Description

A METHOD AND A MULTIPURPOSE ELECTRIC BRUSH WITH A BUILT-IN CLEANSER OR WAX TUBE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a new concept for a multipurpose electric brush, which can supply liquid soap or wax, and a method for realizing the same. Background Art

[2] As is generally known in the art, an electric brush, which is commercially available on the market, cannot supply liquid soap or wax. Therefore, every time cleaning work is conducted, the liquid soap or wax must be manually applied to the bristles of the brush, which is cumbersome. Also, because the shape and the material of the brush are limited, the use of the brush is limited to certain cleaning targets. Further, due to the fact that the electric brush is constructed to rotate only in one direction, if the brush is used for an extended period, the bristles of the brush are likely to collapse to one side. Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve these problems, improve convenience and efficiency in use, and extend the range of cleaning targets and the usefulness of an electric brush.

[3] In the present invention, a refillable flexible tube is installed on a handle. After the flexible tube is filled with liquid soap or wax, by pressing the flexible tube with the fingers, the liquid soap or wax is transferred through a rotatable driving pipe to the end portion of an electric brush, which has outlet holes, and is then evenly distributed over the cleaning part of the electric brush by the centrifugal force of the rotating driving pipe. Depending upon the use of the electric brush, the cleaning part can be changed with others which have various shapes and are made of various cleaning materials (such as bristles, a scrubber and a piece of cloth). Also, the rotating direction of the electric brush can be changed as a user desires.

[4] The detailed features of the present invention are as described below. FIG. 1 is the prototype of an electric brush which is made of acryl so that the inside thereof can be viewed, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the electric brush according to the present invention.

[5] 1) As shown in FIG. 2, in the present invention, in order to realize an electric brush which can supply liquid soap or wax, a refillable tube 1 is installed on a handle, and liquid soap or wax is charged in the tube 1. By actuating the electric brush and pressing the tube 1 with the fingers, the liquid soap or wax is transferred through a supply line 7 and a driving pipe 6 to the end portion, that is, the cleaning part 2 of the electric brush, and is then evenly distributed over the entire cleaning part 2 by the centrifugal force of

the rotating driving pipe 6.

[6] 2) In the present invention, the cleaning part of the electric brush can be exchanged with others depending upon the use of the brush or the cleaning target. That is to say, depending upon the shape of the cleaning part or the cleaning material (such as bristles, a scrubber or a piece of cloth) attached to the cleaning part, the electric brush can be used for various uses such as for cleaning sports shoes, furniture, vessels, a restroom, etc.

[7] 3) In the present invention, while electric power is used, the rotating direction of the brush can be changed to be clockwise or counterclockwise so as to prevent the bristles (a scrubber or a piece of cloth) from collapsing to one side. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] The technical objects to be achieved by the prevent invention can be divided into seven kinds, as described below. FIGs. 1 and 2 respectively illustrate the prototype and the schematic view of the present invention. The technical objects to be achieved by the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 2.

[9] 1) In order to realize an electric brush which can supply liquid soap or wax, a refillable flexible tube 1 for accommodating liquid soap or wax is installed on a handle. The tube 1 partially projects out of the handle so as to be easily pressed with the fingers, and is made of resin, having a predetermined degree of flexibility. Since the tube 1 is refillable, the tube 1 can be refilled with liquid soap or wax.

[10] 2) By pressing the refillable tube 1 with the fingers, liquid soap or wax is transferred to the end portion, that is, a cleaning part 2 of the electric brush. This is realized in the following way.

[11] As shown in FIG. 2, the refillable tube 1 and a driving pipe 6 are located parallel to each other to be placed side by side. The driving pipe 6 is connected to the shaft of a driving motor 5 and is defined with a plurality of liquid soap or wax inlet holes 16. A portion of the driving pipe 6 is inserted into a liquid soap or wax storage tank 8. The refillable flexible tube 1 and the storage tank 8 are connected with each other by a supply line 7. When the refillable tube 1 is pressed with the fingers, liquid soap or wax is supplied into the storage tank 8 through the supply line 7, is introduced into the driving pipe 6 through the inlet holes 16, and is then transferred to the end portion, that is, the cleaning part 2 of the electric brush through the driving pipe 6. The cleaning part 2 is defined with a passage 4 for allowing the driving pipe 6 to be fitted therein, so that the cleaning part 2 can be connected to and disconnected from the driving pipe 6.

[12] 3) A plurality of outlet holes 3 is defined through the cleaning part 2 to radially communicate with the passage 4 into which liquid soap or wax is introduced, so that

liquid soap or wax can be evenly distributed over the cleaning part 2 by the centrifugal force generated when the cleaning part 2 is rotated. FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 indicate prototypes of the electric brush which are obtained by realizing the actual cleaning part so that it has one of various shapes using various cleaning materials, and illustrate intermediate or final products formed in main manufacturing processes. FIGs. 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 show the passage and the outlet holes which are defined in the cleaning part.

