SURFACE CLEANER

A surface cleaner and a method for using the surface cleaner are disclosed. The surface cleaner comprises a cleaner body with a lid, a hand gripping post and a thumb rest, The cleaning may be performed by a pad attached to the bottom of the cleaner body. Alternatively a sheet, such as a cloth or a paper towel, folded into the inside of the surface cleaner may be used. To hold the surface cleaner, the hand gripping post is inserted between the middle and ring fingers and the thumb is rested on the thumb rest.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/391,112, filed Feb. 23, 2009, entitled SURFACE CLEANER, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a hand held surface cleaner and a method for cleaning a surface with the surface cleaner. The surfaces on which the cleaner may be used for removing dirt and stains may include but not limited to windows, furniture, household walls, bathtubs, tile and metal, and made of materials including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramic, plastic, Formica®, cement and wood. In order to clean quickly and efficiently, it is desirable to provide a comfortable yet tight gripping feature and the flexibility of moving and turning the wiper in all directions of x, y, and z planes. Having the option of using either or both a rough surface for scrubbing and an easy to change disposable sheet for wiping would also be desirable. Additionally, having the option of dry or wet cleaning, achievable by soaking the cleaning surface in water or in a cleaning solution, is likewise desirable. These features are not present in the prior art references. Thus there is a need for an improved hand held surface wiper that would include these features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a surface cleaner comprises a cleaner body having an inner surface, a bottom surface, a front side, a back side and lateral sides; a lid having an inner surface, a top surface, a front side and a back side, the lid being hingedly connected to the cleaner body; a pad attached to the bottom surface of the cleaner body; a hand gripping post attached to the top surface of the lid; and a thumb rest member attached to the hand gripping member.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for cleaning a surface comprises providing the surface cleaner of the present invention; folding a sheet over the pad and onto the inside surface of the cleaner body; closing the lid in a manner that engages the latch; inserting the hand gripping post between two fingers; and placing a thumb on the thumb rest.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, side and front perspective of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is the top, side and front perspective view of the closed surface cleaner of FIG. 1 containing a cleaner sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is the front elevation view of the closed surface cleaner of FIG. 3 containing a cleaner sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is the side elevation view of the closed surface cleaner of FIG. 5 containing a cleaner sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom, side and front perspective view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top, side and front perspective view of an open surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a top, side and front perspective view of an open surface cleaner having a sheet folded inside the cleaner body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a top, side and front exploded view of the cleaner body and the pad according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a top, side and front perspective view of a hand holding position of a closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide for a surface cleaner and for a method of using the cleaner. The cleaner of the present invention contains a cleaner body, a lid and a cleaning pad attached to the bottom surface of the cleaner body. Attachment of the cleaning pad to the bottom of the cleaner body may be accomplished by the use of an adhesive or by manufacturing the cleaner body and cleaner pad as one piece. The pad may be made of foam, an abrasive material such as steel wool, cloth, nonwoven, plastic or combinations thereof. In some cleaning applications, the cleaning action may be accomplished by direct contact between the pad and the target surface. The pad may he used dry, soaked in water or soaked in a. cleaning solution. In another embodiment of the present invention, a sheet is placed over the pad and used as the cleaning medium. The sheet may be made of paper or cloth and may be used dry, soaked in water or soaked in a cleaning solution.

The lid is hingedly connected to the cleaner body. A latch clamp attached to the front inside part of the lid closes onto a latch lock member on the inside front part of the cleaner body to form a closed position for the surface cleaner. A hand gripping post is attached to the outside of the lid surface, and a thumb rest is attached onto the hand gripping post. The thumb rest may have a circular shape, a rectangular or a triangular shape. However other shapes also fall within the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention the cleaning sheet is folded over the pad and into the inside of the cleaner body. The lid is then closed to hold the sheet in place. In another embodiment, at least two locking strips disposed longitudinally and attached to the inside cleaner body surface, and at least two locking grooves disposed longitudinally and attached to the inside surface of the lid are further used to hold the sheet firmly in place during the cleaning process. Each locking groove is configured to fit over a locking strip.

In one embodiment of the present invention, sheet support tabs may be positioned at the sides of the cleaner body. The tabs support the sheet as it is folded into the inside of the cleaner body, and help keep it stretched and held in place.

The surfaces on which the cleaner may be used for removing dirt and stains may include but not limited to windows, furniture, household walls, bathtubs, tile and metal, and made of materials including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramic, plastic, Formica®, cement and wood.

To hold the surface cleaner, the hand gripping post may be inserted between any two fingers with the back of the hand in contact with the outside part of the lid, and the thumb is placed on the thumb rest. For most users, the most comfortable position is likely to be using the middle and ring fingers. This enables the person performing the cleaning to move the cleaning device in all directions by a combination of wrist and elbow movement. However, other finger, hand positions and gripping positions also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustration of the surface cleaner in a closed position featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet support tab 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a representation of the surface cleaner in a closed position having sheet 6 folded into the cleaner featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3 and the pad 4.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, sheet locking groove 7 and sheet locking strip 8.

FIG. 4 depicts the embodiment of the surface cleaner in FIG. 3 showing a sheet 6.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and sheet support tab 5.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner showing the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and sheet 6.

FIG. 7 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner showing the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet support tab 5.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and hinge 9.

FIG. 9 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner in an open position showing latch clamp 3, pad 4, sheet support tab 5, sheet 6, locking groove 7, sheet locking strip 8, lid 10, latch lock 11, and the inside surface of the cleaner body 12.

