Abstract:
An interchangeable cleaning tool has a pole member and a plurality of tool heads. Each tool had is removably coupled to the pole member. A locking device is attached to one end of the pole member to removably attach one of the plurality of tool heads to the telescoping pole member. The locking device comprises: a locking housing having a tapered interior section; an aperture formed in a side of the locking housing; a lever kingly coupled to the locking housing; and a protrusion formed on the lever, wherein movement of the lever causes the protrusion to move in and out of the aperture causing the locking device to move between a locked and an unlocked position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to a multi-purpose cleaning tool, and more particularly, to a multi-purpose cleaning tool having a plurality of interchangeable cleaning heads wherein each cleaning head has a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the cleaning head to a telescoping tool handle. 
         [0002]    Cleaning tools like brooms, mops, and the like have been made with wooden, non-telescopic handles for many years. More recent versions of such tools have changed the handles from wood to lighter materials such as aluminum, fiberglass, or the like. The problem with existing tools is that the user is limited to one tool at a time, and each tool can only be used for a single task. Existing tools also places the user at a financial disadvantage because for each task, a different tool must be used and/or purchased. 
         [0003]    Therefore, a need exists to provide a tool and method to overcome the above issues. The tool would have a plurality of interchangeable cleaning heads to allow the tool to perform multiple functions. Each interchangeable cleaning head would have a releasable coupling to simply and securely fasten the interchangeable cleaning head to the tool handle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An interchangeable cleaning tool has a pole member and a plurality of tool heads. Each tool had is removably coupled to the pole member. A locking device is attached to one end of the pole member to removably attach one of the plurality of tool heads to the telescoping pole member. The locking device comprises: a locking housing having a tapered interior section; an aperture formed in a side of the locking housing; a lever hingly coupled to the locking housing; and a protrusion formed on the lever, wherein movement of the lever causes the protrusion to move in and out of the aperture causing the locking device to move between a locked and an unlocked position. 
         [0005]    An interchangeable cleaning tool has a pole member, wherein the pole member is a telescoping pole member. A plurality of tool heads is provided, wherein each tool head is removably coupled to the pole member. A locking device attached to one end of the pole member to removably attach one of the plurality of tool heads to the telescoping pole member, wherein the locking device comprises: a locking housing having a tapered interior section and a substantially tubular outer body; an aperture formed in a side of the locking housing; a lever hingly coupled to the locking housing; and a protrusion formed on the lever, wherein movement of the lever causes the protrusion to move in and out of the aperture causing the locking device to move between a locked and an unlocked position. 
         [0006]    An interchangeable cleaning tool has a pole member. A tool head is removably coupled to the pole member. A locking device is attached to one end of the pole member to removably attach the tool head to the telescoping pole member, wherein the locking device comprises: a locking housing having a tapered interior section; an aperture formed in a side of the locking housing; a lever hingly coupled to the locking housing; and a protrusion formed on the lever, wherein movement of the lever causes the protrusion to move in and out of the aperture causing the locking device to move between a locked and an unlocked position. 
         [0007]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a cleaning tool package containing pieces of a cleaning tool. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a handle member of the cleaning tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view of a adapter locking apparatus in an unlocked arrangement; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3   b  is the cross sectional view of the adapter locking apparatus in a locked arrangement; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a tool head of the cleaning tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the tool head and the adapter locking apparatus in operation; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a telescoping handle member having a handle locking apparatus; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the handle locking apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the tool cleaning tool; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is another embodiment of the handle member and tool head of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a magnified view showing the handle member of  FIG. 9  engaging the tool head of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cleaning package  10  is shown. The cleaning package  10  may comprise a plurality of components that in combination make up a cleaning tool  20 . In the present embodiment, the cleaning package  10  may contain a handle member  22  and a plurality of tool heads  24 . The handle member  22  and the plurality of tool heads  24  may be secured to the cleaning package in a plurality of manners. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle member  22  and the plurality of tool heads  24  may be secured to the cleaning package  10  using strap members  28 . 
         [0021]    The cleaning tool  20  may have a handle member  22 . The handle member  22  may be formed of light weight but sturdy material such plastic, aluminum or the like. The listing is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. The handle member  22  may be a solid handle or it may be a telescopic handle. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle  22  is a telescoping handle. 
