This disclosure relates, in general, to cleaning apparatus and more particularly, to hand held cleaning apparatus for cleaning surfaces.
Currently, consumers have great difficulty in determining how to correctly attach a bonnet onto a cleaning head of a handle operated cleaning device. There are several reasons for this, including: (a) the bonnet appearance is that of a seemingly round shape when not on a cleaning head, and yet the cleaning head is that of a triangle or rectangle shape; so it is very difficult for a consumer to determine how to attach a bonnet just by looking at the two elements of bonnet and cleaning head, (b) also, the triangle cleaning head is not uniform on all sides (longer on the sides than at the bottom), therefore there is only one way a bonnet will attach correctly, in other words, in order for a bonnet to fit correctly, it has to be attached so that the longer sides of the bonnet are pulled over the longer sides of the cleaning head or it will not fit correctly, and (c) therefore, with the current bonnets, there is a very high likelihood that every time a bonnet is attached, it will not be attached correctly.
A care tag is usually sewn in on only one side of the current bonnets into the elastic, in an area located near the center bottom of the triangle cleaning head when a bonnet is attached. However, not only is this a signification “after-the-fact” meaning only relevant once consumers attach a bonnet onto a cleaning head when not on, the care tag does not substantially reflect any other reference other than being a care tag; because care tags are widely known for their primary designated purpose (wash and care instructions), so consumers have trouble understanding any secondary purpose for it.
There is no reliable, credible, understandable, and functional way that help consumers understand how to attach cleaning bonnets correctly to cleaning heads, especially none that instantaneously give reference on both sides of a bonnet (inside and out) for how to attach bonnets correctly just by looking at the bonnet.
The solution is through strategic use of visually distinguishable guide markings at corners, tips, or edge positions in bonnets. The guide markings can be patterns including, but not limited to any sort of sewn in pattern or sewn in material markings (colored or otherwise), any sort of ink markings, buttons, tapes, paper, plastic, metal, sew markings, etc.
A cleaning element is disclosed for a cleaning apparatus including a cleaning head with at least one corner. The cleaning element includes a flexible body removably affixable to a cleaning head, an elastic strip affixed to a peripheral edge of the body and forming an expandable and retractable flexible band for mounting the body over the cleaning head, and a visible distinguishable guide marker on the body to indicate a mounting position of the body on the cleaning head by alignment of the guide marker with the at least one identifiable portion of the cleaning head.
In one aspect, the cleaning element is configured for a cleaning head having a plurality of corners. A plurality of guide markers are located relative to the elastic strip on the body to indicate a mounting position of the body over at least two corners of the cleaning head.
In one aspect, body is reversibly mountable on the cleaning head. The guide marker is carried on the body and visible from both opposed surfaces of the body.
The guide marker can be attached to the body adjacent to the elastic strip.
The guide marker separate guide markers mounted on each opposed surface of the body.
The visible distinguishable guide marker can be at least one of inked marker, tape, paper, plastic, rubber, and metal, sewn in markings, sewn threads, transfer printing, buttons, negative space, different color, and different texture with respect to the body.
In one aspect, the elastic strip is attached to only one side of the peripheral edge of the body.
In one aspect, the guide marker is attached to the body in a position over and around the elastic strip.
A method is also disclosed for mounting a cleaning element on a cleaning head of a cleaning apparatus in a desired orientation. The method includes:
The method can also providing the guide marker on the body so that the guide marker is visible from both opposed surfaces of the body.
The method can also include attaching the guide marker to the body adjacent to the elastic strip.
The method can also include providing the guide marker as separate guide markers mounted on each opposed surface of the body.
In another aspect, the method can include attaching the elastic strip to only one side of the peripheral edge of the body.
In another aspect, the method includes attaching the guide marker to the body in a position over and around the elastic strip.
The various features, advantages and other uses of the present bonnet installation for cleaning apparatus will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:
A cleaning apparatus 200 shown in
The handle 202 continues from the handgrip portion 208 through a solid portion 210 to a T-shaped second end 212. Mounting pins 214 and 216, which may be integrally molded as part of the second end 212 or fixedly mounted in the second end 212, project oppositely from the end 212. A cleaning head 219 includes a paddle 220 has a generally triangular shape formed of an end 222, opposed angled or gently curved sides 224 and 226, a corner in the form of an apex or tip 228 opposite the end 222, and corners or corner edges 221 and 223 formed between the end 222 and the sides 224 and 226. The center portion of the sides 224 and 226 may be raised slightly from a plane extending between the end 228 and the ends 221, 223 along a longitudinal axis of the paddle 220 to form at least the bottom surface of the paddle 220 in a concave shape. The entire paddle 220 may have the same concave shape. Alternately, the central portion of the paddle 220 may have a reduced thickness than the end 222 and the tip 228.
Receivers 230 and 232 are integrally or separately fixed to one surface of the paddle 220. The receiver 230 is in the form of a body having an arcuate outer shape, for example. A bore 234 extends through at least one side of the receiver 230 and opens toward the opposite receiver 232.
