Patent Application
20090152132
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a toilet wand and caddy, more specifically, to a toilet wand and caddy fitting together such that the features and improvements of the present invention, as described herein, are achieved while providing storage for cleaning supplies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toilet wands and caddies for holding toilet wands are well-known in the art. Conventional toilet wands, such as toilet brushes, may be stored in a variety of arrangements. For example, a conventional toilet brush may simply be stored in a docking structure adapted to hold the brush portion of the toilet wand, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,056. This type of toilet brush caddy has several disadvantages, such as a) enclosing at least a portion of the brushes, thereby preventing rapid drying of the toilet brush; b) allowing direct contact between the toilet brush bristles and the caddy, thereby advancing the possibility of creating an unsanitary environment; and c) storing the used brush within reach of children and pets, thereby potentially exposing them to a possibly unsanitary environment.
Another type of prior art toilet wand and caddy has been designed to address several of the shortcomings described above. This type of toilet wand and caddy allows for storage of the toilet wand in a configuration wherein the wand hangs within the caddy from its handle. Such a configuration may allow for rapid drying of the toilet wand's cleaning head (the brush, or, more precisely, the brush's bristles). Moreover, this configuration may prevent direct contact between the toilet wand's brushes and the caddy, thereby increasing the sanitary nature of the wand/caddy system.
To address the problem of access to the toilet brush by children and pets, for example, conventional toilet wand and caddy systems using the wand-hanging configuration described above may provide for a caddy door or cover which encases the toilet wand hanging within the toilet caddy. This modified wand-hanging configuration may provide a relatively sanitary toilet brush which may be stored in a caddy, out of sight from exploring children or pets.
The toilet wand and caddy has taken on many modifications over time, including improvements to the wand's brush shape, brush material and the like. For example, toilet wands have been recently manufactured with replacement cleaning heads as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,768 to Blum et al., PCT App. WO2004100744 to Beaulieu et al., U.S. Pat. App. 20070245508 to Gartland, and U.S. Pat. App. 20060225237 to Gartland, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Several of these conventional toilet wands have curved handles, thereby making it easier to reach into the recesses of the toilet bowl. However, the toilet caddies for holding these wands have been bulky, do not limit access to brushes by children and pets, lack storage for replacement cleaning heads, or do not minimize the spread of germs.
Accordingly, what is needed is a simple, easy-to-use toilet wand and caddy that provides storage for replacement cleaning heads, minimal storage space, limited access by children and pets, an aesthetically pleasing design as well as minimal spread of germs.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, in one embodiment, a caddy for storing a cleaning tool comprises an angled top portion; and a separate tool holder, wherein the tool holder has a height not more than 25% of the length of the cleaning tool; and at least a portion of the cleaning tool curves over the angled top portion when stored in the caddy.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a toilet wand caddy for holding a toilet wand comprises an angled top portion; a cover removably attached to the angled top portion, the cover enclosing an interior of the toilet wand caddy; and a tool holder, wherein at least a portion of the toilet wand curves over the angled top portion when stored in the caddy.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a toilet wand and caddy system comprises a toilet wand having a curved handle curving from an end portion to a gripping portion, wherein a removable cleaning head is attachable to the end portion; a tubular caddy having a separate tool holder for holding the toilet wand, wherein the tool holder has an opening therein to receive the end portion of the toilet wand; and the gripping portion of the toilet wand curves over a top portion of the caddy.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The foregoing aspects and others will be readily appreciated by the skilled artisan from the following description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the context of a toilet wand and caddy. The skilled artisan will readily appreciate, however, that the materials and methods disclosed herein will have application in a number of other contexts where a cleaning tool (e.g., toilet wand, bath wand, auto cleaning tool, and the like) may have replaceable cleaning heads and may be stored in a tool caddy.
The aforementioned needs may be satisfied by the toilet wand and caddy of the present invention which includes, as discussed in greater detail below, a curved handle wand having replaceable cleaning heads, a caddy with a slanted cover, allowing the curved handle wand to curve thereover, and a short tool holder for holding the wand in an upright position.
Referring to
The caddy 12 may include a separate tool holder 20 attached to an exterior 22 thereof The tool holder 20 may be removable from the exterior 22 of the caddy 12 or may be formed integrally therewith. The tool holder 20 may have an opening 24 therein to hold the end portion 18 of the toilet wand 10. The tool holder 20 may have a height 26 high enough to securely hold the end portion 18 of the toilet wand 10, but not so high as to contaminate the handle 14 with residue after use. Unlike conventional caddies which may completely encase the toilet wand and spread germs onto the handle 14 and gripping portion 16, the design of the present invention prevents such contamination. In one embodiment of the present invention, the opening 24 in the tool holder 20 may enclose from about 5% to about 25% of the toilet wand 10.
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As discussed above, while the drawings and description described a toilet wand and caddy system, the present invention may be applied to a cleaning tool and caddy for any suitable purpose. For example, a bath cleaning wand may be stored in the novel caddy of the present invention. Furthermore, while the above description described a toilet wand having a replaceable cleaning head, a fixed head cleaning wand (i.e., a cleaning wand having a cleaning brush formed integrally therewith) may be used in the novel caddy of the present invention.
The present invention, as described above, may provide a toilet wand and caddy that is ergonomically and functionally designed to meet the desires of the consumers. For example, consumers may desire a curved handle on a toilet wand in order to reach the recesses of the toilet bowl. The present invention provides a toilet wand with a curved handle. Consumers may also desire a handle that can be easily inserted into the caddy and not stick out, but instead be curved over the caddy. The present invention provides such a streamlined design. Because consumers may desire a cover over the caddy so that replacement cleaning heads may be stored out of sight, the top of the caddy may be angled downward to permit the streamlined design as described above, while still permitting items to be stored and covered inside the caddy. Finally, consumers may desire a tool holder being short to only cover the dirty end of the toilet wand and not farther up toward the handle section. The toilet wand and caddy design of the present invention may satisfy some or all of these consumer desires.
This invention has been described herein in detail to provide those skilled in the art with information relevant to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by different equipment, materials and devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.
