BASTING BRUSH

Abstract

The present invention provides a basting brush including a plurality of silicone bristles of varying size.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/202,275 filed Feb. 12, 2009 incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a basting brush and more particularly to a silicone basting brush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Basting brushes are used in the culinary fields to apply fluids, such as sauces and marinades, onto food items. Many different types of basting brushes are known including ones that are used in the pastry field to apply milk and egg whites and others used to apply sauces to foods, for example for barbequing.

Due to the different applications of such brushes the conditions to which they are subjected can vary greatly. However, it is generally desired that a basting brush be operable to spread the fluid evenly over the food item(s). Unfortunately it is generally found that consistent and even spreading is not always obtained. In addition, many known basting brushes are not able to withstand frequent cleaning and exposure to high temperatures, including during application of fluids to food items and during cleaning

It is therefore desirable to provide a basting brush that is able to withstand frequent cleaning and exposure to high temperatures while also being able to evenly spread the fluid of interest onto a food item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a basting brush having a first set of bristles and a second set of bristles. The first set of bristles having a thickness that is greater than the second set of bristles.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a basting brush comprising a handle portion and a silicone head portion connected to the handle portion comprising a plurality of first and second bristles, the first bristles having a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the second bristles.

In a further embodiment, the first bristles have a thickness in the range of about 1.2 to about 1.7 mm and the second bristles have a thickness in the range of about 0.8 to about 1.0 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the basting brush of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the basting brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the basting brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the basting brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front cross section of the upper portion of one embodiment of the basting brush of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side cross section of the upper portion of one embodiment of the basting brush of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the basting brush of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a basting brush referred to generally at numeral 10 in FIGS. 1-3.

The basting brush 10 includes a handle portion 12 and a head portion 14. The handle portion 12 and the head portion 14 are configured to be releasably connected to each other, described in further detail below.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 7, in one embodiment the head portion includes two pieces, an outer bristle portion 16 and an inner bristle portion 18. The outer and inner bristle portions 16, 18 are configured to releasably connect to each other. In a preferred embodiment the outer and inner bristle portions 16, 18 snap fit together. Each of the outer and inner bristle portions 16, 18 have a body portion 20, 22 from which a plurality of bristles 24, 26 extend. The body portions 20, 22 connect together to form a uniform head portion 14.

The connection of the body portions 20, 22 of the outer and inner bristle portions 16, 18 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The body 22 of the inner bristle portion 18 snap fits within the body 20 of the outer bristle portion 16. It will be understood that the snap fit connection that is illustrated is not meant to be limiting and other releasable connection means that allow for easy connection between the two portions 16, 18 without the requirement of additional pieces may be used, such as a friction fit.

The exact fit of the body 22 of inner bristle portion 18 into the body 20 of outer bristle portion 16 is shown, for example, in FIG. 5. The body 20 includes inwardly extending upper projections 25 that are received within complementary channels 27, shown clearly in FIG. 7, on body 22. FIGS. 5 and 7 show the projections 25 and channels 27 located on opposing outer edges of respective bodies 20, 22. However, the projections 25 and channels 27 may extend around the periphery of each body 20, 22 or may take any other configuration, provided that they function to releasably connect the bodies 20, 22 to each other.

Likewise, body 20 is operable to releasably connect to the handle portion 12 using lower projections 28 which are configured to be received in channel 30 located on handle portion 12.

In addition, body 22 includes a lower surface that is shaped to receive upper handle projection 32. The lower surface of body 22 includes a recess, not specifically shown, that is configured to receive upper handle projection 32 in a snap fit connection, shown in FIG. 5.

As stated above, each of the outer and inner bristle portions 16, 18 include a plurality of bristles, 24, 26. As can be seen clearly in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 the bristles 24 on the outer bristle portion 16 have a smaller diameter or thickness compared to the bristles 26 on the inner bristle portion 18. This configuration allows for the fluid (e.g. sauce) to be held by the inner bristles 26, i.e. the thicker bristles, while being evenly spread by the outer bristles 24, i.e. the thinner bristles.

As can be seen in the Figures, the bristles 24 on the outer bristle portion 16 are located along two sides of the head portion 14 with the bristles 26 on the inner bristle portion 18 being located along an internal strip. However, it will be understood that the bristles 24 on the outer bristle portion 16 may extend around the whole periphery of the head portion 14, or at least substantially around the periphery of the head portion 14, with the bristles 26 on the inner bristle portion 18 being located inside the boundary of the outer bristle portion 16.

As can be seen in the accompanying figures, in one embodiment the inner and outer bristles 26, 24 are arranged in rows and columns. However, the inner bristles 26 may be arranged randomly throughout the inner bristle portion 18 and likewise, the outer bristles 24 may be arranged randomly throughout the outer bristle portion 16.

In one embodiment, the diameter of the bottom portion, or base, of the outer bristles 24 is in the range of between about 0.1 mm and about 2.1 mm, preferably in the range of between about 0.6 mm and about 1.6 mm, more preferably the diameter is about 1.1 mm. The diameter of the top portion of the outer bristles 24 is in the range of between about 0.4 mm and about 1.4 mm, preferably in the range of about 0.7 mm and about 1.1 mm, more preferably the diameter is about 0.9 mm. It will be understood from these dimensions that the bristles are tapered in this embodiment. However it will be understood that the bristles may have a uniform diameter along their length, the uniform diameter may be either that of the bottom portion of the bristles or that of the top portion. However, it will be understood that if the bristles have a uniform thickness the difference between the thickness of the outer and inner bristles should still be maintained.