         [0022]    Located at one end of the handle  22  is a locking apparatus  26 . The locking apparatus  26  may be used to easily secure and remove various tool heads  24  to the handle  22 . The tool heads  24  may include but is not limited to a broom  24 A, a mop  24 B, a squeegee  24 C or other similar tool heads. The above listing is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-3   b,  the locking apparatus is shown in more detail. The locking apparatus  26  may comprise an adapter housing  30 . The adapter housing  30  may take on a plurality of different shapes. In the present embodiment, the adapter housing  30  is substantially tubular in shape. The adapter housing  30  may have a hollow interior having open ends  32 A and  32 B. One of the open ends  32 A or  32 B may be used to receive one end of the handle  22 . The other open end  32 A or  32 B may be used to receive one of the tool heads  24  to be used. 
         [0024]    The housing  30  of the locking apparatus  26  may have a tapered interior  42 . The tapered interior  42  may correspond to a portion of the tool heads  24  which may be inserted into the locking apparatus  26 . Further, the tapered interior  42  may be used to guide a portion of the tool head  24  into the adapter housing  30 . An interaction between the tool heads  24  and the adapter locking apparatus  26  will be discussed in details below. 
         [0025]    The adapter housing  30  may further include an aperture  34  on the perimeter  36  of the adapter housing  30 . Adjacent the aperture  34 , a lever  38  may be coupled to the adapter housing  30 . The lever  38 , may be pivotally couple to the adapter housing  30 . In the present invention, the adapter housing  30  may include at least one support member  35 , and the lever  38  may connect to the at least one support member  35  using a pin  37 . The lever  38  may move about a single direction along its vertical axis. 
         [0026]    In addition, the lever  38  may also include a protrusion member  40 . The protrusion member  40  is integrally joined to the lever  38  at one end. The movement of the lever  38  and thus the protrusion member  40  may result in unlocked  1 A and locked  2 A positions. This arrangement may operate such that the movement of the lever  38  causes the protrusion member  40  to enter the aperture  34  when the lever is in the locked arrangement  1 A, and to exit the aperture  34  when the lever  38  is in the unlocked arrangement  2 A. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an exemplary embodiment of one of the tool heads  24  is shown. While the Figures show a broom head  24 A, the below description may be applicable to the other tool heads  24 . 
         [0028]    The tool head  24  may include a tool head adapter  50 . The tool head adapter  50  may be integrally joined to the body  52  of the tool head  24 . In different embodiments of the tool head adapter  50 , the tool head adapter  50  may comprise of diverse shapes. Here, the tool head adapter  50  has a substantially conical shape. The shape of the tool head adapter  50  may also correspond to the interior  42  of the housing  30  of the adapter locking apparatus  26 . In particular embodiments of the tool head adapter  50 , the tool head adapter  50  may comprise a resilient outer surface  54 . Having used resilient material on the resilient outer surface  54  of the tool head adapter  50  permits the shape of the tool head adapter  50  to be flexible under pressure. The shape of the resilient outer surface  54  may revert back to its recess shape once the pressure is removed. 
         [0029]    In an operational example, the adapter locking apparatus  26  receives the tool head adapter  50  therein. The shape of the tool head adapter  50  may facilitate the insertion of the tool head adapter  50  into the adapter locking apparatus  26 . The interior  42  of the adapter locking apparatus  26  receives the tool head adapter  50  near to the body  52  of the tool head  24 . Thereafter, the lever  38  may be moved from the unlocked arrangement  1 A to the locked arrangement  2 A. The lever in the locked arrangement  2 A, may engage the protrusion member  40  on the resilient outer surface  54  of the tool head adapter  50 , and hence, causing the protrusion member  40  to exert pressure over the resilient outer surface  54 . This arrangement may cause the tool head adapter  50  to tightly and securely remain within the adapter locking apparatus  26 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a particular embodiment of the handle member  22  is shown. In the present embodiment, the handle member  22  is a telescoping handle member. The telescopic embodiment of the handle member  22  allows a user to adjust the length of the handle member  22  as he or she may desire. The handle member  22  may comprise of a plurality of segments  23 . In the presents embodiment the plurality of segments  23  include a first segment  23 A and a second segment  23 B. The first segment  23 A may be an elongated segment. Here, the first segment  23 A is an elongated hallow tube. Furthermore, the second segment  23 B may also be an elongated hollow tube. The second segment  23 B may be partially disposed inside the first segment  23 A. Also, the second segment  23 B is slidably movable inside the first segment  23 A to allow a user to adjust the length of the tool handle  22 . Moreover, the second segment  23 B may include a resilient circumference  25 . The resilient circumference  25  may allow the shape of a portion of the outer surface of the second segment  23 B to slightly change under pressure. 
