Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is the non-provisional counterpart and claim priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/632,243 filed on Dec. 1, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to distributors of fluids. In particular, this invention relates to scrubbing brushes configured to store and dispense fluids during use.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0005]     Eliminating objectionable odors and reducing the incidence of dandruff, rain rot, and other skin disorders in pets are a necessary practice in good animal stewardship. A great variety of soaps, fluid medications, shampoos, and detergents, used in this practice, are readily available. Typically, fluids are stored in a container. Once fluid is applied to the surface, users distribute the fluid over the surface of an animal either by their hands or by means of bathing aids.  
         [0006]     Whether dishwashing or bathing, surfaces to be treated are typically wetted before treating fluids are applied to the wetted surfaces. As a rule, when fluids are utilized for cleaning and/or bathing the animal&#39;s hair and skin, the entire animal&#39;s coat should be initially wetted. Otherwise, dry portions of the coat will not be effectively treated, and the animal&#39;s skin will not be cleaned and/or medicated.  
         [0007]     When using bathing aides such as brushes, it is frequently necessary to interrupt scrubbing to apply treating fluids. As a result the entire process may be inefficient. Moreover, the animals may become impatient and unmanageable due to these interruptions. To overcome these drawbacks, fluid reservoirs and/or sponges are known to have been integrated into brush designs. When these brushes are used, the brush is squeezed to force fluid out of the sponge and/or reservoir. The fluids are then usually conveyed through hollow bristles to the surface being treated.  
         [0008]     However, hollow bristles are often plugged by dirt or debris from the animal or particulates within the fluid. If a sealed reservoir is present, suction is often generated during use, thereby preventing the fluid from exiting the reservoir for use.  
         [0009]     It is known that to ameliorate the concerns associated with hollow-bristle structures, brush heads that are configured to allow flow from a liquid-containing chamber not through bristles are known. There is at least one outlet port disposed between the bristles. A valve provided over the outlet port in the fluid-containing chamber opens in response to an external pressure to allow evacuation of the fluid from the chamber and closes upon ceasing the external pressure. A mechanical linkage assembly extending between the inlet and outlet ports of the chamber is displaceable in response to the external pressure from an initial position, in which the valve closes the outlet port, to an operating position, in which the linkage assembly forces the valve to open the outlet port.  
         [0010]     While clogging of the bristles does not occur, the structure of the linkage assembly may malfunction. Furthermore, the linkage includes a few interacting components and is, thus, complicated and time-consuming to manufacture. As a result, the entire brush may be cost-prohibitive.  
         [0011]     Thus, a need exists for brushes that have a simple, reliable and cost-efficient structure allowing the user to apply fluids to surfaces to be treated without, however, interrupting scrubbing these surfaces.  
         [0012]     Another need exists for brushes that are provided with a fluid flow-control component coupled to the outlet port and capable of being actuated by fluid upon establishing the desirable fluid pressure within a fluid-containing chamber.  
         [0013]     A further need exists for improved fluid distribution techniques for use in brushes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention is directed to brush units that satisfy the enumerated needs. The invention includes delivering fluid onto a surface to be treated without interrupting a bathing, grooming or scrubbing process and wherein the amount of the need for fluid delivered onto the animal&#39;s coat is determined by a user. The user applies an external pressure to a fluid-containing housing. Consequently, the internal pressure of fluid within the housing rises to the extent sufficient to open a valve covering the outlet port of the housing. The fluid is forced to traverse the open outlet port and reaches the surface to be treated as long as the desired internal pressure is sustained. Upon ceasing the external pressure, the valve returns to its closed position preventing further egress of the fluid from the housing. While delivering the fluid onto the surface to be treated, the user may continue displacement of the brush along the surface thereby distributing the delivered fluid over a large area.  
         [0015]     A brush unit in accordance with the invention includes a housing provided with spaced apart inlet and at least one outlet port. Fluid is delivered into the housing through the inlet port and serves as an actuator for opening the valve covering the outlet port in response to applying an external pressure to the housing.  
         [0016]     The brush unit is further provided with a bladder made from flexible material capable of deforming in response to the external pressure. Depressing the bladder reduces the inner volume of the housing causing the internal pressure of fluid to increase to the desired extent sufficient to open the valve.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the bladder is removably mounted adjacent to the housing so as to cover the inlet port. Alternatively, the bladder may be provided integrally with the housing and spaced at a distance from the inlet port. The inlet port may have a removable lid to allow the user to periodically fill the housing with fluid.  
