Abstract: Disposable and semi-disposable cleaning devices use lengths of folded and nonfolded non-woven fiber material interlaid with paper or waste fabric strips or ribbons or any other type of material. These fabrics are an alternative to yarn in the manufacture of inexpensive, disposable and semi-disposable products including mopheads, mats, drop sheets, furniture covers for movers, carpet protectors, cleaning wipes, mopheads, diapers, incontinence mats and the like. A particular embodiment is disclosed wherein a mop swab is made from the disclosed yarn substitute to provide a mop which is priced to discard after one time or several times use depending upon the type of material used in the construction process. The mop swab is formed from the elongate yarn substitute by wrapping about spaced arms and bunched to form a head attachable to a mop fixture. Tail ends may be looped or cut. Wipes may be made from the yarn substitute by forming a wrap and placing the wrap within a case-like cover.

Abstract: A mop wringer for a device for cleaning wet floors has a fixed squeezing plate which is positioned between wringer sidewalls. A movable squeezing plate is pivoted to the sidewalls. An actuating lever is configured as a two-armed lever with a shorter lever arm and a longer arm. The actuating lever is connected to the movable squeezing plate by the shorter lever arm and a push guide. A pressing action is carried out by pivoting the actuating lever away from the movable squeezing plate. In the final pressing position, the push guide forms an almost extended toggle lever joint with the shorter lever arm.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush comprises a body portion and a head including a motor, a moving portion, a handle, and a gear arrangement between the moving portion and the motor. The moving portion rotates, oscillates and/or reciprocates about an axis normal to a longitudinal axis of the head. The moving portion can include stiff bristles and massaging tips and the static portion can include soft bristles and massaging tips. The body portion houses the motor. A switch is operatively connected to the motor to provide momentary or continuous operation of the toothbrush. In one embodiment the gear arrangement includes a shaft, a worm gear and a pair of step gears. In another embodiment the gear arrangement includes a plurality of gears and at least one swivel arm for drive the moving portion in a rotating, oscillating or reciprocating manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a horizontally movable and downwardly biased appendage that extends laterally from a surface treating apparatus, such as a robotic floor cleaner. The robotic floor cleaner and/or appendage may use disposable cleaning sheets, such as dust clothes, wipes, sheet-brushes, and the like, to clean under objects or into corners but does not substantially interfere with the rotation of the surface treating apparatus about its axis when it is adjacent to encountered obstacles. The appendage can extend under low hanging obstructions to remove dirt, and reach into corners innavigable or unreachable by the robotic floor cleaner.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing hair from a drain consists of an elongate, flexible strip with an attached handle. A number of barbed portions are dispersed along the length of the flexible strip, with the barbed portions alternating along the two sides of the strip. The barbed portions are oriented at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the strip, with the vertex of the angle pointing away from the handle. The barbed portions serve to grip hair in the drain, the hair being removed when the device is removed from the drain.

Abstract: An ice scraper with brush and the glove, which has an anatomically designed handle grip. The ice scraper and the brush are mounted into the glove to protect the user's hand from snow, ice, water, and cold. The ice scraper blade and the brush are inserted into a fork branched handle, which is designed with a comfortable and firm grip to maximize the scraping force when applied to an ice covered windshield of a car. Glove is made out of waterproof fabric and internally can be insulated with any thermo-insulating fabric. The glove is provided with Velcro fasteners that are placed at the end of the glove. This prevents entering of the snow and ice into the glove.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a toothbrush supporting brushing behavior reinforcement means. A simple motion sensing means is electrically connected to a brushing logic means, which determines generalized brushing action of a user preferably a child. After the logic requirements of motion sensing are complete, the logic means directs a digital output display means to output to a small LCD screen or speaker a visual and/or audible reward to the user, preferably in the form of an enjoyable game or congratulatory message. A grid of electrical contacts may be used to determine motion or direction when connected with logic means.

Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning device for automatically cleaning a submerged surface includes a forwardly inclined housing forming a flow passage including a flow control valve. A flexible planar disc extends around an inlet to the flow passage for engaging the surface to be cleaned. The flexible planar member includes slits extending from the peripheral edge inward toward the central opening to form a pedal-like segmented flange for splaying of each segment in response to travel of the cleaner over an irregularly contoured surface and facilitate an effective frictional contact with the surface. A steering mechanism driven by fluid flow through the housing causes the housing to rotate about the planar disc.

Abstract: A system for the cleaning of male and female terminals comprised within electrical connectors. The system is a small, compact, portable system that comprises at least one cleaning element wherein the cleaning element may be a brush cleaning element, or alternatively may be a helical cleaning element, and wherein the cleaning element may be used for the cleaning of female electrical terminals. Further, the system may comprise an additional helical cleaning element that may be used for the cleaning of male electrical terminals. The system further comprises enclosing structure that isolates the cleaning element, or elements, from the environment to prevent the dropping of debris from the cleaning elements into the pocket of a user carrying the cleaning system. The system further comprises a pocket clip for the carrying of the system.

Abstract: An improved dustpan includes an elongated receptacle with a lip at one edge of the perimeter of the receptacle and a handle or grip attached to the opposite edge. The handle extends away from the perimeter edge of the receptacle opening in a direction perpendicular to the lip and is unsupported at its far end. The elongated receptacle extends beneath the handle at least as far as the end of the handle, and can extend further. The elongated receptacle has a flat end wall that permits the dustpan to be stored upright without emptying or spilling its contents. In its upright storage position the dustpan lip is upward and the handle is downward. The end of the handle can stabilize the dustpan in its upright storage position. Several of the dustpans can be nested.

