Y-Shaped Cleaning Apparatus

Abstract

A generally Y-shaped cleaning apparatus comprises a handle and two necks extending from a same portion thereof, each neck bearing a cleaning head that includes cleaning tools, the two cleaning heads configured to be used asynchronously and independently of each other, the longitudinal axis of a first neck intersecting the longitudinal axis of the apparatus to form an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees on a first lateral side of the apparatus and the longitudinal axis of a second neck intersecting the longitudinal axis of the apparatus to form an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees on an opposing lateral side.

1 . A two-headed cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a handle including a first handle portion;   first and second necks, each neck including a first neck end and an opposing second neck end, wherein the second neck end of both necks is coupled to the first handle portion and a longitudinal axis of the first neck forms an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees with a longitudinal axis of the apparatus on a first lateral side of the apparatus, and a longitudinal axis of the second neck forms an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the apparatus on an opposing second lateral side thereof; and   first and second individual cleaning heads coupled to the first neck end of the first and second necks, respectively, wherein the cleaning heads each have a proximal portion closest to the first neck end and an opposing distal portion farthest therefrom, wherein the coupling is between the first neck end and the proximal portion of the cleaning head, and wherein each cleaning head has a front side and an opposing back side, and the front side of each cleaning head includes cleaning tools coupled thereto, wherein the front sides of the cleaning heads are configured in a non-opposing relationship.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one first neck end is coupled to a cleaning head at a location between the portion of the cleaning head closest to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and the portion of the cleaning head farthest from the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of at least one cleaning head forms an angle of less than 180 degrees with a distal portion of the neck to which it is coupled on a lateral side of the neck. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of at least one cleaning head forms an angle of less than 180 degrees with a distal portion of the neck to which it is coupled on a medial side of the neck. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal plane of at least one cleaning head is non-coplanar with a longitudinal plane of a distal portion of the neck to which the cleaning head is coupled. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a transverse plane of at least one cleaning head is non-coplanar with a transverse plane of the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a profile of at least one cleaning head or cleaning tool includes at least one curve. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first cleaning head faces in a first direction relative to a transverse plane of the cleaning apparatus and the second cleaning head faces in an opposing direction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal plane of at least one neck is canted in a same direction as an upper side of the apparatus and forms an interior obtuse angle with a longitudinal plane of the apparatus on the upper side of the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a profile of at least one of the first and second necks includes at least one curve. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning tools include at least one material chosen from the group including sponge, wire, lambs' wool, steel wool, an abrasive material, pad, bristles, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as one of a toothbrush, a bath brush or a shower brush. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the handle farthest from the second neck end is substantially flat and such that the apparatus can be stood erect on that portion of the handle. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a portion configured to accommodate an inscription of an image or lettering. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a two-headed cleaning apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a handle having a first handle portion;   providing first and second necks each having a first neck end and an opposing second neck end;   coupling the second end of both necks to the first handle portion in such a way that a longitudinal axis of a first neck forms an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees with a longitudinal axis of the apparatus on a first lateral side thereof and a longitudinal axis of a second neck forms an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the apparatus on an opposing lateral side thereof;   providing two cleaning heads each having a front surface and an opposing back surface wherein the front surfaces of the cleaning heads are configured in a non-opposing relationship and attaching cleaning tools to the opposing back surface of at least one of the cleaning heads; and   coupling a first cleaning head to the first neck end of the first neck and coupling a second cleaning head to the first neck end of the second neck.   
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 17 , wherein the method is a method for manufacturing an apparatus configured as a toothbrush. 
     
     
         19 . A two-headed toothbrush comprising:
 a handle including a first handle portion;   first and second necks, each neck including a first neck end and an opposing second neck end, wherein the second neck end of both necks is coupled to the first handle portion and a longitudinal axis of the first neck forms an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees with a longitudinal axis of the toothbrush on a first lateral side of the toothbrush and a longitudinal axis of a second neck forms an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 100 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush on an opposing lateral side of the toothbrush; and   first and second individual cleaning heads each having a proximal portion closest to the first neck end and an opposing distal portion farther from the first neck end, each cleaning head having a front side facing in a substantially same direction as a front side of the toothbrush and an opposing back side, and at least the front side of at least one cleaning head includes cleaning tools coupled thereto, wherein each of the cleaning heads is coupled to one of the necks at the first neck end, wherein the front sides of the cleaning heads are configured in a non-opposing relationship.   
     
     
         20 . The toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein one or more of the necks of the toothbrush is non-straight, non-coplanar, or non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the front sides of the cleaning heads are configured in a non-adjacent relationship. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising configuring the front sides of the cleaning heads in a non-adjacent relationship.