Toilet brush with detachable brush head

Abstract

Brush, in particular toilet brush, with a brush head and a handle. The brush head can be detachably pushed onto the handle. The handle has a release mechanism for the brush head.

Claims

1. A brush head comprising a back plate and a brushing section, wherein the back plate includes an opening having a gripping mechanism comprised of teeth formed by slots radiating outwardly from the opening, said teeth being suitable for gripping a handle and said teeth being flexible enough that a user can insert the handle into the opening for retention.

2. A kit comprising a handle and a number of brush heads according to claim 1.

3. A toilet brush comprising a handle and a brush head, wherein the handle has a release mechanism for releasing the brush head comprising a trigger configured to disengage the handle from the brush head, wherein the brush head has a handle engagement means which comprises an opening configured to accept the handle, the opening having a gripping mechanism comprising teeth formed by slots radiating outwardly from the opening, said teeth being suitable for gripping the handle and said teeth being flexible enough that a user can insert the handle into the opening for retention, wherein the handle comprises a recessed lip to be retained by the teeth, wherein the brush head can be detachably pushed onto the handle.

4. The brush of claim 3, wherein the gripping mechanism comprises three teeth.

5. The brush of claim 3, wherein the teeth comprise a resilient material.

6. The brush of claim 3, wherein the release mechanism for the brush head comprises a sleeve which can slide on the handle, the sleeve terminates in a plurality of rods which cause disengagement of teeth with the handle.

7. The brush of claim 6, wherein the release mechanism is moved by a pushbutton.

8. A method of cleaning a toilet and/or a sanitary appliance, comprising the step of: contacting a surface of the toilet and/or sanitary applicance with the brush of claim 3.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method includes the steps of: removing the brush head from the surface, and subsequently disposing of the brush head.

10. The brush of claim 3, wherein the brush head comprises a back plate which includes the opening.

11. The brush head of claim 10, wherein the teeth are arranged to angle inwards from the back plate.

12. The brush head of claim 11, wherein the teeth are between 60 degrees and 35 degrees inwards from the back plate.

13. The brush head according of claim 11, wherein the teeth are angled so that they are placed under stress when receiving the handle so that the teeth exert a force on the recessed lip to be retained by the theeth.

14. The brush of claim 10, wherein the brush head comprises a brushing section adjacent to the back plate and distant from the handle.

15. The brush of claim 14, wherein the brushing section comprises a volume of sponge and/or foam.

16. The brush of claim 14, wherein the brushing section comprises bristles.

17. The brush of claim 14, wherein the brushing section comprises a pad and/or sheet formed of a non-woven and/or woven material.

18. The brush of claim 14, wherein the brushing section is impregnated and/or coated with a toilet cleaning formulation.

19. A method of placing a brush handle on a brush head, the method comprising: pushing the brush handle which comprises a recessed lip and a teeth flex onto the brush head comprising a back plate and a brushing section, to thereby removably attach the brush head to the handle, wherein the, back plate of the brush head comprises a gripping mechanism having teeth and pushing the handle onto the brush head flexes the teeth; allowing the teeth flex to pass over the recessed lip as the handle is pushed onto the brush head and coupling the teeth with the recessed lip to retain the handle on the brush head.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limited figures in which: FIG. 1(a-c), FIG. 2(a-c), FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views of a first embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIGS. 5 to 7 are views of alternative embodiments of the brush head of the invention.

(3) FIG. 8 shows a top view of a brush head.

(4) FIG. 9 shows an example of an ejection mechanism.

(5) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that the device (1) of the invention comprises two sections; a handle (2) and a brush head (3).

(6) The handle (2) is largely rod like. The handle (2) terminates in a bayonet section (4). The bayonet section (4) has a recessed lip section (5). The handle also has a release mechanism. The release mechanism comprises a plurality of rods (6). The rods (6) are arranged close to the perimeter of the handle (2). When activated (such as by a pushbutton (not shown) the rods (6) bring about disengagement of the handle (2) and the brush head (3).

(7) The brush head (3) has a back plate (7). The back plate (7) includes an opening (8) configured to accept the bayonet section (4). The opening (8) has a gripping mechanism comprised of teeth (9). The teeth (9) are formed by slots (10) radiating outwardly from the opening (8). The teeth (9) are suitable for gripping the bayonet section (4) (and hence the handle (2)). The teeth (9) are flexible enough that a user can insert the bayonet section (4) into the opening (8) for its retention. The teeth (9) comprise a resilient material such as rubber.