[13] 4) In order to allow the electric brush according to the present invention to be used for various uses, the cleaning part can be formed to have shapes for inside cleaning and outside cleaning (see FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9). For example, a cleaning part for inside cleaning can be used for cleaning the inside of a sports shoe, and a cleaning part for outside cleaning can be used for cleaning the outside of the sports shoe. Also, the cleaning materials attached to the cleaning part can include bristles, a scrubber, and a piece of cloth (see FIGs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12). That is to say, by attaching the bristles to the cleaning part, the electric brush can be used to clean sports shoes or other shoes. Also, the scrubber can be used to clean furniture, and the piece of cloth can be used to wash vessels. Further, thick bristles can be used to clean the floor of a restroom, etc.

[14] 5) In the case of a conventional electric brush, which is commercially available on the market, since the electric brush is constructed so that it can be rotated only in one direction, after the brush has been used for an extended period, the bristles of the brush are likely to collapse to one side. In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, the electric brush is constructed so that it can be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise. In order to change the rotating direction of the electric brush, the polarity of a power source 11 for supplying power to the motor must be changed. To this end, by using a bidirectional switch 12 having three operational stages, the polarity can be easily changed.

[15] 6) As the power source, a conventional dry battery and a separation type rechargeable battery can be used. Also, as in a powered toothbrush, an embedded type charging device can be built into the electric brush.

[16] 7) Meanwhile, liquid soap or wax may leak between the rotating driving pipe 6 and a bearing 10. By fitting a rubber O-ring 9 between the driving pipe 6 and the bearing 10, the leakage of liquid soap or wax can be prevented.

Advantageous Effects

[17] The present invention relates to a multipurpose electric brush which can supply liquid soap or wax during cleaning. A refillable tube for accommodating liquid soap or wax is installed on a handle of the electric brush. After filling the tube with liquid soap

or wax, by pressing the tube with the fingers during cleaning, liquid soap or wax can be transferred to the end portion, that is, a cleaning part of the electric brush. The liquid soap or wax transferred in this way can be evenly distributed over the cleaning part by the centrifugal force generated when the cleaning part is rotated.

[18] The present invention solves the problems inherent to the conventional electric brush which is commercially available on the market, and improves convenience and efficiency in use. The effects of the present invention can be summarized as follows.

[19] 1) In the present invention, since the brush is rotated by electric power, it is not necessary for a user to apply substantial force to the brush. Also, since liquid soap or wax is transferred to the end portion of the brush by pressing the refillable tube installed on the handle with the fingers during cleaning, the electric brush is convenient to use. In addition, because several cleaning targets can be cleaned, cleaning efficiency is improved.

[20] 2) The liquid soap or wax transferred to the end portion of the brush is evenly distributed over the cleaning part by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the cleaning part, and thus the present invention takes advantage of a basic scientific principle.

[21] 3) In the present invention, because the shape (for inside cleaning or outside cleaning) and/or the material (bristles, a scrubber or a piece of cloth) of the cleaning part can be changed depending upon the intended use and the cleaning target, various cleaning targets (sports shoes, furniture, vessels, restrooms, etc.) can be cleaned using the electric brush according to the present invention, whereby the utilization efficiency of the electric brush can be improved.

[22] 4) In the present invention, while electric power is used, the rotating direction of the brush can be changed clockwise or counterclockwise (using the switch 12 of FIG. 2) so as to prevent the bristles from collapsing on one side, whereby the available service life of the electric brush can be extended.

[23] 5) Since the tube for liquid soap or wax is refillable, economic efficiency is improved.

[24] 6) Also, in a technical aspect, technology for preventing the leakage of liquid soap or wax between the driving pipe and the bearing is applied. In this regard, since the rubber O-ring is fitted between the driving pipe and the bearing, the leakage can be easily prevented at a reasonable cost.

[25] 7) For these reasons, the present invention can be utilized in a variety of ways.

Also, since the electric brush according to the present invention can be manufactured without incurring a substantial cost, economic effects can be significantly increased in terms of exportation as well as domestic sales.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the prototype of an electric brush according to the present invention;

[27] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the electric brush according to the present invention, wherein the reference numeral 1 designates a refillable tube for liquid soap or wax, 2 a cleaning part having bristles attached thereto, 3 liquid soap or wax outlet holes, 4 a liquid soap or wax transfer passage, 5 a driving motor and a motor shaft, 6, a rotatable driving pipe, 7 a liquid soap supply line, 8 a liquid soap storage tank, 9 a rubber O-ring, 10 a bearing, 11 a power source, 12 a switch and a conceptual view of the switch, 13 a turned-off position of the switch, 14 and 15 positions on the switch for selecting rotating directions, 16 inlet holes, and 17 a fastening screw;

