BRUSH AND SYSTEM FOR DISHWASHING

Abstract

 A system for dishwashing comprising a brush (14) for dishwashing and a detergent dispenser (5). The brush (14) comprises a wireless transmitter adapted for transmitting an activation signal (12) to the detergent dispenser (5). The detergent dispenser (5) comprises a mount (6) and a receptacle (7) adapted for holding a detergent bottle (8). The detergent dispenser (5) further comprises a receiver adapted to receive the activation signal (12) and an actuator adapted to influence the detergent bottle (8) held in the receptacle (7) in response to the activation signal (12) received by said receiver from wireless transmitter in the brush (14).

Description

Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwashing brush, a detergent dispenser and a system for dishwashing.

Background

[0002] When doing dishwashing, i.e. the washing of items such as glasses, cutlery, and crockery, in smaller numbers or volumes, e.g. in private or domestic settings, it is commonplace to use a dedicated dishwashing brush, in combination with water and detergent. This can be done by filling the kitchen sink or a plastic bowl with hot water and adding detergent. The detergent is normally a liquid. A dishwashing brush is then used to remove food residues or the like from the items to be cleaned, and the items are rinsed in the water in the sink or bowl. Finally, the items are dried using a tea towel and/or a rack.

[0003] Depending on the number or volume of items to be cleaned. the items may be washed directly under the running faucet. Detergent is then deposited on the item, which is then cleaned, and rinsed using the brush under the running water from the faucet.

[0004] In particular in the latter case this involves repeatedly grabbing putting down the dishwashing brush and handling the bottle containing the detergent, before picking up the dishwashing brush again. The bottles are typically flexible plastic bottles, which have to be pressed slightly to dispense the detergent. Doing so with hands wet from the water used for the dishwashing is inconvenient and somewhat of a nuisance.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to remove this inconvenience.

[0006] WO2018/170558A discloses a dispenser unit for receiving at least a portion of a bottle and dispensing the contents of the bottle.

Summary

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention this object is achieved by a brush for dishwashing, said brush comprising a head and a handle, characterized in that the brush comprises a wireless transmitter adapted for transmitting an activation signal to a detergent dispenser, and an activation means for activating said transmitter to send the activation signal.

[0008] In this way the person doing the dishwashing may conveniently activate the transmitter in the brush held in one hand, dispense a drop of detergent on the item to be cleaned which is concurrently held in the other hand. Thus, the person doing the dishwashing does not need to put down the wet brush, pick up the detergent bottle with a wet hand, deposit a drop of detergent on the item to be cleaned, put down the detergent bottle and pick up the brush for each and every item to be cleaned. The speed with which the dishwashing may be done is therefore increased, because all these numerous repetitions of these now unnecessary steps are avoided.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention the object is achieved by a system for dishwashing comprising a dishwashing brush according to the first aspect of the invention and a detergent dispenser comprising a mount and a receptacle adapted for holding a detergent bottle, where the detergent dispenser comprises a receiver adapted to receive an activation signal, an actuator adapted to influence a detergent bottle held in said receptacle in response to the activation signal received by said receiver.

[0010] According to a first preferred embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention said activation means is a push-button.

[0011] Providing a push-button in a convenient place on the brush for activating the transmitter provides an intuitive interface with tactile feedback, in turn, securing that the transmitter is not inadvertently activated.

[0012] According to a further preferred embodiment according to the first aspect of the invention, the handle is an elongate handle having a curvature in the lengthwise direction so as to provide a generally convex lengthwise curved surface and a generally concave lengthwise curved, and where the push-button is located said generally convex lengthwise curved surface. This allows the bush-button to be located in an ergonomically advantageous position where it may be digitally activated by the thumb of the user.

[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmitter transmits an electromagnetic signal in the radio frequency spectrum. Using a wireless transmission is convenient as it facilitates the handling of the brush, as compared to a cable. Radio frequency spectrum is preferred over e.g. infrared because of the wet environment of dishwashing, because water is more likely to block an infrared signal than a radio frequency signal.

[0014] According to a first preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the actuator of the detergent dispenser is adapted to influence a valve mechanism forming part of said detergent bottle. By the detergent dispenser being able to activate the built-in valve mechanism of the detergent bottle the activating the dispenser may be made small as it basically needs only to comprise a mount and a head, but not larger reservoir, thus taking up only little of the valuable space around the kitchen sink.

[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the actuator comprises a beak adapted to engage a flange part of said detergent bottle, and means for moving said beak in response to said activation signal. This, conveniently draws an advantage from the fact that many detergent bottles come with pull-type valve mechanisms having a flange allowing the valve mechanism to be operated manually by the fingers of a hand. The invention realises a small motion of the flange, such as rocking or pulling it, will dispense a small amount of detergent only, in particular a single drop.

