Patent Application
20150225968
The following description relates to a multi-purpose cleaning trowel, and in particular, to a multi-purpose cleaning trowel that may be adapted for use in multiple environments.
Conventional cleaning devices for cleaning floors, counters, tables or other surfaces may include a replaceable or reusable pad secured to head of the cleaning device. Traditionally, the pad is secured to the head with a releasable fastener, such as VELCRO® or other hook and loop fastener. However, in conventional cleaning devices, the releasable fastener fastening the pad to the head may lose strength after repeated use. As a result, the pad may become loose, or even removed, from the head during use.
In other scenarios, a surface to be cleaned may include dried or hardened particles adhered thereon. Conventional cleaning devices may be useful in moving or collecting loose particles. However, the pad may pass over the dried or hardened particles leaving these particles behind to be cleaned by other means.
Further, conventional cleaning devices may include an elongated handle so that a user may, for example, use the cleaning device similar to a mop or broom on a floor. The elongated handle allows to the user to more easily reach a surface to be cleaned with the pad. However, the amount of force applied to the surface via the pad may be limited by the elongated handle. In addition, the elongated handle may make the cleaning device difficult or awkward to use on surfaces that are easily reached by user, such as a counter or table.
Further still, with conventional cleaning devices, it may be difficult for a user to identify areas of a surface that need to be cleaned if lighting is poor. For example, lighting may be poor around furniture, in corners, or other shadowy areas. In addition, where areas to be cleaned may be identified by a user, these areas are often limited to areas where debris, particles or other contaminants are visible under ordinary viewing conditions. It may be difficult to identify areas on surfaces where germs or other contaminants are located.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a multi-purpose cleaning trowel that is adapted for use in multiple environments that addresses the drawbacks described above.
According to one embodiment, there is provided cleaning trowel comprising a base having a first side, a second side, a flexible section, a blade section, and a mounting section positioned between the flexible section and the blade section. The cleaning trowel further includes a handling device on the first side of the base at the mounting section, and a cleaning pad receiving region to the base.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps, and processes.
While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described or illustrated.
The flexible section 16 extends along a portion of the length of the base 12. In one embodiment, the flexible section 16 includes one or more grooves 22. The grooves 22 may be areas of reduced thickness of the flexible section 16 relative to immediately adjacent portions of the flexible section 16. The one or more grooves may extend transversely across the flexible section 16. The one or more grooves 22 may allow for flexing of the flexible section 16 between a flexed condition and an unflexed condition. In one embodiment, the flexible section 16 is made of a different material than the rest of the base 12. The flexible section 16 may be made from, for example, a plastic, polymer or other similar material, preferably having elastic properties. The flexible section 16 may be secured directly or indirectly to mounting section 20 by conventional fastening methods. Alternately, the flexible section 16 may be co-molded, over-molded or the like, with the mounting section 20. The flexible section 16 may also be a different color than the rest of the base 12. In addition, the flexible section 16 may have either transparent or opaque properties. The color and/or light transmitting properties of the flexible section 16 may be a result of the material from which the flexible section 16 is made, or may be added during or after a manufacturing process.
The blade section 18 may extend from an opposite end of the mounting section 20 than the flexible section 16. The blade section 18 includes a proximate end 24 nearest the mounting section 20 and a free, distal end 26. A thickness of the blade section 18 may decrease along a direction from the proximate end 24 to the distal end 26. Accordingly, in use, the blade section 18 may be used to chip or remove hardened objects from a cleaning surface. In one embodiment, the blade section 18 has a width that is less than a width of the mounting section 20. In addition, the blade section 18 may be formed of the same material as the mounting section 20. For example, the blade section 18 may be made from a hard plastic, compressed rubber or similar material that is resistant to chipping and suitable for removal of hardened debris or contaminants from a surface to be cleaned. In one embodiment, the blade section 18 is formed integrally with the mounting section 20 as a one-piece, monolithic construction. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the blade section 18 may be separately attached.
The trowel 10 also includes a handling device 28. In an embodiment, the handling device 28 is removably secured to the mounting section 20 of the base 12. The handling device 28 may be removably secured to the mounting section 20, for example, with removable fasteners, such a bolts or screws, by snap, interference or friction fit, or other similar releasable fastening devices. Alternately, the handling device 28 may be formed integral with or permanently mounted to the mounting section 20.
In one embodiment, the handling device 28 is a fixed handle 28. The fixed handle 28 includes a handle base 30 and a gripping portion 32. In one embodiment, the handle base 30 is in contact with the first side 14 of the mounting section 20 and is removably secured thereto. The gripping portion 32 extends from the handle base 30. In one embodiment, the gripping portion 32 extends from the handle base 30 at an angle, for example, ninety degrees. Accordingly, in this example, the gripping portion 32 is spaced from the base 12 by the handle base 30, and may extend substantially parallel to the base 12. It is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to this example and other configurations are considered. For example, the gripping portion 32 may extend from the handle base 30 at a non-right angle. The gripping portion 32 may include ergonomic features our contours, or may be otherwise ergonomically shaped.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the swivel base 128 is formed in a two-axis, gimbal-like manner, and may include a first swivel part 128A, a second swivel part 128B and a third swivel part 128C. The first swivel part 128A may be removably secured to the mounting section 20 in the same fashion as described above with respect to the fixed handle 28. For example, as shown in
The second swivel part 128B may be rotationally coupled to the first swivel part 128A. The second swivel part 128B may be rotatable on a first axis ‘A’ in a first and a second direction. The third swivel part 128C may be rotationally coupled to the second swivel part 128B, and rotate about a second axis ‘B’, extending in a different direction than the first axis ‘A’. Accordingly, the third swivel part 128C may rotate in a third direction and a fourth direction. The third swivel part 128C may also include a connector 130 on one end that is configured for connection to an elongated handle (not shown). The connector 130 may be, for example, internally threaded, and may be configured to receive a corresponding externally threaded elongated handle (not shown). It is understood that this example is non-limiting, and that other configurations of the connector are envisioned as well.
