Bottle brush

Abstract

A brush for cleaning the interior of a bottle or container is provided. The brush includes at least one cleaning element installed on the distal end of a shaft. The proximal end of the shaft is shaped to be gripped by a hand of a user. The distal end of the shaft includes at least one notch formed therein, where the notch has a proximal side wall, a distal side wall oppositely disposed from the proximal side wall, and a middle section disposed between the proximal side wall and the distal side wall. Each cleaning element is installed in a corresponding notch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brush comprising:
 a shaft comprising:
 a proximal end portion; and 
 a distal end portion oppositely disposed from the proximal end portion, the distal end portion comprising at least one notch formed therein, the at least notch comprising:
 a proximal side wall; 
 a distal side wall oppositely disposed from the proximal side wall; and 
 a middle section disposed between the proximal side wall and the distal side wall, the proximal side wall of the at least one notch being beveled in the direction of the proximal end of the brush and the distal side wall of each notch not being beveled; 
 
   at least one cleaning element disposed within the at least one notch; and   a tip fastened to the distal end portion of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning element has an opening and the at least one cleaning element is disposed in the at least one notch so that the middle section of the at least one notch engages the opening of the at least one cleaning element. 
     
     
         3 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch comprises a plurality of notches. 
     
     
         4 . The brush of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one cleaning element comprises a plurality of cleaning elements each disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of notches. 
     
     
         5 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion has a first diameter and the middle section of the at least one notch has a corresponding diameter that is less than the first diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end is shaped to be gripped by a hand of a user. 
     
     
         7 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the beveling of the proximal side wall of the at least one notch begins at a location where the middle section of the notch abuts the proximal side wall and extends radially to an outer surface of the distal end portion. 
     
     
         8 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is removably fastened. 
     
     
         9 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is made of foam material. 
     
     
         10 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the tip is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The brush of  claim 1  wherein the at least one cleaning element is made of closed cell foam material. 
     
     
         12 . The brush of  claim 11 , wherein the closed cell foam material is selected from the group consisting of an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer, a polyvinyl chloride polymer, and polyethylene. 
     
     
         13 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning element has a shape that is substantially circular, and at least one cleaning element includes a plurality of appendages extending radially from a center thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The brush of  claim 13 , wherein the appendages, when moved in a first direction to engage an interior surface of a container, are configured to flex in a direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion of the brush has a hole formed therein. 
     
     
         16 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), nylon, and polypropylene. 
     
     
         17 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion has a first length and the proximal end portion has a second length, and the first length is greater than the second length. 
     
     
         18 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion has a radius of at most 0.38 inches at an extreme distal point thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The brush of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion is coated with a slip-resistant material. 
     
     
         20 . The brush of  claim 19 , wherein the slip-resistant material is selected from the group consisting of silicone and TPD.