Abstract:
Modular and flexible brush systems are disclosed having multiple interchangeable parts that have different functions. A base portion contains a nipple brush. A handle portion includes various internal connecting mechanisms and stores the nipple brush. A top portion includes a bottle brush and has a flexible neck portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/287,381, filed Jan. 26, 2016; and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/121,457, filed Feb. 26, 2015; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety into this disclosure. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject disclosure relates to the field of cleaning and, in particular, to improved cleaning devices for cleaning infant nursing bottles and nipples that are hygienically flexible and versatile. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The importance of proper hygiene when handling and cleaning infant feeding tools, such as baby bottles, and nursing nipples cannot be overstated. Ideally, bottles and nipples should be thoroughly scrubbed. Proper scrubbing is especially important after a nipple or bottle has been used to dispense fatty liquids, or liquids having suspended solids therein, such as cereal. Removing food from tight corners and difficult contours in a bottle can be quite challenging. Although various solutions have been proposed, none available has effectively solved the issue of thoroughly cleaning the various contours of a container and/or other items to be cleaned. 
       SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER 
       [0004]    In one exemplary embodiment, the subject disclosure is a device to scrub a container. The device includes a rigid handle comprising a first core portion and a second core portion, the first and second core portions connected internally within the handle; a flexible portion removably connected to the handle and including a resilient material of a predetermined hardness, the flexible portion adapted to bend relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and a first brush operatively connected to the flexible portion and sized to efficiently scrub an inside of the container as the flexible portion bends. 
         [0005]    I n another exemplary embodiment, the subject disclosure is a device to scrub a container. The device includes a handle having a first core and a second core; a flexible top portion removably connected to the handle with a resilient material of a predetermined hardness disposed in at least one gap, the flexible top portion adapted to bend at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle; a brush operatively connected to the flexible portion and the first core within the handle, and sized to efficiently scrub an inside of the container as the flexible handle bends; and a second brush operatively connected to the second core and received within the handle. 
         [0006]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, the subject disclosure is a device to scrub a container. The device includes a handle having a first core and a second core; a flexible top portion having a neck removably connected to the handle with a resilient material of a predetermined hardness disposed around the neck, the flexible top portion adapted to bend at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle; a brush operatively connected to the flexible top portion and the first core within the handle, and sized to efficiently scrub an inside of the container as the flexible handle bends; and a second brush operatively connected to the second core and received within the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Various exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a brush having a flexible neck, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts the exemplary brush in an unbent configuration. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows an embedded smaller brush within the handle of the brush. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates an enlarged view of the neck of the flexible handle of the brush. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts an enlarged cross section view of the neck of the flexible handle of the brush. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows the enlarged cross section view of the neck of the flexible handle slightly bent. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates the enlarged cross section view of the neck of the flexible handle sufficiently bent. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  depicts an enlarged cross section view of the neck of the flexible handle with the resilient material. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows the enlarged cross section view of the neck of the flexible handle with the resilient material slightly bent. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates the enlarged cross section view of the neck of the flexible handle with the resilient material sufficiently bent. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  depicts an enlarged cross section view of the neck of the flexible handle including another configuration for the resilient material. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  shows an enlarged cross section spine-like configuration of the neck of the flexible handle, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  shows an enlarged cross section spine-like configuration of the neck of the flexible handle, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  shows an enlarged cross section spine-like configuration of the neck of the flexible handle, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  shows an enlarged cross section spine-like configuration of the neck of the flexible handle, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  shows an enlarged cross section spine-like configuration of the neck of the flexible handle, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  shows an enlarged cross section spine-like configuration of the neck of the flexible handle, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  illustrates a brush having a flexible neck, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  shows a top view of a brush, without bristles, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0027]      FIG. 20  shows a bottom view of a brush, without bristled, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0028]      FIG. 21  shows an exploded view of a brush showing its various components, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0029]      FIG. 22  shows a cross sectional view of the brush of  FIG. 21 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0030]      FIG. 23  shows a cross sectional view of the brush of  FIG. 22  with all components in position and showing its various components, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0031]      FIG. 24  shows a cross sectional view of the brush of  FIG. 21 , according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
           [0032]      FIG. 25  shows a cross sectional view of the brush of  FIG. 24  with all components in position and showing its various components, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. 
