Stain-removal brush

• US 7,469,703 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• 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, Spooner, Gregory Clegg, Daubenspeck, Bradley Wayne, Litten, Neil Anthony, Girard, Linda Shumansky, Boyd, Graham John, Jacobs, Stephen Allen, Mastrigli, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US10/762,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20050199265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 682/13, 15/211, 15/221, 15/29, 814/8
• US Class Current: 134/25.2
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/008 Disc-shaped brush bodies
• 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 2200/3053 Clothes brush, i.e. brushes specifically designed for cleaning clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/00 Arrangements of the bristles in the brush body
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/005 where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
• 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: A47L 13/10 Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/00 Domestic cleaning devices not provided for in other groups of this subclass for cleaning spectacles G02C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• 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

An motorized stain-removal brush is provided. A method of using motorized stain-removal brush for cleaning inanimate surfaces is also provided. The motorized stain-removal brush includes a handle having a motor disposed therein, a head having a longitudinal axis, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. Bristle holders are associated with the head. The motor is operatively connected to the bristle holder.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning an inanimate surface comprising:

a) providing a motorized stain-removal brush having a cleaning efficiency angle of from between about 0 degrees to 100 degrees, wherein the motorized stain-removal brush 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 tilted bristle holder associated with the head which oscillates or rotates;

v) a set of bristles associated with the bristle holder wherein the motor is operatively connected to bristle holder;

vi) a shaft at least partially disposed within the neck, the shaft being operatively connected to the motor and to the bristle holder, wherein the terminal end of the shaft disposed in the neck does not lie in the same plane as the motor shaft disposed in the handle;

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

c) contacting the motorized stain-removal brush to the inanimate surface so as to brush the solution on the inanimate surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tilted bristle holder oscillates at a frequency of between about 1000 and 10,000 cycles per minutes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bristle holder has a circular shape with a diameter of between about 10 and 50 mm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bristles have a length of between about 5 and 15 mm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bristles have a diameter of between about 0.1 and 0.3 mm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution is an aqueous solution.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the aqueous solution is first applied to the bristles, and then placed in contact with the inanimate surface.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the solution further comprises a surfactant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution is a lipophilic fluid.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the lipophilic solution is first applied to the bristles, and then placed in contact with the inanimate surface.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the lipophilic solution further comprises a surfactant.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the shaft reciprocates.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a V-link.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal end of the shaft comprises a W-link.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the bristles tufts have different lengths.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the bristle bolder has a sloped base.

17. A method of cleaning an inanimate surface comprising:

a) providing an electric stain-removal brush, wherein the electric stain-removal brush has a cleaning efficiency angle of between about 0 degrees and 100 degrees and wherein the stain removal brush 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 tilted bristle holder associated with the head which oscillates or rotates;

v) a set of bristles associated with the bristle holder wherein the motor is operatively connected to bristle holder;

vi) a shaft at least partially disposed within the neck, the shaft being operatively connected to the motor and to the bristle holder, wherein the terminal end of the shaft disposed in the neck does not lie in the same plane as the motor shaft disposed in the handle;

b) providing an absorbent stain receiver article which contacts the inanimate surface;

c) putting a solution in contact with the inanimate surface;

d) contacting the electric stain-removal brush to brush the solution on the inanimate surface; and

e) contacting the inanimate surface treated with the solution with the absorbent stain receiver article.

18. An article of commerce comprising

a) a motorized stain-removal brush, wherein the motorized stain-removal brush 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 bristle holder associated with the head which oscillates or rotates and wherein the motorized stain-removal brush has a cleaning efficiency angle of between about 0 and 100 degrees; and

v) a set of bristles or a foam structure associated with the bristle holder;

wherein the motor is operatively connected to the bristle holder; and

vi) a shaft at least partially disposed within the neck, the shaft being operatively connected to the motor and to the bristle holder, wherein the terminal end of the shaft disposed in the neck does not lie in the same plane as the motor shaft disposed in the handle.

19. The article of claim 18 further comprising a set of instructions in association with the motorized stain-removal brush, wherein the instructions direct a user of the motorized stain-removal brush to

i) put a solution in contact with the inanimate surface, and

ii) employ the motorized stain-removal brush to brush the solution on the inanimate surface.

20. The article of commerce of claim 18 wherein the bristle holder is tilted.

21. The article of commerce of claim 18 wherein the bristle holder oscillates.

22. The article of commerce of claim 18 wherein the motorized stain-removal brush has a cleaning efficiency angle of between about 35 and 95 degrees.