Referring again to
It is understood that other power sources and compartments are envisioned, and the present disclosure is not limited to the examples above. Further, it is understood that although the above examples are described with reference to the fixed handle 28, the features above may be included as part of the swivel base 128 as well.
With further reference to
The attachment side 50 may include a first attachment loop 54 and a second attachment loop 56. The first attachment loop 54 and the second attachment loop 56 may be stitched or otherwise attached to a fabric forming the attachment side 50. In one embodiment, the first attachment loop 54 is configured to receive the flexible section 16 of the base 12. The first attachment loop 54 may be formed generally as a pocket having three closed sides 54A, 54B, 54C so that the flexible section 16 may be positioned therein. The pocket configuration may limit relative movement between the cleaning pad 46 and the base 12.
The second attachment loop 56 is configured to receive the blade section 18. In some embodiments, a portion of the mounting section 20 may be received in the second attachment loop 56. The second attachment loop 56 may be formed as a strip material that is stitched or otherwise fastened at or near opposing lateral sides of the attachment side 50. Accordingly, the second attachment loop 56 may define an opening through which the blade section 18 is received. In some embodiments, the second attachment loop 56 is attached to the attachment side at a distance spaced inwardly from the lateral sides of the cleaning pad. Accordingly, the attached or secured portions of the second attachment loop may abut a shoulder 58 formed at the intersection of the blade section 18 and the mounting section 20. The shoulder may be formed by a reduce width of the blade section 18.
In use, the cleaning pad 46 may be secured onto the base by inserting the flexible section 16 of the base 12 into the first attachment loop 54 and the blade section 18 into the second attachment loop 56. The flexible section 16 may flex to allow to the second attachment loop 56 to extend beyond the blade section 18. The flexible section 16 may then be returned to an unflexed condition so that the second attachment loop 56 extends over the blade section 18, thereby removably securing the cleaning pad 46 to the trowel 10.
The cleaning pad 46 may be removed from the trowel 10 by flexing the flexible section 16 so that the second attachment loop 56 may be removed from over the blade section 18. The first attachment loop 54 may then be removed from over the flexible section 16. Alternatively, or in addition, the cleaning pad may be elastically deformable such that the second attachment loop 56 may be stretched over the blade section 18. It is understood that the process to securing and removing the cleaning pad 46 from the base may vary and is not limited to the examples described above. For example, the second attachment loop 56 may be fit over the blade section 18 and the flexible section 16 may be flexed so that the first attachment loop 54 may fit over an end of the flexible section 16. In the examples above, the cleaning pad 46 may be selectively removed from the base 12 and washed or replaced with a new cleaning pad 46 after use.
In addition, the trowel 10 may be used with interchangeable handle devices 28, 128. For example, the fixed handle 28 may be secured to the base 12. A user may grip the gripping portion 32 to manipulate the trowel 10. This configuration may be useful in situations where, for example, additional leverage is needed to clean or scrub a surface. This configuration may also be useful for cleaning surfaces that are easily comfortably reached by the user, for example, counter tops and tables. The fixed handle 28 may be selectively removed by removal of the fasteners 36 and interchangeably replaced with the swivel base 128. The swivel base 128 may be secured to the mounting section 20 of the base 12 with the fasteners 36. The swivel base 128 may be removably secured to the base at one end (i.e., at the first swivel part 128A) and connected to an elongated handle and another end (i.e., the third swivel part 128B). In one example, the swivel base 128 is rotatable about two axes, and thus, is rotatable in four directions. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the swivel base 128 may include a ball joint allowing for movement in additional directions. With the elongated handle connected to the swivel base 128, the trowel 10 may be manipulated to for use on surfaces that are difficult or uncomfortable for a user to reach. For example, a user may clean a floor or ceiling by using the swivel base 128 with the elongated handle.
In addition, as described above, the trowel may include at least one light 38. The at least one light may include at least one “white” light to illuminate dark or shadowed spaces, and/or at least one black light to detect germs or other contaminants not otherwise ordinarily visible. Accordingly, a user may identify areas on a surface to be cleaned. The at least one light may be operated by a switch 44 on the handling device 28, 128. The at least one light 38 may be powered by the power source 40, such as a battery.
In the examples above, the trowel 10 may be adapted for use in multiple environments. For example, the trowel may be effectively used in light or dark environments and may be used to treat surfaces that are easily reached by hand with the fixed handle 28, or surfaces that may not be comfortably reached, by switching the fixed handle 28 with the swivel base 128. In addition, the blade section 18 of the trowel 10 allows the trowel 10 to be effectively used in environments where a surface to be cleaned has dried and/or hardened debris adhered thereon. Moreover, the flexible section 16 and blade section 18, together with the first and second attachment loops 54, 56 allow the cleaning pad 46 to be secured on the base 12 in such a way that unintentional removal of the cleaning pad 46 may be reduced or minimized.
It should also be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
