Lighted cleaning implement
An implement, such as, for example, a broom or mop for cleaning, includes a handle and a cleaning feature connected to the handle. The implement also includes a light connected to the implement, a power source of the implement connected to the light, and a switch of the implement for turning on and off the power source for illuminating the light. The power source is, for example, a battery. The power source, switch and light are electrically connected internally within the implement, and the switch is exposed for manual switching and the light is exposed for illuminating an area serviced by the implement. Alternately, the switch is automatically triggered by a servicing occurrence.
The present invention generally relates to cleaning implements, such as brooms, mops, whisk brooms, coating applicators, and dusters, and, more particularly, relates to illuminating features incorporated in such implements.
Brooms, mops, dusters, whisk brooms, and the like are conventionally quite standard, basic, and featureless. Improvements to these conventional implements have typically been limited to varied materials, for example, natural straw bristles, cotton or similar materials as mop heads, and wood handles have been replaced with plastics or other synthetics in certain instances. Notwithstanding these limited improvements, the conventional designs for these implements have remained generally unchanged for many years.
A reason that these conventional designs have remained unchanged is that consumers desire these implements to be fairly inexpensive and primarily functional. In order to limit costs, manufacturers have maintained basic designs, without any significant improvements or new features. Presently, costs for simple electronics have dropped substantially, and requirements to power such electronics have been vastly reduced and miniaturized. For instance, light bulbs, batteries, and circuits have become quite inexpensive to make and maintain. Also, power consumption required for bulbs and circuits, particularly with newer light emitting diodes (LEDs) and similar low-energy lighting components, has been reduced.
It would, therefore, be a significant improvement in the art and technology to improve cleaning implements, such as brooms, mops, dusters, paint or coating applicators, whisk brooms, and similar devices, to provide lights or illumination sources to the devices. The lights can illuminate an area for service, such as a corner, under a bed, inside cabinets, in car or transportation cabins or compartments, and otherwise. The present invention provides numerous advantages and improvements, including improvements and nuances in the foregoing respects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn embodiment of the invention is a system for cleaning. The system includes a cleaning element and light connected to the cleaning element.
Another embodiment of the invention is a broom having a handle and bristles connected to the head. The broom includes a light in the handle, a power source connected to the light, and a switch for turning on and off the power source.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a mop having a handle and a mop head connected to the handle. The mop includes a light in the handle, a power source connected to the light, and a switch for turning on and off the power source.
Another embodiment of the invention is an implement comprising a handle and a cleaning feature connected to the handle. A light is connected to the implement.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of using an implement. The method includes connecting a light to the implement.
Another embodiment of the invention is a method of using an implement. The method includes illuminating by the implement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:
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In certain embodiments, the shroud 106 is a hood or clamp for retaining the element 108, and is comprised of plastic, wood, metal, or other substantially rigid material(s). The shroud 106 is formed with an opening from within the shroud 106 to outside the shroud 106, to accommodate and retain the light 112 pointing in a direction sufficient to illuminate an area of a surface to be cleaned (to be understood as located beyond the latter end of the implement 100 towards the bottom of
The element 108 is a plurality of broom bristles, mop strings, or dust cloths, comprised of natural or synthetic materials, retained by the shroud 106 to expose the element 108 to the surface to be cleaned. The handle 104 is a metal or plastic cylinder or other hand grip suitable for handling by the human user via the user's hand(s), and can include ergonomic or usability features, such as an end cap 118 to prevent scratching and other features. The end cap 118 also serves to retain a battery 120 (shown in phantom) for powering the light 112. The end cap 118 is internally threaded to mate with an outward thread of an upper end (in
Within the cylinder of the handle 104 and extending through the handle 104 to within the shroud 106, an electrical connector or other power conducting wire or cable interconnects the switch 114, the battery 122, and the light 112, and completes the circuit back to the switch 114. The light 110 is one or more of a filament bulb, light emitting diode (LED), or other illuminator(s). Additionally, the implement 100 can include, incorporated and connected therewith, an external power source (not shown in
In operation, a human user handles the implement 100 to perform cleaning by directing the element 108 of the head 102 at or across a surface for cleaning, for example, by gripping the extension 110 and moving the implement 100 to cause the element 108 to pass on the surface (e.g., a floor, wall, etc.) to be cleaned. The light 112 of the implement 100 is selectively switched “on” to illuminate and “off” not to illuminate, by the switch 114. The light 112 is, for example, switched on by the switch 114 when cleaning is performed in a location of low light. The light 112, when switched on, illuminates an area including a portion of the surface being cleaned via the implement 100.
