Cleaning apparatus with flexible connection between head and handle
An improved cleaning tool is provided with a flexible connection between the head or spindle and the handle. The improved tool broadly includes a spindle or head, a handle and a flexible connection between the head and handle to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween and rubber bumpers to protect against scratching furniture. The flexible connection regulates relative movement between the spindle head in such a way that lateral movement is greater than the up and down movement.
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The present invention relates generally to devices for cleaning floors with revolving adhesive lint rollers and non-woven peelable sweepers and mops
Adhesive lint rollers for clothing and floors as well as Swiffer™ style swivel sweepers have enjoyed substantial commercial success for use in certain applications. For example, an average home owner can use a Swiffer™ style sweeper and peel, place and replace one cleaning sheet at a time upon the sweeper head. The problem is that these types of sweeper heads have single sided cleaning surfaces; although coupled with swivel movement of the head. It would be desirable to provide a similar swivel action; but with a dual cleaning surface rotatable about an axle.
Many adhesive lint rollers for use on floors are commercially available and are modeled after typical paint rollers that are limited to bent metal combined with a plastic handle. This sort of paint roller style handle for the adhesive floor rollers is lacking in that it does not provide a swivel or pivoting action to provide ergonomical movement of the head over floor and upholstery surfaces and around furniture legs, corners and steps.
Accordingly it would be desirable to provide an improved cleaning tool having a flexible connection between the head and the handle. The improved connection should limit the extent of relative movement between the head and handle so that the spindle-head has limited movement in the vertical cleaning direction. The cleaning tool head should move more freely in the lateral direction than it does in the back and forth cleaning direction.
SUMMARYThe present invention broadly provides an improved cleaning tool with a variable flexible connection between the head and handle.
The improved tool broadly includes a spindle roller or an oblate head for receiving a tape roll or an oblate mop head, a handle and a head with an axle upon which the spindle head rotates, and a flexible connection between or in the parts to permit relative movement there between.
The handle may be tubular and may be provided with an internally threaded portion which is adapted to receive the threaded marginal end portion of a hand tool and, preferably, an additional extension pole. The handle may have at least one cushioned grip portion that makes the handle feel more comfortable to the user. The cushioned grip may be formed of a suitable thermoplastic elastomer, such as a polyolefin. The body may be formed of a suitable plastic with soft rubber inserts or coatings placed as bumpers in areas that may come in contact with furniture. This is to avoid scratching the delicate furniture surface.
In one aspect, the body, flexible connection and at least a portion of the handle are formed of a flexible, unbreakable soft material, such as polypropylene. The connection has a web portion that is more flexible to movement in one plane than it is to movement in another generally perpendicular plane. This web portion has major and minor transverse dimensions. In the one aspect, the web portion may have a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section. Optionally the web area may be filled and/or surrounded with an elastomeric material between the web areas to limit movement.
Optionally, the flexible connection may be made of at least one transverse U-shaped fold formed with the remainder of the body or optionally as a separate connector between the body and the handle. The U-shaped folds are preferable positioned in a plane at from 30° to 150°, preferably substantially at right angles, to the plane in which the handle lies, whereby the resiliently flexible connector permits the body and/or the head to be moved at an angle to the handle or grip portion out of the plane in which it normally lies, and then to revert to its original position on the release of pressure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGThe various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:
Refer now to the drawing, and to
The cleaning apparatus 20 includes a body or head 22, a handle 24 and a spindle 26. The head 22 is formed of a suitable lightweight material, preferably a plastic material, with poly-propylene and poly-ethylene being suitable materials by way of example only.
The head 22 includes an upper arm 30 and a side arm 32. The upper and lower arms 30 and 32 may be formed as a one piece molded structure by suitable molding processes, such as by blow molding or injection molding, for example, or as separate members. The upper arm 30 and the side arm 32, while integrally joined, may be formed in a plurality of sections, with separate halves being shown in
The side arm 32 depends from one end of the upper arm 30. One or more optional inserts 48 and 50 are mounted on the head 22, with at least one insert 48 mounted on one or both sides of the upper arm 30 and one insert 50 mounted on the outer surface of the side arm 32. The inserts 48 and 50 are formed of a resilient material, such as an elastomer or rubber, and may include a plurality of resilient ribs 52. The inserts 48 and 50 are positioned to act as bumpers to prevent contact between the head 22 and external surfaces during use of or coated with the cleaning apparatus 20. Alternately, the entire head 22 can be formed of a resilient material.
A reinforcing member 34, such as a metal rod, may be disposed within the head 22 and has a curvilinear shape, as shown in
A shaft 40 is coupled to the upper arm 30 by means of a flexible or resilient connector means 42. The shaft 40 has a generally circular cross-section with an internally threaded bore 44 which is adapted to mate with threads 46 extending from one end of the handle 24 to releasably connect the handle 24 to the head 22 and to enable different length handles to be interchangeably connected to the head 22 as also described hereafter.
The handle 24 has an elongated shape and a length which may vary depending on the particular application of the apparatus 20. A long length handle 24 as shown in
Resilient inserts 54, similar to the inserts 48 and 50, may be mounted at various locations on the handle 24 to form an ergonomic, high-friction grip surface.
The spindle 26 is shown in
The spindle 26, in the aspect of the cleaning apparatus 20 shown in
In this manner, the cartridge 60 is rotatably coupled to the head 22 by the reinforcement member or rod 34 and is capable of bi-directional rotation as pressure is applied to the cartridge 60 through the head 22 and the handle 24 by a user.
As shown in
A recessed shoulder 35 is formed in one of the head halves, such as along the edge of the upper arm 30B and the side arm 32B for engagement with a mating edge on the opposed upper arm 30A and side arm 32A.
At least one, and preferably a plurality of bosses 37, are formed in one of the head halves and receive smaller diameter pins, not shown, on the mating half to align and secure the head halves together.
As also shown in
As shown in
According to the present invention, the unique connector 42 in the cleaning apparatus 20 provides a pivotal or swivel function for ergonomic feel and effective use of the cleaning apparatus 20 over a number of different surfaces, or different shaped surfaces. All aspects of the connector 42, including those described and illustrated hereafter, are formed to exhibit more flex in one plane than in an opposite, angularly opposed plane, such as a perpendicular plane.
For purposes of clearly understanding the operation of the connector 42 and the other connectors described hereafter, reference planes will be provided for clarity. As shown in
In the aspect of the connector 42 shown in
The segments 86 are spaced apart by a stem 88 which may be formed as a continuous member between the shaft 40 and the upper arm 30 or as a plurality of interconnected stem sections, each generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the handle 24 and the shaft 40.
As shown in
As shown in
The connector 42, in this aspect of the invention, is formed of a plurality of transversely extending, generally U-shaped folds 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 between a first end 108 integrally connected, such as by molding, adhesive, fasteners, etc., to the upper arm 30 and an opposed second end 110 also integrally molded, adhesively joined and fastened to one end of the shaft 40. The folds 112, etc., are alternatingly inverted between the first and second ends 108 and 110. The degree of resiliency of the connector 104 may be varied by changing the thickness or width of the folds 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 as well as the number of folds. For example, a less resilient connector 104 may be provided by increasing the thickness, increasing the width and/or as decreasing the number of the folds 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120. A more resilient connector 104 may be obtained by increasing the number of folds, decreasing the thickness and/or decreasing the width of the fold 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120.
By way of example only, the number of folds is between at least two folds and ten folds, with five folds 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 being shown in
As shown in
Another aspect of the connector 104 in
The spindle 130 is similar to the spindle shown in Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,517 as shown in
Yet another connector 150 is shown in
Referring now to
It will be understood that the use of the connectors 104 and 104′ in
Although this aspect of the invention utilizes the cleaning apparatus shown in
As shown in
The resulting open space between the end of the shaft 40 and the mating portion of the upper arm 30 is filled with a mass 184 of a resilient material, such as an elastomeric or rubber material which is cured to a solid, but resilient form. In use, the connector 180 allows lateral movement between the shaft 40 and the head 30 in the direction of arrows 186 and 188 of approximately 30° to 150°, etc. At the same time, due to the length of the web 182, perpendicular movement of the shaft 40 relative to the upper arm is limited to at most 20°.
Refer now to
The handle 190 can be connected directly to the shaft 40 or to the handle 24 shown in
According to a unique feature, the handle 190 includes an intermediate rotatable connection 200 between the hand grip 194 and the end 196. The rotatable connection 200 provides a small amount of angular displacement between the opposed shaft portions denoted by Ref Nos. 192A and 192B of the shaft 192. This will accommodate different hand positions relative to the head 22 or the application of a slight amount of torque to the head 22.
Referring now to
Any of the flexible connectors described above, such as connector 42 shown in
In conclusion, there has been disclosed a unique flexible connection for a cleaning apparatus which provides economic and efficient pressure application during use of the cleaning apparatus. The flexible connector is easily integrated into a cleaning apparatus carrying an outwardly facing adhesive roll or sheet stack and may be provided with different degrees of flexibility or resiliency by varying the shape of the connector.
Claims
1. A cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a handle;
- a head coupled to the handle;
- a spindle carried by the head;
- at least one cleaning element carried on the spindle; and
- the head including a flexible portion for permitting more movement of the handle relative to the spindle in a first direction then in a substantially perpendicular second direction.
2. (canceled)
3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- the flexible portion is carried in an arm of the head.
4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- the handle and the spindle define a first plane, the flexible portion permitting more movement of the handle relative to the spindle in the first plane than in a second mutually exclusive, angularly disposed plane.
5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 3-4, wherein the flexible portion comprises:
- a plurality of alternating inverted folds integrally extending along the arm.
6-11. (canceled)
12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the spindle has a circular cross-section.
13. (canceled)
14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
- the handle is releasably connected to the head.
15. (canceled)
16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- resilient material carried on the handle.
17. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
- resilient material carried on the head.
18. (canceled)
19-21. (canceled)
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the head comprises an upper arm to which the handle is coupled and an attached side arm by which said spindle is supported.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the side arm includes said flexible portion.
24. The apparatus of claim 22, further including a reinforcing member having one end fixed in the upper arm and the other end projecting laterally inwardly from said side arm and received in said spindle.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said other end of said reinforcing member projects laterally inwardly from the side arm in a direction that is parallel to the upper arm.
26. The apparatus of claim 22, further including a shaft coupled to the upper arm for releasably connecting the handle to the head.
27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spindle includes a cartridge having first and second ends joined by a plurality of longitudinally extending strips.
28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spindle has first and second end caps with one of said end caps having an opening through which said other end of said reinforcing member extends.
29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the spindle has an interior bearing member for rotatably receiving said second end of said reinforcing member.
30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spindle is capable of bi-directional rotation.
31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said cleaning element is mounted on the cartridge.
32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the spindle rotates about an axis that is parallel to said upper arm.
33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said side arm includes a first upper portion and a second lower portion, said flexible portion disposed between said first and second portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 1, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 19, 2007
Applicant:
Inventor: William McKay (Grand Blanc, MI)
Application Number: 11/701,161
International Classification: A47L 25/00 (20060101);