The present invention generally relates hand-held motorized cleaning apparatuses.
Hand-held mechanized cleaning tools are known in the art and commonly employ a single tool head, such as a brush, accessory or the like, that are rotated or reciprocated to scrub dirt and other materials from a work surface. While known tool heads generally perform adequately on a given type of surface, such as a relatively large surface, they are often times limited in their use for other types of cleaning and/or are generally susceptible to improvement. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved hand-held mechanized cleaning tool.
In one form, the present teachings provide a hand-held motorized household cleaning apparatus that includes a housing, a battery located in the housing, a motor located in the housing and connected to the battery, an output drive shaft connected to the motor, a cleaning attachment coupled for movement with the output drive shaft and a liquid delivery system. The liquid delivery system includes a reservoir, a nozzle, a valve and at least one fluid conduit. The reservoir is coupled to the housing and is operable for storing a pressurized fluid therein. The nozzle is coupled to the housing. The valve is at least partially housed in the housing and operable for selectively permitting the fluid to be dispensed through the fluid conduit between the reservoir and the nozzle.
In another form, the present teachings provide a hand-held motorized household cleaning apparatus with a housing, a battery located in the housing, a motor located in the housing and connected to the battery, an output drive shaft driven by the motor and being rotatable about a shaft axis, a cleaning attachment that is rotatable about an attachment axis, and a flexible adapter that may be selectively interposed between the output drive shaft and the cleaning attachment. The flexible adapter has a first drive end, which is configured to releasably engage the output drive shaft, and a second drive end, which is configured to releasably engage the cleaning attachment. The flexible adapter permits rotation of the cleaning attachment between a first position, wherein the attachment axis is generally coincident with the shaft axis, and a second position, wherein the attachment axis and the shaft axis are arranged in an oblique condition.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference to
With reference to
While the housing 20 has been illustrated and described as employing housing shells 20a of a conventional clam-shell style, the invention, in its broader aspects may be formed somewhat differently. For example, the housing 20 may include housing shells 20a′ as shown in
Returning to
The drive mechanism 24 may include a DC motor 50 and a transmission 52, which may be a planetary gearset, for converting the high-speed, low-torque output of the motor 50 to a relatively lower-speed, higher-torque output that is transmitted via an output member 56 to the removable head 14. The configuration of the output member 56 is known in the art and described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,718,014 and 6,248,007 and as such, they need not be described in significant detail herein. Briefly, the output member 56 generally comprises a one-piece polymer member that may be attached to an output (not specifically shown) of the transmission 52. The output member 56 may include a stud with a shaft receiving area and a leading section that may have a generally triangular block shape. The output member 56 may also have a relatively narrow neck or shaft section behind the leading section, which may form slots behind the cantilevered generally triangular shaped tips of the leading section.
Returning to
With reference to
The piston assembly 72 may include a piston 80, a cylinder sleeve 82 and a spring 84. The piston 80 is configured to be received through the input opening 76 and slidingly disposed in the liquid reservoir 70. The piston 80 may include a seal member 86 that sealingly engages the interior wall 70a of the liquid reservoir 70. The cylinder sleeve 82 may have a cylindrical configuration that defines a spring cavity 88 having an open proximal end and an end wall 90 that closes the distal end of the cylinder sleeve 82. The cylinder sleeve 82 may be fixedly but removably coupled to the liquid reservoir 70. In the example provided, a portion of the spring cavity 88 at the proximal end of the cylinder sleeve 82 is configured to threadably engage the exterior of the liquid reservoir 70. Like the housing 20, the cylinder sleeve 82 may include an overmold 92 that is configured to aid the user of the cleaning apparatus 10 to grip the cylinder sleeve 82 when it is to be installed to or removed from the liquid reservoir 70.
The spring 84 is disposed between the piston 80 and the end wall 90 of the cylinder sleeve 82 and exerts a force onto the piston 80 that urges the piston 80 toward the output stem 78 to thereby maintain the fluid in the liquid reservoir 70 in a pressurized state. The end of the spring 84 proximate the piston 80 may be configured to engage the piston 80 so that the piston 80 may be withdrawn from the liquid reservoir 70 when the cylinder sleeve 82 and the liquid reservoir 70 are uncoupled from one another. A retractor (not shown) may be employed to retract the spring 84 into the cylinder sleeve 82 at times such as when the cylinder sleeve 82 is to be removed from the liquid reservoir 70 for the filling or recharging of the liquid reservoir 70. The retractor may be coupled to the piston 80 so that the piston assembly 72 is removed from the liquid reservoir 70 when the spring 84 is retracted. The retractor may further include a lock or latch that may be employed by the user to selectively maintain the spring 84 in the retracted condition.
