Cleaning implement

Abstract

A cleaning device with a sufficiently low profile to enable cleaning under appliances. The cleaning device generally includes an elongate body, a handle, and a fabric member surrounding the body. The body has oppositely-disposed first and second ends. The handle is adjacent the second end of the body and projects upward from an upper surface of the body. The fabric member preferably comprises oppositely-disposed first and second pockets, an intermediate portion connecting the first and second pockets, and an opening between the first and second pockets. The first and second pockets receive the first and second ends, respectively, of the body. The handle of the body projects out of the opening in the fabric member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/206,832, filed May 24, 2000.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention generally relates to equipment and tools for cleaning under and around appliances.

[0004] Various cleaning equipment and tools with low profiles have been suggested for cleaning in locations with limited clearance, such as under and around appliances. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,755,881, 2,062,065, 2,262,888 and 5,953,784 disclose flat, fabric-covered tools for cleaning surfaces within constricted spaces. Each of these tools has a particular configuration or construction for promoting its effectiveness. However, these prior art tools also share the drawback of being relatively complicated, which leads to higher manufacturing costs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a cleaning device with a sufficiently low profile to enable cleaning under appliances and other restricted spaces. The cleaning device generally includes an elongate body, a handle, and a fabric member surrounding the body. The body has oppositely-disposed first and second ends, a length as measured between the first and second ends, upper and lower surfaces between the first and second ends, and a cross-section transverse to the length, the cross-section being defined by a width and a thickness of the body. The width of the body is less than its length, while the thickness of the body is transverse to and less than the width. The upper and lower surfaces of the body are delimited by the width and length of the body. The handle is adjacent the second end of the body and projects upward from the upper surface of the body, while the lower surface of the body is substantially continuous and flat. Finally, the fabric member comprises at least a first pocket that receives the first end of the body, and the handle of the body projects out of an opening in the fabric member. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric member further comprises a second pocket oppositely disposed from the first pocket, and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second pockets. The second end of the body is received in the second pocket, and the opening is between the first and second pockets, The handle of the body again projects out of the opening in the fabric member.

[0006] From the above, one can appreciate that the cleaning device of this invention can have a very low profile (thickness) at its first end to enable cleaning confined spaces. For example, the cleaning device can have a thickness of not greater than 20 millimeters at the first end of the body when received in the first pocket of the fabric member. The handle is located entirely on one side (the upper surface) of the body, so that the cleaning device can be held and maneuvered while the device lies with its lower surface flat on the floor or other surface, thereby making full benefit of the low profile of the device. Furthermore, the body and fabric member of the present invention have uncomplicated constructions, such that the cleaning device also has an uncomplicated construction and can be manufactured at relatively low cost. Its uncomplicated construction also enables the cleaning device to be readily assembled and disassembled, allowing the fabric member to be removed and laundered whenever desired.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is an end view of the cleaning tool of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the cleaning tool of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is a cleaning tool specifically adapted to clean confined spaces, and particularly under appliances that have minimal clearance above the floor, such as refrigerators, stoves, dryers and washers. The tool is preferably capable of being inserted beneath an appliance that has as little as about 20 mm floor clearance.

[0013] As shown in th FIGS. 1 through 3, a tool 10 configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention generally has a flat, elongate shape, e.g., about one meter in length. The tool 10 has a body member 12 that is preferably formed of a rigid plastic. The body member 12 has oppositely-disposed first and second ends 20 and 22, and oppositely-disposed upper and lower surfaces 24 and 32 that are delimited by the width and length of the body member 12. The body member 12 further has a cross-section transverse to its length and defined by the width and thickness of the body member 12. The cross-section can be, for example, about 3 mm thick and about 20 mm wide, yielding a relatively thin slat with wider upper and lower surfaces 24 and 32. The body member 12 preferably has ribs 34 that extend longitudinally on its lower surface 32 between its first and second ends 20 and 22 to increase the rigidity of the cleaning tool 10.

[0014] A handle 14 is provided adjacent the second end 22 of the body member 12 on only its upper surface 24 to permit a user to grasp the handle 14 and maneuver the tool 10 when the lower surface 32 of the tool 10 is flat against a surface, such as the floor beneath an appliance. As such, the lower surface 32 of the tool 10 is continuous and flat, and the handle 14 is located on the body member 12 to take full benefit of the low profile of the tool 10. The handle 14 can be formed as an integral part of the body member 12, or formed separately and attached. As seen from FIG. 3, the handle 14 can have various shapes, including the arcuate, rectangular and triangular shapes shown in phantom.

[0015] A sleeve 16 is shown as surrounding and covering essentially all of the body member 12 except for a portion of the upper surface 24 above which the handle 14 projects. A suitable material for the sleeve 16 is a fabric, particularly terrycloth, though other materials could be used. The sleeve 16 has oppositely-disposed first and second pockets 26 and 28, an intermediate portion 30 connecting the first and second pockets 26 and 28, and an opening 18 between the first and second pockets 26 and 28. The first pocket 26 is larger than the second pocket 28 and receives the first end 20 of the body member 12, while the second end 28 of the body member 12 is received in the second pocket 28 of the sleeve 16. The handle 14 of the body member 12 projects out through the opening 18 in the sleeve 16. With the sleeve 16 in place, the tool 10 preferably has a thickness of about 20 mm or less and a width of about 30 to 40 mm.