         [0031]    In addition, the first segment  23 A may include a handle locking apparatus  60  at one end. The first segment  22 A is partially disposed inside the handle locking apparatus  60 . The handle locking apparatus  60  may operate between locked and unlocked arrangement. The locked arrangement may be used to lock the second segment  23 B with respect to the first segment  23 A, in order to adjust the length of the handle member  22  as desired. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the handle locking apparatus  60  may comprise a handle housing  62 . The handle housing  62  may be available in diverse shapes. In the present embodiment, a substantially tubular housing is used. Further, the handle housing  62  may be a hollow housing having at least one outlet end  64 . The outlet end  64  may be used to receive the second segment therein. The handle housing  60  may further include an aperture  66  on the perimeter  68  of the housing  60 . Adjacent the aperture  66 , a lever  70  may be coupled to the handle housing  60 . The lever  60 , may pivotally couple to the handle housing  60 . In present embodiment, the adapter housing  62  may include at least one support member  65 , and the lever  70  may connect to the at least one support member  65  using a pin  72 . The lever  70  may move about a single direction along its vertical axis. The movement of the lever  70  may result in unlocked and locked arrangements for the handle locking apparatus  70 . In addition, the lever  70  may also include a protrusion member  74 . The protrusion member  74  is integrally joined to the lever  70  at one end. This arrangement may operate such that the movement of the lever  70  causes the protrusion member  74  to enter the aperture  66  when the lever is in the locked arrangement  1 B, and to exit the aperture  64  when the lever  70  is in the unlocked arrangement  2 B. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an operational example of the cleaning tool  20  is shown. The handle member  22  may adopt diverse tool heads  24  at one end. In present embodiment, the adapter locking mechanism  26  is used to attach a tool head  24  to the handle member  22 . Furthermore, the adapter locking apparatus  26  may secure the tool head  24  to the handle member  22  in the locked arrangement. The user may change the purpose of the cleaning tool  20  by unlocking the adapter locking apparatus  26  and placing a different tool head  24 . The handle member  22  may also adopt various lengths as the user desires. In example, the user may leave the handle locking apparatus  60  on the unlock arrangement and then slidably move the second segment  23 B of the handle member  24  into the first segment  23 A to find his or her desire length for the handle member  22 . Thereafter, the user may move the handle locking apparatus  60  to the locked arrangement, therefore securing the first segment  23 A with respect to the second segment  23 B. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , another embodiment of the handle member  22 ′ and tool head  24 ′ are shown. In this embodiment, the handle member  22 ′ is similar to the handle member  22 . In the present embodiment, the handle member  22 ′ may include a plurality of indentions  100 . The plurality of the indentions  100  may be placed on at least a portion of the body of the handle member  22 ′. Each indention  100  may be equally spaced apart from a successive another. This arrangement may permit the user to change the length of the handle member  22 ′ to certain predetermined lengths. 
         [0035]    The plurality of indentions  100  may be used to securely engage the locking apparatus  26  to the handle member  22 ′. Here, each indention  100  may also be seized corresponding to the body of the protrusion member  40  ( FIG. 7 ) of the locking apparatus  26 . This arraignment may allow the protrusion member  40  to be inserted into the indentation  100 , and hence, securely maintaining the handle member  22 ′ with respect to the locking apparatus  26 . 
         [0036]    In the present embodiment, the tool head adapter  50 ′ has a substantially tubular shape. The shape of the tool head adapter  50 ′ generally corresponds to the interior  42  of the housing  30  of the adapter locking apparatus  26 . The tool head adapter  50 ′ may include at least one indentation member  102 . The indentation member  102  may be utilized to securely connect the tool head  24 ′ to the handle member  22 ′. Here, the indentation member  102  may be sized corresponding to the body of the protrusion member  40  of the locking apparatus  26 . Once the tool head adapter  50 ′ is inserted into the locking apparatus  26 , the at least one indentation member  102  may receive the protrusion member  40  securely therein, and hence, firmly connecting the tool head  24 ′ to the handle member  22 . 
         [0037]    While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.