Patent Publication Number: US-2010115722-A1

Title: Adjustable cleaning brush

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/113,885 filed on Nov. 12, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to cleaning brushes, and more particularly, to an adjustable cleaning brush which may be angularly adjusted for cleaning a surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Bath brushes may be used for cleaning body parts that are difficult to reach and clean by hand. For example, the individual may use a bath brush for cleaning his or her back. Typically, the brush may include a handle having an end portion and a plurality of bristles carried by the end portion. The bristles may be held in a fixed position with respect to the handle and therefore may not permit the individual to thoroughly clean his or her back. In addition, the individual may be an elderly or handicapped person having back problems and may therefore experience pain or discomfort while bending or twisting his body while bathing. Accordingly, the individual may require the assistance of another person for thoroughly cleaning his back. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush may include a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The adjustable cleaning brush may also have a head carried by the first end portion. The head may include a base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a neck pivotally interconnecting the head and the handle. The head may also include a plurality of bristles carried by the first surface of the base. The head may further include a sponge member carried by the second surface of the base. The head may be movable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle to permit the plurality of bristles and the sponge member to be adjusted for cleaning a surface. 
     Another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush may include a handle having a first portion and a second portion slidably carried by the first portion to permit adjusting the length of the handle. The adjustable cleaning brush may also have a head that may be carried by the second portion of the handle. The head may include a base having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a neck pivotally interconnecting the head and the second portion of the handle. The head may also include a plurality of bristles carried by the first surface of the base. The head may further include a sponge member carried by the second surface of the base. The head may be movable to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle to permit the plurality of bristles and the sponge member to be adjusted for cleaning a surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views of the adjustable cleaning brush of  FIG. 1  attaining different angular positions; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a locking mechanism of the adjustable cleaning brush of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of locking mechanism of the  FIG. 7  in a unlocked position; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of locking mechanism of the  FIG. 7  in a locked position; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure may provide an adjustable cleaning brush. The adjustable cleaning brush may enable in thoroughly cleaning or scrubbing an individual&#39;s entire body. More specifically, the adjustable cleaning brush may be adjusted angularly and lengthwise for reaching and cleaning the individual&#39;s body parts which may not be reached and cleaned by the individual&#39;s hand. Further, the adjustable cleaning brush may limit twisting and bending by an individual while cleaning his or her back. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush  10  (“brush”) may include a handle  100 . The handle  100  may be an elongated cylindrical structure that may be made of a light weight material, such as aluminum or plastic. However, the handle  100  may instead have other shapes, such as an elongated polygonal structure or an elongated oval structure. Of course, the handle may be made of other suitable materials. 
     The handle  100  may include a first end portion  102  and a second end portion  104  opposite to the first end portion  102 . The handle  100  may further include a pair of grip members  106 ,  108  that may be carried by a respective one of the first and second end portions  102 ,  104  of the handle  100 . The grip members  106 , 108  may permit an individual to firmly hold the handle  100 . The grip members  106 ,  108  may be compressible foam to cushion a user&#39;s hand while holding the brush. Of course, the grip members  106 ,  108  may instead be a rigid textured surface or have various other shapes made of any suitable material. 
     The brush  10  may further include a head  200  that may be carried by the first end portion  102  of the handle  100 . The head  200  may include a base  202  that may have a rectangular pan-shaped structure. Of course, the base  202  may have other structures, such as an oval pan-shaped structure or a polygonal pan-shaped structure. The base  202  may include a first surface  204 , a second surface  206  opposite to the first surface  204 , and a neck  208  that may pivotally interconnect the head  200  and the handle  100 . The neck  208  in one form may be made of one or more malleable wires  210  (shown with hidden lines). For example, the wires  210  may be copper wires having a one quarter inch diameter. Of course, the wires  210  may be made of other suitable materials having greater or less than one quarter inch diameters. The neck  208  may also have a sleeve  212  that may surround the wires  210 . Further, the sleeve  212  may be made of waterproof material, such as plastic or rubber. Of course, the neck  208  may instead include a ball-and-socket joint or other pivoting fasteners, and be made of other flexible materials, such as soft rubber. 
