Patent Publication Number: US-11020779-B1

Title: Bottle cleaning system and method of use

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to bottle cleaning systems, and more specifically, to a system that allows for one handed, efficient cleaning of a bottle, thereby giving a mother the ability to use their other hand for another task, such as holding a child. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Bottle cleaning systems are well known in the art and are effective means to sanitize and clean bottles, such as baby bottles. For example,  FIG. 1  depicts a flowchart  101  of a conventional method of cleaning a bottle. Conventionally, a mother or father will open up a bottle and use soap and water to scrub the inside of the bottle, as shown with boxes  103 ,  105 ,  107 . The mother/father can then rinse and dry the bottle, as shown with box  109 . 
     One of the problems commonly associated with method  101  is the requirement of two hands. Typically washing bottles requires the user to use two hands to really clean and sanitize the inside of a bottle, which prevents the user from performing any other tasks, such as also holding a child. 
     Accordingly, although great strides have been made in the area of bottle cleaning systems, many shortcomings remain. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a flowchart of common method of cleaning a bottle; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a bottle cleaning system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a bottle cleaning system of  FIG. 2  with the brush attachment depressed; 
         FIG. 4  is a disassembled view of the brush attachment of  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the method of use of the system of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     The system and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional bottle cleaning systems. Specifically, the present invention provides for a bottle cleaning system that can easily be used with one hand to effectively clean a bottle, thereby freeing up the user&#39;s second hand for other tasks. These and other unique features of the system and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise. 
     The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings. 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 2 and 3  depict front views of a bottle cleaning system  201  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application. It will be appreciated that system  201  overcomes one or more of the above-listed problems commonly associated with conventional bottle cleaning methods. 
     In the contemplated embodiment, system  201  includes a bowl  203  having a bottom surface  205  and the bowl  203  extending from a first end  207  to a second end  209 . In some embodiments, a leg  208  is included such that when the bowl is tilted, the leg raises the back end such that drainage is more efficient. In the preferred embodiment, the bowl  203  has a top surface  211  that tapers from the second end  209  to the first end  207 . In some embodiments, the bowl further includes a drain  213  configured to provide an opening from the interior of the body, such that the user can drain liquid from the inside of the bowl. 
     System  201  further includes a brush attachment  215  having an elongated tube  217  slidingly engaged with a rod  219 , the rod  219  engaged with a pressure seat  221 , the pressure seat  221  further attached to a first valve  223 . In the preferred embodiment, the brush attachment  215  further includes a plurality of bristles  225  extending from the elongated tube. 
     System  201  further includes a housing  227  extending around the rod  219  and positioned to engage with the pressure seat  221 . In the preferred embodiment, the housing  227  is positioned around a spring  231  and sits within a disk  233  positioned at the bottom of the bowl. As shown, the disk  233  includes a channel  235  holding a second valve  237  and can include a lip  239  configured to engage with a clip  241  extending from the bottom surface of the bowl. 
     In the preferred embodiment, system  201  further includes a second brush  243  having an elongated rod  245  with a second set of bristles  247 . In some embodiments, the second brush  243  further includes a top tapered brushing element  249 . As shown, the second brush is attached to the tube  217 . 
     It should be appreciated that one of the unique features believed characteristic of the present application is the configuration of elements that allows for a user to clean a bottle  250  with one hand. The user can invert the bottle  250  and place the bottle over the top of the bristles, wherein the user can push the bottle down, such that liquid from the bowl is pushed through the tube to clean the brush. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the depressing  301  of the brush attachment  215  is shown for clarity. In  FIG. 4 , a disassembled view further depicts the features. As shown, the plate  233  and channel  235  receive the valve  237  and spring  231  therearound. The rod  219  attached to the pressure seat  221  extends through housing  227 , such that when the rod  219  slides through the housing, the pressure seat  221  will engage with a top of the housing. The housing  227  can further include a lip  401  to engage with a top of the plate  233 . Further shown in  FIG. 4 , is the flow (shown with the arrows) of liquid through the system. The liquid will be placed in the bowl, as the user depresses the brush attachment, water is pushed from the bowl, through the channel  235 , through the pressure seat  221 , through the rod  219 , and through the tube  217  and out through the bristles, thereby cleaning the inside of the bottle. 
     The system can include additional features, such as a collapsible bowl, additional brushes, different sizes of brushes, and the like. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a flowchart  501  depicts the method of use of system  201 . During use, the bottle is inverted and placed over the top of the brush, as shown with boxes  503 ,  505 . The bottle is pushed down, thereby forcing water through the system to the inside of the bottle, as shown with box  507 . After the bottle is cleaned to the desires of the user, the user will remove the bottle, as shown with box  509 . It should be appreciated that the entire process can be completed with one hand, thereby leaving the user&#39;s second hand free for holding a child or the like, as shown with box  511 . 
     The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.