Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
713
Examples of brush apparatus having a conduit-
type connection with a liquid-containing reservoir have
previously been suggested in the art. Campbell, in U.S.
patent No. 1,163,319, discloses such a fountain brush
used with an elevated reservoir. Stilling, in U.S. patent
no. lrll2,168, discloses an irrigating system which utilizes
a vent tube and a shut-off valve to control the flow of
fluid. The present invention provides inexpensive, simpli-
fied apparatus wherein the flow of cleaning solution from
a reservoir is controlled by selective closure, such as with
a finger, of a vent tube. Flow of solution from the reser-
voir is caused by gravitational force, the solution remaining
in the reservoir on closure of the vent tube as a result of
the counteracting force caused by low pressure within an
upper portion of the reservoir.
Prior U.S. patents which may be pertinent to the in-
vention includes:
Campbell1,163,319 - Dec. 7, 191~
Stilling1,112,168 - Sep.29, 1914
Cooper753,125 - Feb.23, 1904
Sullins2,663,890 - Dec.29, 1953
Bieganowski 3,284,838 - Nov.15, 1966
These patents do not disclose thè structure of the present
invention which allows a user thereof to control flow of a
cleaning solution from a reservoir to a brush by simple
~inger manipulation of an external opening of a vent tube
disposed in the reservoir.
The present structure comprises apparatus which can
be used with standard liquid containers having narrow outlets,
such as plastic half-gallon milk containers available commer-
cially.
Pg/~,~ - 1 -
S~17713
~roaaly speaking the present invention pro~ides
in c~ombination with a fountain brush and a reservoir con--
tainer of cleaning solution, including a combined fill and
discharge opening an improved flow control apparatus, the
improvement ~rising: cap means removably secured to the
reservoir container over and sealed about the opening the
cap means having at least.a first and a second aperture
formed therein; a supply tube received in the first aper-
ture, the supply tube extending from the container and
connecting with the fountai~n brush to channe.l cleani~ng solu-
tion from the container to the brush; a vent tube received
in the second aperture, a first end of the vent tube extend~
ing through the second aperture in the cap means into the
interior of the container and being of a length at least
substantially equal to the depth of the container, a second
end of the vent tube extending outwardly of th.e cap means,
a channel extending through the. vent tube and communicating
the interior of the container to ambient and being closeable
by simple placement of a finger, or the like, over the second
end of the vent tube when the opening is disposed downwardly,
the first end of the vent tube being disposed above the sur-
face of the cleaning solution when the opening is disposed
downwardly; handle means formed on the reservoir container
adjacent the cap the handle means comprising an opening form-
ed in the body of the reseryoir container, the opening being
adapted to receive the thumb of the hand of a user there-
through with at least one finger of the hand of the user
: grasping the container being free to be placed over the sec-
ond end of the vent tube.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present inven-
tion in an operational environment;
Figure 2 is an elevational view in partial section of
the liquid storage reservoir and associated structure;
gt~Ci - 2 -
~177~3
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cap which attaches
onto the outlet of the liquid storage reservoir and the structure
mounted on the cap;
Figure 4 is an elevational view in partial section of
one embodiment of a fountain brush; and,
Figure 5 is a perspective view in partial section of a
second embodiment of a fountain brush according to the invention.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1,
the present apparatus is seen at 10 to comprise a liquid storage
reservoir container 12, a fountain brush 14, a flexible liquid
supply tube 16, a vent tube 18, and a cylindrical cap 20 which
connects to the container 12 and carries the supply tube 16 and
vent tube 18. As seen in Fig. 1, a user of the apparatus 10 can
work the brush 14 with one hand while holding the container 12 in
the other hand. As will be further described hereinafter, the
vent tube 18 can be closed by the placement of a finger of the
hand holding the container 12 over the exterior opening of the
tube 18 to prevent flow of cleaning solution or other liquid 22
from the container 12.
The container 12 is seen particularly in Fig. 2 to com-
prise a standard liquid storage container such as is commonly
provided for containment of milk, or other liquids~ purchaced
commercially. The container 12 preferably has a narrow neck 24
which defines an essentially circular opening 26 in the container
12, the neck 24 having threads 28 formed peripherally about the
exterior surface thereof as is known and practiced in the art.
The container 12 can also conveniently have a handle 30 formed
therein in a well-known fashion. The threads 28 on the neck 24
of the container are adapted in a known fashion to receive and
secure the cap 20 thereonto to close the opening 26, the cap 20
~177~3
having mating threads 32 formed in inner wall portions thereof is
also seen in Fig. 3, and which cooperate with the threads 28 to
removably secure said cap to said container. The cap 20 has two
apertures 34 and 36 formed in the upper planar portion thereof,
the aperture 34 receiving and securing one end of the supply tube
16 therein and the aperture 36 receiving the vent tube 18 there-
through. The supply tube 16 carries the cleaning solution 22 to
the brush 14 when the container 12 is inverted as seen in Figs. 1
and 2 and when manipulation of the vent tube 18 allows air to be
displaced into the upper portion of the container 12.
The supply tube 16 can conveniently be formed with an
annular flange 38 about the periphery of the end thereof which
extends into the aperture 34, the flange 38 preventing the supply
tube 16 from separating from the cap 20. The tube 16 is prefer-
ably dimensioned to flushly fit within the aperture 34. Sealing
means (not shown) can also be provided between the walls defining
the aperture 34 and the exterior surfaces of the supply tube 16
immediately below the flange 38. The vent tube 18 is similarly
disposed within the aperture 36, one end of the tube 18 extending
outwardly of the cap 20 and having a cylindrical vent cap 40 dis-
posed thereon. The vent cap 40 has an aperture 42 which is of a
diameter less than the internal diameter of the vent tube 18 to
facilitate closure of the longitudinal lumen defined by the vent
tube 18. When the container 12 is inverted as shown in Figs. 1
and 2, air passes through the aperture 42 in the vent cap 40 and
thus through the vent tube 18 into the upper portion of the con-
tainer. The cleaning solution 22 is thereby allowed to flow
through the supply tube 16 to the brush 14. Placement of a finger
over the aperture 42 in the vent cap 40 prevents flow of the solu-
tion 22 through the supply tube 16. Thus, the flow of the solu-
tion 22 can be controlled by simple finger manipulation of the
7i3
aperture 42 communicating the interior of the container 12 with
ambient.
Figs. 4 and 5 illlustrate preferred embodiments of the
brush portion of the apparatus, the brush 14 of Fig. 4 comprising
a handle member 44 and body member 46 having bristles 48 attached
thereto, the handle member 44 having an open-sided recess 50
formed longitudinally thereof to receive the distal end of the
~upply tube 16 therein. The supply tube 16 terminates at a de-
sired location within the bristles 48, the solution 22 moving
into contact with the bristles 48 for replenishment of the solu-
tion onto a surface which is to be cleaned. The handle member 44
can burther be formed with an aperture 52 in the free end thereof
for receiving the supply tube 16 into the recess 50. Fig. 5
shows a brush 54 having a cylindrical handle member 56 which
connects to normally arranged body member 58, the supply tube 16
terminating in proximity to the bristles 60 and functioning to
supply the solution 22 thereto.
_5 _
