BRUSH HEAD FOR A TOILET BRUSH, AND A REPLACEMENT TOILET BRUSH COMPRISING SAID BRUSH HEAD

Abstract

The present invention claims a device in the form of a toilet brush head and the associated toilet brush and replacement toilet brush. The problem of unsightly adhesions to the brush heads of conventional toilet brushes is solved with improvements. This is done using a TPE-V material which is dyed gray to dark gray. This therefore gives a toilet brush which more reliably gives a visually pleasing, clean appearance for a longer period of time.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to brush heads and corresponding toilet brushes according to the preamble of the independent claims.

Toilet brushes typically have a short stem with a handle and also a head extending transversely to the handle. The relatively thick head, which extends transversely to the direction of the stem, is provided with bristles or convexities, which can be used to detach adhesions in a toilet, DE 20 2005 011 730 U1 here proposes the use of bristle-free brush heads in which convex flexible edges are to provide for cleaning. There may be the problem here, however, of the edge abutting over its surface area, as result of which the contact-pressure force is distributed uniformly and stubborn adhesions cannot be detached. Against this background, the present invention belongs to the field of toilet brushes and brush heads in which bristles with small-surface-area, single-point bearing properties serve for cleaning purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Brush heads of the type in question comprise a main body with a mount for a brush stem and with plastic bristles projecting from the main body. Toilet brushes of the type in question thus have such a brush head. The brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape, in the case of which, when the brush is being held vertically downward, the bristles extend downward as far as a hemispherical to elliptical outer boundary in order then to merge upward into a cylindrical to slightly upwardly widening three-dimensional shape. Therefore, when the brush is being held vertically downward, the three-dimensional shape is similar to an upended bell. The storage holders used here are accommodating containers which are often set up, or fitted, in the vicinity of the toilet and provide a cylindrical hollow shape with a hemispherical base, into which the brush head can be inserted with a slight clamping action. Additional bristle or stem convexities, as are proposed in DE 200 18 712 U1 or DE 202 02 910 U1, provide here for the additional cleaning of the toilet rim.

DE 1649192 U1 discloses a brush head of the type in question which is made of rubber and has rubber bristles formed on it. The advantage of the rubber head is considerably improved durability, since it is no longer possible for the bristles to break off or break out of the main body. A disadvantage of the bristles, which usually consist of white plastic, is that, even if contaminants are carefully rinsed off the brush head at regular intervals, an unsightly, yellow limescale deposit quickly becomes visible on the main body and on the bristles. In addition, conventional white plastic bristles tend to fix dirt and residues in the densely packed clusters of bristles.

The object of the present invention was therefore to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a brush head which, alongside improved durability, is also able to provide for a visually acceptable appearance for a longer period of time.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments can be gathered from the dependent claims and from the description which follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the claimed brush head of a toilet brush is characterized in that the bristles are formed from a partially crosslinked, thermoplastic polymer based on olefin, preferably a TPE-V polymer.

A toilet brush according to the invention has such a brush head and a brush stem, wherein the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape.

A replacement toilet brush according to the invention has a brush head with a flushing-rim cleaner and also has a brush stem, wherein.

• • a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a mount, and also has bristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with individually projecting cleaning bristles,
  • the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,
  • the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristle length,
  • wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensional shape as the bristles,
  • the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray,
  • the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape,
  • the brush stem is fastened in the mount, and
  • the brush stem consists of stainless steel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND OF ADVANTAGEOUS FEATURES

According to the invention, the brush head of a toilet brush, comprising a main body with a mount for a brush stem and with plastic bristles projecting from the main body, is characterized in that the bristles are formed from TPE-V. The inventors assume that the olefin basis of such polymers, forming a hydrophobic, wax-like class of compounds, can provide for an improved level of hydrophobicity in relation to the aqueous and water-soluble contaminants. This might explain why the low level of wettability with residues and/or adhesions was surprisingly good.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip, and in that the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristle length. Tips which are designed with millimeter thickness and a blunt termination can achieve a high abutment force at particular points, and this makes it possible to remove even stubborn adhesions to good effect. With tips of thicknesses beyond 4 millimeters, an effective contact pressure proved to be barely achievable: on the one hand, the bristles were too stiff in a group as a result of the thickness of 4 millimeters and above throughout and, on the other hand, they rested on too great a surface area on the ceramic surface to be cleaned.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body comprises both the main body and bristles.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that the brush head has a flushing-rim cleaner with individually projecting cleaning bristles. ‘Flushing-rim cleaners’ are convexities which allow the cleaning bristles to engage in the underside of a toilet rim. Examples of such convexities can be found in the prior art. It is preferably proposed here for a flushing-rim cleaner in the form of a hook which is open upward in a U-shaped manner in the direction of the handle to be formed laterally on the main body and to be provided with cleaning bristles. The cleaning bristles preferably have the three-dimensional bristle shape prescribed in claim 2. It is particularly preferred for the flushing-rim cleaner therefore to have its bristles incorporated in the essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape of the brush. Maintaining this bell-like three-dimensional shape makes it possible for the brush head to be retained in the conventional mounts of the prior art. The flushing-rim cleaner, which is open upward in a U-shaped manner, advantageously allows the rim to be cleaned when the brush is oriented vertically. Orienting the brush/the stem vertically reliably avoids the situation where the toilet rim located opposite could obstruct, or even render impossible, the necessary movement of the stem or the cleaning.