     The neck  208  may permit adjustment of the head  200  to a plurality of angular positions with respect to the handle  100 , and hold the head in any one of those positions. Furthermore, at least a portion  214  of the neck  208  may be threadably carried by the first end portion  102  of the handle  100 . The threadable coupling of the portion  214  and the first end portion  102  may permit an individual to adjust the length of the brush  10 . For example, an individual may hold the grip member  106  by one hand and thereafter may rotate the head  200  by another hand for threadbly moving the head  200  with respect to the handle  100  and thereby adjusting the length of the brush  10 . Of course, the individual may rotate the head  200  to an extent which allows the head  200  to remain carried by the handle  100 . 
     The head  200  may further include a plurality of bristles  216  carried by the first surface  204  of the base  202 . The bristles  216  may be removably carried by the first surface  204 . Accordingly, the bristles  216  may be stored in a dry location to limit or prevent growth of mildew and accumulation of soap scum on the bristles  216 . The bristles  216  may be made of a soft plastic material which may remove dead skin from an individual&#39;s body and also clean the individual&#39;s face. Of course, the bristles  216  may be made of any suitable material and may be fixedly carried by any portion of the brush. 
     The head  200  may also include a sponge member  218  carried by the second surface  206  of the base  202 . The sponge member  218  may be removably carried by the second surface  206 . Accordingly, the sponge member  218  may be stored in a dry location to limit or prevent growth of mildew and deposits of soap scum from accumulating on the sponge member  218 . Further, the sponge member  218  may be made of a soft plastic material which may permit cleaning somewhat fragile body parts of the individual. Of course, the sponge member  218  may instead be fixedly carried by any portion of the brush  10 . 
     In use, the head  200  of the brush  10  may be angularly moved with respect to the handle  100 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the head  200  may be moved  90  degrees toward the left or the right about the neck  208 . Further, the head  200  may be moved  90  degrees backward or forward about the neck  208 . Accordingly, the plurality of bristles  218  and the sponge member  216  of the brush  10  may be angularly adjusted for cleaning a surface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush  20  (“brush”) having a handle  300  and a head  500  may be similar to the brush  10  of  FIG. 1  having the handle  100  and the head  200 , respectively. However, the brush  20  may further have a scrubbing member  400  that may include a rod  402  carried by an end portion  302  of the handle  300  opposite to the head  500 . The scrubbing member  400  may be removably carried by the end portion  302  of the handle  300 . Of course, the scrubbing member  400  may be integral to the end portion  302  of the handle  300 . 
     The scrubbing member  400  may further include a plurality of scrubbing bristles  404  carried by the rod  402 . The scrubbing bristles  404  in this form may be arranged in a looped configuration. Of course, the bristles  404  may be configured to have a non-looped structure, such as elongated cylindrical structure. The looped structure of the scrubbing bristles  404  may permit the brush  20  to be hung on a support structure, such as hook. The bristles  404  may be made of nylon or other suitable materials. Accordingly, the scrubbing member  400  may be used for scrubbing body parts of an individual to, for example, dead skin from an ankle or the bottom of a foot. Moreover, the scrubbing member  400  may be used for cleaning areas in between the toes of the individual. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush  30  (“brush”) having a head  3200  may be similar to the brush  10  of  FIG. 1  having the head  200 . However, the brush  30  may have a handle  3100  that may include a first portion  3110  and a second portion  3120  slidably carried by the first portion  3110 . For example, the second portion  3120  may be telescopically received within the first portion  3110 . Further, the slidable movement of the second portion  3120  with respect to the first portion  3110  may permit adjustment of the length of the handle  3100 . 
