Soap-dispensing kitchen brush

• US 6,250,833 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: General Hospital Corporation
• Inventors: Perry, Marco C., Lozeau, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEVORE, PETER T
• Application Number:
  US09/484,171
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 401/279, 401/290, 401/140, 401/207, 401/6, 401/205, 401/206, 401/270, 401/275, 401/278, 215/306
• US Class Current: 401/278
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0013 dispensing by gravity or by shaking

Abstract

A fluid-dispensing kitchen brush has a body including a fluid reservoir and a handle, the reservoir being closed by an end plate which is ultrasonically welded to the body and is, in turn, latched to a bristle block by means of resilient fingers on the block engaging in notches on the plate. A second embodiment also has a resilient tab on the plate engaging in a recess in the block. Aligned holes through the plate and the block which provide communication between the reservoir and the bristles is openable and closeable by a plug biased closed by a leaf spring and openable by means of a lever having a post receivable in a fluid-filling aperture in the body adjacent to the handle. The aperture is closed by a hollow cap hingedly movable between open and closed positions and having a flexible and resilient dome which, in the closed position, covers the post and is depressible for actuating the lever. A frictional cushioning grip sleeve covers the handle and a portion of the cap hinge to secure the cap to the handle.

Claims

1. A fluid-dispensing implement comprising:

a body defining a fluid reservoir therein and having a handle thereon,

a work-engaging medium carried by the body,

a valve assemble carried by the body for providing communication between the reservoir and the medium and having an actuating member,

said body having a fluid-filling aperture therein adjacent to the handle end receiving a portion of said actuating member,

a flexible and resilient hollow cap pivotally mounted on the body for movement between open and closed positions relative to the aperture,

said cap in its closed position receiving said portion of the actuating member and being manually deflectable to operate said actuating member,

the cap including a cup-like structure and a flexible and resilient hinge projecting laterally from said structure and unitary therewith,

and a grip sleeve formed of a frictional cushioning material and covering said handle and a portion of said hinge for retaining said cap in place on said handle.

2. The implement of claim 1, wherein said actuating member includes a lever having at one end thereof a post disposed in said hollow cap.

3. The implement of claim 2, wherein said cap includes a flexible and resilient dome portion projecting laterally outwardly from said body in the closed position of said cap and covering said post and depressible by a user'"'"'s thumb or finger to move said post and said lever.

4. The implement of claim 1, wherein said body has a rim defining said aperture, said cap having a generally cylindrical wall portion receivable in said aperture, said wall portion having a circumferential groove for receiving said rim in a snap fit therein.

5. A fluid-dispensing implement comprising:

a housing defining a fluid reservoir therein,

said housing having a first latch structure thereon,

a holder and a work-engaging medium held thereby,

said holder having a second latch structure thereon adapted for latching engagement with said first latch structure securely to mount said holder on said housing, and

a manually openable valve assembly carried by said housing and cooperating with said holder to provide communication between the reservoir and the medium,

said holder having a wedge-shaped recess therein, said housing having a wedge-shaped projection thereon mateably receivable in said recess, said fingers being disposed adjacent to said recess and said notches being disposed on said projection.

6. The implement of claim 5, wherein said first latch structure includes a notch and said second latch structure includes a flexible and resilient finger receivable in said notch.

7. The implement of claim 5, wherein said first latch structure includes a pair of notches and said second latch structure includes a pair of flexible and resilient fingers respectively receivable in said notches.

8. The implement of claim 7, wherein said first latch structure includes a flexible and resilient tab and said second latch structure includes a recess for receiving said tab.

9. The implement of claim 5, wherein said projection and said recess respectively have mating dovetail shapes in transverse cross section.

10. The implement of claim 5, wherein said first latch structure includes a flexible and resilient tab and said second latch structure includes a recess for receiving said tab.

11. The implement of claim 5, and further comprising apertures in said housing and said holder communicating with each other and with said reservoir and opened and closed by said valve assembly.

12. The implement of claim 5, wherein said implement is a kitchen brush and said work-engaging medium is a plurality of brush bristles.

13. A fluid-dispensing implement comprising:

a housing defining a fluid reservoir therein,

a work-engaging medium carried by the housing,

a valve assembly carried by the housing,

said valve assembly including an aperture in the housing and a valve member including a plug movable between a closed position for closing the aperture and blocking communication between the reservoir and the medium and an open condition opening the aperture for providing communication between the reservoir and the medium,

a leaf spring carried by said housing and engaging said valve member for resiliently biasing said valve member to its closed position,

said plug having a knob projecting therefrom, said leaf spring having an aperture therein through which the knob is received, and

a lever coupled to said plug and having an end disposed for manual operation by a user,

said housing having two spaced apart ledges thereon, said leaf spring having opposed ends respectively disposed beneath said ledges, said spring engaging said valve member intermediate said ends.

14. The implement of claim 13, wherein said valve assembly includes a valve seat on said housing surrounding said aperture and said valve member includes a gasket disposable in sealing engagement with said seat.