Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention generally relates to brushes and containers for cleaning and grooming supplies, and more specifically relates to brushes forming enclosures for containing contents, such as cleaning or grooming solutions or powders. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Brushes are often used to groom and clean. Pets, such as dogs and cats, for example, are often brushed during washing to clean and groom the pet&#39;s hair. Brushes are available in various styles, which styles typically differ in structural shape and type of the bristles. Brush structural shapes, for example, have ranged from hand-held blocks of extending bristles, to various configurations of grippable handle portions connected to extensions formed with bristles. Brush bristles typically vary in materials forming the bristles, for example, bristles may be plastic, nylon, wire, natural or artificial hair or other filaments, and also in bristle stiffness, count, shape, length and density. 
         [0003]    In cleaning and grooming, soaps, cleansers, conditioners, lotions and the like are used during washing and brushing. Pets, for example, are often washed with soap or cleanser and brushed during washing. Cleanser is typically contained in a segregated bottle or similar unitary container of the cleanser. The bottle or container of cleanser must be obtained from storage, positioned near the washing operation, handled and opened, poured and closed during cleaning In the case of pet grooming, manual restraint of the pet, as well as handling of brush, cleanser bottle and other grooming supplies, may be required. Foresight is necessary to locate and position needed grooming supplies, and cleanser or similar materials are not conveniently disposed for dispensing. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to provide new and improved systems and methods for conveniently supplying liquids or powders, such as cleanser or the like, in vicinity of a brush. It would also be desirable to provide for easy dispensing of the liquids or powders when using a brush. It would further be desirable to allow refill of liquids or powders used in connection with brushing, once supplies of these have been exhausted. Finally, it would be beneficial to provide systems and methods that reduce chance of unintended spills or dispensing of liquids and powders when brushing. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]    An embodiment of the invention is a brush. The brush includes a handle enclosure forming a void and a spout, a bristle holder connected to the handle enclosure, and an end cap connected to the spout for enclosing the void of the handle enclosure. 
         [0006]    Another embodiment of the invention is a brush. The brush includes a handle forming a void and an opening to the void, a bristle holder connected to the handle, a cap connected to the handle for closing the opening to the void of the handle to seal the void, a port formed of the cap, the port channeling between the void of the handle and external to the handle, and a stopper for selectively opening and closing the port. 
         [0007]    Yet another embodiment of the invention is a container. The container includes an enclosure forming a void and a spout, the enclosure sufficient for manual gripping, a bristle device connected to the enclosure, and a closure device connected to the enclosure for sealing the spout. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the invention is a system. The system includes an elongate handle forming a void for containing a content, a bristle structure longitudinally connected to the elongate handle, a cap connected to the elongate handle for enclosing the void of the elongate handle, and a dispenser connected to the cap for selectively channeling between the void and external to the elongate handle. 
         [0009]    Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacture of a brush. The method includes forming an elongate handle, the elongate handle forms a container and an opening to the container, forming a bristle holder longitudinally connected to the elongate handle, removably connecting a cap to the elongate handle to seal the opening, and forming a dispenser in the cap. 
         [0010]    Another embodiment of the invention is a method of manufacture of a container. The method includes providing a handle formed with a void and an opening, connecting the handle to a bristle structure, removably connecting an end cap to the handle to seal the opening, and forming a dispenser in the end cap, the dispenser selectively forms a throughway from within the void to external to the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a system for brushing formed of a handle enclosure and a bristle holder, the handle enclosure includes a void for containing contents (shown in phantom), according to certain embodiments of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a system for brushing formed of a handle enclosure having a spout and a removable end cap to close the spout and seal the handle enclosure, according to certain embodiments; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a system for brushing formed of a handle enclosure having a removable end cap including a dispenser, the dispenser allows selective pouring of contents contained within the handle enclosure, according to certain embodiments of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of another system for brushing formed of a handle enclosure having a removable finger actuated mechanical pump including a dispenser nozzle, the actuator of the pump allows contents contained within the handle enclosure to be drawn from within the enclosure and dispersed through the nozzle, according to certain embodiments of the invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the system of  FIG. 4 , with the finger actuated mechanical pump removed from attachment to the handle enclosure, such as for filling of the enclosure or replacement of the end cap with the pump, according to certain embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system  100  for grooming includes a handle enclosure  2  connected to a bristle holder  4 . The handle enclosure  2  is elongate, having a fore end  6  and an aft end  16 . The handle enclosure  2  is formed as a walled hollow tube or cylinder of diameter and length suitable for gripping by hand. The bristle holder  4  connectedly extends generally longitudinally from the fore end  6  of the handle enclosure  2 . The bristle holder  4  includes outwardly extending bristles  8  for brushing. For example, the bristles  8  extend from a surface  5  of the bristle holder  4 . The surface  5  may be planar, semi-spherical or other shape, of length and width as desired for numbers and placement of the bristles  8 . 
         [0018]    An end cap  14  is connected to the handle enclosure  2  at the aft end  16  opposite the bristle holder  4 . The handle enclosure  2  forms a void  10  for containing a content  12 . The content  12  can be a liquid, powder, or other composition, for example, such as a shampoo, soap, cleanser, conditioner, lotion or other. The end cap  14  securely connects to the handle enclosure  2  to prevent spillage of the content  12  contained within the void  10  of the handle enclosure  2 . 
         [0019]    The end cap  14  includes a dispenser  18 . The dispenser  18  is selectively opened to allow pouring of the content  12  contained within the void  10  of the handle enclosure  2  and closed to seal the content  12  within the void  10  of the handle enclosure  2 . The handle enclosure  2  is pliable to allow squeeze pressure to be applied by hand, to aid dispensing of the content  12  when the dispenser  18  is opened. 
         [0020]    In operation, the handle enclosure  2  is gripped by hand and the bristles  8  of the bristle holder  4  are manipulated across a surface, such as the hair and body of a pet. The void  10  contains or can be filled with the content  12 . If the content  12  is desired during cleaning or grooming, the dispenser  18  is opened and the content  12  can be poured from within the handle enclosure  2 . To prevent spillage of the content  12  from the handle enclosure  2 , the dispenser  18  is closed. 
         [0021]    The handle enclosure  2  and the bristle holder  4  of the system  100  are each manufactured by molding, extrusion, or as respective components joined in elongate manner, such as by glue, adhesive, weld, or other means. Materials of the handle enclosure  2  and bristle holder  4  can include plastics, nylon, rubber, and others. The bristle holder  4  is generally fairly rigid, and can be solid in cross-section or alternately ribbed or comprised of a shell or structural elements. The bristle holder  4  may therefore alternately be formed of another material, such as wood, metal, or the like. The handle enclosure  2  is formed cylindrical in shape, with a fore end  6  and an aft end  16 . The handle enclosure  2  is generally fairly less rigid and more pliable, for example, walls of the cylindrical shape are of limited generally uniform thickness, to allow hand squeezing of the handle enclosure  2  to more readily disperse the content  12 . Materials of the handle enclosure  2  return to the generally cylindrical shape when squeeze pressure is not applied. A variety of materials are possible for the bristles  8 , for example, plastic, nylon or steel filaments, natural animal or synthetic hair bristles, and others. The bristles  8  are secured to the bristle holder  4  in suitable manner, such as by glue, pad, weld, or otherwise, to prevent loss of the bristles  8  during use. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a system  200  includes the handle enclosure  2  and bristle holder  4  of the system  100  of  FIG. 1 . In the system  200 , the end cap  14  is selectively removable from the handle enclosure  2 . The handle enclosure  2  is formed with a spout  20  or similar throughway to the void  10  of the handle enclosure  2 . The spout  20  includes outer screw threads  22 . The end cap  14  includes a connector segment  24  for mating with the spout  20 . The connector segment  24  includes inner mating screw threads  26  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 ) for securing the end cap  14  with the spout  20  of the handle enclosure  2 . 
         [0023]    In operation, the end cap  14  is removed from the spout  20  of the handle enclosure  2 , for example, by unscrewing the inner mating screw threads  26  of the end cap  14  from the outer screw threads  22  of the handle enclosure  2 , and positioning the end cap  14  away from the spout  20 . The handle enclosure  2  is manipulated to position the spout  20  generally vertically upward, and content  12  is poured into the spout  20  to fill (in whole or part, as desired) the void  10  of the handle enclosure  2 . The end cap  14  is then replaced on the spout  20  and securely screwed to contain the content  12  when the dispenser  18  is closed. When dispensing of the content  12  is desired, the dispenser  18  is manually opened and the content  12  dispensed. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a system  300  includes the handle enclosure  2  (of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) filled with the content  12 , for example, a liquid or powder soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cleanser or the like. The end cap  14  is connected to the handle enclosure  2 . The end cap  14  includes the dispenser  18 . The dispenser  18  is, for example, a hinged lid that snaps open and closed to cover a port  30 . In certain embodiments, a port surface  32  is formed by the end cap  14 , together with the dispenser  18  attached at an edge of the port surface  32  by a hinge  36  of the end cap  14 . The dispenser  18  includes a port stopper  34  positioned in the dispenser  18  for mating with and sealing the port  30  when the dispenser  18 , via the hinge  36 , is positioned against the port surface  32 . 