In this aspect, the receiver 232 forms a snap connection with the pin 214 on the handle 202. The receiver 232, shown in detail in
In use, one end of the pin 214 is inserted into the bore on the first receiver 230. The opposite end of the pin 214 is then forced through the opening between the outer ends of the legs 240 and 242 bending the legs 240 and 242 outward until the pin 214 passes through the outer ends. At this time, the legs 240 and 242 snap back to a normal position rotatably capturing the pin 214 therein.
When it becomes necessary to separate the handle 202 from the paddle 220, a reverse operation is employed in which the pin 214 is forcibly pulled through the opening between the outer ends of the legs 240 and 242.
It will be understood that the snap-connection provided by the receiver 232 can also be repeated for the receiver 230 by forming the receiver 230 in the same manner as the receiver 232.
For enhanced rigidity of the paddle 220, while still retaining the flexibility of the paddle 220 to adapt the concave shape of the bottom surface of the paddle 220 to a window or glass surface, a peripheral ridge or lip 270 can be integrally formed on the paddle 220 along the side edges 224 and 226 and the end 222 to substantially encompass the periphery of the bottom surface of the paddle 220. The lip 270 surrounds an inner disposed absorbent layer 260, described hereafter. A notch 272 is formed along each side edge of the lip 270 underlying the side edges 224 and 226 of the paddle 220 and generally centered along the lateral axis of the receivers 230 and 232. The notch 272 enhances the flexibility of the paddle 220 when a downward force is exerted on the paddle 220 through the handle 202.
The cleaning apparatus 200 includes a flexible cleaning element which may be formed of a drying element 250 mountable on the paddle 220 is shown in
Elastic means 258 in the form of an expandable and retractable elastic band is stitched or otherwise attached to the peripheral edge 256 of the body 252 to provide an elastic force for closing the peripheral edge 256 to a small open diameter to thereby securely, yet releasably mount the body 252 about the paddle 220. At the same time, the elastic means 258, hereafter “elastic band 258 or elastic strip 258, allows the body 252 to be easily removed from the paddle 220 and replaced with a clean, dry body 252 when necessary.
Another aspect of an elastic means 258 is shown in
In addition, the reduced width elastic strip 301 provides 50% less acting force working against the user when attaching the body 252 to the paddle 220 than two sided or folded over elastic strips.
It will be understood that the body 252 may be provided in different sizes to conform to the shape and size of the larger or smaller paddles.
The body 252 can also be formed of a mesh or rough material to act as a scrubbing surface in conjunction with the fluid filled absorbent layer 260 which dispenses fluid during the scrubbing operation. Thus, the body 252 functions as a scrubbing element to apply cleaning fluid to a window and, with suitable scrubbing movement, to simultaneously loosen dirt and other debris from the window.
The body 252 may be used merely as a dusting cloth to remove dust from a vehicle window or other interior vehicle surface. Further, the body 252 and the interior absorbent layer 260 are ideally suited to act as a sponge and scrubbing surface in applying cleaning fluid or water to the interior surface of a vehicle window and scrubbing or removing debris stuck on a window.
Once the body 252 mounted over the bottom surface on the paddle 220, the handle 202 of the cleaning apparatus 200 is grasped by one hand of the user and then moved adjacent to the window until the body 252, contacts the interior surface of the window. The cleaning apparatus 200 is then moved in any motion, such as back and forth, sideways, circular or combinations thereof to apply the cleaning fluid to the interior surface of the window and to remove debris stuck on the window. The body 252 is then removed from the handle 202 by simply reversing the insertion operation as described above. Another clean body 252 can then be attached to the handle 202 as described above. The body 252 is then brought into engagement with the window and again moved in any fashion across the surface of the window to dry the previously applied cleaning fluid and remove any loose debris from the window.
If, at any time, the body 252 becomes saturated with cleaning fluid or accumulates a significant amount of dirt or other debris, the user may simply remove the body 252 from the associated paddle 220 and then mount a clean, dry body 252 on the paddle 220 to continue with the cleaning operation.
The guide marker 300 can be any type of indicator that is applied by sewing, adhesive, permanent ink marker, tape, paper, plastic, rubber, metal or sewn in markings, sewn thread markings, transfer printing, or buttons on the elastic band 258, on the portion of the bonnet 250 next to the elastic band 258, or completely wrapped around and surrounding one portion of the elastic band 258.
The guide marker 300 can also be provided by ink, transfer, printing, etc., in the same or different colors or designs on either side of the body 252. This is useful when the body 252 is designed as a reversible body 252 as described above.
Further, the guide marker 300 may also take the form of a negative space. Negative space defines a portion of the elastic band and/or the bonnet 250 which has a different color, texture, etc., so as to be easily visible to the user. For example, the elastic band 258 may be formed of a particular color, such as black, and the guide marker 300 may be a different color, such as white, at the location where the guide marker 300 is to be located. A change in the pattern, design, or texture of a portion of the elastic band 258 may also be employed as the negative space type guide marker 300.
