A lavatory brush

Abstract

 A lavatory brush, of which at least the tufts (2) located nearest the connection (6) of the head moulding (3) and the handle (1) are canted toward the handle, set at an acute angle in relation to the longitudinal axis (x) of the brush, and of length such that the tips project back beyond the connection (6) between head and handle; revolution of these angled tufts (2) about the brush axis (x) will generate a number of essentially frustoconical surfaces (10) by which the head-handle connection is encompassed entirely, and the handle encompassed in part.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning implement of brush type embodiment, and in particular, to a lavatory brush.

[0002] Implements of the type in question have been on general sale for some considerable time; a typical brush will consist in a handle, extending along a main longitudinal axis and connected by one end to a block, or moulding, by means of which to support a plurality of cleaning elements (generally tufts of bristles) arranged variously and in such a way as to create a head suitable for cleaning different objects and surfaces.

[0003] The brushes to which the present invention relates in particular, i.e. those utilized for cleaning lavatory bowls, are embodied with flat and round heads alike, exhibiting a variety of shapes and sizes to suit varying requirements. Such brushes are certainly adequate when cleaning the flat or gently contoured surfaces of the bowl casting, but prove less effective in tackling the internal or more tortuous profiles, especially the recessed underside of the rim; in effect, more than one reason exists for ensuring that these less readily accessible surfaces are thoroughly cleansed, as in addition to the normal use for which the bowl is intended, one has the formation of a significant quantity of lime deposits, given that the rim is generally cast with holes through which to channel the flush water.

[0004] Several specific expedients have emerged, aimed at successful cleaning of the recessed surfaces of a lavatory bowl as described above, of which a first, for example, consists in providing a conventional brush with additional tufts seated in the part of the head nearest the handle and set in the opposite direction to that of the main body of bristles. A second expedient, embodying a wholly new concept, consists in fashioning a brush with a head moulding of pear-drop shape and a plurality of tufts, set in and twisted around the moulding and exhibiting a given profile.

[0005] A third expedient consists in the use of chemical substances to dissolve the lime, though solutions of this nature lie outside the scope of the present invention and the appended claims.

[0006] At all events, none of the expedients outlined is able to provide an ideal solution to the difficulty in question; indeed each is beset by at least one drawback such as renders the cleaning of recessed lavatory bowl surfaces either incomplete or hard to accomplish. In the first expedient mentioned, an insufficiently generous surface is afforded by the additional bristles, resulting in only a partial cleansing action. The second type of brush is not especially convenient, being suitable for cleaning recessed surfaces, though unsuitable for the bowl in its entirety; furthermore, the brush is not easy to handle on the part of the user, by reason of the fact that the arm manipulating the brush needs to be extended into the bowl. The third expedient can become disadvantageous due to the fact that with continued use of chemical agents, water flushed from the bowl will become a source of pollution. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks described above. The stated object is achieved with a lavatory brush according to the invention, which is of the type consisting in a block or head moulding, supporting a plurality of cleaning elements and connected to a handle, and is characterized in that at least the cleaning elements associated with the part of the head moulding nearest to its point of connection with the handle are directed back toward the handle and disposed at an acute angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the brush as a whole.

[0007] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

-fig 1 is a side elevation of the brush disclosed;

-fig 2 is a side elevation of the brush of fig 1, illustrated with certain parts omitted better to reveal others;

-fig 3 is the sectional illustration of a lavatory bowl, showing the brush in operation;

-figs 4 and 5 are further side elevations showing two alternative embodiments of the brush.

[0008] With reference first to fig 1, a brush according to the invention consists substantially in a handle 1, generally of elongated appearance, provided with a grip 4 at one end and connected by its remaining end to a head of which the block, or moulding, is denoted 3.

[0009] The head moulding 3 affords a plurality of holes 5 accommodating a plurality of cleaning elements, each one of which consisting substantially in a set of tufts 2, inserted in such a manner as to project from points distributed over the entire available surface area of the head. The head moulding 3 is essentially cylindrical in embodiment, disposed coaxial with the handle 1 though exhibiting a wider radius, and crowned at its projecting end.

[0010] According to the invention, the tufts 2 occupying a part of the head moulding denoted 3a, which lies adjacent to the connection 6 of the head moulding 3 with the handle 1, are canted back in the direction of the handle at an acute angle (see fig 2, where α denotes the angle of certain of the tufts 2).

