Technical Field

This present disclosure relates to haircare equipment and accessories in general, and in particular to a brush cleaner, specifically, a hair and blow out brush cleaner.

Background Art

The disclosure, as well as the abstract, of this device will be best understood when viewed in conjunction with the drawings. Although these drawings refer to the preferred embodiment of the device, it should be noted that the disclosure isn't limited to this particular arrangement or precise instrumentalities shown. The drawings are as follows:

Fig.l is a top view of the entire device, clearly showing the motor, brush cleaner assembly, and the vacuum tube and assembly.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the belt and pulley assembly.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the belt and pulley assembly.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the belt and pulley assembly.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a pulley.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the pulley, with dashes to mark out the internal diameter of the pulley.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the brush guide, holder, and safety pins.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the brush guide, holder, and safety pins with a cutaway view to show the positioning of the belt and pulley assembly.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the brush guide, holder, and safety pins.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the brush guide, holder, and safety pins with a cutaway view to show the positioning of the belt and pulley assembly.

Fig. 11 is a front view of the brush guide, holder, and safety pins.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the brush guide, holder, and vacuum tube attachment nozzle.

Fig. 13 is a top view of the brush guide, holder and vacuum tube attachment nozzle.

Fig.14 is a bottom view of the brush guide, holder, and vacuum tube attachment nozzle.

Disclosure of the Invention

This disclosure relates to the embodiment of a brush cleaner; specifically, a selfcleaning hairbrush cleaner. As such, it can be used in the home, but is directly aimed for use in hair salons, beauty parlours, barber shops, and anywhere else where intensive use of hairbrushes and quick cleaning of said brushes is required. The hairbrush cleaner, herein after referred to as "brush cleaner" or, simply as "cleaner", is designed to a be a self-standing device that can be placed upon any table or countertop where ease of use and comfort is opportune. Alternatively, it can also be permanently affixed to a level surface. This embodiment of the invention is comprised of three main sections - the motor, the brush cleaning assembly, and the vacuum assembly. The cleaner functions through the use of a motorized cleaning belt (also referred to simply as "belt") and pulley system that features protrusions of a uniform size; the protrusions along with the directional momentum of the belt removes all hair and debris from the hairbrush within seconds. Although most hairbrushes can be cleaned with this device, it was specifically designed to be used with hard-bodied flat or curved hairbrushes, blowout brushes, styling brushes and round brushes of various size. The belt, along with the protrusions, should ideally be constructed out of a single piece of flexible but durable rubber. Alternatively, it will work just as well if constructed out of a semi-soft and flexible plastic polymer; although, other materials may also be used. With consideration put into practicality, this device is generally self-cleaning, and requires little maintenance. The method for achieving the self-cleaning function was to add a vacuum assembly that removes all hair from the belt as it passes through the compression chamber, which means that the cleaning of function of the belt is not impeded, and cleaning the device is as simple as emptying the vacuum catchment container.

The detailed description, as set forth below, which is meant to be used in conjunction with the appended drawings, only shows the preferred embodiment of the device, and is not intended to represent the only configuration of the present invention, or ways that it can be constructed and utilized. The description shows the sequence of operation, as well as the functions, according to the preferred embodiment illustrations. Although, it should be duly noted, and understood, that the same or comparable functions and sequences may be achieved with altered or divergent embodiments that are still within the scope and the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, where like numerals indicate like elements, Figs. 1 to 14 illustrate a comprehensive top view and different sectional views of the hairbrush cleaner. The device generally comprises a motor 1 with a straight axle 2 that goes into a pulley 4 on which the cleaning belt 15 is tensioned. The motion of the belt is shown by the use of a motion arrow, but, alternatively, can also be said to turn towards the top of the drawing. The device also comprises a multifunction brush housing portion 23 with an opening that allows the brush to be placed into direct contact with the protrusions on the belt 15. The belt 15 and pulley system 2,3,4 is placed upon supports 5 that gives it the height needed so that the protrusions on the belt 15 have enough space without hitting the bottom of the device during rotation. Furthermore, the axles 2,3 are firmly secured and fastened into pillow blocks (sometimes referred to as "plummer blocks") 14 which contain a bearing within a housing. With a pillow block 14 at each end of the axles 2,3, fastened securely into the support blocks 5 with bolts 17, and then tensioned through the use of the tensioner slots 6, the belt 15 is assured to stay in position during operation. It should be noted that even though pillow blocks 14 were used in this embodiment, that any bearing with a housing could be used. It should also be noted that the motor 1 can be affixed to either axle 2,3 to still achieve the same result, nor does the motor have to be positioned at a right angle.

