Compact brush system

Abstract

A device comprising a housing that can be in the form of two plates spaced apart with a gap or open region spaced therebetween. Coupled to this housing is at least one brush comprising a set of bristles such as nylon bristles and at least one arm rotatably coupled to this housing. There can also be at least one additional brush comprising a set of metal bristles which are essentially stiffer than the nylon brushes wherein these bristles are coupled to at least one arm rotatably coupled to the housing. There are at least two hinges for rotatably coupling the at least one arm of the at least one brush and the at least one arm of the at least one additional brush to the housing. There are also at least two stoppers coupled to the housing for stopping a rotation of the brush and the at least one additional brush out of the housing. In addition to assist the user in rotating the brushes out of the housing, each of the arms can include at least one protrusion extending out therefrom. These protrusions can have a substantially flat face to allow a user to grasp or gain leverage on these arms to then rotate or control a removal of these bristles from the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a compact brush system. This compact brush system comprises two foldable brushes which are foldable into a housing or a container. The brush system can be used to clean different devices such as golf clubs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a compact brush system wherein this compact brush system includes two different style brushes that are coupled to a housing via a hinge connection. These brushes include a stiff bristle brush which can include wire bristles and a soft bristle brush which includes nylon bristles. This type of brush can be folded down into a housing such that the housing has two side plates to cover the brushes. The bristles extend in a position facing out of the housing when the brushes are folded into the housing. These brushes can be used for cleaning golf clubs.

Essentially the invention relates to a device comprising a housing that can be in the form of two plates spaced apart with a gap or open region spaced therebetween. Coupled to this housing is at least one brush comprising a set of bristles such as nylon bristles and at least one arm rotatably coupled to this housing. There can also be at least one additional brush comprising a set of metal bristles which are essentially stiffer than the nylon bristles wherein these bristles are coupled to at least one arm rotatably coupled to the housing. There are at least two hinges for rotatably coupling the at least one arm of the at least one brush and the at least one arm of the at least one additional brush to the housing. There are also at least two stoppers coupled to the housing for stopping a rotation of the brush and the at least one additional brush out of the housing. These stoppers are positioned so that once the brushes are all rotated out in position, the stoppers stop the rotation of these brushes. In addition, to assist the user in rotating the brushes out of the housing, each of the arms can include at least one protrusion extending out therefrom. These protrusions can have a substantially flat face to allow a user to grasp or gain leverage on these arms to then rotate or control a removal of these bristles from the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose at least one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a brush that is used to clean golf clubs; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of one of the two brushes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of brush holder 10 wherein this brush holder is designed to hold two different brushes 20 and 30 inside of a housing 14. Housing 14 includes two oppositely spaced plates 15 and 17 which are spaced apart to form a gap 18 to receive the two different brushes 20 and 30. Brush 20 includes a brush arm 21, a set of bristles 22 extending out from brush arm 21, and a protrusion 24 which extends out from brush arm 21. Protrusion 24 can have a substantially triangular shaped cross section with at least one face 35 for allowing a user to grasp and rotate the brush out. There is also a notch or indent 16 cut into housing 14 wherein this notch allows easier access to protrusion 34 on brush 30.

Brush 30 has bristles 32 extending out therefrom as well. Bristles 32 are shown extending out and away from housing 14 such that when brush 30 opens, it opens out and away from housing 14. This is a beneficial feature in that if the bristles extended inward into the housing, when the bristles become compacted from use, brushing against a club face or grip, then these bristles would spread out and intersect the edges of the housing, thus preventing this brush from collapsing into the housing. Because the bristles 22 and 32 face away from the housing, then these bristles will collapse as this brush enters the housing.

In addition, brush arms 21 and 31 include an outward face 23 and 33 respectively and an inward face 27 and 37 respectively. Bristles 22 and 32 extend out from outward faces 27 and 37 respectively. Brush arms 21 and 31 are also shaped so that inward faces 27 and 37 extend along a curve wherein brush arms 21 and 31 each have a thinner or narrower region 37a at a base region adjacent to a hinge 40 (See FIG. 2) and a wider or thicker region 37b, adjacent to their respective bristles.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a brush system wherein this brush 30 includes a brush arm 31, and a protrusion 34 extending out from the brush arm. There are also bristles 32 which extend up and out from brush arm 31. A notch 37 is disposed on an interior end of brush arm 31 wherein as this brush arm opens, notch 37 contacts a stopper or extending element formed by pins 38 which are coupled to housing plates 15 and 17. Pins 38 include a first pin 38a coupled to plate 15 and a second oppositely spaced pin 38b coupled to oppositely spaced pin 17. Pins 38 are used as a stopper to stop the rotation of either arm 20 or arm 30 as it rotates into an open position in housing 15. In this view, arm 30 is shown rotating about a hinge 40 disposed in housing 14. There is also an additional hinge (not shown) that is used to allow another arm 20 to rotate out of housing 14.