Abstract: A method and product made thereby is provided in which a brush block is assembled with brush bristles by the method of fusing. The brush is formed with a substrate brush block that has a filler or reinforcing fiber embedded therein, according to a first preferred embodiment. The bristles of the brush are formed into tufts. An attachment end of each tuft of bristles is melted and pressed into a melted tuft cavity formed in the brush block. Upon cooling, the tuft is fixedly welded to the brush block with mechanical attachment. The bristles may be of the same or of a different polymer than the brush block. According to a second embodiment of the invention, brush bristle tufts are assembled to a substrate fibrous mat by the invention method of fusing. An attachment end of each bristle tuft is melted and pressed into intimate contact with the fibers of the mat that are kept at ambient temperature or partially melted. Upon cooling, the tuft is fixedly welded to the mat.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted broom that has a modular construction, improved sweeping action and versatile mounting capabilities. The broom has brush strips and integral channels formed in a bottom side of the housings that reduce greatly or eliminate rocking of the brush strips with respect to the housing to which they are removably mounted. The main housing is extruded from aluminum.

Abstract: A power-driven toothbrush comprising a brush head 1 mounted on a brush handle 2 for vibratory movement relative thereto, a vibration transmitting arm 33 extending between said handle 2 and said head 1 and a vibration actuator 3 located within the handle 2, said vibration transmitting arm 33 including a magnet 34 located within said handle 2 and the actuator 2 including a solenoid 32 adjacent said magnet 34 and means for supplying AC current to the solenoid 32 a frequency which is the same as the resonant frequency of the vibration transmitting arm 33. The means for supplying AC current to said solenoid includes a printed circuit board 31. The frequency of the AC current delivered to the solenoid and the natural frequency of the vibration transmitting arm are in the range of 100-300 Hz.

Abstract: A paint roller apparatus for applying paint to a painted surface includes a rotating accessory arm. The rotating accessory arm is rotatably mounted on a handle of the paint roller apparatus such that the accessory arm rotates between a first position wherein an accessory or the accessory arm is substantially proximate to a cylindrical roller of the paint roller apparatus and a second position where the accessory arm is at an angle of substantially ninety degrees to a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the handle and the roller. A switch assembly located on the handle provides for rotation of the accessory arm with minimal effort on the part of the user. The switch assembly may include a locking mechanism to lock the accessory arm into the first position and second position so that the accessory arm does not rotate inadvertently.

Abstract: An implement used for personal hygiene by an obese or impaired person includes an elongated handle having a curving blade covered with an absorbent wiping cover, stroked by the user gripping the handle with the covered blade pressed against the person's anal-genital body regions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a foot scrubber and massager formed of modular parts. The foot scrubber has a base module that defines a foot print shaped recess. Inside the recess are a number of holes that aid in securing the bristle module and retaining module in the recess. The bristle module corresponds in size and shape to the recess in the base module has bristles extending outward from the bristle module. A securing module secures the bristle module in the base module.

Abstract: A frame (2) for a wipe mop cover (3) comprises a substantially flat profile element (13) having two faces, two side ends, a leading end and a trailing end; two end caps (7) for application in the vicinity of the side end on the profile element (13), a universal joint (14) for connecting a handle for application in the vicinity of the trailing end substantially in the middle thereof on the profile element (13) and permitting rotation of the profile element about a spindle (12) substantially parallel to the trailing end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning device for manually cleaning surfaces with a support from dimensionally stable material on which at least one cleaning element is mounted. The aim of the invention is to provide a device with which damages to sensitive surfaces that are caused by an inadvertent contact with the dimensionally stable material can be substantially avoided. To this end, the support is at least partially provided with an elastically deformable, shock-absorbing cover.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer monofilament oriented from 3.0-6.0 times its original length having a diameter of 125-600 microns and containing 0.2-5.0% by weight, based on the weight of the monofilament, of glitter particles or film particles having a particle size of 50-400 microns in its longest diameter, a thickness of 2-50 microns and having a diameter to thickness ratio of at least 2 to 1 and wherein the longest diameter of the particle is not greater than 80% of the diameter of the monofilament and that provide the monofilament with an attractive appearance. A core sheath monofilament is also part of this invention wherein the core is a thermoplastic polymer monofilament having a sheath of the same or different thermoplastic polymer containing the above described particles. These monofilaments are particularly useful in toothbrushes and cosmetic brushes.

Abstract: A multiple wafer cleaning apparatus comprising a first module (12), having a first spaced-apart brush assembly having an inner brush (21a) and an outer brush (22a), each brush having a brush pad (102) and a platen (103), and a second module (14) having a second spaced-apart brush assembly (22) having an inner brush (22a) and an outer brush (22b), each brush having a brush pad (102) and a platen (103), each pair of spaced-apart, opposing, vertically disposed brushes (21) and (22) for scrubbing vertically disposed semiconductor wafers (25), in tanks (28). The two modularized sets of motorized, rotating, opposed, pancake shaped brushes (12) and (14), grip the freely rotating wafers (25) causing the wafers (25) to rotate in the same direction as the brushes.