Cleaning attachment for a brush
An elastic fabric member (16, 16′) closely surrounds a base portion (12, 12′) of a hairbrush (10, 10′) from which the bristles (B, B′) of the brush extend. Fabric member (16, 16′) includes openings (22) through which the bristles (B, B′) extend when the fabric member (16, 16′) is substantially down on the base (12, 12′) of the brush (10, 10′). The fabric member (16, 16′) may be a tubular sleeve that is expandable/contractible for placing it on and removing it from the base (12, 12′) of the brush (10, 10′). Or, it may be a wrap (16″) having end portions (32, 34) that are secured together after the wrap (16″) is placed on the brush (10, 10′).
This invention relates to hairbrushes comprising bristles that extend outwardly from a support base. More particularly, it relates to a fabric member that is adapted to closely surround the base of the brush with the bristles projecting outwardly through openings in it, and that is further adapted to be removed from the brush, and carry with it hair that was caught between the bristles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOver a period of use hairbrushes accumulate loose hair in spaces between the bristles of the brush. It is both difficult and time consuming to remove this hair from the brush. Brushes have been proposed that include a cleaning feature. Examples of such brushes are shown in the patent literature by the following U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,361, granted May 13, 1990, to John E. Bills; No. 4,191,200, granted Mar. 4, 1980, to Frank J. Renda; No. 4,988,228, granted Jan. 29, 1991, to Ching-Yaun Yeh; No. 5,904,150, granted May 18, 1999, to Christina Caristo and Rocco Caristo; No. 6,070,594, granted Jun. 6, 2000, to Christopher Mears; No. 6,595,219, granted Jul. 22, 2003, to Mitchell E. Anderson; and No. 6,631,831, granted Oct. 14, 2003, to David J. Loiselle.
There is a need for an easy and inexpensive way of cleaning a standard hairbrush. A principal object of the present invention is to fill that need.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention includes providing an elastic fabric member comprising crossing elastic threads defining openings in the fabric bounded by the threads. The fabric member is adapted to closely surround the base of a brush and allow the bristles of the brush to project from the base through the openings in the fabric member. The fabric member is adapted to be moved outwardly from the base along the bristles and off of the brush. As it moves, the fabric member carries with it hair that was caught between the bristles of the brush outwardly the fabric member.
The elastic fabric member is usable with both a brush having a base that is generally circular in cross section, with bristles projecting radially outwardly from it all the way around the base, and a base that has a first side from which the bristles project and a second side that has no bristles.
The fabric member may be made in the form of an expandable/contractable sleeve that is dimensioned to closely surround the base of the brush. The sleeve is expandable in diameter so that it can be placed on and removed from the bristle portion of the brush. The sleeve preferably has elastic end bands.
In another form of the invention, the elastic fabric member is a wrap having a central portion adapted to be placed on the bristles and moved inwardly along the bristles into a position adjacent the base. The wrap has opposite ends that are brought together and secured together to hold the wrap on the base of the brush. This may be done by providing the ends of the wrap with hook and loop fasteners for securing the ends together.
Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the best mode set forth below, from the drawings, from the claims and from the principals that are embodies in the specific structures that are illustrated and described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSLike reference numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing, and:
The material 16 may be Spandex®, style 26130, marketed by Darrington Fabrics Corporation of 1359 Broadway, Suite 1404, New York, N.Y. 10018. This is just one example of a suitable material 16. Others are made by Sportex International, Inc., 820 Gladys Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif. 90021. Material 16 resembles closely the material used for making pantyhose. What is required is a material that has a relaxed condition but can expand sufficiently to allow it to be placed on the bristle portion of the brush and allow the bristles 14 to project through the openings 22.
The brush shown by
When the sleeve 16 is installed on the brush 10 in the manner shown by
In place of the tubular sleeve, the fabric member 16 may be a flat sheet having opposite end portions 32 that overlap after the sheet 16″ has been wrapped onto the bristle-carrying portion of the brush 10, 10′. This construction of the member 16″ may be particularly suitable. for use with a flathead brush such as shown by
The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood that many changes in the particular structure, materials and features of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my intention that my patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiments that are illustrated and described herein, but rather are to be determined by the following claims, interpreted according to accepted doctrines of patent claim interpretation, including use of the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims
1. A device for cleaning hair out from between the bristles of a brush, said bristles projecting outwardly from a support base and having spaces between them, said device comprising:
- an elastic fabric member comprising crossing threads defining openings in the fabric member bounded by the threads;
- said fabric member being adapted to be installed on the brush closely surround the base of the brush, and allow the bristles of the brush to project out through the openings in the fabric member; and
- said fabric member being adapted to be moved outwardly from the base and off from the brush, and carry with it hair that was between the bristles, outwardly of the fabric member.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fabric member is in the form of a sleeve dimensioned to closely surround the base of the brush, and being expandable in diameter so that can be removed form the bristle portion of the brush.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the sleeve has elastic end bands.
4. The device of claim 2, configured for use with a brush having a base that is generally circular in cross section and has bristles projecting generally radiantly outwardly from the base all the way around the base.
5. The device of claim 1, for use with a brush having a base that has a first side from which the bristles project and a second side that has no bristles.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the elastic fabric member is a wrap having a portion adapted to be placed on the bristles and then moved inwardly towards the bristles into a position adjacent the base, and having opposite end portions that are brought together and secured together to hold the wrap on the base of the brush.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the opposite end portions of the wrap have fasteners for securing them together and hold them on the brush.
8. A brush assembly, comprising:
- a brush having a support base and bristles that project outwardly from the support base and have spaces between them;
- an elastic fabric member comprising threads defining openings in the fabric member bounded by the threads;
- said fabric member being adapted to be contiguous the base of the brush and allow the bristles of the brush to project from the base through the openings in the fabric member; and
- said fabric member being adapted to be moved outwardly from the base along the bristles and off of the brush, and carry with it hair that was between the bristles, outwardly of the fabric member.
9. The brush assembly of claim 8, wherein the fabric member is in the form of a sleeve dimension to closely surround the base of the brush, said sleeve being expandable in diameter so that it can be expanded for the purpose of pushing hair that is in the spaces between the bristles out from such spaces.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the sleeve has elastic end bands.
11. The brush assembly of claim 8, wherein the brush has a base that is generally circular in cross section and has bristles that project substantially radially outwardly from the base all around the base.
12. The brush assembly of claim 8, wherein said brush has a base including a first side from which the bristles project and a second side that has no bristles.
13. The brush assembly of claim 8, wherein the elastic fabric member is a wrap having a portion adapted to be placed on the bristles and then moved inwardly towards and along the bristles into a position contiguous the base, said wrap having ends that are brought together and secured together to hold the wrap on the base of the brush.
14. The brush assembly of claim 13, wherein the opposite ends of the wrap have fasteners for securing them together.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 28, 2006
Inventor: Kirby Kinchen (Seattle, WA)
Application Number: 11/170,321
International Classification: A46B 17/06 (20060101);