With reference to
The actuator 102 may be coupled to the valve stem 112 and positioned so as to extend from the housing 20 where it may be depressed by the thumb or finger of one using the cleaning apparatus 10. As the valve stem 112 is slidably disposed in the valve body 110, downward movement of the valve stem 112 relative to the valve body 110 (which may be caused by depressing the actuator 102) positions the second seal 130b below the inlet 122. While the first seal 130a also translates downwardly, it is still positioned at a location above the outlet 124. With the first and second seals 130a and 130b located above and below the outlet 124 and the inlet 122, respectively, fluid in the liquid reservoir 70, which is under pressure by virtue of the piston assembly 72, may flow through the valve body 110 to the output nozzle 64.
An alternative valve assembly 62a is illustrated in
With reference to
The nozzle body 162 may include a stem portion 170 and a head portion 172. The stem portion 170 may be coupled to the body 164 of the nozzle mount 160 in any appropriate manner. In the example provided, the stem portion 170 includes a male thread form 176 that threadably engages a female thread form (not specifically shown) that is formed along the interior of the body 164. Fluid escapement features 178 may be formed in or on the output nozzle 64 to prevent the stem portion 170 from blocking the flow of fluid through the nozzle mount 160. In the example provided, the fluid escapement features 178 include a pair of flats that are formed on the opposite sides of the stem portion 170.
The head portion 172 is configured with a shape that conforms to the interior surface 168 of the receiver 166. The exterior surface 180 of the head portion 172 may include one or more channels 182 that may extend along the length of the exterior surface 180. The channels 182 may be spaced about the exterior surface 180 in any desired manner. For example, the channels 182 may spiral about the head portion 172, and/or may extend in a direction that is angled to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 172 so as to intersect the longitudinal axis and/or may extend in directions that are angled to the longitudinal axis of the head portion 172 and which are skewed to the longitudinal axis. An assembly feature, such as a slot 184, may be formed on the head portion 172 to facilitate the installation and adjustment of the nozzle body 162 to the nozzle mount 160.
In operation, the nozzle body 162 may be rotated relative to the nozzle mount 160 to thereby alter an amount of clearance between the interior surface 168 of the receiver 166 and the exterior surface 180 of the head portion 172. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure, the amount of such clearance dictates, at least partially, the amount of fluid that may be dispensed by the output nozzle 64 and/or the size of the stream that is dispensed. The channels 182 in the exterior surface 180 of the head portion 172 ensure that fluid may be dispensed even when the exterior surface 180 of the head portion 172 is abutted against the interior surface 168 of the receiver 166. Alternatively, the channels 182 may be omitted so as to inhibit fluid dispensing if the exterior surface 180 of the head portion 172 is abutted against the interior surface 168 of the receiver 166.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The handle actuator 252 may include a triggering rod 290, an auxiliary actuator 292 and an auxiliary trigger 294. The triggering rod 290 may be journally supported by wall members 296 that are formed in the handle housing shells 260 so as to be slidable therein between the auxiliary actuator 292 and the auxiliary trigger 294. The auxiliary actuator 292 and the auxiliary trigger 294 may each be pivotably coupled to one of the handle housing shells 260. Upward rotation of the auxiliary actuator 292 causes the triggering rod 290 to slide within the handle housing 250 toward the auxiliary trigger 294. Similarly, upward rotation of the auxiliary trigger 294 causes the triggering rod 290 to slide within the handle housing 250 toward the auxiliary actuator 292. It should be noted that as contact between the actuator 102 and the auxiliary actuator 292 when the extension handle 16 is coupled to the main body 12 biases the auxiliary actuator 292 into the upwardly rotated position. To operate the liquid dispensing system 28 when the extension handle 16 is coupled to the main body 12, the user need only depress the auxiliary trigger 294 (i.e., rotate the auxiliary trigger 294 upward). This movement of the auxiliary trigger 294 is translated through the triggering rod 290 and to the auxiliary actuator 292, which in turn pushes the actuator 102 downwardly to cause liquid to be dispensed in the manner that is described above.
With reference to
The flexible member 314 may be formed from an elastomeric material that may have a durometer of about 35 Shore A to about 60 Shore A. The flexible member 314 includes a pair of mounting flanges 320 that are separated by a necked-down portion 322. Each of the mounting flanges 320 includes a plurality of drive tabs 328 that engage corresponding features that are formed into the female and male sockets 310 and 312.
