Patent Application
20090007351
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to cleaning devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to cleaning devices with retractable heads for storage ease.
2. Related Art
There are varieties of cleaning devices known in the art, each being suited for a particular purpose or application. As floors are typically the most often cleaned surface due to its tendency to accumulate dust and other debris, cleaning devices adapted therefor are numerous and varied. Generally, the maintenance worker cleans floors from a standing position. The operative surface of the cleaning device is swept across the surface of the floor as the maintenance worker traverses the same. Accordingly, most cleaning devices adapted for floor cleaning functions have a head or other operative cleaning component that is disposed toward the ground and a rod or like component that can be manipulated by the maintenance worker from a standing position.
Typical floor cleaning devices generally comport with the aforementioned structure; different operative cleaning components are substituted for particular uses, and the elongate portion connected to the operative cleaning component may serve one or more purposes. A vacuum cleaner, for example, is suited for removing dust and other like small particles from carpeted floor surfaces. The vacuum head is the inlet by which the debris is removed from the floor, and the collected debris is conveyed to a chamber that forms the elongate portion of the device. Mops are used to wash or scrub the floor surface, to clean up liquid spills, and to apply wax or other similar surface treatments, and are likewise comprised of an elongate rod and an operative cleaning component that is formed of water-absorbent fabric strands, referred to as a mop head. The mop head is typically dipped in a cleaning solution that is released when the mop head contacts the floor surface. Simultaneously, excess moisture on the floor such as spills and the like may be absorbed into the mop head.
In addition to the “wet” mops previously described, also known in the art are dry mops, which typically feature flat, elongate mop heads that are adapted to collect dust and other small debris on smooth floor surfaces. The mop head is pivotally attached to the elongate portion or rod, and is pushed across the floor surface in long, sweeping motions without being lifted therefrom. Such flat, elongate mop heads may also be fitted with alternative fabrics that feature scrubbing surfaces or liquid-absorbent characteristics. Depending on the size of the mop head, scrubbing techniques more commonly associated with conventional wet mops may be used.
Mops and other cleaning devices are typically stored out of the way when not in use. The space required for storing such implements may range from a relative small space to a large space, depending on the size of the head. In residences, mops are typically stored in a garage or closet, or concealed adjacent to an article of furniture or an appliance. In commercial establishments with dedicated maintenance workers, cleaning devices are generally stored in a designated location. In either case, the space dedicated for storage of cleaning devices is limited, and storing in open locations is undesirable because of actual and perceived sanitary issues. Thus, creative storage techniques are necessary to maximize use of such limited space.
One of the more common ways of storing mops and brooms is placing the head on the ground and leaning the rod against a vertical surface such as a door or wall. This is undesirable because of the additional floor space that the mop head occupies, particularly when that space is better utilized in storing additional cleaning devices. Because of the freely-pivoting relationship between the rod and the mop head, the rod may unpredictably become lodged against a door jamb or other structure after placement. The cleaning device may also be suspended, but again, the mop head occupies additional lateral space. The mop head may be manually positioned such that it is parallel to the rod, but this is undesirable because of the dirtiness of the mop head.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved cleaning apparatus. Specifically, there is a need for a cleaning apparatus with an automatically retractable head that may be easily stored in a manner that minimizes space utilization. Furthermore, there is a need for a cleaning apparatus that may be configured for storage without manual manipulation of the storage head.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus may include an elongate rod that defines a proximal end portion, and an opposed distal end portion. The elongate rod may include a first linkage member that is disposed on the proximal end portion. Additionally, the cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning head that has a second linkage member that is pivotally coupled to the first linkage member of the elongate rod. The cleaning head may define a cleaning side and an opposite rod attachment side. There is also included a biasing assembly that is coupled to the elongate rod and to and to the cleaning head. The biasing assembly is understood to tension the cleaning head to a maximum pivotal excursion thereof relative to the elongate rod, allowing for the cleaning head to retract automatically when suspended or otherwise lifted from the floor. The present invention will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which:
Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. It is understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.
With reference to
The proximal end portion 16 includes a first linkage member 28 that may be separately attached to the elongate rod 14 as shown in
Referring to
According to one embodiment, the first linkage member 28 is coupled to the second linkage member 38 in a universal joint. Specifically, the first linkage member 28 includes a pair of opposed first hinge arms 60 rotatably mounted to a gimbal 62. The second linkage member 38 similarly includes a pair of opposed second hinge arms 63, but are rotatably mounted to the gimbal 62 in an orientation perpendicular to that of the first linkage member 28. As will be appreciated, this allows the first linkage member 28, and thus the elongate rod 14, to rotate about the intersect point 49 along the central lateral axis 46 and along the central longitudinal axis 48. It will be recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art that any other pivoting modalities may be readily substituted for the above universal joint, including ball and socket joints and the like.
