Neat hand-washing system

• US 10,638,830 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Robinson, II, Michael Paul, Gold, Dana
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US15/577,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20180153291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 4188 R, 401188 R
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0006 specially adapted to feed the bristle upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/001 with integral reservoirs A46B11/0003, A46B11/0006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/002 pressurised at moment of use manually or by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0062 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being refilled when empty
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0065 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being replaced when empty
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0095 Brushes with a feature for storage after use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0097 Self supporting, e.g. brushes that stand upright or in other particular ways
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/04 Protective covers for the bristles
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/06 Devices for cleaning brushes after use
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3006 Brushes for cleaning bottles or hollow containers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3013 Brushes for cleaning the inside or the outside of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3033 Household brush, i.e. brushes for cleaning in the house or dishes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/02 specially shaped for holding by the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/005 where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/03 containing soap or other cleaning ingredients, e.g. impregnated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 17/04 Pan or pot cleaning utensils

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system including a handheld implement having a handle and a head. The system also includes a base having a basin, a pump, and a product container. The basin includes vertical walls forming mouth opening to an inner cavity that receives the head of the handheld implement. The product container includes a reservoir of product. The pump conveys the product from the reservoir to the inner cavity via at least one through-hole in the basin.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a handheld implement comprising a handle and a head; and

a base comprising a basin, a pump, and a product container,

wherein;

the basin comprises an opening to an inner cavity that receives the head of the handheld implement;

the product container includes a reservoir for a product; and

the pump conveys the product from the reservoir to the inner cavity via at least one through-hole in the basin;

wherein the head of the handheld implement contacts a bottom of the inner cavity; and

wherein the head of the handheld implement applies a plunging force to the pump.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a hand-washing system, the head is a kitchen brush, and the product is a liquid soap or liquid detergent.

3. The systems of claim 1, wherein the pump is a well-pump in a lower portion of the basin below the inner cavity.

4. The systems of claim 1, wherein product container is manually detachable from the basin.

5. The systems of claim 1, wherein the product container is replaceable.

6. The systems of claim 1, wherein the product container is refillable.

7. The systems of claim 1, wherein the handheld implement comprises a cap that seals the basin.

8. The systems of claim 1, wherein:

the opening comprises walls forming a mouth to the inner cavity;

the head of the handheld implement extends to a bottom of the inner cavity without substantially contacting the bottom; and

the handle of the handheld implement applies a plunging force to the pump via the walls.

9. The systems of claim 1, wherein:

the head of the handheld implement comprises an outer portion and an inner portion;

the outer portion comprises a brush; and

the inner portion comprises a wand axially extendable from the head using the handle.

10. The systems of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is separable from the base.

11. The systems of claim 1, wherein:

the reservoir has a partial-oval shape;

the long axis of the oval is in a direction of the vertical axis of the system; and

a dip tube extends from an intake of the pump to a bottommost surface of the reservoir.

12. The systems of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of basins corresponding to a plurality of product containers; and

a plurality of handheld implement heads corresponding to the plurality of basins;

wherein;

the plurality of product containers provide one or more products to the plurality of basins, and

the plurality of handheld implement heads caps the plurality of basins.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of reservoirs; and

a plurality of pumps;

wherein;

each of the plurality of basins is located above a respective one of the plurality of pumps;

each of the plurality of pumps is located above a respective one of the plurality of reservoirs; and

the plurality of pumps convey the one or more products from the plurality of reservoirs to the plurality of basins.

14. The systems of claim 12, wherein:

each of the plurality of reservoirs contains a different, respective product;

a handle is connectable to each of the plurality of handheld implement heads to form a handheld implement;

each of the plurality of handheld implement heads have different shapes keyed to exclusively fit particular types of product containers in the plurality of product containers; and

each of the plurality of handheld implement heads lock into respective ones of the plurality product containers.