Cleaning device

A cleaning device has a substantially conical outer element having an axis, an axially inner region and an axially outer region and being elastic so that at least the axially outer region is bendable to follow a shape of a surface to be cleaned when pressed against the surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to cleaning devices which can be 
used as a mit, a mophead, or a rotating attachment to water-powered or 
electrically powered rotary cleaning system. 
Cleaning devices of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. 
A known cleaning device is formed as a disk. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning 
device which is a further improvement of the existing devices. 
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent 
hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in 
a cleaning device which has a substantially conical element having an 
axis, an axially inner region and an axially outer region and being 
elastic so that at least said axially outer region is bendable to follow a 
shape of a surface to be cleaned when pressed against the surface. 
When the cleaning device is designed in accordance with the present 
invention, it has a longer service life under heavy cleaning conditions 
that sponges, foams, and fibers presently used for cleaning. It has a 
lower weight than the layered fabric cleaning devices which become heavy 
when they absorb water. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present 
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The 
invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of 
operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will 
be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments 
when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A cleaning device in accordance with the present invention has an inner 
element which is identified as a whole with reference numeral 1. The inner 
element 1 is formed as a conical disk having a central axis 2. The conical 
disk 1 has an inner axial region 3 and an outer axial region 4. An opening 
5 is provided in the inner axial region 3 of the conical element 1. As can 
be seen from FIG. 3, the inner element 1 is provided with a plurality of 
slots 6 which extend from an outer circumferential edge 7 through the 
axially outer region 4, and further toward the axially inner region 3, 
which region 3 is however not provided with the slots. 
The cleaning device further has an outer element identified as a whole with 
reference numeral 8. The outer element 8 is conical and has an inner axial 
region 9 and an outer axial region 10 as well as a central opening 11 in 
the central axial region 9. A plurality of slots 12 are provided in the 
outer element 8 and extend from an outer circumferential edge through the 
outer axial region 10. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer 
element 8 is longer than the inner element 1 so that the axially outer 
region 10 of the outer element 8 extends beyond the axially outer region 4 
of the inner element 1. The slots 6 and 12 of the inner element 1 and the 
outer element 8 do not coincide with one another. The elements 1 and 8 are 
connected with one another by holding means which include an outer holding 
member 14 and an inner holding member 15. The outer holding member 14 is 
substantially cylindrical. It has a central opening 16 and a conical 
portion 17 arranged over the outer element 8. The inner holding member 15 
has a central opening 17' and a flange 18 projecting radially and located 
inside the inner element 1. The outer holding member 14 and the inner 
holding member 15 are connected with one another for example by a welding 
seam 19 so as to firmly clamp the elements 1 and 8 together between the 
holding members 14 and 15. 
The operation of the inventive cleaning device is shown in FIG. 2. When the 
cleaning device is pressed against surface to be cleaned, the axially 
outer regions 4 and 10 of the inner element and the outer element 8 are 
bent and the lower surface of the inner element 1 in FIG. 1 provides a 
cleaning action. In some cases when there are some areas which are hard to 
reach, the outwardly projecting axially outer region 10 of the outer 
element 8 also performs a cleaning action. The bending of the axially 
outer regions 4 and 10 of the elements 1 and 8 is facilitated by the slots 
6 and 12. Since the slots 6 of the inner element 1 are substantially long, 
the inner element 1 can adopt to the shape of any surface to be cleaned. 
The outer element 8 provides a pressing action since it is harder than the 
inner element 1. The materials of the elements are selected so that the 
inner element 1 is more elastic and bendable, while the outer element 8 is 
less elastic and more rigid to provide a pressing action and to operate as 
a spring to hold the inner element 1 against a surface to be cleaned. The 
inner element can be composed of fabric, plastic, and other materials, the 
outer element 8 can be also composed of fabric, plastic, rubber, spring, 
steel, etc. The central opening of the device produced by a combination of 
the central openings 16 and 17' define a liquid passage way and is 
utilized for supplying a washing medium. Additional elements similar to 
the elements 1 and 8 can be provided as well. The lower surface of the 
element 1 which is applied against a surface to be cleaned can be 
additionally coated if necessary. 
The slots 6 of the inner element 1 and the slots 12 of the outer element 8 
can coincide with one another. 
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or 
more together, may also find a useful application in other types of 
constructions differing from the types described above. 
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a 
cleaning device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, 
since various modifications and structural changes may be made without 
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.