Patent Publication Number: US-2009217941-A1

Title: Shower head flush

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/067,483 filed Feb. 28, 2008. This application is also closely related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith. The teaching of such co-pending application is incorporated herewith by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a shower head, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a shower head cleaning system which provides consumers with a simple, hands free method of cleaning a shower head. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently a home homeowner, a bed and breakfast owner, a housekeeper or a gym worker must hold a container of cleanser up to the showerhead. Holding the cleaning solution above the body for an extended period of time can be difficult for someone who has one or more showers to clean. The time consuming nature of soaking a showerhead to remove dirt can be not only time consuming but also very tiring. 
     Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a means for cleaning a shower head which does not require all of the work that is currently needed to perform this function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning a shower head. The apparatus comprises a substantially hollow container member for holding a cleaning solution and having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material, such substantially hollow container member having a bottom portion and a sidewall portion extending upwardly from such bottom portion. The sidewall portion enclosing an entire perimeter of the bottom portion. A hanging means is disposed on a predetermined portion of the sidewall portion of such container member for hanging the substantially hollow container member from a water line having a shower head on an end thereof so that an end of such shower head is enclosed in the container member holding such cleaning solution. 
     In a second aspect the present invention provides a hands-free method of cleaning a shower head. The method comprises the steps of providing a substantially hollow container member having a substantially U-shaped member disposed on an end of the container member. There is a step of attaching the substantially hollow container member with said substantially U-shaped member to a water line having a shower head disposed on an end of the water line. Next is a step of disposing the shower head within the substantially hollow container member. Followed by a step of filling the substantially hollow container member with a cleaning solution to a depth at least sufficient to cover an end of the shower head and then soaking the shower head for a predetermined time, such predetermined time being sufficient to clean the shower head and remove any deposits built up one of thereon and therein. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus for hands-free cleaning of a shower head. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be connected to the water line so that the shower head is disposed within the apparatus. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the shower head is soaked in a cleaning solution in the apparatus. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free method for cleaning a shower head. 
     In addition to the various objects and advantages of the invention which have been described in some specific detail above it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a shower head as commonly found in showers stalls or bath tubs. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  attached to a water line connected to a shower head with the shower head disposed within the container member ready for cleaning. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings. 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated  10 , for cleaning a shower head  2 . The apparatus  10  comprises a substantially hollow container member  4  for holding a cleaning solution and having a predetermined shape and formed of a predetermined material, such substantially hollow container member  4  having a bottom portion  6  and a sidewall portion  8  extending upwardly from such bottom portion  6 . The sidewall portion  8  enclosing an entire perimeter of the bottom portion  6 . A hanging means, generally designated  20 , is disposed on a predetermined portion of the sidewall portion  8  of such container member  4  for hanging the substantially hollow container member  4  from a water line  12  having a shower head  2  on an end thereof so that an end of such shower head  2  is enclosed in the container member  8  holding such cleaning solution. 
     Such hanging means  20  includes a generally U-shaped member  14  for attachment with a water line  12  having a shower head  2  disposed on an end of such water line  12  wherein such end of such shower head  2  is disposed within the substantially hollow container member  4 . 
     The predetermined shape of the substantially hollow container member  4  is one of oval, circular and rectangular. It is presently preferred that the predetermined shape is substantially rectangular. Such rectangular substantially hollow container member  4  is between about 2½ inches and about 3½ inches wide and between about 4½ inches and about 5½ inches long and between about 2½ inches and about 3½ inches high. 
     Such predetermined material is selected from one of plastic and metal. It is presently preferred that such material is plastic. 
     In a second aspect the present invention provides a hands-free method of cleaning a shower head  2 . The method comprises the steps of providing a substantially hollow container member  4  having a substantially U-shaped member  14  disposed on an end of the container member  4 . There is a step of attaching the substantially hollow container member  4  with said substantially U-shaped member  14  to a water line  12  having a shower head  2  disposed on an end of the water line  12 . Next is a step of disposing the shower head  2  within the substantially hollow container member  4 . Followed by a step of filling the substantially hollow container member  4  with a cleaning solution to a depth at least sufficient to cover an end of the shower head  2  and then soaking the shower head  2  for a predetermined time, such predetermined time being sufficient to clean the shower head  2  and remove any deposits built up one of thereon and therein. 
     Shower head flush is a practical product designed to provide consumers with a simple, hands-free way to clean shower heads. The apparatus comprises a clear acrylic box with an adjustable hook engageable with one end of he box for attachment to the shower head. The user simply fills the container with a predetermined amount of a desired cleaning solution and then hang the unit from the shower head. The order of operation could be reversed in that the unit could be hung from the shower head and then filled with the cleaning solution. Once the apparatus is in place the apparatus can remain on the shower head until removed after the shower head is cleaned. 
     The apparatus is made of a durable plastic, preferably an acrylic. The reusable apparatus measures approximately 3″ by 5″ which is sufficiently large enough to enclose a shower head. 
     While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.