Dual action bottle brush

Abstract

A brush assembly for use in cleaning baby bottles and component parts associated therewith including a handle and top brush portion, the top brush portion having a plurality of cleaning elements and a recessed cavity, the handle being releasably attachable to the top brush portion and including a nipple brush, the nipple brush being receivable within the recessed cavity when the top brush portion is releasably attached to the handle. The handle further includes an ergonomic outer grip surface allowing for secure, comfortable gripping when the brush assembly is in use. When the top brush portion is removed from the handle, the nipple brush is exposed and available for use. The cleaning elements may include at least one scrubbing element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brush assembly for use in cleaning baby bottles and parts thereof, comprising:
 a handle;   a top brush portion having at least one cleaning element associated with one end portion thereof and having a recessed cavity associated with the opposite end portion thereof, said top brush portion being releasably attachable to said handle; and   a nipple brush fixedly secured to said handle, said nipple brush being received within said recessed cavity when said top brush portion is releasably attached to said handle.   
     
     
         2 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said top brush portion includes a plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements attached to the outer surface of the top brush portion in a radial configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are formed from a non-scratch material. 
     
     
         4 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are foamed from a synthetic sponge-like material. 
     
     
         5 . The brush assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are substantially hourglass shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said top brush portion further includes at least one scrubbing element. 
     
     
         7 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one scrubbing element is formed from a non-scratch scouring material. 
     
     
         8 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said handle includes a resilient ergonomic surface. 
     
     
         9 . The brush assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said handle includes a base portion for positioning the brush assembly upright on a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         10 . The brush assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are removably attachable to said top brush portion. 
     
     
         11 . The brush assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said at least one scrubbing element is removably attached to said top brush portion. 
     
     
         12 . A brush assembly comprising:
 a handle;   a top brush portion having a recessed cavity associated therewith, said top brush position being removably attachable to said handle;   a plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements attached to said top brush portion in a radial configuration; and   a nipple brush fixedly secured to said handle, said nipple brush being receivable within said cavity when said top brush portion is releasably attached to said handle.   
     
     
         13 . The brush assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are formed from a non-scratch material. 
     
     
         14 . The brush assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are formed from a synthetic sponge-like material. 
     
     
         15 . The brush assembly of  claim 12  wherein said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are substantially hourglass shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The brush assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said top brush portion further includes at least one scrubbing element. 
     
     
         17 . The brush assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one scrubbing element is formed from a non-scratch scouring material. 
     
     
         18 . The brush assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said handle includes a resilient ergonomic surface. 
     
     
         19 . The brush assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said handle includes a base portion for positioning the brush assembly upright on a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         20 . The brush assembly according to  claim 12  wherein at least one of said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements is removably attachable to said top brush portion. 
     
     
         21 . The brush assembly according to  claim 16  wherein said at least one scrubbing element is removably attachable to said top brush portion. 
     
     
         22 . A brush assembly for use in cleaning baby bottles comprising:
 a handle;   a top brush portion removably attached to said handle, said top brush portion having a recessed cavity;   a plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements attached to said top brush portion in a radial configuration.   at least one scrubbing element attached to said top brush portion; and   a nipple brush fixedly secured to said handle, said nipple brush being receivable within said cavity when said top brush portion is releasably attached to said handle.   
     
     
         23 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein at least some of said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are formed from a non-scratch material. 
     
     
         24 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein at least some of said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are formed from a synthetic sponge-like material. 
     
     
         25 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein at least some of said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements are substantially hourglass shaped. 
     
     
         26 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said at least one scrubbing element is formed from a non-scratch scouring material. 
     
     
         27 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said handle includes a resilient ergonomic surface. 
     
     
         28 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said handle includes a base portion for positioning the brush assembly upright on a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         29 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein at least one of said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements is removably attached to said top brush portion. 
     
     
         30 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said at least one scrubbing element is removably attachable to said top brush portion. 
     
     
         31 . The brush assembly according to  claim 29  wherein said top brush portion includes at least one channel, and wherein said at least one removably attachable petal shaped cleaning element includes an edge portion engageable with said at least one channel. 
     
     
         32 . The brush assembly according to  claim 30  wherein said top brush portion includes at least one channel, and wherein said at least one removably attachable scrubbing element includes an edge portion engageable with said at least one channel. 
     
     
         33 . The brush assembly according to  claim 22  wherein at least one of said plurality of petal shaped cleaning elements includes at least one tip portion specially shaped to reach inside hard to reach corners of a bottle to be cleaned.