In the example provided, the female and male sockets 310 and 312 are preformed and thereafter inserted into a mold (not shown) that may be employed to both form the flexible member 314 and fixedly couple the flexible member 314 to the female and male sockets 310 and 312. The drive tabs 328 extend through the female and male sockets 310 and 312 and are configured so as to inhibit axial movement of the female and male sockets 310 and 312 relative to the flexible member 314.
In operation, the resilient nature of the material from which the flexible member 314 is formed tends to maintain the female and male sockets 310 and 312 about a common rotational axis. The necked-down portion 322, however, permits the removable head 14 to be rotated even when the axes 302 and 304 are arranged in an oblique manner.
While the cleaning apparatus has been described and illustrated as employing a liquid dispensing system with a liquid reservoir of a specific configuration, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the invention, in its broader aspects, may be configured somewhat differently.
For example, the liquid dispensing system may be configured as illustrated in
The liner 410 may include a body portion 420, which may be formed from a sheet plastic material, and a flange portion 422. The body portion 420 forms a collapsible container that may be filled with a desired liquid. The flange portion 422 extends about the circumference of the open end of the body portion 420. The flange portion 422 extends outwardly from the body portion 420 and may optionally extend inwardly to effectively close off the open end of the body portion 420. This latter configuration may be desirable, for example, for marketing liners 410 that have been pre-filled with a liquid.
The liner holder 412 may be a generally tubular housing into which the body portion 420 of the liner 410 may be received. The liner holder 412 may also include an abutting face 430 against which the flange portion 422 may be abutted. In the particular example provided, the liner holder 412 does not extend continuously about the circumference of the body portion 420 to thereby define a window 436 through which a user of the cleaning apparatus 10 may readily determine the extent to which the liner 410 is filled with a liquid. Alternatively, the liner holder 412 may be formed in whole or in part with a transparent material that permits the user to view the liner 410 therethrough.
The valve assembly 414 may include a valve disk 440 and a valve 442. The valve disk 440 may be an annular disk that is configured to abut the flange portion 422 of the liner 410 on a side opposite the liner holder 412. The valve 442 is coupled to the valve disk 440 and is configured to receive fluid from the liner 410. In situations where the flange portion 422 of the liner closes off the open end of the body portion 420, the valve 442 may be configured to pierce the flange portion 422 when the cartridge assembly 400 is assembled.
The liner lid holder 416 is configured to engage the liner holder 412 such that the flange portion 422 of the liner 410 is clamped between and sealingly engages the abutting face 430 and the valve disk 440. In the example provided, the liner lid holder 416 is an annular collar having a set of internal threads 446, which are configured to threadably engage mating external threads 448 formed on the liner holder 412, and a nosepiece 450. The nosepiece 450 extends forwardly and has an interior diameter that is configured to receive the valve 442 therethrough. The exterior of the liner lid holder 416 may include features, such as recesses or protrusions 452 that permit the liner lid holder 416 to be more easily gripped by the hand of a user.
The housing assembly 402 may include a housing 460, a receiver 462 and a compressor 464. The housing 460 may be integrally formed the housing 20 (
The receiver 462 is a sleeve-like member that is configured to receive the nosepiece 450 of the liner lid holder 416. In one embodiment, the receiver 462 aligns the valve 442 to an output 470 that is formed in the receiver 462 so that the valve 442 sealingly engages the output 470. Alternatively, one or both of the nosepiece 450 and the receiver 462 may carry a seal member (not shown), such as an O-ring, for sealingly engaging the other one of the nosepiece 450 and the receiver 462.
The compressor 464 may include a piston 476 that is movable into and out of the liner holder 412 to apply a compressive force onto the contents of the liner 410. In the example provided, the piston 476 is mounted for translation relative to the housing 460 and biased forwardly by a spring 480. The spring 480 may be of any type (e.g., a compression spring), but in the particular example provided, is a band or constant-force spring of the type that is commonly employed in commercially available tape measures. The band spring may include a flat band 482 that is coiled about a spool 484 that is supported on a hub 486 that is formed on the housing 460. A first end of the flat band 482 engages the hub 486, while the opposite end of the flat band 482 is fixedly coupled to the piston 476. The flat band 482 is configured to bias the piston 476 forwardly toward the hub 486.
