GB2342403A

GB2342403A - Cleansing device

Info

Publication number: GB2342403A
Application number: GB9917762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Benn Ebede
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-09
Filing date: 1999-07-29
Publication date: 2000-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-29
Also published as: GB9917762D0; GB2342403B

Abstract

A cleansing device comprises a brush 21 attached to a body in which an aerosol container 13 of cleaning fluid is housed. A spring loaded nozzle 15 on the aerosol container 13 seats on an anvil 16 at one end 18 of the body, and a duct 17, which may be flexible, provides a passageway for dispensed fluid to flow from the anvil 16 to the bristles of the brush 21. Dispensing of cleaning fluid is achieved by actuating a trigger 23 located next to a handle 22 at the other end of the body, which moves the aerosol container 13 towards the anvil 16, depressing the nozzle 15. The trigger 23 may be governed by a lock or tamper proof device, or may include a timing or interrupting device to limit the amount of fluid that may be dispensed over a period of time.

Description

CLEANSING DEVICE This invention relates to a cleansing device. In particular it is concerned with a cleansing device whereby strong cleansing solutions can be used in a safe way with reduced likelihood of accidental spillage.

A conventional WC toilet bowl has an upper rim (which opens downwardly) from which the sides of the bowl curve down to a water filled lower section. The side walls are readily viewable and accessible to sprayed or poured liquid. However the rim region is not readily viewed or accessible. It serves as the entry region for flush water directing the flow around the upper part of the bowl to provide a downward flow of flush water over the side walls. As a virtually invisible entry flow path the rim region can be subject to depositions of hard water salts carried by the water quite apart from locations for germs. Depositions in the rim area can also serve to adversely affect the flow of water from the rim into the bowl to the extent that there is no flush flow at all over parts of the side walls.

There is thus a requirement for a cleaning means for a WC toilet bowl to include not only the ability to direct a flow of cleaning liquid into a selected part of the bowl, including the rim region, but also to provide a positive contact means, such as a brush, whereby a region of the bowl can be subject to a scraping or brushing action.

According to the present invention there is provided a cleansing device comprising: a body member adapted to receive and locate a container of an aerosol unit having a nozzle outlet; datum means for locating a nozzle outlet of an aerosol unit at or towards one end of the body member; an outlet duct from one end of the body member adapted to communicate with the means for locating a nozzle outlet; a handle at the other end of the body member to the one end whereby the body, and so the outlet duct, can be directed to an object to be cleansed; and a trigger means accessible from the handle and adapted to displace between a first and a second position an aerosol unit located by the body member: the first position being one in which the nozzle outlet of the aerosol unit interacts with the datum means to cause the release of aerosol material from the unit by way of the outlet duct; and the second position being one where the nozzle outlet serves to prevent the release of aerosol material.

Typically the outlet duct is equipped at its outer end with a brush through which aerosol released from the aerosol unit is caused to pass.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the outlet duct is flexible to provide for the duct to be directed in various directions relative to the body member.

According to a second preferred version of the p [resent invention or the first preferred version thereof the trigger means includes a lock or tamper proofing device and or a timing or interrupting device.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of a cleansing device of which: Figure 1 shows the assembled device; and Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the device.

The drawing s variously show a cleansing device 11 comprising a body member 12 (with longitudinal axis A) adapted to receive and locate a container of an aerosol unit 13 having a conventional spring loaded nozzle outlet 15 which seats on an anvil 16 in the body member 12.

Hollow outlet duct 17 projects from end 18 of body member 12. Inner end 19 of the duct 17 opens in the vicinity of the anvil 16. Outer end 20 of the duct 17 has a brush 21 mounted on it with relatively widely spaced bristles. The outlet duct can be rigid or flexible. If flexible then the duct is readily pressed against a surface to deflect the brush 21 in a direction at an angle to axis A (such as up into a downwardly facing rim of a WC toilet bowl.

The body member 12 has a handle 22 located at the opposite axial end of the body member 12 to outlet duct 17.

Trigger 23 is located for longitudinal displacement parallel to axis A and serves to displace aerosol unit 13 between closed and open working positions (respectively positions X, Y).