(8) Adjacent the back plate (7) is a brush section (10). The brush section (10) comprises a volume of sponge/foam such as a polyurethane sponge.

(9) In assembly the section (4) is present to the opening (8) and pushed until the bayonet section (4) passes beyond the teeth (9) until the teeth (9) engage with the recessed lip section (5).

(10) Then a brushing operation can occur.

(11) In removal an operating element (not shown) causes the rods (6) to slide down the handle (2) in the direction of the brush head (3). The rods (6) engage the teeth (9) and push the teeth (9) away from the handle (2) such that the engagement with the recessed lip section (5) is broken. The brush head (3) can then be separated from the handle (2). This operation is preferably carried out above a receptacle, such as a reuse bin, so that the user does not have to contact the soiled brush head (3).

(12) With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 more detail of the handle (2) can be seen. The handle has two sections: an upper section (2a) ergonomically shaped for a user's hand and a lower section (2b).

(13) The upper section (2a) includes a trigger (11) which is associated with the release mechanism

(14) With reference to 5 to 7 more detail of alternative embodiments of the back plate (7) brush head (3) of the invention can be seen. (Not all detail of the brush head (3) and/or back plate (7) are shown—these figures focus on the additional/alternative feature(s)).

(15) In FIG. 5 the back plate (7) has a slit (12). The slit (12) can open on insertion of the bayonet section (4).

(16) In FIG. 6 the back plate (7) has a plurality of slits (12) and associated openings (13). The slits (12) can open on insertion of the bayonet section (4), aiding its insertion.

(17) In FIG. 7 the back plate (7) has a plurality of raised teeth (14). The teeth (14) can engage a portion of the bayonet section (4) on insertion of the bayonet section (4).

(18) FIG. 8 show a top view of a brush head having teeth 9 angled with respect to the planar surface of the back plate 7. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the teeth 9 are angled away from the back plate towards the cleaning surface of the brush head. The angled teeth 9 reduce the risk of accidental pull off of the brush head 3 from the handle 2.

(19) In the example illustrated the teeth are angled away from the handle portion as the user inserts the handle onto the brush head. This allows the angle of the teeth to correspond more closely to the angle of the bayonet section 4 of the handle relative to teeth that are co-planar to the back plate. Angling the teeth to more closely align with the bayonet section 4 may increase the pull off force required whilst requiring the same or lower force to push the brush head onto the handle.

(20) In an example, the brush head comprises teeth that are angled between 70 degrees and 30 degrees inwards from the back plate towards the cleaning surface of the brush head, for example the teeth may be angled between 60 degrees and 35 degrees inwards from the back plate, for example the teeth may be angled between 50 degrees and 40 degrees inwards from the back plate, for example the teeth may be angled at 45 degrees inwards from the planar back plate.

(21) In an example, the brush head may comprise one to five teeth, for example two to four teeth, for example three teeth.

(22) The teeth may also be angled relative to the brush head so that the teeth are angled to correspond to the angle of the conical part of the bayonet section as the brush head is placed on the handle. Angling the teeth to correspond to the angle of the conical part of the brush head means that the teeth are under stress when the handle is in place on the brush head. The stressed teeth increase the frictional force between the brush head and the handle. The increase the force required to rotate the brush head whilst it is in place on the handle and can help to reduce excessive rotation of the head during use.

(23) FIG. 9 shows an example of an ejection mechanism with a brush head 3 in place on a handle 2. The handle 2 has an upper section 2a located at the distal end and a lower section 2b located at the proximal end. The release mechanism 15 is coupled to a trigger 11 at the distal end. As shown in FIG. 9, the release mechanism 15 comprises a curved section 15a at the distal end and is coupled to the release rods (not shown) at the proximal end. The curved section 15a has a spring action and helps to transfer the force from the button or trigger to the ejection rods. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the trigger 11 is rotated to release brush head 3. The rotation of the trigger transfers a force via the release mechanism 15 to one or more rods which, in turn, push against one or more teeth to release the brush head.

(24) Further modifications and developments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.