A retractor 490 may be employed to permit a user to pull the piston 476 rearwardly for loading and unloading of the cartridge assembly 400 to the housing assembly 402. The retractor 490 may include an arm 478, a dog 478a, which may be coupled to a forward end of the arm 478, and a pull 490a, which may be coupled to a rearward portion of the arm 478 and may be shaped in any desired manner to permit the user to use one or more fingers and/or a thumb to actuate the retractor 490. In the example provided, the arm 478 is a structural link between the dog 478a and the pull 490a such that rearward movement of the arm 478 (in response to the user pulling the pull 490a in a rearward direction) causes corresponding rearward movement of the dog 478a. While the arm 478 is configured to slide through an aperture 478b in the piston 476, contact between the dog 478a and the piston 476 (when the dog 478a is being moved in a rearward direction) moves the piston 476 in a rearward direction. A spring (not shown) may be employed to bias the dog 478a forwardly.
The compressor 464 may further include a latch 496 that engages the arm 478, the dog 478a or the piston 476 when the piston 476 is located in a rearward position to thereby maintain the piston 476 in such condition for the loading and/or unloading of the cartridge assembly 400 to/from the housing assembly 402.
To load the cartridge assembly 400, the user may pull the pull 490a to move the piston 476 rearwardly and may engage the latch 496 to maintain the piston 476 at a rearward position. A liner 410 may be inserted to the liner holder 412 such that the flange portion 422 abuts the abutting face 430 and thereafter filled with a desired liquid. The valve assembly 414 is installed over the flange portion 422 and the liner lid holder 416 is coupled to the liner holder 412 to thereby seal the flange portion 422 of the liner 410 between the abutting face 430 and the valve disk 440. The cartridge assembly 400 is installed to the housing assembly 402 such that the nosepiece 450 is received into the receiver 462 and if so configured, the liner holder 412 engages the housing assembly 402. The latch 268 may thereafter manipulated to permit the piston 476 to travel forwardly and contact the liner 410. A force, which may be generated by the spring 480, may be applied onto the liner 410 which places the fluid in the liner 410 in a pressurized state. The valve 442 may be configured to open in response to the pressurized state of the fluid in the liner 410, or may be opened in response to contact between the valve 442 and another element, such as the receiver 462.
Yet another liquid dispensing system is illustrated in
To dispense fluids from the reservoir bottle 500, the push button 514 is depressed, which causes the rocker 516 to pivot downwardly and actuate the valve assembly 62b. As the valve assembly 62b is part of a pump in the example provided, fluid is dispensed through the hose 512 after which the valve assembly 62b is opened to permit fluid in the reservoir to be drawn into the pump. One or more springs 520 may be employed to return the rocker 516. While this embodiment has been described and illustrated as entirely manually powered, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the reservoir 500 may alternatively be a disposable aerosol-type container and the valve assembly 62b a normally-closed valve that may be selectively opened by the rocker 516 to cause the contents of the reservoir 500 to be dispensed.
Yet another liquid dispensing system is illustrated in
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With reference to
The housing B12 defines a handle B18 and operably houses the power-and-drive train B14. The housing B12 has a generally triangular shape in bottom view, with its nose B20 being relatively smaller than its rear end B22. This configuration permits the cleaning tool B10 to access via the nose B20 of the housing B12 relatively tight areas, such as corners, while maintaining the capacity for cleaning relatively large surfaces, such as floors.
The power-and-drive train B14 includes a battery pack B30, a drive motor B32, a power switch B34 and a transmission B36. The motor B32 is electrically coupled to the battery pack B30 via the power switch B34 in a known manner. Due to the conventional nature of such battery packs, a detailed discussion of the battery pack B30 need not be provided herein except to note that the battery pack B30 may include one or more battery cell that may be of any known type. For example, the battery pack B30 may be a discrete and removable unit having one or more nickel-cadmium (NiCd), lead-acid, lithium ion, lithium ion polymer, alkaline or nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) cells that are rechargeable via a separate charging station, or may be a unit having one or more nickel-cadmium (NiCd), lead-acid, lithium ion, lithium ion polymer, alkaline or nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) cells that are permanently housed in the housing B12 and rechargeable charger that is wholly or partially housed in the housing, or may include a plurality of conventional commercially available reusable or disposable battery cells, such as lithium or alkaline batteries (e.g., AA, C, D and/or 9V alkaline batteries).
With additional reference to
In the particular embodiment illustrated, the transmission B36 further includes a first switch B60 and a second switch B62, which are employed to selectively uncouple the second output gear B46 and the third output gear B50, respectively, from gear train B40 such that one or more of the tool heads B16b and B16c are placed in a stationary (i.e., unpowered) condition. In the particular example provided, the first switch B60 is coupled to the first idler gear B44 and permits the first idler gear B44 to be translated between a first position, wherein the first idler gear B44 is meshingly engaged to both the first and second idler gears B42 and B46, and a second position, wherein the first idler gear B44 is disengaged from at least one of the first and second idler gears B42 and B46.
