Abstract:
A multipurpose cleaning device including a rigid body and which may include attachments is provided. The rigid body includes a handle, a flange and a head. Each attachment is slidably and adjustably mounted to the head. Each attachment is movable yet may be locked into place onto the head.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/518,683, filed May 9, 2011 and titled “Multipurpose Cleaning Device,” the content of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Tiled surfaces are spaced apart when installed and these spaces are typically filled with grout. The grout surface is usually recessed from the tile surface, making the grout surface difficult to clean when using conventional floor cleaning tools that use broad sweeping motions such as a mop or sponge. The recessed location of the grout tends to collect dirt, which requires frequent cleaning and the rough texture of the grout requires increased pressure to clean. Moreover, grout in baths or showers, or other high humidity environments, is susceptible to mold and mildew which are difficult to clean. Scrubbing brushes aid the cleaning of grout but are very tedious in function, as each grout line has to be scrubbed individually. The spacing between grout lines is a function of tile size, which can vary greatly. A brush with multiple heads at a fixed width may only be useful for one specific application due to this variance in spacing between grout lines. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cleaning device showing an embodiment with multiple brush assemblies. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the cleaning device. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2B  is a right side view of the cleaning device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2C  is a rear view of the cleaning device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2D  is a left side view of the cleaning device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2E  is a top view of the cleaning device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2F  is a front view of the cleaning device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2G  is a bottom view of the cleaning device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a brush assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment squeegee attachment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment sponge attachment. 
       
    
    
       [0014]      FIGS. 1-5  are drawn approximately to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    A cleaning device including a rigid body that allows multiple adjustable attachments for cleaning applications is provided herein. The cleaning device may be a rigid body cleaning device that can accommodate a variety of attachments to clean a variety of surfaces including grout between tiled surfaces. 
         [0016]    The cleaning device includes attachments mounted to a rigid assembly. The rigid assembly is of solid construction and includes three, structurally integrated parts: a handle, a flange and a head. The head forms a mounting track, which is in part also formed by the flange, for several brush head assemblies. The top of the head incorporates a raised rib along its lengthwise axis to provide rigidity to the head and to assist in the transfer of energy from the handle to the head through the flange. The raised rib also defines a forward and rear track concave notch. The raised rib creates a track along the head that allows the brush head assemblies to be mounted at any desired spacing along the head as well as allowing the attachment of other accessories to the head. 
         [0017]    A cleaning device with multiple brush heads allows several lines of grout to be cleaned simultaneously. Customizable spacing of brush heads allows for the cleaning of varying widths of grout lines. Attachments such as a squeegee, sponge, or brush allow the device to be used for multiple purposes including removing cleanser film from grout and tile which may be left after cleaning adjacent grout lines. 
         [0018]    It is understood that while a preferred embodiment of a cleaning device is illustrated and described below, it is not limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts and/or design elements herein described and shown. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the cleaning device  10  includes a lengthwise handle  20 , a flange  30 , and a head  40 . All three components are contiguous and structurally integrated, creating a single rigid structure. Therefore, the handle  20  is coupled to the flange  30  and the flange  30  is coupled to the head  40 . The flange  30  connects the handle  20  with the head  40 . The handle  20  is a hollow tube designed to be comfortable for gripping and may have a threaded aperture, which may allow connections to elongate the handle  20 . The head  40  includes a raised rib  41  and a support section  42  that allows attachments to slide along the entire length of the head  40 . The raised rib  41  may be common to the head  40  and the flange  30 . The support section  42  may be a support tract. The raised rib  41  extends along the top of the head  40  running the lengthwise axis of the head  40 . The support section  42  forms two tracks along the lengthwise axis of the head  40 ; the forward track  421  and the rear track  422 . As shown, both the forward track  421  and the rear track  422  are convex. The raised rib  41  also forms two concave notches with the top surface of the support section  42 ; the forward track notch  423  and the rear track notch  424 . The dimension of the forward track  421 , which is the segment of the head  40  in front of the raised rib  41 , may be equal or unequal to the dimension of the rear track  422 , which is the segment of the head  40  behind the raised rib  41 . If the forward track  421  and rear track  422  are of unequal dimensions, the asymmetrical design may ensure that all attachments may be placed onto the head  40  in one direction, ensuring the correct orientation of the attachments onto the head  40 . The forward track notch  423  and the rear track notch  424  may dictate the orientation of attachments by creating a shape that accommodates a corresponding shape on the attachment. If the orientation of attachments does not matter for cleaning purposes, the forward track  421  and rear track  422  may be of equal dimensions and the forward track notch  423  and the rear track notch  424  may be of symmetrical shape. 
