Background Art Brushes with means for dispensing cleaning liquid are known in fields where mechanical cleaning with a brush is typically assisted by cleaning agents for chemically cleaning and disinfecting. Especially in applications where such cleaning is of sporadic nature, a brush that incorporates the cleaning liquid dispenser needs no separate container with cleaning agent, thus resulting in a more frequent use of cleaning agent due to the simplicity of use and the permanent availability of cleaning agent.

However, since most of the cleaning agents are caustic and can be dangerous, excessive use and unintended dispensation of cleaning agent is to be prevented.

DE 94 18 850 discloses a brush with a handle containing cleaning liquid, wherein a dispensing and a non-dispensing mode can be set by twisting or shifting a ring member with apertures that is located at the outside of said brush and thereby uncover or cover discharge openings. Setting the non-dispensing mode and the dispensing mode at maximum dispensing rate is made easy by physical stops that limit the adjustment range of said ring member between two positions.

DE 28 31 205 describes a toilet brush with a brush head and a cleaning liquid reservoir, wherein between the brush head and the liquid reservoir a coupling element is located that functions as a manually adjustable valve. The setting between the non-dispensing mode and the dispensing mode and the adjustment of the flow rate in the dispensing mode is changed by twisting

the brush carrying portion of the coupling against the portion that is connected to the liquid reservoir. The twist motion is limited between two positions that represent the non-dispensing mode and the dispensing mode at maximum dispensing rate.

While the solutions given by the prior art allow the selective usage of cleaning liquid during use of the brush by the intended user, they do not satis- factorily prevent a discharge of cleaning liquid during unintended use, e. g. by children playing with said brush and thereby manipulating the setting of the brush.

Disclosure of the Invention Hence, it is a general object of the inven- tion to provide a brush with means for dispensing cleaning liquid that is adjustable for selective usage by the intended user and, at the same time, is child-proof.

This object is achieved by the brush according to claim 1.

The brush is equipped with means for dispensing cleaning liquid, wherein said dispensing means comprises at least one cleaning liquid reservoir for providing said cleaning liquid, said dispensing means having at least one non-dispensing mode and at least one dispensing mode, and wherein said dispensing means further comprises a lock for locking up said dispensing means at least in said non-dispensing mode. By locking up the dispensing means in a certain mode, changing the setting of the dispensing means by simply reversing the setting operation is not possible. An unlocking operation is required in addition to the operation required for changing the setting. Especially in the non-dispensing mode, that is set when the brush is not in use, this is of advantage because it prevents a change to the dispensing mode and the discharge of cleaning liquid in case of unintended use, e. g. manipulation by children.

When locking is possible also in the dispensing mode, it

furthermore prevents an unintended change of the setting during the intended use of the brush. The additional operation required for unlocking can comprise the application of additional forces and/or the application of additional motions to the element operated for setting the dispensing means and/or to additional elements to operate said lock. If the element operated for setting the dispensing means is e. g. a twist ring, the unlocking operation can be the application of additional twist forces to said twist ring, the application of radial pressing forces, an additional shift motion or a combination of the aforesaid operations. For electrically or electronically locked dispensing means the additional operation can also comprise the entry of a code to an electronic system and/or the operation of switches. It is to be understood that all means, elements and operations mentioned herein in singular are not limited by their number but can also be in plural.

When additional elements to operate said lock are used, e. g. a press button, an additional twist ring or a shifting bar, said lock requires for unlocking an operation that is separate from the operation required for setting the dispensing means.

It is preferred that the dispensing means requires a different operation for unlocking than the dispensing means requires for setting. If for example the dispensing means is set by twisting a ring, unlocking can e. g. be performed by pushing or pressing a button or by shifting a bar, prior to or simultaneous to twisting said ring.

If unlocking at least in the non-dispensing mode can only be performed in conjunction with changing the setting of the dispensing means from the non- dispensing mode to the dispensing mode, the risk that the dispensing mode can be set by unauthorized users like children is considerably reduced due to the complexity of the operation needed for unlocking and setting.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the lock automatically locks up when said dispensing means is set to the non-dispensing mode, thereby automatically leaving the brush in a child-proof status when the setting of the dispensing means is changed from the dispensing mode to the non-dispensing mode after use.