[0016] According to another preferred embodiment, said means for moving said beak comprises an electric motor. Electric motors, such as servo-motors come cheap and may be operated at very low current consumption, in turn allowing the dispenser to be battery powered.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment, the beak is interchangeable. This will allow the dispenser to be easily adapted to different detergent bottles having different valve mechanisms and dimensions.

Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The invention will now be described in greater detail based on nonlimiting exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, on which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows the brush and dispenser according to the invention in conjunction with a kitchen sink,

Fig. 2 schematically shows the brush and dispenser according to the invention together with a detergent bottle,

Fig. 3 schematically shows a detailed view of the dispenser according to the second aspect of the invention, and

Fig. 4 schematically shows the signalling between the brush and the dispenser according to the invention.

Detailed description

[0019] Turning first to Fig. 1, a kitchen sink 1 embedded into a tabletop 2 of a piece of kitchen furniture 3 is schematically shown. As is common, a faucet 4 is suitably arranged in connection with the kitchen sink 1 so as to allow water to be let into the kitchen sink 1 and drained therefrom via a drain in the bottom (not shown). In a suitable place in connection with the kitchen sink 1 a dispenser 5 according to the invention, is also arranged. The dispenser comprises a mount 6, such as a column, and a receptacle 7 for a detergent bottle 8. The receptacle 7 is preferably so arranged with respect of the mount 6, e.g. extending laterally therefrom, so that the dispenser 5, in turn, can be mounted in such a way with respect to the kitchen sink 1, that the outlet 9 of the valve 10 of the detergent bottle 8 held in the receptacle 7 is above the kitchen sink 1. This could be on or at the edge of the kitchen sink 1, in or on the tabletop 2, extending from a wall behind the kitchen sink 1, or similar. Above the kitchen sink 1 is to say, detergent will be dispensed above the kitchen sink 1 rather than above the tabletop 2, so as to avoid soiling of the latter. In one embodiment, however, the assembly comprising the mount 6 and the receptacle 7, may allow the and receptacle 7 and the detergent bottle 8 held therein to be swung from a storages position away from the kitchen sink 1 to a use position allowing the detergent to be dispensed above the kitchen sink. The dispenser 5 may include a failsafe mechanism only allowing detergent to be dispensed from the detergent bottle 8 when the receptacle 7 is above the kitchen sink 1 - or at least away from the storage position. The constructional details of the mount 6 and of how to mount the dispenser 5, will depend on where and how it is intended to be mounted, as elaborated above, and are not considered relevant for the invention as such.

[0020] To activate the dispenser 5, the dispenser 5 comprises a receiver 11 adapted to receive an activation signal 12 from a transmitter 13 arranged in a dishwashing brush 14. This is all schematically shown in Fig. 4. The receiver 11 is adapted to activate an actuator, preferably comprising an electric motor 15, such as a servo-motor. The actuator influences the valve mechanism of a detergent bottle 8 held in the receptacle 9 in response to the activation signal 12 received by the receiver 11. The receiver 11 and the actuator are preferably powered by one and the same power source, such as a battery 16, accommodated in a battery compartment 17 or the like in the dispenser 5. An external power source is, however, not excluded.

[0021] As can best be seen from Fig. 3, the receptacle comprises a clip 25 adapted to hold the detergent bottle 8 in an upright upside-down position by the collar 26 of the cap of which the valve mechanism with the valve 10 and outlet 9 also form part, so as to have the outlet 9 point downward towards the kitchen sink 1.

[0022] The receptacle 7 also comprises a beak 27 forming part of the actuator. The beak 27 has a cut-out 28 with a recess 29 for accommodating the pull-flange 30 of the valve mechanism of the detergent bottle 8. The cut-out 28 may be largely semi-circular with a concentric semi-circular recess 29, or any other shape ensuring a good engagement with the pull-flange 30 of the detergent bottle 8. As can best be seen in Fig. 3, the beak 27 is pivotally arranged in the receptacle 7 so as to be able to pivot about an axis A arranged away from the cut-out 28 and recess 29, i.e. in the view of Fig. 3 in the body behind the cut-out 28 and recess 29. About this axis A, the beak 27 may be pivoted slightly as indicated with the double arrow in Fig. 3, e.g. in the range of 0° to 10°, preferably approximately 6°. This pivotal movement is effected by a drive means such as the electric motor 15, upon receipt of the activation signal 12. The beak 27 may be provided as an interchangeable part, in order to allow for different detergent bottles 8 and constructions of the valve 10.

