Patent Publication Number: US-2016227979-A1

Title: Hands-free Pot Scrubber

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application is a divisional application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 13/794,632 filed Mar. 11, 2013 and entitled “Hands-free Pot Scrubber”, Attorney Docket No. EST0801 U502, which, in turn, claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/714,564 filed Mar. 1, 2010 and entitled “Hands-free Pot Scrubber”, Attorney Docket No. EST0801 US01, which in turn, claims the benefit of priority to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/156,489 filed Feb. 28, 2009 and entitled “Hands-free Pot Scrubber”, Attorney Docket No. EST0801 US. The entire contents of each of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of motorized cleaning devices, and more particularly to a hands-free device that is used to clean pots, pans and other cookware, from here on to be described as cooking utensils. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Existing devices for cleaning cooking utensils have various deficiencies. For example, some must be fixed in place (e.g., a dishwasher), and therefore, a cooking utensil must be brought to the device for cleaning, rather than vice-versa. In addition, a dishwasher is not capable of adequately cleaning certain cooking utensils, e.g., pots with burned food or grease residue. Other existing devices for cleaning cooking utensils are not fixed in place (e.g., a Black &amp; Decker Powered Scrubber), but these devices have the drawback of requiring a user to hold and guide the device in its operation, rather than permitting a user to use the device in a hands-free fashion. 
     Therefore a need exists for a device that permits the cleaning of cooking utensils without the user holding on to the device or the cooking utensil. Furthermore, a need exists for a device for cleaning cooking utensils that permits an operator to attend to other activities during its operation. 
     A device constructed according to the principles of the present invention addresses these deficiencies. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with principles of the present invention, one embodiment of a hands-free portable device for cleaning a surface includes one or more motors, and at least two scrub brushes rotationally coupled to the motors, wherein the distribution of mass of the hands-free device is substantially uneven. Motion from the motors is rotationally transferred to the scrub brushes. The transferred motion and the uneven distribution of mass of the hands-free pot scrubber cause the device to be self-propelled on the surface. 
     In accordance with principles of the present invention, another embodiment of a hands-free portable device for cleaning a surface includes one or more motors, an assembly including at least one first scrub brush rotationally coupled to the motors, a hinged portion coupled to the assembly by at least one hinge, and at least one second scrub brush rotationally coupled to the hinged portion and mechanically coupled to at least one of the motors. Motion from the motors is rotationally transferred to the scrub brushes. The transferred motion causes the device to be self-propelled on the surface. 
     In accordance with principles of the present invention, another embodiment of a hands-free portable device for cleaning a surface includes one or more motors, an assembly including at least one scrub brush rotationally coupled to the motors, a hinged portion coupled to the assembly by at least one hinge, and at least one wheel rotationally coupled to the hinged portion. Motion from the motors is rotationally transferred to the scrub brushes. The transferred motion causes the device to be self-propelled on the surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1-3  depict a front, side, and perspective view, respectively, of a first embodiment of a hands-free pot scrubber in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the hands-free pot scrubber depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the bottom of the hands-free pot scrubber depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of components of the hands-free pot scrubber depicted in  FIG. 1  without a housing; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the hands-free pot scrubber depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view without a cover of the hands-free pot scrubber depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  depict the motion vectors of an embodiment of a hands-free pot scrubber; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  depict a side view and front view, respectively, of an embodiment of a hands-free pot scrubber connected to a charging station; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  depict a side view and top view, respectively, of the charging station of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIGS. 14-16  depict a top, side, and bottom view, respectively, of a second embodiment of a hands-free pot scrubber in accordance with principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 17  depicts a perspective view of a third embodiment of a hands-free device in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  depicts a top view of the hands-free device depicted in  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 19  depicts a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a hands-free device in accordance with principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 20  depicts a top view of the hands-free device depicted in  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description considered in connection with the accompanied drawings. It is to be understood however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as definition of the limits of the invention. It is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-8  depict a first embodiment of a portable hands-free pot scrubber in accordance with principles of the present invention. The hands-free pot scrubber  10  comprises a cover  11  having a handle  12 , base section  32 , top section  34 , drive gear  17 , rod gears  16 , drive chain  18 , motor  20 , motor shaft  21 , batteries  22 , switch  23 , drive members or rods  24  (also referred to as shafts), scrub brush mounts  25 , scrub brushes  26 , and electrical conductors (not shown), e.g., wires, electrically connecting the batteries  22 , the switch  23  and the motor  20 . 