         [0018]     The valve can be removably or permanently inserted within the outlet port of the housing. Configuration of the valve may include a membrane provided with at least one slit dividing the membrane into multiple segments. In the absence of the desired internal pressure, the segments are sealingly attached to one another preventing fluid from voluntary escaping the housing. Upon building up the desired internal pressure, the segments elastically yield to this pressure. As a result, the segments of the membrane flex away from one another to allow fluid to traverse a passage leading to the surface to be treated.  
         [0019]     The brush unit is further configured with a brush head having a plurality of bristles. The outlet port of the brush unit opens into the brush head. Preferably, the brush head is removably mounted to the housing. However, the brush head may be fixed to the housing.  
         [0020]     The housing of the brush unit is ergonomically configured to provide the user with maximum comfort during use. While numerous shapes are contemplated within the scope of the invention, preferably, the housing is dome-shaped to fit the shape of the user&#39;s palm when the user holds the brush unit. Similarly, the housing is preferably dimensioned so as to provide a comfortable grip for the user  
         [0021]     The housing may be made from a variety of materials. Preferably, however, engineering polymeric materials are used for manufacturing the inventive brush unit. As a result, manufacturing the brush unit may include any suitable molding technique. The housing can be molded as a one-piece body. Preferably, the housing includes two components attachable to one another to define the dome shape and being flow-isolated from one another. One of the components includes a chamber for storing fluid and is preferably made from transparent material allowing the user to see the level of fluid within the chamber.  
         [0022]     The brush assembly in accordance with the invention has a simple structure and is both easy to manufacture and reliable in use. Components of the brush assembly that may wear out in time can be easily replaced to prolong a useful life of the inventive brush.  
         [0023]     These and other features and aspects of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following description and figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of assembled brush unit configured in accordance with the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the brush unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  with a lid, which is configured to cover an inlet port, removed from the housing of the brush unit;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 2A-2G  are exploded top perspective views of the inventive brush illustrated at different stages of its assembly;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an elevated exploded bottom view of the brush unit of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is an exploded top view of the valve assembly utilized in the inventive brush unit and shown in association with the exploded view of the brush of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of  FIG. 4  taken along lines V-V, as is shown in  FIG. 4 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, inner, outer, above, below, beneath, rear, and front may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices. Additionally, the terms “brush” and “brush unit” are used interchangeably.  
         [0031]     Referring more particularly to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 1 A illustrate an assembled brush unit  10  configured with a housing  12 . While the housing is illustrated as having a dome-like shape, it can have a variety of shapes subject only to ergonomic requirements. For example, the housing has to fit comfortably the user&#39;s hand. Furthermore, it is desirable that the dimensions of housing  12  are so selected that the housing is neither too small nor too large. Preferably, the upper surface of housing  12  extends along the entire length of the user&#39;s palm and terminates under the user&#39;s fingers adjacent to a bladder  24 .  
         [0032]     Turning to  FIGS. 2A-2G ,  3  and  5  in addition to  FIGS. 1 and 1 A, fluid selected from the group, which may include, but are not limited to, shampoo, hair conditioner, flea treatment, soap and/or dishwashing liquid, is delivered into housing  12  through an inlet port  14 . Inlet port  14  may be variously shaped and dimensioned. Preferably, inlet port  14  includes a circular opening provided in a flange  26  ( FIG. 1A ), which extends outwards from housing  12 . An outer wall  17  ( FIGS. 1A ) of flange  26  may threadingly engage an inner thread of a lid  16 , which, thus, can be detachably coupled to flange  26 .  
         [0033]     Alternatively, dimensions of lid  16  and flange  26  may be selected so that lid  16  is pushed onto flange  26  for a tight fit thus eliminating the need for threads on the opposing surfaces of flange  26  and lid  16 , respectively. Other types of connection, such as a bayonet connection, are also contemplated within the scope of this invention. Lid  16  and flange  26  are configured to be removably coupled to one another in a fluidproof manner for preventing voluntary escape of fluid from housing  12  regardless of the position of brush unit  10 .  
         [0034]     Lid  16  includes a cup-shaped body  28  ( FIGS. 2B, 3 ) formed with a central opening  28 A configured to receive bladder  24  made from flexible material. The outer diameter of the bladder  24  is slightly greater than the diameter of the central opening. As a consequence, bladder  24 , when pushed through the opening of a ring-shaped body  28  of lid  16 , tightly fits the peripheral wall of opening  28 A in a manner preventing fluid from escaping housing  12 . To ensure imperviousness of lid  16 , the bladder is provided with a radial lip  25  ( FIG. 3 ) pressing against an underside  27  of lid  16  upon attaching the bladder to the lid. As mentioned above, bladder  24  is disposed over inlet port  14  that in turn is preferably positioned under the user&#39;s fingers. The user presses bladder  24  whenever a situation requires an additional amount of fluid.  
