Bottle brush

• US 9,265,334 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rekemo Fung-A-Wing
• Original Assignee: Rekemo Fung-A-Wing
• Inventors: Fung-A-Wing, Rekemo
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/518,203
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 151/05, 151/06, 151/14, 151/64, 152/06, 152/11, D41/16, D41/19, D41/20, D41/27, D41/28, D4130-133, D41/38, D32/35, D32/40, D32/42, D32/51, D32/52
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0097 Self supporting, e.g. brushes that stand upright or in other particular ways
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3006 Brushes for cleaning bottles or hollow containers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0008 Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle not intended for simultaneous use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0016 Brushes with heads on opposite sides or ends of a handle not intended for simultaneous use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/02 specially shaped for holding by the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 17/00 Apparatus or implements used in manual washing or cleaning of crockery, table-ware, cooking-ware or the like foam-making devices A47K5/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 17/04 Pan or pot cleaning utensils

Abstract

A bottle brush cleaning device includes a container cleaning element, a nipple cleaning element, and one or more additional cleaning elements. Each cleaning element extends from an ergonomically shaped base that is easy to grasp with one hand and manipulate use of each of the cleaning elements. In one embodiment, the ergonomically shaped base is configured to be placed upright on a supporting surface such that each of the cleaning elements is at least semi-vertically positioned away from the supporting surface in order to air dry without contamination from contact with other objects or surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, two additional cleaning elements extend from the base, wherein the additional cleaning elements each include brushes having dissimilarly sized diameters in order to allow for cleaning of varyingly sized articles, such as a straw or other tubular-shaped article.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a base portion defining a handle that is sized, structured and configured for ergonomically grasping in one hand of a user;

a main stem extending upwardly from said base portion along a first radial axis to a distal end portion;

a first brush element on said distal end portion, and said first brush element including a radiating array of bristles structured and disposed to be inserted into a container for cleaning interior surfaces of the container;

a second brush element fixed to and extending upwardly from said base portion along a second radial axis that is angled relative to the first radial axis so that said first brush element and said second brush element are independently usable while maintaining the same ergonomic grasp of the base portion in the one hand of the user; and

said base portion being structured and disposed to be supported upright on a support surface when not in use with said first brush element and said second brush element surrounded by air and free from contact with any objects or surfaces, thereby allowing said first and second brush elements to air dry without contamination from contact with other objects or surfaces.

2. The cleaning device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

at least a third brush element fixed to and extending outwardly from said base portion along a third radial axis that is angled relative to the first radial axis and the second radial axis so that said first brush element, said second brush element and said third brush element are independently usable while maintaining the same ergonomic grasp of the base portion in the one hand of the user; and

said third brush element extending outwardly from said base portion and surrounded by air and free from contact with any objects or surfaces when said cleaning device is supported upright on the support surface when not in use, and thereby allowing said third brush element to air dry without contamination from surface contact.

3. The cleaning device as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

at least a fourth brush element fixed to and extending outwardly from said base portion along a fourth radial axis that is angled relative to the first radial axis, the second radial axis and the third radial axis so that said first brush element, said second brush element, said third brush element and said fourth brush element are independently usable while maintaining the same ergonomic grasp of the base portion in the one hand of the user; and

said fourth brush element extending outwardly from said base portion and surrounded by air and free from contact with any objects or surfaces when said cleaning device is supported upright on the support surface when not in use, and thereby allowing said fourth brush element to air dry without contamination from surface contact.

4. The cleaning device as recited in claim 1 wherein said base portion includes a flat bottom surface that is configured to allow for congruent abutment against the support surface such that said cleaning device is supported upright thereon when not in use.

5. A cleaning device comprising:

a base portion that is sized, structured and configured for grasping in one hand of a user;

a main stem extending from said base portion to a distal end portion;

a first brush element on said distal end portion, and said first brush element including a radiating array of bristles structured and disposed to be inserted into a container for cleaning interior surfaces of the container;

a second brush element fixed to and extending from said base portion defining a nipple brush that is structured and disposed for cleaning interior and exterior surfaces of baby bottle nipples;

at least a third brush element fixed to and extending outwardly from said base portion and being structured and disposed for inserting into tubular members for cleaning surrounding interior surfaces thereof; and

said cleaning device being structured and disposed to be supported upright on a support surface when not in use with said first brush element, said second brush element and said third brush element surrounded by air and free from contact with any objects or surfaces, thereby allowing said first, second and third brush elements to air dry without contamination from contact with other objects or surfaces.

6. The cleaning device as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

at least a fourth brush element fixed to and extending outwardly from said base portion and being structured and disposed for inserting into tubular members for cleaning surrounding interior surfaces thereof;

said fourth brush element extending outwardly from said base portion and surrounded by air and free from contact with any objects or surfaces when said cleaning device is supported upright on the support surface when not in use, and thereby allowing said fourth brush element to air dry without contamination from surface contact; and

said fourth brush element having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of said third brush element.

7. The cleaning device as recited in claim 5 wherein said base portion includes a flat bottom surface that is configured to allow for congruent abutment against the support surface such that said cleaning device is supported upright thereon when not in use.

8. The cleaning device as recited in claim 5 wherein said second brush element is made from polyurethane foam.

9. The cleaning device as recited in claim 5 wherein each of said first, second and third brush elements is replaceable.

10. A cleaning device comprising:

a base portion that is sized, structured and configured for grasping in one hand of a user;

a main stem extending from said base portion to a distal end portion;

a first brush element on said distal end portion, and said first brush element including a radiating array of bristles structured and disposed to be inserted into a container for cleaning interior surfaces of the container;

a second brush element fixed to and extending from said base portion defining a nipple brush that is structured and disposed for cleaning interior and exterior surfaces of baby bottle nipples;

at least a third brush element fixed to and extending outwardly from said base portion and being structured and disposed for inserting into tubular members for cleaning surrounding interior surfaces thereof;

at least a fourth brush element fixed to and extending outwardly from said base portion and being structured and disposed for inserting into tubular members for cleaning surrounding interior surfaces thereof; and

said cleaning device being structured and disposed to be supported upright on a support surface when not in use with said first brush element, said second brush element, said third brush element and said fourth brush element surrounded by air and free from contact with any objects or surfaces, thereby allowing said first, second, third and fourth brush elements to air dry without contamination from contact with other objects or surfaces.

11. The cleaning device as recited in claim 10 wherein said base portion includes a flat bottom surface that is configured to allow for congruent abutment against the support surface such that said cleaning device is supported upright thereon when not in use.

12. The cleaning device as recited in claim 10 wherein said second brush element is made from polyurethane foam.

13. The cleaning device as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth brush elements is replaceable.