     The cover  11 , top section  34  and base section  32  are assembled to fit together as depicted in  FIG. 4 , thus forming a substantially waterproof housing  30  and substantially rigid frame for the support of other components of the hands-free pot scrubber  10 . When assembled, the drive rods  24  extend through matching openings in the base section  32 , and the scrub brush mounts  25  are attached to the drive rods  24 . The scrub brushes  26  are attached to the scrub brush mounts  25 . While the scrub brushes  26  depicted in  FIGS. 1-8  are each substantially circular with non-equal diameters, one skilled in the art will recognize that two or more of the scrub brushes  26  may have substantially equal diameters. Furthermore, a scrub brush  26  may alternatively be of non-circular shape, e.g., rectangular. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , a central axis  19  of a hands-free pot scrubber  10  is disposed substantially in the center of the pot scrubber  10 , aligned substantially vertically when the hands-free pot scrubber  10  is placed in an operational position on top of a substantially horizontal cooking utensil surface or food preparation surface. Furthermore, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , the scrub brushes  26  are arranged asymmetrically around the central axis  19 . 
     The junctions of the cover  11 , top section  34  and base section  32  may be sealed to prevent water penetration, e.g., with one or more O-rings. In addition, the drive rods  24  may be sealed, e.g., with sealed spherical bearings, stainless steel or composite spherical bearings and separate rubber shaft seals. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the batteries  22  may be a single battery, a plurality of batteries or a battery pack comprised of a plurality of batteries. Furthermore, the batteries  22  may be single-use or rechargeable. In some embodiments, the batteries  22  may be any suitable source of electrical power, e.g., one based on lead-acid, alkaline, lithium-ion, nickel metal hydride or capacitive technology. 
     A hands-free pot scrubber  10  may also include additional components (not shown): a soap dispenser (either manual or automatic) for release of soap (or other cleaning liquid) during operation. 
     In operation, a hands-free pot scrubber  10  is placed on top of a substantially horizontal surface of a cooking utensil to be cleaned. Water and soap are typically placed within the cooking utensil. When a user is ready to operate the hands-free pot scrubber  10 , he or she operates the switch  23 . The batteries  22 , which are electrically coupled to the switch  23  and motor  20  by electrical conductors as described above, power the motor  20  after the user operates the switch  23 . The drive gear  17  is attached to the motor shaft  21  and is fitted with the drive chain  18 , which in turn threads around each of the rod gears  16 . Each rod gear  16  and scrub brush  26  is attached to the top and bottom end, respectively, of a drive rod  24 . Thus, the motor  20  is mechanically coupled to the motor shaft  21 , drive gear  17 , drive chain  18 , rod gears  16 , drive rods  24 , scrub brush mounts  25 , and scrub brushes  26 . When the motor  20  is powered, the motor shaft  21  moves the drive gear  17 , which moves the drive chain  18 , which in turn causes the rod gears  16 , drive rods  24 , scrub brush mounts  25  and scrub brushes  26  to rotate, thereby propelling the hands-free pot scrubber  10  across and cleaning the surface of the cooking utensil. Each scrub brush  26  rotates in a substantially circular motion relative to the common axes of rotation of the associated drive rod  24 , scrub brush mount  25  and scrub brush  26 . 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that a hands-free pot scrubber  10  may include alternate mechanisms for driving the motion of the scrub brushes  26 , e.g., pulleys and a belt rather than gears and a chain, or direct drive of the scrub brushes  26  or the drive rods  24  by one or more motors  20 . 
     One skilled in the art will also recognize that a hands-free pot scrubber  10  may be comprised of more than or less than the three sets of rod gears  16 , drive rods  24 , scrub brush mounts  25  and scrub brushes  26  depicted in  FIGS. 1-8 . Furthermore, each of the scrub brushes  26  may each be of a different size as depicted in  FIGS. 1-8 , or one or more may be substantially of a same size. Additionally, each of the sets of rod gears  16 , drive rods  24 , scrub brush mounts  25  and scrub brushes  26  may be disposed symmetrically around the axis of motor shaft  21 . The lengths of the drive rods  24  may differ or be substantially equal. 