Likewise, the second switch B62 is coupled to the second idler gear B48 and permits the second idler gear B48 to be translated between a first position, wherein the second idler gear B48 is meshingly engaged to both the second and third idler gears B46 and B50, and a second position, wherein the second idler gear B48 is disengaged from at least one of the second and third idler gears B46 and B50.
As noted above, the tool heads B16a, B16b and B16c are removably coupled to the output members B54a, B54b and B54c, respectively, such that rotation of an output member causes the associated tool head to rotate. In the particular embodiment illustrated, each of the tool heads B16a, B16b and B16c is a rotary brush, but as those skilled in the art will appreciate, they could alternatively be a pad or sponge-like material of the various types that are well known in the art for use in tasks such as cleaning, polishing and buffing.
Configuration of the cleaning tool B10 in the manner described above permits the user to selectively engage or disengage the third output gear B50 via the second switch B62 or the second and third output gears B46 and B50 via the switch B60 to thereby divert rotary power to the desired tool head or tool heads in a desired manner.
In
The cleaning tool B10″ illustrated in
In
The secondary tool head B50 is illustrated as being a bristle brush but may alternatively be formed from a pad or sponge-like material of the various types that are well known in the art and employed on tasks such as scrubbing, polishing and buffing. The secondary tool head B50 is slidably housed in the housing B12a of the cleaning tool B10a and movable via an actuator B52 between an extended position, which is illustrated in
In its simplest form, neither the motor B32a nor the transmission B36a is coupled to the secondary tool head B50 and the user of the cleaning tool B10a is therefore required to manually reciprocate the secondary tool head B50 on a work surface to perform the desired detail cleaning task. With additional reference to
In
The first tool head B16a is configured to receive a rotational input that is provided by the motor B32b and may be a brush, pad or sponge-like material of a type that is well known in the art and employed for tasks such as scrubbing, polishing and buffing. The first tool head B16a may be coupled to the power-and-drive train B14b by any appropriate means, but is preferably removably coupled thereto with VELCRO®.
The second tool head B16b may be a brush, pad or sponge-like material of a type that is well known in the art and employed for tasks such as scrubbing, polishing and buffing and need not be identical in configuration to that of the first tool head B16a. The second tool head B16b is configured to be received between a pair of laterally spaced-apart guide rails B90 that are formed in the housing B12b. The guide rails B90 cooperate to fix the second tool head B16b laterally relative to the housing B12b, while a latch B96 is employed to fix the second tool head B16b longitudinally relative to the housing B12b. The latch B96 includes a locking tab B98 that is biased downwardly away from the housing B12b. The locking tab B98 includes a tactile portion B100, which is configured to be engaged by the finger or thumb of the user to push the locking tab B98 upwards when loading or unloading the second tool head B16b to the guide rails B90 (illustrated in
With reference to
In
The tool head B16c includes a first or large surface portion B172 and a second or detail portion B174. The first portion B172 may be a brush, pad or sponge-like material of a type that is well known in the art and employed for tasks such as scrubbing, polishing and buffing. The second portion B174 may also be a brush, pad or sponge-like material of a type that is well known in the art and employed for tasks such as scrubbing, polishing and buffing and may be different than the first portion B172 to provide, for example, more or less aggressive cleaning capabilities. In the particular embodiment provided, the first portion B172 is made of a sponge-like material, while the second portion B174 is made of a mildly abrasive pad-like material, such as SCOTCHBRITE®, which is manufactured by the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. The second portion B174 is defined by a spherical radius that is generally smaller than the radius that defines the cylindrically shaped first portion B172 so as to avoid undesired contact between the second portion B174 and the work surface B176. Alternatively, the radii that define the first and second portions B172 and B174 may similarly sized, especially if the first and second portions B172 and B174 are made of similar materials. Also alternatively, the second portion B174 may include, for example, a plurality of bristles that are oriented generally parallel to the rotational axis of the tool head B16c.
In
With additional reference to
The third removable tool head B202b has a generally triangular shape and is configured to provide a reciprocating output. Like the second removable tool head B202a, the third removable tool head B202b may be employed for powering a brush, a sponge or a pad-like material of the types that are well known in the art for tasks such as scrubbing, buffing or polishing. The nose B250 of the third removable tool head B202b is configured to provide access in relatively tight areas, such as corners. Although the third removable tool head B202b has been illustrated and described as being generally triangular in shape and providing a reciprocating output, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it may be configured somewhat differently in the alternative. For example, the third removable tool head B202b may have a round shape and be configured to provide a rotational output similar to the removable tool head B202, but otherwise in a different orientation that may be better suited from an ergonomic perspective for some tasks than the removable tool head B202. Construction in this manner permits the user to select a removable tool head that not only fits into a desired area but which is also more tailored to accommodate the various human factors that are associated with a given cleaning task.
