on drive shaft  52  for rotation therewith. Cylindrical brush  70  is located centrally of each of the annular brushes and extends in the direction of axis  34  out of opening  44 . 
   The brushes can be removed and changed as desired. Furthermore, while unit  10  is primarily useful for cleaning water jets, it can also be used to clean faucets, drains and the like. 
   A plurality of cleaning bristles  74  are mounted on housing  12  in surrounding relationship with opening  44 . 
   As indicated in  FIG. 1 , when motor  50  is activated, the brushes rotate in the clockwise direction  76  indicated in  FIG. 1 . Cylindrical brush  70  will fit into a water jet to clean the inside of the water jet while annular brushes  60 – 64  will contact the outside of the water jet. Brushes  60 – 64  are of different sizes so water jets of different outside sizes can be accommodated by device  10 . Bristles  74  will engage a planar surface that is located adjacent to the water jet being cleaned. The bristles can be used to clean the planar surface by manually rotating head  16  in direction  76  or in a counterclockwise direction. 
   Power for motor  50  can be supplied by a battery pack located inside handle  14  or by utility power via cord  80  and adapter  82 . Cord  80  and adapter  82  may also be used as part of a charge unit for a battery in handle  14 . 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts as described and shown.