         [0035]     The interior of housing  12  is formed as a chamber in fluid communication with inlet port  14  for receiving and storing fluid. Housing  12  may be formed as a one-piece component with the chamber defined by the inner peripheral surface of the housing&#39; wall between the dome-shaped top and bottom of the housing. In accordance with a further modification, housing  12  is configured with two housing portions  20  and  60  ( FIGS. 2-3 ), only one of which is formed with the inlet port  14  and the chamber.  
         [0036]     Base portion  60  of housing  12  is configured with a bottom  62  ( FIG. 2A ) and a top  64  ( FIG. 2B ). Top  64  does not continuously cover the entire bottom  62 , but has a cutout region  30  ( FIG. 2C ). Top  64  is so cutout that a front area  66  of the bottom  62  ( FIG. 2B ) has a flange  68  ( FIGS. 2C, 3 ) extending upwards from the bottom and along the periphery of the entire front area  66 . Accordingly, base portion  60  has an inner surface including the inner side of flange  68  and the underside of top  64 .  
         [0037]     Hollow portion  20  of the housing is configured so that, upon coupling portions  20  and  60 , the outer surface of portion  20  smoothly extends from the outer surface of top  64  and flange  68  of base portion  60  ( FIG. 3 ) without steps or substantial gaps. The inner surface of hollow portion  20  is substantially continuous except for a flange  70  ( FIGS. 2E, 3 ) provided in the bottom of portion  20  and the opening provided within flange  26  and defining inlet port  14 . Thus, the interior of portion  20  defines a chamber for receiving and storing fluid. Flange  70  opening into the chamber and extending downwards from the bottom of portion  20  has an inner surface defining a passage for fluid that is forced through the outlet port.  
         [0038]     Housing portions  20  and  60  may be coupled in numerous ways. For example, the geometry of the peripheral wall of portion  20  may be configured so that a region  32  ( FIG. 2D ) connecting the top and rear wall of portion  20  engages a receiving surface of the top  64  of base portion  60 . Similarly, a bottom edge  36  ( FIG. 3 ) of the peripheral wall of portion  20  frictionally slides against a receiving surface of the flange  68  of base portion  60 . Pushing housing portions  20  and  60  towards one another provides reliable engagement between the contacting surfaces of the housing portions. As a result, the housing  12  has a smooth outer surface conveniently fitting the hand of the user while using brush  10 . Alternatively, opposing surfaces of housing portions  20  and  60  may be provided with a plurality of matching projections and recesses. For example, portion  20  may have a plurality of spaced apart projections configured to frictionally move into respective recesses formed on the peripheral edge of base portion  60 . Conversely, the projections can be provided on base portion  60 , whereas the recesses are located on portion  20 .  
         [0039]     Flange  70 , provided in the top portion  20 , is aligned with and extends through a hole  76  ( FIG. 2F ) formed in front area  66  of bottom  62  of base portion  60 . Hole  76  is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of flange  70  and, thus, defines a groove  77  ( FIG. 3 ) within bottom  62  of base portion  60  configured to receive an inner end of the cover for a valve assembly, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.  
         [0040]     Housing  12  is completed with a tray  78  ( FIG. 2B ) juxtaposed with and coupled to the outer side of the bottom  62  of the housing base portion  60 . Tray  78  is configured so that its edge  37  surrounds the bottom of base portion  60  and forms a continuous peripheral ledge  34  ( FIG. 3 ) extending laterally outwards from housing  12 . Preferably, the brush  10  is made from various polymeric materials. Accordingly, using numerous molding techniques, base portion  60  and tray  78  may be manufactured as a unitary part, or, of course, these components may be manufactured separately and later coupled to one another, as shown in  FIGS. 2A . Tray  78  has a respective hole  38  ( FIG. 2B ) aligned with flange  70  and having an inner diameter substantially the same as hole  76  of bottom  62  of the housing&#39;s base portion  60 .  
