Silicone basting brush

Abstract

A silicone basting brush is provided. The brush has a handle portion and a basting portion. The basting portion includes a plurality of flexible silicone bristle units. The bristle units are slotted for receiving and retaining a basting sauce in the slots and releasing the sauce from the slots when the bristle unit is flexed by applying the basting portion to the surface of a food.

1 . A basting brush for basting a surface comprising:
 a handle portion;   a basting portion connected to the handle portion and having a plurality of flexible silicone bristle units;
 each bristle unit having a length and an end distal from the handle portion, and defining at least one slot along the length, the slot being defined such that it does not separate the end of the bristle unit; 
 each bristle unit being capable of receiving and retaining a basting sauce in the at least one slot and releasing the sauce from the at least one slot when the bristle unit is flexed by applying the basting portion to the surface. 
   
   
   
       2 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein each bristle unit comprises a bristle. 
   
   
       3 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein each bristle unit comprises at least two bristles joined at their ends. 
   
   
       4 . The basting brush of  claim 3 , wherein the bristles are joined by heat-fusing. 
   
   
       5 . The basting brush of  claim 3 , wherein the bristles are joined by adhesion. 
   
   
       6 . The basting brush of  claim 3 , wherein the bristles are joined by a cap. 
   
   
       7 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the slot comprises a pocket within the bristle unit. 
   
   
       8 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein each bristle unit has a beveled or concave interior surface proximate to the slot. 
   
   
       9 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting brush comprises rows of bristle units. 
   
   
       10 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting brush comprises a linear arrangement of bristle units. 
   
   
       11 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting brush comprises a concentric arrangement of bristle units. 
   
   
       12 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting brush comprises an offset linear arrangement of rows of bristle units, wherein bristle units in adjacent rows do not touch each other. 
   
   
       13 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting brush comprises fluted bristle units. 
   
   
       14 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting brush comprises perforated bristle units. 
   
   
       15 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bristle units comprises multiple slots. 
   
   
       16 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the bristle units have surface texturing to enhance sauce wicking. 
   
   
       17 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting portion is integral with the handle portion. 
   
   
       18 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting portion and handle portion are of a common material. 
   
   
       19 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting portion is a relatively flexible material and the handle portion is a relatively rigid material. 
   
   
       20 . The basting brush of  claim 1 , wherein the basting portion is removable from the handle portion.