GB2265822A - Toilet brush - Google Patents

Abstract

A toilet brush comprises a rigid handle (1) having a head (2) carrying a set of bristles including a first sub-set (3a) which extend back towards the user, so that in use they can engage under the rim of a toilet bowl, and a second sub-set (3b) which, when the brush is held at the same inclination, engage the walls of the toilet bowl, so that the walls and rim of the toilet are cleaned simultaneously. <IMAGE>

Description

TOILET BRUSH This application relates to a brush for cleaning toilets or like environments Toilets commonly have a rim at the top of the toilet bowl, for example to support the toilet seat. Many types of toilet include a channel for water under the rim, connected to the cistern so that the flush is dispensed through openings in the channel spaced around the circumference of the bowl.

It is of course important for reasons of health and hygiene to keep the toilet bowl clean, and for this purpose a toilet brush is generally used. Such a brush usually comprises a rigid handle, one end being gripped by the hand and the other carrying a head comprising multiple stiff bristles. Since the sides of the toilet bowl usually slope fairly steeply, the bristles usually protrude outwardly generally transversely of the handle, and usually protrude somewhat forwards also. One common design of brush comprises a generally rectangular array of generally parallel bristles, provided on a head which is inclined at a shallow angle at the end of the handle portion.

While such a brush is found effective at cleaning the sides of the toilet bowl, it is not effective in cleaning under the rim. However, if there is no flushing channel under the rim then dirt thereunder, which is not cleaned away, will remain, posing a potential hygiene hazard. If the rim does include a flushing channel, a problem may still arise because of the accumulation of limescale from the water from the cistern, which is unsightly and can also provide an environment for the retention of dirt or germs.

One example of a brush having a rigid handle and an inclined head carrying an array of substantially parallel bristles is shown in US 4,329,755. For the reasons noted above, this brush is unsuitable for cleaning under the rim of the toilet.

In US 4,025,982, a brush is shown comprising a long, flexible handle surmounted by a spherical brush. This brush is stated to be capable of insertion into and past drains and channels of common plumbing appliances, although its use to clean under the rim is not disclosed. However, the flexible handle would render this brush unusable for applying substantial force, such as is commonly necessary to dislodge limescale or even stubborn dirt.

In US 2,738,529 there is shown a combined sponge and brush toilet bowl cleaner, comprising a rigid handle with a ring-shaped sponge and a ring-shaped brush at a head end of the handle. Both rings surround the handle and run in a plane inclined to that of the handle. By holding this brush in one particular orientation, it can be used to brush under the rim.

However, the arrangement of bristles is less well adapted for cleaning the sides of the toilet than is the arrangement of the conventional toilet brush.

Further, in use the brush is relatively inconvenient because the orientation in which the brush must be held is different for cleaning under the rim to the orientation for cleaning the sides of the bowl. In fact, it would be necessary for the brush operator not only to change their grip but to move to the other side of the toilet to clean a portion of the rim overlying a given portion of the bowl.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved brush enabling better cleaning of the toilet.

Accordingly, the invention provides, in one aspect, a toilet brush which can be used both for cleaning the toilet bowl and for cleaning under the rim.

Preferably, the brush can be used to clean both the bowl and the rim whilst being held in substantially the same orientation. In one preferred embodiment, this is achieved by providing bristles directed backwardly from the head towards the manually gripped part of the handle. In one preferred construction, the bristles may extend over a two-dimensional arc.

The arc may be a hemispherical dome.

Other aspects and embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la shows a brush according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 1b shows a side elevation of the brush of the embodiment of Figure la; Figure 2 shows the brush of Figures la and lb in use; and Figure 3 shows a brush according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures la and lb, in a first embodiment the brush comprises a relatively rigid handle portion 1, of length for example corresponding to that of a conventional toilet brush (i.e. on the order of 0.5 metres), one end of which is grippable by a hand, and the other end of which is solid with or mounted to a head portion 2 carrying a multiplicity of bristles 3.

The bristles are mounted so as to extend over a hemispherical surface, the hemisphere having a symmetry axis which is inclined relative to the axis of the handle portion 1, so that bristles project forwardly along the axis of the handle portion 1, and outwardly transversely of the handle portion.

A first subset 3a of the bristles 3 project outwards from the head 2 at an angle of less than 900 relative to the axis of the handle 1; in other words, they run backwardly towards the brush operator. These bristles 3a are to engage the rim of the toilet, and hence need to run approximately vertically when the brush is held in a use position. Since the handle 1 is inserted downwardly into the toilet bowl, the axis of the handle 1 (or, if it is curved, the long axis of at least a portion of the handle 1) must run in use at an angle above the horizontal. Thus the bristles 3a, to be substantially vertical, need to lie at an angle corresponding less than 900 to that of the axis of the handle 1.