         [0041]     A brush head  82  ( FIGS. 2G, 3 ) is coupled to housing  12  and has a plurality of bristles  84 . To complete the outlet port of brush  10 , brush head  82  is provided with a hole  86  also aligned with the holes of the housing  12  during assembly of the brush  10 . The brush head  82  may be removably attached to the housing  12 . Due to its elasticity, the brush head may be stretched over ledge  84  so that flange  88  ( FIG. 3 ) is engaged with ledge  34  formed by edge  37  of tray  78 . To prevent brush head  82  from dislodging during usage, the opposing surfaces of brush head  82  and tray  78  may be glued together. Alternatively, the inner side of brush head  82  may have one or a plurality of suction cups engaging the opposing outer surface of tray  78 . Furthermore, brush head  82  may be simply screwed on housing  12 .  
         [0042]     Preferably, all components of brush unit  10  are made from polymeric materials, such as engineering plastics, rubber and the like. However, the modulus of elasticity of materials used for manufacturing different components of brush  10  is not uniform. For example, housing  12  may be made from rigid polymeric materials incapable of yielding to loads produced by the user. Bladder  16  and brush head  82 , in turn, are composed of flexible polymeric materials, such as rubber. However, the brush head may be made from relatively rigid polymeric material. Housing portion  20  configured with fluid chamber is preferably made from transparent polymeric materials allowing the user to observe the level of fluid in the chamber. Furthermore, the use of differently colored materials enhancing the aesthetic appeal of brush  10  is also envisioned within the scope of the invention  
         [0043]     Dispensing of fluid from housing  12  through the outlet port is realized by a valve assembly  100  detachably coupled to the outlet port of housing  12 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , valve assembly  100  includes a valve member  44 , a holder  50  and a cover  90 . Valve assembly  100  is installed by initially placing valve member  44  into holder  50 . Then, the assembled holder/valve unit is inserted through the outer end of flange  70  of the housing portion  20 . Flange  70  and holder  50  are dimensioned so that upon insertion of the holder, their inner or top end are substantially flush with the inner surface of the bottom of housing portion  20 , whereas the bottom or outer end of holder  50  is received within a seat formed in the outer discharge end of flange  70  ( FIG. 3 ). Once the assembled holder/membrane unit is placed within flange  70 , cover  90  is screwed onto the outer surface of flange  70  to prevent displacement of the valve unit from housing  12 .  
         [0044]     As the inner threaded surface of cover  90  engages the threaded outer surface of flange  70 , the inner end of the cover moves within a groove  77  ( FIG. 3 ) formed in the bottom of base portion  60 . Displacement of the cover continues until its inner or top end abuts the outer side of the bottom of housing portion  20 . Instead of screwing cover  90 , it is possible to select dimensions of the cover and flange  70  so that the cover simply slides along the flange in a manner preventing its voluntary displacement in the opposite direction.  
         [0045]     Holder  50  ( FIG. 4 ) (shown in an inverted position) has a cup-shaped body and a rim  52  spaced from the top of holder  50  and extending radially outwards from the body. The top of holder  50  is provided with multiple angularly extending recesses  54 , which are separated from one another by a plurality of radially extending ribs  56 . Valve member  44  is also provided with a cup-shaped body and a respective collar  40  juxtaposed with the underside of rim  52  of holder  50  upon insertion of valve member  44  into the holder. Valve member  44  is dimensioned so that its top  42  is pressed against an underside  58  of the holder&#39;s top and covers recesses  54 . At least one slit, but preferably a multiplicity of slits  46 , is formed in the top of valve member  44  defining, thus, at least two top segments  48 . Due to the elasticity of the valve member, segments  48  are tightly attached to one another preventing fluid from escaping the chamber of housing portion  20 . However, once the pressure within the chamber is increased in response to an external pressure exerted upon the bladder  24  ( FIG. 3 ), the top segments deflect from one another to define a passage for fluid therebetween. Consequently, fluid exits an opening  92  formed in the bottom of cover  90  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0046]     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a kit may be provided containing brush unit  10  and a plurality of brush heads  82 . Each of the heads  82  may be used for a respective surface. Dealing with animals, for example, bristles  84  may be relatively large for long-coat animals, whereas short-coat animals can be treated with relatively small bristles. Furthermore, the bristles  84  may be arranged in different patterns and have different dimensions. The user may decide which one of the purchased heads is most suitable for any given surface and easily attach the desired head to housing  12  of brush unit  10 .  
         [0047]     The specific features described herein may be used in some embodiments, but not in others, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth. Many additional modifications are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed in the absence of a corresponding use of other features. The illustrative examples therefore do not define the metes and bounds of the invention.

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