Garbage Disposal Brush

Abstract

A garbage disposal brush is disclosed herein. This brush comprises a handle, a shank having a longitudinal axis, and a brush assembly. The brush assembly includes: a top brush, a middle brush, and a bottom brush comprising a third brush base. The top brush includes elastomeric fingers projecting from a first brush base. The middle brush includes a second brush base and a set of bristles orientated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The bottom brush includes a third brush base and a set of bristles orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the garbage disposal brush includes an alignment mechanism configured to enable uniform cleaning. Here, the set of elastomeric fingers are characterized by an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the angle between an upper face of the first brush base and the set of fingers projecting from the upper face is about 90 degrees. To generate the proper alignment, the angle formed by the first brush base (in contact with the sidewall) and third brush base (in contact with the sidewall) is characterized by 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. This arrangement enables the fingers to apply uniform pressure to the upper surface of the disposal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63 / 778,940 filed Mar. 27, 2025, titled “Garbage Disposal Cleaning Brush,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The invention generally relates to a cleaning implement for scrubbing a garbage disposal. In particular, the invention relates to a brush system comprising three individual brushes, each brush configured to scrub either the top, middle, or bottom of the inside of a garbage disposal.BACKGROUND

[0003] Garbage disposals are a wonderful modern convenience. People use them to cut up and wash away a tremendous amount of food waste generated in the kitchen. Over time and use, these garbage disposals may build up a layer of grit and grim. While there are garbage disposal brushes in the prior art, these brushes are typically built with brushes for cleaning only the bottom of the garbage disposal. These brushes are not suited for cleaning other sections of the garbage disposal. There is, therefore, a need for a brush system configured to clean more than just the bottom of the garbage disposal.SUMMARY

[0004] The preferred embodiment of the present features a novel garbage disposal brush. This brush comprises: a handle, a shank having a longitudinal axis, and a brush assembly. The brush assembly includes: a top brush, a middle brush, and a bottom brush comprising a third brush base. The top brush includes elastomeric fingers projecting from a first brush base. The middle brush includes a second brush base and a set of bristles orientated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The bottom brush includes a third brush base and a set of bristles orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0005] In some embodiments, the garbage disposal brush includes an alignment mechanism configured to enable easy use of the brush with uniform cleaning. In the case of the alignment mechanism, the set of elastomeric fingers are upward facing and characterized by an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the angle between an upper face of the first brush base and the set of fingers projecting from the upper face is about 90 degrees. To generate the proper alignment, the angle formed by the first brush base (in contact with the sidewall of the garbage disposal) and third brush base (in contact with the sidewall of the garbage disposal) is characterized by 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis. This arrangement enables the fingers to apply uniform pressure to the upper surface of the disposal.

[0006] In a second embodiment of the invention, the garbage disposal brush includes a handle; a shank characterized by a longitudinal axis; a top brush comprising a conical brush base characterized by a first width and a first set of fingers, each finger orientated at a predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis; a middle brush comprising a second brush base and a second set of bristles orientated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a bottom brush comprising a third brush base characterized by a third width and a third set of bristles orientated downward substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and an alignment mechanism. The orientation of the first set of fingers is substantially parallel to a line formed by a first point and second point, wherein the first point coincides with a point of contact between the conical brush base and garbage disposal, and the second point coincides with a point of contact between the third brush base and garbage disposal.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of the garbage disposal brush, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the garbage disposal brush, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the brush assembly of the garbage disposal brush, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the brush assembly of the garbage disposal brush, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the top brush base, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the top brush base, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 7 is a top view of the top brush base, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the middle brush base, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the handle, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the garbage disposal brush and garbage disposal, in accordance with a preferred embodiment; and

[0018] FIGS. 11-12 are side views of the garbage disposal brush and alignment mechanism, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0020] Illustrated in FIG. 1-12 is a brush system specifically designed for cleaning multiple interior surfaces of a garbage disposal commonly found in most residential and commercial kitchens. A garbage disposal, as used herein, refers to a wide set of devices mounted in the drain of a sink where they chop up food waste and discharge the chopped food waste with water into a sewar drain. By chopping up food waste and mixing it with water, the garbage disposal effectively eliminates food scraps that may otherwise clog the sewar drain.

