Patent Abstract:
A combination fluid dispensing bottle and scrubbing brush. The scrubbing brush is releasably secured to the bottle by a collar which has a first passage sized to be fit over and secured to a bottle cap covering the open spout of a plastic squeeze bottle, and a second passage sized to accept and secure a handle of a scrubbing brush in relative proximity to the sidewalls of the plastic bottle. The collar comprises a separable first and second clamping pieces which can be drawn together or spread apart according to the operation of a quick release device, to respectively secure the brush to the bottle or release the brush therefrom. Also the fluid dispensing bottle and brush may be provided with communicating passageways in order to directly dispense the fluid from the bottle into direct proximity of the brush bristles.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a cleaning device and system for cleaning any surface and more specifically to a tile grout cleaning bottle and brush combination facilitated by a clamping device in the form of a releasable collar to facilitate the replacement and interchangeability of the brush. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are numerous residential and commercial surfaces and materials which require cleaning. Many of these surfaces and materials are difficult to clean and require specific cleaning implements, for instance specialty shaped brushes. For professional cleaning of certain construction materials, in particular the tile grout in seams between tile, such cleaning is typically carried out manually due to the nature of the tile and grout materials. It is well known that grout, which is used to secure and fill the thin, elongate spaces or seams between tiles, or between tiles and another building material, usually fills the spaces or seams at a level below that of the plane defined by the top surface of the tile. Once properly applied between the tiles, the grout in the seam is essentially slightly depressed or sunken below the top surface of the tile, and even slightly concave in nature relative to the plane along which such tile and grout is laid. 
   Because of the relatively thin nature of the seam between tiles, relative to the planar tile surface, the seam and grout therein becomes a particularly difficult spot to clean. For example, on a tile floor a cleaning device such as a semi-automated sweeper, or even a conventional mop, tends to traverse the plane of the floor as defined substantially by the top surface of the tiles. The cleaning device which may adequately clean the top surface of the tiles making up the floor, can miss, i.e., pass over or span the seam, and due to the depressed, sunken and even concave nature of the grout, miss the grout completely, thus failing to clean the grout. In many cases the depressed nature of the grout even acts as a trap, ensnaring dirt and debris therein which cannot be easily cleaned. Furthermore, the porous nature of certain grouts also traps dirt and debris therein so that even if the surface of the grout is cleaned, the dirt and debris remains imbedded in the grout, and the grout appears dirty, dingy and uncleaned. 
   In order to properly clean grout it is generally necessary to manually apply a grout cleaning solution and then manually scrub the applied cleaning solution into the grout to lift out the imbedded dirt and debris. This operation is usually accomplished by a worker working on their hands and knees traversing the floor while applying the requisite cleaner from a bottle and then, with a separate brush, vigorously scrubbing the grout to remove the dirt and debris. 
   Generally, to really get tile grout clean it must be cleaned manually, and there are few alternatives. As discussed above, a worker utilizes a cleaning solution in a hand held bottle and applies a desired amount of cleaning solution to an area of grout to loosen any dirt, grime, mold or other debris located therein and then scrubs the grout with a brush. A grout cleaning brush as known in the art is generally provided with an elongate handle between about 4 to 14 inches in length and more preferably about 8 to 12 inches long. At one end of the brush a set of bristles is attached to the handle in a similar manner to that of a toothbrush. The bristles may be made of varying materials for example nylon or even metal wire bristles having various stiffnesses, but in any event, the bristles are stiff enough to provide an adequate scrubbing of the grout. However as is also known, the bristles have a finite life due to the intensity of the scrubbing which must be done to adequately clean grout and, therefore, after a certain period of time of a brush be discarded and replaced. 
   Bottles which are used to hold cleaning solution by the worker scrubbing the grout are also known in the art. The bottles generally hold about 6–64 ounces of cleaning solution, and being about 2 to 6 inches in diameter, and more preferably about 3 to 4 inches in diameter, can be easily held in the workers hand. It can be readily appreciated that in cleaning tile grout the cleaning solution need only be applied to the grout, rather than to the tile surface(s). In order to facilitate the appropriate dispensing of the cleaning solution only on the grout in the seam between the tiles, the bottle is provided with a nipple which has an opening at the dispensing end sized to permit only a desired about of cleaning solution out of the bottle and to apply the cleaning solution only along the grout. Too large an opening and the cleaning solution is apt to be dispensed all over the tile surfaces and cause the worker to have undertake an inordinate amount of clean up. 