     In one embodiment of a hands-free device  10 , the drive rods  24  ( 24 C,  24 L,  24 T) are of unequal length. The unequal length of the drive rods  24  places center scrub brush  26 C, leading scrub brush  26 L and trailing scrub brush  26 T at unequal distances relative to the housing  30 . The unequal distances of the scrub brushes  26  relative to the housing  30  result in the hands-free device  10  positioned at a tilt relative to a surface upon which it is placed, i.e., the center axis  19  of the hands-free device  10  assumes a non-zero angle with vertical when the hands-free device  10  is placed upon a surface. In other words, the hands-free device  10  is tilted when it is on a level horizontal surface such as the surface of a cooking utensil or food preparation surface. 
     In some embodiments, the above-described tilt of the hands-free device  10  causes the center of weight of the hands-free device  10  to not be aligned with the center axis  19 , which causes unequal portions of the weight of the hands-free device  10  to be borne by the scrubbers  26 . In other embodiments, the tilt of the hands-free device  10  causes an unequal compression of at least two of the scrub brushes  26 , which results in unequal traction between the surface and at least two scrub brushes  26 , which in turn results in greater force applied to the surface by at least one of the scrub brushes  26 . In either embodiment, the unequal distances of at least two of the scrub brushes  26  relative to the housing  30  result in the hands-free device  10  propelling itself across and cleaning the surface upon which it is operating. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that an embodiment of a hands-free device  10  need not have all of the drive rods  24  of unequal length. For example, if only two drive rods  24  are of unequal length, this will result in the effects described above that will enable a hands-free device  10  to propel itself across a surface. Furthermore, there are suitable arrangements of components that will couple a scrub brush  26  to a motor  20  other than those described above, and any such arrangement that places the scrub brushes  26  at unequal distances relative to the housing  30  will enable the hands-free pot scrubber  10  to self-propel. 
     In one embodiment of a hands-free pot scrubber  10 , the circular motion of the scrub brushes  26  is substantially continuous and of uniform speed when the device is operating. In an alternate embodiment, the scrub brush motion alternates in an oscillatory manner between clockwise and counterclockwise motion. In still a further embodiment, the scrub brush motion is intermittent rather than continuous. In yet a further embodiment, the scrub brush motion is two or more of the following: continuous, oscillatory, or intermittent. 
     As depicted in the front view of  FIG. 1 , a lead drive rod  24 L and a center drive rod  24 C have respective axes  46 L and  46 C that are each oriented at respective angles  56 L and  56 C of substantially two degrees each relative to the central axis  19  when viewed from the front. As depicted in the side view of  FIG. 2 , the axis  46 T of trailing drive rod  24 T is oriented at an angle  66 T of substantially two degrees relative to the central axis  19 , and axis  46 L of lead drive rod  24 L is further oriented at an angle  66 L of substantially two degrees relative to the central axis  19 , when the hands-free pot scrubber  10  is viewed from the side. In this embodiment of the hands-free pot scrubber  10 , any angle between a drive rod  24  and the central axis  19  that is not specified above is substantially zero. One skilled in the art will recognize that rod angles other than two degrees relative to the central axis  19  may be used, and that other combinations of angles other than specified above may be used. 