[0021] As discussed in more detail below, a typical garbage disposal includes an orifice through which water and food enter the garbage disposal. Inside the garbage disposal is an upper surface in contact with the sink, side walls that define a cutting chamber, and cutter disc that rotates at high speed to chop of food scraps deposited into the garbage disposal. The present invention is configured to clean these multiple surfaces.

[0022] The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a handle, a shank, and a brush assembly configured to clean the three major surfaces of the garbage disposal, namely the upper surface, the side walls, and the cutter disc. The brush assembly also includes an alignment mechanism configured to orient the brush assembly in a manner that maximizes the force that can be applied by the user when cleaning the upper surface of the garbage disposal.

[0023] The handle 110 is rigidly connected to an endcap 120 as well as the shank 130. In the preferred embodiment, the handle 110 is approximately 130 millimeters long and 20 millimeters wide in order to facilitate a good grip on the brush when either pulling or pushing on the brush assembly. The endcap 120 is approximately 10 millimeters tall and includes an aperture with which to hang the garbage disposal brush from a hook or other organizational device. The handle 110 is generally constructed from a high-friction material that maintains friction and gripping force with the user hand even when wet.

[0024] The shank 130 is approximately 260 millimeters in length, end-to-end, although this is subject to variation depending on the application. The shank 130 is generally made of a rigid material such as metal or plastic tubing. The brush assembly is rigidly affixed to the shank 130 using a clip 149 and detent, for example, or friction fit.

[0025] The brush assembly includes a three-part brush system including a top brush, a middle brush, and a bottom brush. The top brush is configured to clean and / or scrub the upper surface of the interior of the garbage disposal. The middle brush is configured to clean and / or scrub the side walls of the garbage disposal. The bottom brush is configured to clean / scrub the cutter disc. In addition, the top brush and bottom brush cooperate to form an alignment mechanism that improves the effective force applied by the top brush when cleaning the upper surface of the garbage disposal.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment, the top brush includes a first plurality of fingers 140 projecting from a first brush base 142. The fingers 140 and base 142 are integrally formed with one another from an elastomeric material that provides stiffness with minor flexibility. The first brush base 142 is roughly conical in shape with the plurality of fingers 140 projecting perpendicularly from the surface of the base 142. The base may further include orifices or apertures 146 that enable water or other fluid to pass through the first brush base 142 if the garbage disposal is, for example, full of water due a clog.

[0027] In the preferred embodiment, the elastomeric fingers 140 are distributed radially around the circumference of the shaft 130. The interior angle between the fingers and shaft is approximately 30 degrees, and generally within the range of 10 to 40 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis 132 of the shaft 130.

[0028] The first brush base 142 includes a collar 147 with aperture 148 configured to maintain a frictional fit with the shaft 130.

[0029] The first brush base 142 may be characterized by a diameter or width as measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 132 of the shaft 130. This diameter is generally on the order of seven to ten centimeters in order to accommodate insertion of the brush assembly into the garbage disposal.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment, the middle brush includes a second plurality bristles 150 made of strands of a flexible nylon, for example. The bristles 150 are mounted in recesses 154 formed in the second brush base 152. These recesses 154 are radially aligned with the shaft 130, thereby causing the bristles 150 to project in a substantially radial direction away from the shaft 130. The resulting bristles 150 preferably project outward with a diameter greater than the diameter of the first brush base 142. The second brush base 152 further includes an aperture 156 configured to receive, and frictionally fit to, the shaft 130.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the bottom brush includes a third plurality bristles 160 made of strands of a flexible nylon, for example. The bristles 160 are mounted in recesses 164 formed in the third brush base 164. These recesses 164 are axially aligned with the longitudinal axis 132 of the shaft 130, thereby causing the bristles 160 to project in a substantially downward direction roughly parallel to the shaft 130.