In another embodiment, the dispensing means is adapted in such way that in the non-dispensing mode, dispensing of cleaning liquid is prevented by blocking at least one liquid passage that for dispensing cleaning liquid needs to be unblocked. This is advantageous when the forwarding of cleaning liquid is effected by applying overpressure to the liquid by an element such as a squeezable balloon member that is difficult to make temporarily inoperative by other means.

In a further embodiment, the dispensing means is adapted in such way that in the non-dispensing mode, dispensing of cleaning liquid is prevented by blocking the physical movement of at least one part of said dispensing means that needs to be movable for dispensing cleaning liquid. Especially when piston pumps are used for forwarding the cleaning liquid, it is of advantage to block the stroke of the piston and thereby prevent the forwarding of cleaning liquid. It is also intended to combine both, the blocking of liquid passages and the blocking of the physical movement of a part which moveability is vital for dispensing cleaning liquid. For example if a piston pump is used only for dosing cleaning liquid to an intermediate reservoir from which the cleaning liquid is then discharged with a certain delay or in case the length of a liquid passage between the pump and the discharge opening of the brush is excessive, this combination is of advantage.

Preferably the dispensing means comprises at least one dispensing valve, and in particular at least one manually actuated dispensing valve, that temporarily

opens a cleaning liquid passage to enable cleaning liquid to travel to the discharge openings of the brush.

In another preferred embodiment the dispensing means comprises at least one dispensing pump, and in particular at least one manually actuated dispensing pump. A pump in this case is any device that is suitable to pressurize the cleaning liquid for forwarding it.

It is of advantage to use a piston pump because it allows a precise dosing of the cleaning liquid.

It is also intended that the dispensing pump is formed by or comprises a balloon member for applying pressure to said cleaning liquid. The pressure can be applied in direct manner from the balloon member to the liquid or in indirect manner by compressing the air above the cleaning liquid in the liquid reservoir by the balloon member. Embodiments involving dispensing valves together with pumps are possible as well.

If the brush comprises a handle and a brush head, it is preferred that the dispensing pump and/or the dispensing valve is located in the area between the handle and the brush head. By this arrangement the lengths of the open ends of the liquid passages from the pump or the valve to the discharge openings are short and therefore a delayed dispensing of cleaning liquid with subsequent leaking after setting the dispensing means to the non-dispensing mode is prevented.

In a further embodiment the means for dispensing cleaning liquid further comprises at least one check valve, and in particular at least one spring assisted ball check valve, integrated in said dispensing pump and/or downstream of said dispensing pump. The use of check valves allows to further reduce the lengths of the open ends of the cleaning liquid passages and thereby prevents delayed dispensing and leaking effects. Where

cleaning liquid is forwarded by overpressure, spring assisted check valves are advantageous.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become ap- parent when consideration is given to the following de- tailed description thereof. Such description makes refer- ence to the annexed drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a toilet brush with means for dispensing cleaning liquid; Fig. 2 shows a sectional drawing of a part of the brush of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a developed view of the recess for adjusting the piston stroke of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a sectional view taken along the. line B-B of Fig. 2 Fig. 6 shows a side view of one of the leaf springs of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a sectional drawing of the closure cap of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows another toilet brush with means for dispensing cleaning liquid; Fig. 9 shows a sectional drawing of a part of the brush of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 shows a sectional view of a part of the handle of the brush of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 shows a sectional view taken along the line C-C of Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 shows a developed view of the slot for adjusting the piston stroke of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention The general concept of a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 7. The brush shown in Fig. 1 is a toilet brush 1 that comprises a stem shaped handle 2 with a closure cap 2a and a brush head 3 with bristles. The brush head 3 is of substantially spheroidal shape. Between the handle 2 and the brush head 3, a piston pump 4 is arranged that also forms the mechanical connection between the handle 2 and the brush head 3 and in the dispensing mode allows a relative movement between the handle 2 and the brush head 3 in axial direction of the handle 2.

