Patent Application
20080109974
This invention relates to manual cleaning apparatuses and specifically to a manual cleaning apparatus that has a cleaning tool that includes a secondary cleaning attachment.
Cleaning implements such as brooms, brushes and dustpans are routinely used in combination with other cleaning implements to enhance the ability of a user to clean a given surface. Implements commonly combine different advantageous features to achieve a given objective. Examples include brushes having attachable and detachable handles and broom heads that attach to dustpans.
Cleaning, however, frequently requires performing tasks such as sweeping dirt and dust from the surface of a floor. A problem gradually occurs as dirt and dust accumulate on the fibers of the broom. This accumulation needs to be cleaned from the fibers of the broom to prevent a degraded cleaning process in which the broom undesirably directs dirt and dust into the environment. Eventually the fibers of the broom have to be cleaned by a less than pleasant process such as shaking the broom head outside or manually picking out various pieces of dirt and dust that have adhered to the fibers. The former ends up with the user of the broom inhaling the accumulated dirt and dust and the latter undesirably dirties the hand of the user.
A manual cleaning apparatus is needed that includes a removable cleaning attachment for the cleaning of the fibers of the cleaning implement.
A cleaning apparatus is described that comprises a cleaning tool that includes a head and a handle. The handle has a distal end portion that is attached to the head and a proximal end portion. The head includes a connector and has a distal end portion that connects to a plurality of distally extending fibers. A comb is removably attached to the connector. The comb includes a proximal handle and a distal head. The head includes a plurality of distally extending teeth and the teeth of the comb are spaced apart and positioned in fixed spaced relation.
The connector is an aperture that includes a recessed area at a level below a level of the outer surface of the head. The aperture has dimensions and a depth to receive the comb. The connector includes a retention mechanism. The retention mechanism is a post. The connector can also include a cover. The teeth of the comb extend distally and are positioned in a fixed spaced relation that defines a gap between adjacent teeth.
A cleaning apparatus is described that comprises a cleaning tool that includes a head and a handle. The handle has a distal end portion that is connected to the head and a proximal end portion that is a free end. The head has a distal end portion that connects to a plurality of distally extending fibers. A connector is included with the head. The connector defines an aperture and includes a retention mechanism. A cleaning attachment is removably attachable to the connector. A first position of the cleaning apparatus is described wherein the cleaning attachment is attached to the connector by the retention mechanism. A second position of the cleaning apparatus is described wherein the cleaning attachment is separated from the connector and the cleaning attachment is applied to clean the fibers of the cleaning tool.
The cleaning attachment is a comb that includes a proximal handle and a distal head that includes a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth extends distally and each tooth is separated from the adjacent tooth by a gap. The aperture is an area at a level that is recessed below a level defined by the outer surface of the head. The aperture has dimensions and a depth to receive the cleaning attachment. The area recessed below the outer surface level has a depth such that when the cleaning attachment is in the first position, the cleaning attachment is below the outer surface level of the head.
The retention mechanism includes a post that extends from the recessed area of connector and the post interfaces with an aperture defined in the cleaning attachment. The aperture in the head is a slot that receives the cleaning attachment. The comb includes an adhesive portion. The teeth of the cleaning attachment in the second position are applied by being inserted into the fibers to clean the fibers of the cleaning tool.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements:
Referring to
Handle 20 has a distal end portion 22 that connects to head 30 and a proximal end portion 24 that has a terminal free end. Handle 20 can be a short or a long handle that can be used as a single handed or double handed cleaning apparatus 5. Head 30 has a distal end portion 32 that has a rim 33 and a proximal end portion 34 that connects to distal end portion 22 of handle 20.
As shown in
Sides 37 of head 30 are preferably tapered from the proximal end portion 34 to the area in proximity to distal end 32. This provides an approximately triangular shaped head when viewed from the axis-Z. It is understood that while the flat or plate-like shape of head 30 is described as being triangular, head 30 can have any shape when viewed from axis-Z such as square, rectangular, arcuate, semi-circular, etc. In this preferred embodiment, attachment 50 is shown in a first position of cleaning apparatus 5 in a connector 38 on side 37 of head 30. Attachment 50 can be conveniently stored in the first position during the use of cleaning tool 10.
As shown in
Connector 38 includes a retention mechanism 39 that holds attachment 50 in the first position in connector 38. In this preferred embodiment, retention mechanism 39 is a post that extends from the recessed level of connector 38 in a direction that is approximately parallel to axis-Y. Retention mechanism 39 can also include a locking device that functions with or independent of the post to hold attachment 50 in connector 38. The locking device can include the use known retention devices or mechanisms such as an overlapping portion, a snap, friction or a bias member that holds attachment 50 in connector 38.
