US2973538A - Combination dispenser and cleaner apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1961 M- G- THOMSON COMBINATION DISPENSER AND CLEANER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1959 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. MARY G. THOMSON BYW 5 WadW 147' TOMM- COMBINATION DISPENSER AND CLEANER APPARATUS Mary G. Thomson, 212 San Vicente Blvd, Santa Monica, Calif.

Filed Feb. 24, 1959, s61. No. 795,035 Claims. c1. 15-601 This invention generally relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly concerns an improved combined dispenser and cleaner device in which the dispenser and cleaner components co-function in operation and in which the components structurally stabilize each other.

Various types of combined dispensers and cleaners are available on the market and have been developed in the past for the purpose of more expeditiously washing cars, cleaning dishes, and the like. Most such combination structures are relatively expensive, and are usually of somewhat complex mechanical structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, manually operated combination dispenser and cleaner apparatus which may be economically manufactured with a minimum number of parts.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination dispenser and cleaner apparatus which is rugged and relatively maintenance free, but in which the wearing parts may be readily replaced, if required, without the need of special tools or skilled workmanship.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination dispenser and cleaner apparatus which is particularly adapted for dish washing operations in which frictional and scrubbing functions are primarily desired.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally achieved by providing the combination of a horseshoe shaped brush terminating in a protrudingwire member at each of its end portions. Clamp means are provided which include holding means adaptedto receive each or" the wire members.

As another part of the combination, a dispensing bottle or container is included which defines a dispensing end structure or portion that is shaped for co-operating engagement with the clamp means. Locking means are further provided to connect the clamp-means to the dispensing end structure and to perform the additional function of retaining each of the wire members in stable relationship to the clamp means.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing merelyone illustrative embodiment, and in which: v

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the overall combined dispenser and cleaner apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded enlarged view of the clamp means and dispensing end structure of the combined dispenser and cleaner apparatus of Figure 1, and including one embodiment of a cap co-functioning therewith;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the cap shown in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a modification to the bottom portion of the clamp means shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a conventional dispenser container or bottle preferably formed of plastic material such as polyethylene plastic. Fastened over the upper dispensing end of the bottle is a clamp means generally designated by the Patented Mar. 7, 1951 numeral 11 to which is secured the cleaning apparatus in the form of a horseshoe shaped brush 12.

The brush 12 has stems or protruding wire members 13 and 14 defining the free ends thereof and adapted to be received in the clamp means 11 in a manner to be hereafter described.

Referring to the view of Figure 2, there is shown in enlarged form the upper end of the bottle 10 recessed to define an upper base portion 15. integrally extending upwardly from the upper base portion 15 is the dispensing end structure 16 of the bottle 10 forming an important part of the present invention.

The dispensing end structure 16 is adapted to receive the clamp means 11 and to additionally function as a means of ejecting the cleaning or dispensing fluid con-' tained in the bottle 10. For the latter purpose, the dispensing end structure 16 is provided with a threaded neck 17 extending upwardly therefrom and formed coaxially therein to communicate with the bottle 10.

The dispensing end structure 16 includes opposing radially projecting flanges 18 and 19. Each of the flanges 18 and 12 is of varying width throughout its height and preferably slopes downwardly and outwardly to the point where it merges with the upper base portion 15, as clearly shown in the view of Figure 2.

The dispensing end structure additionally includes retaining columnar structures 20 and 21. v

The flanges 18 and 19 are provided with screw receiving apertures 22 for a purpose that shall hereafter be described.

The dispensing end structure 16 is adapted to receive the clamp means 11 which is shown above the dispensing end structure in the view of Figure 2. Clamp means 11 comprises generally two U-shaped channel members 24 and 25 in opposing relationship which are adaptedto be received over columnar members 20 and 21, respectively. The U-shaped member 24 has a wing portion 26 integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly from the leg portion thereof. Similarly, the U-shaped member 25 has a wing portion 27. The wing portions 26 and 27 are adapted to be mounted on either side of the flange 19 and coupled thereto as by the screws 23 previously described.

Similar wing portions 28 and 29 extend outwardly from the other side of the U-shaped members 24 and 25, and are adapted to be received on either side of the flange 18.

The terminal edges of the wing portions 26, 27, 28, and 29 define, respectively, arcuately shaped holding surfaces 30, 31, 32, and 33.

Each pairof arcuate holding surfaces, for example, 3031, define a channel into which one of the wire members, for example, 14 is received and held with a clamping force.

It will be noted that the wing portions 26, 27, 28, and '29 slope downwardly and outwardly relative to the threaded neck 17 of the dispensing end structure 16. Also, the wingportions 26, 27, 28, and 29 are dimensioned such that the arcuate holding surfaces thereof are immediately exterior of the sloping edge of the respective flanges 18 and 19, whereby the wire members 13 and 14 are adapted to be forced against the sloping edge of the respective flanges 18 and 19 while held by the adjacent arcuate surfaces 32-33 and 3031, respectively. It will be appreciated that in order that the wire members 13 and 14 fit within the arcuate channels that they be forced apart to conform to the slope of the outer edges of the flanges 18 and 19.

