BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the present invention would 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:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating a portion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the cover detached from the holder; and
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the cover attached to the holder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
With reference first to FIG. 1, a lint roller assembly 10 comprises a holder 12, adhesive roll 14 and cover 16. The holder 12, in turn, includes a lint roller support section 18 which is longitudinally adjacent a handle 20. The lint roller support section 18, furthermore, is dimensioned to rotatably support the adhesive roll 14 on the holder 12.
With reference now, particularly to FIG. 2, with the adhesive roll 14 positioned over the lint roller support section 18, the adhesive roll 14 is longitudinally or axially entrapped between two or more flexible fingers 22 at a free end of the holder 12 and an annular surface 24 formed at the junction of the handle 20 and lint roller support section 18. However, even though the adhesive roll 14 is entrapped between the fingers 22 and surface 24, rotation of the adhesive roll 14 around the lint roller support section 18 can freely occur.
Still referring to FIG. 2, the cover 16 is generally tubular and cylindrical and includes an open end 26 having a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the adhesive roll 14. The cover 16 also preferably has an axial length at least as long, and more preferably somewhat longer, than the axial length of the lint roller support section 18. As such, with the lint roller cover 16 positioned over the adhesive roll 14, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover 16 completely encloses the adhesive roll 14 and protects the adhesive on the outwardly facing sheet of the adhesive roll 14.
The cover 16, furthermore, may be constructed of any desired rigid material. However, in the preferred embodiment, the cover 16 is made of a plastic material.
With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment of the cover 16 to the roller support section 18 of the holder 12 is shown. In particular, the fingers 22 form a recess 30 at the free end of the lint roller support section 18. A catch 32, preferably in the form of a radially, inwardly extending protrusion around the fingers 22 is formed on one or more of the fingers 22 so that the catch 22 protrudes into the recess 30. The holder 12 is also made out of a plastic material so that the fingers 22 may flex somewhat.
A latch 34 is formed on the cover 16 so that the latch 34 comprises a radially outwardly extending projection around at least a portion of the cover 16. Furthermore, the outside diameter of the latch 34 is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the catch 32.
Consequently, in order to attach the cover to the holder 12, the cover 16 is actually slid from the position shown in FIG. 3 over the free end of the lint roller support section 18. As the cover 16 is fully inserted over the lint roller support section 18, the latch 34 and the catch 32 deflect relative to each other which allows the latch 34 to pass over the catch 32. When the cover 16 is fully inserted over the lint roller support section 18, the catch 34 and catch 32 return to their undeflected position in which the catch 32 and latch 34 are detachably secured together against axial movement. Furthermore, in this position, a circular flange 40 on the cover 16 engages an end surface 42 on the lint roller support section 18 to thereby orient the cover 16 so that it is substantially coaxial with the lint roller support section 18.
It will, of course, be understood that the cover 16 may be removed from the holder 12 and replaced on the holder 12 as often as desired. In practice, the cover 16 is removed from the holder 12 whenever use of the lint roller is desired. After the use of the lint roller is no longer desired, the cover 16 is replaced on the holder 12, thus protecting the adhesive on the adhesive roll 14 in the desired fashion.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple and yet effective cover for a lint roller. Having described my invention, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those of skill in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080040873