The brush head is preferably characterized in that the flushing-rim cleaner is a constituent part of the single-piece TPE-V body. This has the advantage, in the case of an interchangeable brush head, of increasing the versatility of an existing toilet brush, without a new stem or a new holder having to be bought.

According to the invention, the brush head is characterized in that the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray. This has the advantage that, even in the case of extremely hard water with a high calcium content, no unsightly gray film becomes visible as a result of the then unavoidable limescale deposit on the surface. Even under the most adverse conditions, this advantageous measure therefore guarantees a pleasing appearance of the brush head. for a long period of time.

According to the invention, the claimed toilet brush has a brush head according to the invention, wherein. the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape. This advantageously allows the toilet brush to be retained in conventional holders and mounts.

The toilet brush is preferably characterized in that it has a brush stem made of stainless steel. A stainless-steel stem blends in with virtually all domestic sanitary equipment and advantageously ensures a harmonious appearance of the overall design,

The claimed replacement toilet brush has a brush head with a flushing-rim cleaner and also has a brush stem, wherein

• • a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a mount, and also has bristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with individually projecting cleaning bristles,
  • the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,
  • the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristle length,
  • wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensional shape as the bristles,
  • the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray,
  • the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape,
  • the brush stem is fastened in the mount, and
  • the brush stem consists of stainless steel.

In the combination of features described above, the replacement toilet brush is advantageously compatible with the conventional holders, performs the additional function of a flushing-rim cleaner and provides for a harmonious appearance of the brush head for a considerably longer period of time, as a result of which a user will keep the product for a longer period of time.

Further advantages can be gathered from the exemplary embodiments. Of course, the preferred features and advantages described above and the exemplary embodiments which follow should not be interpreted as being limiting. Within the context of the independent claims, advantageous or preferred, additional features and additional combinations of features, as are explained in the description, can be realized in the claimed subject matter both individually and in different combinations, without departing from the scope of the invention.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In an advantageous embodiment, a replacement toilet brush according to the invention comprises a brush head with a flushing-rim cleaner and also comprises a brush stem, wherein

• • a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a mount, and also has bristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with individually projecting cleaning- bristles,
  • the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,
  • the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristle length,
  • wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensional shape as the bristles,
  • the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray,
  • the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape,
  • the brush stem is fastened in the mount, and
  • the brush stem consists of stainless steel.

As it is dyed gray to dark gray—which, from a visual point of view, adjacent to a stainless-steel stem, can give the effect of a black plastic—this form of brush head exhibits no visually evident limescale deposits or adhering residues for a considerably longer period of time and is better accepted by users.

The present invention claims a device in the form of a toilet brush head and the associated toilet brush and replacement toilet brush. The problem of unsightly adhesions to the brush heads of conventional toilet brushes is solved with improvements. This is done using a TPE-V material which is dyed gray to dark gray. This therefore gives a toilet brush which more reliably gives a visually pleasing, clean appearance for a longer period of time.

Claims

1. A brush head of a toilet brush comprising a main body with a mount for a brush stem and with plastic bristles projecting from the main body, characterized in that the bristles are formed from TPE-V, and in that the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray.

2. The brush head as claimed in the claim 1, characterized in that the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip, and in that the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristle length.

3. The brush head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body comprises both a main body and bristles.

4. The brush head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the brush head has a flushing-rim cleaner with individually projecting cleaning bristles, preferably with cleaning bristles of the three-dimensional bristle shape as claimed in claim 2.

5. The brush head as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the flushing-rim cleaner is a constituent part of the single-piece TPE-V body.

6. A toilet brush having a brush head as claimed in claim 1 and having a brush stem, wherein the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape.

7. The toilet brush as claimed in claim 1, having a brush stem made of stainless steel.

8. A replacement toilet brush having a brush head with a flushing-rim cleaner and having a brush stem, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that

a continuous, single-piece TPE-V body has a main body with a mount, and also has bristles and a flushing-rim cleaner with individually projecting cleaning bristles,

the bristles, projecting individually, have a conically outwardly tapering three-dimensional shape with a blunt tip,

the bristles have a millimeter-range thickness over the entire bristle length,

wherein the cleaning bristles have the same three-dimensional shape as the bristles,

the TPE-V is dyed gray to dark gray,

the brush head has an essentially bell-like three-dimensional shape,

the brush stem is fastened in the mount, and

the brush stem consists of stainless steel.