Abstract:
A surface treatment device comprising a body, a motor disposed in the body, an applicator operably coupled to the motor, and a container coupled to the applicator via a fluid flow path, the container containing a surface treatment substance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/587,358, filed on Jul. 13, 2004, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to dispensing and/or surface treatment devices, including cleaning devices, devices for dispensing a substance useful for cleaning or sanitizing, and devices for dispensing or applying an active agent, and to devices for dispensing or applying an active agent and for acting on or treating a surface, either before application, during application or after the application. More particularly, in one embodiment, the invention relates to a small, portable, hand-held, generally pen-like dispenser or applicator for containing and dispensing a cleaning substance and for creating a vibratory contact with a surface. The vibration is a advantageous benefit associated with the present invention. It may provide enhanced dispersion, deeper penetration and/or enhanced efficiency of a cleaning agent or solution. It also may assist or be primarily responsible for breaking up dirt, coatings or layers of material to be removed from a surface.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a surface treatment device comprising a body, a motor disposed in the body, an applicator operably coupled to the motor, and a container coupled to the applicator via a fluid flow path, the container containing a surface treatment substance. The invention encompasses a method of using the device to treat a surface and/or to apply the surface treatment substance and physically treat or act on the surface, too.  
         [0004]     In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an application device comprising a body, a motor disposed within the body, an applicator tip carried by the body and operably coupled with the motor, and a container for containing a material capable of flowing, the container carried by the body and operably coupled to the applicator tip via a fluid flow-path.  
         [0005]     In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an applicator and cleaning device comprising a body, a motor disposed within the body, an applicator tip carried by the body and operably coupled with the motor, and a container for containing a material capable of flowing, the container carried by the body and operably coupled to the applicator tip via a fluid flow-path, wherein when the applicator tip is brought into contact with a surface, the material will be applied to the surface, and, when the motor is actuated, the tip will move.  
         [0006]     While multiple embodiments of the present invention are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view of an application device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1   a  depicts another embodiment of the application device of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 1   b  and  c  depict another embodiment of a tip for use with the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of an application device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of an application device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a top view of an application device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an application device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4B  is a top view of an application device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an application device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The present invention relates to a device having a replaceable cartridge containing an application material or active agent such as a cleaning material. The device may also include a powered applicator working end that can vibrate, spin, or otherwise provide motion that furthers the effectiveness of the device. Further, in some embodiments, the device may be a disposable item, i.e., the entire device may be thrown away or disposed of when emptied, it may be partially disposable and partially intended for re-use, or it may be wholly re-usable except for the replaceable cartridges.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  depicts a cleaning device  10 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. The device  10  has an application component  16  operably connected to a container component  12  (also referred to herein as a “cartridge”) through a transfer component  14 . The application component  16  is powered by a motor  18 . According to one embodiment, the motor  18  is connected to an offset weight component  20  that causes the application component  16 A,  16 B or  16 C to vibrate. The motor  18  is housed in a motor housing component  22  that is connected to the transfer component  14  and is powered by a battery  24 . The device has an actuation component  30  (also referred to herein as an actuation “button”) operably connected with a suitable switch  32 . The switch may be a momentary switch or it may be a typical off/on switch; in some embodiments, a suitable lock may be associated with the button  30  and/or the switch to lock the device in its off or on function. A housing component  34  having two housing segments  34 A,  34 B encases portions of the device  10 . The housing component  34  has an opening  38 A,  38 B defined by the two segments  34 A,  34 B. The opening may be used to access the interior of the housing for any reason. For example, it may provide access to a power source, such as batteries, if it needs to be serviced or changed. Or, the opening and/or another generally similar opening could be adapted to permit the replacing of an emptied container of, for example, a cleaning agent.  
