Bottle cap with internal brush

Abstract

Described is a bottle cap having one or more internal brushes included thereon. The internal brushes may be useful for scrubbing a cleaning liquid, such as laundry detergent, dispensed from a bottle into the bottle cap. Unlike conventional methods, wherein detergent is scrubbed by hand or with a separate brush, the present invention provides a built-in internal brush on a cap of the detergent bottle. After use, liquid left in the cap and on the brushes may return to the bottle through a conventional drainback mechanism.

1 . A bottle cap comprising:
 a liquid receiving section; and   at least one brush disposed along at least a portion of the liquid receiving section, the brush extending beyond a lip of the liquid receiving section.   
   
   
       2 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , wherein the brush is formed along about 20% to about 80% of the liquid receiving section. 
   
   
       3 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a pouring lip for pouring a liquid from the liquid receiving section out of the bottle cap. 
   
   
       4 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , wherein at least one brush is disposed within the liquid receiving section. 
   
   
       5 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment means for attaching the bottle cap onto a bottle. 
   
   
       6 . The bottle cap of  claim 5 , wherein at least one brush is encased within an external structure defined by the bottle and bottle cap when the bottle cap is in place on the bottle. 
   
   
       7 . The bottle cap of  claim 6 , wherein the bottle has a drainback feature allowing liquid from at least one of the liquid receiving section and the brush to flow back into the bottle when the bottle cap is in place on the bottle. 
   
   
       8 . The bottle cap of  claim 7 , wherein wherein at least one brush is positioned along the top edge of the liquid receiving portion. 
   
   
       9 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , wherein at least one brush is attached to an inner ring disposed circumferentially inside of the liquid receiving section. 
   
   
       10 . The bottle cap of  claim 9 , wherein a pouring lip is formed integrally with the inner ring. 
   
   
       11 . The bottle cap of  claim 9 , wherein the inner ring is formed integrally with the bottle cap. 
   
   
       12 . The bottle cap of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one brush is attached to a flexible base having a slit therein;and   the slit fits over a lip of the liquid receiving portion.   
   
   
       13 . A container for a liquid, the container comprising:
 a bottle; and   a bottle cap fitting on the bottle, wherein   the bottle cap has a liquid receiving section and at least one brush disposed along at least a portion of the liquid receiving section, the brush extending beyond a lip of the liquid receiving section.   
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the bottle has a pouring spout, a pump spray mechanism, a pop-up squirt top or a flip-up squirt top for delivering liquid from the bottle; and   the bottle cap fits over the pouring spout, the pump spray mechanism, the pop-up squirt top or the flip-up squirt top.   
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the bottle has a drainback feature allowing liquid from at least one of the liquid receiving section and the brush to flow back into the bottle when the bottle cap is replaced on the bottle after use. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the drainback feature includes a drainback reservoir for receiving liquid from at least one of the bottle cap and the brush when the bottle cap is replaced on the bottle after use; and   the brush is disposed within the drainback reservoir when the bottle cap is on the bottle.   
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a pouring lip for pouring a liquid from the liquid receiving section out of the bottle cap, wherein   the brush is formed along about 20% to about 80% of the liquid receiving section; and   the pouring lip is located along at least a portion of the liquid receiving section without the brush formed therealong.   
   
   
       18 . A kit comprising:
 a bottle;   a bottle cap fitting onto the bottle; and   instructions for use of the kit, wherein   the bottle cap has a liquid receiving section and a brush disposed along at least a portion of the liquid receiving section, the brush extending beyond a lip of the liquid receiving section.   
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions include pre-treatment instructions. 
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the bottle has a drainback feature allowing liquid from at least one of the liquid receiving section and the brushes to flow back into the bottle when the bottle cap is replaced on the bottle after use;   the drainback feature includes a drainback reservoir for receiving liquid from at least one of the bottle cap and the brushes when the bottle cap is replaced on the bottle after use; and   the brushes are disposed within the drainback reservoir when the bottle cap is on the bottle.