     This arrangement of drive rods  24  at non-zero angles relative to the central axis  19  causes the scrub brushes  26  to be disposed at non-zero angles, i.e., tilted, relative to the surface of a cooking utensil. Thus, at any given time, one edge of a scrub brush  26  is either lower relative to the surface of the cooking utensil than its opposite edge, or makes better contact, due to greater compression of the scrub brush  26  at that edge, with the surface of the cooking utensil than its opposite edge. For example, in operation, the edge  68  of lead scrub brush  26 L is lower relative to the surface of a cooking utensil than the edge  69  of lead scrub brush  26 L. The difference in relative height of the two edges of a scrub brush results in better contact and thus greater traction between the lower edge and the surface of the cooking utensil than between the opposite edge and the surface of the cooking utensil. The difference in traction causes the hands-free pot scrubber  10  to be propelled, due to the force of the rotating scrub brushes  26 , across the surface of the cooking utensil in the direction of the higher edge. When lead scrub brush  26 L and/or trailing scrub brush  26 T make contact with the sidewall of a cooking utensil, the resistance of the sidewall to the motion of the hands-free pot scrubber  10  combined with the rotary motions of the scrubbers  26  cause the hands-free pot scrubber  10  to move circularly around the surface of the cooking utensil. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 9A , this embodiment of a hands-free pot scrubber  10  will propel itself, due to the rotary motions  72  of the scrub brushes  26 , in a substantially circular path  71  across the surface of the cooking utensil  200  that is being cleaned, due in part to the asymmetrical and non-parallel dispositions of the drive rods  24 . The rotary motions  72  are clockwise and the circular path  71  is counterclockwise when, as depicted in  FIG. 9 , viewed from above. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that counterclockwise rotary motions  72  will work as well, and will induce a hands-free pot scrubber  10  to move in a clockwise circular path  71 . 
     The movement of this embodiment of the hands-free pot scrubber  10  is self-correcting, i.e., it will always align itself so that its direction of motion relative to the surface of the cooking utensil is with the lead scrubber  26 L in the front and the trailing scrubber  26 T trailing. Typically, when a hands-free pot scrubber  10  is operated to clean a circular cooking utensil  200 , the center scrub brush  26 C cleans a center portion, and the lead scrubber  26 L and trailing scrubber  26 T clean an outer portion, of the surface of the cooking utensil  200 . The petals  28  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) of the trailing scrubber  26 T also clean the side wall of the cooking utensil  200 , and may be made to be flexible to accommodate the varying side wall angles that will be encountered with different cooking utensils. Thus, substantially any initial orientation of a hands-free pot scrubber  10  relative to the cooking utensil will result in the pot scrubber moving over (and thus cleaning) every portion of the interior surface of the cooking utensil. 
     The invention thus addresses the problems of operating a device for cleaning cooking utensils without hand-guiding the device in its operation and permits an operator to attend to other activities during its operation. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that other dispositions or arrangements of the drive rods  24  and thus scrub brushes  26  may also be used to cause a hands-free pot scrubber  10  to self-propel across the surface of the cooking utensil and that the pattern of motion of the hands-free pot scrubber  10  may be other than substantially circular. The components of a hands-free pot scrubber  10  may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as metal, plastic or nylon. The scrub brushes  26  may be made of any suitable scrubbing or scouring material or combination of materials, e.g., steel wool, or nylon brush or pad. 
     An alternate embodiment of the hands-free pot scrubber  10  includes a shut-off timer (not shown) coupled to the switch  23  that operates to shut off the motor  20  after a pre-determined or selectable time duration (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 minutes) in order to prevent the hands-free pot scrubber  10  from operating for too long a time period. This shut-off feature would be useful, for example, in the event that the operator fails to manually shut off the operation of the hands-free port scrubber  10 . 
     The required weight of a hands-free pot scrubber  10  varies depending upon the type of surface to be cleaned. For example, a weight of approximately 2½ pounds is generally sufficient for cleaning a non-stick surface such as Teflon, while a weight of approximately at least 5½ pounds is typically required for cleaning surfaces that stick like stainless steel and cast iron. A hands-free pot scrubber  10  may include a component (not shown) for increasing its total weight, e.g., one or more water (or other liquid) reservoirs, or detachable metal weights. Adjustment of the total weight permits a user to configure a hands-free pot scrubber  10  according to the particular characteristics of the utensils that require cleaning. In one embodiment of the hands-free pot scrubber  10 , the weight distribution of its components is substantially symmetrical about the central axis  19 . In an alternate embodiment, the weight distribution increases with radial distance from the central axis  19 . 
