Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HANDHELD CLEANING DEVICE FOR USE WITH DISPOSABLE CLEANING TOWEL
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to United States
Provisional
Application Serial Number 62/007,521 filed on June 4, 2014, the contents of
which are hereby
incorporated in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device, and more
particularly relates to a
handheld cleaning device for use with a disposable cleaning towel.
[0002] The cleaning of household surfaces (e.g., bathroom surfaces, kitchen
surfaces, etc.) is
often done using a disposable cleaning towel (e.g., a paper towel, a cloth
towel, etc.). The
cleaning towel can be provided in a dry condition, or it can be pre-wetted
(e.g., pre-wetted with a
cleaning solution). The cleaning towel can be effective at cleaning surfaces,
but can be
problematic in that its use can cause a user to experience skin irritation,
fingernail irritation,
and/or dry skin. Further, use of the cleaning towel typically requires the
user to touch the
cleaning towel after it has been soiled with materials that may be undesirable
and/or unhealthy to
touch. The present invention is directed to these and other problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to one aspect of the present invention, a cleaning device
operable for use
with a disposable cleaning towel is provided. The cleaning device includes a
housing, a
platform, and a pad. The housing extends between a housing top portion and an
opposing
housing bottom portion. The housing top portion is configured to be held by a
user. The
housing bottom portion defines a housing mounting surface to which the
disposable cleaning
towel may be removably attached. The housing bottom portion and the housing
top portion at
least partially define a first housing cavity there between. The platform is
disposed at least
partially within the first housing cavity. The pad is attached to the
platform. The pad defines a
pad aperture through which a part of the housing bottom portion extends. The
pad also defines a
pad mounting surface with which the disposable cleaning towel can be mated
during use of the
cleaning device. The platform, and thus the pad, are selectively moveable
relative to the
housing, between a first position and a second position. In the first
position, the housing
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mounting surface is at least substantially flush relative to the pad mounting
surface. In the
second position, the housing mounting surface is positioned within the pad
aperture such that a
distance extends between a plane defined by the housing mounting surface and a
plane defined
by the pad mounting surface, which causes the disposable cleaning towel to
disengage from the
housing mounting surface.
[0004] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the
features described above,
further aspects of the present invention can include one or more of the
following features,
individually or in combination:
= - a grip disposed relative to the housing top portion to aid a user in
gripping the cleaning
device;
- an ejector operable to effect movement of the platform between its first
position and its
second position;
-a mechanical fastener disposed relative to at least one of the housing and
the pad to aid
in positionally fixing the disposable cleaning towel relative to the cleaning
device during use;
and
- a scooper disposed relative to at least one of the housing and the pad to
aid in collecting
materials from a surface being cleaned during use of the cleaning device.
[0005] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
apparent in light of the
drawings and detailed description provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a top-side isometric view of an embodiment
of the present cleaning
device.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a right-side elevation view of the cleaning
device of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a front-side elevation view of the cleaning
device of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom-side isometric view of the
cleaning device of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the
cleaning device of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates a right-side elevation view of another
embodiment of the present
cleaning device.
[0012] FIG. 7 illustrates a right-side elevation view of the cleaning
device of FIG. 6.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the present disclosure describes a handheld
cleaning device
operable for use with a disposable cleaning towel (not shown). The disposable
cleaning towel
may be any type of material used for cleaning surfaces, such as for example a
paper towel, a
cloth towel, or a towel made from a non-woven material.
[0014] The present disclosure describes aspects of the present invention
with reference to the
exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings; however, the present
invention is not limited
to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.
[0015] The present disclosure uses the terms "mate," and variations
thereof, to describe one
or more features. The term "mate," and variations thereof, are used herein to
indicate that a first
feature is disposed relative to a second feature (e.g., fit on or together
with a second feature).
[0016] Referring still to FIGS. 1-5, the cleaning device 10 includes a
housing 12, a pad 14
(see FIGS. 1-4), and a platform 16 (see FIG. 5). The housing 12 extends
between a housing top
portion 18 and an opposing housing bottom portion 20 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The
housing top
portion 18 is configured to be held by a user. The housing bottom portion 20
defines one or
more housing mounting surfaces 22 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) that are used to
removably attach a
disposable cleaning towel (not shown). The housing 12 further includes a first
housing cavity 24
(see FIG. 5) that is defined on three sides by the inner walls of the housing
top and bottom
portions 18,20. The platform 16 is disposed at least partially within the
first housing cavity 24.
The pad 14 is attached to the platform 16. The pad 14 defines one or more pad
apertures 26 (see
FIG. 4) through which one or more parts of the housing bottom portion 20
extend, and a pad
mounting surface 28 (see FIG. 4) on which the disposable cleaning towel can be
mated during
use of the cleaning device 10. The platform 16 (and thus the pad 14) are
selectively moveable
relative to the housing 12, between a first position (see FIGS. 1-5) and a
second position (not
shown). In the first position, the one or more housing mounting surfaces 22
are at least
substantially flush (i.e., co-planar) relative to the pad mounting surface 28.