The positioning of connector 38 on one of sides 37 advantageously places attachment 50 in a readily accessible spot that minimizes interference with normal broom use. The recessing of connector 38 advantageous omits external projections from the outer surface level of head 30 that can be get caught or snagged when sweeping. It is understood that connector 38 can be positioned on any portion of head 30 and still retain the above advantages.
In an alternative embodiment, the aperture of connector 38 is a slot defined in head 30 that receives cleaning attachment 50. In this embodiment, aperture 38 defines a pocket in head 30 that receives attachment 50. Preferably at least a portion of handle 54 extends from aperture 38. Retention mechanism 39 can be optionally used to assist in retaining cleaning attachment 50 in position.
In another alternative embodiment, connector 38 retains attachment 50 directly on the outer surface level of head 30. In this embodiment, connector 38 includes a cover. Attachment 50 is retained in this embodiment by retention mechanism 39, as described previously. The cover can hinge, slide and/or pivot to provide access to attachment 50 and lock in the closed position. The cover preferably has a convex shape is approximately conformal to the outer surface of head 30 and provides a protective enclosure for attachment 50 in the first position. The convex shape of the cover prevents attachment 50 from being snagged or caught on the surrounding environment during the use of cleaning apparatus 5.
Cleaning tool 10 is made of materials common to cleaning tools such as polymers, composites, metals and cellulose products. Head 30, for example, is preferably an injection molded polymer. Fibers 40 can include traditional materials such as sorghum and/or polymers.
Cleaning attachment 50 is preferably a comb that has a distal head 52 and a proximal handle 54. Head 52 includes a plurality of distally extending teeth 56. Each tooth of teeth 56 is fixed in position and separated from the adjacent tooth by a gap. The number and the length of teeth 56 can vary depending upon fibers 40 of cleaning tool 10. In the preferred embodiment the size of the individual teeth 56, gaps between teeth 56 and the length of teeth 56 are structured to cooperatively interface with fibers 40. For example, the greater the width of fibers 40 in the direction of axis-Z the longer teeth 56 extend from head 52. In the preferred embodiment, the length of teeth 56 is at least equal to or greater than the width of fibers 40. Attachment 50 can include one or more rows of teeth 56.
In this preferred embodiment, attachment 50 has a plate-like approximately flat shape that advantageously allows for ease of storage in connector 38. Cleaning attachment 50 is preferably made of a polymer, composite, metal or cellulose. Attachment 50 can be a rigid structure or have some flexibility depending upon its desired application.
Attachment 50 preferably defines an aperture 58 in handle 54 that receives retention mechanism or post 39. Handle 54 can also includes a tab or angled extension 59 transverse to the plane of attachment 50 that can assist in the removal and replacement of attachment 50 with connector 38. Aperture 58 is preferably structured to make a friction or snap fit with the post of retention mechanism 58.
In an alternative embodiment, attachment 50 can further include a disposable adhesive pad that has a plurality of adhesive strips for the removal of dust or dirt particles from fibers 40. A pad of adhesive strips can be positioned on attachment 50 and each strip peeled off when it is full of dust and/or dirt to reveal the next lower adhesive strip on the pad. The pad can also include a protective cover.
Referring now to
In the second position, comb 50 is applied to clean fibers 40 of cleaning tool 10 by inserting the distally extending teeth 56 of comb 50 at the desired point between rim 33 and the distal end of fibers 40. The plurality of teeth 56 is preferably inserted at an angle aligned with axis-Z. Comb 50 is then moved distally through fibers 40. Plurality of teeth 56 of comb 60 separate individual fibers 40 and collect and/or loosen the dust and dirt collected in fibers 40. This process loosens the dust and dirt retained by fibers 40. The dust and dirt accumulated in fibers 40 can then fall clear and/or be retained by the plurality of teeth 56 of comb 50. The plurality of teeth 56 are then reinserted through fibers 40 at the next location that is desired to be cleaned. This process is repeated until fibers 40 have achieved the desired level of cleanliness and then attachment 50 is manually returned to the first position in connector 38 of head 30.
Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those specific embodiments and that various other changes, combinations and modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention which is to be determined with reference to the following claims. For example, cleaning tool 10 is described herein as a broom and it is understood that cleaning tool 10 can be any cleaning tool that includes fibers such as, but limited to a brush or mop as well as a broom.