In one embodiment, the diameter of the bottom portion, or base, of the inner bristles 26 is in the range of between about 0.7 mm and 2.7 mm, preferably the diameter is in the range of between about 1.2 mm and about 2.2 mm, more preferably the diameter is about 1.7 mm. The diameter of the top portion of the inner bristles 26 is in the range of between about 0.2 mm and about 2.2 mm, preferably the diameter is in the range of about 0.7 mm to about 1.7 mm, more preferably the diameter is about 1.2 mm.

In another embodiment, the bristles are arranged having the following distances between adjacent bristles which assists with the sauce retention and even spreading achieved by the basting brush and described herein.

In one embodiment, the distance between adjacent inner bristles 26 is from about 0.1 mm to about 0.9 mm and preferably about 0.5 mm and likewise the distance between adjacent outer bristles is from about 0.1 mm to about 0.9 mm and preferably about 0.5 mm. The distance between adjacent inner and outer bristles 26, 24 is from about 0.2 mm to about 1.0 mm and preferably about 0.6 mm.

In another embodiment the head portion of the basting brush is about 40 mm by about 20.5 mm and the head portion includes inner and outer bristles spaced apart as described herein.

In one embodiment the head portion is sized as described above, and includes three rows of outer bristles along each elongated side and four rows of inner bristles. The inner bristles are spaced about 0.5 mm from each other and each have a bottom diameter of about 1.7 mm and a top diameter of about 1.2 mm. The outer bristles are spaced about 0.5 mm from each other and each have a bottom diameter of about 1.1 mm and a top diameter of about 0.9 mm. The distance between adjacent rows of inner and outer bristles is about 0.6 mm.

The outer and inner bristle portions 16, 18 are made from silicone. In addition, the handle portion may also be formed from silicone, or any other suitable food grade material, such as, for example, nylon.

The basting brush described above, including the plurality of different sized bristles, formed from silicone, allows a user to easily manipulate the basting brush around the food to be covered. This results in coverage of the food item with evenly spread sauce. The inner and outer bristles which are formed from silicone allow a user to position the brush and move the brush around and into all corners of the food item to be basted. The flexible bristles allow for easy manipulation of the brush while the varying diameters of the bristles described herein allow the brush to hold sufficient quantity of sauce while spreading it evenly. The spacing of the silicone bristles allows for a greater number of bristles within a specified area which assists with the spreading of fluid, while the combination of small and larger bristles within this area provide for the ability of the basting brush to hold the sauce within the brush prior to it being evenly spread.

In addition, the silicone basting brush described herein is heat resistant and is durable and allows for easy cleaning.

While the embodiment above is described as having a removable head portion, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The head portion may be fixedly attached to the handle portion.

While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments and examples, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Thus, various modification of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments. Further, all of the claims are hereby incorporated by reference into the description of the preferred embodiments.

Any publications, patents and patent applications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. A basting brush comprising:

a handle portion; and

a head portion connected to the handle portion comprising a plurality of first and second silicone bristles, the first bristles having a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the second bristles.

2. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first bristles is between about 1.7 mm and about 1.2 mm.

3. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the second bristles is between about 1.1 mm and about 0.9 mm.

4. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the first bristles comprise a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being connected to the head portion, wherein the diameter of the lower end of the bristles is in the range of between about 0.7 mm and 2.7 mm and the diameter of the upper end is in the range of between about 0.2 mm and about 2.2 mm.

5. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the first bristles comprise a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being connected to the head portion, wherein the diameter of the lower end of the bristles is in the range of between about 1.2 mm and about 2.2 mm and the diameter of the upper end is in the range of about 0.7 mm to about 1.7 mm.

6. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the first bristles comprise a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being connected to the head portion, wherein the diameter of the lower end of the bristles is about 1.7 mm and the diameter of the upper end is about 1.2 mm.

7. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the second bristles comprise a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being connected to the head portion, wherein the diameter of the lower end of the bristles is in the range of between about 0.1 mm and about 2. 1 mm and the diameter of the upper end is in the range of between about 0.4 mm and about 1.4 mm.

8. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the second bristles comprise a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being connected to the head portion, wherein the diameter of the lower end of the bristles is in the range of between about 0.6 mm and about 1.6 mm and the diameter of the upper end is in the range in the range of about 0.7 mm and about 1.1 mm.

9. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the second bristles comprise a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being connected to the head portion, wherein the diameter of the lower end of the bristles is about 1.1 mm and the diameter of the upper end is about 0.9 mm.

10. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the distance between adjacent first and second bristles is greater than the distance between adjacent first bristles and greater than the distance between adjacent second bristles.

11. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the head portion comprises a first and a second bristle portion, releasably attached to each other, the first bristle portion including the plurality of first bristles and the second bristle portion including the plurality of second bristles.

12. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first bristles are evenly spaced with respect to each other.

13. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second bristles are evenly spaced with respect to each other.

14. The basting brush according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second bristles are located around the periphery of the head portion, the plurality of first bristles being located internally of the second bristles.