Adhesive roller

Abstract

An adhesive cleaner having an adhesive roller with a tubular and cylindrical core, typically made of cardboard and is six inches or more in length. The roller further includes a plurality of elongated strips wherein each strip includes a backing and an adhesive coating on one side of the backing. Each strip is in the shape of a parallelogram and has a surface area substantially equal to or slightly greater than the outer peripheral surface area of the core. Each strip is successively wound in a spiral pattern around the core with the adhesive layer facing outwardly so that each strip forms a successive layer around the core which substantially covers the outer peripheral area of the core or the preceding layer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] I. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to adhesive rollers.

[0003] II. Description of Related Art

[0004] Adhesive rollers for use with cleaners for removing foreign particles, such as dirt, pet hair, detritus and the like, from surfaces have been long known. Oftentimes the roll is used with a floor sweep which includes an elongated handle with the adhesive roller rotatably and transversely mounted to one end.

[0005] The adhesive roller used with these previously-known handle mounted typically comprises a tubular and cylindrical cardboard core. An elongated strip having a backing and an adhesive coating applied to one side of the backing is then continuously wound around the core thus forming a plurality of overlapping layers of the backing with its adhesive coating.

[0006] In use, the cleaner is used by rolling the adhesive roller along the surface to be cleaned with the adhesive coating facing outwardly. In doing so, the adhesive coating removes dirt, pet hairs and the like from the surface in the desired fashion. After extended use of the cleaner, the exposed portion of the adhesive loses its tackiness and thus its ability to effectively remove dirt, pet hair and the like. When this occurs, the user unwinds a portion of the continuous strip from the roller thereby exposing fresh adhesive. This unwound portion of the strip is then torn off from the roller and discarded. Indeed, to facilitate the removal of the proper amount of the continuous strip to expose fresh adhesive, many of these previously-known rollers include longitudinally extending perforations at spaced intervals along the continuous strip. When all of the continuous strip has been used and discarded in the above-identified fashion, the core is removed from the handle for the cleaner and replaced with a fresh adhesive roller.

[0007] One disadvantage of these previously-known adhesive rollers for use with cleaners, however, is that the free edge of the continuous strip, i.e. the edge where the previously-used layer has been removed, frequently adhesively sticks more than desired to the surface being cleaned. This is particularly true where the user exerts a downward pressure on the adhesive roll. When this occurs, the rolling motion of the adhesive roll along the surface causes the continuous strip to unwind from the adhesive roll. Rewinding the unwound portion of the continuous strip back on the roll is not only time-consuming and a nuisance for the user, but it is also difficult to properly accomplish. Because of this, many users merely tear off the unwound portion of the continuous strip and continue to use the floor sweep. This, however, results in wastage of the not-yet-depleted adhesive on the discarded portion of the continuous strip.

[0008] Some cleaners have attempted to overcome this problem by instructing the user to only roll the adhesive roller on the surface in one direction, e.g. a forward direction, which will prevent the continuous strip from unwinding from the roller. This solution, however, is unsatisfactory since it renders the cleaner more difficult and cumbersome to use.

[0009] There have been previously known spiral wound adhesive rollers, but these previously known rollers are typically four inches or less in length and are axially mounted to one end of a short handle. As such, the user exerts only a relatively small force against the surface to be cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0010] The present invention provides an adhesive roller construction for use with a cleaner that overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously-known adhesive rollers for cleaners.

[0011] In brief, the adhesive roller construction of the present invention comprises a tubular and cylindrical core. Typically, this core is made of cardboard.

[0012] The adhesive roller construction further includes a plurality of elongated strips. Each strip has a backing and an adhesive coating on one side of the backing. Furthermore, each strip is in the shape of a parallelogram and has a surface area substantially equal to or slightly greater than the outer peripheral surface area of the core.

[0013] Each of the strips are successively wound in a spiral pattern around the core with the adhesive coating facing outwardly. Each strip thus forms a single, successive layer around the core which substantially covers the outer peripheral surface area of the core or the preceding layer, as the case may be.

[0014] In practice, the spiral winding of the individual strips around the core prevents the strips from unwinding during use of the adhesive roller with an elongated handle having the roller transversely mounted to one end, such as a floor sweep, regardless of the direction of rotation of the adhesive roller on the floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the adhesive roller construction of the present invention with a floor sweep;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a planar view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the adhesive roller of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a planar view illustrating one strip used with the adhesive roller of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 and enlarged for clarity; and

[0020] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 in FIG. 3 and enlarged for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0021] With reference first to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the adhesive roller 10 of the present invention is shown when used with a cleaner 12. In the conventional fashion, the cleaner 12 includes an elongated handle 14 and in which the adhesive roller 10 is transversely rotatably mounted to one end 16 of the handle 14. In use, a user 18 grasps the opposite end 20 of the handle 14 and rolls the roller 10 along the ground to remove dirt, pet hair, detritus and other debris from the surface 22 to be cleaned.

[0022] With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the adhesive roller 10 is there shown in greater detail and comprises a tubular and cylindrical core 24 having a pre-determined outer peripheral surface area. The core 24 is preferably constructed of cardboard although other materials may alternatively be used. Additionally, the roller 10 is at least six inches in axial length, and preferably eight inches or more.

