Cleaning Device

Abstract

A cleaning device includes a length adjustable handle with a traditional cleaning device selectively attached to one end and a scuff removal device attached to an opposed end. The traditional cleaning device may be a light or heavy duty broom, wet mop, dust mop, squeegee, or the like. The scuff removal device may include a motor connected to a battery and a scuff removal tip operatively coupled to the motor. When the motor is selectively energized, the tip is caused to vibrate for efficiently removing a scuff mark from a surface. Thus, the cleaning device may be converted from a traditional cleaning tool to a scuff mark removal tool merely by inverting the elongate handle in the user's hands.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a cleaning device and, more particularly, to a cleaning device for removing streaks or scuff marks from a floor surface.

Scuff marks, particularly those caused by black leather shoes or appliance wheels, are an unsightly problem for floors covered with wood, vinyl, tile, linoleum, and the like. It is inconvenient or otherwise disadvantageous to have to clean such scuff marks with a liquid cleaning solution. Further, it is inconvenient for a person to have to stop using a traditional cleaning implement such as a broom or dust mop, retrieve another implement to remove a scuff, or to have to wet the floor, clean the scuff mark, and then dry the floor before continuing to work with the original cleaning device.

Various devices have been proposed in the art for cleaning scuff marks from a floor surface. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not overcome the several disadvantages and inconveniences discussed above. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a cleaning device that includes one or more traditional floor cleaning devices as well as a scuff removal device. Further, it would be desirable to have a cleaning device that may be used both for traditional floor cleaning and for cleaning scuff marks without having to change cleaning attachments. In addition, it would be desirable to have a cleaning device that efficiently removes scuff marks using a motorized scuff removal tip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a cleaning device having a length adjustable handle with a traditional cleaning device selectively attached to one end and a scuff removal device removably attachable to an opposed end. The traditional cleaning device may be a broom, a wringer/wet mop, a dust mop, a squeegee, or the like. The scuff removal device may include a motor connected to a battery and a scuff removal tip operatively coupled to the motor. When the motor is selectively energized, the tip is caused to rapidly vibrate for efficiently removing a scuff mark from a floor surface. Thus, the cleaning device may be converted from a traditional cleaning tool to a scuff mark removal tool merely by inverting the elongate handle in the user's hands. In addition, the motorized scuff removal device provides an efficient means for removing scuff marks without the need to apply a liquid cleaning solution and without the need for other cleaning instruments.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device that enables a user to clean a floor surface in a traditional manner or to clean scuff marks from the floor surface without having to store one device and access another.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device, as aforesaid, that enables a user to remove scuff marks without need for liquid cleaners or other cleaning tools.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device, as aforesaid, having a handle that is length-adjustable.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device, as aforesaid, in which cleaning attachments are removable and interchangeable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device, as aforesaid, that is simple to use and economical to manufacture.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cleaning device, as aforesaid, that is motorized and energized with a rechargeable battery.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning device with attachments according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a scuff removal device removed from the cleaning device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is an isolated perspective view of a portion of the handle removed from the cleaning device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a to 3d are isolated views on enlarged scales of first cleaning member devices as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the scuff removal device as in FIG. 2a; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a battery recharging unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A cleaning device for removing streaks from a floor surface according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. A cleaning device according a preferred embodiment of this invention includes a handle 12, a first cleaning device 30, and a second cleaning device 40.

More particularly, the cleaning device 10 includes an elongate handle 12 having a first handle member 20 and a second handle member 22 coupled to the first handle member 20 (FIG. 1). The handle 12 is length adjustable in that the first handle member 20 may include a tubular construction having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the second handle member 22 which also has a tubular construction. A coupling 18 may join the first 20 and second 22 handle members, allowing relative movement when loosened and fixing them at a selected position when tightened. Of course, other constructions enabling length adjustment would also be suitable, such as a plurality of holes in the tubular members and a pin for fixing the tubular members at a desired position relative to one another.

The handle 12 presents a first end 14 and a second end 16 oppositely disposed from the first end 14 (FIG. 1). The cleaning device 10 includes a first cleaning device 30 removably coupled to the first end 14 of the handle 12 (FIG. 1). As best shown in FIGS. 3a to 3d, the first cleaning device 30 may be a heavy duty broom 32, a squeegee 34, a light duty broom 36, a dust mop 38, a wet mop (not shown), or some other cleaning instrument. Further, the first cleaning device 30 may include a plurality of cleaning instruments, each of which may be selectively attached to the handle first end, as desired. Thus, the cleaning device 10 may be marketed in the form of a kit. The first cleaning device 30 may be attached to the first end 14 of the handle 12 using a coupling 39 as described previously, with a friction fit attachment, with a pin, or other similar fastener.

The cleaning device 10 includes a second cleaning device 40 attached to the second end 16 of the handle 12 (FIG. 1). More particularly, the second cleaning device 40 includes a scuff removal device 42 (FIG. 2a). While the scuff removal device 42 may be fixedly attached to the handle second end 16, it is preferably removably attached as will be described below. The scuff removal device 42 includes a generally tubular body portion 43 defining an opening 44 at a lower end and includes a scuff removal tip 46 at an opposed upper end. The scuff removal tip 46 is preferably constructed of a felt material that is generally rigid and arranged in a generally spherical configuration (FIG. 2a). The scuff removal tip 46 is useful for cleaning scuff marks from a floor surface. The scuff removal device 42 may be attached to the handle 12 by inserting the second end 16 thereof into the opening 44 of the body portion 43. It may be held thereon by a friction fit, threads, or another suitable fastener.

The scuff removal device 42 may also include means for causing the scuff removal tip 46 to vibrate for the purpose of more efficient removal of scuff marks. More particularly, the scuff removal device 42 includes a motor (not shown) positioned within the body portion 43 adjacent the upper end thereof. The body portion 43 may include a generally bulbous or protruded configuration 48 in which to house the motor, as shown particularly in FIG. 2a. A battery may also be positioned in the body portion 43 of the scuff removal device 42 and may be electrically connected to the motor. The battery may be rechargeable. A switch 50 may be mounted to the body portion 43, such as on the protruded section (FIG. 2a) and be operatively and electrically connected to both the battery and the motor for selectively energizing the motor. An axle shaft 52 is operatively connected to the motor and extends therefrom along a longitudinal axis defined by the scuff removal device 42. The shaft, therefore, is capable of relative back and forth movement when the motor is energized. Further, the scuff removal tip 46 may be releasably coupled to the shaft 52 such that it may be removed and replaced when it becomes worn, degraded, or unacceptably dirty. As shown in FIG. 4, the scuff removal tip 46 may include a bore 52b in a lower surface 52a into which the axle shaft 52 may be inserted in a friction or snap fit relationship or the like. When attached to the shaft and the motor is energized, the scuff removal tip 46 is caused to vibrate at a high frequency rate for optimal efficiency in removing a scuff mark on a floor surface. It should be appreciated that the scuff removal device 42 may be removed from the handle 12 and used by hand to remove scuff marks from a floor surface.

The cleaning device 10 may also include a battery recharging station 60 (FIG. 5). The recharging station 60 may include a power cord 62 that may be plugged in to a traditional AC electric outlet and may include a receptacle for receiving a lower end of the scuff removal device 42. The lower end of the scuff removal device 42 includes a plug 54 or other electrical connection for receiving an electric charge from the recharging station 60 and for transferring it to the battery.

In use, the handle 12 of the cleaning device 10 may be adjusted to a desired length and a desired first cleaning device 30 may be selectively attached to the first end 14 of the handle 12. The scuff removal device 42 may likewise be removably coupled to the second end 16 of the handle 12. A user may then hold and manipulate the handle 12 in a traditional manner to clean with the first cleaning member 30. The scuff removal device tip 46 may be rubbed against a streak mark on a floor surface so as to remove the streak mark. In addition, the motor positioned in the handle 12 may be selectively energized such that the scuff removal device tip 46 vibrates to more efficiently rub a streak mark from a floor surface. In addition, the cleaning device 10 may include a battery recharging station 60 into which the rechargeable battery positioned in the scuff removal device 42 may be recharged. The scuff removal device 42 may be removed from the handle 12 and used independently.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for removing streaks and scuffs from a floor surface, comprising:

an elongate handle having oppositely disposed first and second ends;

a first cleaning device removably coupled to said first end; and

a second cleaning device attached to said second end.

2. The cleaning device as in claim 1 wherein said handle is length adjustable.

3. The cleaning device as in claim 1 wherein said first cleaning device is selected from the group consisting of a broom, a dust mop, and a squeegee.

4. The cleaning device as in claim 3 wherein said second cleaning device is a scuff removal device having a generally tubular body portion defining an opening at a lower end and having a scuff removal tip at an upper end, said scuff removal tip having a generally rigid construction of a felt material and having a generally spherical configuration.

5. The cleaning device as in claim 4 wherein said lower end of said body portion is removably coupled to said second end of said handle.

6. The cleaning device as in claim 1 wherein said second cleaning device is a scuff removal device having a generally tubular body portion defining an opening at a lower end and having a scuff removal tip at an upper end, said scuff removal tip having a generally rigid construction of a felt material and having a generally spherical configuration.

7. The cleaning device as in claim 6 further comprising:

a motor positioned adjacent said upper end of said scuff removal device;

a battery electrically connected to said motor;

a switch electrically connected to said battery and said motor for selectively energizing said motor;

a shaft operatively connected to said motor for relative back and forth movement when said motor is energized, said shaft extending longitudinally from said second end of said handle; and

wherein said scuff removal device is removably coupled to said shaft such that said scuff removal device vibrates when said motor is energized.

8. The cleaning device as in claim 4 further comprising:

a motor positioned adjacent said upper end of said scuff removal device;

a battery electrically connected to said motor;

a switch electrically connected to said battery and said motor for selectively energizing said motor;

a shaft operatively connected to said motor for relative back and forth movement when said motor is energized, said shaft extending longitudinally from said second end of said handle; and

wherein said scuff removal tip is removably coupled to said shaft such that said scuff removal device vibrates when said motor is energized.

9. The cleaning device as in claim 5 further comprising:

a motor positioned adjacent said upper end of said scuff removal device;

a battery electrically connected to said motor;

a switch electrically connected to said battery and said motor for selectively energizing said motor;

a shaft operatively connected to said motor for relative back and forth movement when said motor is energized, said shaft extending longitudinally from said second end of said handle; and

wherein said scuff removal tip is removably coupled to said shaft such that said scuff removal device vibrates when said motor is energized.

10. The scuff removal tool as in claim 5, further comprising:

a battery recharging station; and

means for removably mounting said scuff removal device to said battery recharging station so that said battery is recharged.

11. A cleaning device for removing streaks from a floor surface, comprising:

a handle having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said handle being length adjustable;

a first cleaning device removably coupled to said first end;

a scuff removal device having a generally tubular body portion defining an opening at a lower end and having a scuff removal tip at an upper end, said scuff removal tip having a generally rigid construction of a felt material and having a generally spherical configuration; and

wherein said lower end of said body portion is coupled to said second end of said handle.

12. The cleaning device as in claim 11 wherein said lower end of said body portion is removably coupled to said second end of said handle.

13. The cleaning device as in claim 11 further comprising:

a motor positioned adjacent said upper end of said scuff removal device;

a battery electrically connected to said motor;

a switch electrically connected to said battery and said motor for selectively energizing said motor;

a shaft operatively connected to said motor for relative back and forth movement when said motor is energized, said shaft extending longitudinally from said second end of said handle; and

wherein said scuff removal tip is removably coupled to said shaft such that said scuff removal device vibrates when said motor is energized.

14. The cleaning device as in claim 11 wherein said first cleaning device includes a plurality of cleaning instruments, each of which is removably attachable to said first end of said handle.

15. The cleaning device as in claim 14 further comprising:

a battery recharging station; and

means for removably mounting said scuff removal device to said battery recharging station so that said battery is recharged.

16. The cleaning device as in claim 11 wherein said first cleaning device is selected from the group consisting of a broom, a dust mop, and a squeegee.