Cleaning Tool

Abstract

A cleaning tool that uses a towelette is disclosed. The cleaning tool is separable into two portions and by joining the two portions a user is able to secure a towelette to the cleaning tool and cause a portion of the cleaning tool to be covered by the towelette. The portion of the cleaning tool which is covered by the towelette narrows to a point and is flexible to allow a user to reach surfaces with the towelette that would be difficult or impossible to reach by hand.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of this application pertains to cleaning devices, particularly, devices that reversibly hold cleaning wipes. Even more particularly, the subject matter of this application pertains to devices that reversibly hold single disposable cleaning wipes for use.

BACKGROUND

The use of cleaning solutions in a spray bottle and a disposable towelette is nothing new and likely occurs in just about every American household and business. Although incredibly prevalent, a spray bottle and towelette system has certain limitations. One downside with using a bottle and towel is that the user has to carry both a bottle of spray and sufficient towels. The bottles need to be refilled or replaced and can leak if tipped or if the spray nozzle is defective. Additionally, the user can over-spray the cleaning solution onto collateral surfaces. This might not be a problem in most situations, but cleaning solution contacting or dripping onto electronics or food can be disastrous. Additionally, a user holding a towel in their hand may not be able to clean beveled corners or other hard to reach surfaces simply because of the size of their fingers.

One approach to addressing some of the problems associated with the bottle/towel cleaning method is the use of disposable towels or wipes, pre-moistened with cleaning solution. With these wipes, only one container needs to be carried, and spills, overspray, and dripping are all eliminated. Also, as the wipes are disposable, a user may replace them more often and lessen the occurrence of dirt or germs from one surface being spread to another. Still, a user may have difficulty cleaning many hard-to-reach area because of the size of their fingers.

SUMMARY

The subject matter of this application pertains to cleaning tools. In particular, it pertains to tools used to hold towelettes having at least one cleaning surface. Even more particularly, it pertains to a tool having a flexible portion to which a towelette is reversibly attached. The flexible portion of the tool has a narrow terminal edge that can reach areas difficult to reach by hand.

In use, a wipe is draped over the blade portion of the tool, and the wipe's edge tucked into a space in the blade portion. A portion of the handle is also inserted into that space, pinching the towelette between that portion of the handle and the section of the blade defining said space. Features of the blade and handle portions ensure the blade portion is centered respective to the handle portion and that the wipe is held taut by the tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the blade portion, an illustration of the side of the blade portion of the subject matter of this application.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the side of the blade portion of the subject matter of this application.

FIG. 3 is a mid-coronal place section of the blade portion.

FIG. 4 is a illustration of a front elevation view of the handle portion of the subject matter of this application.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of a view of the handle portion.

FIG. 6 illustrates a disposable wipe being wrapped around the blade portion in preparation for use.

FIG. 7 illustrates how the insertion of the handle portion into the blade portion secures a towelette in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and drawings referenced therein illustrate embodiments of the application's subject matter. They are not intended to limit the scope. Those familiar with the art will recognize that other embodiments of the disclosed method are possible. All such alternative embodiments should be considered within the scope of the application's disclosure.

Each reference number consists of three digits. The first digit corresponds to the figure number in which that reference number is first shown. Reference numbers are not necessarily discussed in the order of their appearance in the figures.

The subject matter of this application pertains to tools for holding and using paper towels, napkins and other such disposable paper and cloth products, as well as disposable wipes pre-moistened with a cleaning solution (collectively “disposable wipes”).

A cleaning tool comprises a blade portion and a handle portion.

The blade portion is comprised of a resilient material such as a rubber which can be bent by pressure but which returns to its shape when pressure is released, and comprises a first axis (101), a second axis (102), a first face (103), a second face (104), a first side (105), a second side (106), a terminal edge (107), and an attachment region (108). The attachment region comprises a first jaw (202) and a second jaw (203). Each jaw comprises an inner surface (204)(205) and an outer surface (206)(207). Said attachment region further comprises a gap or channel (115) defined as the space between the inner surface of the first jaw and the inner surface of the second jaw, and protrusions (116) extending into the gap. The attachment region further comprises a tab (201) located within the gap.