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Alternately, an AC power source can provide power to the light(s); however, additional appropriate electrical components (for example, appropriate ground, transformer, etc.) are included in the implement 100, 200 or external thereto. In other embodiments, the power source 254 is a rechargeable power source, such as a rechargeable battery; and suitable electrical components, such as an electrical cord connector and a recharging unit, are incorporated with and connected to the implement (or are available external to the implement and are connectable thereto), as desired for the design.
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Other alternatives are possible in keeping with the foregoing and all such alternatives are included herein. For example, a handle or extension of an implement can be significantly foreshortened, such as with a wisk broom or the like, or bent, shaped or otherwise configured. Moreover, a shroud or other connector for the cleaning element can, itself, serve as a handle. The shroud can be any of a wide variety of mechanisms that serve to retain a cleaning element. The shroud can be formed with the cleaning element, such that the shroud and cleaning element are a unitary piece. A wide variety of materials are possible for the implements. Additionally, a wide variety of lights and similar illumination elements are possible and all are included. External and internal power sources and supplies are incorporable. Replaceable elements, including lights, cleaning element, handle, battery, circuitry, switch or trigger, and other parts and units can be included. Moreover, the particular aspects of switch operations, including the design and method, means or mode of operations thereof, are variable and include all possibilities for every included application and use.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises, “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
Claims
1. A system for cleaning, comprising:
- a cleaning element; and
- a light connected to the cleaning element.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cleaning element is selected from the group consisting of: broom, mop, duster, cloth, bristle, painter, roller and combination.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:
- a second light connected to the cleaning element.
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of lights.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a switch connected to the light for turning the light on and off.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the switch is a two-position switch.
7. The system of claim 4, further comprising a switch positional in more than two positions for selectively turning on and off select ones of the plurality of lights.
8. The system of claim 5, further comprising:
- a power source, electrically connected to the switch and the light.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the power source is connected to and retained internally within the system.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power source is externally connected to the system to power the system.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of: battery and rechargeable battery.
12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a cord and plug for plugging into an electrical power source.
13. A broom having a handle and bristles connected to the head, comprising:
- a light in the handle;
- a power source connected to the light; and
- a switch for turning on and off the power source.
14. The broom of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of lights, each connected to the power source and the switch.
15. The broom of claim 14, wherein the switch is a two-position switch.
16. The broom of claim 14, wherein the switch is positional in more than two positions and selectively turns on and off the power source to select ones of the plurality of lights.
17. A mop having a handle and a mop head connected to the handle, comprising:
- a light in the handle;
- a power source connected to the light; and
- a switch for turning on and off the power source.
18. An implement comprising a handle and a cleaning feature connected to the handle, comprising:
- a light connected to the implement.
19. The implement of claim 18, wherein the light is connected to the handle.
20. The implement of claim 18, further comprising:
- a shroud connected to the handle and connected to the cleaning feature;
- a switch connected to the handle;
- wherein the light is attached to the shroud.
21. The implement of claim 18, further comprising:
- a shroud connected to the handle and connected to the cleaning feature;
- a switch connected to the shroud;
- wherein the light is connected to the shroud.
22. The implement of claim 18, wherein the light is connected to the cleaning feature.
23. The implement of claim 18, further comprising:
- a switch connected to the implement;
- wherein the switch is triggered by the cleaning element.
24. The implement of claim 23, further comprising:
- a more than two position switch;
- a plurality of lights;
- wherein the more than two position switch turns on and off select ones of the plurality of lights.
25. A method of using an implement, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a light to the implement.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
- connecting a power supply to the light; and
- switching the power supply.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:
- connecting a plurality of lights to the implement;
- wherein the step of switching selectively powers the plurality.
28. A method of using an implement, comprising the step of: illuminating by the implement.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 24, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 28, 2006
Inventors: Terry Jones (Austin, TX), Timothy Crowley (Marfa, TX), Lynn Crowley (Marfa, TX)
Application Number: 11/088,294
International Classification: A47L 9/30 (20060101);