   With the separate cleaning solution bottle and scrubbing brush as is known in the art, a worker who is cleaning floor tile grout is usually working on their hands and knees. Because of this physical working position it is necessary to have both knees on the floor, and at least one hand on the floor to support the workers upper body. The worker&#39;s other hand is then free to use the bottle, or the brush as necessary. In view of the fact that only one hand is free to perform such work, the worker must first dispense a desired amount of cleaning solution along the grout line and then put the bottle down and pick up the scrubbing brush to scrub the grout. This known method and apparatus for cleaning is greatly inefficient as the wasted motions of putting down one implement, or the other, take time and may place the necessary implements out of reach as the worker moves along the grout line scrubbing and cleaning. These inefficiencies have led workers to, for example, tape the handle of the scrubbing brush to the bottle so that the brush bristles are aligned radially outward relative to the circumference of the bottle. In this manner by using only one hand, the worker can not only dispense the cleaning solution, but can also immediately, or even simultaneously in some cases, scrub the tile grout with the brush without having to put down, and pick up one or the other cleaning implements. 
   The problem with taping the handle to the bottle is that the brush handle is not as rigidly fixed to the bottle as necessary to adequately scrub the grout. Held on merely by tape, the brush has a tendency to wobble, twist or move relative to the bottle, especially in view of the soft, squeezable plastic of which the bottle is manufactured. Additionally, the brushes wear out, in particular, the bristles wear down and become irreparably misaligned and thus must be replaced after a number of hours of use. The tape must then be torn off the bottle and brush and a new brush put on and new tape applied. If a sufficient amount of tape is used to adequately hold the brush to the bottle, it becomes a difficult job to maintain the alignment of the brush and remove the tape to replace the brush. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated cleaning brush and fluid dispensing bottle system which facilitates the replacement of the brush when the brush wears out. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination brush and bottle which can be held in one hand of a worker and perform both a fluid dispensing and material scrubbing of any surface or object in substantially the same manual operation. 
   A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a removable collar which attaches to the bottle and secures the brush to the bottle as single unit. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release device which releases the collar from the bottle and the brush. 
   The present invention relates to a combination fluid dispensing bottle and scrubbing brush for cleaning and scrubbing virtually any surface or object. Such surfaces can range from household and commercial floors, walls, ceilings, desk tops and counters to detailing automobiles and cleaning auto parts or any object. Although described below with particularity with respect to cleaning and scrubbing of tile grout, it is to be appreciated that the described apparatus could be utilized for cleaning most anything. 
   The scrubbing brush is releasably secured to the bottle by a collar which has a first passage sized to be fit over and secured to a bottle cap covering the open spout of a plastic squeeze bottle, and a second passage sized to accept and secure a handle of a scrubbing brush in relative proximity to the sidewalls of the plastic bottle. The collar comprises a separable first and second clamping pieces which can be drawn together or spread apart, according to the operation of a quick release device, to respectively secure the brush to the bottle or release the brush therefrom. Also the fluid dispensing bottle and brush may be provided with communicating passageways in order to directly dispense the fluid from the bottle into direct proximity of the brush bristles. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a squeeze bottle cap, nipple and tube; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective elevational view of a squeeze bottle, cap, nipple, tube and associated brush and supporting collar of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a planar view of the supporting collar and securing device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Observing  FIG. 1 , and as discussed in the Background of the Invention above, the present invention utilizes a bottle or container  1  having a top  3  and a bottom  5  and a sidewall  7  extending therebetween. The bottle  1  defines an interior cavity  9  for holding and dispensing cleaning solution (not shown) for use in cleaning a surface. By way of example of the present invention, the following description refers to tile grout as the surface for purposes of best understanding the use and function of the invention, however, it is to be appreciated that the described and disclosed cleaning implement can clean and scrub any surface. 