As can be seen in the sectional drawing in Fig. 2, an interchangeable cartridge 5 that forms the cleaning liquid reservoir of the brush 1 is located inside the handle 2. Instead of accommodating a separate reservoir like the cartridge 5, the handle 2 itself can be a cleaning liquid reservoir or the handle 2 can be formed by the cartridge 5. In case the handle 2 is designed to be a refillable cleaning liquid reservoir, it comprises a refilling opening that can be closed for example with a screwed closure cap. In order to be child- proof, this cap and/or the corresponding part of the handle 2 can further comprise a lock that locks up the cap in the closed position and, by advantage, require for unlocking an operation that is separate from the operation required for removing the closure cap.

Alternatively, the cleaning liquid reservoir can be located in the brush head 3 or an additional reservoir can be located in it. The cleaning liquid 6 used in this brush 1 can be of low to medium viscosity, however it should be of free-flowing consistency at room temperature. The handle 2 and the walls of the cartridge 5 can be made out of transparent or translucent material, e. g. translucent plastics, in order to allow visual inspection of a cleaning liquid level 7 in the cartridge

5. It is also possible that only a part of handle 2 and a corresponding part of the walls of the cartridge 5 are of a transparent or translucent material. Alternatively it is also possible to arrange a cutaway in the wall of the handle 2 in such way that it corresponds with a translucent or transparent portion of the wall of the cleaning liquid reservoir 5. In case the handle 2 itself forms the cleaning liquid reservoir of the brush 1, at least a portion of its wall has to be transparent or translucent in order to allow visual inspection of the cleaning liquid level 7 and thereby judgement of the amount of cleaning liquid 6 that is left in the brush 1 for use. Another option is to install additional level indicator means like a U-pipe or the like to indicate, at the outside of the brush 1, the cleaning liquid level 7 in the cleaning liquid reservoir. It is obvious that in the area where the cleaning liquid level is indicated there can be arranged markings that quantify the amount of cleaning liquid 6 that is left for use.

The brush head 3 is formed by a core element 8 and a multitude of bristles 9 that are carried by the core element 8. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the bristles 9 form the outer shape of the brush head 3 that preferably is of substantially spheroidal or cylindrical shape. The core element 8 can in addition carry an auxiliary brush to also reach areas for cleaning that with the main brush cannot be reached, like e. g. the rinsing channel of a toilet. The portion of the core element 8 that is oriented in direction to the handle 2 does not carry any bristles 9 but is mechanically connected to the cylinder element 10 of the piston pump 4. The piston element 11 of the piston pump 4 is connected to the stem shaped handle 2 that contains the cleaning liquid reservoir 5. The cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11 are adapted to being movable against each others only in the direction of the piston stroke. A twist movement is prevented by protrusions 12

of the piston element 11 that are guided in axial grooves 13 in the cylinder element 10, a bending is impossible because the piston element 11 is guided within the cylinder element 10. Between the piston element 11 and the cylinder element 10 a helical spring 14 is arranged that works in the direction of the suction stroke of the piston pump 4. Both, the cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11 comprise liquid passages 15 that axially extend from the inside of the pump 16 through their centers into the handle 2 or into the brush head 3, respectively. Each passage 15 is blocked by a spring assisted ball check valve 17 that is normally closed and opens in forwarding direction of the cleaning liquid 6.

The stroke of the piston pump 4 and therefore the dispensing rate of the brush 1 can be adjusted between zero and maximum dispensing by twisting the bushing 18 and thereby positioning the noses 19 of that bushing 18 in different positions in recesses 20, arranged on the circumference of the cylinder element 10, that show different axial dimensions at different circumferential positions. Since the axial position of the bushing 18 and its noses 19 to the handle 2 and to the piston element 11 of the piston pump 4 is fixed and the recesses 20 in the cylinder element 10 form the physical stop for the noses 19 in both axial directions, the axial movement between the cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11 and therefore the stroke of the piston pump 4 is limited by the possible axial travel of the noses 19 in the recesses 20. Depending on the construction of the pump, other methods that allow an adjustment of the active stroke of the piston, e. g. backflow openings inside the cylinder wall at different axial positions that can be opened and closed or a physical stop of the piston in the cylinder that changes the travel of the piston by twisting it within the cylinder, are possible as well.