In
In the example provided, the flexible joint C70 includes a first portion C72, which is fixedly coupled to the handle portion C12b, a second portion C74, which is fixedly coupled to the head portion C14b, and an intermediate portion C76, which pivotably couples the first and second portions C72 and C74 to one another. The intermediate portion C76 is similar to a conventional universal joint but includes a plurality of detents (not shown). The detents, upon engagement, serve to resist movement of the first and second portions C72 and C74 relative to one another. When a force in excess of a predetermined threshold is applied to the flexible joint C70, however, the detents are disengaged to permit the position of the first and second portions C72 and C74 to be selectively adjusted relative to one another.
Advantageously, the incorporation of the detents into the flexible joint C70 aids the user to limit the force that is applied by the user to the cleaning tool C10b, since the application of a force that exceeds the predetermined threshold will cause the first and second portions C72 and C74 to be repositioned relative to one another. In this regard, the predetermined force may be sized so as to prevent the user from applying a force to the handle portion C12b that would drain the rechargeable battery C26b too rapidly or which would cause undue wear to either the motor C28b or the tool head C22b. Alternatively, a lock or latch may be used to releasably fix the first and second portions C72 and C74 to one another.
In the embodiment of
The handle portion C12c includes a first portion C80 and a second portion C82 that are pivotally coupled via a hinge C84. The hinge C84 permits the second portion C82 to be moved between a folded condition (shown in solid line) and an extended condition (shown in phantom line). In the example provided, a spring (not shown) biases the second portion C82 toward the folded condition and a latch C86 is employed to inhibit rotation of the second portion C82 so as to retain the second portion C82 in the extended condition. Alternatively, the spring may be omitted and the latching configuration changed to latch the second portion C82 into the both the folded and extended conditions. In this regard, a second latch may be employed to releasably couple the second portion C82 to the first portion C80 when the second portion C82 is placed in the folded condition or a two-position latch may be substituted for the latch C86.
In
In
The head portion C14d includes a motor C28d, which provided rotational power for a tool head C22d, a power switch C24d for selectively operating the motor C28d, a first coupling recess C104, which is sized to receive the first coupling stem C100, and a pair of second contacts C106a and C106b, which are located in the coupling recess C104. The contact C106a is electrically coupled to the power switch C24d while the contact C106b is electrically coupled to the motor C28d.
The intermediate portion C16d is illustrated as including a housing C110 and a pair of intermediate contacts C112a and C112b. The housing C110 defines a second coupling recess C114 and a second coupling stem C116. The intermediate contacts C112a and C112b extend the length of the housing C110, terminating at their opposite end at locations in the second coupling recess C114 and on the second coupling stem C116.
An optional reservoir C40d is also housed in the housing C110 and may be employed to hold and selectively dispense a cleaner, rinse agent or wax in a manner that is similar to that which is described above. Alternatively, a hollow interior portion of housing C110 may define the reservoir C40d.
The modular configuration of the cleaning tool C10d permits the user to convert between a compact configuration and an extended configuration. With the compact configuration, the handle portion C12d is coupled directly to the head portion C14d. More specifically, the first coupling stem C100 is lockably but releasably inserted into the first coupling recess C104 such that the first contacts C102a and C102b are electrically coupled to the second contacts C106a and C106b, respectively, to thereby electrically couple the power switch C24d and the motor C28d to the rechargeable battery C26d.
With the extended configuration, the first coupling stem C100 is lockably but releasably inserted into the second coupling recess C114 such that the first contacts C102a and C102b are electrically coupled to the intermediate contacts C112a and C112b, respectively. Also, the second coupling stem C116 is lockably but releasably inserted into the first coupling recess C104 such that the second contacts C106a and C106b are electrically coupled to the intermediate contacts C112a and C112b, respectively, to thereby electrically couple the power switch C24d and the motor C28d to the rechargeable battery C26d.
With reference to
The tool attachment D10 includes a base portion D14, a first or large surface cleaning portion D16 and a second or detail cleaning portion D18. The base portion D14 is configured from a suitable material, such as wood or plastic, and facilitates the coupling of the tool attachment D10 to the mechanized tool D12 as well as supports both the first and second portions D16 and D18. Suitable means for coupling the base portion D14 to the mechanized tool D12 are well known in the art and need not be discussed in detail herein. Examples of several coupling means are disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,697,115; 5,718,014; 5,956,792; 5,978,999; 6,248,007; and 6,253,405.