In consequence, in addition to the clamping force exerted by the arcuate surfaces 30-31 and 3233, a frictional force will exist between the wire member 13 and the edge of the flange 18 and similarly between the description.

35 and 36 each havingan increased diameter relative to,

the nominal diameter of the'cap 37. Thus, with such a construction, the bottom faces of the ridges 35 and 36 are designed to overlie the top edges of the wing portions 26 through 29 of the clamp means 11. As a consequence, the cap 34 will firmly exert a downward pressure on the clamp means 11 in addition to the-coupling action of the screws 23 maintaining the clamp means secure to the dispensing end structure 16 of the bottle 19. As shown in Figure 3, the cap 34 is-provided with a threaded bore 38 designed to be received on the threaded neck l7 of the dispensing end'structure16. 'Orifices39 communicate from the exterior of the cap to the bore 38 such that the dispensing fluid in the bottle lit may be forcefully ejected therethrough upon squeezing of the bottle 10 manually in a conventional manner.

In some instances, in order to protect the upper base portion of the bottle 10, it may be desirable to round ofi the bottom edges of the wing portions 26, 27, 28, and 29 such that these edges will not pierce into the base portion 15 or inadvertently into the flanges as such. Such a modification is illustrated in Figure 4. Thus, in Figure 4, 40 represents a partial view of a flange similar to the flanges 26 through 29, which is provided with screw receiving apertures 41 similar to apertures 22. The only difference between flange 4t} and flanges 26 and 29 is the fact that the lower edge thereof is bent into a plane of the upper base portion 15, as at 42, such that the wing portion 40 has no tendency to cut or tear the base portion 15.

The operation of the improved combination dispensing and cleaning apparatus of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the foregoing It is apparent that filling of the bottle with the dispensing fluid is merely accomplished by unthreading the cap 34 and pouring fluid or tunneling fluid into the threaded neck opening 17. Thereafter, the cap- 34 is screwed into position such that one of the peripheral " ridged portions 35 or 36 comes into engaging contact with the opposing wing pairs 28- 29 and 3031.

Thereafter, it is merely necessary as heretofore mentioned, for the operator to squeeze the'bottle to in turn force fluid from the bottle through the threaded neck 17, the cap 34, and thereafter outwardly through the orifices 39 Of course, in order to changebrushes or to position the brush 12 in the clamp'means 11, it is necessary to grasp the wire members 13 and 14 and bend them outwardly such that they may be directed into the arcuate channels formed by the arcuate surfaces 3233 and 30-31. The screws 23 are thereafter threaded into the apertures 22 to exert a clamping force between the wing members 26*27 and 28-29 holding the respective Wire members 13 and 14 therein and in contact with the respective edges of the flanges 18 and 19.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made to the improved'cornbination dispensing and cleaning apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a horseshoe shaped brush terminating in a protruding wire at each of its endportions; clamp means comprising two opposing U-shaped mem bers, each of said members having its free ends extending outwardly and normally from the leg portions thereof to integrally define two pairs of opposing wing members; a dispensing bottle defining a dispensing end structure, said end structure having columnar structures to mate in interposed relationship with said opposing U-shaped mem bers; said end structure also having two opposing radially projecting flanges adapted to fit, respectively, between each said pair of Wing members; and, said clamp means further including holding means co-operatively defined by each of said pair of wing members, respectively, to receive each said wire member; and, locking means cofunctioning to connect said clamp means to said end structure and to tighten said holding means about each said wire member.

2. The combination, according to claim 1, in which said locking means comprises at least one screw extending laterally through said dispensing end structure and said clamp means.

3. The combination, according to claim 1, in which each of said holding means is positioned adjacent and outWardlyof-the outer edge of each said projecting flange to cooperate therewith to receive and retain each said wire member.

4. In combination, a horseshoe shaped brush terminatingin a protruding wire member at each of its end portions; clamp means'of given length; a dispensing bottle defining a dispensing end structure also of said given length, said end structure and said clamp means being shaped for cooperating aligned engagement, said clamp means further including holding means positioned laterally outwardly of said end structure and adapted to receive each said wire member; a threaded neck extending coaxially upwardly from said dispensing end structure; a cap adapted to be threadingly received on said neck, said cap defining at least one orifice communicating through the closed end thereof, and said cap including a ridged portion of increased radius adapted to abut against said clamp means and exert a downward force thereon.

5. The combination, according to claim 4, in which said threaded neck is substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than said dispensing end structure such that said dispensing end structure reinforces and protects said threaded neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,151,813 Neufeld Aug. 31, 1915 1,159,582 Glover Nov. 9, 1915 1,646,176 Twitchell Oct. 18, 1927 2,587,382 Pyne Feb. 26, 1952 2,726,417 Rowser Dec. 13, 1955

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