         [0020]    The cleaning device  10  may be made from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, wood or graphite. Other materials may be used if desired. The size of the cleaning device  10  may vary and particularly the lengthwise dimension of the head  40  may be shorted or elongated for a variety of applications of the cleaning device. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the embodiment of the cleaning device  10  shown includes multiple identical brush assemblies  50  mounted on the head  40 . With additional reference to  FIG. 3 , the brush assembly  50  will now be discussed in detail. The brush assembly  50  is an attachment. It will be appreciated that the attachment may be removably coupled to the support section  42 , shown in  FIG. 2B . Specifically, in some embodiments two or more attachments may be removably coupled to the support section. The brush assembly  50  includes a brush body  51 , comprised of a forward flange  511  and a rear flange  512 . The brush body  51  is a single-piece brush body in the depicted embodiment. The forward flange  511  may be mated with the forward track  421 , shown in  FIG. 2B . Likewise, the rear flange  512  may be mated with the rear track  422 , shown in  FIG. 2B . The two flanges create a “C” shaped brush body  51 . The “C” shape of the brush body  51  creates a support track  515  to slide the brush assembly  50  onto the head  40 . The “C” shape of the brush body  51  may limit the movement of the brush assembly  50  in relationship to the head  40  when in use by allowing the forward flange  511  and the rear flange  512  to hug the around the support section  42 . The dimensions of the forward flange  511  of the brush assembly and the rear flange  512  of the brush assembly correspond to the dimensions of the forward track  421  of the head  40  and the rear track  422  of the head, respectively, which may be equal or not equal. This correspondence may provide a tight fit between the brush assemblies  50  and the head  40  which may substantially reduce and in some cases eliminate movement of the brush assemblies  50  during operation and may also ensure the brush assemblies  50  are oriented onto the head  40  in the correct direction if desired. The forward flange end  513  and the rear flange end  514  of the brush body  51  may be convex and may correspond conversely with the shape of the forward track notch  423  and the rear track notch  424  of the support section  42 . This correspondence may provide a tight fit between the brush assemblies  50  and the support section  42  and may also provide a desired orientation of the brush assemblies  50  onto the head  40 . The forward flange  511  of the brush body  51  houses a threaded hole in which a thumbscrew  53  may be engaged. The thumbscrew  53  may be configured to secure the brush assembly  50  or other suitable attachment at a fixed location along the head  40 , shown in  FIG. 2A , and at a fixed distance relative to other attachments. Thus, a user may tighten the thumbscrew to fix the relative position of the brush assembly to the head or loosen the thumbscrew to enable adjustment of the relative position of the brush assembly. In this way, the thumbscrew may be selectively adjustable by a user of the cleaning device. 
         [0022]    The bottom of the brush body  51  contains several rows of bristles  52  which may be oriented in a direction efficient for use. The bristles  52  may be referred to as grout-cleaning bristles. However, the bristles may be used to clean a variety of surfaces, if desired. 
         [0023]    As depicted in  FIG. 3 , brush body support track  515  is designed to encompass support section  42  and slide along the entire length of support section  42 . Brush body  51  may be constructed of a rigid plastic, nevertheless, a plastic with a modulus of elasticity which allows a slightly under-dimensioned brush body support track  515  to be marginally opened by the user of cleaning device  10  upon installation onto support section  42 , thereby biasing brush body support track  515  with a compressive force on support section  42  which may secure the fit between support section  42  and brush body support track  515  and which may substantially reduce play, and therefore wear and tear, between these surfaces. Such a sign may be desirable as thumbscrew  53 , while fixing brush assembly  50  to support section  42 , provides force to substantially prevent the brush body  51  from pivoting in relationship to head  40  during vigorous use of cleaning device  10 . 
         [0024]    The brush assemblies  50  are mounted to the head  40  of the cleaning device  10  via sliding onto the track of the head  40  such that they remain parallel to one another and may be spaced at any desired interval along the entire lengthwise axis of the head  40 . Thumbscrews  53  that are engaged at the top of each brush assembly  50  may be advanced to press against the head  40  and lock the brush assembly  50  in any desired location along the head  40 . Although thumbscrews  53  are used in this embodiment, other means of locking the brush assemblies  50  onto the head  40  may be used such as quick release cams or levers, etc. An embodiment of the cleaning device  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a group of six brush assemblies  50  mounted onto the head  40 . However the cleaning device may include more, or fewer, brush assemblies  50  if desired. The structure and operation of each brush assembly  50  is identical. Therefore, where one brush assembly  50  is described, this description applies to each of the assemblies. However, in other embodiments the structure of the brush assemblies may vary. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment may use a squeegee attachment  60  mounted to the head  40 , shown in  FIG. 2A , for the use of removing excess water from surfaces. The length of the attachment body  61  is equal to the length of the head  40  of the cleaning device  10 , in the depicted embodiment. However, other attachment body lengths have been contemplated. The squeegee may be inserted into a squeegee track  65  on the front of the squeegee attachment  60  allowing for easy replacement. The attachment body  61  slides along the track of the head  40  through a set of flanges  611 / 612  on either side of the top of the attachment body  61 . The forward flange  62  is equipped with a threaded hold for a thumbscrew  64  to advance onto the head  40  and lock the attachment into place on the head  40  and consequently attaching to the cleaning device  10 . 
         [0026]    A contiguous support section  42  along the entire length of head  40  permits a brush assembly  50  to be placed and secured anywhere along support section  42 , and a brush assembly  50  may be installed or removed from either end of head  40 . Moreover, contiguous support section  42  also permits alternative cleaning device attachments to be mounted to head  40 , and in particular squeegee attachment  60  is depicted in  FIG. 4  and sponge  70  in  FIG. 5 . In other embodiments, two or more squeegee attachments or sponges may be removably coupled to the contiguous support section  42 . 
         [0027]    Other alternate embodiments may include a sponge  70  in  FIG. 5 , or a continuous brush attachment mounted to the rigid body in a similar manner as the embodiments described above. The sponge  70  may be referred to as a grout-cleaning sponge. However, the sponge may be used to clean a variety of surface, if desired. It is also possible to have an embodiment that permanently mounts brush assemblies or other apparatus to the support track. 
         [0028]    The cleaning device may also include a long handle screwed into the threaded handle of the rigid body, elongating the handle and extended the reach of the device. 
         [0029]    While specific embodiments of the cleaning device have been described in detail, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there is modification and alterations that would be developed in light of the overall teaching of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention.