Automatic infant bottle cleaner

• US 5,636,400 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green River Area Development District, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keenan L. Young
• Inventors: Young, Keenan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hook, James F.
• Application Number:
  US08/512,159
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 15/23, 15/22.1, 15/88, 15/104.03, 15/104.04, 15/104.05, 15/104.095, 15/97.1, 15/59, 15/65, 15/67, 15/68, 15/71, 15/88.3, 15/104.9, 15/207. 2, 134/8
• US Class Current: 15/23
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0065 specially adapted for drinking glasses

Abstract

An automatic infant bottle cleaner comprises a hand-held, battery-operated drill mechanism having a bristle brush attachment. The drill mechanism has an ergonomically angled case made of hard plastic. The drill mechanism also has a three position slide switch, a rectifier, two rechargeable batteries, and a small three volt DC motor. A method of using the cleaner is also provided.

Claims

1. An automatic infant bottle cleaner, comprising:

a unitary cylindrical driver case having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion fixedly connected to said rear portion at a bend in said driver case, said front portion having a first axis and said rear portion having a second axis, said first axis and said second axis defining an angle between 120 and 150 degrees, said front portion having walls defining a centrally disposed holder and a receiving channel concentrically protruding from said holder at an end of said front portion;

a motor fixedly disposed within said holder, said motor having an attachment mechanism protruding from said motor;

a switch disposed in said driver case proximate said bend, said switch including three selectable positions for selectively energizing said motor;

a rectifier disposed in said driver case proximate said switch;

a power supply disposed in said rear portion; and

a brush attachment having an elongated rod, a cylindrical connector, and a rounded conical head for reaching corners of an infant bottle, said rod having a length sufficient to reach bottom sections of an infant bottle, said rod integrally connecting said connector to said conical head, said connector having a groove for mechanically engaging said brush attachment to said motor, said connector being releasably attachable to said attachment mechanism, said conical head having a plurality of bristles projecting therefrom, said plurality of bristles covering said conical head to form a cylinder, whereby a user may select a switch position to activate rotation of said brush attachment for easy and efficient cleaning of an infant bottle.

2. The automatic infant bottle cleaner according to claim 1 wherein

said switch, said rectifier, said motor and said power supply are connected in series when said switch is configured in a first position;

said switch, said motor and said power supply are connected in series when said switch is configured in a second position; and

said switch is a lone circuit element when said switch is configured in a third position.

3. The automatic infant bottle cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said power supply includes at least one battery.

4. The automatic infant bottle cleaner according to claim 3, wherein said at least one battery is at least one nickel-cadmium battery.

5. The automatic infant bottle cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said angle is 135 degrees for applying pressure via said brush attachment to an infant bottle, while simultaneously allowing easy manipulation of said cleaner.

6. The automatic infant bottle cleaner according to claim 5, wherein said rear portion has an ergonomically designed grip.

7. The automatic infant bottle cleaner according to claim 6, wherein said switch is located opposite said grip.