As can be seen in the Figure 3, two recesses 20 of the same dimensions are arranged opposite to each other on the circumference of the cylinder member 10.

Even though in this example two recesses 20 with two corresponding noses 19 are equally arranged on the circumference of the cylinder member 10, any other number of recesses 20 with corresponding noses 19 is possible.

Furthermore it is to be understood that alternatively the recesses 20 can be arranged in the bushing 18 and the noses 19 can be formed by the cylinder member 10. The same alternatives in number and arrangement apply to the protrusions 12 and the axial grooves 13 that prevent a twist movement between the cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11 of the piston pump 4.

In Fig. 4, one of the recesses 20 with a nose 19 oriented in it at the circumferential position A is shown in developed view. As can be seen, in this embodiment the recess 20 is adapted to have three different axial dimensions arranged in steps at different circumferential positions. In this first position A, the axial dimension of the recess 20 is only marginally bigger than the axial dimension of the nose 19, thereby preventing an axial travel of the nose 19 within the recess 20. This position represents the non-dispensing mode of the brush. In the other two positions B and C, the axial dimension of the recess 20 is clearly bigger than the axial dimension of the nose 19, thereby permitting an axial travel of the nose 19 in the recess 20 and a corresponding piston stroke of the piston pump 4. These two positions B and C represent the dispensing modes of the brush, position B at a medium dispensing rate, position C at maximum dispensing rate. Even though it is preferred to adapt the physical stops for the pump in a manner that the dispensing rate can be adjusted in defined steps, it is also possible to adapt them to allow an adjustment of the dispensing rate in stepless manner.

As can be seen in Fig. 5, the bushing 18 in the area where it contacts the handle 2 comprises at its inside two leaf springs 21 that engage into recesses in the outer surface of the handle 2 and abut with their flat surfaces to the surface of facets 22 formed in these recesses. Each recess comprises three facets 22 and permits a twist motion of the bushing 18 between three defined positions in which the leaf springs 21 with their flat surfaces are parallel with the surfaces of the facets 22 and the noses 19 of the bushing 18 are positioned in the before mentioned three positions A, B, and C in the recesses 20 in the cylinder member 10. Since in these three positions the leaf springs 21 are substantially relaxed while in intermediate positions they are bended by the edges formed between two facets 22, thereby generating frictional forces between the bushing 18 and the handle 2, a kind of snap-in adjustment results for said three positions and therefore for the noses 19 in the corresponding circumferential positions A, B, C in the recesses 20.

A side view of one of the leaf springs 21 is shown in Fig. 6. As can seen, the spring 21 comprises a hole 23 substantially oriented in its center and a slot 24 oriented in its edging area. In Fig. 5 it is shown that one of the facets 22 has a protrusion 25 oriented in the center of its surface that corresponds with the hole 23 of one of the leaf springs 21 when the non-dispensing mode is set. Furthermore it can be seen that at the slotted end of the spring 21 a pin 26 is attached to the spring 21 that penetrates the bushing 18 and is accessible at the outside of said bushing 18. If the brush 1 is set to a dispensing mode and the bushing 18 is twisted against the handle 2 in order to set the non- dispensing mode, the leaf spring 21 is first bended by the edge formed between two facets and then, as twist motion proceeds, by the protrusion 25 until the protrusion enters the hole 23 of the leaf spring 21,

thereby permitting the spring to relax in a position parallel to the facet 22 that carries said protrusion 25.

In this situation, the brush is locked in the non- dispensing mode as shown in Fig. 5 and cannot be set back to a dispensing mode just by reversing the twist motion of the bushing 18. Any twist motion of the bushing 18 in this state is prevented by positive locking between the protrusion 25 and the leaf spring 21. For unlocking, an additional operation is needed to release the positive locking before a setting of the brush 1 to a dispensing mode by twisting the bushing 18 against the handle 2 can be performed. When pressing the pin 26 in substantially radial direction, the spring leaf 21 is bended and the hole 23 is lifted from the surface of the facet 22 and over the protrusion 25, thereby releasing the positive locking and permitting a twist motion of the bushing 18 to set the brush 1 to a dispensing mode as long as the pin 26 is pressed. It is also possible to lock up the brush in the dispensing modes if the corresponding facets are equipped with protrusions 25 as well.