Pins 38 are shown with a dashed line because pins 38 in an alternative embodiment be formed as a single pin extending across the entire distance of gap 18.

When not in use, brushes 20 and 30 are disposed inside of housing 14. To use the brushes, a user can hold device 10 in his or her hand, and then insert a tip of his or her finger or thumb from that hand or an opposing hand into notch region 16, and against protrusion 34 on surface 35 to control the opening of the brush. In this case, when brushes 20 and 30 are in a closed position their inside surfaces 27a and 37a are curved to mate against each other inside of housing 14. For example, when a user places his or her fingertip or thumb tip on protrusion 34, the user can then apply pressure to surface 35 to press brush arm 31 against hinge 40 to cause brush 30 to rotate until it reaches stopper 38. In this position, brush 30 is now in position for use. This brush can then be rotated back into housing 14 when not in use by the user. Because bristles 22 and 32 extend out from exterior surfaces of arms 21 and 31 when brushes 20 and 30 are rotated into housing 14 these bristles can then fold in and compact themselves as well.

Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one brush comprising I) a set of bristles; ii) at least one arm rotatably coupled to said housing;

c) at least one hinge for rotatably coupling said at least one arm to said housing;

d) at least one stopper coupled to said housing for stopping a rotation of said brush out of said housing; and

e) at least one protrusion extending out from said at least one arm, allowing a user to control a removal of said at least one arm from said housing.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein said arm comprises an inward face and an outward face, wherein said outward face of said arm faces out from said housing and said inward face of said arm faces inward toward said housing.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein said bristles are positioned on said outward face.

4. The device as in claim 3, wherein said at least one protrusion is disposed on said outward face.

5. The device as in claim 3, wherein said outward face further comprises a groove disposed on said arm.

6. The device as in claim 5, wherein said housing further comprises at least one stopper extending out from an inner face of said housing said at least one stopper for contacting said groove on said arm to stop a rotation of said arm out from said housing.

7. The device as in claim 1, wherein said housing has a groove cut therein, said housing groove being disposed adjacent to said protrusion on said at least one arm, when said brush is rotated in a closed position in said housing.

8. The device as in claim 1, wherein said bristles are in the form of nylon bristles.

9. The device as in claim 1, wherein said bristles are in the form of metal bristles.

10. The device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional brush, said at least one additional brush comprising a set of bristles and at least one arm rotatably coupled to said housing.

11. The device as in claim 10, wherein said bristles on said at least one arm are in the form of metal bristles, and wherein said bristles on said at least one additional arm are in the form of nylon bristles.

12. A device comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one brush comprising I) a set of nylon bristles; ii) at least one arm rotatably coupled to said housing;

c) at least one additional brush comprising i) a set of metal bristles; ii) at least one arm rotatably coupled to said housing;

d) at least two hinges for rotatably coupling said at least one arm of said at least one brush and said at least one arm of said at least one additional brush to said housing;

d) at least two stoppers coupled to said housing for stopping a rotation of said at least one brush and said at least one additional brush out of said housing;

e) at least one protrusion extending out from said at least one arm on said at least one brush and at least one additional protrusion extending out from said at least one arm on said at least one additional brush, said protrusions allowing a user to control a removal of said at least one arm from said housing.

13. The device as in claim 12, wherein said at least one brush and said at least one additional brush are disposed substantially opposite each other in said housing and wherein said at least one brush and said at least one additional brush rotate away from each other in said housing.

14. The device as in claim 13, wherein said at least one arm of said at least one brush and said at least one arm of said at least one additional brush each have an inward face and an outward face, wherein said inward face of said at least one arm of said at least one brush and said inward face of said at least one arm of said at least one additional brush have a curved profile creating a relatively thinner shaft region and a more expansive region adjacent to said bristles.