In the second
position, the housing mounting surfaces 22 are positioned within respective
pad apertures 26,
such that a distance extends between each of the respective planes defined by
the housing
mounting surfaces 22 and a plane defined by the pad mounting surface 28.
[0017] In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, the
cleaning device 10
additionally includes a grip 30 disposed relative to the housing top portion
18 to aid a user in
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gripping the cleaning device 10, and/or an ejector 32 operable to effect
movement of the
platform 16 between its first position and its second position. In some
embodiments not shown
in the drawings, the cleaning device 10 additionally includes one or more
mechanical fasteners
(e.g., clamps, clips, hooks, etc.) disposed relative to the housing 12 and/or
the pad 14 to aid in
positionally fixing the disposable cleaning towel (not shown) relative to the
cleaning device 10
during use. In some embodiments, including the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
6 and 7, the
cleaning device additionally includes a scooper 60 disposed relative to the
housing 12 and/or the
pad 14 to aid in collecting materials (e.g., crumbs, dirt, etc.) from the
surface being cleaned
during use of the cleaning device 10.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 5, the housing 12 can be configured in various
different ways. In
the illustrated embodiment, the housing top portion 18 includes a generally
rectangular-shaped
housing 12, and a housing handle 36 extending from the housing top portion 18
in a heightwise
direction. The housing handle 36 is ergonomically shaped so as to make the
housing handle (and
thus the cleaning device 10 as a whole) comfortable to hold in one hand during
use. The housing
bottom portion 20 includes two (2) housing legs 38 that each extend in a
heightwise direction
away from the housing top portion 18. The housing legs 38 each define a
housing mounting
surface 22 that is operable to be removably attached to a disposable cleaning
towel (not shown).
The housing mounting surfaces 22 can include one or more materials (e.g.,
adhesive materials)
and/or or one or more structures (e.g., hook and loop structures such as
Velcro) that are disposed
on the housing mounting surfaces 22 to enable a disposable cleaning towel to
be removably
attached to the housing mounting surfaces. In one embodiment, the housing
mounting surfaces
22 each have a Velcro material disposed on their respective surfaces. In this
embodiment, the
disposable cleaning towel (not shown) includes a towel cleaning surface and an
opposing towel
mounting surface, and the towel mounting surface includes a Velcro material
configured to mate
with the Velcro material of the housing mounting surfaces 22.
[0019] The housing 12 can be made of one or more materials that are known
in the art, such
as plastics. The materials can be selected such that the housing 12 is
relatively rigid, and thus
suitable for translating movement of the housing 12 to the disposable cleaning
towel (not shown)
disposed relative to the pad 14 and the housing mounting surfaces 22. In one
embodiment, the
housing is made from polypropylene.
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[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, the platform 16 can be configured in various
different ways. In
the illustrated embodiment, the platform 16 is a generally rectangular-shaped
member that
extends in a heightwise direction between a platform bottom surface 40 and a
platform top
surface 42. The platform 16 is disposed within the first housing cavity 24,
which is defined by
respective inner surfaces of the housing legs 38, and respective inner
surfaces of the housing 12
and the housing handle 36. The platform 16 slidably engages the respective
inner surfaces of the
housing legs 38.
[0021] The platform 16 can be made of one or more materials that are known
in the art, such
as a plastic. The materials can be selected such that the platform 16 is
relatively rigid, and thus
suitable to enable movement of the plat:orm 16 relative to the housing 12. In
one embodiment,
the platform is made from polypropylene.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pad 14 can be configured in various
different ways.
In the illustrated embodiment, the pad 14 has a generally-rectangular shape
that is similar to that
of the platform 16. The pad 14 extends in a heightwise direction between its
pad mounting
surface 28 and an opposing pad top surface (not shown). The pad top surface is
attached to the
platform bottom surface 40. The pad 14 may be permanently attached or
removably attached to
the platform bottom surface.
[0023] The pad 14 can be made of one or more materials that are known in
the art. The
materials can be selected such that the pad 14 is operable to provide a
cushion between the
housing 12 and platform 16 of the cleaning device 10, on the one hand, and the
surface being
cleaned, on the other hand. The materials can additionally or alternatively be
selected such that
the pad 14 is operable to absorb excess liquid that flows from the disposable
cleaning towel (not
shown) during and/or after use of the cleaning device 10. Examples of
materials that may be
used for the pad include: a sponge material, a foam material (e.g., urethane
foam, EVA foam,
PVC foam, latex foam, synthetic rubber foam, neoprene foam, etc.), an array of
synthetic fibers
(e.g., cellulose fibers, absorbent fibers, etc.). In some embodiments, the pad
14, or a portion
thereof, can be at least partially impregnated with a resin (e.g., a melamine
resin).