   The bottle  1  is generally a plastic or similarly constructed semi-rigid polymer bottle  1 , wherein the sidewalls  7  are manually squeezable to dispense the cleaning solution which is contained therein. The cleaning solution, as is well known in the art, can be any number of liquid cleaning products as are well known in the marketplace for physically cleaning particular surfaces, i.e., tile grout, thus no further description is provided. 
   The bottle top  3  is provided with a spout  13  defining an opening  11  in the top  3  for receiving and dispensing liquid from the interior cavity  9  of the bottle  1 . The spout  13  generally has a diameter smaller than that of the bottle itself in order to facilitate dispensing a desired amount of cleaning solution therefrom. The spout  13  may be provided with a cylindraceous thread  15  for receiving a mating cylindraceous thread  15  on a bottle cap  17 . The cap  17  supports the mating cylindraceous threads  15  in such a manner that the bottle cap  17  may be screwed or snapped tightly to the bottle spout  13  in order to secure the cap  17  thereto. 
   The cap  17  is provided with a nozzle or nipple  19  usually in the form of a cone or truncated cone defining a nozzle opening  21  having a particularly smaller diameter than the opening  11  in the top  3  of the bottle  1 . The nozzle opening  21  further facilitates dispensing of a desired amount of cleaning solution and at a desired rate from the bottle  1  when the bottle  1  is squeezed by a user. 
   Additionally, in order to clean or scrub certain hard to reach places where tile and tile grout may be found, it may also be necessary to provide an extension tube  23 , or feed line, having a first end  25  which is either integrally formed with the nozzle  19 , or has an outer diameter sized so as to frictionally fit within the nozzle opening  21 , so as the first end  25  will fit generally inside the cap opening  11  defined in the nozzle or nipple  19  and thus be attached thereto. A second end  27  of the extension tube  23  can be left free and thereby extends the actual dispensing opening  11  of the bottle  1  to a point where it may be easier to reach, for instance, under or between cabinets to dispense the grout cleaner in the appropriate spot. 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , the bottle  1 , bottle cap  17 , nozzle  19 , extension tube  23  are shown in conjunction with a clamp or collar  31  and a bristle brush  51  substantially defining the system of the present invention. By way of general explanation, with the bottle cap  17  secured to the spout  13  of the bottle  1  as shown, and the extension tube  23 , either integrally formed with the nozzle  19  or communicating therewith as discussed above, the collar  31  is affixed to an outer surface portion of the bottle cap  17  and fastened securely thereto. The collar  31  may be secured in any manner as known in the art, but for purposes of one embodiment, a friction fit is utilized according to the clamping mechanism of the collar  31  to be described in further detail below. The brush  51  is also held by the collar  31  at an alignment substantially adjacent and parallel with the side wall  7  of the bottle  1 . It is to be appreciated that the collar  31  holds the brush  51  in a substantially central portion  53  of the brush  51  to facilitate the user&#39;s grasping of a first handle portion  55  of the brush  51 . The brush  51  is also provided with a brush head  57  having bristles  59  essentially radially with respect to the side wall  7  of the bottle  1  to an extent which facilitates scrubbing and cleaning operations, and which will be described in further detail below. 
   It is to be appreciated that the collar  31  is essentially a clamping device having an operative fastener, in this case, a screw or bolt  37 , provided through a first half  33  and a second half  35  of the collar  31 . The bolt  37  secures the first and second halves  33 ,  35  of the collar  31  to clamp tightly about the bottle cap  17  and also cooperatively secures the brush handle  55  to the extent that the brush handle  55  is immovable in any direction, either longitudinally, horizontally or radially, with respect to the bottle cap  17 . Next, can be seen in this Figure, the extension tube  23  extends from the first end  25  connected with the nozzle  19  and is bent or curves along its length to an extent which permits the second free end of the nozzle  19  to be inserted into a passage or a hole  61  formed in the brush head  57 . The passage or hole  61  in the brush head  57  extends completely therethrough and may communicate substantially with or adjacent a portion of the brush head  57  supporting the bristles  59 . 