[0016] The sleeve 16 is preferably sized to have a length substantially equal to that of the body member 12. In order to install the sleeve 16 on the body member 12, the sleeve 16 has an elastic portion 36 that enables the sleeve 16 to be stretched to insert the ends 20 and 22 of the body member 12 in the pockets 26 and 28, respectively, of the sleeve 16. As shown in the Figures, the elastic portion 36 preferably defines at least a portion and potentially all of the second pocket 28 of the sleeve 16.

[0017] In use, the first end 20 of the body member 12 is slid into the first pocket 26 of the sleeve 16 so that the handle 16 projects out of the opening 18 in the sleeve 16. The elastic portion 36 of the sleeve 16 is then stretched to insert the second end 22 of the body member 12 into the second pocket 28 of the sleeve 16. The tool 10 is then ready to be slid beneath an appliance to collect dust and other debris. The rigidity of the body member 12 enables the user to apply a significant amount of force with the end of the tool 10 to remove debris far beneath the appliance. Once the cleaning task is completed, the sleeve 16 can be removed and washed, or replaced with a new sleeve 16.

[0018] FIG. 4 represents a tool 110 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, essentially identical in all respects to the tool 10 of FIGS. 1 through 3 except that the body member 112 of the tool 110 has a narrowed width portion 113 adjacent the handle 114 on the side of the first end 120 of the body member 112, and the sleeve 116 has an opening 118 with an elastic portion 136 that grips the narrowed width portion 113 of the body member 112.

[0019] While the invention has been described in terms of a specific embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

an elongate body having oppositely-disposed first and second ends, a length as measured between the first and second ends, an upper surface between the first and second ends, and a cross-section transverse to the length, the cross-section being defined by a width and a thickness of the body, the width being transverse to the length and less than the length, the thickness being transverse to the width and less than the width, the upper surface being delimited by the width and length of the body;

a handle adjacent the second end of the body and projecting upward from the upper surface of the body so as to be entirely located on one side of the body; and

a fabric member comprising a first pocket and an opening, the first end of the body being received in the first pocket and the handle projecting out of the opening in the fabric member.

2. A cleaning device according to

claim 1, wherein the cleaning device has a thickness of not greater than 20 millimeters at the first end of the body when received in the first pocket of the fabric member.

3. A cleaning device according to

claim 1, wherein the length of the body is about one meter and the width of the body is about 30 to about 40 millimeters.

4. A cleaning device according to

claim 1, wherein the body further comprises ribs extending longitudinally between the first and second ends thereof.

5. A cleaning device according to

claim 1, wherein body further has a lower surface between the first and second ends and delimited by the width and length of the body, the lower surface being continuous and flat along the entire length of the body.

6. A cleaning device according to

claim 1, wherein the fabric member further comprises a second pocket oppositely disposed from the first pocket and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second pockets, the opening being between the first and second pockets, the first pocket being larger than the second pocket, the second end of the body being received in the second pocket.

7. A cleaning device according to

claim 6, wherein the fabric member has a length substantially equal to the body, the fabric member further comprising an elastic portion that enables the fabric member to be stretched to insert the first and second ends of the body in the first and second pockets, respectively, of the fabric member.

8. A cleaning device according to

claim 7, wherein the second pocket of the fabric member comprises the elastic portion.

9. A cleaning device according to

claim 1, wherein the fabric member terminates at the opening, the opening surrounds a narrowed-width portion of the body adjacent the handle, and the fabric member further comprises an elastic portion at the opening that enables the fabric member to grip the narrowed-width portion of the body.

10. A cleaning device comprising:

an elongate body having oppositely-disposed first and second ends, a length as measured between the first and second ends, an upper surface between the first and second ends, and a cross-section transverse to the length, the cross-section being defined by a width and a thickness of the body, the width being transverse to the length and less than the length, the thickness being transverse to the width and less than the width, the upper surface being delimited by the width and length of the body;

a handle adjacent but spaced apart from the second end of the body and projecting upward from the upper surface of the body so as to be entirely located on one side of the body; and

a fabric member having a length substantially equal to the length of the body, the fabric member comprising a first pocket, an oppositely-disposed second pocket having an elastic portion, an intermediate portion connecting the first and second pockets, and an opening between the first and second pockets, the first pocket being larger than the second pocket, the first end of the body being received in the first pocket and the second end of the body being received in the second pocket, the handle of the body projecting out of the opening in the fabric member;

wherein the cleaning device has a thickness of not greater than 20 millimeters at the first end of the body when received in the first pocket of the fabric member, and the elastic portion enables the fabric member to be stretched to insert the second end of the body in the second pocket of the fabric member when the first end of the body is already received in the first pocket of the fabric member.

11. A cleaning device according to

claim 10, wherein the length of the body is about one meter and the width of the body is about 30 to about 40 millimeters.

12. A cleaning device according to

claim 10, wherein the body further comprises ribs extending longitudinally between the first and second ends thereof.

13. A cleaning device according to

claim 10, wherein the fabric member covers all of the body except for a portion of the upper surface above which the handle projects.