[0024] In embodiments in which thr cleaning device 10 includes a grip 30,
the grip 30 can
be made of one or more materials that are known in the art. The materials can
be selected such
that the grip 30 (and thus the housing top portion 18 that is held by a user)
is comfortable to hold
CA 02893773 2015-06-03
during use of the cleaning device 10, and/or is slip resistant when wet with a
liquid. An example
of an acceptable material is a rubber material.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in embodiments in which the cleaning
device 10 includes
a scooper 60, the scooper 60 can be configured in various different ways. In
the illustrated
embodiment, the scooper 60 includes a scooper housing 62 that is removably
attached to the
housing 18. The scooper housing 62 defines a scooper chamber 64 within which
materials (e.g.,
crumbs, dirt, etc.) can be collected during use of the cleaning device 10. The
scooper 60 is
positioned relative to the pad 14 such that the base 66 of the scooper 60 is
at least substantially
flush (i.e., co-planar) relative to the pad mounting surface 28. The scooper
60 includes a scooper
door 68 that is selectively moveable between a closed position (see FIG. 6)
and an open position
(see FIG. 7).
[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, the movement of the platform 16 (and thus the
pad 14) relative to
the housing 12, between its first position (see FIGS. 1-5) and its second
position (now shown),
can be achieved in various different ways. As indicated above, in the
illustrated embodiment the
cleaning device 10 includes an ejector 32 that is connected to the platform 16
such that
movement of the ejector 32 (or a portion thereof) causes corresponding
movement of the
platform 16 (and thus corresponding movement of the pad 14).
[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the ejector 32 includes an ejector
button 48, an ejector
biaser 50 (e.g., a spring), and an ejector shaft 52. The ejector 32 is
positioned at least partially
within a second housing cavity 54 that extends in a heightwise direction into
the housing handle
36 and the housing body 34. The ejector button 48 extends in a heightwise
direction between an
ejector button top surface 56 and an ejector button bottom surface 58. The
ejector button 48
slidably engages the surfaces of the housing handle 36 and the housing body 34
that define the
second housing cavity 54. The ejector button 48 is moveable relative to the
second housing
cavity 54, between a first position (see FIGS. 1-5) and a second position (not
shown). In the
first position, the ejector button 48 is positioned relative to the second
housing cavity 54 such
that the ejector button top surface 56 is at least substantially flush with an
outer surface of the
grip 30. In the second position, the ejector button 48 is positioned at least
substantially within
the second housing cavity 54, such that,a distance extends between a plane
defined by the ejector
button top surface 56 and a plane defined by the outer surface of the grip 30.
The ejector biaser
50 extends between the ejector button bottom surface 58 and a surface of the
housing 12 that
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defines the second housing cavity 54. The ejector biaser 50 thereby biases the
ejector button 48
toward its first position. The ejector shaft 52 extends between the ejector
button bottom surface
58 and the platform top surface 42 to thereby connect the ejector 32 and the
platform 16. The
ejector shaft 52 extends through an aperture that connects the first and
second housing cavities
24, 54.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, movement of the ejector button 48
from its first
position (referred to hereinafter as the "operational configuration" of the
cleaning device 10) to
its second position (referred to hereinafter as the "eject configuration" of
the cleaning device)
causes heightwise movement of the ejector shaft 52, which in turn causes
movement of the
platform 16 from its first position to its second position. The ejector button
48 is configured to
be moved from its first position to its second position by a user, for
example, using a finger of
the hand that is holding the cleaning device 10. The ejector biaser 50 will
cause the ejector
button 48 to automatically return to its first position after a user removes
his or her finger from
the ejector button 48.
[0029] The cleaning device 10 may initially be provided to a user in its
operational
configuration, without a disposable cleaning towel disposed thereon. To use
the cleaning device,
the user can mate a disposable cleaning towel (not shown) to the pad mounting
surface 28, which
in turn will cause the disposable cleaning towel to become removably attached
to the one or
more housing mounting surfaces 22. The removable attachment of the disposable
cleaning towel
to the one or more housing mounting surfaces 22 will prevent the disposable
cleaning towel from
coming loose from the cleaning device 10 during use. After use of the cleaning
device 10, the
user can dispose of the soiled cleaning towel by moving the cleaning device 10
from its
operational configuration to its eject configuration, which will cause the
platform 16 (and thus
the pad 14 attached thereto) to move relative to the housing 12. The housing
mounting surfaces
22 will, in effect, retract into the pad apertures 26, causing the housing
mounting surfaces 22 to
become unattached from the soiled cleaning towel. The soiled disposable
cleaning towel may
then simply fall off (i.e., become unmated from) the pad mounting surface 28.
In some
instances, the user may need to provide a small force (e.g., a small shaking
force) to free (i.e.,
unmate) the disposable cleaning product from the housing mounting surfaces 22.
In either event,
the user will avoid the need to touch th; soiled cleaning towel during the
disposal process.
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[0030] While several embodiments have been disclosed, it will be apparent
to those of
ordinary skill in the art that aspects of the present invention include many
more embodiments
and implementations. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention are not to
be restricted
except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. It will also be
apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art that variations and modifications can be made
without departing from the
true scope of the present disclosure. For example, in some instances, one or
more features
disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be used alone or in
combination with one or
more features of one or more other embodiments.
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