The first portion D16 includes a plurality of bristles D20 that are fixedly coupled to the base portion D14. The bristles D20 extend outwardly from the base portion D14 in a first direction. The second portion D18 similarly includes a plurality of bristles D22 that are fixedly coupled to the base portion D14, but the bristles D22 extend outwardly from the base portion D14 in a second direction that is skewed to the first direction by an amount that is greater than about 45°. In the particular example provided, the bristles D20 of the first portion D16 extend generally perpendicularly downward from a first surface or face D26 of the base portion D14, while the bristles D22 of the second portion D18 extend from a second surface or edge D28 of the base portion D14 in a manner that is generally parallel to the face D26.
In the embodiment illustrated, the quantity of the bristles D22 that extend from the edge D28 is substantially smaller than the number of bristles D20 that extend from the face D26, such that the first portion D14 is suited for cleaning relatively large surfaces, such as the flat tiles D36 of a shower enclosure, while the second portion D18 is suited for detail cleaning, such as the grout lines D38 between the flat tiles D36.
While the bristles D20 and D22 may be formed from any natural or synthetic material, the bristles D20 and D22 need not be made of identical materials, or have identical shapes, sizes or other characteristics, due to the nature of the tasks that they perform. In one embodiment, the bristles D20 are formed of a relatively soft nylon whereas the bristles D22 are formed from a relatively harder or stiffer nylon to provide the second portion D18 with scrubbing capabilities that are relatively more aggressive that that of the first portion D16. In another embodiment, the bristles D20 are formed from a material that is relatively harder or stiffer than that of the bristles D22, so that the bristles D22 perform less aggressively than the bristles D20.
In
While the tool head D10a is illustrated as being used in a rotary manner, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to tool attachments that are used in a reciprocating manner as well. The tool head D10a includes a base portion D14a, a first portion D16a and a second portion D18a. The base portion D14a and the second portion D18a are generally similar to the base portion D14 and second portion D18, respectively, discussed above. The first portion D16a includes a set of first bristles D60 and a set of second bristles D62. The first bristles D60 extend from the base portion D14a by a first length have a first set of characteristics, such as bristle diameter, bristle shape, bristle material and bristle hardness. The second bristles D62 extend from the base portion D14a by a second length, which is smaller than the first length, and have a second set of characteristics that are at least partially different from the first set of characteristics so that the second set of bristles D62 provide a different scrubbing characteristic (e.g., more aggressive or abrasive than that of the first set of bristles D60). In the particular example provided, the first set of bristles D60 is relatively smaller in diameter and softer than the second set of bristles D62.
As best shown in
With reference to
An alternate form of the tool head is illustrated in
A second alternate form of the tool head is illustrated in
The second abrasive pad D78 is an annular pad that may be permanently or removably mounted to the base portion D14a′″ via any known method, including adhesives, fasteners, clips and/or VELCRO®. In the particular embodiment provided, the first abrasive pad D76′″ has a mildly abrasive characteristic that is relatively less abrasive than that of the second abrasive pad D78. When the user of the tool head D10a′″ desires to employ the second abrasive pad D78, sufficient pressure is applied to cause the compression spring D84 to compress so that second abrasive pad D78 may be lowered to the work surface.
With reference to
In
The first portion D150 is shaped as a generally hollow cylinder, and may be formed with a plurality of bristles or from a suitable pad-type material, such as an abrasive pad or a sponge. The second portion D152 is configured from a material and/or with a shape that facilitates detail cleaning. In the example provided, the second portions D152a, D152b and D152c are provided in a kit so that the user of the tool head D10e may selectively attach a desired one to the mechanized tool D12e.
The second portion D152a is illustrated to be an annular ring of fairly coarse bristles D158 having relatively more aggressive cleaning characteristics than that of the first portion D150. The bristles D158 of the second portion D152a are relatively shorter than the bristles of the first portion D150 so that the second portion D152a is ordinarily not in contact with the work surface; increased pressure or tilting of the mechanized tool D12e is required to bring the bristles D158 into contact with the work surface. Alternatively, the second portion D152a may be formed from an abrasive or sponge-like pad material. The second portion D152b is formed of a desired material, which may or may not be identical to that of the first portion D150, and is shaped in a conical manner that permits the tool head D10e to access corners and crevices. The second portion D152c is formed from a suitable material that permits the user of the tool head D10e to perform a buffing or polishing operation. Although the second portion D152c is illustrated as being hollow and frustoconical in shape, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the second portion D152c may formed to any desired shape.