         [0018]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the application component  16  has a tube component  17  with a hollow portion (not shown) for operable connection with the transfer component  14 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 1   a  depicts another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the device includes an insertion coupling  29 . The coupling  29  is operably coupled to the conduit  14  or other suitable structure operably linking the contents of the cartridge to the tip  16 . In some embodiments, the coupling  29  extends through the handle of the device and includes a beveled edge  31  for penetrating the sealed opening of a cartridge. The edge  31  may be sharpened to aid in mounting a cartridge. When in place, a portion of a cartridge or the mounting structure associated with a cartridge extends over the coupling  29 .  
         [0020]     According to one embodiment, the transfer component  14  is operably coupled to the container component  12  via an insertion component  26  that is inserted through a membrane component  28  of the container component  12 . The insertion component  26  includes a hollow portion therethrough (not visible) that is in fluid communication with at least one opening (not visible, but see  FIGS. 1   b  and  c  at  19 ) in the application component tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C.  
         [0021]     The application component  16 , according to one embodiment, can have, for example, a scrubber tip  16 A, a felt tip  16 B, or a brush tip  16 C. Another embodiment of a tip suitable for use with the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1   b  and  c,  which show a tip  16 D with a configuration and dimensions suitable for using on and/or in cracks, narrow spaces, crevices, etc. Also, the tip  16 D, or another tip, may have another, different appropriate shape to be used for applying material in a spot or detailing manner. The application component  16  can have any tip with any composition or structure known to have cleaning and/or other surface treatment capabilities upon contact with a surface to be cleaned and/or otherwise treated. The tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C, has at least one opening in fluid communication with the hollow portion of the tube component  17 . In use, when material from the container component  12  passes through the transfer component  14  and into the application component  16 , the material can pass out of the application component through the opening(s) in the tip  16 A,  16 B,  16 C or  16 D.  
         [0022]     The motor housing component  22  operably connects the motor  18  to the application component  16 . Alternatively, the motor  18  is housed and connected to the application component  16  by any known component in any known fashion.  
         [0023]     According to one embodiment, the battery  24  is a standard AA battery. Alternatively, the battery  24  is any known power source suitable for a handheld device, including, for example, as to batteries, one or more standard AAA batteries, Nicad battery(ies) or button cell(s).  
         [0024]     The container component  12  can contain any known cleaning material. For example, according to one embodiment, the cleaning material is a bleach solution. Alternatively, and without limitation, the cleaning material is a liquid, a gel, a foam, or any other known form of cleaning or other surface treatment material. Further, the cleaning material can be, but is not limited to, any commercial cleaning material or solution, including any cleaning material or solution appropriate for household, industrial, hospital, office or other types of cleaning. Other applications such as detailed application of a treatment agent are contemplated, as well. For example, an embodiment of the invention could be used to remove rust spots, apply a polishing-type compound, apply lotion to skin, etc.  
         [0025]     The device  10 , according to one alternative embodiment, can have a cover component (not shown) or “cap” that can operate to seal or “close” the device  10 . In one embodiment, the cover component is placed over the application component  16 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of a cleaning device  50 , according to another embodiment of the present invention. The device  50  has an application component  52 , a container component  54 , a transfer component  56 , an actuation component  58 , a motor  60 , an offset weight  62 , and a power supply  64 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict a top view of a cleaning device  70 , according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The device  70  has an application component  72  and a cover  74  configured to removeably cover the application component  72 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  depict a cleaning device  80 , according to a further embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]     The cleaning device  100  shown in  FIG. 5  is a cleaning device  100  capable of receiving a replaceable container component (not shown), according to another embodiment of the present invention. The device  100  in  FIG. 5  has an application component  102 , a container receiving area  104 , a connection component  106  configured to connect with a container component (not shown), a housing component  108 , and an actuation component  110 . In such an embodiment, the container component is a removable, replaceable container component. That is, the container component can be positioned appropriately in the container receiving area  104 , the device  100  can be operated until the cleaning material in the container component (not shown) is depleted, and the depleted container component can be removed and another container component containing material can be positioned in the container receiving area  104  for use. Alternatively, the entire device  100  is disposable after the material in the container (not shown) is depleted. In a further alternative, any portion of the device  100  can be configured to be re-usable, replaceable, or disposable. For example, the portion of the device  100  containing the actuation component  110  or the power source (not shown) may be non-disposable.  