The tab (201) is preferably a parallelogram in which the a shorter parallel side is distal to the blade portion's bottom edge (108) and extends into the gap (115).

The blade portions first face and second face comprise a plurality of grooves (e.g., 117). These grooves are parallel to the edge and extend from the first side to the second side. The grooves increase the degree by which the blade can be bent by the user, but at the blade is comprised of a resilient material, it tends to retain its shape when relaxed.

The handle portion comprises a first axis (401), a second axis (402), a grip (403), and an attachment region (404). The grip optionally further comprises a female threaded portion (501) capable of reversibly attaching to a male threaded extension handle.

The handle's attachment region comprises a first face (502), a second face (503), a first side (504) and a second side (505). Each of these faces comprise a notch (506) extending from the first side (504) to the second side (505). The attachment region further comprises a slot (405) which is aligned with the blade portion's tab (201) when the blade portion and handle portion are assembled for use.

To use the cleaning tool one folds a towelette (601) roughly in half over the blade portion's terminal edge (107). The towelette comprises two ends (602, 603) which extend beyond the blade portion's two jaws. The towelette's ends (701) are then tucked into the gap between the jaws (115). The handle portion's attachment region (404) is then pushed against the paired jaws' protrusions (116), which causes the jaws (202, 203) to part slightly as the handle is pushed in, but lock into place as the jaws' protrusions (116) snap into the handle's attachment region's slots (410). When the handle portion's attachment region is inserted, friction between it and the ends of the towelette draws the ends of the wipe further into the gap thereby pulling the wipe taut against the faces of the blade portion. The blade and handle portions align due the respective blade portion's tab being pressed into the handle portion's slot. FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the blade portion with a towelette tucked into the gap (115) and how the attachment region of the handle portion fits within the attachment region of the blade portion.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool comprising a handle portion and a separate blade portion,

A. said handle portion comprising a grip, an attachment region, a first axis. and a second axis,

B. said blade portion comprised of a resilient material and further comprising a first face, a second face, a first side, a second side, a terminal edge and an attachment region, i. the attachment region of the blade portion comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, a. said first jaw comprising an inner surface, and an outer surface, b. said second jaw comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, c. said inner surface of the first jaw and said inner surface of the second jaw facing each other and forming a channel, d. said first jaw having a protrusion extending into the channel, e. said second jaw having a protrusion extending into the channel, f. said channel further comprising a tab.

2. The cleaning tool of claim 1 in which a segment of the handle portion's attachment region can fit into the channel formed by the inner surfaces of the first jaw, and

A. the attachment region of the handle portion further comprising a first groove into which fits the protrusion of the first jaw and a second groove into which fits the protrusion of the second jaw, and

B. the attachment region of the handle portion further comprises a slot.

3. The cleaning tool of claim 1 in which the first face of the blade portion comprises two or more grooves, said grooves being parallel to the second axis of the blade portion and extending across the entire first face of the blade portion.

4. The cleaning tool of claim 3 in which the second face of the blade portion comprises two or more grooves, said grooves being parallel to the second axis of the blade portion and extending across the entire second face of the blade portion.

5. The cleaning tool of claim 4 in which each groove of the second face of the blade portion is immediately opposite a groove of the first face of the blade portion.

6. A method of using the cleaning tool of claim 2 comprising the steps of:

A. locating the approximate center of a towelette,

B. placing the said approximate center of the towelette over the terminal edge of the blade portion,

C. tucking the ends of the towelette into the channel between the inner surface of the first jaw and the inner surface of the second jaw,

D. pressing the attachment region of the handle portion into said channel of the attachment region of the blade portion by slightly spreading apart the first jaw and the second jaw so that the ends of the towelette are pinched between the attachment region of the handle and the inner surfaces of both the first jaw and of the second jaw.

F. Pressing the towelette-covered blade portion against an object to be cleaned with sufficient force to cause the blade portion to bend and wiping the towelette over said object.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of positioning the attachment region of the handle portion so that the tab of the blade portion fits within the slot of the handle portion.