Sink spray scrubber

Abstract

A scrubber readily attachable to and detachable from the nozzle of a sink sprayer is capable of utilizing a variety of scrubbing implements. Scrubbing implements may be attached directly to the sprayer nozzle by an elastic sleeve or collar and disposed of after a number of uses. Alternatively, different scrubbing implements may be interchanged by connecting them to an attachment element which remains affixed to the sprayer nozzle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Many modem kitchen sinks are equipped with sprayers, which are typically used for washing and / or rinsing food items, cookware, dishware, cutlery and assorted eating / cooking utensils. Such sink sprayers have the advantage of producing a more concentrated and pressurized stream of water, which is useful in dislodging waste matter from the object being washed / rinsed. Since the typical sink sprayer features an extendable flexible hose, the concentrated spray can also be directed toward the object, and the spray nozzle can be brought close to the surface of the object, thereby enhancing the cleansing effect. [0002] A major disadvantage of the standard sink sprayer, however, is its lack of scrubbing capability. Consequently, the user is often compelled to utilize a separate scrubbing implement, such as a brush, a sponge, a washcloth, a scraper or steel wool, in conjunction with the sink sprayer to achieve satisfactory hygienic cleansing of an object. Mor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In one alternate embodiment, the scrubbing implement is pre-impregnated with soap or dish detergent, thereby enabling the user to apply a cleansing agent to the object being washed without having to interrupt the water spray. In another alternate embodiment, the scrubbing implement contains one or more perforations enabling one or more high pressure concentrated streams of water to pass from the sprayer nozzle directly through to the surface being washed. The latter embodiment provides more effective cleaning where greater water pressure is needed, such as, for example, in dislodging baked-on grease.

[0013] The present invention, therefore, fulfills the need for a simple, inexpensive, compact, lightweight scrubber attachment which is readily attachable and detachable from the sink sprayer and can accommodate a wide variety of scrubbing implements. The option of pre-impregnating the scrubbing implements with soap or detergent affords the added advantage of enabling the user to wash, scrub and apply cleanser in a single manual operation.

Problems solved by technology

A major disadvantage of the standard sink sprayer, however, is its lack of scrubbing capability.

Moreover, since the sink sprayer occupies one of the user's hands, it is often awkward or impracticable for the user to simultaneously hold the object and scrub it with his / her other hand.

As a result, the user is often forced to set aside the sink sprayer while scrubbing an object and to follow a time-consuming and inefficient procedure of alternating between the scrubbing and spraying operations.

Adding a scrubber body over the sink sprayer makes it bulkier and less readily manipulatable, thereby diminishing one of the practical features of the standard sink sprayer.

A scrubber body design of the type taught by the Robert patent also does not provide a means for quickly replacing one type of scrubber element with another.

This can be a serious drawback, since the typical user can be expected to proceed during the preparation of a meal from rinsing off a potato using a brush scrubber, to washing a dish using a sponge scrubber, to scouring a pot using a steel wool scrubber.

Another disadvantage of the scrubber body design disclosed by the Robert patent is its attendant constraint of the size and shape of the scrubber element that can be utilized.

This can be quite inconvenient to the user who needs both a small, angular scrubbing implement to reach into the corners of a cooking pan, as well as a larger, rounded scrubbing implement to clean the inside of a glass or bottle.

Another deficiency in the prior art relates to the dispensing of soap during the scrubbing operation.

Since the standard sink sprayer requires constant hand pressure on an actuating arm / handle to maintain the flow of water, the simultaneous operation of a button-activated soap dispenser is problematic and can be expected to frequently result in an interruption of the water spray during the release of soap.

The prior art in the field of sink sprayer attachments, therefore, does not adequately address the need for attachments which: (a) do not significantly add to the bulk of the sprayer, (b) are easily attachable and detachable, enabling the user to switch quickly from one type of scrubbing implement to another, (c) can accommodate a wide variety of scrubber shapes and sizes, and (d) can deploy soap or detergent to the cleansing surface without manual actuation.

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