[0032] In some embodiments, the third brush base 162 projects outward with a diameter greater than the diameter of the second brush base 152. Concurrently, the outer edge 163 of the third brush base 162 is characterized by a diameter that is less than the diameter of the first brush base 142, i.e., the distance between two opposing surfaces 143. As shown, the second brush base 152 and third brush base 162 are integrally formed from plastic or equivalent material.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 10-12, the brush assembly in some embodiments includes an alignment mechanism to facilitate easy cleaning. This alignment mechanism enables the user to properly orient the garbage disposal brush so that the top brush 140 maintains uniform pressure against the top surface 200 of the garbage disposal. That is, the diameter of the first brush base 142, the diameter of the third brush base 162, and the distance between them are selected in such a way that the top brush 140 is in uniform contact with the top of the disposal when both the first brush base 142 and third brush base 162 are in contact with the sidewall of the disposal.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 11, when the edge 143 of the first brush base 142 and edge 163 of the third brush base 162 are in contact with the sidewall 202 of the disposal, the fingers 160 uniformly push against the top 200 of the disposal. This uniform pressure enables the entirety of the disposal to be cleaned evenly without creating gaps in the cleaning pattern. As can be seen, the alignment generally occurs when the fingers of the top brush are parallel to a line created between the edge 143 of the first brush base 142 and edge 163 of the third brush base 162. As shown in FIG. 12, the brush assembly is circularly symmetric about the longitudinal axis 132, thus enabling the user to effectively clean the entirety of the top surface of the cutting chamber of the garbage disposal.

[0035] In addition, the middle brush is configured to clean all side walls 202 of the disposal, and the bottom brush configured to clean the cutting disc 204 when the motor 206 is powered off.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment, the fingers and first brush base are molded from an elastomeric material. Common elastomeric materials include natural rubber, silicone rubber, neoprene, and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), polybutadiene, and fluorocarbon elastomers, each with unique properties and applications. The bristles employed in the second and third brushes may be formed from nylon, polyester, natural hair, bamboo, rubber, or metal, for example.

[0037] Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.

[0038] Therefore, the invention has been disclosed by way of example and not limitation, and reference should be made to the following claims to determine the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A garbage disposal brush comprising:a handle;a shank characterized by a longitudinal axis;a brush assembly comprising:a) a top brush comprising a first brush base;b) a middle brush comprising a second brush base; andc) a bottom brush comprising a third brush base.

2. The garbage disposal brush of claim 1, wherein the bottom brush further comprises a third set of bristles orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The garbage disposal brush of claim 1, wherein the third set of bristles comprise nylon bristles.

4. The garbage disposal brush of claim 2, wherein the middle brush comprises a second set of bristles orientated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The garbage disposal brush of claim 4, wherein the second set of bristles comprise nylon bristles.

6. The garbage disposal brush of claim 4, wherein the top brush comprises a set of fingers, each finger orientated at a predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

7. The garbage disposal brush of claim 6, wherein the set of fingers comprises elastomeric fingers.

8. The garbage disposal brush of claim 6, wherein the set of fingers are characterized by an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

9. The garbage disposal brush of claim 8, wherein an angle between an upper face of the first brush base and the set of fingers projecting from the upper face is about 90 degrees.

10. The garbage disposal brush of claim 9, wherein an angle formed by the first brush base and third brush base I characterized by 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11. The garbage disposal brush of claim 10, further comprising an alignment mechanism wherein the first brush base is wider than the third brush base.

12. A garbage disposal brush comprising:a handle;a shank characterized by a longitudinal axis;a top brush comprising:a) a conical brush base; andb) a first set of fingers, each finger orientated at a predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis;a middle brush comprising:a) a second brush base; andb) a second set of bristles orientated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;a bottom brush comprising:a) a third brush base; andb) a third set of bristles orientated substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

13. The garbage disposal brush of claim 12, wherein the first set of bristles comprise nylon bristles.

14. The garbage disposal brush of claim 13, wherein the second set of bristles comprise nylon bristles.

15. The garbage disposal brush of claim 14, wherein the set of fingers comprises elastomeric fingers.

16. The garbage disposal brush of claim 15, wherein the set of fingers are characterized by an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

17. The garbage disposal brush of claim 16, wherein an angle between an upper face of the conic brush base and the set of fingers projecting from the upper face is about 90 degrees.

18. The garbage disposal brush of claim 17, wherein an angle formed by the first brush base and third brush base I characterized by 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

19. A garbage disposal brush comprising:a handle;a shank characterized by a longitudinal axis;a top brush comprising:a) a conical brush base characterized by a first width; andb) a first set of fingers, each finger orientated at a predefined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis;a middle brush comprising:a) a second brush base; andb) a second set of bristles orientated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;a bottom brush comprising:a) a third brush base characterized by a third width; andb) a third set of bristles orientated downward substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; andan alignment mechanism, wherein the orientation of the first set of fingers is substantially parallel to a line formed by a first point and second point; wherein the first point coincides with a point of contact between the conical brush base and garbage disposal, and the second point coincides with a point of contact between the third brush base and garbage disposal.

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