The guide marker 300 is provided to contrast with the color or design of the body 252 and/or the elastic strip 301. As described above, separate guide markers 300 may be provided on both sides of the body 252 at the mounting positions or the tips of the paddle 220. Alternately, the guide marker 300 may be formed as a single element which is folded over the peripheral edge of the body 252 at the mounting location.
When the guide marker 300 is formed as a single wrapped over element, the guide marker 300 may be first attached to the body 252 at the mounting location prior to the threaded attachment of the elastic strip 301 to the peripheral edge of the body 252. The threading attachment of the elastic strip 301 can extend through the guide marker 300. Alternately, the elastic strip 301 may be first applied to the peripheral edge of the body 252 and then the guide marker 300 wrapped around the elastic strip 301 at the mounting location and securely attached to the body 252 by threads, adhesive, etc.
The guide marker 300 provides an easy indication to the user of the cleaning apparatus where to mount the bonnet 250 on the paddle 220. As shown in
As shown in
It will be understood that the use of the guide marker 300, or multiple guide markers, 300, 302, etc., may be employed for cleaning elements 250 having other than triangular shapes, such as a cleaning element or bonnet designed to fit over a rectangular or other irregularly shaped, polygonal shaped cleaning head. The guide markers 300, 302, etc., may be similarly applied on the elastic band 258 at the locations of some or all of the tips or corners of the cleaning head 220 and/or on the cleaning element 250 at multiple locations corresponding to the tips or corners of the cleaning head 220.
It will also be understood that in the case of a an irregular non-circular shaped cleaning head and cleaning element, such as rectangular, oblong, oval, elliptical, etc., two guide markers 300 may be associated with the elastic band 258 to indicate installation over two corners of the cleaning head along one side edge of the cleaning head.
Referring now to
The strip 411 forming the marker 410 is attached by sewn threads or other means, with two lines of sewn threaded stitching 412 shown by example in
After the strip 411 has been attached to the blank 400, an elastic strip 420 is attached to a peripheral edge 422 of the blank 400 on either one side or both sides of the peripheral edge 422, as described previously. In this configuration, the marker 410 is spaced adjacent to the elastic strip 420 as shown in
After the elastic strip 420 is attached to blank 400, the body 426 is completed. When the body 426 is to be attached to the paddle 220, the marker 410 is lined up with the apex tip 402 of the paddle 420 in the body 426 urged over the peripheral edge of the paddle 220, with the marker 410 remaining in alignment with the apex tip of the paddle 220.
After the body 426 is attached to the paddle 220, as shown in
As described previously, it is possible to reverse the orientation of the body 426 on the paddle 220 to present a clean surface for continued cleaning operation. As shown in
Another aspect of a guide marker 440 is shown in
The guide marker 440 functions in the same manner as the guide marker 410 described above and shown in
To install a bonnet on a cleaning apparatus according to the above disclosure, a visually identifiable guide marker is provided on the body of the cleaning element to indicate a mounting position of the body on the cleaning head or paddle 220 by alignment of the guide marker with at least one identifiable portion of the cleaning head or paddle 220.
Referring now to
As shown in
It should be noted that the elastic strip 420 may have a large width sufficient to be bent over the edge of the blank 400 and be attached to both surfaces of the blank 400; as well as a reduced width which enables the elastic strip 420 to be attached to only one surface of the blank 400 along the peripheral edge of the blank 400.
In assembling the cleaning element, the guide marker 450 or the elastic strip 420 is aligned with one of the visibly identifiably portion of the blank 400, such as the tip 402, for example. This locates the guide marker 450 with the tip 402 of the blank 400. The elastic strip 420 is then attached to the peripheral edge of the blank 400, such as wrapped around the peripheral edge of the blank 400 so as to be attached by threads, stitches, etc., to both surfaces of the blank 400 adjacent to the peripheral edges of the blank 400.
The completed cleaning element is shown in
The method can include the provision of the at least one identifiable location on the cleaning head as being an identifiable portion of the shape of the cleaning head, such as a corner or tip, as well as a separate identifying symbol or marking applied to the cleaning head 220.
In one aspect of the method, a plurality of guide markers can be provided relative to an elastic strip on the body to indicate the mounting position of the body over at least two identifiable portions, such as corners, of the paddle 220.
The method also includes providing the guide marker on the body so that the guide marker is visible from both opposed surfaces of the body.
The method can also include attaching the guide marker to the body adjacent to the elastic strip, as separate guide markers on both opposed surfaces of the body or in a position over and around the elastic strip from one side of the elastic strip to the opposed side of the elastic strip.
Applicant claims prior benefit to the filing date of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/050,988 filed Sep. 16, 2014 in the name of Kenneth P. Post for Bonnet Installation for Cleaning Apparatus, and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/097,849, filed Dec. 30, 2014 in the name of Kenneth P. Post for Bonnet Installation for Cleaning Apparatus, the entire contents of both of which are incorporate herein in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62050988 | Sep 2014 | US | |
62097849 | Dec 2014 | US |