Grout cleaning device

A grout cleaning device is disclosed herein. The device comprises a cover, a connector configured on an operative top surface of the for facilitating secure connection of a pressurized water dispenser thereon. There is also an adaptor attachable to the connector for being in fluid communication with the pressurized water dispenser. The adaptor is configured for directing a jet of water from the pressurized water dispenser on a grout slit requiring cleaning. Additionally, there is a suction attachment disposed within an interior space defined by the cover for sucking a slurry of dirt and water resulting from the cleaning of the grout slit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of cleaning devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning grout slits formed between tiles and other such structural components.

2. Description of the Related Art

Grout is a mortar or paste for filling crevices, especially the gaps between wall or floor tiles. Grout can be made of any color, depending upon the color of the tiles or any other structural components between which the grout is to be applied. Over time, dirt accumulates on the grout and causes it to lose its original color. This is not desired.

Several designs for cleaning devices for cleaning grout have been designed in the past. None of them, however, are known to have a simple and compact configuration, which makes it easy and cost effective to manufacture, while at the same time also provides effective cleaning of the grout.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,970 filed by JOHN H. STRAITON. The Stratton reference discloses a grout and hard-surface cleaner that has a water-blast nozzle positioned on a cleaning enclosure to direct a high-pressure and low-volume jet stream of water and optional cleaning material at an attitude onto a surface being cleaned. Resilient and preferably rubberlike surfaces are provided on bottom portions of walls of the cleaning enclosure to facilitate sliding-seal contact with the cleaning enclosure and to provide sliding ease of movement with water and optional cleaning fluid to provide lubricity between the surface being cleaned and the bottom edges of the cleaning enclosure. However, the device disclosed by Stratton has a bulky and complicated configuration and includes a lot of components, which makes it costly to manufacture. Which also results in the present invention being more durable. The present invention is also effective while being easy to operate.

Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,739 filed by MICHAEL GUEST, ROGER PEDLAR, AND BRIAN J. DOLL. The Guest reference discloses a container with a lid which is provided with scorelines defining a plurality of long narrow lugs. A tab is secured by its midportion to the central portion of the lid and has at one end a plurality of fingers which respectively terminate over the lugs for pushing the lugs into the container when the tab is lifted. The displaced lugs leave parallel, narrow slits which preclude the entry of insects, such as bees, into the container. However, the device disclosed in the Guest reference has a bulky and complicated configuration and includes a lot of components, which makes it costly to manufacture. Which also results in the present invention being more durable. The present invention is also effective while being easy to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a grout cleaning device having a simple and compact configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a grout cleaning device that is easy and cost effective to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a grout cleaning device that provides effective cleaning of the grout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1 through 4, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral10, it can be observed that a grout cleaning device10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a cover12, a connector14configured on an operative top surface of cover12for facilitating secure connection of a pressurized water dispenser16thereon, and an adaptor18attachable to connector14for being in fluid communication with pressurized water dispenser16.

Grout cleaning device10comprises cover12. Cover12is a box like structure, which is open at one end, on the operative bottom end, to interface with the surface requiring cleaning. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, cover12has a rectangular shape. However, the shape of cover12is not restricted to being rectangular and cover12can have a cross-section of any shape and size, depending on application requirements.

Grout cleaning device10comprises connector14. Connector14is configured on an operative top surface of cover12for facilitating secure connection of a pressurized water dispenser16thereon. Connector14is a protrusion extending from operative top surface of cover12. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, connector14is a substantially L-shaped configuration. Pressurized water dispenser16can be any conventional pressurized water dispenser16connected to a water source such as a nearby faucet via a hose.

Grout cleaning device10further comprises adaptor18. Adaptor18is a component that is in fluid communication with connector14. More specifically, connector14has a hollow configuration that allows water from pressurized water dispenser16to flow therethrough. Adaptor18receives the pressurized water jet from pressurized water dispenser16via connector14and directs the water jet to the slits between tiles or any other desired location, where the removal of dirt deposited on the grout is desired.

Grout cleaning device10further comprises a suction attachment20disposed within an interior space defined by cover12. Suction attachment20is a conventional suction attachment used in and connected to conventional wet and dry vacuum machines. Suction attachment20is selected to have a size that can easily be accommodated within interior space defined by cover12.

An aperture22is configured on cover12. Aperture22facilitates an entry of a suction conduit24inside cover12to connect with suction attachment18. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, conduit24is a flexible conduit or hose.

Another embodiment of grout cleaning device10is illustrated inFIG. 4. The embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3is similar to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, with the only difference being that the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3does not include vacuum or suction means. The slurry of water and dirt resulting from cleaning of the grout is cleaned manually subsequent to the use of grout cleaning device10.