Abstract: A filter bag of a vacuum cleaner has a filter mounting plate that includes a generally strap-shaped securing element with pivot members on an end thereof. A housing of the vacuum cleaner defines a filter bag compartment therein and has pivot receivers into which the pivot members can be substantially vertically inserted. Then the filter mounting plate can be pivoted into a substantially horizontal installed position as the filter bag is inserted into the filter bag compartment. In the installed position, a first stop member of the filter mounting plate contacts and is stopped by a second stop member of the housing so as to prevent further pivoting and so as to properly position and hold the filter mounting plate.

Abstract: The linear bearing is useful in a personal care appliance and includes an elongated center member (14) having end elements (20, 22) at each end thereof, the center member having an arm (16) with a workpiece (18) at the free end thereof. Two sets of orthogonal leaf springs (24, 38) are positioned in the vicinity of the ends of the center assembly, one end of each leaf spring in each set connected to an associated end member, the other end of each leaf spring in each set connected to a fixed-position member (26, 40), such as the housing (37) of the appliance.

Abstract: An applicator for use in cleaning surfaces, comprising: a bottom surface; a handle disposed above the bottom surface; means for releasably attaching a pad to the bottom surface; and an actuator, accessible from the handle, for actuating the means for releasably attaching the pad to the bottom surface. The means for releasably attaching preferably has a plurality of feet which move between a first position within the applicator to a second position outside the applicator. When the feet are in the second position they can contact a cleaning pad. The feet include means (such as a hook-and-loop fastener) for gripping the cleaning pad, so that when the feet are in the second position, which is the at-rest position, they grip the cleaning pad. When the feet are moved to the first position, they release the pad, allowing for the disposal thereof without having to touch the soiled pad.

Abstract: A multi-positionable manual toothbrush includes a toothbrush body, a toothbrush head, and a spring capable of engaging the toothbrush head at a plurality of angles with respect to the toothbrush body.

Abstract: A method for making a paint brush includes coupling a plurality of filaments to a handle inside a sleeve with the handle extending out of the sleeve. At least a portion of the handle and the sleeve are coated with a substantially impermeable coating to form a seal around an interface between the sleeve and the handle without covering the plurality of filaments.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an elongate cleaning element holder which contributes to a smoother cleaning operation, for a cleaning tool in which a cleaning element for cleaning an object to be cleaned is attached to the cleaning element holder. The representative cleaning element holder 120 includes a holding element 132 to be inserted into an insert region of the cleaning element. The holding element 132 has an inclined part 136 wherein a height of the inclined part 136 in a direction transverse to an extending direction of the holding element 132 gradually increases toward the connection.

Abstract: A fiber optic component cleaning device includes a folder having a base, a cover and a separator. The cover and the separator are opposite one another relative to the base. The folder has a width. The base and cover have a fold therebetween such that the cover folds onto the base and the base and separator have a fold therebetween such that the separator folds onto the base. The base and cover have about an equal length and the separator has a length less than the length of the base and cover. A plurality of cleaner sheets are disposed in the folder. The cleaner sheets have a width that is about equal to or less than the width of the folder and have a length that is about equal to or less than the length of the base and cover. A top-most fresh cleaner sheet is separated from the plurality of cleaner sheets and is positioned on the separator sheet for cleaning the connector. When soiled, the soiled cleaner sheet is removed and discarded. A method for cleaning a fiber optic connector is also disclosed.

Abstract: An oral care implement comprises a head with a plurality of cleaning elements, and a light source incorporated into or adjacent the head. The light source is incorporated prior to the attachment of the cleaning elements. For ease of manufacturing and a cost-effective assembly. The cleaning elements are preferably preformed and attached to the head after the incorporation of the light source so that the provision of the light source does not require any post-processing that might impair the integrity of the head or cleaning elements.

Abstract: A coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller including an elongated core with end mounting features defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation, multiple floor cleaning bristles extending radially outward from the core, and at least one compliant flap extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface. The flap is configured to prevent errant filaments from spooling tightly about the core to aid subsequent removal of the filaments. In another aspect, a coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, a controller, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller. The coverage robot includes a roller cleaning tool carried by the chassis and configured to longitudinally traverse the roller to remove accumulated debris from the cleaning roller.

Abstract: A dual striker mechanism for a carpet-tapping machine comprises two striker grills which are mounted in a common body opposite one another so as to be pivotable about the longitudinal axis of their retaining rail. The tapping rods of the first striker grill thereby protrude into the gaps between the tapping rods of the second striker grill. The arrangement of the tapping rods of the two striker grills thereby forms a common horizontal plane. The striker grills are coupled to one another such that upon a clockwise pivoting motion of the first striker grill, the opposite one moves counter-clockwise. The drive motor for the striker grills generates an alternating pivoting motion about the longitudinal axis of the striker grills via an eccentric drive. The tapping rods of the two striker grills thereby move toward each other in their common substantially horizontal position.

