Direct application brush with sponge

• US 8,082,886 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I Did It Incorporated
• Original Assignee: I Did It Incorporated
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Marni Markell
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Rob
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, EBONY E
• Application Number:
  US12/079,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20080178823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 119651-652, 119/664, 119/603, 119/604, 15186-187, 151/94, 401286-287, 132112-116
• US Class Current: 119/603
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0006 specially adapted to feed the bristle upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0041 Flexible or deformable reservoirs, e.g. resilient bulbs, compressible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0062 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being refilled when empty
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0096 Indication of the level of the remaining fluid, e.g. through transparent walls
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/104 Hair brush
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1093 Brush for use on animal A46B2200/1086 takes precedence

Abstract

A horse and/or livestock brush assembly with sponge element that releases a fluid and/or liquid solution directly onto a sponge element for foaming delivery onto the coat of an animal during sponging or washing. The brush assembly includes a brush base attached to a hose and flow regulator. The brush base comprises a flexible deformable membrane with a plurality of apertures that deliver fluid and/or liquid solution to a sponge element. The flexible deformable membrane and sponge element are fitted within a first opening of an internal cavity in a brush base. Delivery of the fluid or liquid solution is controlled by way of the flow regulator. An optional mixing chamber housing a water soluble compound containing active ingredients may be attached to the flow regulator to form a liquid solution. The liquid solution includes shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, fragrances and other active compositions including insect repellant, botanicals, dyes, moisturizers, or antibacterial compounds. The fluid and/liquid is delivered directly to the animal'"'"'s fur or hair while sponging or washing the coat.

Claims

1. A direct application brush assembly for horses and livestock, comprising:

a. a molded brush base with a handle and an internal cavity with a bottom surface having a first opening, a top surface having a second opening and an orifice;

b. a flexible deformable membrane having apertures aligned with a sponge element fixedly attached thereto, and appointed for sponging or washing hair or fur;

c. a cover;

d. said first opening being adapted to receive said flexible deformable membrane;

e. said second opening being adapted to receive said cover;

f. a flow regulator;

g. a hose having a first end fitted with said flow regulator and a second end fitted to said orifice of said brush base so that said hose delivers a fluid from said flow regulator into said internal cavity of said brush base;

h. said sponge element being removable from said first opening of said brush base so that said sponge can be replaced with a replacement sponge; and

i. a soluble disk being provided to be inserted within said internal cavity, said soluble disk being water soluble and containing active ingredients that dissolve as fluid enters said internal cavity by way of said hose and said flow regulator;

whereby said flow regulator controls delivery of said fluid into said hose and vis-à

-vis said internal cavity of said brush base when sponging or washing said fur or hair, releasing said fluid through said apertures in said flexible deformable membrane and said sponge element onto said fur or hair.

2. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is elliptical, said flexible deformable membrane is elliptical, said cover is elliptical, and said sponge element is elliptical.

3. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is circular, said flexible deformable membrane is circular, said cover is circular, and said sponge element is circular.

4. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is rectangular, said flexible deformable membrane is rectangular, and said cover is rectangular.

5. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein each of said first and second openings is square-shaped, said flexible deformable membrane is square-shaped, and said cover is square-shaped.

6. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible deformable membrane is composed of rubber having a thickness in the range of 1/32 inch to 3/32 inch.

7. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible deformable membrane aperture has a diameter in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.060 inch.

8. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said sponge element has a thickness ranging from 0.25 inch to 3 inch.

9. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said flexible deformable membrane is composed of a flexible polymeric material having a thickness in the range of 1/32 inch to 3/32 inch.

10. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1, wherein said fluid is water.

11. A brush assembly as recited by claim 1 comprising a mixing chamber housing a compound appointed to be mixed with water delivered from said flow regulator to form a liquid solution that is appointed to be fed through said hose into said interior cavity of said brush base for foaming dissemination of said liquid solution through said sponge element onto said fur or hair.

12. A brush assembly as recited by claim 11, wherein said liquid solution includes active ingredients comprising grooming and cleaning products for a coat of said horse and livestock.

13. A brush assembly as recited by claim 11, wherein said liquid solution includes active ingredients comprising animal health care products.

14. A brush assembly as recited by claim 11, wherein said liquid solution includes perfume, fragrance and/or other active composition comprising insect repellant, flea repellants and treatments, tic repellant, mane and tail hair conditioning compositions, dye compositions, moisturizing ingredients, or antibacterial compounds.

15. A brush assembly as recited by claim 11, wherein said liquid solution consists of active ingredients selected from a group consisting of insect repellants, flea and/or tic compounds, muscle treatments, therapeutic or moisturizing compounds, or antibacterial compounds.

16. A brush assembly as recited by claim 11, wherein said liquid solution consists of active ingredients selected from a group consisting of perfumes, fragrance, hair-conditioning and detangle products, sun protection lotions, mane and tail whiteners and stain removers, dye compositions, fragrances or other hair/fur/coat-care related products.

17. A brush assembly as recited by claim 11, wherein said compound housed in said mixing chamber is a semi-solid compound soluble in an aqueous environment to form said liquid solution appointed for delivery through said hose and into said interior cavity of said brush base and into said sponge element for delivery to said fur or hair.

18. A brush assembly as recited by claim 17, wherein said semi-solid compound is a shampoo.

19. A brush assembly as recited by claim 11, wherein said mixing chamber is disposable and replacement mixing chambers are available.

20. A direct application brush assembly for horses and livestock, comprising:

a. a molded brush base with a handle and an internal cavity with a bottom surface having a first opening, a top surface having a second opening and an orifice;

b. a sponge element having a flexible deformable rim, said sponge element being appointed for sponging or washing hair or fur;

c. said first opening being adapted to receive said sponge element;

d. said second opening being adapted to receive a cover that fits onto said second opening;

e. a flow regulator;

f. a hose having a first end fitted with said flow regulator and a second end fitted to said orifice of said brush base so that said hose delivers a fluid from said flow regulator into said internal cavity of said brush base;

g. said sponge element being removable from said first opening of said brush base so that said sponge can be replaced with a replacement sponge; and

h. a soluble disk being provided to be inserted within said internal cavity, said soluble disk being water soluble and containing active ingredients that dissolve as fluid enters said internal cavity by way of said hose and said flow regulator;

whereby said flow regulator controls delivery of said fluid into said hose and vis-à

-vis said internal cavity of said brush base when sponging or washing said fur or hair, releasing said fluid through said sponge element onto said fur or hair.

21. A method for making a direct delivery brush assembly for horses and livestock coats that releases a fluid, comprising the steps of:

a. forming a brush base having an internal cavity with a bottom surface having a first opening, a top surface having a second opening and an orifice;

b. producing a flexible deformable membrane having apertures arranged in substantially uniform distribution over the surface area of the membrane;

c. inserting said flexible deformable membrane into said first opening in said internal cavity;

d. producing a sponge element appointed to be aligned with said flexible deformable membrane;

e. aligning and inserting said sponge element with said flexible deformable membrane into said first opening for sponging or washing hair or fur;

f. inserting a cover on said second opening of said brush base;

g. connecting a second end of a hose to said orifice of said brush base and connecting a first end of said hose to a flow regulator for delivery of said fluid into said internal cavity of said brush base;

whereby said flow regulator controls delivery of said fluid into said hose and vis-à

-vis said internal cavity of said brush base when sponging or washing said fur or hair, releasing said fluid through said apertures in said flexible deformable membrane and said sponge element onto said fur or hair of said horse and livestock.

22. A method for making a direct delivery brush assembly as recited by claim 21 comprising a mixing chamber housing a compound appointed to be mixed with water delivered from said flow regulator to form a liquid solution that is appointed to be fed through said hose into said interior cavity of said brush base for dissemination of said liquid solution into said sponge element and onto said fur or hair.

23. A method for making a direct delivery brush assembly as recited by claim 22, wherein said liquid solution comprises fragrance and/or other active composition comprising shampoo, conditioner, botanicals, insect repellant, flea repellants and treatments, tic repellant, mane and tail hair conditioning compositions, dye compositions, moisturizing ingredients, or antibacterial compounds.