The cleaning apparatus 10 includes a biasing assembly 64 coupled to the elongate rod 14 and to the cleaning head 36. It is contemplated that the biasing assembly 64 tensions the cleaning head 36 to a maximum pivotal excursion thereof relative to the elongate rod 14. Without an opposing force being applied by the maintenance worker, the cleaning head 36 automatically swings into a storage position that minimizes the profile of the cleaning apparatus 10 as will be described in further detail below. For the particular exemplary embodiment where a universal joint couples the first linkage member 28 to the second linkage member 38, the maximum pivotal excursion is where the plane of the cleaning head 36 is parallel to the central axis 19 of the elongate rod 14. As shown in
The biasing assembly 64 is coupled to the cleaning head 36 at an attachment point 66 that is offset from the intersection point 49, thus pulling and automatically rotating the cleaning head 36 in a single direction. Where the attachment point 66 lies on the central lateral axis 46 and offset from the central longitudinal axis 48 as shown in
In a first embodiment, the biasing assembly 64 includes a helical tension spring 68 disposed within the interior of the first linkage member 28. More particularly, the helical tension spring 68 defines a body portion 70, a first coil end 72 attached to the first linkage member 28, and an opposed, second coil end 74 coupled to the cleaning head 36. The first linkage member 28 includes an annular stopper 76 having a transverse finger 78, to which the first coil end 72 is hooked. It is contemplated that the annular stopper 76 is frictionally retained within the interior of the first linkage member 28.
As indicated above, the second coil end 74 is coupled to the cleaning head 36. In particular, the second coil end 74 is attached to a linking line 80, which in turn is attached to the cleaning head 36. It is contemplated that the linking line 80 is a thin, inflexible strand such as metal wire or nylon, polyethylene, or other synthetic fiber. By way of example only and not of limitation, the linking line 80 includes a ball-shaped plug element that is engaged to an attachment hole 67 defined by the cleaning head 36. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the helical tension spring 68 imparts a compressive force upon the linking line 80, which in turn imparts a rotational force on the cleaning head 36. As explained above, the cleaning head 36 is tensioned or pulled to its maximum pivotal excursion.
As indicated above, the first linkage member 28 includes the first hinge arms 60, and the second linkage member 28 of the cleaning head 36 includes the second hinge arms 63. A gimbal 110 defines a first rotation axis 112 and a second rotation axis 114 that is perpendicular to the first rotation axis 112. The first linkage member 28 is mounted to the gimbal 110 about the first rotation axis 112, and the second linkage member 38 is mounted to the gimbal 110 about the second rotation axis 114. In the second embodiment of the biasing assembly 108, the gimbal 110 defines a bore 116 that extends therethrough, and is coaxial with the first rotation axis 112. Mated to the bore 116 is a pin 118 defining a first end 120 that defines a slot 121, and a second end 122 that includes a cam 124. A helical torsion spring 126 is inserted into the bore 116 in overlapping engagement with the pin 118. The helical torsion spring 126 includes a pin catch 128 which engages the slot 121. It is contemplated that the portion of the pin 118 that abuts from the bore 116 is rotatably coupled to the first linkage member 28, and the cam 124 connects to an inner wall 130 of the hinge arms 60. In this regard, rotation of the pin 118 causes a corresponding rotation of the first linkage member 28 about the first rotation axis 112. The gimbal 110 additionally includes a pair of opposed hinge rods 132 that extend therefrom and are coaxial with the second rotation axis 114. According to the embodiment shown in
With reference to
According to one embodiment, the rod attachment side 42 of the cleaning head 36 defines a groove 86 that corresponds to the arc 84. Engaged to the groove 86 is a connection member 88 that defines the attachment point 66. In this regard, the connection member 88 includes the attachment hole 67, to which the linking line 80 is engaged. The connection member 88 is in a lockable, sliding engagement with the groove 86 that may have predetermined or indeterminate stops. It is contemplated that the connection member 88 slides within the groove 86 to set the angular relationship between the cleaning head 36 and the elongate rod 14 when it is at maximum pivotal engagement.
Referring to
The distal end portion 18 of the elongate rod 14 has a hollow interior with helical threading grooves 96. The bias adjuster includes a hollow cylindrical member 98 having a first open end 100 and a second closed end 102. The hollow cylindrical member 98 also has a threaded exterior that is engageable to the helical threading grooves 96 of the elongate rod 14. The second linking line 94 passes through the first open end 100 and fixed to an attachment point in the vicinity of the second closed end 102. Rotation of the hollow cylindrical member 98 in a first or clockwise direction threads the same into the elongate rod 14, thereby decreasing the tension upon the helical tension spring 68. Accordingly, the rotational force imparted to the cleaning head 36 may be reduced, or eliminated entirely. Rotation of the hollow cylindrical member 98 in a second or counterclockwise direction pulls the same out of the elongate rod 14, thus increasing the tension upon the helical tension spring 68. It is contemplated that the maintenance worker sets a desired tension during use that allows free movement of the elongate rod 14 about the cleaning head 36 without excessive strain, while retaining the automatic retraction functions described above.
In a second embodiment of the cleaning apparatus 10 shown in
The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.