         [0030]     Returning to  FIG. 1  for exemplary purposes, the device  10  in use according to one embodiment receives or already has received a container component  12 . The container component  12  can be, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, positioned in the device  10  with the assistance of positioning components  35  on each side of the container component  12  (only one positioning component  35  is depicted). Each positioning component  35  is a raised portion or button or knob on the container component  12 . When the container component  12  is positioned appropriately in the device  10 , the positioning components  35  fit into positioning notches  36 A,  36 B in the housing component  34 .  
         [0031]     According to one embodiment, for example, the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , as the container component  12  is positioned in the device  10  in preparation for use, the insertion component  26  pierces the membrane component  28  and is inserted into the container component  12  and a seal component  27  is thereby positioned in contact with the membrane component  28  to prevent any material in the container component  12  to leak. Other, generally similar seals, such as suitable gaskets, O-rings, etc., may be used as necessary. In some embodiments, for example, the embodiment depicted in FIG  1   a,  the insertion coupling  29  may contact a suitable cartridge seal carried by a cartridge (not shown).  
         [0032]     According to one embodiment, the device  10  can be actuated to perform three different operations. In one aspect of the invention, the device  10  can be actuated by depressing the actuation component  30 , thereby causing material to be dispensed from the application tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C onto a surface to be cleaned. Alternatively, the actuation component  30  is depressed to cause the motor to operate to create the vibration motion at the application component  16 , which is then placed into contact with the surface to be cleaned, whereby the vibration action operates to help clean or otherwise treat the surface. In a further alternative, the actuation component  30  is depressed to cause both operations, such that material is dispensed from the application tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C and the motor begins to operate, creating the vibration action at the application component  16 , such that the application tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C is then placed into contact with the surface to be cleaned and the material and vibrating action both operate in combination to help clean the surface. In a further alternative, two separate actuation components are provided, with one component dedicated to actuation of material dispensation and the other component dedicated to actuation of vibration. In some embodiments, the dispensing or application of the material may take place in the manner of what are known as “felt-tip” pens or markers. That is, the deposition or application of the material in the cartridge may be generally passive, occurring upon contact with the tip and a surface to be treated or occurring when the tip is pressed against the surface thereby compressing and/or deforming it. The device could then selectively be actuated to, for example, vibrate the tip, to assist in the even dispersion of the material.  
         [0033]     When the device  10  is actuated to dispense the material contained in the container component  12  from the application component tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C, the material, such as a cleaning fluid for example, is caused to pass from the container component  12  through the insertion component  26  and transfer component  14  and to exit the tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C of the application component  16 .  
         [0034]     When the device  10  is actuated to vibrate, the motor is actuated to operate, thereby causing the offset weight  20  to spin. The spinning offset weight  20  causes the application component  16  to vibrate, which, according to one embodiment, furthers the cleaning action of the application tip  16 A,  16 B, or  16 C. Alternatively, the vibrating action may be produced by means of a shaker plate, sonic piezoelectric harmonics or any other suitable means.  
         [0035]     Any suitable coupling, connecting or linking methods and apparatus may be used in the present invention, and any suitable material may be used to form the invention. In some embodiments, the selected material(s) may depend on the substances to be dispensed. Further, any references to positions and/or locations are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present invention to any one position or orientation.  
         [0036]     With regard to means for fastening, mounting, attaching or connecting the components of the present invention to form the apparatus as a whole, unless specifically described as otherwise, such means are intended to encompass conventional fasteners such as screws, rivets, nuts and bolts, toggles, pins, threads, snap-fitting and the like. Other fastening or attachment means which may be appropriate for connecting components include adhesives, thermoforming, welding, friction fitting, etc.  
         [0037]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.