         [0034]    The subject disclosure is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 1-2  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter presented as a modular brush system  10  having a base portion  20 , a handle portion  30  and a flexible top portion  40  having bristles  41  and a flexible neck region  42 . All of the embodiments shown in the present application contain these three components so they will all be similarly labeled. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a natural bend in the next region  42 , and  FIG. 2  shows a straightened neck portion. However, in various embodiments, the neck portion  42  may be naturally straight and allowed to bend with force. This ability for the neck portion  42  to flex with moderate force allows for the bristles  41  to move around within the interior of a bottle from various positions of the handle  30 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows a combined top bottle bristles  42  and nipple bristles  22  adapted to fit within the handle  30  of the bottle brush device  10 . The nipple brush  22  extends from a threaded portion  21  of the base  20 . The modular and flexible brush system  10  is configured to conveniently scrub baby bottles using top brush  42  and nursing nipples for such bottles using internal brush  22 . 
         [0038]    The handle  30  may include a resilient outer grip surface. The outer grip may be fabricated from a resilient polymeric material that is dishwasher-proof, such as polycarbonate, an ABS plastics or other suitable material. The handle  30  may be configured to receive a nipple brush assembly  22  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 3 , the brush handle  30  may have a longitudinally oriented recess defined therein to receive a smaller nipple brush  22 . The bottle brush  41  is sized and configured to efficiently scrub an inside of a baby bottle. The bristles  41  of the brush may be connected by a flexible stem. The flexible stem may include a bristle end or a sponge-like end for scrubbing. The brush may be cylindrical in shape and/or any other suitable shape for scrubbing purposes. 
         [0040]    The nipple brush assembly may include a nipple brush portion  22  and a grip portion at the base  20 . The grip portion may be constructed in a variety of different ways, such as a suction cup to attach to surface while in use or as a flat base to stand upright while in use. The grip portion may have a hole defined therein for hanging the brush on a peg or other projection. 
         [0041]    In the assembled orientation that is depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , the nipple brush assembly may be releaseably attached within the handle  30  in a variety of different ways, such as by an interference fit, a threaded attachment or any other suitable attachment mechanism. An interference fit would be constructed to withstand a withdrawal force when locked that would at least exceed the entire weight of brush system  10 , so that the entire brush system  10  may be hung from grip portion of nipple brush assembly. Alternatively, a twist fit or snap-in fit connection could be provided in the base of the nipple brush. 
         [0042]    When the nipple brush assembly  20  is stored within the recess of the brush handle  30 , it is insulated against contact with germ-laden surfaces such as countertops, sinks, or other utensils. Likewise, the hole in grip portion of the handle enables the entire brush to be hung in a location where contact with other utensils or surface is unlikely. 
         [0043]    The grip portion  30  may include an ornamental design, such as a heart-shaped design and/or any other suitable shape. 
         [0044]    The modular brush system  10  includes a flexible neck portion  41  that may have a spine-like configuration. As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the flexible neck portion  42  may be configured to include a central post portion  44  and at least one gap  45  disposed concentric to the post  44 . Various discs  43  can be constructed along the central post  44  to define various gaps  45  bordering each of the discs  43 . The brush system  10  may be constructed to have an outer profile nearly contiguous with an outer surface of the handle  30  and the gaps  45  are bored into the top portion  40  at the neck  42  to define the spine-like configuration as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0045]    The spine-like structure is bounded by two walls, an upper concentric wall  46  and a lower concentric wall  47 . Various discs  43  are provided between the two walls  46 ,  47 . The various discs  43  are separated by a gap  45  having a predetermined space length L. For example, the top disc  43  is separated from the upper concentric wall  46  by a gap space  45  having a distance of L. The depth of the gap  45  is at a predetermined distance D inward of the outer wall of the brush. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , as the neck  42  of the brush is bent over to one side, the gaps  45  defined in the direction of the bend close up and the gaps on the outside of the neck of the brush open up. The combination of the dimension of the gaps, the space length L, the depth D, the material used for the substrate and the resilient material disposed between the gaps define the amount of bend that the neck of the handle will take. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , the gaps  45  between discs  43  may be filled with a material  48  having desired properties. If the material substrate  48  used is a material having higher flexibility properties, then the substrate will have the propensity to bend more. Likewise, if the resilient material  48  disposed in the gaps  44  between the discs  43  is soft, the neck  42  will have a higher propensity to bend. However, if the resilient material  48  disposed in the gaps between the discs is of a harder, less flexible material, the neck  42  will have a lower propensity to bend. In this manner, the flexibility of the brush  10  can be tailored to bend at a desired angle and with sufficient resiliency to rebound during use. 