   The brush  51  is provided with the handle portion  55  spaced from, but contiguous with the head portion  57  and bristles  59 . The bristles  59  of the present invention are substantially perpendicularly aligned to a longitudinal axis defined by the handle  55  and the brush  51  may look similar to a toothbrush or other types of known scrub brushes. The bristles  59  may be made of nylon material, wire, plastic or other material as known in the art, and the bristles  59  are often provided with substantially stiffer constitution than those of a toothbrush in order to facilitate the cleaning of certain porous and non-porous surfaces. The brush handle  55  may be straight or curved or of any particular shape which facilitates manually grasping thereof, the brush  51  may be, for instance, slightly curved at the head portion to facilitate cleaning and scrubbing of a surface. 
   The brush  51  can be designed with the passage  61  at a point anywhere along the length of the brush  51 , however, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the throughhole is located substantially in conjunction and communication with the head portion of the brush head  57  which holds the bristles  59 . As can be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, when the cleaning solution is dispensed from the bottle  1  through the nozzle  19  and through the extension tube  23  and, hence, out the second end  27  of the tube  23  and onto the surface being cleaned, the cleaning solution exits the device through the passage  61  in the brush  57  and is positioned in immediate proximity with the scrubbing bristles  59  thus permitting both accurate and timely dissemination of the cleaning solution in the bottle  1  onto the surface being cleaned. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the extension tube  23  may be connected to a hollow handle which supplies the cleaning solution to the surface through at least one or even a plurality of throughholes or passages  61  along the handle  55 . The plurality of passages  61  provided in the handle  55  could potentially be located more closely adjacent the head end and the bristles  59  of the brush  57 . 
   Thus, in use with the scrubbing brush  51  held fast to the bottle  1  by the collar  31 , and the extension tube  23  communicating between the interior of the bottle  1  and the brush head  57 , a user need only utilize one hand to perform both a cleaning solution dispensing action, i.e., by squeezing the bottle  1 , and a scrubbing action wherein the brush  51  is scrubbed or passed over the surface being cleaned at the same time. Thus, a worker using one hand, has excellent manual control over both the bottle  1  and the brush  51  in the same hand and may continuously or simultaneously apply both the scrubbing action of the bristles  59  and the cleaning fluid solution dispensing without changing hands or putting the bottle  1  or the brush  51  down and thus the cleaning of the grout or other surface is substantially more efficient. 
     FIG. 3  relates specifically to the collar  31  and clamping mechanism of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the collar  31  is provided with the first half  33  and the second half  35  being separate and which may be adjustably connected by any known connecting means in the art. For purposes of example, the present specific embodiment shows a bolt received in a bolt receiver  39  in the collar  31 . The first half  33  and the second half  35  of the collar  31  are substantially mirror images of one another and aligned adjacent one another in the appropriate position for engaging the bottle cap  17  and the brush  51 . In this manner, the collar  31  defines a bottle engaging passage  41  and a brush grasping portion  43  spaced therefrom by an intermediate portion  45  provided between the bottle cap grasping portion and the brush grasping portion  43 . 
   The bolt receiver  39  is positioned in the intermediate portion  45  of the collar  31  and passes through, or at least partially through, both the first half  33  and the second half  35  in order to provide for the bolt extending between both the first half  33  and the second half  35  of the collar  31 . The receiver portions in both the first half  33  and the second half  35  of the collar  31  may be tapped with threads, or in certain cases only the second half  35  receiver portion need be threaded so that the first and second halves  33 ,  35  of the collar  31  may be secured together by the bolt. Thus, it can be readily appreciated, when the bolt is tightened the first half  33  and the second half  35  of the clamp  31  are drawn more closely together whereas upon loosening the bolt, the first half  33  and the second half  35  are permitted to spread apart in order to facilitate the grasping and the release, respectively, of both the bottle cap  17  and the brush  51 . 