On moving from position X to position Y the nozzle outlet 15 is driven against anvil 16 overcoming spring resistance in the nozzle mounting thereby allowing the nozzle to release aerosol material from the container into the duct 17. While held in position Y the aerosol material will be dispensed into the outlet duct 17 and from thence pass out by way of brush 21 into contact with a surface in the vicinity of the brush 21. For as long as the trigger 23 is maintained depressed the aerosol unit 13 is held in a position where nozzle outlet 15 will maintain a flow of aerosol into outlet duct 17.

On releasing the trigger 23 the spring loading in the nozzle outlet 15 acts to drive the aerosol unit 13 upwardly to position X with a subsequent closure of the nozzle outlet 15 and termination of outward flow. of aerosol material from the unit 13. The device can continue to be manipulated by handle 22 to enable the brush 21 to be rubbed over a surface to be cleaned.

Since the aerosol unit 13 is self contained and self closing it is possible to replace one unit having a first aerosol content with another having a different aerosol content to provide for a changed cleaning operation.

In view of the inherently self-dispersive nature of dispensed aerosols the cleansing device 11 does not retain dispensed material as a potentially hazardous material that could be contacted by a user of the device 11.

The trigger 23 can be governed by way of a lock or tamper proofing device to resist inadvertent or unauthorised dispensing aerosol material. The trigger can also include a timing or interrupting device so that, for example, having pressed the trigger 23 to cause aerosol material to be dispensed then once the material has been dispensed for a given period further dispensing ceases until the trigger 23 has been reset or following the passage of a given interval of time.

The cleansing device can be fabricated from a number of plastics materials, metals or alloys or combinations of these.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A cleansing device comprising: a body member adapted to receive and locate a container of an aerosol unit having a nozzle outlet; datum means for locating a nozzle outlet of an aerosol unit at or towards one end of the body member; an outlet duct from one end of the body member adapted to communicate with the means for locating a nozzle outlet; a handle at the other end of the body member to the one end whereby the body, and so the outlet duct, can be directed to an object to be cleansed; and a trigger means accessible from the handle and adapted to displace between a first and a second position an aerosol unit located by the body member: the first position being one in which the nozzle outlet of the aerosol unit interacts with the datum means to cause the release of aerosol material from the unit by way of the outlet duct; and the second position being one where the nozzle outlet serves to prevent the release of aerosol material.
2 A cleansing device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the outlet duct is equipped at its outer end with a brush through which aerosol released from the aerosol unit is caused to pass.
3 A cleansing device as claimed in any previous claim wherein the outlet duct is flexible to provide for the duct to be directed in various directions relative to the body member.
4 A cleansing device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 A cleansing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the trigger means includes a lock or tamper proofing device and or a timing or interrupting device. 5 A cleansing device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1 A cleansing device comprising: a body member adapted to receive and locate a container of an aerosol unit having an nozzle outlet; datum means for locating a nozzle outlet of an aerosol unit at or towards one end of the body member ; an outlet duct extending from one end of the body member and adapted to communicate at a first end with the means for locating a nozzle outlet and provide a passage from the first end to a second end remote from the first end; a brush located on the outlet duct at a second end so that the brush is located remotely from the body member to which it is linked by way only of the duct; an inextensible handle extending from the other end of the body member to the one end whereby the brush can be directed to an object to be cleansed; and a trigger accessible from the handle located at or near the other end of the body member, the trigger being adapted to displace an aerosol unit located by the body member between a first and a second position: the first position being one in which the nozzle outlet of the aerosol unit interacts with the datum means to cause the release of aerosol material from the unit by way of the outlet duct through the brush at least when the brush is in contact with an object for cleaning; and the second position being one where the nozzle outlet serves to prevent the release of aerosol material.

2 A cleansing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet duct is at least partially flexible to provide for the duct, and so the brush, to be directed in various directions relative to a. longitudinal axis of the body member.

3 A cleansing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the trigger means includes a lock or tamper proofing device and/or a timing or interrupting device.