Adjustable bottle brush

Abstract

A brush includes a retractable, removable silicone rubber brush head. The diameter of the bristles diminishes as they extend outward. The bristles at the end of the brush head are positioned to contact and clean the corners of a flat-bottomed container.

1 . A brush comprising:
 a) a handle including an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion having a first aperture extending substantially the length of the outer portion, the inner portion slidably positionable inside the aperture from a first position to a second position, and means for releasably locking the inner portion at the first position and the second position, and   b) a brush head including a core having a central axis, a proximate end, a terminal end, and a second aperture extending substantially the length of the core for receiving the inner portion through the proximate end of the core, and a first bristle set comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical bristles extending from the core, the bristles of the first set having a first diameter proximate the core and a second diameter at the distal end, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the core is generally cylindrical, and the bristles of the first set extend radially from the core. 
     
     
         3 . The brush according to  claim 2  wherein the bristles of the first set comprise a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments having a corresponding diameter, the diameter of each of the plurality of segments of bristles diminishing from the proximate end to the distal end of the bristles. 
     
     
         4 . The brush according to  claim 3  wherein the bristles of the first set include at least two segments. 
     
     
         5 . The brush according to  claim 3  wherein the bristles of the first set include three segments. 
     
     
         6 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the brush head is formed from a silicone rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the bristles of the first set extend at a fixed distance from the core. 
     
     
         8 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the brush head comprises a second set of bristles extending from the terminal end of the core and terminating at a plane perpendicular to the axis of the core spaced from the terminal end of the core. 
     
     
         9 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the bristles of the first set extend radially from the core and are evenly spaced radially around the core. 
     
     
         10 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the brush head is releasably affixed to the second portion of the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The brush according to  claim 10  wherein the means for releasably affixing the brush head to the inner portion of the handle comprises a plurality of grooves formed in the inner portion. 
     
     
         12 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the handle includes means for locking the inner portion of the handle at at least one intermediate position between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The brush according to  claim 12  wherein the means for locking the inner portion of the handle comprises a twist lock device. 
     
     
         14 . The brush according to  claim 1  wherein the brush head further comprises a collar at the proximate end of the brush head, the collar being adapted for receiving a removable protective splash shield. 
     
     
         15 . The brush according to  claim 14  wherein the collar comprises a pair of spaced disks having a diameter greater than the core. 
     
     
         16 . The brush according to  claim 1  further comprising a splash shield. 
     
     
         17 . The brush according to  claim 11  further comprising a corresponding plurality of protrusions formed on the surface of the aperture of the core of the brush head for engaging the grooves.