   Because brush handles  55  tend to be substantially square or rectangular in shape, the brush grasping portion  43  is provided having a substantially square profile in order to facilitate the support of the brush  51  with respect to the bottle  1 . Similarly, as the bottle caps  17  or spout  13  of a bottle  1  or even the bottle itself are generally round, the bottle  1  grasping passage of the collar  31  is provided with substantially round profile defined by a contact surface  47 , and may also have a series of notches or grooves  49  extending axially therethrough in order to better frictionally grasp the outer wall of the bottle cap  17 . It is to be appreciated that the brush grasping portion  43  and the bottle engaging passage  41  could be other conforming shapes as is necessary. 
   In order to utilize the device of the present invention, the collar  31  is initially in a loosened state such that the bottle grasping passage  41  is spread wide enough to accept the bottle cap  17  there through. Once the collar  31  is positioned over the outer surface of the bottle cap  17 , and before it is tightened thereto, the brush  51  may be inserted into the brush grasping portion  43  so as position the passage or hole  61  in the brush  51  in proximity with the second end  27  of the extension tube  23 . Once the brush  51  is aligned adjacent the sidewall  7  of the bottle  1 , i.e., at both the appropriate axial and radial position relative to the bottle  1 , the bolt is tightened to secure the collar  31  to the bottle cap  17 . With the bottle cap  17  on the spout  13  of the bottle  1  and the collar  31  secured thereto, and with the brush  51  secured relative thereto in the brush grasping portion  43  of the clamp  31 , the second end  27  of the extension tube  23  is then engaged with the throughbore or passage  61  in the head portion of the brush  51 . As can be appreciated, the brush  51  is held in both a securely, radially and axially held with respect to the bottle  1  and any clean liquid dispensed from the bottle  1  will now pass through the nozzle extension tube  23  and into the passage  61  in the brush handle  55  to be dispensed substantially adjacent the bristles  59 . Thus, the brush is securely held relative to the bottle  1  such that no matter what kind of force or motion is applied to the scrubbing bristles  59  of the brush, the brush and the bottle  1  essentially move together. 
   It is also to be appreciated that the bristles  59  of a brush wear out after a certain period of time, for instance, after a day, 24- or even 48-hours of use, because the bristles  59  wear or deteriorate due to both the cleaning solution and the force applied to the bristles  59  during scrubbing operations. These bristles  59 , and hence the brush  51 , must be replaced from time to time. The present invention simplifies the process by permitting the screw or bolt  37  to be slightly loosened and thus allow the used brush handle  55  to be released by the brush grasping portion  43  of the clamp  31 . With the extension tube  23  removed from the passage  61  in the brush, the used brush may be removed and a new brush, having fresh bristles  59 , may be inserted therein and the clamp  31  retightened to secure the new brush to the bottle  1 . Finally, the extension tube  23 , due to the nature of the substantially resilient material from which it can be made, is bent and inserted in the passage  61  through the brush and cleaning may be continued. 
   Also, it is important to note that the inter-changeability of the brush  51  would facilitate the use of a different brush where necessary to clean other surfaces or objects. The brush head portion  57  could be formed in most any shape, and support bristles  59  also aligned in any shape as desired for cleaning a particular surface while still permitting the dispensing of the cleaning solution. For instance, a triangular configuration of bristles (not shown) supported on a triangular shaped brush head  57  would facilitate the cleaning of corners, or angles between a surface and any adjacent surfaces. Thus, the inter-changeability of brush head shapes and sizes, along with different bristles and bristle configurations permits a substantially infinite ability for cleaning different surfaces or objects. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the bottle  1  and brush  51  could also be utilized for not merely cleaning a surface but sealing, painting or coloring a desired surface. In the context of tile grout for example, it is often advantageous to stain or color the grout a new or different color for purposes of aesthetics. The staining or coloring solution contained in the bottle  1  would be dispensed via the brush head  51 , and the bristles  59  would apply and spread the coloring solution into the tile grout, thus changing the color of the tile grout. Also, due to the porous nature of the tile grout the grout is often sealed with a sealing solution which could also be dispensed and applied to the tile grout as described above with respect to cleaning solution and coloring of the grout. 
   Since certain changes may be made in the above described cleaning apparatus and method for making a grout cleaning apparatus, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0