     In some embodiments of a hands-free device  10 , the center of mass of the hands-free device  10  does not lie along said central axis  19 , due to an uneven distribution of mass. An example of this is depicted in  FIG. 9B , in which a hands-free device  10  comprises weight components  15   a  and  15   b , positioned in such a way so that the mass of the hands-free device  10  is distributed unevenly about the central axis  19 , thereby resulting in a center of mass of the hands-free device  10  that does not lie along the central axis  19 . In some embodiments, a weight component  15  may have a mass in the range of 1 to 50 ounces. Each weight component  15  may or may not be equal, equivalent or similar in mass, size, shape and composition. Other embodiments may use weight components  15  in other mass ranges, and the selection of the mass of a weight component  15  may depend upon factors such as the total weight of the hands-free device  10 , the size, material and composition of the scrub brushes  26 , and the power capability of the batteries  22  and motor  20 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 9B , weight component  15   a  is disposed on the handle  12  and weight component  15   b  is disposed on the top section  34 . One skilled in the art will recognize that a weight component  15  may be attached to, incorporated with, disposed upon, or integral to, one more components of a hands-free device  10 , including the housing  30 , handle  12 , base section  32 , top section  34  or other suitable component such that the mass of the hands-free device  10  is distributed unevenly about the central axis  19  and causing the center of mass of the hands-free device  10  not to lie along the center axis. 
     In some embodiments of a hands-free device  10 , one or more of the weight components  15  may be adjustable in mass or detachable from the hands-free device  10 , in order to allow a user to determine the extent of unevenness in distribution of mass of the hands-free device  10 , thereby controlling the speed at which the hands-free device  10  propels itself a surface, 
     An uneven distribution of the mass of a hands-free device  10  results in the portion of the weight of the hands-free device  10  borne by each scrub brush  26  to be unequal, i.e., at least two scrub brushes  26  each bear an unequal portion of the weight. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 9B , the position of weight components  15   a  and  15   b  result in trailing scrub brush  26 T bearing a greater portion of the weight of the hands-free pot scrubber  10  than is borne by either center scrub brush  26 C or lead scrub brush  26 L. 
     The unequal portion of the weight of the hands-free device  10  borne by each scrub brush  26  results in the hands-free pot device propelling itself across and cleaning the surface upon which it is operating. 
     In some embodiments, an uneven distribution of the mass of a hands-free device  10  results in a first side or edge of a scrub brush  26  bearing more of the weight of the hands-free device  10  than a second opposing side or edge of the same scrub brush  26 . This causes the first side or edge to be more compressed than the second side or edge, resulting in greater traction between the surface and the first side or edge than the surface and the second side or edge, thereby causing the hands-free device  10  to propel itself. 
     Thus, several features of a hands-free device  10  have been described that cause a hands-free device  10  to propel itself across and clean the surface upon which it is operating. These features include at least the following: (a) a non-zero angle between at least two scrub brushes  26 , (b) uneven mass distribution, (c) unequal lengths of at least two drive members  24 , (d) any arrangement of the components of a hands-free pot scrubber  10  that results in a center of mass that is not aligned with a center axis  19 , (e) any arrangement of the components of a hands-free device  10  that results in unequal portions of the weight borne by at least two scrub brushes  26 , (f) any arrangement of the components of a hands-free device  10  that results in a tilt of the hands-free device  10  when it is on a horizontal surface, and (g) any arrangement of the components of a hands-free device  10  that causes one side or edge of scrub brush  26  to be more compressed than another side or edge when the hands-free device  10  is on a surface. An embodiment of a hands-free device  10  may include only one of these features, or any combination of these features, in order to obtain the ability to self-propel itself. 
     A hands-free pot scrubber  10  may be portable, so that it may easily be carried to a convenient location for use, e.g., sink, stove or countertop. One skilled in the art will recognize that a hands-free pot scrubber  10  may alternatively be constrained in a substantially fixed configuration, e.g., mounted next to a sink with a limited degree of movement sufficient to facilitate use at that location. 
     A hands-free pot scrubber  10  may be used in conjunction with a charging stand  80 , as depicted in  FIGS. 10-11 . A charging stand, depicted alone in  FIGS. 12-13 , may be comprised of a base  81 , a supporting arm  82  comprising two or more electrical charging contacts  83 , and an electrical plug  84  electrically coupled to the electrical charging contacts  83  for supplying electrical power to the charging contacts  83  when plugged into an electrical outlet (not shown). The handle  12  of the hands-free pot scrubber  10  may have two or more electrical contacts (not shown), which, when the pot scrubber  10  is mounted on the supporting arm  82  of the charging stand  80 , mate and make contact with charging contacts  83  for recharging the batteries  22  of the pot scrubber  10 . 