     The brush  30  may further include a fastener or a locking mechanism  3130  which may be adapted to lock the second portion  3120  and the first portion  3110  in fixed positions with respect to each other. The locking mechanism  3130  may be carried by the handle  3100 . For example, the locking mechanism  3130  may include a plurality of holes  3132  formed in the first portion  3110  of the handle  3100 . Further, the locking mechanism  3130  may also include a spring-loaded protrusion  3134  which may be carried by the second portion  3120  of the handle  3100 . The spring-loaded protrusion  3134  may be received by one of the holes  3132  thereby retaining the first and second portions  3110 ,  3120  in fixed positions with respect to each other. Further, by pressing the spring-loaded protrusion  3134 , the second portion  3120  may again move with respect to the first portion  3110 , such that the spring-loaded protrusion  3134  may be received within another hole  3132 . Accordingly, the handle  3100  may be adjusted lengthwise and retained in its adjusted length. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-9 , still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush  40  (“brush”) having a head  4200  may be similar to the brush  10  of  FIG. 1  having the head  200 . The handle  4100  may include a first portion  4110  and a second portion  4120  that may be slidably carried by the first portion  4110  by, for example, telescopically interconnecting the first and second portions  4110 ,  4120 . Further, the second portion  4120  may be moved with respect to the first portion  4110  to permit adjustment of the length of the handle  4100 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the brush  40  may further include a locking mechanism  4130 . The locking mechanism  4130  may be adapted to hold the first and second portions  4110 ,  4120  in fixed positions with respect to each other. The locking mechanism  4130  may be carried by the handle  4100  and have a configuration known in the art for use with telescopically fitted extension poles. One example of a locking mechanism may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,718, which is incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the locking mechanism  4130  may include a threaded portion  4112  formed on the first portion  4110  of the handle  4100 . The locking mechanism  4130  may also include a sleeve member  4140  threadably associated with the threaded portion  4112 . Specifically, the sleeve member  4140  may include a complementary threaded portion  4142  which may be threadably associated with the threaded portion  4112 . The sleeve member  4140  may have an un-threaded portion  4144  extending from the complementary threaded portion  4142 . The un-threaded portion  4144  in this form may include a tapered portion  4146  extending from the complementary threaded portion  4142 . 
     The locking mechanism  4130  may further include a resilient member  4150  which in this form may be a ring carried by the second portion  4120  of the handle  4100 . During assembly, the resilient member  4150  may carried by the tapered portion  4146  of the sleeve member  4140 . Thereafter, the second portion  4120  may be inserted into the first portion  4110 , and received through the resilient member  4150  for allowing the resilient member  4150  to surround at least a portion of the second portion. The resilient member  4150  the sleeve member  4140  may include a slot  4152  along a length thereof. Then, the threaded portion  4142  of the sleeve member  4140  may be coupled to the threaded portion  4112  formed on the handle  4100 . 
     In use, the individual may move the handle to a desired a length by moving the first and second portions to desired positions with respect to each other. 
     Thereafter, the sleeve member  4140  may be rotated clockwise, such that the tapered portion  4146  and the first portion  4110  may press the resilient member  4150  radially inward against the second portion  4120  thereby gripping the second portion  4120 . In addition, the sleeve member  4140  may be rotated counterclockwise, such that the tapered portion and the first portion may permit the resilient member to return to its original position radially outward thereby releasing the first and second positions from their fixed positions for re-adjusting the length of the handle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , still another embodiment of an adjustable cleaning brush  50  (“brush”) having a handle  5100  and a head  5200  may be similar to brush of  FIG. 5  having the handle  3100  and the head  3200 , respectively. 
     However, the brush  50  may further include a scrubbing member  5300  carried by the first portion of  5110  of the handle  5100 . Further, the structural configuration and function of the scrubbing member  5300  may be similar to the scrubbing member  400  of the brush  20 , which is explained in conjunction with  FIG. 4 . Additionally, the brush  40 , explained in conjunction with  FIGS. 6 to 9 , may also include a scrubbing member (not shown). 
     Based on the foregoing description of the present disclosure, an adjustable cleaning brush, such as the brushes  10 - 50 , may be angularly and lengthwise adjusted for reaching and cleaning the individual&#39;s body part which may not be reached and cleaned by the individual&#39;s hand. Further, the adjustable cleaning brush of the present disclosure may enable in thoroughly cleaning an entire body of an individual with minimum physical effort. Specifically, the brush may be a light weighted cleaning brush which may be easy to handle for cleaning the individual&#39;s body part. Moreover, the angular adjustment of the brush may enable in avoiding the individual from twisting and bending the body parts, particularly the individual&#39;s back, while taking shower for cleaning the body parts. Therefore, the brush of the present disclosure may be suitably used by individuals suffering from back problems, elderly people, and handicapped individual. Apart from cleaning the body parts the brush of the present disclosure may be used for cleaning other articles, such as tires of a vehicle. Particularly, a scrubbing member, such as the scrubbing member  400 , of the brush may be used for cleaning the tires. 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to an adjustable cleaning brush as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The terms, “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element with another. Further, the terms, “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.