In
The tool head D10f is a hollow cylinder that is preferably closed on one end in a spherical radius. In the embodiment provided, the tool head D10f includes a plurality of bristles D180 that extend outwardly from a flexible base portion D182, but as those skilled in the art will appreciate, any flexible pad-like material (e.g., a sponge or an abrasive pad) may be used in the alternative. In use, the tool head D10f is ordinarily biased by the spine D172 into a straight or in-line configuration. As best seen in
In
The caddy E10a includes a reservoir portion E60 and a coupling portion E62. With additional reference to
The coupling portion E62 is configured to align a corresponding valve E80 on the fluid reservoir E50 of the cleaning tool E12a to the valve E74. More specifically, alignment of the valve E80 to the valve E74 effects the opening of both valves E74 and E80 to permit fluid to drain from the reservoir E70 in the caddy E10a to the fluid reservoir E50 in the cleaning tool E10a. In this manner, the fluid reservoir E50 may be re-charged when ever the cleaning tool E10a is replaced to the caddy E10a. In the particular embodiment provided, the coupling portion E62 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart guide rails E90 that cooperate with a mating geometric form on the handle E14a to center the handle E14a relative to the valve E74 as well as to position the valve E80 in a vertical direction relative to the valve E74. A blind wall (not shown) is employed to limit the amount by which the handle E14a may be pushed into the coupling portion E62; placement of the handle E14a at the blind wall while it is engaged to the guide rails E90 aligns the valve E80 to the valve E74. In the particular embodiment provided, the caddy E10a is supported via a strap E92. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that any other known means for retaining the caddy E10a to an appropriate (generally vertical) surface may alternatively be employed.
In
The caddy E10b includes a housing E100 that defines an aperture E102 for receiving the tool head E54b. One or more seals E104 extend around the perimeter of the aperture E102 and are located vertically such that they sealingly engage the tool head E54b or the cleaning head E16b to thereby prevent the emission of undesirable odors from the caddy E10b.
Additionally or alternatively, the caddy E10b may include a charger base E110 and/or a sanitizing system E112. The charger base E110 is of the type that whose construction and operation are well known in the art and as such, a detailed discussion of the charger base E110 need not be provided herein. Briefly, the charger base E110 includes a plurality of electrical contacts E116 that engage mating contacts (not shown) on the cleaning tool E12b when the cleaning tool E12b is docked to the caddy E10b to thereby facilitate the recharging of the battery E118 in the cleaning tool E12b. The sanitizing system E112 may be of a type that is known in the art and may utilize chemicals, ultraviolet light and/or ultrasound to effect the sanitizing of the tool head E54b.
Also additionally or alternatively, the caddy E10b may be employed to replenish the reservoir E50b in the cleaning tool E12b. In this regard, the caddy E10b includes a caddy reservoir E120 and a nozzle E122 that is in fluid connection with the caddy reservoir E120 and is employed to inject or dispense fluid into a valve (not shown) in the fluid reservoir E50b. The caddy reservoir E120 and nozzle E122 may be a discrete and disposable unit that is removably coupled to the housing E100. In such an embodiment, the caddy reservoir E120 may be charged with a dispensing fluid that causes the fluid contained therein to be dispensed through the nozzle E122 when the nozzle E122 is coupled to the valve in the fluid reservoir E50b. Alternatively, the caddy reservoir E120 may simply employ gravity to dispense the fluid contained therein through the nozzle E122. A pair of guide rails E124 (only one of which is shown) or other alignment means may be employed to better control the alignment of the cleaning tool E12b to the caddy E10b.
Also alternatively, the caddy reservoir E120 may be defined by the housing E100 and manually refillable. In such an embodiment, gravity may be used to dispense the fluid contained in the caddy reservoir E120 or the action of inserting the cleaning tool E12b to the caddy E10b may be employed to generate fluid pressure within the caddy reservoir E120 that is employed to inject the fluid through the nozzle E122 and the valve in the reservoir E50b.
While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/532,958 entitled Hand Held Scrubbing Tool, filed Dec. 29, 2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/447,240 entitled Hand-Held Cleaning Apparatus, filed Feb. 13, 2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/447,232 entitled Hand-Held Motorized Cleaning Apparatus With Integral Fluid Reservoir and Method of Constructing Same, filed Feb. 13, 2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/447,100 entitled Hand-Held Motorized Cleaning Apparatus With Extended Reach Capabilities, filed Feb. 13, 2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/447,141 entitled Cleaning Tool For Use With A Hand-Held Motorized Cleaning Apparatus, filed Feb. 13, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/447,113 entitled Hand-Held Motorized Cleaning Apparatus And Caddy Therefor, filed Feb. 13, 2003.
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