     An alternate embodiment of a hands-free pot scrubber  10 , depicted in  FIGS. 14-16 , comprises three detachable hand-held scrubbers  90  and an attachment piece  92  to which each hand-held scrubber  90  may be attached and detached. Each hand-held scrubber  90  has a housing that contains a motor and one or batteries electrically coupled to the motor for supplying electrical power to the motor, and a scrub brush  26  mechanically coupled to the motor. 
     Each hand-held scrubber  90 , when not attached to the attachment piece  92 , may be used as a portable hand-held scrubber to clean a cooking utensil. When the three hand-held scrubbers  90  are attached to the attachment piece  92  to form a hands-free pot scrubber  10 , the formed hands-free pot scrubber  10  can be used in a manner similar to that described previously for the hands-free pot scrubber  10 , and will self-propel itself over, and clean, the surface of a cooking utensil in a similar manner. 
       FIGS. 17-18  depict an alternate embodiment of a hands-free device  10  that includes a hinged portion  35  mechanically coupled to the housing  30  by a hinge  37 . A passive, unpowered wheel  36  is rotationally coupled to the hinged portion  35  and disposed higher than the scrub brushes  26 , so that the wheel  36  does not contact the bottom cooking surface of a cooking utensil when the hands-free device  10  is placed upon it. A spring (not shown) attached to the hinged portion  35  and either the housing  30  or hinge  37  urges or forces the hinged portion  35  away from the housing  30 . This forcing of the hinged portion  35  results in the wheel  36  contacting a sidewall of the cooking utensil, and once this occurs the scrub brush  26  opposite to the wheel is forced against the opposing section of sidewall of the cooking utensil. Because of this, the scrub brush  26  that is so forced against the sidewall of the cooking utensil self-propels the hands-free device  10  around the pan and cleans the sidewall of the cooking utensil as well as its surface. Thus, the hinged portion  35  provides for improved accommodation of cooking utensils and surfaces of different sizes and results in greater traction on both sides of the utensil or surface and causes the hands-free device  10  to propel itself across and clean the surface upon which it is operating. 
     In yet other embodiments, a wheel  36  is mechanically coupled to a motor (not shown) by a belt (not shown) and pulley (not shown) or other suitable mechanism such that the wheel  36  that is rotationally coupled to the hinged portion  35  is powered, rather than merely being a passive component. 
     In some embodiments of a hands-free device  10  a ratchet mechanism (not shown) is used with or incorporated with the hinge  37  and a spring is not used. Such a ratchet mechanism allows the hinged portion  35  to be manually positioned outward (i.e., away from the housing  30 ) by a user in a locked position where the wheel  36  is forced against the sidewall, but prevents the hinged portion  35  from moving inwards, thus keeping the wheel  36  forced against the sidewall once so positioned. The ratchet mechanism includes a release mechanism (not shown) that allows a user to release the ratchet mechanism from its locked position. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that multiple hinges  37  could be used to mechanically couple the hinged portion  35  to the housing  30 , and that multiple springs could be used as well. Furthermore, multiple wheels  36  could be rotationally coupled to the hinged portion  35 . 
     In some embodiments, an example of which is depicted in  FIGS. 19-20 , a scrub brush  26 H is used in place of a wheel  36 . In yet other embodiments, such a scrub brush  26 H is mechanically coupled to a motor (not shown) by a belt  31  and pulley  33  or other suitable mechanism such that the scrub brush  26 H that is rotationally coupled to the hinged portion  35  is powered, rather than merely being a passive component. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that an assembly other than a housing  30  may be used to structurally contain and/or support the other components (e.g., the motor, batteries, drive members) of a hands-free device  10 . 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that an arrangement of adjustable components other than a hinged portion attached by a hinge to a housing may be used to position the scrub brush  26 H or wheel  36  such that is forced against a sidewall of the utensil. 
     While a particular form and use of the present invention has been described above, the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement of parts or manner of use described. 
     One skilled in the art understands that modifications to the construction and use of the present system may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly to include other variants and embodiments of the invention that may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein.