MULTIPURPOSE CLEANING DEVICE
A cleaning device including a handle coupled to a flange that allows multiple adjustable attachments for cleaning applications is described herein. The relative position of the attachments and the flange may be adjusted to enable the device to be used on a wide variety of cleaning surfaces.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/773,952, filed Mar. 7, 2013 and titled MULTIPURPOSE CLEANING DEVICE, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUNDTiled surfaces are spaced apart when installed and these spaces are typically filled with grout. The grout surface is usually recessed from the tile surface, making the grout surface difficult to clean when using conventional cleaning tools that use broad sweeping motions such as a mop or sponge. The recessed location of the grout tends to collect dirt, which requires frequent cleaning and the rough texture of the grout requires increased pressure to clean. Moreover, grout in baths or showers, or other high humidity environments, is susceptible to mold and mildew which are difficult to clean. Scrubbing brushes aid the cleaning of grout but are very tedious in function, as each grout line has to be scrubbed individually. The spacing between grout lines is a function of tile size, which can vary greatly. A brush with multiple heads at a fixed position may only be useful for one specific application due to the variance in spacing between grout lines or other contours of the cleaning surface. Additionally, a handle having a single size and geometry may not be suited for a variety of users.
A cleaning device including a body that allows multiple adjustable attachments for cleaning applications is provided herein. The cleaning device may accommodate a variety of attachments such as brush heads, sponges, squeegees, etc., to clean a wide variety of surfaces, including grout between tiled surfaces. A cleaning device with multiple brush heads allows several lines of grout to be cleaned simultaneously. Customizable spacing of brush heads allows for the cleaning of varying widths of grout lines or other surfaces.
The cleaning device includes attachments mounted to a body including at least two parts: a handle and a flange. In one embodiment, the handle may be removably coupled to the flange. In this way, the device can accommodate a variety of handles which can be selected by the user for different cleaning surfaces and/or based on size and shape of the user's hand. Further in some embodiments, the body may additionally include a head positioned between the flange and the handle. The head may be shaped to provide a desired amount of structural support to the flange. For instance, the head may extend to lateral sides of the flange to provide increased flange support. Further in some embodiments, a cross-sectional geometry of the flange may be circular to enable radial adjustment of the attachments, facilitating additional modification of the cleaning device for different cleaning surface.
It is understood that while various embodiments of a cleaning device are illustrated and described below, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts and/or design elements herein described and shown, as numerous variations are within the scope of this disclosure.
Referring to
A plurality of brush assemblies 22 are removably coupled to the flange 14. In other examples, additional or alternative attachment assemblies may be removably coupled to the flange such as sponge assemblies, squeegee assemblies, etc. Each of the brush assemblies 22 includes a brush body 24, brush bristles 25, and a thumb screw 26. The brush bristles 25 are attached to the brush body 24. The brush body 24 and brush bristles 25 may generally be referred to as cleaning elements. Other suitable cleaning elements such as sponge bodies and sponges as well as squeegee bodies and squeegees may be included in the cleaning device, in some examples. Additionally, each of the brush assemblies may be independently slideable relative to the flange to provide lateral movement along the flange. A lateral axis is provided for reference.
The thumb screw 26 may extend through a threaded hole in the brush body 24 and releasably secure the brush assembly at a fixed location along the flange 14. Specifically, the thumb screw is configured to move in an axial direction in response to rotational input. In this way, the position (e.g., lateral position) of the brush assemblies relative to the flange 14 may be adjusted by a user of the cleaning device. As a result, the configuration of the cleaning device may be adjusted for a variety of cleaning surfaces, increasing the device's adaptability. Additional or alternative fastening elements may be used in the cleaning device to secure the attachment assemblies at fixed locations along the flange. Example fastening elements may include spring loaded shafts, clips, etc. Furthermore, other attachments such as sponges and squeegees may also be coupled to the flange 14, in other embodiments.
The exterior surface 402 of the flange 14 is mated with interior surfaces 404 of the brush assemblies 22. Therefore, the interior surfaces 404 at least partially enclose a portion of the flange 14. Specifically in one example, the exterior surface 402 is in face-sharing contact with the interior surfaces 404.
In the example depicted in
While specific embodiments of the cleaning device have been described in detail, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting. The features of the various embodiments described above, as well as modifications thereof, may be variously combined without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
Claims
1. A cleaning device comprising:
- a handle;
- a flange coupled to the handle, the flange having a cylindrical exterior surface; and
- a plurality of attachment assemblies, each of the plurality of attachment assemblies: including a cleaning element; having an interior surface that mates with the exterior surface of the flange; being independently slideable relative to the flange to provide lateral movement along the flange; and including a fastening element configured to secure the attachment assembly at a fixed location along the flange.
2. The cleaning device of claim 1, where the fastening element is a thumb screw configured to move in an axial direction in response to rotational input.
3. The cleaning device of claim 1, where the handle is removably attached to the flange.
4. The cleaning device of claim 1, where the cylindrical exterior surface is in face-sharing contact with the interior surfaces of the plurality of attachment assemblies.
5. The cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a head, and wherein the handle is indirectly coupled to the flange via the head, the handle is directly and removably coupled to the head, and the head is directly and permanently connected to the flange.
6. The cleaning device of claim 5, where the head extends from a first lateral side of the flange to a second lateral side of the flange opposing the first lateral side.
7. The cleaning device of claim 5, where peripheral sides of the head are curved.
8. The cleaning device of claim 1, where the cleaning element includes brush bristles attached to a brush body.
9. A cleaning device comprising:
- a handle;
- a flange coupled to the handle, the flange having a continuously curved exterior surface; and
- a plurality of attachment assemblies, each of the plurality of attachment assemblies: including a cleaning element; having an interior surface that mates with the three planar exterior surfaces of the flange; being independently slideable relative to the flange to provide lateral movement along the flange; and including a fastening element configured to secure the attachment assembly at a fixed location along the flange.
10. The cleaning device of claim 9, where the flange has a circular cross-section.
11. The cleaning device of claim 9, where the handle is removably attached to the flange.
12. The cleaning device of claim 9, further comprising a head, and wherein the handle is indirectly coupled to the flange via the head, the handle is directly and removably coupled to the head, and the head is directly and permanently connected to the flange.
13. The cleaning device of claim 12, where peripheral sides of the head are straight.
14. The cleaning device of claim 9, where the cleaning element includes brush bristles attached to a brush body.
15. A cleaning device comprising:
- a handle;
- a flange coupled to the handle, the flange having at least three planar exterior surfaces that collectively form an exterior surface with a polygonal cross section; and
- a plurality of attachment assemblies, each of the plurality of attachment assemblies: including a cleaning element, having an interior surface that mates with the exterior surface of the flange, being independently slideable relative to the flange to provide lateral movement along the flange, and including a fastening element configured to secure the attachment assembly at a fixed location along the flange.
16. The cleaning device of claim 15, where the cleaning element includes brush bristles attached to a brush body.
17. The cleaning device of claim 15, where the handle is removably attached to the flange.
18. The cleaning device of claim 15, further comprising a head, and wherein the handle is indirectly coupled to the flange via the head, the handle is directly and removably coupled to the head, and the head is directly and permanently connected to the flange.
19. The cleaning device of claim 18, where the flange extends from a first lateral side of the flange to a second lateral side of the flange opposing the first lateral side.
20. The cleaning device of claim 15, where each interior surface of the plurality of attachment assemblies at least partially encloses a portion of the flange.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2014
Publication Date: Sep 11, 2014
Inventor: James M. Hill (Eugene, OR)
Application Number: 14/199,543
International Classification: A46B 7/00 (20060101); A46B 9/02 (20060101);