Even though the brush housing portion 23 is constructed out of a single piece of moulded plastic, it serves a variety of functions. It is also possible to construct the housing portion 23 out of sectional parts. As seen in Figs. 1, 7 to 14, the housing portion 23 fits over the belt 15 and pulley system 2,3,4 but within the parameters of the supports 5 and pillow blocks 14. The housing portion 23 is comprised of several different, but functional components, that each serve a different purpose in the cleansing of the selected brush. Firstly, this housing 23 has a raised wall 7 at the back and the sides 24 which serve the purpose of keeping the brush in place. The brush to be cleaned is placed onto the belt 15, with the top of the brush placed against the back wall 7, whilst the raised sidewalls 24 ensure that the brush doesn't go over the sides. To ensure that the brush does not move from side to side, two upright guiding plates 16 are featured on the housing cover 23, in which the brush handle fits. Essentially, the brush gets placed against the rear wall 7, with the bristles in contact with the protrusions on the belt 15, and the handle is placed between the upright guiding plates 16. When the motor 1 is switched on, the cleaning belt 15 rotates from the guiding plates 16 towards the back plate 7, while the user gently turns the brush by hand to remove all hair and debris. In addition to this function, the housing portion also contains safety pins 19 that have been designed to fit in between the protrusions on the belt 15. These pins have been incorporated into the device to prevent the brush from sliding in between the belt 15, and the vacuum compression chamber 8. Furthermore, the housing portion 23 also contains four slots 22 on either side, so that it can be fitted over the axles 2,3 of the belt 15 and pulley 4 system. The housing portion 23 can then be secured by using the mounting holes 21 on the underside.

To make the device self-cleaning, as seen in Figs. 1, 7 to 14, a vacuum motor with housing 13 has been added and attached via eyelets 18 and bolts/screws 17, and features a debris/hair catchment container 11, which is connected via a vacuum tube 9. The vacuum tube 9 fits snugly into the catchment container 11 via a port 10, while the other end of the tube 9 is connected directly to the housing portion 23 via the vacuum tube 9 attachment nozzle 20. The vacuum housing portion 13 also features a cone filter 12, which increases suction power, while preventing debris from entering the motor. Although, any filter can be used with the same effect. The effectiveness of the vacuum 11,12,13 has also been amplified with the vacuum compression chamber 8 featured in the housing portion 23. In the preferred embodiment, the motor 1 and vacuum 11,12,13 receive power at the same time, and as the belt 15 rotates toward the compression chamber 8, all hair and debris from the brush that got deposited onto the belt 15, gets displaced into the vacuum tube 9 through the attachment nozzle 20, and then deposited into the vacuum catchment container 11. Cleaning the device is as simple as disconnecting the catchment container 11 by unplugging the vacuum tube 9 from the port 10 and the motor housing 13. It should also be noted that the housing portion 23 serves an auxiliary safety function which encloses the cleaning belt 15 to protect the user's hand.

Although this embodiment of the cleaner is the preferred embodiment, it is noted that alternative designs may be produced within the same spirit of the invention. The terminology, along with the illustrations, are not meant to be limiting, or exhaustive of the invention, but rather as explanatory of the particular embodiment. As such, it should be noted that modifications, variations and alterations, could be ascertained by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Furthermore, this particular embodiment of the invention was chosen to describe the application, as well as the principles, of the device, so that those skilled in the art are able to understand the embodiment, as well as alterations that the invention might manifest in without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.