Toilet brush holder

Abstract

A housing apparatus for inter alia a toilet brush, the apparatus comprising a main body for housing the toilet brush for storage and a lid hingedly attached thereto, one of the lid or the main body having a portion which diverges from the other of the lid or the main body to form a gap therebetween when the lid is closed against the main body, the gap being suitable to provide drainage of fluid within the main container when the lid is closed.

Description

[0001] TOILET BRUSH HOLDER

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a toilet brush holder and, more especially, this invention relates to a toilet brush holder that is attachable, in use, to the underside of a toilet seat lid.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Toilet brushes are well known devices used in the cleaning of domestic and public toilets. Each toilet brush typically comprises a toilet brush handle for the user to hold the toilet brush, a brush head to remove dirt by shear and a toilet brush holder which ordinarily acts as a reservoir to collect excess waste solution after use.

[0006] Toilet brush handles are of sufficient length and weight to allow a user to clean the inside face of a toilet bowl and rim. Typically, a toilet brush handle will be formed from a lightweight water resistant material, such as a metal, alloy, plastic, resin and treated wood. Some toilet brush handles have an ergonomic grip to aid the user’s hold during cleaning.

[0007] Toilet brush heads are located at one terminus of the toilet brush handle. A toilet brush head and handle may be formed from a single piece of material. Alternatively, a toilet brush head may be attached to the toilet handle permanently or reversibly by fixing means such as, but not limited to, a thread, a pin, screw and adhesive. Toilet brush heads are formed of central body portion and bristles which extend radially from said body portion. The bristles are ordinarily composed of either a plastic, silicone or a natural fibre, such as wood, with suitable hardness and elastic properties to clean the bowl of a toilet without damaging it.

[0008] Toilet brush holders typically secure a toilet brush in an upright position. Toilet brush holders are a form of housing, with an internal cavity of conducive fit to at least the toilet brush head. Most toilet brush holders are formed from a water resistant material and therefore act as an effective reservoir to collect waste solution from the toilet brush head.

[0009] Commonly, known toilet brushes are associated with sentiments of disease concordant with dirty and unhygienic surfaces. Considering the negative connotation, known toilet brushes are thought to be unsightly and unappealing. To resolve this problem toilet brushes have been designed in a plurality of different aesthetic designs for domestic environments. In commercial circumstances, toilet brushes may be omitted from the toilet area and carried out of sight with cleaning staff instead.

[0010] The provided solutions are unsatisfactory, as aesthetically pleasing toilets brushes are expensive. Furthermore, in circumstances where a toilet brush is omitted from the toilet area and carried by cleaning staff, the toilet becomes dirty. A further problem of known toilet brushes is the spread of waste solution on surfaces surrounding the toilet. When a user raises a toilet brush from a toilet brush holder, the toilet brush head can be in part saturated with excess waste solution. Said waste solution can drip and spill from both the toilet brush head and holder during use. Similarly, waster solution may drip from the toilet brush head during travel between the toilet bowl and toilet brush holder after use.

[0011] Yet another problem is the collection of waste solution in the toilet brush holder. Accumulation of waste solution in the toilet brush holder increases the risk of bad odour, spillage of waste solution and the spread of disease. To overcome this problem, users frequently have to dispose of accumulate waste water and clean the toilet brush holder thoroughly. The current solution to this problem is not only an unappealing task, but also hazardous as the reservoir of collect waste solution will comprise a combination of human effluence and caustic cleaning chemicals.

[0012] The present invention seeks to provide a toilet brush which does not occupy space about the toilet area, does not necessitate the movement of the toilet brush about areas other than above the toilet bowl and the use of a toilet brush holder comprising of a reservoir to collect waste water.

[0013] Statements of the Invention

[0014] Housing apparatus for inter alia a toilet brush, the apparatus comprising, a main body for housing the toilet brush for storage and a lid hingedly attached thereto, one of the lid or the main body having a portion which diverges from the other of the lid or the main body to form a gap therebetween when the lid is closed against the main body, the gap being suitable to provide drainage of fluid within the main container when the lid is closed.

[0015] Preferably, the lid has a peripheral edge formed with a drainage lip.

[0016] Preferably, the main body includes means to secure the main body to the underside of a toilet lid.

[0017] Preferably, the housing is secured centrally on the underside face of the toilet seat in use, such that at least the gap of the housing is located directly over the toilet bowl.

[0018] Preferably, the drainage of fluid is instigated by the orientation of the housing apparatus when the toilet lid is closed.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention the securement means is a sticking plate.

[0020] In another embodiment of the invention the securement means is at least one screw.

[0021] Preferably, the lid is openable by a spring loaded push release latch, comprising a female and male member.

[0022] Preferably, the toilet brush is secured with the housing by a fastening means in the form of a clip. Preferably the toilet brush includes a telescopic handle.

