Antibacterial adaptable swimming pool brush

Abstract

An improved swimming pool brush construction resists buildup of bacteria and other microbes and is convenient to switch between different types of handles. Brushes in accordance with the invention comprise a handle connection portion and a brush head attached to the handle connection portion. The brush head has a body and a plurality of extending from the body. The head can be formed of polymer material, with antimicrobial material such as silver and/or zinc therein. The brush head can be joined to a handle adaptor with two portions. The distal portion has a proximal end threaded to receiving a standard brush/rake handle. The proximal portion is adapted to be received in the distal end of a conventional pool pole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool brush, comprising:
 a brush head adapted for use in cleaning a swimming pool, attachable to handle connector, the brush head having a body and a plurality of bristles extending from the body, the head and bristles comprising polymer material and an effective amount of an antimicrobial additive formulation incorporated into the bristles to resist the growth of microbes on the bristles.   
     
     
         2 . The pool brush of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises polymer material and an effective amount of the antimicrobial additive formulation incorporated into the body and bristles to resist the growth of microbes on the head. 
     
     
         3 . The pool brush of  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises polypropylene and the bristles comprise PVC. 
     
     
         4 . The pool brush of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a top, a bottom, a front, a rear and a pair of side surfaces and the bristles extend from each of those surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The pool brush of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a cylindrical shape and the bristles extend 360° around the body and ends thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The pool brush of  claim 2 , wherein the antimicrobial additive formulation comprises nano silver, silver ions, zinc oxide and/or nano zinc oxide and the antimicrobial additive formulation is effective to reduce microbe growth on the head by at least 80% compared to the same head without the antimicrobial additive formulation under ISO 22196. 
     
     
         7 . The pool brush of  claim 6 , wherein the antimicrobial additive formulation comprises at least about 0.7 wt % of the bristles. 
     
     
         8 . The pool brush of  claim 2 , wherein the antimicrobial additive formulation comprises a zeolite component, a nano silver particle or silver ion component, a zinc oxide or nano zinc oxide component, a differentiation agent, and an antioxidant and the antimicrobial additive formulation is effective to reduce microbe growth on the head by at least 80% compared to the same head without the antimicrobial additive formulation under ISO 22196. 
     
     
         9 . The pool brush of  claim 2 , wherein the bristles and head comprise a zeolite component, a nano silver particle component, a nano zinc oxide particle component, a differentiation agent, and an antioxidant, together comprising about 0.2 to 3 wt % of the bristles and head. 
     
     
         10 . The pool brush of  claim 3 , wherein the body has a cylindrical shape, the bristles extend 360° around the body and ends thereof, and the antimicrobial additive formulation comprises silver iodide, silver chloride, silver nitrate, nano silver, or zinc oxide, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The pool brush of  claim 1 , wherein the brush head is attached to a handle connector and the handle connector comprises a first distal section attached to the brush head and a second proximal section adapted to be attached to a conventional pool maintenance pole. 
     
     
         12 . The pool brush of  claim 11 , wherein a distal end of the first distal section is attached to the head and the proximal end of the first distal section has a receptacle with Acme threading; and
 a distal end of the second proximal section is threaded and adapted to screw into the threaded receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The pool brush of  claim 12 , wherein the second proximal section is sized and shaped to be received into a tubular distal end of a conventional pool maintenance pole and has button means for releasably locking to the pole. 
     
     
         14 . The pool brush of  claim 13 , wherein the head comprises polymer material and an effective amount of an antimicrobial additive formulation incorporated into the head, effective to reduce microbe growth on the head by at least 80%, compared to the same head without the antimicrobial additive formulation under ISO 22196. 
     
     
         15 . The pool brush of  claim 14 , wherein the body comprises polypropylene, the bristles comprise PVC, the body has a cylindrical shape, and the bristles extend 360° around the body. 
     
     
         16 . The pool brush of  claim 15 , wherein the antimicrobial additive formulation comprises at least 0.7 wt % of the bristles. 
     
     
         17 . The pool brush of  claim 15 , wherein the handle connector is coated and the bristles, body and coating of the handle connector comprise an antimicrobially effective amount of a zeolite component, a nano silver particle or silver ion component, a zinc oxide or nano zinc oxide component, a differentiation agent, and an antioxidant component. 
     
     
         18 . The pool brush of  claim 15 , wherein the bristles and body comprise a zeolite component, a nano silver particle component, a nano zinc oxide particle component, a differentiation agent, and an antioxidant, together comprising about 0.2 to 3 wt % of the bristles and head. 
     
     
         19 . The pool brush of  claim 17 , wherein the threaded distal end of the second proximal section has a diameter of about ¾ inch and about 5 threads per inch, Acme form threading. 
     
     
         20 . The pool brush of  claim 19 , wherein the second proximal section is at least about 3 inches long and the resilient buttons are located at least about 2 inches distally from the proximal end of the second proximal section.