[28] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the cleaning part of the electric brush for inside cleaning, wherein the reference character 'a' designates a liquid soap or wax passage, and 'b' liquid soap or wax outlet holes;

[29] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the cleaning part for inside cleaning;

[30] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the cleaning part for inside cleaning which is defined with outlet holes;

[31] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a complete product including the cleaning part for inside cleaning;

[32] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the cleaning part of the electric brush for outside cleaning, wherein the reference character 'a' designates a liquid soap or wax passage and outlet holes;

[33] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the cleaning part for outside cleaning which is defined with outlet holes;

[34] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a complete product including the cleaning part for outside cleaning;

[35] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the cleaning part of the electric brush for inside cleaning, which is made of a scrubber;

[36] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the cleaning part for inside cleaning, which is made of the scrubber and is defined with outlet holes; and

[37] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a complete product including the cleaning part for inside cleaning, which is made of the scrubber. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[38] The present invention relates to a multipurpose electric brush which can supply liquid soap or wax during cleaning, and a method for realizing the same. FIG. 1 is the prototype of an electric brush which is made of acryl, so that the inside thereof can be viewed, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the electric brush according to the

present invention.

[39] An electric brush according to the present invention includes a handle in which a driving motor 5 and a power source 11 are arranged, a driving pipe 6 which is coupled to the shaft of the driving motor 5, and a cleaning part 2, which is coupled to the end of the driving pipe 6. The electric brush further includes a refillable flexible tube 1 which is installed on a handle to accommodate liquid soap or wax, the rotatable driving pipe 6, which connects the handle and the cleaning part 2 to each other and is defined with inlet holes 16, a liquid soap or wax storage tank 8, which surrounds the rotatable driving pipe 6, a liquid soap or wax supply line 7, which connects the refillable tube 1 and the storage tank 8 with each other, and the cleaning part 2, which is coupled to the end of the driving pipe 6 and has defined therein a liquid soap or wax transfer passage 4 and outlet holes 3. Also, in order to prevent liquid soap or wax from leaking between the rotatable driving pipe 6 and the bearing 10, a rubber O-ring 9 is fitted between the rotatable driving pipe 6 and the bearing 10. Further, a bidirectional switch 12 having three operational stages is installed to allow the rotating direction of the electric brush to be changed.

[40] Hereafter, the functions and the operations of the electric brush according to the present invention will be described.

[41] 1) By turning on the bidirectional switch 12 having three operational stages, the electric motor 5, which is connected with the power source 11, rotates the cleaning part 2 through the rotatable driving pipe 6. Here, the driving pipe 6 is coupled to the shaft of the driving motor 5 by a fastening screw 17, and the rubber O-ring 9 is fitted between the driving pipe 6 and the bearing 10 to prevent liquid soap or wax from leaking therebetween.

[42] 2) As shown in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 12, the bidirectional switch having three operational stages operates in three stages, and is used to select the stop, the clockwise rotation or the counterclockwise rotation of the electric brush.

[43] 3) The refillable tube 1, which is installed on the handle to accommodate liquid soap or wax, is made of resin having a predetermined degree of flexibility. Therefore, liquid soap or wax can be used in a state in which it is charged in the refillable tube 1.

[44] 4) While the cleaning part 2 is rotated, by pressing the refillable tube 1 for accommodating liquid soap or wax with the fingers, liquid soap or wax is introduced into the storage tank 8 through the supply line 7, and is then transferred to the cleaning part 2 through the driving pipe 6, which is defined with the inlet holes 16.

[45] 5) The liquid soap or wax transferred to the cleaning part 2 is evenly distributed over the entire cleaning part 2 through the transfer passage 4 and the outlet holes 3 by the centrifugal force generated as the cleaning part 2 is rotated.

[46] 6) Meanwhile, after the electric brush according to the present invention has been

used for a long time, during which the cleaning part 2 is brought into contact with sports shoes, other kinds of shoes, furniture, etc., the bristles are likely to collapse to one side. In order to avoid this situation, the rotating direction of the electric brush can be changed by manipulating the switch 12 while conducting cleaning work. [47] 7) In the present invention, the electric brush is manufactured to be used for various cleaning purposes, such as for cleaning sports shoes, furniture, vessels, restrooms, etc., depending upon the shape (for inside cleaning or outside cleaning) of the cleaning part 2 and/or the material (bristles, a scrubber or a piece of cloth) of the cleaning part 2. Therefore, in conformity with a cleaning target and/or the use of the electric brush, the cleaning part 2 can be replaced with others. FIGs. 6, 9 and 12 illustrate photographs which are obtained by realizing the prototypes of actually manufactured cleaning parts, including a cleaning part for inside cleaning, a cleaning part for outside cleaning, and a cleaning part for inside cleaning which is made of a scrubber.