Multi-motion stainbrush

• US 7,258,747 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2003
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: France, Paul Amaat Raymond Gerard, Jacobs, Stephen Allen, Vago, James Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): CARRILLO, BIBI SHARIDAN
• Application Number:
  US10/659,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/28, 15/224, 134/6, 134/25.2, 134/25.4, 134/40, 134/42
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/028 Bristle profile, the end of the bristle defining a surface other than a single plane or deviating from a simple geometric form, e.g. cylinder, sphere or cone
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3445 Translation along the axis of the toothbrush handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/349 with multiple brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/30 by movement of cleaning members over a surface
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members

Abstract

A method of using an electric stainbrush for cleaning inanimate surfaces is provided. The electric stainbrush includes a handle having a motor disposed therein, a head having a longitudinal axis, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. First and second bristle holders are associated with the head. The first bristle holder oscillates or rotates. The second bristle holder reciprocates in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the head but does not rotate or oscillate. The motor is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning an inanimate surface comprising:

a) having an electric stainbrush, wherein the electric stainbrush comprises

i) a handle having a motor disposed therein;

ii) a head having a longitudinal axis;

iii) a neck disposed between the handle and the head;

iv) a first bristle holder associated with the head which oscillates or rotates;

v) a second bristle holder associated with the head which reciprocates in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the head but does not rotate or oscillate and wherein the second bristle holder includes a first T-shaped block which depends from a bottom surface of the second bristle holder, wherein the T-shaded block slideably engages a first pair of projections of the head to guide the movement of the second bristle holder;

vi) a first set of bristles associated with the first bristle holder; and

vii) a second set of bristles associated with the second bristle holder;

wherein the motor is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders; and

viii) a shaft at least partially disposed within the neck, the shaft being operatively connected to the motor and to at least to one of the first bristle holder and the second bristle holder, wherein the shaft reciprocates;

b) putting a cleaning solution in contact with the inanimate surface; and

c) employing the electric stainbrush to brush the cleaning solution on the inanimate surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution is first applied to the first set of bristles, second set of bristles, or both sets of bristles;

and then placed in contact with the inanimate surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second bristle holder is disposed between the first bristle holder and the handle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bristle holder only rotates or oscillates.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric stainbrush further comprises a pin operatively connecting the shaft and the second bristle holder.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second T-shaped block which engages a second pair of projections of the head.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric stainbrush further comprises a cam associated with the shaft.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the cleaning solution further comprises a surfactant.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said pin engages a hole in the first T-shaped block.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the second bristle holder includes first and second cam followers depending from a bottom surface bristle holder, the first and second cam followers being separated from one another and wherein the cam is disposed between the first and second cam followers.

11. A method of cleaning an inanimate surface comprising:

a) having an electric stainbrush, wherein the electric stainbrush comprises

i) a handle having a motor disposed therein;

ii) a head having a longitudinal axis;

iii) a neck disposed between the handle and the head;

iv) a first bristle holder associated with the head which oscillates or rotates;

v) a second bristle holder associated with the head which reciprocates in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the head but does not rotate or oscillate wherein the second bristle holder includes a first T-shaped block which depends from a bottom surface of the second bristle holder, wherein the T-shaped block slideably engages a first pair of projections of the head to guide the movement of the second bristle holder;

vi) a first set of bristles associated with the first bristle holder;

vii) a second set of bristles associated with the second bristle holder, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders; and

viii) a shaft at least partially disposed within the neck, the shaft being operatively connected to the motor and to at least to one of the first bristle holder and the second bristle holder wherein the shaft reciprocates;

b) putting a cleaning solution in contact with the inanimate surface;

c) employing the electric stainbrush to brush the solution on the inanimate surface; and

d) employing an absorbent stain receiver article to remove the stain from the inanimate surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cleaning solution is an aqueous solution, a lipophilic solution, or a combination thereof.

13. A method of cleaning an inanimate surface comprising:

a) having an electric stainbrush, wherein the electric stainbrush comprises

i) a handle having a motor disposed therein;

ii) a head having a longitudinal axis;

iii) a neck disposed between the handle and the head;

iv) a first bristle holder associated with the head which oscillates or rotates;

v) a second bristle holder associated with the head which reciprocates in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the head but does not rotate or oscillate;

vi) a first set of bristles associated with the first bristle holder;

vii) a second set of bristles associated with the second bristle holder, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders;

viii) a shaft at least partially disposed within the neck, the shaft being operatively connected to the motor and to at least to one of the first bristle holder and the second bristle holder, wherein the shaft reciprocates, and wherein the shaft comprises a cam in the form of a plurality of spaced apart rings and the second bristle holder further comprises a cam follower in the form of a block having a slot disposed therein, wherein the block depends from a bottom surface of the second bristle holder and wherein the slot is shaped to receive the shaft and the block is disposed between the rings;

b) putting a cleaning solution in contact with the inanimate surface; and

c) employing the electric stainbrush to brush the cleaning solution on the inanimate surface.

14. A method of cleaning an inanimate surface comprising:

a) having an electric stainbrush, wherein the electric stainbrush comprises

i) a handle having a motor disposed therein;

ii) a head having a longitudinal axis;

iii) a neck disposed between the handle and the head;

iv) a first bristle holder associated with the head which oscillates or rotates;

v) a second bristle holder associated with the head which reciprocates in generally the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the head but does not rotate or oscillate;

vi) a first set of bristles associated with the first bristle holder;

vii) a second set of bristles associated with the second bristle holder, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the first and second bristle holders;

viii) a shaft at least partially disposed within the neck, the shaft being operatively connected to the motor and to at least to one of the first bristle holder and the second bristle holder, wherein the shaft reciprocates, and wherein the shaft comprises a pair of projections which extend in a direction transverse from the shaft and wherein the second bristle holder further comprises a block depending from a bottom surface of the second bristle holder having a pair of slots which are shaped to slideably receive the projections;

b) putting a cleaning solution in contact with the inanimate surface; and

c) employing the electric stainbrush to brush the cleaning solution on the inanimate surface.