Hands-free pot scrubber

• US 9,357,897 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brent Mcnair Estep
• Original Assignee: Brent Mcnair Estep
• Inventors: Estep, Brent McNair
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/794,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20130269127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/008 Disc-shaped brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3006 Brushes for cleaning bottles or hollow containers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3033 Household brush, i.e. brushes for cleaning in the house or dishes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0012 Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle for simultaneous use, e.g. cooperating with each-other
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/37 with crockery cleaned by brushes for drinking glasses A47L15/0068
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 17/04 Pan or pot cleaning utensils

Abstract

A portable, hands-free device for cleaning a cooking utensil includes a motor, a source of electrical power electrically coupled to the motor, and scrub brushes mechanically coupled to the motor.

Claims

1. A hands-free portable device for cleaning a substantially horizontal surface, the device comprising:

one or more motors substantially enclosed by a housing, wherein said housing does not engage said surface when said device is positioned upon said surface and not held by a user,

two or more scrub brushes, each rotationally coupled to one or more of said motors, wherein at least one of said scrub brushes is disposed so that a side of said at least one scrub brush extends in a horizontal direction beyond said housing,

wherein the distribution of mass of said device is substantially uneven, and

wherein motion from said motors is rotationally transferred to said scrub brushes, said transferred motion and said substantially uneven distribution of mass of said device causing said device to be self-propelled on said surface, without the user hand-guiding the device.

2. The hands-free portable device of claim 1, the device having portions of weight borne by each of said scrub brushes, wherein said portions of weight are substantially unequal when said device is placed upon said surface and not held by the user.

3. The hands-free portable device of claim 1, wherein a first side of at least one of said scrub brushes bears more of the weight of the device than a second opposing side of said at least one scrub brush when said device is placed upon said surface and not held by the user.

4. The hands-free portable device of claim 1, said device having a central axis disposed substantially in the center of said device and aligned substantially vertically when said device is placed upon said surface and not held by the user, wherein the center of mass of said device does not lie along said central axis.

5. The hands-free portable device of claim 1, said device having a central axis disposed substantially in the center of said device and aligned substantially at a non-zero angle with vertical when said device is placed upon said surface and not held by the user.

6. The hands-free portable device of claim 1, wherein said device is tilted when it is on said surface.

7. The hands-free portable device of claim 1, further comprising one or more weight components positioned to provide said substantially uneven distribution of mass.

8. The hands-free portable device of claim 7, wherein the mass of each of said weight components is between 1 and 50 ounces.

9. The hands-free portable device of claim 7, wherein at least one of said weight components is integral to a component of said device.

10. The hands-free portable device of claim 7, wherein at least one of said weight components is either adjustable or is detachable from said device.

11. A hands-free portable device for cleaning a substantially horizontal surface, the device comprising:

one or more motors substantially enclosed by a housing, wherein said housing does not engage said surface when said device is positioned upon said surface and not held by a user,

two or more scrub brushes, each rotationally coupled to one or more of said motors,

wherein the distribution of mass of said device is substantially uneven, and

wherein motion from said motors is rotationally transferred to said scrub brushes, said transferred motion and said substantially uneven distribution of mass of said device causing said device to be self-propelled on said surface, without the user hand-guiding the device.