         [0048]      FIG. 11  illustrates another exemplary embodiment in which the resilient material  48  disposed in the gaps  45  between the discs  43  is connected by an outer sleeve portion  49  that interconnects each of the concentric plugs provided within the gaps  45 . The outer sleeve portion  49  may be of the same or different material than the resilient material  48  within the gaps  45 . Further, the discs  43  may not be visible from underneath the sleeve portion  49  thereby allowing for a more uniform external appearance along the sleeve portion  49 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIGS. 12-17 , various geometries are possible for the spine-like configuration to vary the bend in the neck  42  of the brush system  10 . As shown, the distance between the upper concentric wall  46  and the lower concentric wall  47  can be varied. The number of discs  43  can be modified between the two walls  46 ,  47  to vary the flexibility of the neck  42 . The gap  45  and space length L between each of the discs  43  and/or the walls  46 ,  47  can be modified to vary the flexibility of the neck  42 . The depth of the gap  45  can also be changed to vary the flexibility of the neck. Likewise, the predetermined distance D inward from the outer wall of the brush inward can be modified to vary the flexibility of the neck  42 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 12 , each of the gap portions  45  contains a relatively equal amount of resilient material  48  and all discs  43  are similarly sized and equidistant from each other. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 13 , each of the gap portions  45  contains a relatively equal amount of resilient material  48  but the gap portions are relatively large and the space between each gap portion  45  is large as well with only a few discs  43  being present. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 14 , each of the gap portions  45  contains a relatively small depth of resilient material  48  and the discs  43  are relatively large and flat. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 15 , the gap portions  45  alternate between large and small volumes of resilient material  48 , and the discs  43  alternate in size correspondingly. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 16 , the gap portions  45  steadily change from a long and narrow resilient material  48  to a relatively flat and large. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 17 , each of the gap portions  45  contains an increasingly larger distance between the resilient material  48  with the depth of the resilient material  48  changing along the length of the flexible neck  42 . One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate these various parameters may be varied for particular flexibility characteristics, according to the present subject disclosure. 
         [0050]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, brush system  10  is shown in  FIG. 18 . This embodiment also includes a base portion  20 , a handle portion  30 , and a top portion  40 , which includes bristles  41  and a flexible neck portion  42 , as described in detail above. It should be noted that the flexible neck region  42  shown in  FIGS. 18-25  have been drawn generically for sake of simplicity, but have the same optional disc-like or rib-like configurations as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1- 17 . There is a complementing configuration between the base portion  20  and handle portion  30  in that a notch  23  in base portion  20  receives an appropriately sized projection  31  in handle portion  30 . The combination of the complementing notch  23  and projection  31  ensures a pre-determined and snug fit between the base portion  20  and handle portion  30 , respectively. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 19 and 20  show the top and bottom views respectively, of the brush system  10  (without the bristles) shown in  FIG. 18 . It should be noted that the low profile design of the brush system  10  allows for easy handling and storage. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 21 , the brush system  10  is designed to be modular with interchangeable and replaceable parts. For example, the base portion  20 , handle portion  30 , and top portion  40  may be replaced or exchanged with base, handle, and top portions of different configurations. Base portion  20  has a nipple brush  22  and a threaded portion  21  which mates with an internal thread in the bottom aperture end of handle portion  30 . Top portion  40  includes bottle bristles  41 , a flexible neck  42 , and a projection  50  having a threaded portion  51  which mates with an internal thread at the top aperture end of handle portion  30 . 
         [0053]    The internal mechanisms used to secure these various modular components with each other may be varied.  FIGS. 22 and 23  show one exemplary internal mechanism, and  FIGS. 24 and 25  show another exemplary internal mechanism. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 22 and 23  show, through cross sectional views, one possible exemplary embodiment of the internal mechanism of the brush system  10  of  FIG. 21 . This embodiment  10  shows the threads  24  of a threaded portion  21  of base portion  20  mates with the threaded portion  34  within the second core portion  34 A of handle portion  30 . Similarly, a threaded portion  51  on projection  50  in the top portion  40  mates with the threaded portion  52  within the first core portion  52 A of base portion  30 . The configuration shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23  includes a threaded fastener  53  which serves to retain the internal connection mechanism between the first core portion  52 A and second core portion  34 A of handle portion  30 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 24 and 25  are similar to  FIGS. 22 and 23 , except that the internal mechanism between the first core portion  52 A and second core portion  34 A of the handle portion  30  includes no threaded fastener. The components  54  are bonded together in this embodiment. Other variations are also possible and within the purview of one having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0056]    As employed in this specification and annexed drawings, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
         [0057]    What has been described above includes examples of a low-profile assembly and method of installation that provide advantages of the subject disclosure. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the subject disclosure, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used in the detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 
         [0058]    The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.