Apparatus and process for cleaning articles such as baby bottles

• US 6,146,040 A
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunn, Steven B., Petterson, Tor H., Farnham, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/038,737
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 401/183, 401/6, 401/41, 401/25, 401/123, 401/140, 401/137, 401/138, 401/118, 401/139, 401/27, 15/118, 15/106
• US Class Current: 401/138
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3006 Brushes for cleaning bottles or hollow containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/03 Scrapers having provisions for supplying cleaning agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 17/04 Pan or pot cleaning utensils

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning an article such as a baby bottle includes a handle that is sized and configured to be gripped in one hand of a user, and a reservoir defined within the handle for storing a detergent. A push-pull cap is provided on the handle for dispensing detergent from the reservoir when the handle is squeezed. A brush is connected to the handle, and is sized and configured so as to be able to fit into an open end of a baby bottle to scrub the baby bottle during cleaning. The push-pull cap is advantageously located on a portion of the handle member that is remote from the brush member, so that a user will be able to dispense detergent and scrub without putting down the apparatus, and also have the flexibility to scrub without fear of unwanted detergent leaking into the brush, such as during a final rinse. A novel brush configuration is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a baby bottle, comprising:

a handle member that is sized and configured to be gripped in one hand of a user, the handle member having a longitudinal axis and also a reservoir defined therein for storing a detergent, and dispensing means for dispensing detergent from the reservoir;

a brush member connected to the handle member, said brush member also having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of the handle member wherein said brush member has a length along said longitudinal axis of the brush member which is longer than a width of said brush member taken along an axis which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the brush member, said brush member further including a plurality of compressible wiper portions that are constructed and arranged to engage and wipe inside surfaces of a container during cleaning wherein each of said wiper portions comprising a compressible linear edge that is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of the brush member and protruding radially outwards of said longitudinal axis of the brush member, said linear edges; and

wherein

the dispensing means is located on a portion of the handle member that is remote from the brush member, whereby a user will be able to dispense detergent and scrub without putting down the apparatus, and also have the flexibility to scrub without fear of unwanted detergent leaking into the brush member, such as during a final rinse.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle member comprises a main body portion that is sized and configured to be gripped in one hand of a user, and an elongated boss portion, and wherein the brush member is secured to the elongated boss portion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said brush member is secured to said elongated boss portion by a waterproof adhesive.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means is mounted on said handle member so as to be substantially opposed to said brush member.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means comprises a push-pull dispensing cap.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means comprises a threaded finish portion that is integral with said handle member;

and a dispensing cap that is threaded on to said finish portion.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said dispensing cap is a push-pull dispensing cap.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brush member further comprises a scouring portion for scouring during cleaning.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said compressible wiper portions are spaced substantially evenly with respect to each other about a periphery of the brush member so as to center the brush member within the baby bottle during cleaning.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brush member includes three compressible wiper portions.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said compressible wiper portions extend radially outwardly from adjacent portions of said brush member by a distance of at least three millimeters.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brush member is fabricated from a sponge-like material.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means is constructed and arranged to be operated with use of only one hand.

13. An apparatus for cleaning a baby bottle of the type that has an interior space and an opening that is in communication with the interior space, comprising:

a handle member having a longitudinal axis; and

a brush member connected to said handle member, said brush member being sized and configured to fit into the opening to scrub the interior of the baby bottle during cleaning, said brush member including a plurality of axially extending compressible wiper portions each of which has an outer edge that extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said handle member wherein when said brush member is viewed on a plane that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the handle member, said brush member has the appearance of a triangle that has three slightly convex sides whereby said brush member is constructed and arranged to engage and wipe inside surfaces of the baby bottle during cleaning, and being compressible enough to minimize interference when the brush member is inserted into the opening before cleaning.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said compressible wiper portions are spaced substantially evenly with respect to each other about a periphery of the brush member so as to center the brush member within the baby bottle during cleaning.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said brush member includes three compressible wiper portions.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said compressible wiper portions extend radially outwardly from adjacent portions of said brush member by a distance of at least three millimeters.

17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said brush member is fabricated from a sponge-like material.