[0023] Preferably the toilet brush head is made from a silicone material.

[0024] Description of the Invention

[0025] The present invention pertains to a toilet brush and toilet brush housing apparatus, particularly suited to be fixed to the underneath face of a toilet seat lid.

[0026] Brief Description of Drawings

[0027] At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0028] Figure 1 shows a toilet brush housing in a closed position in accordance with the invention being fixed to the underneath face of a toilet seat lid;

[0029] Figure 2 shows a toilet brush and toilet brush housing, in an open position, in accordance with the invention being fixed to the underneath face of a toilet seat lid;

[0030] Figure 3 shows a toilet brush in a nonextended configuration;

[0031] Figure 4 shows a toilet brush in an extended configuration.

[0032] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0033] As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the apparatus provides a toilet brush 24 for cleaning a toilet, housed within a housing 6 fixed to the underneath face of a toilet seat lid 4.

[0034] The toilet brush housing 6 is locatable generally centrally on the underneath face of the toilet seat lid 4, whereby the toilet seat 2 does not obstruct the housing 6 when the toilet seat lid 4 is closed. When closed, the housing 6 extends over and into the toilet bowel.

[0035] The housing 6 is fixed to the underneath face of the lid 4 by means of a sticking plate (not shown), for example, or screws (not shown) if the depth of the toilet seat lid 4 is of sufficient to support screws. By way of example, the sticking plate of the toilet brush housing 6 may be fixed to the underneath face of the toilet seat lid 4 by means of, but not limited to, adhesive means and / or suction means.

[0036] The housing 6 includes a chamber 25 to store the toilet brush 24 when it is not required for use.

[0037] The chamber 25 is accessible by the opening of a front panel 23. The front panel 23 is openable by a spring loaded push release latch comprising of a female 22 and male 28 member, whereby the front panel moves between an open and closed position using hinges 21.

[0038] The toilet brush 24, is secured in the toilet brush housing 6 by a fastening means in the form or a circular clip 26. The circular clip 26 holds the toilet brush 24 in position at an intersection with a lower body portion of the toilet brush handle 36. When the lid 4 is closed the brush 24 is held substantially horizontal within the chamber 25 to encourage drainage of fluid downwardly from the brush 24.

[0039] The housing 6 allows drainage of excess waste solution collected by the toilet brush head 32 via a drainage lip 10 formed in the front panel 23 near to the bottom end of the chamber 25, being the end in which the brush bristles are located when the brush 24 is stored in the chamber 25. The drainage lip 10 allows drainage of fluid through the gap formed by the drainage lip 10 in the front panel 23 when the toilet seat lid 4 is in a closed position. Drainage of fluid is directly into the toilet bowl below.

[0040] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the toilet brush 24 has a handle comprised of an upper 34, and lower 36 handle body portion. The upper 34 and lower 36 handle portions are separable by a pulling and / or twisting action, which allows an extension of the length of the toilet brush 24 by means of exposing the internally housed extending portion 42. The toilet brush handle is secured in an extended configuration or contracted configuration by the button 38. By way of example, but not limited to, the button may secure the handle in an extended or contracted configuration by a latching means or pogo pins.

[0041] The toilet brush 24 has a toilet brush head 32 comprised of a silicone material for easy cleaning.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 28 October 2024Claims1. A housing apparatus for inter alia a toilet brush (24), the apparatus comprising a housing (6) for housing the toilet brush for storage and a front panel (23) hingedly attached thereto; the housing including means for securing the housing to the underside of a toilet lid (4); characterised in that, one of the front panel or the housing having a drainage lip (10) which diverges from the other of the front panel or the housing to form a gap (8) therebetween when the front panel is closed against the housing, the gap being suitable to provide drainage of fluid within the main container when the lid is closed.

2. Housing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is secured centrally on the underside face of the toilet seat in use, such that at least the gap of the housing is located directly over the toilet bowl.

3. A housing apparatus for a toilet brush according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the drainage of fluid is instigated by the orientation of the housing apparatus when the toilet lid is closed.

4. A housing apparatus for a toilet brush according to claim 1 , wherein the securement means is a sticking plate.

5. A housing apparatus for a toilet brush according to claim 1 , wherein the securement is at least one screw.

6. A housing apparatus for a toilet brush according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid openable by a spring loaded push release latch, comprising a female (22) and male member (28).

7. A housing apparatus for a toilet brush according to any preceding claim 1 , wherein the toilet brush is secured within the housing by a fastening means in the form of a clip (26).

8. Toilet cleaning apparatus comprising a toilet brush and housing apparatus according to any preceding claim, the toilet brush including a telescopic handle.

9. Toilet cleaning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the toilet brush further including a brush head (32) made from a silicone material.AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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