When the dispensing mode is set, dispensing of cleaning liquid 6 is effected by axially moving the brush handle 2 towards the brush head 3 and thereby pushing the piston of the piston element 11 inside the cylinder 16 of the cylinder element 10 and pressurizing the cleaning liquid 6 inside said cylinder 16. The overpressure opens the ball check valve 17 in the liquid passage 15 of the cylinder element 10 for discharging cleaning liquid 6 from the cylinder 16 of the piston pump 4 to the open end 27 of the cleaning liquid passage 15 and to the discharge opening 28 in the brush head 3. By axially moving towards each other, the cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11 of the pump 4 also compress the helical spring 14 that is arranged between them.

After the piston has traveled its preadjusted stroke, the pressure in the cylinder 16 drops, and the ball check valve 17 located in the liquid passage 15 in cylinder

element 10 closes by the force of its spring. For this forwarding stroke, the discharge of a defined amount of cleaning liquid 6 is completed. In case of interruption of the piston stroke before the preadjusted stroke is reached, an undefined amount of cleaning liquid 6, that is however smaller than the preadjusted amount, is dispensed. Upon withdrawal of the axial forces applied to the handle 2 in direction towards the brush head 3, the helical spring 14 pushes back the piston of the piston element 11 in its start position, thereby generating an underpressure within the cylinder 16 of the cylinder element 10 that opens the ball check valve 17 in the liquid passage 15 of the piston element 11. This causes cleaning liquid 6 to flow from the cartridge 5 through the passage 15 into the cylinder 16 of the pump 4. After the cylinder 16 is filled up, the check valve 17 closes.

When the handle 2 is now again axially moved against the brush head 3, dispensing of cleaning liquid 6 is again effected. When the brush 1 after use is set back to the non-dispensing mode by twisting the bushing 18 against the handle 2, the brush automatically locks up. Even though in the described example dispensing of cleaning liquid 6 is effected by axially moving the handle 2 towards the brush head 3 in the dispensing mode, there can be many ways to effect dispensing of cleaning liquid e. g. by pressing a press button of a pump or a valve or by squeezing a balloon member.

When the cartridge 5 inside the handle 2 is empty, it can be replaced by a full one. In order to replace the cartridge 5, the closure cap 2a, that, in this example, is screwed to the end of the handle 2, has to be removed. However, this closure cap 2a can also be mounted to the handle 2 in many other ways like e. g. a snap-on mounting or a bayonet joint. In order to be child-proof, this closure cap 2a and/or the corresponding part of the handle 2 can also comprise a lock that locks up the cap 2a in a closed position and, by advantage,

requires for unlocking an operation that is separate from the operation required for removing said closure cap 2a.

After the cap 2a has been removed, the empty cartridge 5 can be taken out and a new cartridge 5 can be inserted in the aperture formed by the handle 2. By axially pressing the cartridge 5 inside the handle 2, an opening spike 29 oriented at the inner end of the aper- ture in the handle 2 pierces the wall of the cartridge 5 and thereby allows cleaning liquid 6 to enter the liquid passage 15 in the piston element 11 of the piston pump 4.

It can be of advantage when the part of the wall of the cartridge that is pierced is formed by a foil, e. g. a metal foil, that for being penetrated by the spike 29 requires minor forces.

The closure cap 2a is then again screwed to the end of the handle 2. As can be seen in Fig. 7, the closure cap 2a comprises a vent valve 30 with a vent spike 31 that penetrates the wall of the cartridge 5 when the closure cap 2a is screwed to the end of the handle 2 and thereby connects the vent passage of the vent valve 30 with the inside of the cartridge 5 for ventilation. In this case, the vent valve 30 is a normally closed valve that automatically effects ventilation of the cartridge 5 upon a negative pressure within said cartridge 5.

