Cleaning implement

Abstract: A cleaning implement, usable for dusting or for mopping up liquids, has a fabric sleeve (20) mounted on a spine (16) which is elongate and is stiff in one plane whilst being flexible in another plane at right angles to the first plane.

Description: This invention relates to a cleaning implement, for cleaning hard-to-reach surfaces. The implement can be used for dusting and may also be useful for mopping up spilt liquids. In any house or other building, there will be hard-to-reach places where dirt can accumulate. It is clearly desirable to be able to clean the dirt from these places, for example to avoid health hazards. Examples of such places are behind radiators, underneath domestic appliances and between such appliances and worktops where there is a narrow, but deep, gap. It is difficult, if not impossible to clean in such places with a conventional duster, so it has been necessary to move appliances if a thorough cleaning job is to be done. Such appliances are usually heavy and/or tools are required to move them to allow proper cleaning. As a result, dirt is often just allowed to accumulate US Patent 4 829 622 describes a cleaning device which is generally thin and flat and which can reach a short distance into hard-to-reach places. This device can reach into gaps to clean them, probably as far as the eye can see, but cannot reach to the back of the gap and so cannot properly clean the gap. US Patent 4 364 144 describes a duster head comprising a central sleeve portion with a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally extending rows of yarn fringe material stitched thereto. The sleeve accommodates a handle which can be removed when the duster head is to be cleaned. US Patent 5 560 069 describes a lint brush for a dryer duct, having a body which has an elongate arcuate shape. The body is flexible to permit the brush to flex in the direction of the radius of curvature and adapt to variations in the arcuate shapes of ducts. According to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning implement as specified in claim 1. The use of an elongate spine which is stiff in one plane and flexible in another plane allows cleaning deep into inaccessible gaps. Because of the stiffness of the spine, the user retains control of the movement of the whole of the implement, even the end of the implement which is remote from the handle. The spine can be a length of plastics strip which may be extruded. The strip can be either hollow or solid. The stiffness in the first plane and flexibility in the second plane can be achieved as a result of the spine having a relatively large dimension in the first plane and a relatively small dimension in the second plane. The ratio of the large dimension to the small dimension can be in the range 10:1 to 3:1, with the preferred ratio being substantially 5:1. The spine can be completely enclosed in the sleeve, and the sleeve can have a portion without cleaning fringes, with the part of the implement where the spine is enclosed in the portion of the sleeve without fringes forming a handle for the implement. The sleeve can include a hanging loop by which the implement can be hung for storage. The cleaning fabric is preferably a needle fleece which is able to absorb moisture, so that the implement can be used to mop up spilt liquids. The spine is preferably removable from the cleaning fabric sleeve, and the sleeve is preferably washable. The spine is preferably parallel-sided. The sleeve may be formed from two overlying layers of fabric which can be fixed together to form a pocket for the spine, with the cleaning fringes extending laterally from the lines of stitching, and the fringes being formed by cutting the fabric along lines running generally at right angles to the length of the pocket. The layers may be fixed together by any suitable means, for example by stitching or gluing. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows an implement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section through the implement on the line II-II; and Figure 3 is a detail of one end of the implement of Figure 1. Figure 1 shows an implement 10 with a grip portion 12 at one end and the rest of the length of the implement forming a cleaning portion 14. A spine 16 (Figure 2) extends the length of the implement, and is received in a pocket 18 in a fabric sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 is made of two layers 20a and 20b of needle fleece material which are initially placed one on top of the other, and are then stitched together, using a conventional sewing machine, along stitch lines 22. The stitch lines then hold the two layers together and form the pocket 18 for the spine 16. Typical dimensions for the spine 16 are: length 750 mm, width 25 mm and thickness 5 mm. However the invention is not restricted to these dimensions, and smaller or larger implements can be made, keeping within these general proportions. Indeed implements in accordance with this invention could be made to specific sizes for specific cleaning tasks. The needle fleece fabric is a commercially available product available, inter alia, from the company Datex GmbH & Co, K G Postfach 1218, D 46362, Bocholt, Germany. The fabric is absorbent and will soak up liquids. It can be washed in a washing machine, and it has static electricity characteristics which make it very suitable as a dry duster. Once the stitching 22 has been completed, the lateral edges of the fabric can be slit along a large number of slit lines 24 to form cleaning fringes 25. the slits are generally at right angles to the stitching 22, and will be present in both the layers 20a and 20b. It will be convenient to slit through both layers in one operation, but it would also be possible to make the slits separately in the two layers. The fabric at either side of the grip portion 12 is then also cut away to leave just the pocket 18. A hanging loop 30 (Figure 3) is sewn to the grip portion. The spine 16, which may be an extruded strip of polypropylene or the like is then inserted into the pocket 18. The pocket has two overlapping flaps 26,28 at the handle end, as can be seen in Figure 3. To insert the spine, the flaps are pulled apart to allow the spine to enter, and when the spine is fully inserted, its end will lie under the outer flap 26, and the inner flap can be replaced under the outer flap, to retain the spine without requiring any clips or fasteners. The implement is now ready for use, and can be slid into a gap to be cleaned. The lateral stiffness of the spine ensures that the implement can be moved from side to side within the gap to reach all parts of the gap and to carry out effective cleaning even at the remote end which may be as much as 1000 mm from the user. When the fabric sleeve gets dirty, it can be taken off the spine and washed in a washing machine. It is not essential to have two fringes along each side of the implement; one fringe on each side could suffice. The fringes could be formed just by the edges of the fabric, and it may not be necessary to slit the fabric at all. The invention provides a cleaning implement which may be used in homes, factories, shops, hospitals and other places where cleaning is to be carried out in hard-to-reach places. The implement may be used, for example, for cleaning secondary double glazing, cleaning cars inside and out, including vents, gear column, and spokes of wheels. It may also find application in the cleaning of blades of jet engines or the like, slats of chairs, or cleaning wine bottles.

Claims: A cleaning implement (10) comprising an elongate spine (16), a cleaning fabric sleeve (20) with a pocket (18) for receiving the spine (16), and cleaning fringes (25) on the sleeve (20) which extend laterally from the pocket (18), characterised in that the elongate spine (16) is substantially flat and is stiff in a first plane and is flexible in a second plane at right angles to the first plane. A cleaning implement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the spine (16) is a length of plastics strip. A cleaning implement as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the strip is extruded. A cleaning implement as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the strip is solid. A cleaning implement as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the strip is hollow. A cleaning implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stiffness in the first plane and flexibility in the second plane is achieved as a result of the spine (16) having a relatively large dimension in the first plane and a relatively small dimension in the second plane. A cleaning implement as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the ratio of the large dimension to the small dimension is in the range 10:1 to 3:1 A cleaning implement as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the ratio is substantially 5:1. A cleaning implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spine (16) is completely enclosed in the sleeve (18). A cleaning implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve (20) has a portion without cleaning fringes, and the part of the implement where the spine (16) is enclosed in the portion of the sleeve without fringes forms a handle (12) for the implement (10). A cleaning implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sleeve includes a hanging loop (30) by which the implement can be hung for storage. A cleaning implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cleaning fabric can absorb moisture. A cleaning implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spine (16)is removable from the cleaning fabric sleeve (20), and the sleeve (20) is washable. A cleaning implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cleaning fabric (20) is a needle fleece.

Inventors: DANIELS HELEN, DANIELS, HELEN
Applicants: DANIELS HELEN, DANIELS, HELEN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47L13
IPC codes: A47L13