A second subset 3b of the bristles 3 extends forwardly and outwardly from the head 2, for the purpose of cleaning the walls of the toilet bowl. Since the walls of the toilet bowl slope inwardly and downwardly, and the brush handle 1 is usually held at an angle between vertical and horizontal, the bristles 3b include some inclined at angles between 900 and 1800 to the handle 1.

To allow the brush to be used in different orientations where this is necessary due to, for example, confined space around the toilet, the bristles 3b may also extend at angles greater than 1800 to the axis of the handle 1. This also enables the brush to be aligned to clean down the outlet, for example, the diameter of the hemisphere of bristles may preferably exceed that of the central outlet, so that the brush can clean all sides thereof simultaneously.

Referring to Figure 2, the brush of Figures la and lb is shown in a use position, in which the handle portion 1 is inclined somewhat from the vertical. The bristles 3 which extend forwardly and transversely of the handle portion 1 engage the walls of the toilet bowl, and the user can exert considerable force on the bristles along the axis of the handle portion 1, as well as at an angle to the axis of the handle. The bristles 3a which are inclined rearwardly towards the user (in other words, define an angle of less than 900 with the axis of the handle portion 1) are also able to engage under the rim of the toilet bowl and, by exerting an uplift on the handle portion 1, the user can effectively clean thereunder.

Thus, by providing some bristles 3a defining an angle 0 of less than 90 to the axis of the handle (i.e.

bristles which run backwardly towards the brush user), and providing further bristles 3b which extend over a range of angles about or including parallel to the axis of the handle portion 1, the brush can be used to clean both the sides of the toilet bowl and under the rim of the toilet bowl in the same orientation, making thorough cleaning of the toilet easier for the user and consequently enhancing hygiene.

Referring to Figure 3, an alternative brush construction is illustrated in which the head portion 2 is lozenge-shaped; the distribution of bristles 3a for cleaning under the rim is similar to that of the first embodiment but a greater number of bristles are provided substantially parallel and extending at an 0 angle between 90 to the axis of the handle portion 1 and parallel to that axis, so as to provide cleaning over a greater surface area of the toilet bowl wall simultaneously.

It will be appreciated that the bristles need not extend out to the sides of the handle portion 1, as shown, although this is preferred, so as to allow the user to operate the brush in different attitudes for example for use when the toilet bowl is located in a confined area.

Equally, the bristles need not be evenly distributed over the head 2; spaced apart groups or tufts of bristles 3a extending backwardly for cleaning-the rim and outwardly for cleaning the wall may be provided instead.

The handle portion 1, head portion 2 and bristles 3 may be provided of any suitable material, and the same materials and construction as are employed in commonly used conventional brushes may be used; by way of non-limiting example, the handle portion 1 may be of a rigid plastics material, and the head portion 2 and bristles 3 may be moulded flexible plastics materials secured (e.g. by adhesives) to the handle portion 1.

Alternatively, the handle portion 1 could be made of wood, and the bristles 3 of any convenient natural or synthetic stiff but flexible material.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. A toilet brush suitable for cleaning both the walls and the rim portion of a toilet bowl.

2. A brush according to claim 1, constructed so as to allow the brush to be held in the same angular inclination relative to the toilet bowl when cleaning either under the rim or the wall of the toilet bowl.

3. A toilet brush comprising a rigid handle and a multiplicity of bristles connected to the handle, there being provided a first sub-set of bristles connected to the handle and aligned to include an angle with the axis thereof which is less than 900, and a second sub-set aligned to include an angle, in the same rotational sense as the first which is greater than the first and less than the sum of the first and 1800.

4. A brush according to any preceding claim, in which the second sub-set includes an angle which is between 900 and 1800 to the axis of the handle of the brush.

5. A brush according to claim 3, in which the second sub-set includes an angle which is parallel to the axis of the handle portion.

6. A brush according to any of claims 3 to 5, in which the bristles of said first and second sub-sets are distributed in a continuous arc.

7. A toilet brush comprising a rigid handle and, at a head end thereof, a plurality of bristles distributed on a dome surface.

8. A toilet brush according to claim 7, in which the surface is substantially hemispherical.

9. A toilet brush substantially as described with reference to either of the accompanying drawings.