[0023] With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 5, the adhesive roller further includes a plurality of elongated strips 26, one of which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Each strip 26 includes a backing 28 and an adhesive coat 30 on one side of the backing 28. As best shown in FIG. 5, preferably the adhesive coating 30 is spaced inwardly from each side 32 of the backing 28 thus forming a dry edge 34 along each side 38 of the strip 30. Alternatively, however, the strip 26 may have only one dry edge 34 along one side 38 of the strip 30 or no dry edges at all, i.e. the adhesive coating 30 extends along the entire surface of the backing 28. The provision of the dry edges along the strip, however, minimizes the likelihood of unwinding in use since the edges, i.e. where unwinding begins, do not adhere to the surface being cleaned.

[0024] The use of one or more dry edges also allows the use of a stronger adhesive for the adhesive coating 30 without the strip unwinding in use, particularly when used on a hard surface. Such unwinding may occur with a strong adhesive in the absence of the dry edges due to the greater surface area contact of the adhesive with the surface being cleaned. Furthermore, a stronger adhesive can achieve a more complete and efficient removal of detritus during the use of the adhesive roller even though less adhesive is used to coat the strip.

[0025] With reference now particularly to FIG. 3, the strip 26 is in the form of a parallelogram 26 having the two sides 38 and two ends 40. Each side 38 of the strip 26, furthermore, intersects one end 40 at an acute angle and the other end 40 at the obtuse complementary angle. Furthermore, the surface area of the strip 26 is substantially the same or slightly greater than the outer peripheral surface area of the core 24.

[0026] With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the strips 26 are successively wound in a spiral pattern indicated at 44 around the core 24 thus forming successive layers 48 (FIG. 4) of the strips 26 around the core 24. Each layer 48, furthermore, comprises a single strip 26.

[0027] In order to wind the strips 26 around the core 24, or around the preceding layer of the strip 26, one end 40 of the strip 26 is aligned with one end of the core 24 as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, since the outside diameter of the roller 10 increases as successive adhesive layers 48 are wound around the core 24, the diameter of the adhesive roller 10 increases slightly from the first or innermost layer 48 and to the last or outermost layer 48. As such, the surface area of the strips 26 preferably increases slightly from the innermost layer 48 into the outermost layer 48 by increasing the longitudinal length of the outer strips 26.

[0028] In operation, the roller 10 is transversely rotatably mounted to the end 16 of the elongated handle 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the roller 10 is rolled along the surface 22 to be cleaned by the user 18 thus removing dirt and debris from the surface 22.

[0029] After the adhesive coating 30 on the outermost layer of the roller 10 has been depleted, i.e., lost its tackiness, the outermost adhesive strip 26 which forms the outermost layer 48 is then removed from the roller 10 thus exposing fresh adhesive. Furthermore, the dry edges 34 along the strips 26 facilitate the easy removal of individual strips 26 from the adhesive roller 10.

[0030] In practice, it has been found that the spiral winding of the strips 26 around the core 24 and/or the strip 26 forming the immediately preceding layer 48 prevents unwanted unwinding of the strips 26 from the roller 10 regardless of the direction of movement of the roller 10 on the surface 22.

[0031] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides an adhesive roller particularly suited for use with a floor sweep which is highly advantageous in use. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims:

Claims

1. An adhesive roller for use with a cleaner comprising: a tubular and cylindrical core at least six inches in length, a plurality of elongated strips, each strip having a backing and an adhesive coating on one side of said backing, each strip having a surface area substantially equal to or slightly greater than the outer peripheral surface area of said core, each of said strips being successively wound in a spiral pattern around said core with the adhesive coating facing outwardly, each strip forming a successive layer around said core which substantially covers the outer peripheral surface area of said core or the preceding layer.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each strip has two spaced-apart and parallel sides and two parallel ends, wherein a side and an end intersect at an acute angle.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said adhesive coating is spaced inwardly from said sides of said strip.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said sides of said strip are positioned closely adjacent and parallel to each other.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein one end of said strip is aligned with one end of said core and the other end of said strip is aligned with the other end of said core.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said strips are staggered around said core so that a mid-portion of each strip overlaps the junction of the sides of the strip forming the immediately preceding layer.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising a protective sheet around the outermost layer.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said core is made of cardboard.

9. An adhesive cleaner comprising: a tubular and cylindrical core, a plurality of elongated strips, each strip having a backing and an adhesive coating on one side of said backing, each strip having a surface area substantially equal to or slightly greater than the outer peripheral surface area of said core, each of said strips being successively wound in a spiral pattern around said core with the adhesive coating facing outwardly, each strip forming a successive layer around said core which substantially covers the outer peripheral surface area of said core or the preceding layer, an elongated handle, said core being transversely rotatably mounted to one end of said handle.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein each strip has two spaced-apart and parallel sides and two parallel ends, wherein a side and an end intersect at an acute angle.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said adhesive coating is spaced inwardly from said sides of said strip.

12. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said sides of said strip are positioned closely adjacent and parallel to each other.

13. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein one end of said strip is aligned with one end of said core and the other end of said strip is aligned with the other end of said core.

14. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein said strips are staggered around said core so that a mid-portion of each strip overlaps the junction of the sides of the strip forming the immediately preceding layer.

15. The invention as defined in claim 9 and comprising a protective sheet around the outermost layer.

16. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said core is made of cardboard.