Cleaning Tool

Abstract

The present invention provides a cleaning tool with interchangeable cleaning heads any one of which may be removably connected to a hollow handle. In one aspect of the invention, the cleaning tool generally includes an elongated hollow handle having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a stepped down neck region having a pair of opposed bosses extending outwardly therefrom; and at least two different cleaning tools each of which is adapted for removable coupling to the distal end of the handle.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

N/A

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to cleaning tools, and more particularly, to cleaning tools with interchangeable cleaning heads.

2. Background of Art

Various tools are employed when cleaning a kitchen or bathroom. For instance, a sponge may be used to wipe up a flat surface, while a hard bristled brush may be used for cleaning a toilet or sink, and a soft bristled brush might be used to clean more sensitive surfaces, like tile. In addition, liquid soap or other cleaning detergent is typically dispersed onto either the surface to be cleaned or the cleaning implement, and different cleaning substances might be used for different cleaning tasks, such as bleach for a toilet, antibacterial liquid for a kitchen counter, and gritty soap for a shower area. Thus, a household may include many bottles of cleaning substances and many different cleaning tools all of which must be stored and maintained.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a cleaning tool that includes a hollow handle into which liquid cleaning solution may be contained, and several different cleaning heads all of which are interchangeably usable in combination with the handle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a cleaning tool with interchangeable cleaning heads any one of which may be removably connected to a hollow handle. In one aspect of the invention, the cleaning tool generally comprises an elongated hollow handle having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a stepped down neck region having a pair of opposed protrusions extending outwardly therefrom; and at least two different cleaning tools each of which is adapted for removable coupling to the distal end of the handle, wherein each cleaning tool comprises a hollow connector region having a flanged ring defining the open end thereof and a pair of opposed notches formed in the flanged ring, and a pair of cavities formed in the inwardly facing surface of the in communication with respective ones of the pair of notches and extending in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle when coupled thereto, whereby each tool may be coupled to the handle by passing the pair of protrusions through respective ones of the notches formed in the flanged ring and then rotating the cleaning tool such that the protrusions ride in and are seated within a respective one of the cavities. To detach a cleaning tool from the handle the user would rotate the cleaning head such that the protrusions are aligned with respective notches and then pulling the cleaning tool away from the handle such the protrusions pass through the notches, thereby separating the cleaning tool from the handle. A cap may be attached to the proximal end of the handle by threads or other conventional fastening. Cleaning liquid may be poured into and contained within the hollow handle and will pass there through and into the cleaning tool

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clearing tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof with the cap and cleaning tool partially detached from the handle;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a cleaning tool;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a cleaning tool;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a clearing tool with an alternate cleaning head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a clearing tool with an alternate cleaning head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a cleaning tool designated generally by reference numeral 10. Cleaning tool 10 is useful for cleaning household rooms and items, such as, for example, kitchen counters, bathroom surfaces, toilets, showers, and the like.

Cleaning tool 10 extends along a longitudinal axis X-X and generally comprises an elongated, hollow handle 12 having an open, internally threaded top end 14, and an open bottom end 16, a cap 18 that includes external threads for detachably engaging with top end 14 and serves to enclose the upper end of handle 12, and a cleaning implement 20 detachably coupled to bottom end 16. The hollowness of handle 12 serves to contain therein a liquid cleaning substance (such as soap or detergent) and, perhaps, water with which the substance may mix, and the removable cap 18 permits one to easily refill the handle when needed. The liquid cleaning substance would flow through the handle and into cleaning member 20 where it would be applied to the surface or item being cleaned.

Cap 18 includes an aperture 19 formed there through. A user may store cleaning tool 10 when not in use by engaging a hook through aperture 19.

Cleaning member 20 is shown in FIG. 1 to include a bristled brush, but as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it may rather include a sponge or mop-like cleaning head, respectively, or any other conventional cleaning implement. With reference to FIGS. 2-4, cleaning member 20 comprises a body 22 adapted to connect to the bottom end 16 of handle 12, and the cleaning tool 24 extending outwardly from the body 22. Body 22 is hollow and comprises an open top end 26 in the interior of which a pair of diametrically opposed, elongated slots 28 are formed and that extend in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis X-X when the cleaning member is attached to handle 12. In addition, at one end of each of the slots 28 is a respective channel 30 that extends perpendicularly outward from slots 28 and through the upper edge to the exterior of body 22. The bottom end 16 of handle 12 includes a pair of diametrically opposed, vertically extending bosses 32 formed on an annular lip 34 at the bottom end 16 of handle 12. Bosses 32 are sized and positioned to fit snugly through the respectively positioned channels 30. When bosses 32 are positioned at the bottom of channels 30, the user can twist either the handle 12 or the cleaning member 20 about axis X-X such that bosses 32 ride within slots 28, securing cleaning member 20 in relation to handle 12.

If the user desires to change the cleaning head, he or she would merely need to twist either the handle 12 or cleaning member 20 about axis X-X until bosses 32 are aligned with vertical channels 30 and then separate the cleaning implement 20 from handle 12, and replace it with a different cleaning member, such as either of the ones shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Claims

1) A cleaning tool, consisting essentially of:

a) an elongated, hollow handle that extends along a longitudinal axis and includes an open top end, an open bottom end, an annular lip formed around said open bottom end, and at least one boss formed on said annular lip;

b) a cap removably connected to said top end of said handle;

c) a cleaning member removably connected to said bottom end of said handle and consisting essentially of a hollow body having an open top end and a bottom end from which a cleaning implement extends, said body having an interior surface in which at least one elongated slot is formed that extends in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis when said cleaning member is attached to said handle and at least one longitudinally extending channel each one of which extends between the exterior of said body and a respective one of said at least one elongated slot.

2) The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cap includes an aperture formed there through.

3) The cleaning tool according, to claim 1, wherein said at least one slot comprises first and second elongated slots that are positioned on opposite sides of said interior surface.

4) The cleaning tool according to claim 3, wherein said at least one channel comprises first and second channels that intersect with said first and second elongated slots, respectively.

5) The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning tool is a bristled brush.

6) The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning tool is a sponge.

7) The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning tool is a mop.