However, in other preferred embodiments, the vent valve 30 is adapted to normally be open and automatically close to prevent a spilling of cleaning liquid 6 upon tilting the brush 1 in a position that allows cleaning liquid 6 to reach said vent valve 30. It is also possible to use vent valves 30 that are manually actuated and to operationally connect them to a dispensing pump 4 or to a dispensing valve. Furthermore it can be of advantage to integrate the vent valve 30 in the dispensing pump 4 or in the dispensing valve. It is to be understood that the vent or the vent valve 30 can be located in many other locations in the brush 1 and is not limited to being arranged in a closure cap 2a. For example if the

cartridge 5 forms a part of the handle 2 or the cartridge 5 is secured to said brush 1 by inserting it into an aperture in said brush 1 and snapping-in of a protrusion of said cartridge 5 into a recess or aperture in said brush 1 without using a closure cap 2a, ventilation can be effected by vents that are integrated in the dispensing pump 4 or in the dispensing valve.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the Fig. 8 to 12. The brush again is a toilet brush 1 comprising a stem shaped handle 2, a brush head 3 of substantially spheroidal shape and a piston pump 4 arranged between the handle 2 and the brush head 3. The piston pump 4 forms the mechanical connection between the handle 2 and the brush head 3 and in the dispensing mode allows a relative movement between the handle 2 and the brush head 3 in axial direction of the handle 2. As can further be seen in this drawing, the brush 1 comprises an interchangeable cleaning liquid cartridge 5 that is secured to the brush 1 by inserting it into an aperture in the handle 2 and by snapping-in of protrusions of said cartridge 5 into cutaways 32 in the wall of said handle 2. Since in this embodiment, the cleaning liquid cartridge 5 is made out of translucent material, the amount of cleaning liquid that is left for use can be easily judged at the protrusions that are visible in the cutaways 32 in the wall of the handle 2. It is also possible to arrange additional cutaways or translucent or transparent areas in the wall of the handle in order to allow visual inspection of the cleaning liquid level 7 and thereby judgement of the amount of cleaning liquid 6 that is left in the brush for use. Alternatively it is also possible to manufacture the handle 2 of a translucent or transparent material or to install additional level indicator means like a U-pipe or the like. As can further be taken from Fig. 8, the brush 1 comprises a setting button 33 for setting the mode of the brush and for locking the brush in the set mode.

As can be seen in the sectional drawing in Fig. 9, the brush head 3 of this embodiment again is formed by a core element 8 and a multitude of bristles 9 that are carried by the core element 8. The core element 8 of the brush head 3 of this brush can in addition carry an auxiliary brush to also reach areas for cleaning that with the main brush cannot be reached. The portion of the core element 8 that is oriented in direction to the handle 2 does not carry any bristles 9 but is mechanically connected to a piston element 11 of the piston pump 4. The cylinder element 10 of the piston pump 4 is connected to the stem shaped handle 2 that contains the cleaning liquid reservoir 5. The piston element 11 and the cylinder element 10 are adapted to being movable against each other in the direction of the piston stroke.

In order to prevent that the piston element 11 and the cylinder element 10 can fall apart, both elements 10,11 are joined by a snap-in connection that forms a physical stop at the end of the suction stroke. A bending is impossible because the piston element 11 is guided within the cylinder element 10. Between the piston element 11 and the cylinder element 10 a helical spring 14 is arranged that works in the direction of the suction stroke of the piston pump 4. Both, the cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11 comprise liquid passages 15 that axially extend from the inside of the pump 16 through their centers into the handle 2 or into the brush head 3, respectively. Each passage 15 is blocked by a spring assisted ball check valve 17 that is normally closed and opens in forwarding direction of the cleaning liquid 6.

The stroke of the piston pump 4 and therefore the dispensing rate of the brush 1 can be adjusted between zero, medium dispensing and maximum dispensing by setting the setting button 33. By doing so, the rod 34, that forms the physical stop for axial movement between the cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11, is set

to a certain axial position, thereby adjusting the possible stroke of the piston pump 4 and, due to that, the dispensing rate per stroke.

As can be seen in the Figure 10, the setting button 33 is connected to the upper end of the rod 34.

The rod 34 is oriented between the wall of the handle 2 and the interchangeable cartridge 5 that contains the cleaning liquid 6. The rod 34 extends at its upper end through a slot 35 in the wall of the handle 2 into the setting button 33.