Abstract: A hairbrush in which air blown from a hair dryer to the rear face side of the hairbrush is smoothly guided to through-holes in the hairbrush to send the air to the front face side. In the hairbrush (1), divergent projections (4a-4g) are formed on a rear face (2a) of a base section (2) and through-holes (8a-8f) are respectively formed in depressions (3a-3f) located between the projections. A cushion member (5) of a brush section (9) is fixed to the front face (2e) side of the base section (2) of the hairbrush (1), and bristles (6) are embedded in the cushion member (5) through which holes (5a) are formed. Air blown from the hair dryer to the rear face (2a) side of the hair brush (1) is guided by the projections (4a-4g) to the depressions (3a-3f) located between the projections and enters the through-holes (8a-8f). The air passed through the through-holes (8a-8f) passes through the holes (5a) in the cushion member (5) and sent to the front face side of the hairbrush (1).

Abstract: A bedding removal apparatus for removing bedding material in livestock free stalls is attached to a vehicle such as a skid steer. The bedding removal apparatus includes an auger configured to extend into the bedding of the free stall and draw the bedding toward a curb. The bedding removal apparatus includes a scraper engaging an inner end of the auger to remove bedding from the auger and deposit the bedding into the alley. The auger is mounted to a shaft which is positioned at an angle with respect to the curb and a movable frame to which the shaft is attached. The shaft may be angled down and forward with respect to the movable frame. A fixed frame is mounted to the vehicle and the movable frame is pivotably attached to the fixed frame. An actuator is configured to raise the movable arm from a position with the auger engaging the bedding to a raised position for movement or maneuvering of the vehicle.

Abstract: An oral care implement or toothbrush includes a head and a tooth cleaning element. The oral care implement's mass centroid may be adjusted to guard against the application of excessive force against a user's teeth. Adjustment may be performed using a variety of systems and mechanisms including adjustment of a weight within a portion of the oral care implement. The location of the weight may be modified using a variety of techniques including a screw configuration and/or a slider control.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a gas tube includes an actuator and a plunger head attached to the actuator. The actuator is configured to reciprocate the plunger head along a longitudinal axis of the gas tube between a retracted position and an extended position and to rotate the plunger head from a first angular position to a second angular position. A method of cleaning a gas tube includes positioning a plunger head including a plurality of longitudinally extending tines in the gas tube, rotating the plunger head relative to a longitudinal axis of the gas tube, and scraping deposits from an interior surface of the gas tube using longitudinally extending edges of the tines.

Abstract: A mop having a handle with a wringing frame disposed at a distal end, which defines a cam slot. An actuator lever is pivotally attached to the handle intermediate the distal and proximal ends and is coupled to an actuator linkage that extends into the internal hollow of the handle and connects to a pad plate, which supports a cleaning pad, such as a sponge thereon at the distal end of the mop. The pad plate has hinges that permit it to bend upon itself. When the actuator lever is moved to wring the cleaning pad, the actuator linkage pulls the pad plate at least partially through the cam slot, causing it to bend at the hinges and wring the cleaning pad supported thereon.

Abstract: A multiple planar surface baffle provides enhanced water flow and leaf capture benefits for pool/spa vacuum heads. A first planar surface is a support plate for attachment to a vacuum head at open segment locations between adjacent support wheels along both front and back edges of the vacuum head. The second and third planar surfaces are displaced at angles relative to one-another, and relative to the support plate. The second and third planar surfaces cooperate when attached to the vacuum head to provide a larger capture opening, to minimize displacement flow of water over the vacuum head, and to provide a water profile that induces enhanced downward water currents to better entrain leaves and other low density debris.

Abstract: A brush system for attaching to a shoe having a base with a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side edge, a plurality of bristles extending upwardly from the top surface, a clip divided into an arced portion and a flat portion, the arced portion extends outwardly from the side edge of the base and curves around underneath the bottom surface of the base and the flat portion is positioned below and parallel to the bottom surface of the base, a gap exists between the clip and the bottom surface, the arced portion of the clip has a middle bar and a first and a second side bar, a gap exists both between the first side bar, the middle bar, and the second side bar, and a slit in the first side bar and the second side bar of the arced portion.

Abstract: A windshield maintenance assembly having a telescoping pole assembly that is selectively extendable and retractable. An upper end of the windshield maintenance assembly preferably includes a reversible snow brush and an ice scraper. The windshield maintenance assembly further includes a long strap that is attached at the top of the windshield maintenance assembly which allows a user to pull down or pull back on the upper end to increase operating forces. The windshield maintenance assembly beneficially enables a plurality of attachable heads, such as a squeegee, a broom, or a sponge, to be attached to the upper end to enable other maintenance functions.

Abstract: A mop assembly includes a handgrip structure disposed above, connected telescopically to a rotary rod structure from above and a cleaning mop connected pivotally to a bottom end of the rotary rod structure. Once the cleaning mop is placed within a draining bucket, axially downward and upward movement of the handgrip structure relative to the rotary rod structure results in axial rotation of the rotary rod structure and the draining bucket relative to the handgrip structure in a predetermined direction and hence draining the water out from the cleaning mop.

Abstract: A toothbrush includes a head portion having bristles thereon, a neck portion, and a handle. One end of the neck portion is connected to the head portion, and the other end is connected to the handle. The axis of the bristles is substantially parallel to the axis of the neck portion. The axis of the neck portion and the axis of the handle form an angle. Accordingly, the toothbrush can be used easily for brushing, and it reduces angle limitations when cleaning the inner surface of teeth.