[0011] These angled tufts 2 are of length such that the projecting ends extend back beyond the part 3a of the head moulding which they occupy, and moreover, such that their revolution about the longitudinal axis x of the brush will describe a plurality of substantially frustoconical surfaces 10, centred on the axis x.

[0012] More exactly, the rearwardly angled tufts 2 combine to generate a series of frustoconical surfaces 10 by which the connection 6 between the head moulding and the handle 1 is encompassed entirely, and the handle itself encompassed in part (as discernible from fig 2).

[0013] The projecting ends of the tufts 2 distributed over the entire surface area of the head moulding 3 combine to describe a surface 7 substantially of domed shape, which represents the outer profile of the brush head. In particular, the greater base of the innermost frustoconical surface 10, nearest the handle, coincides with the skirt of the dome 7. It will be seen from figs 2 and 3 that the length of the tufts 2 is markedly varied, and increases progressively from the tip of the brush back to the connection 6 of the head with the handle 1.

[0014] With a brush embodied according to the invention, the operation of cleaning any recessed parts of a lavatory bowl (fig 3) is considerably facilitated; gripping the handle 1 and offering the brush down into the bowl, in fact, it becomes possible to direct certain of the acutely angled tufts 2 up into the recess, while the shorter tufts 2 clean the surface adjacent to the rim recess.

[0015] In another embodiment of the brush illustrated in fig 4, the head moulding 3 is fashioned in two sections 3a and 3b arranged in tandem along the axis of the handle 1, one of which coinciding with the part 3a, mentioned above, accommodating the acutely angled tufts 2.

[0016] The two sections 3a and 3b of the head moulding are rigidly associated with the handle 1, for example screwed thereonto, and will be tightened together to the point of making contact and forming a single head as shown in fig 2.

[0017] Fig 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which differs from those described thus far in that only certain of the tufts 2 carried by the part 3a of the head nearest to its connection 6 with the handle 1 are of length such that their projecting ends extend back beyond the connection 6.

Claims

1) A lavatory brush, of the type comprising a moulding or block (3), supporting a plurality of cleaning elements (2) distributed over its entire available surface area, and connected to a handle (1), characterized
in that at least the elements (2) occupying the part (3a) of the head moulding (3) nearest to the point (6) of its connection with the handle (1) are directed substantially toward the handle and angled acutely in relation to the longitudinal axis (x) of the brush.

2) A brush as in claim 1, wherein the elements (2) occupying the part (3a) of the head moulding (3) adjacent to the point of its connection with the handle (1) are of length such that their projecting ends extend back beyond the connection (6), and positioned such that their revolution describes a plurality of substantially frustoconical surfaces (10) about the longitudinal axis (x) of the brush, encompassing the connection (6) between the head moulding (3) and the handle (1) and part of the handle itself, of which the generators coincide with the elements and the peripheral profiles of the greater bases are delimited by the projecting ends of the elements.

3) A brush as in claim 1, wherein the elements (2) occupying the entire available area of the head moulding (3) are of length such that their projecting ends combine to describe a surface (7) of substantially domed shape.

4) A brush as in claim 1, wherein the elements (2) occupying the entire available area of the head moulding (3) are of length such that their projecting ends combine to describe a surface (7) of substantially domed shape, of which the skirt coincides with the peripheral profile of the greater base of the frustoconical surface (10) nearest the handle (1).

5) A brush as in claim 3, wherein the length of the elements (2) is significantly varied, and increases progressively from the projecting end of the head moulding (3) back to the point of its connection with the handle (1).

6) A brush as in claim 1, comprising a head moulding (3) that is embodied in two sections (3a, 3b) arranged in tandem along the axis of the handle, of which one coincides with the part (3a) carrying those elements (2) which are set toward and angled acutely in relation to the handle (1), wherein the two sections (3a, 3b) are associated rigidly with the handle (1), and capable of being brought into close contact one with the other to form a single piece.

7) A brush as in claim 1, wherein certain of the elements (2) issuing from the part (3a) of the head moulding (3) nearest the point (6) of connection with the handle (1) are of length such that their projecting ends extend back beyond the connection.

Drawing