As can be seen in the Fig. 11 and 12, the setting button 33 consists of two halves 33a, 33b and the upper end of the rod 34 is splitted. Each of the two ends of the rod 34 is resilient and is connected to one halve 33a, 33b of the setting button 33 in such way that the two ends are moved towards each other when the two halves 33a, 33b of the setting button 33 are pressed against each other. Upon release of the pressing forces the two ends move back in their initial position with regard to each other. In Fig. 12, a developed view of the slot 35 is shown. As can be seen in this drawing, the slot 35 is shaped in a way that it permits a positive locking between the slot 35 in the wall of the handle 2 and the splitted end of the rod 34 in three defined axial positions a, b, c. Changing the setting from the non- dispensing mode (position a) as shown in Fig. 12 to the dispensing mode (position b or c), just by pushing the setting button 33 in the desired axial position, is impossible because of the positive locking situation between rod 34 and handle 2. To change the setting, an additional separate unlocking operation is required, which, in this embodiment, is to press the two halves 33a, 33b of the setting button 33 against each other in order to move the ends of the rod 34 against each other and thereby release the positive locking situation between rod 34 and handle 2. After the desired setting has been adjusted by simultaneously pressing the halves

33a, 33b of the setting button 33 against each other and axially moving the button 33, the pressing forces are released from the halves of the setting button 33 and the ends of the rod 34 snap-in in corresponding steps in the slot 35, thereby again generating a positive locking situation that locks up the brush in the desired setting.

When the dispensing mode is set, dispensing of cleaning liquid 6 is effected by axially moving the brush handle 2 towards the brush head 3 and thereby pushing the piston of the piston element 11 inside the cylinder 16 of the cylinder element 10 and pressurizing the cleaning liquid 6 inside said cylinder 16. The overpressure opens the ball check valve 17 in the liquid passage 15 of the piston element 11 for discharging cleaning liquid 6 from the cylinder 16 of the piston pump 4 to the open end 27 of the cleaning liquid passage 15 and to the discharge opening 28 in the brush head 3. By axially moving towards each others, the cylinder element 10 and the piston element 11 of the pump 4 also compress the helical spring 14 that is arranged between them.

After the piston has traveled its preadjusted stroke, the pressure in the cylinder 16 drops, and the ball check valve 17 located in the liquid passage 15 in piston element 11 closes by the force of its spring. For this forwarding stroke, the discharge of a defined amount of cleaning liquid 6 is completed. In case of interruption of the piston stroke before the preadjusted stroke is reached, an undefined amount of cleaning liquid 6, that is however smaller than the preadjusted amount, is dispensed. Upon withdrawal of the axial forces applied to the handle 2 in direction towards the brush head 3, the helical spring 14 pushes back the piston of the piston element 11 in its start position, thereby generating an underpressure within the cylinder 16 of the cylinder element 10 that opens the ball check valve 17 in the liquid passage 15 of the cylinder element 10. This causes cleaning liquid 6 to flow from the cartridge 5 through

the passage 15 into the cylinder 16 of the pump 4. After the cylinder 16 is filled up, the check valve 17 closes.

When the handle 2 is now again axially moved against the brush head 3, dispensing of cleaning liquid 6 is again effected.

When the cartridge 5 inside the handle 2 is empty, it can be replaced by a full one. In order to replace the cartridge 5, the protrusions, that in this embodiment, snap-in into cutaways 32 in the wall of the handle 2, are simultaneously pressed towards the inside of the cartridge 5, thereby releasing the positive locking between cartridge 5 and handle 2 and permitting the removal of the cartridge 5.

After the empty cartridge 5 has been removed, a new cartridge 5 can be inserted into the aperture formed by the handle 2. By axially pressing the cartridge 5 inside the handle 2, an opening spike 29 oriented at the inner end of the aperture in the handle 2 pierces the wall of the cartridge 5 and thereby allows cleaning liquid 6 to enter the liquid passage 15 in the cylinder element 10 of the piston pump 4. At the same time, the protrusions of the new cartridge snap-in into the cutaways 32 in the wall of the handle 2, thereby securing the cartridge 5 to the brush 1. In this embodiment, the vent is included in the dispensing pump 4.

While there are shown and described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be dis- tinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and prac- ticed within the scope of the following claims.