[0023] The inventor has realized that this slight angular movement influencing the pull-flange 30 accommodated in the recess 29 in the beak 27 suffices to make the valve mechanism dispense a single drop of detergent from the outlet 9.

[0024] Turning again to the dishwashing brush 14, the power source for the transmitter 13 in the dishwashing brush 14 is also preferably a battery 18, the battery 18 could be rechargeable, exchangeable, or even disposable together with the dishwashing brush 14. To activate the transmission of the activating signal transmitter 13, the dishwashing brush 14 comprises an operating member, such as a push-button 19, operating an electrical switch 20, in order to energize the activation signal transmitter 13.

[0025] The activation signal 12 is preferably a radiofrequency signal, but other electromagnetic signals, such as infrared or optical could be used. The activation signal 12 is preferably a coded signal, such as a PCM signal or the like, allowing the receiver 11 to identify it as an activation signal 12.

[0026] The push-button 19 is preferably arranged in an ergonomically suitable place on the dishwashing brush 14. If as illustrated the dishwashing brush 14 is of the type with a curved proximal handle 21 and a distal head 22 with bristles 23, the push-button 19 is preferably arranged on the lengthwise convexly curved surface of the handle 21, i.e. the upper side, allowing it to be operated by the thumb of the hand with which the user holds the handle 21. It is, however, not excluded that the push-button 19 could be arranged on the lengthwise concavely curved surface of the handle 21, i.e. the underside, where is will be readily operable by an index or middle finger of the hand. Lateral arrangement, although also possible, is less preferred as this would result in the need for both left-hand and right-hand dishwashing brushes 14.

[0027] Thus, when the person intending to do the dishwashing, has opened for the water from the faucet 4, an item to be cleaned may be picked up by one hand and held under the under the running water to wet the item. Then without letting go of the item, it may be held under the dispenser 5, which is then activated by means of the dishwashing brush 14 held in the other hand, so as to dispense a drop of detergent on the item. The item may then immediately be cleaned and/or without having to let go of the brush. After or during cleaning the item may then be brought back under the running water for further cleaning or rinsing, before placed to dry. The sequence of the steps may vary, as some persons may want to dispense the detergent on the item before wetting it. In any case, this process may then be repeated as long as necessary, without the person ever having to put the dishwashing brush down 14 to dispense further detergent. The dishwashing process may thus be carried out substantially faster than in the prior art, where the dishwashing brush 14 repeatedly has to be put down and picked up, because the hand holding the dishwashing brush 14 is needed for dispensing the detergent.

[0028] The invention has now been explained with reference to preferred embodiments. It should, however, be noted than many variations and modifications of the illustrated embodiments, without deviating from the inventive idea of wireless communication between a dishwashing brush and a detergent dispenser. In particular the dispenser may be adapted to other types of detergent bottles than the one use for illustration purposes. The skilled person will e.g. understand that for detergent bottles with other types of valves the dispenser needs to be devised differently, or even so that the actuator influences the flexible body of the detergent bottle rather than the valve thereof. The skilled person will also realize that the incorporation of the transmitter in the dishwashing brush for the remote control of the dispenser, is largely independent of the ergonomic design of the dishwashing brush. The handle of the brush could thus be straight rather than curved, or the dishwashing brush could even be of a type without an elongate handle.

Claims

1. A brush for dishwashing, said brush comprising a head and a handle, characterized in that the brush comprises a wireless transmitter adapted for transmitting an activation signal to a detergent dispenser, and an activation means for activating said transmitter to send the activation signal.

2. A brush according to claim 1, wherein said activation means is a push-button.

3. A brush according to claim 2, where the handle is an elongate handle having a curvature in the lengthwise direction so as to provide a generally convex lengthwise curved surface and a generally concave lengthwise curved, and where the push-button is located said generally convex lengthwise curved surface.

4. A brush according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the transmitter transmits an electromagnetic signal in the radio frequency spectrum.

5. A system for dishwashing comprising a dishwashing brush according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a detergent dispenser comprising a mount and a receptacle adapted for holding a detergent bottle, where the detergent dispenser comprises
a receiver adapted to receive an activation signal,
an actuator adapted to influence a detergent bottle held in said receptacle in response to the activation signal received by said receiver.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said actuator is adapted to influence a valve forming part of said detergent bottle.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said actuator comprises a beak adapted to engage a flange part of said detergent bottle, and means for moving said beak in response to said activation signal.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said means for moving said beak comprises an electric motor.

9. A system according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the beak is interchangeable.

Drawing