Cleaning apparatus with reciprocating or rotating brush head

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus includes an elongated housing bounding a chamber with a motor disposed therein. A shaft is at least partially disposed within the chamber of the housing, the drive shaft being coupled with the motor such that during selective operation of the motor, the drive shaft is rotated continuously. A brush head is coupled with the drive shaft and has a plurality of bristles mounted thereon, the brush head has a rotational axis about which the brush head continuously or reciprocally rotates.

1 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated body housing bounding a chamber;    a motor at least partially disposed within the chamber of the body housing;    a first drive shaft at least partially disposed within the chamber of the body housing, the first drive shaft being coupled with the motor such that during selective operation of the motor, the first drive shaft is rotated continuously about a rotational axis of the first drive shaft;    a head housing comprising a proximal head housing and a distal head housing, the distal head housing being selectively pivotable relative to the proximal head housing over an angle of at least 45°, the head housing being removably coupled with the body housing;    a brush head mounted on the distal head housing and having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon, the brush head having a rotational axis about which the brush head rotates; and    a second drive shaft having a first end coupled with the first drive shaft and a second end engaged with the brush head.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the brush head continuously or reciprocally rotates when the first drive shaft continuously rotates.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for reciprocally rotating the brush head about the rotational axis thereof when the first drive shaft is continuously rotated about the rotational axis thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the means for reciprocally rotating the brush head comprises: 
 a hub mounted on the brush head, the hub having a pair of spaced apart engagement surfaces; and    a rounded head disposed between the bearing surfaces, the rounded head being eccentrically disposed on the drive shaft such that the rounded head reciprocally rotates the brush head when the drive shaft is continuously rotated.    
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body housing and the head housing have a combined length in a range between about 20 cm to about 30 cm.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a universal joint disposed within the head housing, the universal joint comprising: 
 a cup having an interior surface bounding a socket, a first projection and a spaced apart second projection each projecting from the interior surface; and    a ball having a first slot formed thereon, the ball being received within the socket of the cup so that the first projection is received within first slot, the second drive shaft being coupled to one of the ball or cup.    
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a second slot formed on the ball, the second projection being received within the second slot.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bristles form a brush, the brush having a substantially conical head.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of bristles are comprised of metal.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an activation button position on a first side of the housing, the brush head projecting form a second side of the housing that is opposite of the first side.  
     
     
         11 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated housing bounding a chamber, the housing having a length less than 35 cm;    a motor at least partially disposed within the chamber of the housing;    a drive shaft at least partially disposed within the chamber of the housing, the drive shaft being coupled with the motor such that during selective operation of the motor, the drive shaft is rotated continuously about a rotational axis of the drive shaft;    a brush head coupled with the drive shaft and having a plurality of bristles mounted thereon, the brush head having a rotational axis about which the brush head continuously or reciprocally rotates; and    a light source mounted on the housing so as to emit light toward the brush head.    
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a body housings in which the motor is disposed and a head housing on which the brush head is coupled, the body housing and the head housing being removably coupled together, the light source being mounted on the body housing.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a body housings in which the motor is disposed and a head housing on which the brush head is coupled, the body housing and the head housing being removably coupled together, the light source being mounted on the head housing.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the brush head reciprocally rotates when the motor is energized.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the light source is an LED.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises an substantially cylindrical body having a first side and an opposing second side extending along the length thereof, the brush head and the light source each being mounted on the second side of the body at spaced apart locations.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising an activation button position on a first side of the housing.  
     
     
         18 . A cleaning system kit comprising: 
 (i) a body assembly comprising: 
 an elongated body housing bounding a chamber;  
 a motor at least partially disposed within the chamber of the body housing; and  
 a body drive shaft at least partially disposed within the chamber of the body housing, the body drive shaft being coupled with the motor such that during selective operation of the motor, the body drive shaft is rotated continuously about a rotational axis thereof;  
   (ii) a first head assembly comprising: 
 a first head housing;  
 a first head drive shaft disposed within the first head housing;  
 a first brush head having a plurality of bristles secured thereon, the first brush head being mounted on the first head housing and being coupled with the first head drive shaft such that continuous rotation of the first head drive shaft facilitates reciprocating rotation of the first brush head, the first head assembly being adapted to be selectively coupled with the body assembly so that the body drive shaft is coupled with the first head drive shaft; and  
   (iii) a second head assembly comprising: 
 a second head housing;  
 a second head drive shaft disposed within the second head housing;  
 a second brush head having a plurality of bristles secured thereon, the second brush head being mounted on the second head housing and being coupled with the second head drive shaft such that continuous rotation of the second head drive shaft facilitates continuous rotation of the second brush head, the second head assembly being adapted to be selectively coupled with the body assembly so that the body drive shaft is coupled with the second head drive shaft.  
   
     
     
         19 . The cleaning system kit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the bristles on the first brush head have different properties than the bristles on the second brush head.  
     
     
         20 . The cleaning system kit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the bristles on the first brush head have different lengths or diameters than the bristles on the second brush head.  
     
     
         21 . The cleaning system kit as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the bristles on the first brush head combine to form a first brush having a first maximum diameter and the bristles on the second brush head combine to form a second brush a second maximum diameter, the first maximum diameter being larger than the second maximum diameter.