Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator

Abstract

A device for transferring viscous liquids includes a handle removably coupled to a brush head, said brush head comprising a plurality of flexible bristles and an integral reservoir which allows for dispensing of liquids directly to the bristles while the baster is in use without the need for repeated dipping or coating.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional application based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/210,315 filed on Mar. 16, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein is a novel improvement to a well known cooking accessory. More particularly, it is a basting device with a brush applicator that incorporates an open dispensing reservoir (hereinafter, reservoir) to quickly and efficiently apply large volumes of marinade, sauces or the like (hereinafter, liquid or liquids) to food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Basting brushes have long been used during the grilling and cooking process to apply liquids to the surface of foods enhancing their flavor. Prior art shows numerous examples of basing brush devices comprised of various materials. A traditional embodiment is a thin flat wooden handle approximately 6″-8″ long with natural or synthetic bristles affixed to one end. A similarly arranged modern example utilizes a heat resistant handle of plastic or metal and a heat resistant silicone brush applicator.

Regardless of material makeup, these known devices rely only on the weak capillary action within the brush bristles to retain liquid as it is transferred from a vessel and applied to the surface of the food. This often proves tedious and messy for a cook especially when large amounts of food or food surface area requires basting. Recently some manufacturers have added flexible grid-like inserts within silicone brushes to help retain more liquid. This improves the function slightly, but the capacity of liquid retained by the insert is still too limited to be substantially effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages will be apparent from a review of the Detailed Description in conjunction with the following Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator device of FIG. 1 showing the handle uncoupled from the brush applicator.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator of FIG. 1 detailing the reservoir surfaces and drain holes while the device is in use.

FIG. 5 is a top-down sectional view of one embodiment of the reservoir drain hole and handle void space configuration FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, where like numerals indicate like and corresponding elements, the Basting Brush with Reservoir Applicator 1 incorporates a handle 3 defining a longitudinal axis 4 (FIG. 3) in which one end communicates with a brush applicator 5 (FIGS. 2, 3) having an integral reservoir 7. Similar in size and functionality to traditional basting brush devices, this new approach improves functionality by capturing and dispensing more liquid with greater efficiency. The integral reservoir 7 is defined a s a concave shape with an open reservoir end 9 facing up, and an opposing closed reservoir end 11 that communicates with the handle 3 on one side, and a plurality of individual bristles 13 on the other side. The closed reservoir end 11 contains drain holes 17 that orient with corresponding voids 19 (FIG. 5) in the attached lower end of the handle 3 which in turn allow liquid to slowly drain through from the reservoir 7 to the plurality of individual bristles 13 on the other side and onto the food surface 21 (FIG. 4). Flow adjustment can be achieved by rotating the brush in a perpendicularly fashion to the handle, thereby changing the orientation between the drain holes 13 and the voids 15 (FIGS. 4, 5) in the attached handle—a useful feature since liquids of varying viscosities might be used.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied one type of pet feeder, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

1. A baster comprising:

a handle defining a longitudinal axis; and

a brush applicator disposed at an end of the handle, wherein the brush applicator comprises a plurality of individual bristles positioned on and extending from one end of the brush applicator, an integral reservoir on another end of the brush applicator comprising one open reservoir end, and one closed reservoir end, and one or more reservoir drain holes extending through the closed reservoir end to allow fluid passage therethrough.

2. The baster of claim 1, wherein the handle is removably coupled to the brush applicator having one or more void spaces proximate to the reservoir drain holes to allow fluid access to the reservoir drain holes therethrough.

3. The baster of claim 2, wherein the handle may be actuated along its longitudinal axis to alter the alignment between the planar surface drain holes and the void spaces.

4. The baster of claim 1, wherein the open reservoir end extends from the closed reservoir end along the handle's longitudinal axis.

5. The baster of claim 4, wherein the open reservoir end is defined as a concave shape.

6. The baster of claim 4, wherein the open reservoir include indicators showing the relative position of the reservoir drain holes and void spaces.

7. The baster of claim 1, wherein the handle is substantially rigid and the brush applicator is comprised of a flexible material.

8. A baster comprising:

a handle defining a longitudinal axis;

a brush applicator disposed at an end of the handle;

wherein the handle is removably coupled to the brush applicator having one or more void spaces proximate to the reservoir drain holes to allow fluid access to the reservoir drain holes therethrough; and

wherein the brush applicator comprises a plurality of individual bristles positioned on and extending from one end of the brush applicator, an integral reservoir on another end of the brush applicator comprising one open reservoir end, and one closed reservoir end, and one or more reservoir drain holes extending through the closed reservoir end to allow fluid passage therethrough.

9. The baster of claim 8, wherein the handle may be actuated along its longitudinal axis to alter the alignment between the planar surface drain holes and the void spaces.

10. The baster of claim 9, wherein the open reservoir end extends from the closed reservoir end along the handle's longitudinal axis.

11. The baster of claim 10, wherein the open reservoir end is defined as a concave shape.

12. The baster of claim 10, wherein the open reservoir include indicators showing the relative position of the reservoir drain holes and void spaces.

13. The baster of claim 8, wherein the handle is substantially rigid and the brush applicator is comprised of a flexible material.

14. A baster comprising:

a handle defining a longitudinal axis;

a brush applicator disposed at an end of the handle;

wherein the handle is removably coupled to the brush applicator having one or more void spaces proximate to the reservoir drain holes to allow fluid access to the reservoir drain holes therethrough;

wherein the brush applicator comprises a plurality of individual bristles positioned on and extending from one end of the brush applicator, an integral reservoir on another end of the brush applicator comprising one open reservoir end, and one closed reservoir end, and one or more reservoir drain holes extending through the closed reservoir end to allow fluid passage therethrough; and

wherein the handle may be actuated along its longitudinal axis to alter the alignment between the planar surface drain holes and the void spaces.

15. The baster of claim 14, wherein the open reservoir end extends from the closed reservoir end along the handle's longitudinal axis.

16. The baster of claim 15, wherein the open reservoir includes indicators showing the relative position of the reservoir drain holes and void spaces.

17. The baster of claim 14, wherein the handle is substantially rigid and the brush applicator is comprised of a flexible material.

18. A baster comprising:

a handle defining a longitudinal axis;

a brush applicator disposed at an end of the handle;

wherein the handle is removably coupled to the brush applicator inside the reservoi, and has one or more void spaces proximate to the reservoir drain holes to allow fluid access to the reservoir drain holes therethrough;

wherein the brush applicator is made from a substantially flexible material and comprises a plurality of individual bristles positioned on and extending from one end of the brush applicator, an integral reservoir on another end of the brush applicator comprising one open reservoir end, and one closed reservoir end, and one or more reservoir drain holes extending through the closed reservoir end to allow fluid passage therethrough; and

wherein the brush applicator may be actuated along the longitudinal axis of the handle to alter the alignment between the planar surface drain holes and the void spaces.