FIG. 10 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner in an open position showing latch clamp 3, sheet 6 folded into the inside of the cleaner body, locking groove 7, lid 10, latch lock 11, and the inside surface of the cleaner body 12.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown an illustration of the surface cleaner in a closed position featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4 as a separate piece, and sheet support tab 5.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown an illustration of the surface cleaner in a position held by a person's hand 13 featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet 6.

Claims

1. A surface cleaner comprising:

a planer cleaner body having a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the cleaner body;
a pad coupled to the second side of the cleaner body;
a Planar lid coupled to the cleaner body by a hinge, the lid having a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the lid;
a gripping assembly coupled to the first side of the lid, the gripping assembly having a post connected to a thumb rest, the post having a variable radius wherein the radius of the post is greater in a first direction than the radius of the post in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and
a latch assembly which selectively engages the cleaner body to the lid, wherein the first side of the cleaner body engages the second side of the lid.

2. The surface cleaner of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly includes a latch lock which selectively receives a latch clamp.

3. The surface cleaner of claim 2, wherein the latch lock is provided on the first side of the cleaner body and the latch clamp is provided on the second side of the lid.

4. The surface cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a sheet support tab provided on an edge of the first side of the cleaner body.

5. The surface cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a first sheet support tab and a second sheet support tab provided on a first side of the cleaner body, wherein the first sheet support tab is provided on a first edge of the cleaner body and the second sheet support tab is provided on a second edge of the cleaner body.

6. The surface cleaner of claim 5, wherein the first edge of the cleaner body is parallel to the second edge of the cleaner body.

7. The surface cleaner of claim 6, wherein the distance between the first and second. sheet support tabs is greater than a width of the lid, such that when the lid engages the cleaner body, the lid is received between the first and second sheet support tabs.

8. The surface cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a sheet locking assembly adapted to retain a cleaning sheet, the sheet locking assembly having a first locking portion provided on the first side of the cleaner body and a second locking portion provided on the second side of the lid, wherein the first and second locking portions engage to retain a cleaning sheet.

9. The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein the first locking portion is a locking strip and the second locking portion is a locking groove, the locking groove is adapted to receive the locking strip.

10. A surface cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body having a first side, a second side, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein the first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the cleaner body, and the first edge is provided parallel to the second edge;
a pad coupled to the second side of the cleaner body;
a lid connected to the cleaner body by a hinge, the lid having a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the lid;
a gripping assembly coupled to the first side of the lid, the gripping assembly having a post connected to a thumb rest, the post having a variable radius wherein the radius of the post is greater in a first direction than the radius of the post in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and
a cleaning sheet coupled to the surface cleaner, the cleaning sheet having a first edge opposite a second edge, wherein the cleaning sheet is provided about the pad and the first and second edges are retained between the first side of the cleaner body and the second side of the lid.

11. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a latch assembly which selectively engages the cleaner body to the lid, wherein the first side of the cleaner body engages the second side of the lid.

12. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a first sheet support tab and a second sheet support tab provided on the first side of the cleaner body, wherein the distance between the first and second sheet support tabs is greater than a width of the lid, such that when the lid engages the cleaner body, the lid is received between the first and second sheet support tabs.

13. The surface cleaner of claim 12, wherein the first sheet support tab is provided along the first edge of the cleaner body, and the second sheet support tab is provided along the second edge of the cleaner body.

14. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a cleaning sheet locking assembly having a first locking portion provided on the first side of the cleaner body and a second locking portion provided on the second side of the lid, wherein a portion of the cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the first locking portion and second locking portion.

15. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a cleaning sheet locking assembly having a first locking portion and a second locking portion provided on the first side of the cleaner body and a third locking portion and a fourth locking portion provided on the second side of the lid, wherein a first portion of the cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the first locking portion and the third locking portion, and a second portion of the cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the second locking portion and the fourth locking portion.

16. The surface cleaner of claim 15, wherein the first locking portion is parallel to the second locking portion, and the third locking portion is parallel to the fourth locking portion.

17. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising:

a first sheet locking strip and a second sheet locking strip provided on the first side of the cleaner body; and
a first sheet locking groove and a second sheet locking groove provided on the second side of the lid, wherein a first portion of the cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the first sheet locking strip and the first sheet locking groove, and a second portion of the cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the second sheet locking strip and the second sheet locking groove.

18. The surface cleaner of claim 17, wherein the first sheet locking strip is parallel to the second sheet locking strip, and the first sheet locking groove is parallel to the second sheet locking groove.

19. A surface cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body having a first side, a second side, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein the first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the cleaner body, and the first edge is provided parallel to the second edge;
a pad connected to the second side of the cleaner body;
a lid hingedly connected to the cleaner body, the lid having a first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the lid; and
a gripping assembly coupled to the first side of the lid, the gripping assembly having a post connected to a thumb rest, the post having a variable radius wherein the radius of the post is greater in a first direction than the radius of the post in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction such that the post is adapted to be received between the fingers of a user.

20. The surface cleaner of claim 19, further comprising:

a first sheet support tab provided on the first side of the cleaner body along the first edge;
a second sheet support tab provided on the first side of the cleaner body along the second edge, wherein a first distance extends between the first and second sheet support tabs, and the lid has a width which is less than the first distance; and
a latch assembly which selectively engages the cleaner body to the lid, wherein the first side of the cleaner body engages the second side of the lid such that the lid is received between the first sheet support tab and the second sheet support tab.
Patent History
Publication number: 20120198645
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 9, 2012
Inventors: Michael J. Hilger (Green Bay, WI), Mark Payne (Neenah, WI), Herbert Goetz (Neenah, WI)
Application Number: 13/416,455
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: End Grip (15/222)
International Classification: A47L 13/16 (20060101);