         [0025]    In operation, the hinged lid of the dispenser  18  is propped away from port surface  32 , such as by manual force. The dispenser  18  swings on the hinge  36  away from the port surface  32 , disengaging the port stopper  34  from the port  30 . Thereafter, the content  12  is poured (indicated by arrow A) through the port  30  from the handle enclosure  2 . To aid pouring, the handle enclosure  2 , in embodiments in which the handle enclosure  2  is formed of pliable materials, may be squeezed by hand to force the content  12  from the void  10  through the port  30 . When a desired amount of the content  12  is poured, the dispenser  18  is swung on the hinge  36  back against the port surface  32  and pressed to securely engage the port stopper  34  with the port  30 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , another system  400  for grooming includes the handle enclosure  2  connected to the bristle holder  4 . Bristles  8  outwardly extend from the surface of the bristle holder  4  for brushing. The handle enclosure  2  is elongate, having the fore end  6  and the aft end  16 , and is formed as a walled hollow tube or cylinder of diameter and length suitable for gripping by hand and forming the void  10  for containing a content (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). In comparison to the end cap  14  of certain other embodiments, however, a pump sprayer  44 , for example, a finger actuated mechanical pump sprayer, replaces the end cap  14 . 
         [0027]    The pump sprayer  44  includes a securement ring  47  holding an actuator  47  connected to a collection tube  49 . The actuator  47  includes a mechanical pump (not shown in detail) connecting the collection tube  49  to a dispersion nozzle  45 . A press end  43  of the pump sprayer  44  provides a surface for finger depression of the actuator  47 . On pressing the actuator  44  at the press end  43 , the actuator  44  is directed longitudinally a small increment towards the aft end  16  of the handle enclosure  2  within the securement ring  47 . 
         [0028]    The securement ring  47  includes internal threads  51  or other securement mechanism for removably securing the actuator  44  to the handle enclosure  2 , for example, via the spout  20  or similar throughway (not shown) of the handle enclosure  2 . The spout  20  can include outer screw threads  22 , and the securement ring  47  of the actuator  44 , for example, includes the inner mating screw threads  51  for attachment to the spout  20 . The actuator  44 , when attached to the spout  20  via the securement ring  47 , encloses the void of the handle enclosure  2  to prevent spillage of a content when contained within the void of the handle enclosure  2 . The content is a dispersible liquid, for example, as a shampoo, soap, cleanser, conditioner, lotion or other. 
         [0029]    In operation, the handle enclosure  2  is gripped by hand and the bristles  8  of the bristle holder  4  are manipulated across a surface, such as the hair and body of a pet. Content is contained in the handle enclosure  2 , or the handle enclosure  2  can be filled with the content, and the actuator  44  is secured to the spout  20  of the handle enclosure  2  to prevent spillage of the content. If the content is desired during cleaning or grooming, the press end  43  of the actuator  44  is pressed, the actuator  44  travels an interval towards the aft end  16  within the securement ring  47 , and content is thereby pulled into and through the collection tube  49  towards the nozzle  45  and dispersed from the nozzle  45 . 
         [0030]    The actuator  44 , including the securement ring  47 , the nozzle  45  and the collection tube  49 , are each manufactured by molding, extrusion, or as respective components joined in suitable operative manner. Materials can include plastics, nylon, rubber, and others. The actuator  44  is generally fairly rigid, sufficient to withstand repeated finger actuation at the press end  43 , and can include various structural, spring, and other elements, as applicable. 
         [0031]    In certain alternatives, the void of the handle enclosure can be sealed by the end cap or by the actuator, as desired. For example, the system can be provided as a unit, with both end cap and actuator, or, alternately, with only an end cap or an actuator, and the end cap may be replaced with the actuator, and vice versa, as desired by the user. 
         [0032]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0033]    Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems and device(s), connection(s) and element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises, “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Technology Category: 4